Six on Sentouin on titan (dreamgen's cut)

 Chapter 1: The First Steps into Chaos

The main hall of the Kisaragi Corporation was as imposing as any other operations center of an organization that aspired to conquer everything within its reach. The cold, polished metal walls reflected the light from the screens that displayed endless statistics and three-dimensional maps of distant planets, each with a code and a label: "Target." However, on this occasion, the planet in question had no name, not even a detailed file. It simply appeared as "Unknown Planet 407."

In the center of the room were the three most important executives of the Kisaragi Corporation. Freezing Astaroth, always with an imposing air and his icy presence, observed with an impassive face the screen of the desolate planet they were about to investigate. Flaming Belial, always effusive and with a sadistic expression on her smile, seemed excited at the prospect of another world that could be molded to Kisaragi's will. And lastly, Black Lilith, who was reviewing the final details of a device that, although rudimentary in appearance, was crucial to her next move.

"Well, Agent 6, Rokugo…" Astaroth said, breaking the silence and addressing the man who had been waiting for instructions.

Astaroth looked at Rokugo with a mix of admiration and nervousness, trying to maintain her composure. There was something about him, about that carefree attitude and lack of ambition, that somehow unsettled and fascinated her at the same time. But she, as one of Kisaragi's supreme leaders, had to remain professional.

"Agent 6... Six... I mean, Rokugo!" —Astaroth began, with a slight blush that he tried to hide by adjusting his cold glass glasses—. He has done an excellent job, truly exceptional. It is not easy to conquer an entire planet, and... well, Kisaragi is very... very grateful for your dedication. You did very well! —he finished, lowering his gaze, not wanting to meet his eyes for too long.

Belial let out a harsh laugh, interrupting Astaroth's brief pause.

—Bah! He spends his time complaining like a brat! And he doesn't even follow orders without making a fuss, does he? —Belial looked at him with a crooked smile—. But, he admits that you did the job as it was necessary, Six. Even if it is because you follow the rule book like a robot. And I warn you: do not get comfortable! You still have a lot to do, so if you think these flowers are for good behavior... —he crossed his arms, mockingly, clapping his hands together, which echoed in the room.

Rokugo, smiling, tried to look flattered. —Well, well, I admit it. I am Kisaragi's most loyal agent. The only fighter who doesn't abandon his comrades despite the headaches they cause me —he looked at Astaroth and winked, making her blush slightly—. And the future executive of Kisaragi, aren't you, Astaroth?

Astaroth shifted, embarrassed. —I-I... that... well, the futures of the organization are not yet completely... defined. Loyalty... well, loyalty is important —he said, struggling not to let his nervousness show, not noticing the sarcastic look Belial gave him—. But yes, your commitment and... loyalty... have been remarkable. And—” he cleared his throat, “yes, you also hold the record for heroes eliminated… and the most… uh… snacks confiscated, if that counts for you.”

“Yes, I admit, it is quite an achievement,” Rokugo said with a smug smile. “Though I have a little trouble understanding how they celebrate my success so much after all the times I’ve gotten into trouble for… work reasons.”

Belial cut him off sharply. “Make no mistake, Six, this isn’t a celebration meeting. Truth be told, you are Kisaragi’s longest-serving employee, but that airhead of yours has kept you in the same position. You can’t just walk around being a loyal fool and expect to be promoted for it.”

Astaroth put a hand on Rokugo’s shoulder, ignoring Belial’s glare. “But somehow… your loyalty has some value, Six,” he said quietly, with a small, sheepish smile. No one is capable of standing so… so firm.

Rokugo arched an eyebrow, looking at both leaders with a mix of distrust and humor. “I appreciate the compliment, really, but let’s drop the modesty. I know I’m not here for a welcome speech. Let’s get down to business. What’s the mission you want to give me this time?”

Belial grunted and crossed his arms. “It’s about time you asked. This mission is a bit… special. Normally, we’d send an entire squad, but we want to do some prior reconnaissance to assess whether this planet is worth our time and resources.”

Agent 6, better known as Rokugo, could barely contain his excitement. After all, the word “conquest” always sounded like music to his ears. He wasn’t just any field agent; His ability to cause chaos and disorder was well known among his superiors, and that was precisely what had earned him such an important mission.

“Understood, Astaroth,” Rokugo replied with a confident half-smile. “And what exactly am I to do on this planet?”

Belial smiled, a mischievous glint showing in his eyes.

“First, we want you to investigate the state of the planet. Its civilization, its natural resources, and the living conditions of its local creatures. We don’t want to waste effort on a planet if it turns out to be a worthless dump. And of course, military espionage is crucial; we want to know if there is still any resistance or potential for conflict.”

Rokugo nodded as he tried to contain his urge to unleash chaos. Beside him, a small metallic figure watched with a neutral expression. It was Alice, Kisaragi’s android, who had been assigned to accompany him on this mission.

As Astaroth finished speaking, Lilith stepped forward, raising one arm and taking a dramatic stance that immediately caught everyone's attention. With an exaggerated laugh, which she seemed to have practiced in the mirror, she exclaimed:

“Ah, ha, ha, ha! Finally, the time has come to present my greatest creation! A true prodigy of science!” she said, pointing at Alice, who remained with her stoic and unchanging expression. “This adorable android is not only an advanced model of technology, but a masterpiece that, frankly, the galaxy does not deserve.”

Lilith paused, evidently expecting applause. Since no one reacted, she decided to continue anyway.

“Rokugo!” she said, pointing at him dramatically. “I present to you the Cute Girl Android of Kisaragi, Alice. She will be your greatest support on this mission. I have designed every aspect of her personality to be irresistible and empathetic.” She can perfectly imitate the behavior of a child, pretend to eat, and can even activate an “adorable mode” to gain anyone’s trust!

Rokugo looked at her, arching an eyebrow and maintaining a lopsided smile. Lilith, seeing his lack of enthusiasm, crossed her arms with a frustrated expression.

“She’s a living encyclopedia,” Lilith continued, huffing. “She can store and access any information you need in a matter of seconds. Also, keep in mind that Alice’s personality adapts to the assigned agent. That is to say, your presence, Rokugo, will probably shape her character… in ways I can’t even foresee.”

Alice nodded slightly, assessing Rokugo with her cold, calculating eyes.

“So…” Rokugo said, leaning in to look at Alice more closely. “You’ll be my personal encyclopedia, huh? Alright, Alice, I’ll be direct with you.” I don't want to go to that planet 407. How about we tell the bosses that we found something more interesting along the way and take a vacation? Come on, I'm sure Kisaragi won't notice that we're taking a few days off, now that they've conquered our world and all.

Alice, without changing her expression, looked at him for a few seconds and then answered, with a cold and pragmatic tone.

"Agent 6, your logic is… problematic, at best. If we ignore this mission, it could be interpreted as direct insubordination, something that Belial would surely not overlook," she said, throwing a meaningful glance at Belial, who was already watching him with a raised eyebrow.

Rokugo gulped, clearly imagining the punishment. Alice continued:

"Besides, would you really want to give up the opportunity to be the first to explore a mysterious planet? There could be potential for all kinds of benefits: riches, technology, entertainment… not to mention the thrill of a conquest that is still in its infancy." If we manage to discover something important, he may even receive a reward or a unique recognition. And considering his record of mission accomplishments, I dare say it could make him a Kisaragi legend.

Rokugo crossed his arms, weighing Alice's words while trying to hide his growing interest. Finally, he let out a sigh and smiled in resignation.

“Well, Alice, you convinced me.”

Alice nodded, satisfied. “Good. Now, let us begin preparations for departure.”

Rokugo looked at her, confused. “What do you mean, ‘preparations’? I thought we were going to leave right away.”

Alice shook her head, smiling. “No, Rokugo. First, we must inform our superiors of our departure. They will want to know where we are going and when we will return.”

Rokugo frowned. “But why do we have to inform them? They already know that we’re going to that planet 407.”

Alice sighed. “Yes, but they don’t know when we’ll arrive. They will want to know the estimated date of our return, so they can plan accordingly. Besides, it is part of our duties as employees of Kisaragi.”

Rokugo scratched his head, unsure of what to say. He didn’t really care about planning and schedules. He just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible and start exploring the new planet. But Alice was right; he didn’t want to get into trouble with his superiors.

“Fine, I’ll tell them,” Rokugo said reluctantly. “But hurry up, please.”

Alice nodded and led him out of the room. They walked through the hallways of the headquarters building until they reached a large conference room where Belial and Astaroth were waiting for them.

“Ah, Six,” Belial said with a nod. “I see you’ve brought Alice along with you.”

Rokugo nodded and turned to Alice. “I guess you should explain the situation to them, Alice.”

Alice nodded and turned to the two leaders. “Greetings, Belial and Astaroth,” she said formally. “We have prepared a report detailing our plans for this mission.” She handed them each a file.

Belial opened the file and began reading it quickly. Astaroth did the same thing. After a few minutes, they both closed their files and looked at Rokugo and Alice with serious expressions.

“Very well,” Belial said. “We understand your plan and approve it. We wish you luck on your journey and hope

—He looked at Lilith, trying to ignore her triumphant laughter—. Okay, Astaroth, Belial, Lilith… I will see to it that the mission on Planet 407 is a success.

—Alice will be your assistant in the field—said Astaroth, pointing at the small android—. Her role is to analyze and gather information accurately. Treat her well… or at least, do not destroy her before fulfilling your objectives.

Alice, without changing her expression, simply nodded and looked at Rokugo with her luminous eyes. —Agent 6, I will try to ensure that your survival rate remains at 100%. Although, with your behavior, that probability could vary.

Rokugo burst out laughing. —I like you, Alice!

Before they could give her any further instructions, Black Lilith stepped forward, proudly holding a small metallic device, similar to a compact technological capsule. With a smile that mixed mystery and arrogance, she pointed at the device.

“And finally, I have prepared this portable teleportation machine,” she announced, enjoying the moment of revelation. “This will take you directly to planet 407. Now… I cannot vouch for its exact accuracy, but I have full confidence that… it will work. At least in theory.”

Rokugo raised an eyebrow, looking at her skeptically, while Alice, ever the pragmatist, watched her closely.

“How many successful trips have you managed with this device?” Alice asked, assessing every inch of the device with curiosity.

Lilith simply shrugged, not losing her cryptic smile.

“That is a minor detail. Let us say that you will have the honor of being pioneers,” she said, with a malicious laugh.

Before Rokugo could voice any objection, Astaroth approached and handed her a small watch-like device.

“For this mission,” he explained, “you will have this tracker that will record all your actions.” Every time you do a “morally questionable” action, you’ll earn bad points. And every certain amount of points, you can redeem them for supplies from the Corporation. It’s like your own source of resources… as long as you stay true to yourself.

“Morally questionable?” Rokugo repeated, almost delighted. “That’s pretty much all I do!”

Belial gave him a smile, halfway between approval and sarcasm.

“Exactly, that’s the idea. Now, let’s get to work!”

Just then, Rokugo’s phone vibrated. Checking it, he found an urgent notification that shocked him: a group of Earth rebels had located his home and, in an improvised attack, had bombed it. His belongings were in ashes.

Rokugo let out a sigh, trying not to show too much of his irritation.

“Well, it seems I have nowhere to go back to and nothing to pack,” he said in a carefree tone. I guess I have no excuse not to leave right now.

When Astaroth heard this, his eyes reflected a mix of concern and worry. He approached him and, in a low voice, asked him:

—Promise me that you will return, Rokugo.

Rokugo smiled and nodded with a hint of carefree confidence.

—I promise. And as soon as we arrive, Alice will install the interplanetary Internet and we will be able to make video calls. So don't worry, I'll be in touch.

Without warning, Astaroth approached him and kissed him passionately, like a farewell marked by uncertainty. When they finally pulled away, Astaroth looked at him with a flash of jealousy and concern in his eyes.

—Rokugo… you will probably meet princesses or women with power on that planet, and you may have to seduce them in the name of the mission. But please avoid doing so if you can. And, more than anything, do not develop feelings for them.

Rokugo shrugged and replied with a carefree smile.

“Feelings? I’ve never had any for anyone. And if I have been with women, they’ve been one-night stands. I doubt there are any women on that planet who can even compare  to the ones I’ve been with.”

Astaroth looked at him with a mixture of relief and disappointment.

—I hope you are telling the truth.

Rokugo laughed and patted him on the shoulder.

—Don’t worry, Astaroth. I’m a professional. And besides, I have a lot of work to do. I won’t have time for romance.

Astaroth sighed, but he knew that Rokugo was telling the truth. He had known him since he was a child and had seen his growth as a warrior. He knew that Rokugo was a man of action and that his heart belonged to fighting.

—Then, I wish you luck on your mission, Rokugo. And remember, you are not alone. You have your comrades and your family.

Rokugo smiled and hugged him tightly.

—Thanks, Astaroth. I’ll come back safe and sound.

After that, Astaroth turned to Lilith and asked her to activate the teleportation device. Lilith nodded and pressed a button on the device, causing a strange energy to fill the air. Rokugo felt dizzy for a moment, but then he saw himself standing on another planet.

planet 407

When Rokugo's vision returned, all he could see was… sky. And wind. Lots of wind. The air whipped at his face as he plummeted from a height of approximately 30,000 meters. Instantly, he knew there was a problem. Alice was falling beside him, watching with an eerie calm, as her sensors likely calculated terminal velocity and probability of lethal impact.

“Lilith and her damn teleportation machine!” Rokugo shouted, as he felt the ground approaching at an alarming rate.

“Agent 6, our current altitude and rate of descent indicate a 100% probability of death on impact,” Alice commented, in a monotone. “I suggest an immediate course of action.”

Desperate, Rokugo remembered his “bad points” chip and how he could exchange them for supplies. Without hesitation, he used a good amount of points he had accumulated from previous missions and requested… a parachute.

In the blink of an eye, a parachute appeared on her back, and Rokugo pulled the rope just in time. The strong pull made him feel like he was almost dislocating his shoulders, but at least he was no longer plummeting. Alice, for her part, said that if she were to be destroyed, her nuclear reactor that has as a source of energy, destroying everything around. Rokugo would grab her, complaining that Lilith had not given Alice weapons, including weapons.

As they floated gently towards the devastated land, Rokugo took a look at the desolate landscape that stretched out below them. What once might have been a prosperous world, was now nothing but ruins and barren lands, ravaged by wars that seemed to have left only rubble and hopelessness, However, in the distance in front of them what seemed to be a city dozens of kilometers away.

“Well… this looks worse than I expected,” Rokugo said, looking at the ruins of a city in the distance.

He looked around, taking in the vast landscape before him. It was a beautiful planet with green forests, vast plains, and towering mountains in the distance. The sky was clear and blue, and the sun shone brightly overhead. He saw various creatures roaming freely in the wilderness, some of them quite large and intimidating. But he also noticed that there were no signs of civilization anywhere in sight.

“Well, I guess we’re here,” Rokugo said, turning to Alice. “Let’s start exploring this place.”

Alice nodded and followed him as they ventured deeper into the forest.

Rokugo stood up, brushing off the desert dust as he looked around. The sight was still daunting; miles and miles of sand and rock, with a scorching heat that could be felt even through his uniform.

Alice, as stoic as ever, began scanning the surroundings with her electronic eyes. “Agent 6, the landscape of this planet appears to be predominantly desert, which may indicate a degraded ecosystem. I detected a structure heading east, possibly a ruined city.”

Rokugo nodded, remembering that he had seen something similar from the parachute. “Perfect. If we are going to do reconnaissance, we need more than just dust and sand. Let’s go there.”

As they moved through the desert, Alice stopped and calmly explained some technical improvements that he could benefit from.

“I have activated the translation system in your language recognition chip, Agent 6. Although the language of the inhabitants of this planet is unknown, the chip will automatically adapt and translate in your head.” However, the process will take a while, as it needs to analyze the speech samples we hear.

Rokugo frowned, a little irritated. “Are you telling me I have to wait to understand what they say? Perfect… and we’re just getting started!”

Alice ignored his complaint and continued with the next step. “Also, to ensure your survival, I have injected your system with a bionic antibody compound. This should make you immune to most local diseases, assuming this planet has pathogens similar to ours.”

Rokugo looked at his arm, where a small robotic needle had just retracted after the injection. “Isn’t that going to turn my blood into a technological soup? What’s next, turning me into an android like you?”

Alice looked at him blankly. “If your survival rate requires it, it could be considered in the future.”

Rokugo let out a dry laugh. “I’ll pass. My natural charm is more than enough.”

As Rokugo and Alice made their way through the desolate landscape, the desert heat seemed to intensify, drying out their throats and clouding the horizon. All around them, sand dunes were mixed with fragments of ancient structures, gigantic stone blocks scattered and eroded, seeming to tell the story of a civilization that had fallen long ago.

Rokugo stopped, looking at one of those enormous pieces of stone covered in cracks, which seemed to have been part of a colossal structure.

“Wow… what do you think this was?” Rokugo asked, frowning as he touched the stone with his fingertips.

Alice, without losing her neutral countenance, scanned the surroundings and answered in her characteristically monotonous tone:

“These fragments are likely the remains of a wall or a fortification of considerable size. The erosion suggests that they were abandoned centuries ago, possibly longer.”

Rokugo took a step back, with an incredulous smile.

“A wall?” These blocks are enormous. What would anyone want such a large wall for? Who or what were they trying to keep out?

Alice looked at him as calmly as ever, though there was something in her eyes, a glint of pragmatism.

“Considering the scale of these walls and the obvious fortification, it is likely that this civilization has faced a threat of exceptional size and power. However, it is impossible to determine without additional records.”

Just then, Rokugo noticed a metallic glint in the sand. As he approached, he found something surprising: a metal plate corroded by time, on which a few words were barely discernible, engraved in an unknown language, although some letters were still legible.

“What do we have here?” Rokugo murmured, scratching the surface of the plate. “Alice, can you translate this?”

Alice, quickly and efficiently, scanned the text and processed the data with a calculating calm.

—According to my analysis, some key words are related to the terms "Muralla Rose" and "Muralla Sina." The name "María" also appears repeated in several places.

“Massive walls with names… sounds like this planet has quite a complicated history.”

Alice tilted her head slightly, as if evaluating the data in her systems.

“The existence of such massive structures and the obvious decay of the environment suggest that, at one time, this planet had the resources and technology to put up imposing defenses. The question is: against what?”

Rokugo let out a carefree laugh and shrugged.

“Well, whatever they built these walls to keep out, it’s no longer here. That means less trouble for me. Although…” he added, looking at the ruins with a glint of excitement, “I can’t deny that I’m a little intrigued by the idea of ​​what kind of threat would require walls of this size.”

As they continued their walk, Alice kept her sensors alert, looking for any trace of life or activity in the vicinity.

“Agent 6, I suggest being on alert. The deterioration of the environment and structures indicates that this planet suffered a catastrophic event.” The possibility of there being traces of advanced technology or even local survivors is high.

Rokugo smiled with a hint of malice.

“We’ll see if we find any survivors. Although I don’t think anyone in this wasteland has ever seen a face as beautiful as mine. I bet I’d give them quite a scare.”

Alice looked at him, unfazed.

The silence of the desert was suddenly broken by deep, menacing growls. Rokugo turned sharply, and his gaze met with a group of huge, dog-like creatures with rough, dry skin, almost as if they were made of stone. The "Titan canines" displayed sharp fangs and hardened claws that seemed to be made of the same material as the ancient walls.

"What the hell is this?" Rokugo muttered, a confident smile appearing on his face.

Alice watched the creatures calmly as Rokugo redeemed some of his bad points. A flash of light indicated the appearance of an "Anti-Material Rifle," which she immediately aimed at the advancing beasts with menacing growls.

"Let's see if this is enough," Rokugo said with a defiant smile.

With precise movements, he pulled the trigger again and again, taking down each of the creatures with lethal shots. The canines fell one after another, their limp bodies strewn across the sand as the echo of gunfire faded and smoke dissipated into the hot air.

Rokugo exhaled, surveying the bodies.

“Dogs on an alien planet? Well, time to get into action,” Rokugo muttered,

And now I understand why they built such massive walls in the past,” he commented, his tone smug.

Alice interrupted him, her expression unfazed.

“Agent 6, I’m afraid your analysis is premature. Observe.”

Rokugo turned to the beasts and froze as a strange vapor emanated from their wounds, and their bodies began to regenerate. The creatures’ eyes lit up again, and the growls resumed, even louder than before.

“Regeneration?” Rokugo growled. “It can’t be!”

With no other choice, Rokugo turned around and started running, activating his communicator to perform a new conversion of bad points.

“Alice, activate NO LIMITS MODE!”

Rokugo’s suit emitted a series of mechanical clicks and lit up.

And in a second, his entire body felt a surge of power and increased speed. In an instant, he had already exchanged his points for an “Anti-Armored Vehicle Vibrating Bat Sword Type R,” which appeared in his hands with an intense vibration and a metallic sheen.

“Alright, you asked for it!” Rokugo exclaimed, lunging at the creatures with movements much faster and stronger than before.

One after another, the creatures succumbed under the blows of the sword, while Rokugo precisely aimed for their necks, shattering bones and annihilating any trace of regeneration. Each beast dissolved into vapor with a final grunt, until the last of them disappeared.

Rokugo took a deep breath, looking at the remains of the creatures turned into smoke, and dropped to the sand, panting as the UNLIMITED MODE deactivated. Alice watched silently before making one of her observations.

—It seems that the weakness of these creatures is the neck area.

“Alice, do you know what these creatures are?” Rokugo asked, wiping sweat off his forehead.

Alice nodded, her expression as usual.

“They are Gigant canines, a type of creature of the planet. They are extremely durable and possess regenerative abilities. Their only vulnerability is the neck area.”

Rokugo let out a sigh of relief.

“Good thing I didn’t waste my points on anything else.”

Alice tilted her head slightly, as if evaluating the situation.

“However, it is possible that these creatures have evolved  to survive in hostile conditions like this desert planet. It would be wise to proceed with caution.”

Rokugo laughed.

“Don’t worry, Alice. I’ve got this.”

Alice looked at him, her expression as usual.

“I hope so, Agent 6.”

As they continued their journey through the ruins, Rokugo couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. The fact that these creatures had regenerative abilities meant that they were not just ordinary animals. And the fact that they had survived for so long suggested that they had adapted to the harsh conditions of the planet.

“Alice, what do you think happened here?” Rokugo asked, looking around at the desolate landscape. “Why did this planet suffer such a catastrophic event?”

Alice tilted her head slightly, as if evaluating the situation.

“It is impossible to determine without additional records. However, it is clear that this planet has experienced a significant technological setback. The presence of these creatures suggests that the inhabitants of this planet may have used them as biological weapons.”

Rokugo frowned.

“Biological weapons? But why?”

Alice looked at him, her expression as usual.

“To fight against an enemy of exceptional size and power.”

Rokugo sighed and shook his head.

“This place gives me the creeps.”

Alice tilted her head slightly, as if evaluating the situation.

grace

“Agent 6, I suggest being on alert. The deterioration of the environment and structures indicates that this planet suffered a catastrophic event.” The possibility of there being... The desert dust began to clear, revealing figures riding something he didn't expect. A group of humans dressed in heavy, silver armor approached, riding on… unicorns?

“Wait… what?” Rokugo could barely contain his laughter. “This has to be a joke.”

The knights stopped their advance when they saw them, and at the front of the group, a young woman with a serious and determined expression raised her hand, signaling for them to stop. She was a woman with white hair that reached her ankles and a defiant look, wearing armor adorned with symbols of some military order.

Alice turned her head towards Rokugo and spoke in a low voice. “The translation chip hasn't yet completed processing the local language, but it should be close to decoding basic speech.”

The young woman in front, the one who seemed to be the leader, gave them a scrutinizing look and began to speak in a language that Rokugo didn't understand… at least not completely yet. However, her gestures and the way she looked at their clothes suggested that she was intrigued or possibly distrusted them.

Alice, as always, remained calm and decided to act. In a soft voice, she began to explain to the knights in the language they knew, trying to avoid unnecessary trouble.

“We come from a faraway land,” Alice said, improvising a quick story. “We encountered a band of raiders in the desert and lost all our belongings. That’s why our clothes and equipment look… different.”

Rokugo, surprised by Alice’s quick ability to make up a story, nodded solemnly to reinforce the lie. The young knight watched them for a few moments, but seemed convinced. When Rokugo’s chip finally completed the decoding, he could hear the woman’s voice more clearly.

“My name is Snow, commander of the Kingdom of Grace. Who are you and what are you doing in these lands? I have never seen such… unusual clothing.”

Alice, without hesitation, kept up the narrative. “I am Alice, and this is Rokugo. We are travelers, as I mentioned, looking for work and shelter after being attacked.”

Snow looked thoughtful, when she suddenly saw the remains of the Titan Dogs still evaporating and after a moment of deliberation, she nodded. “Did you manage to kill three Titan Dogs by yourself? If you are as skilled as you say, perhaps we can offer you something. My homeland, Grace, the Land of Sand, is always in need of strong hands. It is not common to see someone take down the beasts of the desert with such ease. His… “weapon” —she said, pointing at Rokugo’s gun— is unknown to us, but it seems to be effective.”

Rokugo just smiled, not bothering to explain what to him was a mere toy compared to Kisaragi’s technology.

When they arrived in the Land of Sand, Rokugo and Alice were guided through the streets of the city. The architecture was archaic, and the city itself seemed worn by time and war. As they moved forward, Rokugo noticed that many buildings were partially destroyed and the streets barely contained any sign of life or vegetation. The city was littered with ruins, and among them, a great deal of rusty metal debris, possibly ancient vehicles, although at first glance no one seemed to remember what they were for.

“Those are… tanks?” Rokugo muttered to himself, seeing a huge, abandoned, sand-covered armored vehicle with tracks instead of wheels. “It’s as if this place had gone back to the Middle Ages after a catastrophic war.”

Finally, they were led before an imposing building where a figure dressed in fine clothing and with an air of undeniable authority awaited them. It was a young woman, with a serene but calculating gaze. Snow bowed and introduced the woman as Princess Christ Ceres Tilis Reiss.

“Welcome, strangers,” the princess greeted, in a friendly tone. “I have been informed of your combat skills.” My country, as you can see, is in dire straits. Years ago, the appearance of demons turned our lands into desert. Now, any help is welcome, and if you are willing to work for us, I promise you a home and a purpose.

Rokugo exchanged a glance with Alice. While the princess's offer was interesting, he knew that temporarily feigning loyalty wasn't a problem… at least not until he found a chance to score bad points and, who knows, maybe some fun in the process. 

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Alice replied, bowing her head. “We accept your offer.”

Rokugo followed suit, although he couldn't help but feel a bit of excitement. This world seemed to be full of chaos waiting to be exploited.

“Good,” the princess said, smiling. “Then let me introduce you to my father, King Solomon Tilis Reiss.”

king

King Solomon, a man with a beard and a crown on his head, stood behind the princess and bowed in turn. “Welcome to our humble abode. You are welcome here.”

The king then ordered his servants to prepare rooms for them in the castle. After dinner, they were shown to their quarters. The accommodations were luxurious, with comfortable beds and warm baths. Rokugo felt like he was back in Kisaragi’s headquarters.

“What do you think?” Alice asked, sitting next to him on their bed.

Rokugo shrugged. “Not bad. The food was decent too.”

Alice nodded in agreement. “Yes, it reminded me of the meals at headquarters.”

Rokugo laughed. “Well, I guess we’re not going to starve here.”

After dinner, they went to meet with King Solomon again. He explained that the Demon Lord had taken  control of the neighboring kingdom and was now threatening their borders.

“I don’t know how much help you can give us,” the king said, “but I would be grateful for any assistance you can provide.”

Rokugo smiled. “I’d be happy to help you out. But I’m not going to fight for free.”

The king nodded. “Of course. How much do you want?”

Rokugo thought for a moment. “I’ll need enough money to buy weapons and supplies, and I’ll need a place to stay.”

The king agreed. “Done. What shall I call you?”

Rokugo thought for a moment. “Rokugo, Princess Tilis’ Mercenary.”

The king chuckled. “Very well. Let me get the paperwork done and we’ll get started tomorrow.”

For the time being, Rokugo and Alice strolled through Grace City. The streets were empty and the buildings were mostly in ruins, but there were still signs of life here and there. Some people walked through the streets, and Rokugo saw a group of children playing near the ruins of an old building. He couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to this place.

“This place seems… strange,” Rokugo said to Alice, who was walking beside him.

Alice nodded. “Indeed. It seems to be a medieval world, but it also has modern elements.”

Rokugo frowned. “Like what?”

“Well, for example, the castle we are staying in has elevators and running water.”

Rokugo shook his head. “That doesn’t make sense.”

Alice shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe they got it from somewhere else.”

Rokugo sighed. “Well, whatever it is, I hope we can find out soon.”

They continued walking through the city, and eventually came across a marketplace. There were stalls selling various goods, including food, weapons, and clothing. Rokugo browsed through the stalls, looking for anything that might be useful for their mission. Alice watched him closely, occasionally pointing out items that might be worth buying.

“Look at this,” Alice said, pointing Curious, Rokugo approached the old man. “Excuse me, old man. What’s all the fuss about?”

The old man sighed, pointing at the machine. “This is our last water-generating machine, one of the few vestiges of ancient technology we have left… But it stopped working weeks ago. Without it, our water reserves are running low, and no one here knows how to fix it.”

Alice, hearing this, couldn’t help but intervene. “Let me examine it. I have knowledge in self-maintenance systems and basic machinery repairs.”

The old man looked at her hopefully. “Could you really? Please help us! This machine is vital to our livelihood.”

Wasting no time, Alice began analyzing the structure and working on the machine, while Rokugo watched with a mix of boredom and curiosity. After a few minutes of adjustments, Alice managed to reactivate the system… but a screen appeared on the device requesting a password to start the flow of water.

Rokugo, with a mischievous grin, walked over to the machine's keyboard. "Password? Bah, this is easy. It just needs a touch of creativity." And, without thinking too much, he typed "penis festival" on the keyboard.

To his surprise (and amusement), the machine began to emit a shrill alarm. Within seconds, palace guards showed up at the scene, surrounding Rokugo with spears and swords pointed at him.

"By order of the royal family, you are under arrest for tampering with sacred technology!" one of the guards announced, while Rokugo raised his hands, trying not to laugh.

It turns out that the water-generating machine could only be activated by the voice of someone from the royal family, such as Princess Tilis or the king.

Shortly after, in the throne room, Rokugo was introduced to Princess Tilis. The young girl looked at Rokugo with a mixture of disbelief and displeasure. Snow, who was at her side, watched with distrust.

“So… what was your reasoning for writing something so… inappropriate on one of our relics?” Tilis asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rokugo, without losing his composure, smiled and began to speak with a charming gab. “Princess, you must understand that in my land we use humor to solve the most difficult problems. I thought that a funny password would perhaps relax the machine and make it work. I am a genius of creativity, after all!”

Tilis blinked, perplexed by the absurd explanation. However, Rokugo’s naturalness and confidence began to disconcert her.

“Besides, if there is one thing I was taught in my home, it is that laughter brings people together.” And perhaps such a union is just what this country needs in troubled times… —Rokugo added, manipulating the princess’s emotions without remorse.

Snow, seeing that the princess was beginning to hesitate, tried to intervene. —Princess, this man is clearly a spy or a dangerous element! We cannot trust him!

Rokugo looked at her with a sly smile. —Oh, really, Commander Snow? So, you brought me here without even investigating me? If I am a spy, wouldn’t it be your responsibility for allowing me in?

Snow’s face turned red in frustration, but she couldn’t contradict him without implicating herself.

Rokugo, taking advantage of the situation, took control of the conversation. —But, Princess, I am a man of honor. I would never do anything to harm this beautiful kingdom. In fact, I want to help you!

Tilis, feeling guilty for doubting him, decided to give him a chance. —Very well. You may join our ranks as Commander Rokugo.

Snow, seeing that she had lost the argument, lowered her head in defeat.

—Yes, Your Highness. I apologize for my mistake.

Tilis, without any mercy, blamed Snow for the password incident and removed her from her position as commander of the Royal Guard.

—You will be demoted to private and assigned to the kitchens. You will serve as a cook for the soldiers.

Snow, furious at the humiliation, glared at Rokugo. —Don’t think you’ve won yet! I’ll make sure you regret this!

Rokugo, unfazed by the threat, smiled and replied. —Oh, please do try. I look forward to it.

For Rokugo’s squad, he was told that he had any soldier at his disposal. Rokugo and Alice noticed that the army of the Country of Grace were pure old men and young women. Alice read in record time the army records and found out that the soldier of Grace with the highest number of completed missions and accolades was Alexandrite Galvenier, an old man with long light hair and a beard wearing a light colored tank top. He also carried a cane. A serious person. Nicknamed "God of War" for his contributions to his Kingdom.

Rokugo and Alice interviewed Alexandrite in his quarters. At first, he appeared to be senile, acting like a foolish grandfather while playing with Alice, mistaking her for his granddaughter. However, when questioned about his military prowess, he became more serious and focused.

—Ah yes, I remember those days quite well. I was a fierce warrior back then. My sword was legendary among the troops!

Alexandrite seemed to be bragging about his past achievements, but Rokugo didn’t buy it. He knew that old age often made people exaggerate their accomplishments.

Alice, looking through the army records, quickly pointed out two specific candidates: Rose and Grimm. Although they only had half as many successful missions as Alexandrite, they were Grace’s second and third best soldiers.

They interviewed Rose, a chimera with the appearance of a child, but with peculiar characteristics: a horn, a tail, and a dragon wing, all disproportionate to her small body.

—Hello there, little one. What is your name?

Rose looked up at Rokugo and Alice with her golden eyes. —I’m Rose. And you are?

Alice explained that Rose had been found in an abandoned laboratory, and although her appearance was uncommon, she possessed considerable strength.

Introducing Rose making embarrassing poses, giving dramatic speeches, and giving shocking names to her abilities, Rose did so simply because that was her grandfather’s last wish, and that behavior actually embarrassed her.

She also had the same opinion as her grandfather about humans being vermin due to their treacherous nature, although Rose did not dislike them.

Rokugo noted that Rose was a hungry and instinctive beast. Rose commented that she only came to hunt monsters and preferred to eat raw meat, and was willing to eat even humans if she was starving.

Rokugo and Alice with that information confirmed that Rose was manipulable if she was offered chocolate, a food that apparently did not exist on planet 407.

After her interview and annexation to Rokugo’s group, Rokugo commented to himself that Rose was a friendly, positive, and selfless person, willing to help and even sacrifice herself in order to save her companions, no matter how scared she was. She was very accessible; it was very easy to befriend her, although she was also too honest, not hiding her vision of the people around her, even when Rose had a bad impression of said person.

They interview Grimm Grimoire, who is described as a beautiful young girl with red hair and sleepy yellow eyes. She is dressed in a long black robe with a hood covering her head. She has a pale face and straight red hair.

Grimm presents with a tie in successful missions with Rose.

When Rokugo met her, she was in a wheelchair, with a calm but eccentric demeanor. Rokugo didn’t understand how a woman in a wheelchair could have so many missions accomplished, he kept to himself that maybe she lost the use of her legs in a last mission, if that were the case he would discard it.

Grimm explains that she has no powers, she only curses people in the name of Zenarith.

Rokugo asks who Zenarith is. —Grimm would say that Zenarith is the Goddess of Undeath, Disaster, and the night. —Rokugo asks if she is some kind of evil deity. —At that question, Grimm will make a scene of frustration and despair saying that Lady Zenarith is a beautiful deity (idealizations of a religious fanatic). —Alice with her robot logic would say that gods do not exist. —To change the subject, Rokugo asks her to tell them something about herself. Grimm tells him that she is the daughter of merchants, from a humble home, she has never had a boyfriend, that she joined the Zenarith church because of the promise of eternal youth and revenge that nobody loves her and that one of her hobbies is hitting happy couples.

Rokugo feels like Grimm is flirtatious with him. Grimm looked at him and, without wasting time, asked him his first question. —Hey, are you single? —he asked him in a direct tone, as if he were evaluating him for something more than a military mission.

Rokugo replies that he’s not interested in love, although a one-night stand wouldn’t be bad.

Grimm makes advances on Rokugo, Rokugo reciprocates by looking under her skirt, which ends up causing Grimm to panic since he didn’t expect him to actually do it.

Grimm explains that because 1 out of 5 curses he casts bounce back to her.

Rokugo thought that a curse had left Grimm paralyzed or without strength in her legs, but Grimm disappoints him by saying that because of her success rate, she cursed herself to not be able to wear shoes, she can’t wear shoes and that’s why she uses a wheelchair, if she wore shoes she would explode.

Grimm tries to curse Rokugo to feel the pain of hitting her little toe, to Rokugo’s own disappointment, the curse bounced back to Grimm.

Grimm is now furious and frustrated, trying to curse Rokugo again, but this time she curses herself instead.

Grimm is now in pain, screaming and crying, begging Rokugo to stop her curse.

Rokugo is confused and worried about what happened to Grimm, he asks her what happened.

Grimm explains that because she cursed herself to not be able to wear shoes, she can’t take them off either, so when she stepped on a nail she got infected and now she has a terrible infection in her foot.

Rokugo apologizes and offers to take her to the hospital, but Grimm refuses, saying that there is nothing they can do for her.

Grimm then tells Rokugo that she will be fine, but she will have to stay in bed for a few days.

Rokugo asks if there is anything he can do for her. —Grimm tells him that he can bring her some water and some books to read. —Rokugo does so and leaves Grimm alone in her room. —He then goes outside and sees that the sun is setting, so he decides to go back to his hideout. —Once he arrives at his hideout, he finds Alice waiting for him. —

Later, Rokugo was summoned back to Princess Tilis to confirm his squad. Tilis gave him a serious yet friendly look, as if trying to better understand this strange squad leader.

“Rokugo, now that you are part of our army, I hope you learn to trust your comrades a little more… especially Snow,” she said, her tone soft but firm.

Rokugo raised an eyebrow. “Commander Snow? The same one who didn’t hesitate to point me out as a spy without proof?” he asked, with a mocking smile.

Tilis sighed, understanding Rokugo’s skepticism. “I know she may seem strict, but Snow has a difficult history. She is an orphan who had to fend for herself to survive and get out of poverty. She finished a university degree and joined the army, where she rose through the ranks thanks to her own effort and determination. Her loyalty and commitment to the kingdom are undeniable.”

Rokugo nodded, with a slight expression of interest. “Well, so besides a stern look, she also has a story of overcoming. Fascinating.”

“That’s right,” Tilis replied with a slight smile. “That’s why I’ve decided to assign her to your squad. I think the two of you could learn something valuable from each other.”

Rokugo raised both hands in surrender. “If it’s an order from the princess, I can’t refuse, right?”

“That’s right,” Tilis said, keeping the same serene expression. “I trust you’ll find a way to work as a team. Snow may seem a little rigid to you, but I’m sure her experience will be valuable to your squad.”

With a resigned sigh, Rokugo gave a small mocking bow. “Very well, princess. I’ll accept “former commander” Snow into my squad. I’m sure it will be… interesting.”

In their first mission, Rokugo’s strategy was to destroy the enemy’s food supplies, which his team found very cruel.

“We can’t just kill them! We’re soldiers!” Snow exclaimed.

“It’s okay, I’m used to it,” Alice said, with a completely emotionless expression.

Rose, on the other hand, was already eating the provisions they stole.

Grimm was sleeping peacefully in Rokugo’s arms.

“I don’t care if it’s cruel! It’s a war! We need to win!” Rokugo argued.

“But we can’t just kill them! They’re people too!” Snow insisted.

“I don’t care if they’re people! They’re demons! And they’re trying to invade our kingdom! We have to defend ourselves!” Rokugo retorted.

“But…” Snow trailed off, unsure of what to say.

“Look, I know it sounds cruel, but it’s necessary. If we want to win this war, we have to do whatever it takes. And destroying their food supplies is a good start.” Rokugo explained.

Snow frowned, still unsure about the situation. “But… what about the prisoners? What will happen to them?”

“They’ll be treated as POWs and released once the war is over.” Rokugo replied, hoping that would satisfy Snow.

Snow looked relieved and nodded in agreement. “Okay, I understand.”

Just as they were about to leave, a group of demons appeared on the horizon.

“Damn it! They found us!” Snow cursed.

“Don’t worry, we can handle them,” Rokugo said confidently.

“How?” Snow asked, looking at the group of demons approaching them.

“We have a surprise for them,” Alice said, with a mysterious smile.

The group of demons consisted of a semi-naked brunette demon named Heine of the Flame, accompanied by a demon bodyguard and several other demons.

“Hahaha! You humans are so easy to catch!” Heine laughed, as she as she rode her Griffin towards them.

“What do you want?” Rokugo asked, drawing his sword.

“Oh, I just wanted to welcome you to the Demon Lord’s territory. But since you’ve destroyed our food supplies, I guess I’ll have to teach you a lesson.” Heine said, with a smirk.

“What do you mean? We didn’t destroy all of it!” Rokugo protested.

“Oh, really? Then why did you destroy the cart carrying our food?” Heine asked, with a mocking tone.

“Uh…” Rokugo trailed off, realizing that he had forgotten to mention that part.

Heine laughed again. “So, you admit it. Well, since you’ve destroyed our food supplies, I guess I’ll have to punish you.”

“Punish us? How?” Rokugo asked, still confused.

“Simple. You and your companions will be enslaved and turned into sex slaves for my master.” Heine said, with a wicked grin.

Rokugo felt a chill run down his spine. “What?! No way! I won’t let that happen!”

“Then fight me!” Heine challenged, drawing his sword.

Rokugo hesitated for a moment, then drew his sword and charged towards Heine.

“Wait! Don’t do it!” Snow cried out, but it was too late. The two of them clashed swords.

Rokugo was surprised by Heine’s strength, but he managed to hold his own. However, Heine seemed to be getting stronger and stronger, while Rokugo was starting to tire out.

Snow: Grimm was sent on dangerous missions precisely because her superiors wanted to get rid of her. She was never seen as a true warrior, more of a tool of attrition. Rokugo, shocked by the revelation, said nothing. His mind was still processing everything that had happened so far. They arrived at the temple, and Rose immediately began to prepare the necessary items for the ritual. Snow, meanwhile, went to check on the status of the other members of their squad. Rokugo, on the other hand, decided to explore the area, trying to find out what kind of people lived in this kingdom. He wandered through the streets, passing by small houses made of wood and stone, with roofs made of straw. He saw children playing in the street, laughing and screaming as they chased each other. He saw a group of women washing clothes in a river, and a group of men working in a nearby field. After a while, he heard voices coming from a nearby tavern. Curiosity piqued, he approached the entrance and peeked inside. There were a few men drinking and talking, and a woman serving drinks. He entered the tavern and sat down at a table, ordering a drink from the waitress. She smiled at him and brought him a mug of beer. Rokugo took a sip, surprised at how good it tasted. He looked around the tavern, taking in the atmosphere. The walls were adorned with paintings and tapestries depicting scenes from battles and mythology. There was a fireplace in the corner, crackling with warmth. A few minutes later, A resurrection later) “So… Grimm, do you want to tell me how you came back to life?” Rokugo asked, looking at her with genuine curiosity. Grimm, who was already back in his wheelchair as if nothing had happened, smiled with a mystical air. “My lady Zenarith is the one who brings me back to life every time I die, as long as I am left in her temple with something that has sentimental value for my “beloved,” or at least something that someone appreciates.” Rokugo looked at her, impressed. “Wait, are you telling me that I really… died hundreds of times and have been revived?” “That’s right,” Grimm replied proudly. “It’s not a big deal… death is just a minor inconvenience for someone as devout as I am.” Rokugo laughed, impressed and intrigued at the same time. “You are a box of surprises, Grimm.” You know… —he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, with a smile—, if you want a date to celebrate your return to life, I can make some space in my schedule. Grimm looked at him excitedly, her eyes shining. —Really!? Then, let's go on a date right now! Rokugo didn't miss the opportunity to earn bad points and traded in a metal wheelchair, sturdier than Grimm's. Together, they set out through the city, beginning an unconventional stroll. Rokugo, with an air of indifference, looked at the couples passing by, while Grimm, with a mix of envy and resentment, cast withering glances at each couple. —Hey, Rokugo —Grimm said, with a bitter tone—. Why does everyone have someone but me? Rokugo shrugged. —Because your love life is a mess. But hey, at least you can get back at those bad points. Wanna try something? Grimm smiled mischievously, realizing that she could indeed have some fun. She spotted a couple of lovers walking hand in hand, and before Rokugo could stop her, she walked over and kicked one of them, a female police officer no less, right in the face. “What the hell are you doing?” “She has a boyfriend and I don’t! How is that fair?!” Grimm replied, clearly getting even. Rokugo couldn’t help but laugh as he watched the chaos Grimm had caused.

The next day arrived with a palpable sense of unease for Rokugo and his group. The previous night had been a whirlwind of emotions, and fatigue was reflected on their faces. Grimm, with his resurrection, had returned to life, albeit with the same attitude and eccentric behavior as always. Despite the chaotic situation, she had insisted on accompanying Rokugo, which gave an even more bizarre air to the mission. Rokugo, tired and somewhat irritable from the sleepless nights and constant surprises, was the first to enter the room where Princess Tilis, her father the King, and the high military commanders of Grace were waiting for him. The atmosphere was tense, discomfort hanging in the air as the leaders of the Kingdom of Grace gathered to discuss what had happened with the Demon Lord's army. Rokugo entered unceremoniously, as if he were resenting being summoned to this meeting, his hair disheveled and a tired look on his face that did not go unnoticed. “I am sorry,” he said without interest, as he dropped into the chair in front of them, crossing his arms. “Even though my unit has only two women and two girls, we were able to stop the advance of the Demon Lord’s army. We destroyed their supplies. What do you think of that?” Princess Tilis, who was sitting in front, frowned in confusion. Her eyes shifted to her father, the King, who seemed equally baffled by Rokugo’s tone. “How was that possible?” the King asked, skeptical. Princess Tilis, however, seemed somewhat more interested in Rokugo’s words. With a somewhat tense calm, she thanked Rokugo for his efforts, but kept watching him with a mix of curiosity and bewilderment. “I thank you for what you did. I can’t say I wasn’t surprised to see such a small unit accomplish such a feat,” the princess said, with a slight nod. “But I must say that the circumstances are even more complicated than they seem. My brother… he is ‘The Chosen One.’” Rokugo, who had no idea what this meant, raised an eyebrow, curious. Princess Tilis continued, with a mix of pride and a hint of worry in her tone. “My brother has awakened the ‘Awakened Power.’ That special ability allows him to know exactly what to do in every situation, as if he had a clear vision of the future. Furthermore, he has the ability to manifest the strength of a titan in his human form. But most impressively, he can access the combat experience of our ancestors through something they call ‘the Paths.’ All of this allows him to protect our Kingdom of Grace.” The King, hearing this, let out a skeptical laugh, causing the princess to frown even more. “They are just legends!” the King said, mocking his daughter’s words. “How can anyone believe in such nonsense?” But before any further conversation could be generated on the matter, Rokugo, with a somewhat disdainful look, leaned back in his chair with his eyes narrowed. “Yeah, right. As if all of your ancestors weren’t the ones who actually gave us this very… easy mission,” he said, referring to his task of destroying supplies and holding back the enemy army. “I’m not a magician or a legendary hero. I’m just someone who does what he has to do.” Princess Tilis, however, wasn’t completely relaxed. Her eyes stopped at Rokugo’s hand, and a hint of panic passed over her face. “What… what is that?” she asked, pointing to a poisonous mark on Rokugo’s hand. The mark was a strange scar, a sort of dark, poisonous spot that looked like it had been made by some sort of insect or deadly creature. The princess's voice trembled for a second, and she stood up from her chair, approaching Rokugo with a worried expression. Rokugo, for his part, shrugged, somewhat tired of everyone's reaction. "It's just an insect bite," he replied disdainfully. "It doesn't affect me." The princess, surprised, looked at the mark, still horrified. But what surprised her most was that, despite what seemed like a deadly bite to anyone in the Kingdom of Grace, Rokugo seemed completely immune. "But... how is this possible?" she muttered, unable to understand it. Rokugo, with his usual indifferent step, left Princess Tilis's room to head to the army camp, already quite tired of the formalities and not wanting to deal with any more surprises. When he crossed the threshold of the entrance, the first thing he noticed was Rose running towards him, with an expression of pure despair on her face. "Rokugo!" “Help me!” Rose cried, nearly tripping in her run as she approached him. Rokugo watched her with a raised eyebrow, not immediately understanding what was happening. “What is it now, Rose?” he asked, feeling his patience already at its limit. Rose, looking around nervously, approached him. She cautiously moved forward and, almost furtively, whispered: “It’s Alice… She’s trying to… make me eat grasshoppers!” Alice, who was a few steps behind her, had a tray full of the golden insects on a makeshift table. She, with her usual robotic calm, looked at Rose in an almost scientific manner, as if she were analyzing something. “Rose, if you eat these grasshoppers, you will become invincible. You will absorb the abilities of these monsters. It’s a logical and simple calculation,” Alice said, in a monotone voice, while pointing at the grasshoppers with the same precision with which she would handle a laboratory experiment. Rose, visibly disgusted, looked at the insects in horror, her stomach making a kind of knot just thinking about it. “Invincible?” she muttered in a trembling voice. “And these… things can do that? It’s crazy! This tastes bad and smells weird!” Rokugo, still sleepy but beginning to understand the situation, looked at the tray and then at Rose, not very interested in the food dilemma, but knowing that Alice's logic rarely failed. "Well, Alice," he said, convinced by the idea, "if you think that's going to work, don't make him wait so long. Let him eat it already! I want to see what happens too." Rose, clearly terrified, grabbed a grasshopper with a shaking hand, but looked at it as if she were about to bite a time bomb. "No!" she shouted, thinking about the situation. "This doesn't make sense! Humanity is stupid! Why the hell do I have to do this?" Alice, without losing her cool, stepped forward, with an almost imperceptible smile on her face. "Well, if you eat it, I'll give you something delicious afterward... Rose. What do you think? Rose, with a glint of hope in her eyes, looked at Alice as if she were the salvation from all her ills. Without thinking too much, she let out a sigh of relief. “Really? Chocolates? That sounds great! Yes! I will, if you give me that…” But before she could take the first bite of the grasshopper, Alice quickly broke her illusion with a cold smile. “No chocolates, Rose. I will give you silicone. It will be something very nutritious… and it will help… how to put it… increase the size of your breast,” Alice said, with the same clinical precision she had used to talk about the grasshoppers. Rokugo, who was observing the whole scene, was silent for a moment. Then, with an expression of complete interest, he approached Rose and looked at her with a slight mischievous smile. “Silicone… Hm, yes. I wonder how it would look on you, Rose, if you had something like that.” Maybe you'd end up like a new version of yourself, with... more "impact"! Rose, hearing that, blushed intensely and her face took on an expression of utter discomfort. She stood still for a moment, looking at Rokugo and then at Alice, before screaming in frustration. "I'm happy with my body, you damn fools! I don't want silicone!" And at that moment, the impulse of desperation took over her completely. With uncontrollable force, Rose spat out a fierce flame of fire right in the direction of Alice and Rokugo, causing them both to quickly move away, with Rokugo taking a couple of steps back. "Never force me to eat that! Never!" Rose exclaimed, furious as she hugged herself. Alice, for her part, didn't seem all that affected by the attack. She simply watched Rose with the same calm, as if nothing had happened. "See?" Alice said without changing her tone. That's the kind of power you can obtain, Rose. You just need to open your mind to the possibilities. Rokugo, with a nervous laugh, raised his hands, trying to calm the situation. "Okay, okay. I get it. We're not going to force Rose to eat grasshoppers... or silicone." Alice, unfazed, looked at Rose and replied in her mechanical tone. "Rose, you have a very narrow mindset." Alice would go to Rokugo and in her native language comment - If Rose consumes the right nutrients, she could eventually become Kisaragi's perfect combat tool. Rokugo nodded, relishing the thought. "Yes, exactly. We just need to... subtly guide her to the right path." He made a dramatic gesture, as if it were a masterpiece in progress. "With patience, Rose will become our unstoppable soldier." Rose, who was still looking at the grasshoppers in horror Alice, indifferent to Rose's resistance, simply muttered to herself: "Resistance is futile." Eventually, Rose will understand the power she can achieve. Rokugo and Alice exchanged a knowing glance, knowing that this was just the first step in their plan to turn Rose into Kisaragi's perfect combat tool. The next day, as Rose busied herself with training in her own way and dealing with the strain of her job in Grace's army, Rokugo and Alice approached her, in a more subtle way than usual. They had discovered something that they found intriguing: Rose wasn't just there because she was a Not only did she need it, but because she had an even bigger goal, related to “Grandpa,” the man who had found her in the cryogenic tube years before she died. If she worked for Grace’s army, she could gain access to this mysterious man’s research, and with that information, they both planned to slowly corrupt her, turning her into one of the most powerful weapons Kisaragi had ever known. Rokugo, with his usual relaxed attitude, took a step towards Rose while Alice watched her with a calculating expression. “Rose,” Rokugo said, with a sly smile, “you know that you are always welcome in Kisaragi. We have big plans for you… you know, if you ever want to… get out of this Grace army.” Rose, hearing those words, frowned, not quite understanding what Rokugo meant. “Welcome?” she replied, confused. “But… I’m already part of your group! I’m already working with you!” Alice moved even closer, her voice soft but firm. “But… there is so much more we can offer you. Kisaragi is… different. It’s not just about battles, Rose. It’s about evolving. And with what we can accomplish, there are no limits to what you could become.” Rose took a step back, her nerves becoming more evident. Something didn’t add up in Rokugo and Alice’s words. Her instincts told her that their intentions weren’t as pure as they presented them. Something in the way they approached made her feel uncomfortable, as if they were trying to pressure her into a fate she didn’t want. “I don’t want… any of that,” she said, her voice now denoting a mix of distrust and discomfort. “I’m not just another piece in an experiment.” Rokugo and Alice exchanged a quick glance, as if they knew the game was just beginning. Then, with a more relaxed attitude, Rokugo gestured towards Alice. “Well, we’re still in a preliminary stage, aren’t we, Alice?” he said, smiling with a certain air of amusement. But remember, Rose... you can always change your mind. Kisaragi is willing to offer you much more. Feeling the pressure mounting, Rose looked at the two of them, clearly feeling caught between their intentions. She didn't know what to do with them, but she knew she had to stand her ground. Finally, without giving them any more time, she turned around and walked away. "I'm going to keep doing my job. I don't need you to offer me more things." Her voice was determined, though her mind was still filled with doubt. Rokugo and Alice didn't say anything else, but their smiles indicated that, even if it wasn't at that moment, Rose would eventually understand what it meant to truly be in Kisaragi. Rose, for her part, didn't know what was happening. She felt like she was being pushed into a corner, and she didn't know how to react. She just hoped that her instincts were right and that she wouldn't regret it. After a few minutes, Rokugo and Alice left the area, heading back to their hideout. "Rose is a bit difficult," Rokugo commented. "But she's still young. She'll come around eventually." Alice nodded in agreement. "We have plenty of time. And besides, she's not the only one we have our eyes on." Rokugo laughed, remembering the other soldiers he had his eye on. "Yeah, you're right. There are many others we can turn to our side." Alice smiled, pleased with the prospect of expanding Kisaragi's ranks. "Indeed. The possibilities are endless." They both walked away, leaving Rose alone with her thoughts. She didn't know what to think about the situation. She didn't trust Rokugo and Alice, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that they were offering her something valuable. She just hoped that she would be able to make the right decision in the end.

Setting: Rokugo's Room

That same afternoon, after a mission that had gone more or less well, Rokugo and Alice returned to their assigned room in the barracks. The room immediately surprised them. Despite being in a medieval world, the place seemed more like a modern stay, with technology that Rokugo had never seen in other worlds. The bed was strange, the artificial light was brighter than any candle, and the bathroom looked like something out of a luxury hotel.

As Rokugo explored his room, he was shocked to discover a television and a couple of spotlights on the walls. What kind of outdated technology is this? He scratched his head, trying to figure out how this seemingly medieval world had these electrical devices working in perfect condition.

“Interesting… it seems that this place had advanced technology at some point… but they got stuck in some kind of technological regression.” He muttered to himself, amused by his findings.

Meanwhile, in another room, Grimm, Snow, and Rose were having a somewhat… delicate conversation.

“Tell me the truth, Grimm, did you notice it too?” Snow asked quietly, eyes half-closed. “That Rokugo… I don’t know, but he has a strange look towards Alice. And she looks so… so young.”

Grimm nodded suspiciously. “Yeah, and it’s not just Alice. I always see him making inappropriate comments to women who pass by. Even the other night, I saw him trying to see under a village woman’s skirt only to then laugh as if it were a game.”

Rose, who was listening attentively, seemed confused. “But why would anyone want to see under a skirt? Is it some kind of combat trick?”

Grimm sighed, trying to explain without complicating things. “It’s… some kind of mania he has. It’s weird. Maybe he’s a pervert who’s attracted to young girls like Alice.”

Snow clenched her fists, clearly upset. “If that’s the case, I’ll face it. I won’t let someone like that get away with it in Grace’s army.”

But, before they could plot any further, an urgent call interrupted their conversation. Apparently, there was important news.

Rokugo plopped down on the bed, staring at the ceiling in thought.

“You know, Alice? I’ve risen so fast, I have the strongest women by my side, and yet, I can’t believe that… none of them have fallen for me!” he complained, his expression somewhere between confused and disappointed. “And I haven’t even had a decent accident! No accidentally running into a girl or looking up her skirt! What’s wrong with me?”

Alice, observing Rokugo’s anger, sighed lightly.

“They asked you to stop getting in the way of the hallways on purpose,” she said, still calm. “Maybe that’s the problem, isn’t it?”

Rokugo looked at her with a mix of frustration and resignation.

“I can’t believe I’m talking about this with you. But…” his tone softened a bit, and his gaze shifted to Alice.

Rokugo, still a bit annoyed, let out a sigh.

“Touching a robot’s silicone isn’t the same…” he muttered, as if expecting a different answer.

Alice stared at him for a second, before rolling her eyes, exasperated.

“That doesn’t make sense, Rokugo. You should focus on what really matters,” she said in a more direct tone.

Just then, the door slammed open, and Snow entered the room with an embarrassed expression on his face.

“Rokugo…” he said, looking at the two awkwardly. “You’re being called to the meeting room.”

Rokugo raised an eyebrow, somewhat confused by the interruption.

“Meetings? Now? Well, I guess I have no choice but to go, right?” —she said, quickly standing up and adjusting her clothes.

Alice, with a neutral expression, nodded.

—Come on, Rokugo. Let the show go on.

Stage: Meeting Room

The meeting quickly began, and a commander's voice echoed through the place. —Attention! We are informed that the Demon Lord's army is advancing towards the country. Princess Tilis' brother, our chosen one to save us from the threat, has been badly wounded in the last fight. We have also received information of a powerful weapon that the demons have placed in a tower under their domain.

Rokugo crossed his arms, showing a confident smile. —A tower with a powerful weapon, huh? I say we should just blow it up.

The commander frowned. —It's not that easy. That tower is heavily guarded, and we would lose too many troops in a direct attack.

Rokugo- Well, we can burn down the first floor and let the flames kill them all with the heat

The entire board would be horrified by Rokugo's ideas. The request would be denied

—Well, in that case… —Rokugo showed a sly smile—, me and my team will enter by force, in stealth mode, and take the tower from the inside while you distract the enemy army. What do you say?

The commander hesitated, but finally agreed.  After all, Rokugo and his “squad” were the only ones reckless enough to attempt such a mission.

“The offensive must be tomorrow at dawn,” said one of the commanders, looking at Rokugo with palpable seriousness.

Rokugo, however, looked at them without showing even a hint of emotion.

Scenario: Duster Tower

Inside the tower, Rokugo’s team advanced stealthily and found what seemed to be a hidden treasure. Among the artifacts, they managed to obtain a map with the exact position of the Demon Lord’s army, which would prove invaluable for their next moves.

“Relax? How can you think about that when the tower is under enemy control?” she asked, incredulous.

Rokugo looked at her with absolute calm.

“Because Grimm works best at night. And if Grimm doesn’t wake up, then my squad is useless,” she replied, as if it were the most logical explanation.

Snow, who was listening intently, stood up abruptly, obviously upset.

“Grimm? Is that the most important thing to you right now? The battle has begun, and taking back the tower will make us famous!” she protested, her voice filled with frustration.

Rokugo smiled slightly, as if he were about to reveal a secret.

“I know, Snow, but I also know that there are goat demons on the top floor of the tower. Those bastards were the ones who defeated the “Chosen One.” And I don’t know if we’re ready to face them,” he said, in a more serious tone.

Snow looked at him with disdain, clearly disappointed.

“So you’re just going to stay here while others fight?” she asked, unable to hide her disapproval.

Rokugo didn’t answer, only gesturing toward Grimm, who was still asleep in her chair, seemingly unaware of everything going on around her.

“It’s a matter of strategy,” he said calmly. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll rest until nighttime. Grimm needs his rest, after all.

With a frustrated sigh, Snow left determined to wait no longer. The war could not wait.

Night came, and with it the news that Snow had attempted to storm the tower, but had failed miserably. When she returned, her face was marked by exhaustion and defeat.

Rokugo, sitting in the corner of the room, didn't seem too surprised. He looked at Snow with a cold gaze.

"Did you fail?" he asked without a reproachful tone, as if he already knew.

Snow shot a withering glance at him, but he merely nodded.

"Yes, goat demons are stronger than I thought," she replied, exhausted.

Rokugo watched her for a moment, then turned to Grimm, who was still asleep in her chair, seemingly oblivious to everything. He sighed and muttered something under his breath.

“Grimm moans funny in his sleep…” he said absentmindedly, as if he were saying it to himself.

At that moment, Grimm, still asleep, muttered under her breath.

“...Grimm’s breasts... pleading with the commander…”

Snow, hearing this, suddenly stood up, her face red with fury.

“What?!” she exclaimed, furious. “What is that fool dreaming about?! If she dreams weird things again, I’ll kill her!”

Grimm, seemingly oblivious to the danger, turned her head towards Snow and muttered in her sleep:

“...commander! Please…”

Snow, completely outraged, drew her sword with the intention of finishing off Grimm immediately.

“Shut up! I’ll kill you!” Snow yelled, pulling out her sword. Grimm woke up with a start, confused by what was happening. “What is it? What did I say?” she asked, rubbing her eyes. Snow pointed her sword at her. “If you dream weird things again, I’ll kill you!” she threatened, her face red with anger. Grimm blinked in surprise. “That was a prophecy,” she said calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Snow’s eyes widened in shock. “A prophecy?!” she exclaimed, incredulous. “Why are you talking nonsense?!” Grimm shrugged, as if it were nothing important. “It was a prophecy about the commander,” she replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Snow glared at her, her face turning redder by the second. “What did you say about me?!” she demanded, her voice rising in anger. Grimm looked at her with a blank expression. “I said that the commander would be saved by a beautiful woman,” she replied calmly, as if it were nothing important. Snow’s eyes widened in shock. “What?! Who said that?!” she demanded, her voice rising in anger. Grimm shrugged again, as if it were nothing important. “I don’t know,” she replied calmly, as if it were nothing important. “But it’s true.” Snow stared at her for a moment, then lowered her sword. She looked at Rokugo with a mixture of anger and disappointment. “You better not let anything happen to me,” she threatened, her voice low and dangerous. “Or else…” Rokugo looked at her with a cold gaze. “The enemy is in the tower,” he said calmly, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "And that is our true mission. Don't get distracted by nonsense". —he said, as he watched Grimm

Rokugo cashed in some of his bad points, redirecting them into his snap hook, one of his acquired skills. As if it were all part of a routine, he began placing strategic thoughts in his mind, fragments of images of the tower and its floors. “Today we must take the tower from the outside,” Rokugo said, as he watched Grace’s soldiers remain stuck on the fifth floor, fighting without clear progress. “Why don’t we fight floor by floor?” Snow asked, his tone of voice full of uncertainty, as if he was doubting the validity of the “shortcut” Rokugo was suggesting. Rokugo didn’t look at her, focused on observing the tower. “Because it’s more efficient this way. The demons on the upper floors are relaxed. They don’t suspect that we’re going to attack them from the outside. Let’s not waste time fighting like fools,” he replied coldly.

Grimm, asking why she was last in the climb, received a reply from Alice, who was below Grimm and looking up her skirt because of her position. "From now on, your nickname will be Mutant-Thong," Alice said, offending Grimm, but realizing that she was last because she was the only one in the group wearing a skirt.

Grimm, feeling humiliated, decided to use her curse on Alice, but before she could do so, she was interrupted by Rose, who was climbing behind her. "Hey, Grimm, why are you wearing a skirt?" Rose asked, curious. "I have a curse that makes me die if I wear shoes," Grimm replied, trying to avoid the question. "Oh, that's too bad," Rose said, sympathetic.

Snow, who had struggled all day to no avail trying to reach the tower, now had her arms tired at night. Rokugo grabbed Grimm before she fell and put her on his back. "A fall from this height kills you, and being second in the pack, you would have dragged the others down," Rokugo said. Rokugo felt a perverted comfort from how Snow was hugging him so as not to fall. Sensing Rokugo's lustful intentions, Snow tried to kill Rokugo, but Rokugo reacted. "If you stab me, I fall. If I fall, you fall too. If we both fall, the others in the group fall. In short, we would all die," Rokugo said. On the top floor, two goat demons were guarding. Rokugo pushed one of the goat demons, who held onto the ladder. The other goat demon was about to kill Rokugo, but Rokugo ordered his squad to throw rocks at the hanging goat demon's hand to kill him. Rokugo took advantage of the goat demon's hesitation in front of him to knock him out. When the first goat demon went up to help, he came across his knocked out brother. "If you want to take your brother to get medical attention, you'll have to pay," Rokugo said. Rokugo's chip warned him that he got a lot of bad points for that. Snow, Grimm, and Rose were ashamed of their commander's actions. The goat demon took his brother and ordered the surrender, returning the tower to Grace. Rokugo, with a smile, commented, "Well, it seems we've won."

At night, Snow headed to Rokugo and Alice's room to hand them their pay for their service in Grace's army. Upon entering, she found Rokugo in his underwear, purposely to make her uncomfortable. "If you're looking for Rokugo, he's gone to take out the trash in the yard. Here's Commander Rokugo," Rokugo said sarcastically. Annoyed, Snow replied, "That joke was ridiculous. Here's your pay." Rokugo, with a sly smile, continued, "What are you doing in a man's room at night? Are you hitting on me, big tit?" Angrily, Snow retorted, "Don't call me that! I just came to hand over your pay." Alice, with her robot logic, registered Snow's nickname as "big tit" and asked, "Do you want me to leave so you can have fun?" Snow, even more annoyed, replied, "No! I just want to hand over the pay and leave."

Rokugo, now much more relaxed, took the pay and examined it, his expression thoughtful. “If this is enough to live for a year in luxury, maybe I should give up on Kisaragi,” Rokugo commented, not paying attention to Snow’s reactions. “When I was in the Sahara Desert, fighting for a month, the pay was miserable. Miserable.” Alice, always calculating, watched him as she analyzed the situation. “Don’t give up. I won’t allow it,” she said in an impersonal and firm tone. “Remember that we are guarding you. We’ve been through too much to turn back now.” Rokugo nodded thoughtfully, but his gaze drifted away for a moment, as if thinking of something else. “Astaroth…” he murmured quietly, as if he were remembering a forgotten conversation. Snow, a little confused by what was happening, finally began to understand that not everything Rokugo was saying made sense in the context of the Kingdom of Grace. And when she answered him in her language, Rokugo and Alice had already switched to their dialect, in Japanese, thanks to Rokugo's chip. "What?" Snow said, bewildered. She knew something was going on, but she couldn't understand everything Rokugo and Alice were saying to each other. Rokugo looked at Snow and, with a smile, made one more comment: "Don't worry about what you don't understand. This is Kisaragi's business," she replied as she lay back down on her bed. But Snow couldn't help but wonder, as she left the room, if all this chaos had something to do with what they really wanted to achieve. The next day, Rokugo was resting quietly in his tent, enjoying his day off. With his arms behind his head and his eyes closed, he seemed completely unconcerned by what was going on around him. Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud bang, and the General entered, followed by Snow, who seemed to be a little less relaxed. “Rokugo, Snow, come here.” The General ordered in an authoritative voice, looking at both of them seriously. Rokugo opened one eye, standing up lazily, and replied without any respect: “Today is my day off, General. What do you want from me?” he said as he stretched, clearly not in the mood to work. Snow frowned, annoyed by her commander’s lack of professionalism, but said nothing, knowing she would have to follow him anyway. “Rokugo, at least show some respect. This matter is serious.” Snow replied, looking at the General before glaring at Rokugo again. The General was quick to respond, and his face hardened. “The treasure they took from the tower yesterday has opened the way to the Demon Lord’s castle,” he reported coldly. “The castle is hidden somewhere in the desert, but its entire domain is protected by barriers emerging from visible towers. We cannot move through them without the key.” Rokugo immediately straightened up, though his face still had a bored expression. “Ah, so the ‘Chosen One’ is on his way to confront the Demon. But… why am I not surprised that this castle is in some desert corner, far away from everything?” he muttered, knowing that he was going to have to face something much more complicated. The General nodded, and although his face remained serious, a growing tension could be noticed. “The most urgent thing is that Heine is attacking the Kingdom of Grace right now. That is the real problem. The Chosen One may have the key to confront the Demon Lord, but… we need Heine to stop advancing.” —she explained, almost as if she were coldly calculating the situation. Rokugo let out a long sigh, not showing much enthusiasm. He knew that these types of missions did not usually have a happy ending. —And what do you want me to do? —she said, looking at the General with disdain—. If he is attacking the kingdom, the situation does not seem to be easy. Snow, determined, stepped forward. —I accept the mission, even if I do not agree with the commander. If we do not act quickly, everything will be lost. —she said, with determination, although she could sense the tension inside her. Rokugo looked at her with disdain, but said nothing. He knew that the mission was already out of his hands. When they arrived at the mission location, Alice, always meticulous, approached Rokugo and warned him seriously. —This mission is suicidal. —she said in a monotone. The commander has sent us with the purpose of having Heine kill us or us kill her . A win-win for the General, who clearly has no regard for you. Rokugo let out a bitter laugh and rubbed his head in frustration. “That selfish man only thinks of himself. I can't believe he's using us as pawns,” he said, looking at the horizon, with a contained fury. “I really hate him. Rokugo's words did not go unnoticed by the other members of the squad. Snow, Grimm and Rose, upon hearing his comments, looked at him uncomfortably. It was strange to hear him speak like that about someone who, in many ways, was not so different from him. “You are a hypocrite, Commander, you know that?” Rose said with a sardonic smile. “You can't speak ill of the General, when you are equally ruthless. You are both a couple of bastards.” Snow nodded, though her face was still marked by frustration. “That's true, Rokugo. You have no right to speak like that about him. But why do you keep doing it if you know that you are both the same?” Alice asked, letting her confusion show. Rokugo, annoyed by the criticism, raised his hand, pointing to the horizon where the dust storm could be seen approaching. “I hate them all equally,” he said coldly, before turning to his team. “Retreat! We're leaving before we're caught between a rock and a hard place!” But before they could move, a deafening sound broke the air. Heine arrived at the battlefield riding her imposing griffin. Her figure was terrifying, but what shocked everyone was the enormous “golem” following her, a strange-looking monster, covered in a black shell reminiscent of the ruins of ancient walls. Rokugo, observing the monstrous presence of Heine and his golem, whispered under his breath, “This just got a lot worse.” Chaos immediately erupted as Heine and his monstrous golem arrived on the battlefield. The soldiers who had accompanied Rokugo, fearful of the presence of the demon riding her griffin and the colossus following her, began to run around, seeking shelter and dodging Heine’s demonic units. Within seconds, Rokugo’s squad was completely isolated, leaving the team alone to face the towering golem. Snow, keeping an eye on the enemy, quickly approached Rokugo, his voice tense. “Rokugo, be careful! That golem is regenerating.” Her weak point is her nape, but to get to it we'll have to destroy her external hardening. —he said as he nervously watched the giant, who seemed unstoppable. Rokugo, as he stared at the golem, didn't seem as worried as Snow. —Okay, I've got it covered. —he replied calmly, but still on alert. —Wake Grimm up so she can curse the golem and Heine. Snow looked at him with a raised eyebrow, clearly not entirely convinced. —Do you know what happened the last time I tried to wake her up? I almost took her neck out, Rokugo. —she said, frowning, clearly reluctant to try to wake Grimm up again. Rokugo sighed, visibly frustrated. We don't have time for internal fights. What are we going to do? Let that monster destroy everything? —he replied, looking at the golem, who had already raised a huge arm, ready to crush everything in its path. Then, Rokugo looked towards Rose, who seemed to be preparing for something. “Rose, can you wake up Grimm?” he asked in an impatient tone. Rose, without even looking at Rokugo, jumped towards Heine’s griffin, her face full of excitement. “I’m going to hunt that griffin! I want to eat it to gain its ability to fly!” she shouted as she launched herself towards the infernal bird, leaving Rokugo speechless. “What?! Rose, wait!” he shouted, but it was too late. Rose was completely distracted by her new objective. With a sigh, Rokugo turned towards Alice, who was observing the scene with a calculating look. “Alice, wake up Grimm!” he ordered, and then paused as he noticed that Alice seemed to be looking at some specific point with concern. “What’s wrong?” Rokugo asked, noticing that Alice wasn’t moving. Alice slowly turned to Rokugo, her expression more serious than usual. “Someone already knocked out Grimm before the battle,” she said calmly, pointing at the figure of Grimm, who was lying on the ground, completely asleep, with no signs of moving. Rokugo frowned as he realized what Alice meant. He looked at Snow, then at Rose, and saw that both of them were clearly involved in some sort of previous accident, without him having noticed. “What the hell?!” he growled, clearly annoyed by the situation. Regardless, Rokugo couldn’t waste any time. The golem was already starting to move, and the situation was becoming more dangerous by the second that passed. “Alice, do whatever you have to do to wake her up!” he ordered, and then focused on the golem, watching as its sturdy armor seemed to render his attempts at attacking with common weapons useless. Suddenly, Rokugo remembered something that made him frown. The hardening of the golem was very similar to that of the titan dogs I faced when I first came to this planet. If it was true, it meant that brute force would not be enough. “Alice, redeem the plastic explosives, quickly. We need it!” he exclaimed, as he began to activate the UNLIMITED Mode of his suit. He knew that the suit would give him incredible strength, but only for a minute. A single minute to face the golem before the energy ran out. In that moment, he was able to use his power to fight the golem. At this moment, Rokugo prepared himself for battle, his body covered by the suit's energy layer surrounding him with a dim but powerful light. His muscles tensed, his eyes shining with determination. “Quick, Alice! It's our only chance!” he shouted, as the golem began to move towards them, unstoppable and brutal, with Heine riding on its back, watching the scene with a cruel smile. Time was running out, and Rokugo knew they didn't have much room to maneuver. Now, everything depended on his team and how they would manage to defeat this monster before it was too late. With superhuman strength, Rokugo leapt towards the golem, reaching for its massive hardening body with both hands. The creature's weight was immense, but with his amplified suit, Rokugo managed to hold it still for an instant. The golem tried to break free, but Rokugo held it with inhuman strength, leaning back with his body glowing with energy. “Now, Alice!” he shouted, as he held the golem firmly in his grasp, with its nape exposed. Alice, who had been waiting for this moment, leapt forward with a remote control in her hands. She ran towards the nape of the golem’s neck as her combat suit flashed in the sunlight. In one swift movement, Alice placed the plastic explosives on the creature’s weak point, right on the nape of its neck. Rokugo, with a grunt of effort, threw the golem to the side as if it were a soccer ball, taking advantage of its momentary loss of control. Alice, without wasting any time, pressed the button on her remote control, and a deafening explosion echoed across the battlefield, raising a cloud of dust and debris. The golem's body collapsed "I'm worried about the number of monsters that are able to regenerate... and their only weakness is the back of their neck? It's like the titans." Rokugo, while shaking the dust off his suit, couldn't help but make a scathing comment. "Yes, and the worst thing is that, apparently, I'm the one being used as a shield," he said with a sarcastic smile. Alice, always logical and scientific, replied in her characteristic tone: "Science always beats magic, Rokugo. Don't worry." At that moment, Grimm woke up suddenly, a piece of the golem had fallen on his face during the explosion. She shook her head, confused. "What happened...? Where's the golem?" she growled, looking around. Rokugo, still exhausted from the effort, looked at his companions and, despite the desperate situation, gave the order: —Grimm, Rose, cover me for a while. I won't be able to move because of the effort of the LIMITLESS Mode. Before they could respond, a familiar shout came from the horizon. Heine appeared riding her griffin, her mocking gaze fixed on Rokugo. —Snow? Are you the one who thought she could challenge me? How disappointing… —she said with disdain, while her eyes sparkled with malice. Rokugo, with a confident smile, tried to buy time. He knew that Heine was dangerous, but he had to delay his attack as long as possible. —Wow, Heine, I never imagined that your breasts were so impressive. —Rokugo commented in a mocking tone, while giving her a provocative look. Heine, completely furious at the comment, gritted her teeth and, without hesitation, launched a direct attack. Flames began to surround her body as she prepared to unleash her fury. Rose, who had been watching from above, threw herself to the ground just as Heine attacked, collapsing on top of Rokugo with a smile on her face. “You are such a jerk sometimes, Commander,” Rose said. But the chaos didn’t end there. At that moment, Snow came running towards Rokugo, crying as she held her broken sword in her hands. “Heine, you ruined my sword! I haven’t paid for it yet!” she exclaimed between sobs, clearly frustrated. Rokugo tried to calm her down as he looked at her, although the situation was becoming more and more desperate. “Snow, this is a bad time for this,” he said in a tired tone, trying to make his subordinate understand the gravity of the situation. But Snow, not realizing what was happening, asked the question that left everyone silent. “What do you mean you can’t move?” —he asked, his voice a little loud, as he looked at Rokugo in a bewildered manner. The tension on the battlefield continued to rise. As Heine prepared to launch a new attack, taking advantage of her time of uncertainty, Grimm, who had been looking around and looking for an opportunity, finally found it. With a mischievous smile, he raised his hand and muttered one of his paralyzing curses. This time, it seemed that luck was on his side. Suddenly, Heine, who was about to attack, stopped dead in her tracks. Her entire body went rigid, as if an invisible weight had caught her. Grimm's curse had managed to hit, and the brunette demon was paralyzed. Rokugo, seeing that his subordinate had Heine had succeeded, raised an eyebrow and looked at Grimm, surprised for the first time in a long time. “Wow, Grimm… This is the first time I see you useful,” he commented, not hiding his sarcastic tone. Grimm, hearing that, frowned and gave him a withering look. “Do you really see me like that?” she replied, indignant. “Don't make me feel so disappointed, Rokugo. I'm useful when I want to be!” Meanwhile, Heine, completely paralyzed, tried to buy time, her gaze furious but caught in Grimm's magic. With a raspy voice, she tried to persuade Rokugo, as if she still had a card up her sleeve. “Rokugo…” she said in a defiant voice, “the offer still stands. Join the Demon Lord's army. I offer you three times what you earn in Grace… And a succubus.” Heine's words, loaded with temptation, hit Rokugo's weak spot straight. He, as if hypnotized by the promise, began to approach her, without thinking. Alice, noticing that Rokugo had temporarily lost his will, quickly intervened. "Rokugo, don't lean towards the enemy!" she warned, with a worried look. Heine, seeing the perfect opportunity to gain the upper hand, added, confident in her offer: "And, in addition, I can give you a vampiress... And a mermaid. They will fulfill all your fantasies, Rokugo. What do you say?" Rokugo, already completely losing control, looked at Alice and with a crooked smile, said: "Forgive me, Alice, but I'm going to join the Demon Lord." Heine smiled widely, believing he had won, but before he could do anything else, Snow, who had been watching the situation from afar, burst onto the scene, furious and without thinking, she leapt towards Heine and stole a stone hanging from his belt. Heine, realizing what had happened, tried to react, but his energy began to fade rapidly. The stone was the source of his power, and now that Snow had it, Heine could no longer use his abilities. Rokugo, seeing how the situation was changing again, took advantage to maintain control of the scene. “Grimm, release the curse now!” he ordered, as he watched Heine weaken. The curse disappeared and Heine, finally free of Grimm’s magic, tried to get up, but noticed that he could not access his powers without the stone. Rokugo, with his characteristic disdain, approached Heine while smiling, and said: “Hey, Heine, can I take a picture of you in this pose? It's for… “posterity.” Heine, who couldn't move or defend himself, watched furiously as Rokugo took out his camera and captured an image of him, with a satisfied smile. Alice, who was at the side, simply nodded as she observed the scene. “It's going to give you a lot of bad points, Rokugo,” she commented in a mechanical tone. However, the situation didn't end there. Rokugo, looking at Heine who was no longer in power, crossed his arms and added with a wry smile: “I don't see why I should return this stone. We never made a deal, did we? You wrongly assumed that I would return it if you posed as I wanted. But, in the end, it was nothing more than a misunderstanding. Heine, humiliated, looked at Rokugo, unable to do anything. She had no energy left, and her pride had been reduced to nothing. With one last furious look, she gave in. “I withdraw my strength!” she said, defeated, as her power completely faded away. Rokugo, with his typical indifference, looked at his companions. “Well, it seems we have won, huh?” he said with a smile, as Alice put away the camera and Grimm stretched, satisfied with the result. Snow, although still a little upset about the loss of her sword, could not help but let out a sigh of relief. “Why don't you warn me before you do these things?” she reproached Rokugo, although, in the end, she was grateful that the battle was over. Rokugo, without giving it much importance, shrugged and, as always, made a sarcastic comment. “Because if I warned you, it wouldn't be fun.”

After the successful mission, the team headed out to dinner. Since food was in short supply, their celebration menu consisted of… cooked orc. Grimm eyed his plate suspiciously. “Are we really going to eat this?” Rokugo shrugged and took a bite. “Well, after seeing what Rose eats, I think this isn’t so bad.” Alice, ever practical, also ate without complaint. “It’s efficient. Orc meat has high levels of protein.” Rose, of course, was already on her second plate, devouring it with enthusiasm. “Delicious! I want more!” Thus, amidst laughter, strange flavors, and the feeling of having done a “decent” job for once, Rokugo’s team enjoyed a well-deserved—albeit unusual—victory dinner. “Come on, Snow,” Grimm said, half-staggering with a mocking smile, “admit it, I’m sure even you have a hidden side that finds something in this vulgar man.” “Never!” Snow replied, his face red with embarrassment and anger. “I would never stoop to take an interest in someone so… so…” “So what?” Rose interrupted with a mischievous laugh. “Funny? Interesting? Charismatic?” “Vulgar and obnoxious!” Snow squeezed her glass, trying to ignore the laughter of her companions.

“I would never admit that I find him attractive!” “But you do,” Grimm said, leaning against the table. “I know you do.” “Shut up, Grimm!” Snow glared at her friend. “This is ridiculous! I’m going to bed.” “Wait!” Grimm grabbed her arm. “We haven’t finished yet!” “Let go of me!” Snow struggled, but Grimm’s grip was strong. “No, no, no,” Grimm grinned, “we’re not done yet. Let’s see how far you can go.” “What are you talking about?” Snow asked, confused. “Oh, come on, don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean,” Grimm laughed. “You’ve been staring at him all night.” “That’s not true!” Snow denied, pulling her arm again. “Yes, it is,” Grimm insisted, “you can’t deny it. You like him.” “Stop it!” Snow yelled, trying to escape again. “I don’t like him! I hate him! He’s annoying!” “Liar!” Grimm laughed again. “You like him! You just don’t want to admit it!” “I hate him!” Snow screamed, trying to break free. “I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!” Rose and Alice watched the scene with amusement, while Rokugo, who had been enjoying his meal, looked at the two women with a bewildered expression. “What’s going on?” he asked, a little concerned. “Nothing,” Grimm replied, letting go of Snow’s arm. “Just a little game.” “A game?” Rokugo frowned. “What kind of game?” “Oh, nothing,” Grimm smiled. “It’s just a little joke between us.” Rokugo looked at Snow, who was still shaking and breathing heavily. “Is everything okay?” “Yeah,” Snow replied, still panting. “I just got a little excited.” Rokugo raised an eyebrow. “About what?” Snow turned red again. “Nothing.” “Okay,” Rokugo said, unsure of what to say. “Well, I’m going to bed

Snow said goodbye to everyone, a little dizzy from the alcohol and with her mind full of contradictory thoughts.

snow

Snow walked to her room, still thinking about the strange exchange she had with Rokugo and the King’s advisor. “What a vulgar and arrogant man,” she thought, “he came from nowhere and is already a commander. And I, who have striven since I was a child when I was an orphan, was dismissed again.” Suddenly, the advisor’s words echoed in her mind. “The kingdom needs your loyalty and integrity.” “What?” Snow blinked. “Did he really say that?” “Of course,” she answered herself. “He did.” “But why?” she wondered. “Why does he need my loyalty and integrity?” “Because you’re the best,” she replied. “You were born to be a commander.” “But I’m not a commander anymore,” Snow thought. “I’m just a lowly soldier.” “That’s not true,” she answered. “You can still be a commander.” “How?” Snow asked. “I don’t have any experience.” “You can learn,” she replied. “And besides, you have something that no one else has.” “What’s that?” Snow asked. “Evidence,” she replied. “Evidence that Rokugo is disloyal.” “What?” Snow asked, surprised. “How can I get evidence of that?” “Simple,” she replied. “All you have to do is listen.” “Listen?” Snow asked. “Yes,” she replied. “Listen to what he says.” “But I don’t know what to listen for,” Snow said. “Don’t worry,” she replied. “I’ll teach you.” Snow nodded, her mind already working on the possibilities. “But what will I get in return?” “Money,” the advisor replied. “Fame. Respect.” “Really?” Snow asked, her eyes shining with excitement. “How much?” “As much as you want,” he replied. “And you can add as many soldiers to your unit as you want.” Snow’s heart pounded with excitement. “Really? You mean it?” “Of course,” he replied, his tone becoming almost seductive. “All you have to do is provide me with the evidence I need

Snow, at first trying to show humility, replied, "Glory belongs to everyone, advisor." The advisor, reminding him of how he lived comfortably when he was Commander, continued, "Snow, think of the money, fame, and respect you would have if you were to become Commander of the royal guard again." Snow's expression changed to one of ambition as the advisor spoke of the money, fame, and respect he would have when he was Commander of the royal guard, gradually corrupting his will. "Please, advisor, stop. I'm about to break my will," Snow pleaded.

The advisor, taking advantage of Snow's ambition, replied, "You can add as many soldiers to your unit as you want." Snow agreed without hesitation, and the advisor gave her a small pouch of gold coins as payment. Snow went to Rokugo's room, intending to find something to use against him. Upon entering the room, she heard Rokugo telling Alice that surely one of these days the princess would decide to declare her feelings for him, and then he would be king, and after he was king, Snow would also declare her love for him. Alice, with her robot logic, replied that this was statistically impossible and in her simulation for predicting future events, it was something that was not going to happen. Embarrassed by the conversation she was eavesdropping on, Snow decided to leave the room without doing anything. However, she took some extra money under the pretext of going to see him in his room to find something to use against him.

Snow was walking through the castle, deep in thought, when she suddenly overheard a suspicious conversation between Rokugo and Alice. Unaware of her presence, Rokugo and Alice were mentioning being spies. "Rokugo, do you think anyone suspects us?" Alice asked in her analytical tone. "I don't think so, Alice. We've been very careful," Rokugo replied with a confident smile. Snow, outraged and feeling betrayed, confronted them directly. "Rokugo! Alice! What does this mean? Are you spies?" Rokugo and Alice were silent for a moment, surprised by Snow's appearance. "Snow, I can explain..." Rokugo began, trying to find the right words. Snow, with a stern look, interrupted, "There's nothing to explain. You're traitors. But I'll give you a chance to flee before alerting the authorities. It's a special favor for your contribution to the kingdom." Rokugo and Alice exchanged a knowing look. They knew they had no other choice. "Thank you, Snow. I appreciate your gesture," Rokugo said, with a mix of gratitude and resignation.

Snow's rise to commander was swift. News that she had uncovered the traitors brought her back to her post with great honor and recognition. Snow, as part of her squad, requested that Grimm and Rose join as well. "Grimm, Rose, I need you to join my squad," Snow said determinedly. Grimm and Rose, though surprised, agreed without hesitation. "Sure, Snow. We're with you," they replied in unison. Snow didn't tell them that he promoted them because he uncovered Rokugo and Alice's treachery. Instead, he told them that they had resigned. "Rokugo and Alice have resigned. Now I need your help to protect the kingdom," Snow explained.

Despite getting what she wanted, Snow felt a lingering unease. She couldn't forget the look on Rokugo and Alice's face. Had she been hasty? Had she been fair? Every time she tried to convince herself that she had done the right thing, a sense of guilt would return, reminding her that she hadn't allowed Rokugo and Alice to fight back.

In an abandoned house, Alice and Rokugo were taking refuge. Alice was building a teleportation machine that would be used to bring Kisaragi's forces safely when the time for conquest came. However, due to the planet's technological limitations, it would take a month to assemble. Until then, Rokugo would continue to harass young girls on the streets of Grace to gain bad points that he could then exchange for food with his Kisaragi bracelet.

One day, Rokugo and Alice learned that Princess Tilis' chosen brother had been randomly teleported away in battle and no one knew where he was. However, Princess Tilis, hooded so as not to be recognized by the people, came to visit them. "Rokugo, Alice, I need your help," Princess Tilis said with a look of despair. Rokugo, surprised, asked, "What are you doing here?""What do you need, princess?" Princess Tilis explained, "The kingdom will fall tomorrow with the Demon Lord's invasion.

We have no hope of winning this battle. Rokugo frowned. “And you come to ask us for help?” Tilis shook her head. “No. I want to ask you that, when this is all over, remember that the Kingdom of Grace existed. Wherever you go, tell our story and warn other nations. Grace’s legacy must not disappear.” Rokugo looked at her in silence, and after a moment, he nodded. “Alright, princess. I accept. At least, I will do that.” Setting: Grace Army Camp Upon returning to camp, Rokugo was greeted with surprise by his companions, Grimm and Rose, who immediately approached him. “Rokugo! Why did you resign from your position as commander?” Grimm asked, genuinely concerned. “Is it true that you no longer care about this kingdom?” Rokugo noticed that Snow had not shared the truth about his expulsion as a spy. He decided not to contradict her, and instead smiled with his characteristic sarcasm. “Let’s just say that politics and I don’t get along. I’d rather be on the front lines, you know?” Grimm frowned, suspecting that something else was going on, but before he could press him further, a war horn sounded in the distance, announcing the imminent arrival of the Demon Lord’s army. Setting: Grace Kingdom Castle Tower The sound of the war horns echoed throughout the castle, and the atmosphere was permeated with tension and despair. Rokugo, now assigned as Princess Tilis’ bodyguard, watched from the window as the Demon Lord’s army advanced, a terrifying spectacle of strength and brutality. However, to everyone’s surprise, the invading army was meeting resistance at the kingdom’s borders. Princess Tilis, her forehead beaded with sweat and her hands shaking, stared at the fight from the window, her eyes filled with uncertainty. “How…? How can they possibly be holding out?” she asked, bewildered. “The enemy outnumbers and outguns us. There’s no way our troops can stand up to them like this.” Rokugo gave a sly smile and crossed his arms smugly. “Oh well… let’s just say I had a ‘little project’ while I was wandering around with not much to do. I placed some mines on the kingdom’s borders. They seem to be coming in pretty handy, don’t you think?” The princess looked at him in amazement, not knowing whether she should be relieved or shocked. “That’s it…! Well, I can’t deny that it’s giving us time, but still…” Tilis sighed, resigned. “Even with that help, the kingdom will fall. The superiority of the Demon Lord’s army is simply overwhelming.” Without saying anything else, Rokugo stepped forward and took the princess by the shoulder. “Well, that means it’s time to get to safety, Your Highness.” With his signature tone and mocking smile, he began to drag her out of the room. Princess Tilis struggled, clearly reluctant to leave her spot. “No! I can’t just leave my room or the castle. This is my home!” she exclaimed, resisting as he tried to forcefully move her. Rokugo sighed, frustrated, as he tried to reason with her. “Listen, princess. If you stay here, you’ll end up as a pretty decoration in the Demon Lord’s prison. And I don’t think you want that to happen, do you?” Before the princess could respond, a figure burst into the room at full speed. It was Snow, panting, his face contorted with worry. “Rokugo!” she exclaimed, breathless. “Please! You have to save Grimm and Rose!” They're out there facing Heine's army and they won't be able to hold out for long! Rokugo frowned, weighing up the situation. Her companions were in danger, and in a moment of lucidity, Snow added, desperate: —I know you need evil points to get powerful weapons… I… —Snow took a deep breath, blushing in embarrassment—. Do whatever you need with me! Take it as you wish, but save Grimm and Rose! Rokugo arched an eyebrow, and a sly smile appeared on her face. —Whatever, huh? —With a quick movement, she ripped off Snow's underwear, who screamed in surprise, but accepted her humiliation in silence, determined to keep her promise. With the amount of evil points obtained from that "interaction", Rokugo quickly exchanged a powerful long-range rifle. Accompanied by the princess and Snow, he headed to a window high up in the castle where he had a clear view of the battlefield. He aimed the rifle accurately at the enemy army's golems and, one by one, he destroyed them from the safety of the tower. BANG. One golem fell to the ground, destroyed. BANG. Another was reduced to rubble. The soldiers of Heine's army began to panic at the sudden loss of their support units, as they searched for the source of the gunfire. "What the hell is going on?" Heine muttered, who was observing the situation from the back lines.

ace of the army. But before he could give any orders, the enemy soldiers rushed up to the castle, driven by frustration and fear, with Heine leading them to confront the shooter. Rokugo, with a confident smile, decided it was time to show another ace up his sleeve. With another quick exchange, this time of a chainsaw, he launched himself into direct combat when the Demon Lord's soldiers and golems managed to infiltrate the castle. With surprising skill and his characteristic chaotic style, Rokugo eliminated each of the enemy soldiers, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake, until finally only Heine remained in front of him. The brunette demon, stunned and furious, looked at him in disbelief. "Damn it! What kind of human are you!?" Heine roared, still surprised by Rokugo's level of skill. He smiled at her, mockingly, as he turned off the chainsaw. “Let’s call a truce, Heine. I’m giving you a month to retreat and reorganize your forces. But after that… prepare for the worst.” With little choice, Heine accepted the truce, glaring at him before retreating along with his forces. The battle was over, at least for now. Setting: Castle Hallway With the adrenaline of the battle still flowing, Snow approached Rokugo, her face filled with excitement and gratitude. “Rokugo… I…” she hesitated, and before she could stop herself, she launched herself at him, kissing him passionately. The thrill of victory and relief had taken over her. Rokugo let her do it for a moment, and then, with a playful smile, he pulled back slightly. “You’re sexy, Snow, but don’t be mistaken. I don’t see you as anything serious.” She winked at him. “Maybe, like a one-night stand, but nothing more.” Snow felt the heat rise to his face, his expression turning from bewilderment to outrage. “What!?” she shouted, raising her fist menacingly. “How dare you! I saved your life! I helped you! And you treat me like this!?” Rokugo shrugged, unfazed by Snow's reaction. “Hey, hey, calm down. I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t see us together. But hey, if you want to keep going, I won’t stop you.” Snow glared at him, her cheeks still burning. “You…” she gritted her teeth, trying to control her anger. “You’re such a bastard!” Rokugo laughed, amused by her reaction. “Well, yeah. But hey, I’m your bastard now. So, what do you want to do next?” Snow stared at him for a moment, her face turning redder and redder, before she finally gave in to her desire and kissed him again. Rokugo returned the kiss, his hands running through her hair. “Hmmm… Snow…” he murmured, his voice low and sultry. “You’re so hot.” Snow moaned, her body pressed against his. “Rokugo…” she whispered, her voice trembling with desire. “Take me now.” Rokugo chuckled, amused by her eagerness. “Sure thing, Snow.” He picked her up and carried her to a nearby room, throwing her onto the bed and climbing on top of her. “I’ll give it to you hard.” Snow gasped in surprise as Rokugo thrust himself into her, his movements rough and demanding. She moaned in pleasure as he drove into her, his pace quickening as he fucked her harder and harder. She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him deeper into her body. “Yes! Yes! Harder!” she cried out, her body shaking with pleasure. Rokugo grinned, satisfied by her response. He pounded into her faster and faster, his movements becoming more aggressive as he neared his climax. Snow moaned louder and louder, her body writhing beneath him as she reached her own orgasm. “Ah! Ah! I’m cumming! Cum with me!” she cried out, her voice hoarse.

With the battle over, Rose and Grimm returned to the castle with the other royal guard soldiers and hugged Rokugo, begging him not to abandon them again. "Rokugo, please don't abandon us again," Grimm and Rose pleaded. Rokugo, with a smile, replied, "You won't worry. I'm here to stay." And so, Rokugo and his team prepared to face whatever came next, ready to protect the kingdom of Grace and fulfill their mission for the Kisaragi Corporation.

“Commander!” Grimm exclaimed, with a relieved smile. “Thank you for saving us! I thought you had abandoned us forever!” Rose hugged him as well, squeezing tightly. “Yes, Rokugo. Promise us that you won’t abandon us again.” Rokugo, somewhat overwhelmed by the display of affection, scratched his head with a smile. “Hey, girls, calm down. You know I’m too cool to let anything happen to you… Besides, I’m a word guy. I won’t leave you behind while there’s fun on the horizon.” As his companions hugged him and Snow looked at him, confused and annoyed, Rokugo couldn’t help but smile. He had prevented the destruction of the kingdom, for now, and although his situation was complicated, he couldn’t deny that he enjoyed every second of his life as an agent of Kisaragi in this world full of chaos.

"Upon my arrival on this planet, I tried to start with a low-visibility tactic and took a job as a bricklayer to gather basic information about the local culture. This was enough to keep me low profile for a while, although I must say that the fact that no one questioned my technological suit in a medieval world struck me as odd." "Among my coworkers, there was a blue-haired woman who seemed to have exceptional skills. She could build walls in record time and only worked half a shift on construction, which raised my suspicions. On one occasion, one of our colleagues died in an accident, and she revived him with ease, accepting a beer as payment. At first I thought she was some kind of healer, but her skills seemed to exceed any logical explanation." "As for the local fauna, I discovered that there are giant frogs that can devour people with a single lick. Surprisingly, the adventurers of that world hunted these creatures with only swords. I even saw one guy who could manipulate giant arms coming out of his back to move the frogs' corpses. Honestly, I began to doubt my own sanity upon seeing such things." "Among my observations, I also noticed a little girl who managed to cause gigantic explosions, apparently just to hunt one of these frogs. The strangest thing of all was that no one seemed alarmed; it was a routine thing for them. It was at that moment that I began to think that this world was much more dangerous than I had initially anticipated." "I tried to earn bad points to equip myself with better tools. I approached a woman who looked like a warrior and decided to scare her, but the situation got out of hand. She got excited and attacked me, and although I tried to defend myself, her physical resistance was so absurd that I ended up breaking my hand. It was like hitting a wall." "To my amazement, there was even a strange man who claimed to know that I was a spy. He told me that my presence there was 'intriguing'. In a fit of panic, I shot him, but it did absolutely nothing to him. Instead of reacting, he simply laughed and walked away as if he didn't care." "Lastly, I should mention that the vegetables in this world are capable of coming out of the ground and attacking anyone near them. The inhabitants seem to be used to this and even organize armed harvests. Everything on this planet is absurd and illogical, and I have come to question my sanity during my time here." "To top it off, I was informed that the town I was in, Axel, was a quiet area used by novice adventurers to get started. This means that, in theory, it was the least dangerous place on the planet." "Upon completing my teleportation machine to get out of there, I decided to test one last theory about the people of this world. I saw a short, thin girl, alone, and thought I could attack her to gauge her reaction. However, I noticed that she was surrounded by that same blue-haired bricklayer, the tough warrior, and the girl with the explosions. She seemed to be the leader of her group, and the way they looked at her and respected her intimidated me. Finally, I gave up on my plan and decided to leave that place before something worse happened to me." Rokugo and Alice finished reading the report in complete silence. Rokugo looked stunned, while Alice looked at the screen with a mix of disbelief and amusement. “So… Agent 22 was practically psychologically defeated?” Rokugo said, letting out a laugh. “That guy is a coward! A short girl bullied him just because she seemed to be the leader of a group! Ha!” Alice nodded, though with a hint of seriousness in her gaze. “It might be funny, but if Agent 22 failed on that planet, that means there’s something else going on there. We shouldn’t underestimate it, especially if we want to establish a base there in the future. It might be best to avoid sending agents to that planet… for now.” Rokugo clicked his tongue, intrigued. “I’d like to meet that blue-haired construction worker and the little explosive girl. They look like interesting people… though they seem to be a bit of a troublemaker as well.” He paused, then smirked. “Well, as long as we don’t run into them, it’s all good.” Alice nodded, filing Agent 22’s report into the records. “Okay, let’s focus on our mission here. Soon the base will be ready and we can bring in the Kisaragi soldiers to begin the conquest in earnest. Although, perhaps in the future we will have to consider what kind of enemies may exist in other worlds. If there are people like the ones Agent 22 describes, we may face unexpected obstacles.” Rokugo shrugged confidently. “Bah, obstacles or not, we are from Kisaragi. There is no planet or group of weird adventurers that can stop us.” Alice smiled, though a part of her was curious. by that strange world and its unusual inhabitants. The mystery of that place remained as an unknown for the future, one that could change the course of the Kisaragi Corporation in ways that even they could not foresee. Scenario: Abandoned house in the desert - Kisaragi's makeshift base After completing the report and sending the information to Kisaragi, Alice went to the technological equipment that she had installed in that abandoned house in the middle of the desert. In a corner of the room, several cables hung and blinked lights of different colors. Rokugo was resting in a chair, watching as Alice finished configuring the system. “Well, I think that's it. We now have internet in this makeshift base,” Alice said, giving some final touches to the keyboard and then looking at Rokugo. “With this we will be able to connect directly to the corporation and transmit the information in real time.” Rokugo let out a sigh of relief. “Finally! I'm sick of being disconnected from the world.” I couldn't stand another second in this hot desert without being able to watch my programs. As Rokugo stared at the screen of the newly assembled machine, Astaroth's familiar face appeared on the video call. His friendly smile and look of genuine joy were mixed with a hint of surprise. “Rokugo!” Astaroth exclaimed. “I can finally see you! You have no idea how long we've waited for this communication.” “Astaroth, I didn't even remember how many months I've been on this dusty planet,” Rokugo said, scratching his head with a gesture that was somewhere between annoyed and relieved.

Post 2 Moths 

“Understood, Belial. And what about the rest of the squad?”

Belial raised an eyebrow. “Oh, you’re going to need some backup. We’ll send you a few more agents, but you’ll be the main force behind this operation. You’re our best agent, after all.”

Rokugo felt his cheeks flush at the praise. “Thank you, Belial. I won’t disappoint you.”

“Good,” Belial replied, satisfied. “Now, we’ll send you a few more agents to assist you. They should arrive soon. In the meantime, you can take some time to prepare.”

“Understood,” Rokugo said with a nod. “I’ll leave now.”

As Rokugo turned to leave, Alice followed him with a blank expression.

“Wait,” Astaroth said suddenly. “There’s something else I wanted to tell you.”

Rokugo stopped in his tracks, turning back to face Astaroth. “What is it?”

Astaroth hesitated for a moment before speaking. “We’ve noticed that your performance has improved significantly since you started working with Alice.”

Rokugo frowned. “What do you mean?”

Astaroth took a deep breath. “Well, you used to be quite reckless and often got yourself into trouble. But since Alice joined your team, your performance has improved dramatically.”

Rokugo looked at Alice with surprise. “Is that true?”

Alice shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean by ‘reckless.’ But I do know that I’ve been helping Rokugo with his work.”

Rokugo chuckled. “That’s true. Alice is a great help to me. She handles all the paperwork and diplomatic meetings, and she’s even been leading Kisaragi’s agents both in the field and at the workplace.”

Astaroth nodded. “Yes, we’ve noticed that as well. And it seems that your team is performing exceptionally well under her leadership.”

Rokugo grinned. “That’s right. And Alice is also handling weaponry and machinery, formulating strategies for combat, and even destroying enemies with her powerful attacks.”

"Rokugo, why don't you return to Earth? I miss you," Astaroth said with a reproachful look.

Rokugo, with a smile, replied, "Astaroth, I have an important mission here. I can't abandon my team."

Astaroth, though jealous, was glad to see Rokugo. "I understand, but I miss you very much."

Rokugo, with a smile, said, "I miss you too, Astaroth. But I need Kisaragi to send more men. We need reinforcements."

Astaroth, with a serious look, replied, "Rokugo, a new revolution occurred on Earth. We are fighting against the rebels. But a friend of yours is on his way."

Before Rokugo could respond, a loud hum from the teleportation machine spun him around on his heels. The structure flashed brightly, and amidst the sparks appeared a huge, towering figure with feline stripes and a nimbly wagging tail.

“Nyaa, Rokugo!” the newcomer greeted in a deep, friendly voice, waving his claw in a familiar greeting. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other on a mission, buddy!”

Rokugo laughed out loud as he recognized Tiger Man, his old friend and sparring partner.

“Well, look at that! Tiger Man, I thought you’d stuck with the living stuffed animal experiment group.”

“Well, nyaa, I thought about it a lot,” Tiger Man replied, laughing and baring his fangs in a friendly gesture. “I adapted to protect children, after all. Now, I can even purr for them if they want!” But I would never forget an important mission with you, nyaa!

Astaroth, from the screen, couldn't help but laugh at the interaction.

"Tiger Man is one of our most dedicated agents," she said. "In fact, he volunteered to become a 'protective cuddly toy' after a horde of rebels attacked a colony of families on Earth."

Rokugo looked at Tiger Man in admiration.

"That's loyalty and dedication, partner. Although..." he said, laughing, "don't you find it awkward to end every sentence with 'nyaa'?"

Tiger Man let out a deep, unwavering laugh.

"Not at all, nyaa. It's the perfect way to show the kids that I can be trusted and wouldn't hurt them, nyaa. If it means protecting them better, then I'm happy to 'nyaar' when needed."

The seriousness and conviction in Tiger Man's voice showed how much he respected his mission to protect the most vulnerable, but Rokugo couldn't help but respond with a mocking smile.

"Well, with that 'feline babysitter' attitude you sure earned yourself a few strange looks, buddy."

Tiger Man shrugged his shoulders in resignation.

"Yeah, but there's nothing I wouldn't do for a 'Thank you, Mr. Tiger!' at the end of the day, nyaa. And now, here I am, ready to help you cleanse this planet 407 of whatever threatens it, nyaa."

Rokugo smirked and crossed his arms, feeling comforted by the presence of his loyal and peculiar companion.

At that moment, the screen flickered and the face of Astaroth, one of the leaders of the Kisaragi Corporation, appeared. She had an annoyed expression and a slight tone of jealousy in her voice.

—Rokugo, dear, I heard that you refuse to return home and prefer to stay on that inhospitable planet… surrounded by three pretty girls according to your report. Is that true?

Rokugo laughed, slapping his leg.

—Oh, Astaroth! Are you jealous? Believe me, none of those girls can match you. Besides, I'm only here because I want to make sure this mission is a success. No sentimentality, you know.

Astaroth frowned, clearly upset.

—I hope so, Rokugo. I wouldn't like to think that you've lost your way for a couple of smiles. But anyway, I'll send reinforcements.

Rokugo put his hands on the back of his head, happy.

—Perfect! The Tiger Man will be a great help here. I can't wait to see him in action again.

Alice nodded as she checked some files on the computer.

—Well, once Tiger Man arrives, we can continue our operations. We've been assigned an interesting mission to start with.

Rokugo sighed and turned to Tiger Man, who was clearly excited to explore the new world.

“Look, buddy, I need to fill you in on what awaits us here,” Rokugo said, his tone warning. “This planet, which they call “407,” is mostly desert, or at least the Kingdom of Tilis, where we are. Among all the sand and ruins, there are very few men, as the war has decimated them; the majority of the population is female. That means you’ll have to control your “stunning charm,” okay? This isn’t our territory.”

Tiger Man nodded, but his ears twitched with interest at the information.

“I understand, nyaa. But what about the enemies? Any kind of local fauna I should know about?”

Rokugo smiled.

“Ah, yes, the monsters here are some kind of “giant animals.” They call them “Titans.” They’re not just big and brutal; they have one annoying talent: regeneration. The only way to kill them is to hit them in the back of the head, so keep that in mind if you're unlucky enough to face one.**

Tiger Man growled and ran a claw across his chin, taking note.

“Funny, nyaa. I've never faced anything like this. Well, at least I don't need a chainsaw, right?”

Rokugo laughed.

“Don't get too confident. I've already had to activate my suit's NO LIMITS mode and use the chainsaw at least three times since I got here. And you know that on Earth I almost never resort to that mode. Here, every monster is a fight to the death.”

Tiger Man's expression went from amused to focused.

“Now that's serious, nyaa. I didn't imagine it would be this intense.”

“Believe me, it is.” Rokugo nodded and then patted him on the back. “But let's talk about something more pleasant.” Come, I want to introduce you to my unit.

Rokugo led Tiger Man over to where Snow, Rose, and Grimm were standing. The three of them looked in awe at the newcomer, who greeted him with a polite bow.

“Girls, this is Tiger Man, an old friend and comrade from my country. He came to help us on the mission.”

Snow examined Tiger Man, but his attention was quickly drawn to his massive sword.

“Impressive weapon you have there, Tiger Man. Did you use it in many battles?”

“Of course, nyaa. In the Kisaragi Corporation, every agent faces all kinds of dangers, and there’s never a lack of a good fight, nyaa.”

Meanwhile, Rose sniffed him curiously and cocked her head.

“Are you some kind of chimera?” she asked with genuine intrigue. “You look like a feline, but I don’t smell meat on you, so… what are you?”

Tiger Man let out a friendly laugh.

—Let’s just say I was “enhanced” by our country. It makes it easier to take care of… young creatures. And when necessary, I fight too, nyaa!

On the other hand, Grimm abruptly woke up from his nap on the floor, throwing himself back at the sight of Tiger Man.

“What… is that?” he said, trying to steady himself. “I thought I was having another vision!”

Rokugo crossed his arms and watched as his three companions tried to process the presence of a humanoid tiger in the group.

“He’s a reliable friend. He knows Alice and I well, and don’t worry about his appearance. You can trust him as if he were one of us.”

Snow looked at Rokugo curiously, while Rose and Grimm exchanged glances.

“So that’s where you come from, Rokugo?” Snow said, interested. “Is it a country where everyone is this… unique?”

“Let’s just say our land is… different,” Rokugo replied in an evasive tone, exchanging a quick glance with Alice and Tigerman. “But, that’s all you need to know, for now.”

Rose sighed, a little frustrated by the lack of answers, but didn’t press the issue.

“Well, I guess we can only trust you, since we’re all in the same boat, or the same desert, at least.”

Rokugo looked at Tigerman and nodded.

“That’s right, Rose.” He then turned to his old friend. “Welcome to the team, Tigerman. This is just beginning, and we’re sure to have fun.”

Tigerman grinned and gave a thumbs up.

“I'm ready, nyaa! Let’s kick some ass!”

Rokugo rolled his eyes but smiled.

“Then let's go. “We have a mission to complete.”

* * *

Rokugo and his team arrived at the Kingdom of Grace, where they were received by the King and his daughter, the Princess Tilis. The King was a tall man with a beard and a crown on his head, while the Princess was a young woman with long blonde hair and a beautiful smile. She was wearing a pink dress and looked like a princess from a fairy tale.

Later, Rokugo brought Tiger Man to Princess Tilis to complete the necessary paperwork and formalize his temporary incorporation into the unit.

“Princess Tilis, I have come to request that my colleague, Tiger Man, be admitted as an occasional member of my combat group. His strength and skills can help us in the upcoming missions,” Rokugo explained, with a slight bow.

The princess looked at Tiger Man with wide, curious eyes. It was clear that the figure of a humanoid tiger surprised her, although she maintained a welcoming smile.

“My, my, Rokugo. It seems that you have some rather peculiar friends,” Tilis said, casting an amused glance. “It is a relief to see that you finally have an ally. Although, they are not planning some kind of invasion of our kingdom, are they?”

Rokugo let out a fake laugh, pretending to take the comment lightly.

“Of course not, princess. There are no such plans, I can assure you. We are here to help.”

The princess nodded, pleased with his answer, and finally accepted his request. Then, without wasting any time, she assigned the group a mission that seemed almost like a personal favor.

“Perfect, then I have a special mission for you,” Tilis continued. “I need you to hunt a Mokemoke. It is a kind of titan lobster that lives in the forbidden forest. They can grow to the size of an average human, but what makes this creature special is its meat: if you apply a special chemical to the body right after killing it, you will prevent it from evaporating, and you will be able to bring back a delicious delicacy that is highly valued in Grace.”

Rokugo nodded, grasping the purpose of the mission, and then the team, including Tiger Man, prepared to head towards the forbidden forest.

The forbidden forest was shrouded in thick gloom and an air heavy with mystery that made every step crunch underfoot. They had barely advanced when they heard the sound of gigantic pincers striking the branches. A massive Mokemoke emerged, its shell glistening in the little sunlight that filtered through the branches.

“Well, that doesn’t look so friendly,” Rokugo muttered, drawing his weapon and activating his suit.

The team prepared for battle. Tiger Man advanced nimbly, dodging the claws with ease as he tried to get closer. Snow attacked from the flank, taking advantage of any opening. Rose tried to bite the creature’s shell every time the beast turned in another direction, while Grimm uttered a curse before being thrown into a tree by one of the claws, knocked unconscious.

The battle was getting intense when, in a quick turn, Tiger Man managed to amputate one of the Mokemoke’s claws. The creature screeched loudly, backing away, but Snow didn’t waste the opportunity. With a precise movement, he launched himself at the Mokemoke and pierced its neck with his sword. He then applied the anti-evaporation chemical, making sure the flesh remained intact.

Rokugo, as he watched the creature die, let out a sigh.

“Poor guy… after all, it was just an innocent beast,” he muttered, feeling a strange remorse at the sight of the Mokemoke’s lifeless expression. Although the group celebrated the victory, he remained silent for a moment, reflecting on the fallen creature.

On the way to the Kingdom, Rokugo and his team were attacked by the Headslitters tribe, indigenous inhabitants of the Dark Forest. Though considered hostile, the Headslitters people spoke in tongues or spirit language and no one could understand them except Rokugo, whose chip in his head could translate their language.

"Rokugo, they're attacking us!" Snow shouted in despair.

Rokugo calmly replied, "Don't worry. I can understand what they're saying."

The members of the Headslitters tribe used battle axes to hunt for food and defend themselves from intruders. They covered themselves in mud to protect themselves from insects. They didn't like people entering their territory, much less Rokugo and company killing a Mokemoke.

"They don't like that we killed the Mokemoke!" Rokugo explained. "They say it's a warning."

They managed to get out of the territory safely because they were apparently seen as a warning.

Upon returning to their base, they received a message from Princess Tilis.

"Rokugo, I have an important message for you," Princess Tilis said over the video call.

Rokugo, intrigued, asked, "What's wrong, Princess?"

Princess Tilis explained, "The King of Grace refused to say the password out loud to activate the water generator. In his frustration, he ran away without providing water for his people. The password you set is 'Penis Festival.' As a result, your team will be sent to Toris's neighboring kingdom, the Water Kingdom, to negotiate a water supply as ambassadors. Tiger Man will stay in Grace to guard your house where the teleportation machine is kept secret from the entire Kingdom of Grace under the excuse that it will scare away those from the other kingdom."

To get there quickly, Rokugo traded his bad points for an all-terrain 4x4 car, which surprised Rose, Grimm, and Snow.

"What is this, Rokugo?" Snow asked, amazed.

Rokugo, with a smile, replied, "It's an all-terrain 4x4 car. It will take us to Toris quickly."

Snow commented, "This non-animal-powered vehicle looks like the 'cars' told in legends from centuries past."

Upon reaching the border with Toris, they declared their intentions to negotiate water. Upon reaching the capital, they were welcomed at the palace, saying that a banquet would be held and they would get ready.

While Rokugo and Alice put on a rather contemporary ball gown for the medieval setting of the Kingdom, Snow appeared in a very provocative dress.

"Snow, what are you doing?" asked Rokugo, surprised.

Snow, with a smile, replied, "I intend to seduce Prince Engel of Toris so that he gets carried away and I can use that to blackmail him so that the water will be free."

Rokugo warned her, "No matter how perverted a prince is, princes know how to behave in front of ambassadors to avoid international conflicts."

Rokugo saw that Snow met with Grimm, who was wearing a more formal dress in keeping with the medieval context, while Grimm appeared in a dress that would have been considered sensual about 80 years ago, walking on the carpet saying that feeling the carpet on her feet felt too good.

Rokugo made a joke: "Grimm's dress is on the verge of being provocative, it's too old-fashioned and it makes fun of Grimm, who is always on his missions in a wheelchair, here he walks but without shoes."

Grimm, sensing how Rokugo was mocking his tastes and his curse of not wearing shoes, pointed his finger asking in the name of Zenarith to take away Rokugo's libido. Rokugo, reacting quickly, moved Grimm's hand, so that the curse shot out and bounced off who knows where.

At the banquet, without a second thought, Rose pounced on the table and began devouring the food, while Alice and Rokugo tried to maintain their composure.

Meanwhile, Snow and Grimm were trying a seduction "plan" to gain the favor of the kingdom's princes. Snow for the eldest, Engel and Grimm for the youngest. However, their lack of subtlety and experience in these matters led them to a series of awkward and ridiculous situations. Prince Engel did not seem to have any interest in Snow, contrary to his reputation as a womanizing prince.

The younger prince, intrigued by Grimm, approached him and asked, "Why aren't you wearing shoes?"

Grimm, with a mystical expression, replied in a solemn tone, "For religious reasons."

Rokugo and Alice were starting to think about stabbing Grimm and pretending to feel bad to get her back before she makes a fuss and then reviving her by returning to Grace with Zenarith Temple and putting Rose to sleep with something in her food.

Rokugo, trying to remain calm, turned to Prince Engel. "Prince Engel, we are here to negotiate a water supply for the Kingdom of Grace. We need your help."

Prince Engel, with a serious look, replied, "I understand your situation. We will see what we can do."

Rokugo, with a smile, nodded. "Thank you, Prince Engel. I appreciate your understanding."

Rokugo and Alice could no longer bear the embarrassment of seeing Snow flatter Prince Engel, who was clearly uncomfortable with her attempts at seduction. Rose ate the food, bones, napkins and plates included, while Grimm wallowed in frustration at not being able to seduce anyone.

Rokugo and Alice decided to walk around the castle to clear their heads. Alice, with her robot logic, told Rokugo: "If you want a sexy, competent and loyal girl, Kisaragi's Android Xs might be an option. They are designed to meet all the needs of an agent."

It was then that something caught their attention in one of the side rooms of the castle. Behind some thick curtains, they found what looked like a homunculus generating tube, similar to the mutant conversion equipment Kisaragi used to create agents with special abilities.

“So this kingdom has its own ‘ally creation’ projects?” Rokugo muttered with a wicked smile. “Could it be that they are making sexy girls here too?”

Suddenly, a voice sounded behind them.

“You shouldn’t be here,” said the demon Heine, watching them with a suspicious expression while a young animal-like boy, Russel, stood beside her. The boy’s appearance was striking: a mix of human and chimera, with features reminiscent of Rose.

Rokugo turned around, raising an eyebrow. “Well, well, if it isn’t Grace’s demon. So you’re here too? And with a bodyguard?”

Heine snorted. “This isn’t an invasion, if you think so. We’re here seeking an alliance with the Toris Kingdom. The Demon Lord desires cooperation against Grace, not conflict.”

Alice quickly scanned Russel. “Curious fellow. He’s like an ‘enhanced’ version of Rose… or a miniature version?”

Russel, irritated, gave him a menacing look. “I’m not any ‘version’!”

Heine looked at the two of them, narrowing his eyes. “If you really are ambassadors, then I suggest you behave like one… and stop poking your noses into matters that don’t concern you.”

Rokugo just smiled back. “Relax, Heine, we were just sightseeing. Though it seems this place has more interesting secrets than I expected.”

Conflict with the eldest prince - War on the way

During an official reception, Rokugo attempted to negotiate directly with the eldest prince, but as was his wont, he took things too far and ended his "show-off" with the prince. The prince, offended and humiliated by Rokugo's arrogance, declared war on Kisaragi and his allies in retaliation.

Alice sighed, noticing how Rokugo's attempts at diplomacy always ended in disaster.

"Why do you always have to make things worse? We have two kingdoms at war against us now," Alice said, massaging her temples.

Rokugo shrugged, completely unconcerned.

"Bah, it's more fun this way. Besides, isn't it exciting that everyone is against us? That just means more bad points for me!"

Kisaragi's team, now embroiled in an unplanned war and surrounded by enemies on all sides, would face new challenges. However, as always, Rokugo and his companions seemed to take the situation with a mix of arrogance, nonchalance, and chaos… Kisaragi's hallmark.

Scene: The safari car and Grimm's misfortunes

A couple of weeks after arriving in the desert, Kisaragi's team found themselves traveling across a vast expanse of sand in a safari car that Rokugo had "redeemed" from his catalog. The vehicle was a rudimentary model, with a loud engine, thick wheels, and a design that could traverse the most difficult terrain. Even though Alice had warned about the dangers of the desert, she couldn't help but feel a certain fascination with how easily Rokugo managed to get useful "stuff" out of his bad points.

Grimm, on the other hand, was enjoying the speed of the trip. The wind blew in her face as she clung to the edge of the vehicle, completely excited by the adrenaline. The girl was so elated that she didn't even notice the bumps in the terrain.

“Wooooo! This is the most fun I’ve ever had in my entire life!” Grimm shouted, laughing out loud as he felt the wind ruffle his hair.

Rokugo watched her through the rearview mirror, slightly worried.

“Grimm, be careful, this isn’t an amusement park, huh?”

But before he could say anything else, the car made a huge jump as it hit a bump in the sand, and Grimm was thrown out of the vehicle like a projectile, landing violently on the ground.

“GRIIIIIMMM!” Alice screamed, horrified.

Grimm lay on the sand, motionless. The others quickly looked back, but what they found was not encouraging. Some titan wolves that were roaming the desert pounced on Grimm’s body, starting to attack her with their enormous jaws.

Rokugo wasted no time. He quickly jumped out of the vehicle and ran towards her in hopes of saving her, but it was too late. The scene was brutal, and there was nothing they could do to prevent it.

However, before long, Grimm's resurrection was ready,

Grimm appeared again, completely restored, as if nothing had happened.

"I don't want to see that again!" Grimm screamed, clearly traumatized. "The wolves were going to eat me! And they didn't even let me enjoy the car!"

Rokugo, who had already begun to get used to his resurrections, He looked at her calmly and then turned to Alice.

“Well, since you’re alive, why don’t we go look for those water nuts? At least we can get something useful out of all this.”

In Search of the Water Nuts

After what seemed like an eternity in the desert, they finally arrived at the place where the water nuts supposedly grew. These nuts, which were actually a kind of giant fruit containing compressed water, were vital to surviving in that arid desert.

“Here they are!” Snow shouted as she held up a pair of water nuts, with a smile of victory.

As Snow excitedly went ahead collecting the water nuts with all the energy of a heroine eager to return triumphant, Grimm complained about every step she took on the hot sand.

“This is horrible… How do you expect me to walk in this desert on the hot sand?” she murmured, with a grimace of displeasure as she tried to move her feet on the sand.

Rokugo laid down on the ground to rest for a bit, not showing the slightest sign of exhaustion. The desert seemed endless, and the scorching temperatures weren't helping the group's morale.

Rokugo sat up, stretching lazily, and watched her.

"Alright, Grimm. Since we found them, why don't you take a little break?" he said, smiling mischievously.

"Relax, Grimm, let Snow do all the work. We can just sit back and relax, can't we?"

Grimm blinked, intrigued, and nodded slowly. But the moment she settled down, she felt Rokugo's hands gripping her shoulders tightly.

"A-Ah! What are you doing?!" Grimm cried, as she tried to struggle free.

Rokugo looked at Alice with a calculating smile.

—Alice, redeem some bad points and bring some socks, I want to do a little test with our priestess here.

Alice, unfazed, agreed and took out a pair of socks from the inventory. Meanwhile, Grimm, seeing Rokugo's intentions, panicked and began to squirm, giving him a good headbutt on the nose in his attempt to break free.

Grimm immediately squirmed, staring in panic at Rokugo.

—No, no, no! If you put shoes on me, I'm going to explode! It's a curse!

—he screamed, hitting his head, as if that could stop Rokugo.

Rokugo, with a mocking smile, raised an eyebrow and glared at Alice.

—What do you think, Alice? Do you put the shoes on him or do I save myself some drama?

—No, no, no! Let me go! I'm telling you, if I put those socks on, I'm going to explode! —she screamed, writhing in a fit of despair.

Alice, with her cold android logic, ignored Grimm's screams and began to put the socks on his feet, while explaining:

—This "curse" is a mere psychological manifestation. The chances of explosion are practically nonexistent.

Grimm, on the verge of tears, looked around and began to scream Grimm, seeing Rokugo's intentions, panicked and fought against his strength, trying to break free. He hit Rokugo's nose with his head, but Rokugo was stronger.

"No, please don't do this! If you put shoes on me, I'll explode," Grimm begged desperately.

Alice, with her robot logic, ignored him. "Grimm's curse isn't real, it's psychological," Alice said as she put the socks on Grimm's feet.

Grimm, desperate, screamed, "What's wrong with you? Rose, Snow, help, HELP!"

Rose, who was busy collecting water nuts, looked up and saw the situation. She frowned and walked towards Grimm.

"What's going on? Why is Grimm yelling like that?"

"He's cursing us," Alice explained.

"Why?" Rose asked.

"Because Rokugo tried socks."

Rose looked at Rokugo with a stern look. "That's evil. You can't put socks on him, he'd explode."

"Oh, come on, Rose. It's just a little harmless fun," Rokugo said with a smile.

"It's not harmless if it makes Grimm cry," Rose replied.

"But it's funny," Rokugo argued.

"It's not funny if it makes Grimm cry," Rose insisted.

"But it's just a joke," Rokugo said.

"It's not a joke if it makes Grimm cry," Rose said firmly.

Rokugo sighed and gave up. "Okay, I won't put any more socks on him."

Grimm, relieved, stopped crying and thanked Rokugo. "Thank you, Rokugo. I'm sorry I tried to curse you."

Rokugo smiled and patted him on the head. "It's okay, Grimm. I forgive you."

Grimm smiled and hugged Rokugo. "Thank you so much, Rokugo. You're the best!"

Rose rolled her eyes and shook her head. "You two are so weird."

Grimm and Rokugo laughed and continued collecting water nuts.

The End

mole titan

A strong tremor shook the ground. In an instant, the sand began to collapse, and a colossal figure emerged from the earth, throwing clouds of dust and debris around. A giant titan mole, with hardened skin and red eyes filled with fury, emerged in front of them, so large that its presence obscured the sun.

“Uhhh… guys… I think… we just woke up the Sand King,” Snow muttered, observing the titan with a mix of surprise and terror.

“That’s not a good sign!” Alice shouted as the monster lunged towards them.

The monster let out a deep roar, which echoed like thunder across the desert. Snow, without thinking twice, jumped towards the vehicle.

“Get in quickly! It’ll crush us!”

They all climbed into the safari car, and Rokugo stepped on the accelerator as the gigantic titan mole chased them at full speed, its body causing earthquakes with each step. With a sharp turn, they tried to escape down a dune, but at the last moment, the titan jumped on them, crushing the vehicle under its weight.

As the titan disappeared beneath the sand, Rokugo watched the remains of the safari car with dismay.

“Well… there goes our transport. And, great, I don’t have enough bad points to redeem another one.”

Alice crossed her arms and let out a robotic sigh.

“Well, I guess we’ll just have to walk back.”

“We’re going to have to walk! Brace yourselves, because this is going to be a long trip!”

By the way, Mr. Rokugo, how do you plan on collecting the bad points needed for our next vehicle?”

Rokugo sighed, looking out at the desert horizon with resignation.

“I guess we can always do something…”

“This isn’t right!” Grimm complained, sweating profusely. “I’m going to melt out here!”

Walking under the scorching desert sun, each step seemed to steal their breath. The heat was so intense that even the shade beneath their feet seemed to evaporate. After several days of aimlessness, insufficient water, and exhaustion, the team decided to begin traveling at night. During the day, they took shelter in a compressible Kisaragi tent, designed to withstand extreme heat.

Grimm, shoeless and increasingly exhausted, was soon unable to walk anymore. Rose ended up carrying her on her shoulders, and though Grimm tried to stay cheerful, it became harder for her to bear the heat by the hour. After days of struggling in such conditions, exhaustion finally took its toll.

One night, as they rested in the tent, Grimm, pale and limp, simply stopped moving.

Alice checked Grimm's pulse and quietly confirmed,

"She didn't survive the heatstroke. Grimm… she's dead."

The news left the group silent. A thick tension settled in the tent. Despite Grimm's special nature and the fact that under normal circumstances she could return, the aimless, resourceless days had begun to take their toll on everyone's minds.

Rokugo noticed Rose looking at Grimm's body in a peculiar way. The days without water and desperation had made them think of extreme options, though none of them dared to say it out loud. Then, in a burst of instinct, Rose tried to bite Grimm's hand.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Rokugo yanked her away, pushing her firmly. "We're not going to do this! She can still revive… we just need to get her to Zenarith Temple."

Nights in the desert were their only salvation. Despite the lower temperatures, exhaustion and thirst had already taken a toll on their bodies and morale. Desperation was mounting, and Rokugo's evil point counter remained dangerously low.

“Please, Commander!” Snow said one night, desperate and trying to be helpful. “You can use me to earn evil points! I promise to do whatever it takes!”

Rokugo sighed, frustrated. While Snow's offer seemed to have potential, it wasn't working. The counter still didn't react; mutual consent took away the “evil” effect needed to score points.

At another point, Rokugo even tried to look under Grimm's skirt in a last-ditch attempt to score points, but the “dead” woman's lack of reaction also left the counter intact.

Eventually, Snow and Alice agreed that they would retreat a little further away with the Grimm body that night, "coincidentally" leaving Rose alone with Rokugo in the tent. Rokugo sat down with a sigh, convinced that maybe he would have a quiet night.

"I'm so hungry that… if I don't eat something soon… I might start seeing you as food, Commander," Rose muttered quietly with a sharp-toothed smile.

Rokugo arched an eyebrow, thinking that Rose had a terrible way of flirting. He tried to smooth things over.

"Hey, Rose… I don't want to break your heart, but… there's an age difference between us."

However, before he could continue speaking,

Rose, with hungry eyes and pent-up frustration, looked at Rokugo.

“I am Special Agent 6, Rokugo of the Kisaragi Corporation… and now, I will get my bad points on you!” he shouted, ready to use the situation to his advantage.

Grunts and blows could be heard from the other side of the tent. The scene was a chaos of blows and struggles, where Rokugo tried to subdue Rose, who, driven by hunger, fought like a wild beast.

Minutes later, Alice and Snow returned to see Rose unconscious on the ground and Rokugo completely bruised, with bloody knuckles but a triumphant smile on his face.

“Look at that!” said Rokugo, showing the full bad points counter. “We have enough to exchange water and a new vehicle!”

Alice and Snow sighed in relief, and with the bad points, they exchanged a new vehicle and a supply of water. As soon as they arrived at the kingdom of Tilis, they first went to eat without stopping and then took Grimm's body to the temple of Zenarith, hoping that at least this trip would leave them with some lesson... although being Kisaragi's team, that seemed doubtful.

—I will never walk on sand again! I swear - Grimm would say

Destroyer

The return to the castle was chaotic. Rokugo's group, tired and covered in desert dust, barely made it through the castle doors before a scream echoed through the halls. Princess Tilis, in all her glory, was waiting for them, furious.

"Where's the water?" she asked, looking disdainfully at the group of adventurers crawling in.

Rokugo, who had been on the verge of falling from exhaustion, paused for a moment and cast a tired glance at his companions.

"Well, that's a bit complicated..." he began to say, but the princess immediately interrupted him.

"Don't give me excuses, Rokugo!" she shouted, frowning. "They didn't bring water!! The truce with Heine is about to end, and yet we're still here as if nothing had happened!"

Alice, who seemed to have maintained an ironic calm throughout the trip, looked at the calendar on the wall and frowned at the dates marked on it.

“That’s true…” Alice muttered. “The time for the truce is running out. We’re in trouble if we don’t get something soon.”

Rokugo shrugged with a slight smile.

“Nothing to worry about, I have a plan, as always. We just… need to get some rest, okay?”

Princess Tilis glared at them, but saw the determination in Rokugo’s eyes. After a long sigh, she spoke again.

“Alright! I don’t have time for any more nonsense,” she ordered in an authoritative tone. “Investigate Heine and the chimera child, Russel. Apparently, the two of them are into something fishy. Track them down and find out what they’re up to. We can’t afford to lose the truce.”

Investigating the Ancient Construction

The weretiger, who had been silent for much of the trip, finally couldn’t contain his frustration.

“I want to explore the ruins too, nya!” —he complained, looking enviously at Alice as she manipulated the vehicle's controls.

Alice gave him a quick glance before answering in her calculating tone.

—The ruins were invaded by the Demon Lord and Toris. They're coming to fight Grace, so it's not a place for a group of lazy soldiers like us to wander into. You'll need to lead a group of soldiers into Grace's Forest, while we go ahead to the ruins to look for the 'ancient weapon.'

The tiger man growled quietly, clearly unhappy with the answer, but he knew Alice was right. He couldn't help but feel jealous of those who had the chance to explore.

—It seems unfair to me, nya! But it's okay! I'll fight those demons in the forest!

Meanwhile, the group continued their journey towards the ruins. In the vehicle, the atmosphere was tense. Rose, who hadn't said much along the way, finally broke the silence with a question that was burning on her tongue.

“Why did you rub your exhibitionism in the prince’s face, Commander?” she said, looking at Rokugo with a raised eyebrow. “You’re a real fool, you know that?”

Rokugo, somewhat embarrassed, tried to defend himself.

“That wasn’t my intention! It’s not like I have a great combat strategy, you know? Besides, you… you can be very cruel, Rose. Don’t forget that on our previous mission you tried to eat me alive, literally!”

Rose shrugged, as if she didn’t care in the slightest.

“I don’t remember. I had been too hungry back then.”

Snow, who had been silent for a while, suddenly started sobbing, her face covered by her hands as tears fell uncontrollably.

“They withheld my salary! I can’t stand it!” she sobbed, almost in desperation.

Alice, unable to bear Snow’s cries any longer, sighed in resignation.

—Okay, Snow. If you're useful on this mission, I'll subsidize you, like I do with Rokugo. I don't want any more crying.

Snow, with eyes full of hope, immediately threw himself into Alice's arms, shouting with happiness.

—Thank you! Thank you! You're the best!

The hug was so sudden and full of emotion that it almost caused the vehicle to overturn. Alice, surprised by the gesture, had to brake suddenly, with an almost mechanical expression, trying to keep control of the steering wheel.

—Careful, Snow! —she shouted, as the vehicle turned dangerously.

But, despite all the chaos, Alice managed to stabilize the vehicle. When the situation returned to normal, the atmosphere was tense again, but somehow, everyone felt a little more relieved.

The caravan continued on its way, crossing the desert under the starry sky. Each with their own thoughts and internal struggles, but at least for a moment, Kisaragi's team had some hope for what the future held for them… though they knew that, as always, nothing that happened would be easy.

The journey continued under the scorching desert sun, and the atmosphere in Kisaragi's vehicle had grown heavier as tensions between the group members rose. While Alice drove, Rokugo decided to try a conversation.

with Snow, who sat nearby, still muttering quietly about money and what she had lost.

“Money isn’t everything in life, Snow,” Rokugo commented, smiling calmly as he looked out at the desert horizon. “The most important thing is to enjoy life, to take advantage of what you have at the moment.”

Snow, eyes still shining with tears, stared at him, but didn’t share his perspective.

“Money is everything!” she replied, her tone filled with an intensity that surprised Rokugo. “For money I would kill anyone, even my acquaintances, my peers, my parents who I never met. I would do it without thinking twice!”

Rokugo was silent for a moment, looking at Snow. The sincerity in her eyes gave him a strange feeling. For an instant, he thought she might be joking, but something in her gaze told him no. She wasn’t joking.

Alice, who had been listening to the conversation, couldn't help but chime in with her usual cynical tone.

"You're a piece of trash, Snow," she said without thinking too much, her tone unforgiving.

Rokugo, somewhat taken aback by Alice's crudeness, muttered in Japanese so Snow couldn't understand.

"Snow could be of use in Kisaragi, perhaps," he said, looking at Alice, who looked at him with disdain.

"She's not bad enough," Alice replied indifferently. "She's just a cretin, greedy, broke... and she sinks lower every day."

Snow, not understanding a word of Japanese, assumed Alice was praising her for the way they spoke. She smiled, satisfied with her misinterpretation.

"Yeah! I know! I'm great!" she said cheerfully, feeling more important than she really was, unaware that Alice had just rated her negatively.

Finally, the vehicle came within a distance of the ruins, and all of the team members felt a chill as they looked at the gigantic structure that rose before them. The civilization that had built these ruins was as advanced as Kisaragi. The structure looked like an ancient manufacturing center, and something about its appearance, with automated systems still in operation, gave the impression that it was on defense. The team members knew that this was not just any facility, but a military weapons complex that the inhabitants of planet 407 had never imagined.

Alice observed the structure through binoculars, her eyes narrowed as she read the lips of two figures emerging from the facility: Heine, the demon, and Russel, the chimera boy.

“It seems that they are close to disabling the traps,” Alice said quietly, her gaze fixed on Heine’s lips. “They are about to claim the weapon that is inside.”

Rokugo watched silently as the information processed in his mind. He knew that his mission had just become more complicated. They had little time and a clear objective, but the traps and obstacles were far more dangerous than they could have anticipated.

The darkness of night had enveloped the ruins, and Kisaragi's group was camping at a safe distance. The last rays of the sun had disappeared, and the silence of the desert took over the atmosphere, only interrupted by the occasional crackle of the campfire. Grimm, who had just awakened from his forced rest, raised his head, feeling his strength slowly returning to his body.

"We should act now, while it's still night," Grimm suggested in a deep voice, his gaze fixed on the ruins in the distance. "If we attack before dawn, our powers will be at their maximum, and we can take advantage of stealth."

Rokugo, who was sitting near the fire, watched Grimm with a cold, distant expression.

"Your last mission did nothing, Grimm," he replied, almost as if he didn't care in the slightest.

Grimm frowned, his face hardening in frustration.

“What?! Are you saying I didn’t do anything?!” His tone turned sarcastic. “I’m much more useful than you think, Rokugo!”

Rokugo didn’t flinch. His gaze remained fixed, distant.

“Do what you want, Grimm, but we’re not here to play your games,” he said indifferently, making it clear that his opinion wouldn’t change.

Grimm’s anger increased, and he was about to answer, when Snow, who had been listening to the conversation, intervened.

“What if we take advantage of the fact that Heine and Russel are asleep?” he suggested in a low voice, looking in the direction of the sleeping figures near the ruins. “There are only a few orcs as guards. We can go kill them while they sleep.”

Snow’s proposal paralyzed Grimm for a moment. He didn't like the idea of ​​attacking someone while they were sleeping, but something in her eyes made him reconsider.

"That doesn't seem right to me," Grimm said, his voice filled with discomfort.

Rose, who had been silent until that moment, quickly intervened to stop the suggestion.

"Don't do that, Snow!" she said in a sharp tone. "Don't be influenced by what a bad person Rokugo is. N

Or we can be so cruel.

Rokugo, hearing this, laughed in a contemptuous manner.

“That plan is very boring, but still, rest,” he said, dismissing Snow’s suggestion as if it were of no importance. “It is best for Heine and Russel to take out all the traps in the ruins first. Then we will follow them and, when they are tired, we will attack them from behind.”

Rokugo’s words were like a spark that ignited the anger of Grimm, Rose and Snow.

“What?!” Grimm exclaimed, indignant. “Are we going to wait for them to get tired to attack them from behind? That is not a strategy!”

Snow, frowning, also showed his disapproval, while Rose seemed even more disgusted by Rokugo’s attitude.

“This is absurd,” Rose said in a scathing tone. “I never thought Commander Rokugo was such a coward. What is wrong with him?”

But Rokugo, unfazed, gave them a challenging look.

“The plan is the plan,” he said coldly, not caring about his companions’ opinions. “Once we’re inside, we’ll see how everything plays out. In the meantime, rest.”

The next day, the team discreetly entered the ruins. Rokugo, with his characteristic air of confidence, looked at the structures with a mixture of amazement and disapproval.

“These ruins…” he commented quietly, looking at the lights of the turned-on spotlights that seemed to come out of a science fiction movie. “It’s like we’re inside a movie from the future.”

Alice, who heard him, frowned as she walked behind him.

“Yes, the ruins are impressive, but my hypothesis still stands: this civilization disappeared due to wars. There is no other explanation for so much destruction.”

Rokugo nodded slowly, but seemed more interested in the path than in the conversation.

Rose, for her part, looked around, with a strange feeling in her chest. Her eyes scanned every corner, as if the place was familiar to her, despite having never been there.

“You know?” she said quietly, almost to herself. “These ruins… they seem so familiar. Like I’ve seen them before, or perhaps, like I’ve once felt them close.”

“This place…” she said quietly, looking at the high concrete and metal walls.

“Then we better be careful,” Rokugo said, adjusting his weapons belt. “Do you know if there are traps?”

Alice nodded, looking at the still-operational security cameras.

“What’s left of this place seems to be in perfect condition, but if something’s wrong, we won’t know until it touches us.”

Rokugo frowned. Something inside her told her there was more than met the eye.

Kisaragi’s group continued their stealthy advance through the complex, but Snow was distracted, visibly uneasy. Her eyes eagerly scanned every corner, searching for something useful, something valuable.

“Do you think any of this technology could be worth anything on the market?” Snow asked, clearly desperate. Her hands kept fidgeting, searching for some piece she could take with her.

Alice, walking a few steps ahead, watched as Snow tried to scrape and pry pieces off an old robot lying on the floor, covered in dust and rust. Its circuits were crackling, but most of the machines were idle due to lack of maintenance.

“Those robots are worthless,” Alice said with a frustrated sigh. “They’re too broken, Snow. I don’t think you can sell something like that.”

But Snow didn’t seem ready to give up. She lifted a part of one of the robots’ arms, trying to stuff it into her backpack.

“You’ve got to start somewhere!” she exclaimed, clearly convinced she could find some way to get something out of it.

In the distance, in the shadows, Heine and Russel continued their work, cautiously advancing through the ruins. Both of them deactivated security robots with ease, but they did so in an almost... playful way. As Russel dodged a trap, Heine pushed him aside with a smile.

“Careful, little one!” Heine laughed, his tone clearly protective. Russel, although young, did not seem intimidated by the situation. He smiled as he stood up, looking at her as if she were his older sister.

“I'm coming! I'm not that little!” Russel replied with a mischievous smile, before activating a trap and causing the robot to disintegrate in a cloud of sparks.

Rokugo, who was watching the scene from a distance, noticed something interesting. His gaze focused on Russel, watching intently what was happening.

“Do you see that?” Rokugo said, his tone serious. That child... has the ability to generate water, and furthermore, he seems to be able to heal Heine.

Alice, who had been paying attention as well, frowned.

"That might be useful..." she murmured thoughtfully.

Heine, however, paused for a moment and, while looking at Russel with a warm gaze, began to talk to him.

"Russel, Lord Demo's plan “Your only option is to use your abilities to destroy the Sand King Mole Titan,” Heine said seriously. “But even if you do, I won’t let you die in the process. No one else has the right to take your life.”

Kisaragi’s team, hiding behind some fallen columns, listened to the entire conversation. Rokugo, watching with a calculating expression, turned to Grimm and woke her up with a sharp shake.

“Grimm, curse them. Take away their magic so they die in a trap,” Rokugo said, coldly and showing no mercy.

Grimm, stunned, turned to him, her face reflecting a mix of disbelief and disdain.

“It won’t work,” she said, in a tense whisper. “The cursed one has to know what’s affecting him for the curse to take effect. If not, it won’t do anything.”

Rokugo stared at her, his expression unfazed.

“I don’t care. Do it anyway. If it doesn’t work, we’ll have time to come up with another plan.”

Rose, who had been listening silently, quickly approached Rokugo, looking at the other team members with concern.

“Don’t do it!” Rose exclaimed, almost pleadingly. “Heine and Russel are trying so hard! They don’t deserve that.”

Snow, though equally displeased, remained silent for a moment, thoughtful. In the end, she spoke with a cold gaze.

“It’s what we must do… If Rokugo says so, it must be for a reason,” she said, with false calm. “Besides, when I finish this mission, Alice will give me a bonus, right?”

Alice, hearing Snow’s words, raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly.

“Yes, I will. But don’t do it for the bonus, Snow. Do it because it’s what must be done.”

Rokugo, watching it all, seemed satisfied for the moment, while Heine and Russel continued with their work, unaware of the tension building between the team members.

The Confrontation

As they approached the main entrance, Heine had formed a strategy to disable the security barriers, while Russel was more interested in the internal controls.

“You’re going to need my help to get in, aren’t you?” Heine said with a cold smile as he threw a controlled explosive that destroyed part of the security door.

“Let me do it,” Russel replied, looking at the huge screens that lit up around him. “I found what I was looking for!”

Rokugo and the girls, staying a few feet away, watched in silence. There wasn’t much they could do for the moment.

“What do we do now?” Rose asked, looking towards the construction.

“Nothing.” “Rokugo said, his eyes fixed on Russel’s figure, who had already approached a giant robot inside the facility.

The air was thick with tension as Heine and Russel continued forward into the ruins, passing through dark corridors and avoiding traps. Eventually, they came to a large underground chamber where, in the center, rested a gigantic human figure, covered in a layer of dust and cobwebs. It was a robot, but not just any robot. The structure, of colossal proportions, seemed to have been tailor-made to face the titans. It had the body of a warrior, with heavy armor and weapons systems that showed a primitive but effective design.

“This… is this what we were looking for?” Russel asked, his voice filled with wonder and fascination as he approached the robot.

Heine watched the machine in silence, his face serious. When he spoke, his voice sounded somewhat bitter.

“It seems so…” he said, sighing. “An ancient war machine.” Designed to take on the Titans. It was probably designed in a time when humanity was still struggling to survive.

Russel, who had been examining the robot, tensed upon hearing his words. He turned to Heine, his expression of anger unable to be hidden.

“You know what?” Russel said, almost whispering in fury. “I hate humans. They are the ones who have dragged us into all this, the ones who condemned us to live this cursed existence. No matter how many of us die, they always die because of some stupid cause of the humans.”

Heine looked at him sadly. His normally cold eyes softened as he answered.

“I don’t hate humans,” he said firmly. “They are not all the same, Russel. Only… one. Grace’s commander, Rokugo. That is the one I hate. He is the one who made us go through so many humiliations. He is responsible for everything that has happened to us.”

Russel was silent for a moment, pondering Heine's words. Finally, he walked over to the robot's console and began to examine it rapidly, searching for some way to activate it. His fingers pressed buttons and slid levers, but the system seemed to have been dormant for a long time.

Suddenly, a shadow slipped behind him, and without warning, a loud crash sent him reeling. Before he could react, a hand landed on his shoulder. Rokugo's cold voice echoed in his ears.

"Not so fast, n"Boy."

Heine reacted instantly, turning to face Rokugo, who, along with Alice, Snow, Rose, and Grimm, appeared on the other side of the room, surrounding Russel and Heine.

"Damn cheaters!" Heine exclaimed, his face distorted with anger. "Have you been following us all this time? Are you that desperate to take advantage of our fatigue?"

Rokugo, unfazed, took a step forward and smirked.

"Surprise. I'm the bad guy," he said, sarcastically.

Alice, on the other hand, looked worried at seeing Russel still conscious but weak.

"His pulse is low. He needs first aid, Rokugo," Alice said, looking at the boy with some compassion, although he tried to hide it.

Rokugo, visibly upset, turned to her quickly.

"First aid? Quick, Alice! Do it."

Alice approached Russel and began to treat him carefully. Meanwhile, Snow, Rose, and Grimm exchanged regretful glances. They weren't so sure this was the right way to do things.

When Russel regained consciousness, his gaze met Rokugo's, who was watching him with a sadistic smile.

"Get up," Rokugo ordered. "Finish releasing the machine."

Russel, with difficulty, stood up and, although he felt weak, walked towards the robot. His hands trembled slightly as he activated the last of the controls. As the robot's systems began to come to life, a bright red light illuminated the room. However, as the robot's figure stood up, something unexpected happened.

Russel, with a flash of determination in his eyes, ran towards the metal structure and, instead of activating the weapons, began to climb inside the robot. Within a couple of minutes, Russel was completely inside the robot's system, controlling its movements with surprising skill.

Heine, watching the scene, prepared for the inevitable. In one movement, he threw a stone he had kept in his bag and, in the blink of an eye, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke, teleporting out of the room.

Rokugo, surprised by the speed of the change, looked up, and saw how the giant robot stood before him, with Russel now piloting it.

“Damn it!” Rokugo shouted, raising his voice. “This doesn’t end here!”

But the giant, with his enormous fists clenched, was preparing to face Rokugo, who was completely vulnerable in front of the war machine.

Russel, from inside the robot, looked down with a smile full of defiance.

“It’s time for them to pay for everything they did.”

“You’ll see what I can do now!” Russel shouted as the robot stood up and began to move its enormous arms.

Within seconds, the giant robot began to destroy the building, disintegrating the walls and activating defense systems that could barely keep up with it. Laser shots and rockets began to fly all over the place.

Rokugo watched the scene silently, knowing that it was time to act.

“Girls, get on the ground,” he said, without turning to them.

Quickly, Rokugo charged towards the robot, preparing one of his special weapons to attack. His chainsaw appeared in his hand and, with a violent twist, he cut off the energy mechanism that powered the robot. However, Russel did not give up and began to attack Rokugo from the robot's cockpit.

“You can't stop me! I'm going to get my revenge!” Russel shouted as the robot staggered, partially destroyed by Rokugo's attack.

But, before the robot completely fell, Rokugo took a step back, seeing Russel's path to victory crumble. The robot fell to the ground, causing a small explosion that collapsed part of the facility.

Chaos and the Final Truce

Chaos reigned in the area as Rokugo and the girls ran out of the facility, the echoes of destruction ringing in their ears. When the energy barrier was deactivated, calm returned to the area, but not without leaving behind great damage.

Rokugo, breathing heavily, turned to Alice.

“How about we tell the princess all this? The truce with Heine is going to end, and soon they will be looking for a new war. And if that happens, I am not sure we can stop Russel.”

Alice nodded, looking at the smoking remains of the giant robot.

“You are right. The truce is about to end, and things are only going to get worse from here.”

Rokugo looked at his companions, and with a smile full of disdain, he muttered.

“Yes, this is far from our happy ending.”

Scene: The Curse Rebounds and Kisaragi's Destroyer

Russel's robot, now unstable, began to falter after Rokugo's attacks. The gigantic metallic being partially fell to the ground with a crash that echoed throughout the facility. The tremendous explosion that followed disintegrated more walls and collapsed structures, but Russel did not relent. He was determined to take revenge on everyone who had underestimated him.

—No! You can stop me! I'm the last of my kind! —Russel shouted from the cockpit of the robot, his voice filtered through the giant's communication system.

Grimm, who had been watching everything from the shadows, took advantage of a moment of distraction. She was already tired of seeing Russel get away with it, and without much thought, she extended her hand into the air, reciting a dark spell.

—Curse of debris! May your head be hit by the falling debris, right now!

A flash of black energy shot through the air towards Russel, and everyone waited to see if the curse would take effect. However, what happened was much stranger than Grimm had anticipated.

A rebound of energy returned to her, causing the curse to bounce back. The explosion of dark energy hit Grimm squarely, causing his body to be pushed back with great force.

—Aah! —Grimm screamed, falling to the ground with a loud thud. She squirmed from the impact, but managed to get back on her feet. “What the hell!? I’ve never had anything like this happen before!”

Alice, observing the strange phenomenon, rolled her eyes and commented wryly, “What happened is that the curse has rebounded.”

Meanwhile, Rokugo didn’t have much time to reflect on what had just happened. Russel’s robot was still active, and was about to cause more chaos.

“What do we do now?” Rose asked, looking at the mess.

Rokugo, seeing that the options were narrowing down, didn’t hesitate.

“There’s no time for nonsense,” he said, looking at Alice. “How many negative points do I have?”

Alice didn’t have to look twice at the records, as she had been watching Rokugo’s performance closely.

“You have enough negative points to do something great. But don’t forget about the consequences.” Alice put on a serious tone. “Negative points can destroy you if you don’t know how to handle them.”

Rokugo didn't seem to hesitate.

"I have no choice. I'm going to use them all!"

With a mechanical noise and the activation of a special rune on his arm, Rokugo channeled all of his negative points into a single action. A dark glow surrounded his body as his power grew, altering the environment around them.

The dark energy began to gather in his hands as he walked towards the center of the facility. Russel's robot, still operating, continued to advance in its destruction, and a maniacal laugh from Russel echoed from within the cockpit.

"You're underestimating me! I'm invincible!" he shouted, as he pressed the controls in fury.

But what Russel didn't know was that, while he was distracted by his power, an even greater power was forming in the air. Rokugo summoned the ancient design of a destroyer robot, created by the Kisaragi, a colossal mechanical being known as The Destroyer.

Alice, seeing what was happening, exclaimed: According to Agent 22's records, the original Destroyer was a massive spider machine. But... this one is much bigger.

Rokugo, seeing the creation taking shape, did not hesitate for another second. The Destroyer, in its new version, began to rise from the remains of the destroyed facility. A gigantic mechanical body, over 10 meters tall, with mechanical legs and arms, slowly rose. The force of its presence caused the vibrations of the ground to resonate like an earthquake.

Russel, seeing the Destroyer, stopped laughing.

"What the hell is that?!" he shouted, scared, realizing that now he was not the one controlling the power.

Rokugo looked at the Destroyer, which was now heading towards Russel with incredible force. At that moment, Agent 22's memories came to his mind. During the time the agent was in his world, he had gathered information about the Destroyer, an artifact of destruction.

“Let’s show them who’s in charge here.” Rokugo smiled with a mix of arrogance and danger. “And that includes Toris.”

With the Destroyer under control, Rokugo aimed at Russel’s robot, causing the metal colossus to advance towards him with a mechanical roar, as the battle for the future of his world began to take a new turn.

After Russel's defeat, the atmosphere had calmed down momentarily, though tension was still simmering. With Kisaragi's Destroyer still causing echoes on the battlefield, Rokugo and his group began to regroup. Victory was on their side, but that didn't mean things were going to be easy. They took Russel as a prisoner of war, and made sure his future was sealed.

"Take him away," Rokugo ordered as he looked at Russel, who was tied up and tired, with a blank look, as if he couldn't process what had happened. "The Tiger Man is waiting for you."

Russel raised his head, his eyes reflecting fear. He didn't know who this Tiger Man was, but the vibe emanating from him was unsettling. Rokugo's laughter, like a snake about to strike, was the only thing that made him even more afraid.

"Believe me, if you don't cooperate, there's no turning back." Rokugo smiled at him, revealing a dangerous look. Just imagine what could happen if the Tiger has something in mind. I think he likes you… but, not in the way you would like.

Russel paled. The thought of being alone with the Tiger Man, whose energy oscillated between dangerous and creepy, left him paralyzed with terror.

Alice, who watched the scene with a certain indifference, murmured:

“I think you have crossed the line. This guy has the vibe of someone who clearly enjoys the suffering of others. But I can't deny that it is an effective tactic.”

As Russel was dragged towards his destination, the girls returned to the city that they had partially cleaned after the battle, but now there was a new event on the horizon: the Festival of the unDead.

"The Undead Festival is coming soon," Alice announced as she looked at the sky, which was filled with clouds.

"Yes, I know," Grimm replied, her eyes half-closed. "It's my job to prepare the stuffed animals and supervise the festival."

"I see," Rokugo said, looking at Grimm, who seemed to be in a daze. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Grimm shook her head. "No, I can handle it. I just need to get some rest."

"Okay," Rokugo said, nodding. "If you need anything, just let me know."

As Rokugo turned to leave, Grimm suddenly called out to him.

"Hey, Rokugo! Can you help me sew some of these stuffed animals?" she asked, holding up a pile of fabric.

Rokugo hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "Sure, I'll help you out."

"Great!" Grimm said, smiling. "Thanks, Rokugo!"

As Rokugo helped Grimm sew the stuffed animals, he couldn't help but notice that she seemed to be in a better mood than usual. Maybe it was because she was preparing for the festival, or maybe it was because she had someone to help her. Either way, he was glad to be able to contribute in some small way.

After they finished sewing the stuffed animals, Grimm thanked Rokugo and sent him on his way. As he walked back to his room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. It wasn't often that he got to do something nice for someone else, and it made him feel good to be able to help out.

But little did he know, things were about to take a dark turn.

The next day, as the Undead Festival was about to begin, Grimm was preparing the stuffed animals for distribution when suddenly, a group of zombies emerged from the shadows.

"What the hell?! Zombies?!" Grimm shouted, drawing her sword and charging at them.

But to her horror, the zombies were not afraid of her. Instead, they charged at her with wild eyes and open mouths, ready No! This isn't happening!" Grimm screamed, swinging her sword wildly. But no matter how hard she fought, the zombies kept coming.

Finally, Grimm realized that she was in over her head. She needed backup, and fast. So, she did the only thing she could think of: she performed an exorcism on the area, causing a bright light to flash across the sky and sending the zombies flying in all directions.

But to her horror, the light didn't just affect the zombies. It also affected her. And as she fell to the ground, unconscious, she knew that something was wrong.

When she woke up, she found herself lying on a stone altar in Zenarith's temple. The priestesses were surrounding her, looking worried.

"Grimm! You're awake!" one of them exclaimed, relief flooding her features.

"Where am I?" Grimm asked, looking around dazedly.

"You're in Zenarith's temple," the priestess explained. "We found you unconscious outside the city gates. We thought you were dead."

"Oh," Grimm said, feeling a chill run down her spine. "What happened?"

"We're not sure," the priestess admitted. "But we think you might have used too much power during your exorcism. Your body couldn't handle it."

"My body?" Grimm repeated, feeling a strange sensation in her chest. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you know how you've been undead for so long?" the priestess asked hesitantly. "We think that when you performed the exorcism, you took away your own resurrection ability."

"My own resurrection ability?" Grimm repeated, feeling a cold sweat break out on her forehead. "But... but that means I'm not really alive."

"I'm sorry," the priestess said sympathetically. "But it's true. You're just a reanimated corpse."

"A reanimated corpse?!" Grimm shouted, sitting up suddenly. "That can't be true! I'm alive! I feel alive!"

—she screamed. I... I'm alive! I live, I breathe, I feel!

But deep down, Grimm knew that the truth was more bitter than any lie. Her cold skin, her empty gaze, her constant feeling of disconnection from the living world, it all made sense now.

—No... I'm not dead... I'm not undead... —she repeated to herself, her voice breaking.

Rokugo watched, with a cold gaze, as Grimm continued to fight against what she already knew inside.

After the incident with Grimm, the war continued to rage on, and Rokugo had decided to trade his bad points for construction machinery to build a new base for Kisaragi. It was clear that the fight for power and control in this world would not be limited to physical battles alone, but also to machines, technology, and whatever the Kisaragi Corporation could get its hands on.

On the battlefront, Rokugo and his team faced off against titan versions of various animals that existed on Earth. These creatures were incredibly powerful, and even with the help of the Hiragi tribe's unique attacks, Rokugo and his team struggled to defeat them.

It was during this time that Rokugo learned about the Hiragi tribe's rituals, which involved eating certain foods and performing specific actions to summon their ancestors' spirits. Unfortunately, one of the key ingredients for this ritual was missing: a special type of mushroom that only grew in a specific location.

To make matters worse, it turned out that Rose had eaten the food that was meant for the Hiragi tribe's ritual, which annoyed them greatly. They threatened to stop working with Rokugo if he didn't find a way to replace the missing ingredient.

Over the next few days, several groups of Kisaragi agents were transported as reinforcements for Rokugo. Some came from the Third Planet, others from other distant worlds, but all were united by their loyalty to Kisaragi and their determination to conquer this new planet.

Despite their efforts, however, Rokugo and his team continued to face obstacles. There were zombies that attacked them during the night, and a carnivorous plant in the form of a human that tried to eat them during the day. One of the agents even claimed that this was similar to the plants that Agent 22 had described in his failed attempt at conquest.

But perhaps the biggest challenge came from the princess herself. Despite Rokugo's contributions to the war effort, she began to suspect that there was something fishy going on. After all, it seemed like there was a massive migration from Kisaragi happening, with agents arriving every day.

However, due to Rokugo's impressive track record and his ability to win over the hearts of those around him, the princess let it slide. She even introduced Rokugo to some of her closest advisors, who were impressed by his charm and intelligence.

But despite his successes, Rokugo knew that he couldn't rest on his laurels. The war was far from over, and he would need to continue earning bad points if he wanted to keep advancing within Kisaragi. So, he Rokugo thought for a moment, but before he could respond, a new attack came: a giant zombie appeared from a nearby terrain, while a carnivorous plant in human form began to devour the structures of the base.

“Damn! This is getting worse and worse...” Grimm shouted, observing the plant, whose appearance was unmistakable to him.

“That plant...” Alice said, with a worried tone, “is very similar to what Agent 22 mentioned in his reports about the alien creatures that tried to conquer a neighboring planet. They were carnivorous plants, but with an intelligence similar to that of the creatures that were controlled by the same system as them.

Rokugo, after destroying the plant with a well-aimed shot, observed Grimm, Snow and Rose, who were in charge of containing the animal titans. His mind kept going back to that mention of titans, Agent 22 and failed conquests.

The connection was closer than she thought.

At the base, where Tilis had set up her headquarters, Kisaragi's agents couldn't stop getting into trouble. Despite the constant attacks, the agents continued their uncontrollable behavior.

One of the agents, whose name was unknown, appeared in Princess Tilis' room, without warning. The princess, upset and visibly bewildered, tried to stop him.

"What do you think you're doing here?" Princess Tilis shouted, in an attempt to restore order.

The agent, ignoring her, began to organize a game of Yenga with some of the other agents, who had infiltrated the headquarters without her permission, just to earn bad points.

"Shouldn't you be busy stopping attacks and defending the base?" the princess protested, crossing her arms.

"That can wait!" one of the agents replied. "What matters now is earning bad points and playing a little!"

The princess frowned in frustration as chaos escalated within her headquarters. It was clear that discipline was not her thing.

Rokugo, upon hearing of this situation, simply watched from one of the screens.

“This is getting out of hand,” he said, scratching his head as he analyzed the attack data and redeemed more points.

“What are you going to do with them?” Grimm asked, watching the screen as he handled a communication device.

“Same as always…” Rokugo replied with a crooked smile. “They’ll have to prove themselves worthy.”

Rokugo, in a bar, offered a girl a taste of his food.

"Mmmm... That tastes delicious..." the girl said, her eyes glazing over as she imagined Rokugo doing indecent things to her.

"I'm glad you like it," Rokugo said, smiling at her.

"Hey, you!" Grimm shouted, rolling into the bar in her wheelchair. "Listen to me idiot, he's mine!"

Rokugo looked up at her, confused. "What? Who are you talking about?"

Grimm scowled. "You know who I'm talking about! You're just trying to seduce her!"

Rokugo shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about. I just offered her a bite of my food."

Grimm sighed. "You're impossible. You died again?"

Rokugo nodded. "Yeah, I got eaten by some zombies."

Grimm shook her head. "You should have listened to Zenarith when she scolded you last time."

Rokguo didn't care. "I don't want to hear it. Let's go."

Grimm rolled her eyes. "Fine, but I'm buying you a beer."

Rokguo shrugged again. "Okay, but don't expect me to stay long."

Grimm frowned. "Why not?"

Rokguo smirked. "Because Snow is bankrupt again and he's going to start selling puddings from his milk."

Grimm groaned. "That's disgusting."

Rokguo laughed. "I know, but it's better than nothing."

Grimm sighed and rolled her eyes again. "Fine, but don't flirt with other girls while I'm here."

Rokguo raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

Grimm glared at him. "Because I like you!"

Rokguo blinked in surprise. "Really?"

Grimm nodded eagerly. "Yes! I love you!"

Rokugo grinned. "Wow,

Grimm frowned, clearly annoyed by the comment, but before she could respond, Rokugo, taking the opportunity, approached a random girl who was at the bar. With a charming smile, he offered her a drink.

“She invites you a drink, on behalf of Grimm,” he said, with a confident tone and looking sideways at Grimm.

“She said, with a confident tone and looking sideways at Grimm.

Grimm, seeing the scene, remained silent, but the pain was reflected on his face. He did not like what Rokugo did at all, but he could not do much about it.

“I do not like you doing this to me, Rokugo,” she said, annoyed and somewhat hurt. “Don't flirt with other girls when I'm here!”

Rokugo, already with the glass in hand and without any remorse, just raised his eyebrows.

“So what?” he asked, smiling with a mixture of disinterest and amusement. “It's just a drink.”

Grimm, feeling a growing discomfort, crossed her arms, furious. Rokugo simply left the situation in her hands.

“Well, I'm leaving now,” he said, getting up from his seat.

“Wait!” Grimm shouted, grabbing his arm. “Don't leave me here!”

Rokugo smiled. “Why? Are you scared?”

Grimm glared at him. “No, I just don't want you to leave me alone with her.”

Rokugo chuckled. “Oh, come on. She's just a girl.”

Grimm scowled. “I don't care what you think. Just don't leave me here.”

Rokugo sighed. “Fine, I won't leave you alone.”

Grimm relaxed a bit, relieved. “Thank you.”

Rokugo smirked. “But I'm putting a lock on your wheelchair, so you can't move.”

Grimm glared at him again. “You bastard!”

Rokugo laughed and walked away, leaving Grimm behind with the girl who was staring at him with a lesbian look.

“Don't leave me here, commander,” she said, with a seductive tone and a suggestive look in her eyes.

Grimm watched Rokugo walk away, feeling a mix of anger and frustration. She hated being left alone with other women, especially when Rokugo was flirting with them. But she knew that she couldn't do anything about it. Rokugo was just too strong for her.

festival undead

The next day, Rokugo was in a store in the city with Rose, the young woman he worked with in Kisaragi. He was browsing the shelves as she put things into her bag with disconcerting speed. At one point, he stopped in front of a cart with fresh vegetables and some spices.

Rose, staring at her remaining money, commented without much emotion:

“I never have enough money... I spend it all on food. You know, you have to eat to survive.”

Rokugo, observing Rose, noticed something curious. Her clothes were old and worn; the sandals she was wearing were torn on the sides, and he noticed that many parts of her body were bandaged, as if she had suffered injuries and did not have enough money to buy new clothes.

“I see,” Rokugo commented, as he glanced at the bandages covering parts of her exposed skin. “So that explains... the very... peculiar style you have, huh?”

Rose, unfazed, continued to search through the shelves, smiling with a sort of resigned sadness.

“Yeah… I guess money is never enough for everything I want,” she said as she put a bottle of water in her bag.

Just then, the door of the store opened with a bang, and Grimm burst onto the scene, furious. She was driving her wheelchair with a speed that left everyone surprised.

“How could you leave me there yesterday?!” Grimm shouted, heading straight for Rokugo as he nearly skidded when braking. “That random girl tried to seduce me! She almost made me doubt myself, idiot!”

Rokugo, carefree as ever, raised an eyebrow and gave her an exasperated look.

“Really? Are you complaining about that?” he replied as he took some fruit from the table. “I went to make roast beef, Grimm, who's going to take care of you all the time?”

Grimm didn't seem willing to let the matter go so easily, and continued, insisting.

"Don't make me do this, Rokugo! I was so vulnerable, and that girl, that damn girl!" she added, almost hyperventilating with fury. "But well, it's not about her, it's about you two, how could you abandon a poor girl like me?"

Rokugo didn't seem to pay attention to her, and crossed his arms.

Grimm, clearly annoyed, quickly diverted the conversation to another topic.

"Well, anyway, we have to talk about the festival. I made some special stuffed animals for the spirits. They're going to use them as vessels during the festival, but you know, the weirdest thing is that these dead people... attacked me," she shouted, her voice shaking. "There's something weird with those spirits! I'm sure someone is controlling them."

However, Rokugo didn't seem interested in what she was saying in the least. Instead, he was approaching a small child who had been insulting him in the plaza.

“Look here, Grimm!” he said with a sarcastic smile, “I’m going to make this child learn what a good punch is… and also how to not get upset.”

Grimm was stunned as she watched Rokugo dangerously approach the child. She tried to shout at him, but her voice was lost in the air.

“Rokugo, stop!” Grimm exclaimed, but it was too late. Rokugo, in his characteristic style, was trying to pull down the child’s pants, while the nearby spirits began to get agitated.

Grimm, wanting to protect the commander, couldn’t just stand there. He decided to act quickly.

“I’m going to make this all end once and for all!” he said, raising his hands to the sky, beginning to chant a curse in the air.

But what he didn't know was that this curse would affect not only the nearby spirits, but also the small area where Rokugo and the others were present. In the end, the power of the curse not only removed Zenarith's blessing

it resulted in Grimm's death.

The instant Grimm fell, Rokugo and Rose stood there, staring at Grimm's lifeless body, without any expression of compassion.

"Again, Grimm?" Rokugo muttered, without much regret, while scratching his head.

Rose, looking at Rokugo, muttered with a dry tone.

"We're not going to revive her now, are we? Not until the undead festival is over. It's... it's for the best."

Rokugo, shrugging, accepted the suggestion without even thinking twice.

"Yeah, yeah, we'll see later." And he went back to focusing on his business, as if it was all a daily routine.

Scene: The Plushies, Heine, and the Plan to Rescue Russel

Alice looked at the plushie with a skeptical look, tapping it with her finger as she held it in front of Rokugo.

“I can’t believe there are actually spirits inside these plushies. Come on, that sounds ridiculous,” Alice commented, frowning in disdain.

Rokugo smiled, shrugging his shoulders in a show of indifference.

“Well, there’s only one way to find out, isn’t there? Let’s open it.”

With a tug, Rokugo opened the plushie with one hand, expecting to be met with some kind of spirit, but instead, a spirit shot out.

small figure, Heine the demoness, who had been hidden in that particular stuffed animal.

“What the...?!” Alice exclaimed as she stepped back, completely shocked.

Heine, with an expression of pure fury on his face, stood up, clearly upset by her abrupt exposure.

“Idiots! How dare you cut me open like this?” she shouted, trying to maintain her dignity despite being covered in pieces of stuffed animal. Apparently, Heine had taken advantage of the undead festival to infiltrate the country of Grace with the intention of rescuing Russel, who had been enslaved for weeks.

Snow, seeing Heine, approached with a greedy glint in his eyes.

“Perfect! Let’s hand over this demoness! With the reward they’ll give us, I’ll finally be able to get out of bankruptcy!”

Rokugo ignored Snow's enthusiasm and leaned towards Heine, giving him a mocking smile as he took advantage of the situation to grope her without any shame. However, upon hearing her true intentions, something inside him stirred.

"So you wanted to rescue that brat Russel?" he asked in a softer tone, though still holding her firmly.

Heine let out an exasperated sigh, though he couldn't hide the anguish on his face.

"Yeah... that child shouldn't be in this situation. He's just a child!" he replied, biting his lip in frustration.

Alice, observing the scene, intervened with a practical and cold tone.

"Okay, we can allow him to see Russel, but under our conditions." And with that, they gagged Heine to prevent her from casting any kind of spell, taking her to see the child in question.

When they finally reached the place where Russel was being held, Heine held his breath as he saw the condition his little ally was in. Russel had been forced to dress as a maid as part of his punishment, which made him look extremely humiliating. The boy, noticing Heine's presence, blushed in embarrassment.

"Don't look at me like that, Heine!" he said, trying to cover himself with his hands. "It's so humiliating...!"

Desperate, Russel ran towards Heine, who was looking at him with a mix of pity and concern.

"Please don't leave me here!" Russel pleaded, clinging to her.

Alice, who had been watching with a sarcastic smile, leaned towards Heine and took a stone he had hidden from him, which turned out to be his source of power. Then, she tightened Heine's ropes even more to make sure he didn't try anything.

"Honestly, it would be a waste not to take advantage of this situation," Alice said, watching Rokugo. We could use this demon as a sort of "Judas goat." Release her with a tracking device that would allow us to locate this Demon Lord. It would be useful, don't you think?

Before they could decide, they were interrupted by a messenger who informed them that Princess Tilis had ordered their immediate presence at the castle.

Scene: Princess Tilis Collapses

Upon arriving at the castle, they found Princess Tilis in a state of complete frustration and despair. She seemed to have reached the limits of her patience. She looked exhausted and trembling, with her eyes bloodshot with fury and dark circles under her eyes.

"I... can't take it anymore!" Tilis exclaimed in a desperate tone, looking at Rokugo and his agents. "Every night, one of you sneaks into my room without permission! Naked! Doing... completely trivial things like playing block tower! Why do you have to be naked for that?!

Rokugo looked at her, not showing a hint of regret, while Alice and Snow tried not to laugh at the situation.

“Well, princess, it’s our way of… earning bad points,” Rokugo replied, shrugging.

Princess Tilis looked at him with an expression of pure despair.

“Promise me you’ll stop doing that! For the love of the gods, I need peace in my own room!”

Rokugo simply raised his hand in a gesture of indifference.

“Okay, okay. We won’t do it anymore… for now.”

Scene: The Town and the Return of Grimm

After leaving the castle, Rokugo and his companions strolled through the town, where the undead festival was in full swing. The townspeople seemed to be enjoying the presence of the spirit vessel plushies created by Grimm. Several children ran around the plushies, laughing and talking to them as if they were their former familiars.

In a corner, Rokugo noticed a young girl holding a stuffed bear, talking to it with a nostalgic smile.

“They say this stuffed bear contains the spirit of your grandfather. He seems happy,” Alice commented as she observed the scene.

Rokugo nodded, though his gaze shifted when he saw a familiar figure in the crowd.

Grimm had revived again, completely unharmed and as energetic as ever, as if nothing had happened. Seeing her, Rokugo simply sighed, and in a resounding tone,  Signado murmured,

“You again, Grimm? Just when I thought we could enjoy a quiet festival…”

Grimm, ignoring the comment, smiled confidently and raised his hand, greeting him.

“Commander! I’m back to take care of you and protect you!”

Scene: The Tiger Man and the Undead Festival

In the center of the city, in the middle of the undead festival, a group of children surrounded the Tiger Man. The little ones, their eyes shining with excitement, mistook him for one of the spirit-containing stuffed animals and, before he could react, they hugged him excitedly.

“Look! It’s a giant tiger stuffed animal!” exclaimed one of the children, squeezing the Tiger Man tightly.

Tiger Man growled, irritated, as he tried to get rid of the children hugging him from all sides.

The children completely ignored him and continued to hug him, believing him to be a "special stuffed animal."

From a distance, Rokugo watched the scene with a mocking smile. He decided to take advantage of the situation and approached with his weapons in hand, facing Tiger Man while giving him a disapproving look.

"Hey, what are you doing letting yourself be hugged like that by children?" Rokugo said, raising an eyebrow. "Remember, pedophilia is strictly prohibited in Kisaragi."

Tiger Man looked at him in disbelief and growled, preparing to face him.

"What are you saying, you damn pervert?! These children won't leave me alone, you misunderstood everything!"

"That's what everyone says, hairy man." Rokugo smiled maliciously, brandishing his weapons. "But I'll be the judge here." Get ready!

The two of them charged into a fight, with Rokugo dodging the Tiger Man's claws as he launched playful attacks, enjoying the chaos they caused in the middle of the festival. The children eventually walked away, confused by the sudden fight between the "giant stuffed animal" and the "strange man."

Scene: The Festival Cafeteria

With the first official day of the undead festival underway, Rokugo and her companions decided to take the opportunity and open a makeshift cafeteria in the middle of the festival chaos. Snow, who was in search of quick income, volunteered to be the waitress... in a rather provocative outfit that left little to the imagination.

"Are you sure you want to wear that?" Alice asked, raising an eyebrow as she took in Snow's risqué outfit.

Snow, with a confident smile, winked at her.

"Of course! It's to attract customers, and the flashier, the better." —She said as she posed, already receiving several glances from curious onlookers.

However, the situation didn't last long. Shortly after the café began to gain popularity, a patrol of guards arrived to close down the establishment for "offenses to public decency." Snow was arrested on the spot, while Rokugo quickly escaped, not bothering to rescue her.

“Rokugo! Come back here and help me! This is your fault!” Snow shouted as the guards dragged her away, but Rokugo was already out of sight, pretending not to hear.

Scene: Grimm and the Stress of the Festival

While wandering around the festival, Rokugo came across Grimm, who looked at him with his arms crossed and an annoyed expression.

“Rokugo! You're not helping me at all with this festival!” Grimm complained with a pout. The last time I died, you didn't even bother to bring my body to Zenarith Temple to restore me. Organizing an undead festival is stressful!

Rokugo smirked and patted him on the back.

“Hey, you're doing well, Grimm. Besides, it's an undead festival. What could go wrong?” he said, his tone mocking. “In fact, I think you're doing great. Congratulations!”

Grimm looked at him, surprised, a slight blush on her cheeks.

“D-don't be so nice, Rokugo. I might… I might end up falling in love with you,” she muttered, trying to keep her composure.

Rokugo, without missing a beat, smiled mischievously.

“So, to celebrate your hard work, how about I buy you a nice necklace?” he offered, winking at her.

Grimm blushed even more and quickly nodded.

“Y-yes! But… let’s go to a cheap store. I don’t want to abuse your generosity.” Grimm tried not to look excited, but the happiness on her face was evident. “But be careful, Rokugo! One more detail and… and there will be no turning back. I will fall completely in love with you!”

Scene: The Necklace Shop

They entered a small shop in the city, and Rokugo looked at the necklaces available, while Grimm looked at him excitedly. Without hesitation, he pointed to the most expensive necklace of all, a shiny and luxurious accessory that stood out on the counter.

“I want that one,” Rokugo said casually, looking at the saleswoman. “But I clarify, it’s not for my girlfriend or anything. She’s just a coworker.”

As he said this, he turned to see Grimm’s reaction… only to find that Grimm was dead again. This time, the poor thing had died of happiness.

Rokugo sighed and She put a hand to her forehead.

“Ah… I haven’t even bought the necklace and she’s already fainted from excitement. These undead… you can never trust their stamina.”

Scene: The Necklace Misunderstanding and the Marriage Proposal

After the incident at the store, Rokugo had to carry Grimm’s lifeless body to Zenarith Temple to be revived once more. By the time Grimm woke up, she was already aware of the misunderstanding… and she wasn’t very happy about it.

“What do you mean the necklace wasn’t a marriage proposal?!” Grimm exclaimed in obvious frustration as she looked at Rokugo. “In Grace, giving a necklace is equivalent to a declaration of love… I thought you had finally made up your mind!”

Rokugo raised his hands in a sign of peace, trying to calm her down.

“Hey, hey… don’t be like that. I didn’t mean to confuse you. I just wanted to reward you for all the effort with the festival.” —Rokugo smiled, trying to smooth things over—. But if what you want is a promise…

Grimm sighed, still upset, and crossed her arms.

—The last time someone showed interest in me was when I was 10 years old… with a letter sent to me by a childhood friend. This is depressing, Rokugo… —she muttered, feeling disappointed.

Rokugo looked at her thoughtfully for a moment and then, with a somewhat mischievous smile, said:

—Okay, let's make a deal. In ten years, if neither of us have married, I will marry you. —Rokugo extended his hand to seal the promise—. But until then, I don't want any more necklaces or misinterpreted insinuations, understood?

Grimm's eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he took her hand enthusiastically.

—I accept! —she said excitedly. They both signed the deal with a small cut on their hands, sealing the agreement with a bloody handshake.

Hours later, however, Grimm was furious.

“You’re telling me you’re the one to blame for the whole mess at the festival?!” she screamed, glaring at Rokugo.

Rokugo looked at her with a cheeky grin, showing no remorse.

“What? It was a business opportunity.” She shrugged. “Besides, technically I didn’t do anything illegal… I just convinced Snow to wear that outfit and Rose to dress up as a fake spirit plushie.” She laughed. “It’s not my fault she got arrested.”

Grimm snorted, giving her a reproachful look.

“I can’t believe it! This is your fault! The festival is filled with chaos because of your ridiculous ideas!”

As Grimm continued her tirade of reproaches, a giant stuffed animal container suddenly emerged, attacking them. Rokugo and Grimm barely had time to react as the huge stuffed animal launched a blast of spectral energy at them.

“Wait!” Grimm stepped back, preparing to launch another of her curses. “I’m going to remove Zenarith’s blessing in the area to weaken that stuffed animal!”

But Rokugo quickly stopped her, grabbing her arm.

“No!” she said firmly. “Stop ‘killing yourself’ over nonsense. We have no more personal valuables left to offer at the temple. If you die again, you’re going to stay there… and I’m not going to spend any more money reviving you.”

Grimm pressed her lips together, annoyed, but finally nodded, lowering her hand.

At that instant, the ground began to shake and zombies emerged from the earth, rising around them. Grimm turned pale as she saw the number of undead beginning to emerge.

“This… this can’t be.” Grimm watched, horrified. “Someone is manipulating the spirits and reviving the dead en masse!”

Rokugo pulled out his weapons, preparing for combat.

“Looks like we have a new enemy, huh?” he said, still smiling.

Grimm took a deep breath, realizing he had to resort to his last tactic, even if it meant risking punishment from Zenarith.

“I have no other choice…” Grimm raised his hands and, in a solemn voice, began to recite an incantation. “In the name of Zenarith, I grant divine forgiveness to these lost souls… may they find peace and go to a better life, instead of suffering in hell.”

With her blessing of divine forgiveness, the zombies began to glow, and slowly their bodies began to disintegrate, releasing their souls in peace. The battlefield was cleared, but Grimm fell to her knees, exhausted and panting.

Rokugo approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“Not bad, Grimm.” A

Scene: The Necklace’s Unintentional Sacrifice and Grimm’s Return

After following the trail of the possessed plushies, Rokugo and Grimm discovered the culprit: one of the demons that had fallen during the last great battle had found a way to possess one of those plush containers and was causing chaos at the festival.

Grimm, determined to purify the area once and for all, raised her hands and began to recite an incantation in a solemn voice.

“In the name of Zenarith, I grant divine forgiveness throughout the territory of Grace,” she announced. Her power spread across the area, and little by little, All the spirits in the stuffed animals left their vessels, including the demon that had been tormenting them.

The effect was devastating… and Grimm fell dead once more.

Rokugo fell silent, staring at Grimm’s limp body. Sighing, resigned, he bent down to pick her up with the intention of burying her.

“Well, Grimm, it seems you won’t be revived at the temple this time,” he said, looking up at the sky with a sigh. He then began to walk towards the place where he planned to give her a dignified… if somewhat informal, rest.

However, as he lifted the body, the necklace he had given Grimm began to glow, being absorbed by an intense light.

Suddenly, Grimm opened her eyes, coughing and breathing deeply. She had returned to life, once again.

“Huh? Am I…?” she muttered, confused. Grimm sat up, still disoriented, and looked around, seeing Rokugo's resigned face.

Rokugo watched her with a mix of tiredness and amusement.

"Zenarith is furious with you, Grimm. This is the last time you're revived thanks to that offering... and do you know what we offered?" Rokugo pointed to the spot where Grimm's necklace should be, only for her to realize it had disappeared along with the "marry in ten years" contract.

Grimm gasped in horror as she realized the situation.

"The necklace... and the contract... were taken as an offering to revive me?!" she exclaimed, totally incredulous. Her face went from surprise to indignation in a matter of seconds.

"Exactly." Rokugo shrugged, smiling wryly. "So yes, you have technically revived yourself at the cost of your... romantic hopes."

Grimm blushed, feeling ridiculous.

“But it can’t be!” she said, shaking her head. “I didn’t die! I was just… unconscious. Yes, that’s it! It was just a dream, nothing more.”

Rokugo raised an eyebrow, looking at her with an amused expression.

“A dream”? Grimm, you were revived by Zenarith’s power and lost the necklace as an offering. You can’t keep denying it.”

Grimm crossed her arms and turned her back to Rokugo, still hell-bent on denying it.

“I… was just unconscious, and I had a strange dream… where Zenarith scolded me.” She gritted her teeth. “Yeah, it was just that… sure.”

Rokugo sighed and looked around. The undead festival was still going on, and the crowd seemed content with the success of the event. She shrugged, leaving Grimm in her world of self-delusion.

“Well, at least the festival was a success, right?” she said, patting him on the shoulder. “Even if you made a fool of yourself by removing Zenarith’s blessing in the process.”

Grimm snorted, still annoyed, but finally let out a slight smile, resigned to the situation.

“I suppose… some of that may be true,” she admitted, reluctantly. “But don’t remind me, will you?”

Rokugo smirked, ready to get a little more annoyed.

“Relax, Grimm. I’m sure I’ll remember in ten years… if you’re still alive by then.”

Grimm glared at him, but finally laughed.

“You’re such a jerk.”

Rokugo grinned, satisfied with himself.

“That’s what I aim for.”

He then walked away, leaving Grimm behind.

Grimm watched him leave, sighing and shaking her head.

“What a pain.”

Lilith

After the festival disaster and the accidental resurrections, Rokugo decided to update Grimm on the status of the others:

“So, to give you an idea, Snow is going to stay in jail for a while,” he explained with a mocking smile. “And Rose… well, she decided to stay at an old man's house in the village. It seems that the grandfather reminds her of her own, and she had no problem in “turning” into a stuffed animal to keep him company.”

Grimm raised an eyebrow, looking at Rokugo curiously.

“So Snow is paying the price while you snuck away?” she commented, sarcastic. Then she looked towards the horizon and her eyes lit up when she saw a series of Kisaragi machines slowly approaching the place. “And those machines? Have they already started bringing equipment?”

Rokugo nodded, pointing to the place where the Kisaragi base was being built.

“Exactly. We are establishing an operational base here.” And not only that… —Rokugo paused dramatically, looking into her eyes with a serious expression—. I have decided that it is time to conquer this planet.

Grimm looked at him in surprise, speechless at first, but then burst out laughing.

—Conquer the planet?! Are you serious, Commander? This world?

Rokugo smiled with that mischievous expression he had when he planned something big.

—That's right, Grimm. This will be another conquest in the name of the Kisaragi Corporation.

Grimm shook her head, amused.

—You really are a shameless bastard, aren't you?

Rokugo grinned, pleased with himself.

—That's what I aim for.

* * *

Back at the Kisaragi Corporation, the executives were discussing the next step in their plans.

—Well, we have received a message from Rokugo, so we should start planning for the next mission.

Black Lilith crossed her arms, looking at the others.

—It seems that the base is finally ready, so we should send an executive for the new administration.

Astaroth nodded in agreement.

—I volunteer! I want to be with my love!

Black Lilith rolled her eyes.

—Oh please, Astaroth. You know that Rokugo doesn't care about you at all. Besides, I think that this world needs more science than anything else. So, I think that I should be the one to go.

Astaroth frowned, looking at her with a hurt expression.

—Why do you have to be so cruel? I just wanted to be with him!

Black Lilith shrugged.

—Well, you know that Rokugo likes me better anyway. Besides, I'm sure that he will miss me when I'm gone.

Astaroth pouted, crossing her arms and glaring at Black Lilith.

—You are such a bitch! But fine, I guess I can wait for you to come back. Just don't take too long!

Black Lilith smirked, pleased with herself.

—Don't worry, Astaroth. I will be back soon enough. And besides, you know that I will bring back some new toys for us to play with!

Astaroth nodded, looking excited.

—Yes! I can't wait! Let's do it!

Black Lilith nodded, smiling at Astaroth's enthusiasm. She then turned towards the others.

—Now, let's get started on the preparations for the next mission. We need to make sure that everything goes smoothly this time!

As Grimm watched Kisaragi's machines arrive, Rokugo commented, "Kisaragi's base is finally ready."

Grimm, with a hopeful look, replied, "That's great, Rokugo."

At the same time, at Kisaragi's corporation, the executive Black Lilith commented, "In the world where Rokugo is, there are no young men because of the war. This will make the executive Astaroth jealous."

They received a video call from Rokugo. Astaroth dressed up and put on more provocative clothes to answer Rokugo's call.

"Rokugo, how are you?" Astaroth asked, with a flirtatious smile.

Rokugo replied, "The base is already finished. According to protocol, they must send one of the female executives for its new management."

Astaroth volunteered to do so. "I'll go, Rokugo. I want to be with you."

However, Rokugo used his smooth talk to get the executive to be sent to Black Lilith. "We need science in that world. Black Lilith is the best choice."

Ending the video call, Rokugo proceeded to return to the date with Grimm he was on.

"Grimm, where are you?" Rokugo asked.

Grimm replied, "Here, Rokugo. I'll open my mouth to give you my food."

When Rokugo got excited, he saw that it was a joke from Grimm.

"Grimm, what is this?" Rokugo asked, annoyed.

Grimm, tearfully, apologized. "Rokugo, I'm sorry. It was just a joke."

Rokugo, annoyed, slammed Grimm's food into his face.

"Grimm, don't do that," Rokugo said, with a reproachful look.

Grimm, tearfully, apologized. "Rokugo, I'm sorry. I won't do it again."

Kisaragi's spider robot Destroyer was being manned on its way to the forest when suddenly an explosion occurred. An accident at the base destroyed everything.

"What happened?" Grimm asked, frightened.

Rokugo, with a worried look, replied, "There's been an accident at the base."

When Black Lilith arrived via the teleportation machine, she was surprised to find that the base that Rokugo had spent months building had been destroyed just minutes ago by an accident.

"Rokugo, what happened here?" Black Lilith asked, surprised.

Rokugo, with a worried look, replied, "An accident has occurred. The base has been destroyed."

Black Lilith, refusing to live in a world without the internet, wanted to return via the teleportation machine.

"Rokugo, I can't live in a world without the internet," Black Lilith said, with a look of despair.

However, the machine malfunctioned and was damaged.

"Black Lilith, the machine is damaged," Rokugo said, with a look of concern.

Black Lilith began to cry as she realized that she would be sleeping in tents without the internet for a whole month until the base and the teleportation machine were rebuilt.

"Rokugo, what will I do now?" Black Lilith asked, tearfully.

Rokugo, with a look of understanding, replied, "Don't worry, Black Lilith. Everything will be fine."

And so, Rokugo and his team prepared to face whatever came, ready to protect the kingdom of Grace and fulfill their mission for the Kisaragi Corporation.

As Lilith tried to eat in her tent, she asked Rokugo where the other agents were.

"Rokugo, where are the other agents?" Lilith asked, with a curious look.

Rokugo, with a sincere look, replied, "They went off to do something else. Seeing Lilith brings back traumas from the experiments Kisaragi did on them to make them super soldiers."

Lilith, channeling her anger, built a satellite to record the planet they were on and put it into orbit.

"Rokugo, I've built a satellite to record the planet. Now we can see everything that happens here," Lilith said, with a look of determination.

Awed, Rokugo replied, "That's impressive, Lilith. Good job."

With the satellite in orbit, Lilith, Rokugo, and Alice went to see the power of their latest weapon, killing a giant iguana.

"Rokugo, check this out. We're going to test out our latest weapon," Lilith said, with a mischievous grin.

Rokugo, with a look of expectation, replied, "I'm ready, Lilith. Let's see what it's capable of."

After the demonstration, Lilith demanded that Rokugo speak to Princess Tilis. Rokugo arranged for him, and as they drank tea, the princess went from a calm state to a murderous rage.

"Princess Tilis, what's wrong?" Rokugo asked, worried.

Princess Tilis, with a look of anger, replied, "Because of Rokugo, we have no water due to the shameful password of the water-generating machine. Also, Rokugo's zapping of the prince of other countries with his member triggered a war. And the various Kisaragi agents would sneak into my room while I was sleeping and go to the bathroom there."

Lilith, ashamed of her actions, asked for forgiveness.

"Princess Tilis, I'm so sorry. It won't happen again," Lilith said, with a look of regret.

Princess Tilis, with a look of hope, replied, "Lilith, we need your help with technology. Could you help us?"

Lilith, with a look of consideration, replied, "I'll think about it, Princess Tilis."

On her way out, Snow wanted to kill Rokugo for putting her in jail.

“ROKUGO!” Snow shouted. “I WAS IN JAIL BECAUSE OF YOU

Before she could do anything else, Lilith, with a quick movement, activated one of her robotic arms and pinned Snow in the air, lifting her slightly.

“Oh, dear Snow,” Lilith said with a seductive smile. “Why all the drama? I think you have great potential… one that Kisaragi would appreciate.”

“What… what are you doing?!” Snow shouted, squirming as she tried to free herself.

Lilith approached, staring into her eyes, as she whispered softly.

“If you join Kisaragi, you will never have financial problems again. We would give you all the swords you want, and you would never have to worry about money again. Think about it, Snow… do you really want to continue suffering in a kingdom that does not give you what you deserve?”

Snow, hearing this, stopped struggling, considering it for a moment. The idea of ​​obtaining all the swords she wanted and living without financial worries was too tempting for someone like her.

“I… well… I could consider it,” she muttered, her loyalty to the kingdom of Grace beginning to waver.

Rokugo watched the scene with a mischievous smile.  He knew that Snow was a loyalist to the core, but the thought of her joining Kisaragi was too funny to resist.

“Well, well, well,” he said, chuckling. “Looks like you’re finally coming around to our side, Snow.”

Snow, realizing what Rokugo was implying, turned red with embarrassment.

“Shut up, Rokugo! I’ll never join Kisaragi!” she shouted, trying to break free from Lilith’s grip.

Lilith, amused by Snow’s reaction, let her go and allowed her to fall onto the ground. Snow landed with a thud, groaning in pain as she got back up.

“You’re lucky I don’t kill you right now,” she growled, glaring at Lilith.

“Oh, come on, Snow,” Rokugo said, laughing. “You know you secretly want to join Kisaragi.”

Snow glared at him, her face turning even redder.

“I hate you both,” she muttered, storming off.

Rokugo and Lilith watched her leave with smiles on their faces. They had successfully recruited another agent for Kisaragi.

“Good work today, Lilith,” Rokugo said, patting her on the head. “We’re one step closer to conquering this planet.”

Lilith grinned, pleased with herself. She had successfully convinced Snow to join Kisaragi, and now they could take over the kingdom of Grace together.

“Yes, Rokugo,” she said, bowing her head respectfully. “Let’s continue our mission for Kisaragi.”

In order to expand Kisaragi's operations on that world, Lilith decided to build an oil refinery. She had noticed that this planet contained vast untapped resources, and figured that while they were rebuilding the base, they might as well make use of the time by extracting and refining oil. However, an unexpected surprise awaited in the depths.

As they dug the first well, instead of oil, what emerged was a slimy, gelatinous substance that writhed and seemed to have a life of its own.

"What the hell is this?" Lilith exclaimed, taking a step back as the substance began to move in her direction.

The "slime" lunged at her, and Lilith barely had time to dodge it. Rather than being a simple residue, the creature was clearly hostile, trying to attack her and her machines. Before it could do much damage, however, the slime slid back to the ground and disappeared.

"That... wasn't oil, was it?" —Rokugo commented, scratching his head as he looked at the place where the creature had sunk again.

Lilith spent hours analyzing what happened and, after checking her sensors, came to a conclusion.

—This slime is not a common waste. Apparently, it feeds on the water in this world.

—she deduced, fascinated and a little frustrated for not being able to exploit the resources as easily as she expected.

Meanwhile, Snow decided to take advantage of the moment to bring Lilith up to date on the peculiarities of this world.

—Lilith, this place has many things that Kisaragi does not expect. More strange creatures and cultures than one could imagine —Snow commented as they walked back to camp.

Lilith, on the other hand, could not help but notice something.

—You know, I'm starting to see a certain closeness between you and Rokugo —she said with a playful smile—. Don't tell me you're being unfaithful to Astaroth? Isn't she the one who usually gets that "special attention"?

Snow blushed, blinking rapidly.

"What?! No, of course not! Don't be mistaken!" she protested, though she couldn't help but glance at Rokugo, who was watching the conversation with his typical mocking smile.

The atmosphere between them was relaxed, until Snow decided to take them to see something even more shocking.

"Well, enough of the nonsense. There's something I want you to see..." Snow led them to a hidden area, near the kingdom's borders.

They arrived at a "farm" that looked like something out of a nightmare. There were enslaved orcs working in the fields. They looked malnourished and exhausted, and when one of them reached a certain age, the human supervisors would take it away and take it to a distant area, where it was slaughtered and used as food for the others.

Lilith and Rokugo watched the scene with reactions

“This place has a past that we don't fully know about. Something tells me that this wasn't always like this.” Lilith murmured, carefully observing the cruel treatment that the orcs received.

Later, Snow explained to them about the giant creatures that inhabited the planet.

“There are several colossal beings in this world. We call them 'Kings' because they dominate different territories and ecosystems. There's the Desert King, who is a giant mole. The Forest King, a colossal lizard…” Snow began to list.

Lilith brightened upon hearing about the lizard, remembering the one she had previously defeated with her technology.

“Oh, I already met it. It wasn't difficult to eliminate,” she said, with a superior smile.

Snow looked at her, surprised.

“Really? The Forest King? That creature has terrorized our soldiers for generations!” she exclaimed.

“Generations?” —Lilith raised an eyebrow, realizing that this planet had supported the existence of such creatures for a long time, to the point of having integrated itself into its culture.

—Yes, and there is also the King of the Skies —Snow continued—. Although that one might not impress you as much… it's a giant sparrow.

Lilith couldn't help but make a disappointed expression. She was expecting to face a dragon or some mythical creature that would grant her an epic title, but… a sparrow?

—Well, what if we hunt it anyway? It won't be a dragon, but I suppose I could settle for the title of "Giant Sparrow Hunter" —she said, rolling her eyes.

However, the sparrow turned out to be more trouble than it seemed. Just as they approached its territory, the enormous bird descended from the skies and, in a swift movement, kidnapped Rokugo with its talons, raising him into the sky.

—ROKUGO! —Lilith screamed, unable to contain her surprise.

Rokugo, trapped and being lifted high, began to scream curses and thrash around.

—Lilith! Get me out of here! I don't want to be dinner for a couple of mutant little birds!

Lilith, without wasting any time, used her robotic arms to fire a series of missiles, knocking down the sparrow and rescuing Rokugo before the bird reached its nest. Finally, Rokugo fell to the ground, panting and dusting himself off.

—And here I thought that “And a giant sparrow wouldn’t be so scary…” Rokugo muttered, composing himself.

As they surveyed the area after the battle, Lilith came across a shiny object among the rocks. Picking it up, she realized it was a gem of considerable size, with extraordinary purity and brilliance.

“Wait a minute… these gems…” Lilith began to do mental calculations, recognizing the value of what she had in her hands. “In our world, just one of these gems could sell for a fortune!”

Rokugo looked at her with a sly smile.

“What’s wrong, Lilith? Did you find another “resource” that Kisaragi could exploit?”

Lilith looked at the gem, and for a moment she was silent, thinking about how this seemingly medieval society still held vestiges of a more advanced civilization, one that perhaps understood the true value of those resources before it disappeared.

“Rokugo, this planet has more than we imagined.” If we learn to exploit its riches and secrets… we could make Kisaragi the most powerful corporation in the universe,” he said, with an ambitious smile.

However, deep down, he couldn’t help but feel a strange familiarity in this world. As if, somehow, the cycles of war and destruction in this place were part of something much older.

Scene: Grimm’s arrival at camp

As Lilith and Rokugo finished inspecting the gem, a familiar figure burst into the camp. It was Grimm, who had come especially to meet the famous “Black Lilith.” Grimm walked with a dreamy expression and, upon seeing Lilith, approached with excitement in his eyes.

“Oh, wow! Rokugo’s legendary mother!” Grimm exclaimed in admiration.

Lilith blinked, completely bewildered.

“M-Mother??” Lilith shot a cold glare at Rokugo, who immediately began to sweat.

“Grimm!” “She’s not my mother!” Rokugo exclaimed, trying to correct her before things got out of hand.

“She’s not your mother?” Grimm tilted her head, still confused. “But… Rokugo, you’ve never brought such an important woman with you! I thought… she was the special person you kept mentioning…”

Lilith crossed her arms, impatient.

“Wait a minute… What do you mean by ‘special person’?” she asked in a threatening tone.

Grimm, not picking up on the growing tension, continued.

“Well, since we’re all here, I want to make the formal announcement.” Grimm took a deep breath and looked at Lilith with a shy smile. “Rokugo and I are engaged! And I wanted to ask for your blessing, since you’re clearly someone important to him.”

Lilith opened her eyes, surprised and with an expression of utter disgust.

“Engaged!?” “He exclaimed, glaring at Rokugo with barely contained fury. “So you were cheating on Astaroth after all! No wonder you’ve been acting so evasive!”

“Wait, wait, Lilith! It’s not what it seems.” Rokugo threw his hands up in despair. “I only signed a contract with Grimm that if neither of us got married in ten years, then we would get married. It’s a future agreement, nothing more!”

Grimm looked at Lilith with a serious expression and nodded solemnly.

“Exactly, Lilith. I know it sounds strange, but it’s an agreement for the future.”

He said, his eyes shining with gratitude. “Rokugo has been a great support to me.”

Lilith shot a warning glance at Rokugo, who was already beginning to sweat again.

“So… you’ve been secretly ‘engaged’? Very well, very well.” This is new… —Lilith murmured, annoyed and with her eyes half closed—. You better not let this reach Astaroth's ears, Rokugo.

Rokugo gulped, desperately signaling Grimm to stop talking. But Grimm, ignoring the situation, began to approach Rokugo with a loving air, trying to hug him and give him little "pets."

—My dear Rokugo, you have always been so brave. I am glad we are together in this strange world —Grimm said, trying to put his arms around him.

Rokugo, trying to get away, resisted the hug, nervous under Lilith's gaze.

—Grimm, stop it! This is not the time or the place for this! —he exclaimed, trying to keep his distance.

Snow, who had been watching the scene with an amused smile, decided to intervene.

—You know, Grimm? The only woman Rokugo should depend on here… is me,” he said jokingly, crossing his arms and arching an eyebrow.

Rokugo waved at Grimm desperately, trying to make him understand the situation.

“Grimm… I beg you… please stop. Lilith is not someone you want to get angry with,” he muttered under his breath.

Grimm finally seemed to understand the tension, and quickly remembered something important he had come to tell them.

“Oh, that’s right. I almost forgot!” Grimm pulled himself together and looked at the two of them. “I came to warn you that… the Mud King, the slime that feeds on the water of the kingdom, is furious and has left his habitat.”

Lilith h paused for a moment, remembering his failed attempt to extract “oil” that morning.

“The Mud King?” he repeated with interest.

“Yes. We believe that something or someone disturbed its food source, and now it is wreaking havoc. It could be some attack by the demon lords, but… something tells me it may have been something else,” Grimm said, looking at Lilith curiously.

Lilith gave a tight smile, understanding the connection.

“Ah, right… I see.” She looked towards the horizon, remembering the slime that had tried to attack her machinery. “So, the ‘Mud King’ is responsible for that strange substance that appeared this morning.”

Grimm, with a resolute expression, insisted on trying to appease the Mud King, believing that with rituals and prayers he could calm the slime. But Lilith was not willing to leave things to chance.

“We don’t need rituals, Grimm.” “Lilith smiled, activating her robotic arms. “I will handle this matter myself.”

Moments later, Lilith used her advanced weaponry to solidify the Mud King, turning him into a harmless statue, incapable of causing any more destruction.

“There. Problem solved,” Lilith said, satisfied.

However, as she inspected the petrified slime, Lilith felt a growing frustration. Even though the world’s inhabitants thought they lived in a rudimentary medieval system, there were too many hints of advanced technologies and biologically complex beings. The resources Lilith hoped to exploit were now part of a puzzle of mysteries and secrets hidden in this world’s past.

“This place…” Lilith sighed, letting frustration wash over her. “I thought it would be a primitive world, easy to conquer, but it seems its own inhabitants don’t realize what they really have beneath their feet. This place is much more than a medieval civilization.” It's like she has a whole network of... biological weapons and advanced technology hidden inside.

Rokugo watched her, realizing that Lilith was fascinated, but at the same time uneasy. The discovery of what this world really contained only made her mission more complicated... and much more interesting.

"What are you going to do, Lilith?" Rokugo asked.

"What I do best, Rokugo. I'm going to unravel every secret of this place, no matter how long it takes me. And when I'm done, Kisaragi will be the only one to benefit from all of this," Lilith said, with an ambitious smile, as she looked at the horizon, knowing that this world still had much more to offer and many more hidden surprises.

Scene: Lilith's indignation and the arrival of strange events

The camp was quiet, but Lilith felt a growing discomfort. She was looking at Rokugo, who was trying to avoid her gaze, clearly nervous. Grimm, meanwhile, continued to talk happily, not noticing the tension building in the air.

“Mother!” Grimm exclaimed, as he approached Lilith, patting her on the back as if he truly considered her a mother. “I’m so excited to meet you. How is everything at the base? Rokugo always talks about you!”

Lilith, completely exasperated, took a step back, arms crossed. The tone of her voice was full of irritation as she finally exploded.

“I’ve told you a thousand times that I’m not your mother! I’m the boss of Rokugo! Why do you always keep calling me mother!?” Lilith shouted, glaring at Grimm, as the rest of the camp fell silent at the leader’s obvious rage.

Grimm, as always, didn’t grasp the gravity of the situation and continued in his warm tone.

“But, mother! It’s so nice to have a mother who’s as strong as you!!” —Grimm replied, not realizing that Lilith was only getting more frustrated.

Rokugo, overwhelmed by the situation, scratched the back of his neck, not knowing how to calm the two women around him. He was caught between the conflict of his “engagement” with Grimm and Lilith’s dominant tone.

—Grimm, please stop! —Rokugo begged, trying to mediate, but not knowing how to handle the situation—. I already told you that Lilith is not my mother. She is a leader of Kisaragi!

But Grimm, as always, did not seem to understand the difference.

—Oh, sorry, mother! —Grimm said again, unfazed.

Lilith let out a heavy sigh, her face flushed with pent-up rage, but she held back and changed the subject immediately, still furious, but trying to focus her attention on the important events ahead.

—You have no idea what is really bothering me right now. —Lilith looked at Rokugo harshly—. Why are you using me to exterminate those damn giant animals? Those monsters that bothered you so much! I didn't get into this just so that now you're the one who kills them, Rokugo! It bothers me!

Rokugo tried to defend himself, not knowing how to appease Lilith's fury.

—It's not that, Lilith, it's just that we need to do this to save you. "We're trying to survive here, and we need help dealing with them. You have the resources to eliminate them efficiently, right?" he said, trying to calm her down, although the tone of his voice trembled slightly from fear.

Lilith raised a hand, interrupting him.

"Don't act innocent! You know very well what I'm saying. You're using my power only for your benefit and for your little personal war. I won't do it anymore, Rokugo!" he said harshly, although a shadow of frustration was reflected on his face.

Just then, Grimm interrupted with absurd enthusiasm.

"Mother, mother! I went to investigate a supposed haunted mansion near here. I wanted to prove that ghosts exist!" he commented while taking out a bag full of glitter powder from his backpack. "But, it turned out that... it was just Alice! She was using holograms to make it look like the mansion was haunted."

Lilith raised an eyebrow.

"Holograms?" “She asked, intrigued but not losing her composure. Was Alice playing ghostbuster?”

Grimm nodded excitedly.

“Yes! Alice has an impressive talent for creating illusions! She wanted to prove to me that ghosts really existed, so I decided to summon an angel to check it out. But what happened next was pretty funny…” Grimm smiled, remembering the scene.

At that very moment, Alice appeared, giggling.

“Wow, Grimm. Always so… confident.” Alice approached with a mocking smile. “But did you really think an angel was going to be that easy to summon? Look how you treated it!”

Before Grimm could answer, Alice approached the figure of the angel floating in the air and, with a dramatic gesture, began to question its nature.

“You know what? I think this isn’t an angel at all. It looks more like a guy in a costume, doesn’t it?” “Alice said, looking at the celestial being skeptically.

The angel, clearly irritated, frowned.

“What are you saying, human?!” the angel shouted. “I am a legitimate angel and you will pay for doubting me!”

Lilith watched intently as the furious angel finally exploded.

“I curse you!” the angel shouted, pointing at Grimm. “You will never be able to meet a good man, nor receive his true love!”

Grimm, shocked by the curse, stood still for a moment. Lilith, with a cold smile, watched the disastrous spectacle as she took the opportunity.

“My, Grimm… so easily affected?” Lilith walked towards her calmly, looking at the confused expression on Grimm’s face. “It seems you have been left quite vulnerable, hasn’t it? How about you stop playing hero and join us?”

Grimm, with the curse still echoing in her mind, couldn't help but feel drawn to the proposal.

"Join you?" she asked, slightly stunned, as she tried to process what was happening. But the idea of ​​belonging to something bigger, to an organization that could truly offer her power and stability, tempted her.

Lilith smiled, using her influence to gain ground.

"Yes, Grimm. Kisaragi can offer you much more than you can imagine. You don't have to stay trapped in this messy world. If you join us, you could be part of a powerful network that will provide you with everything you want. Imagine... advanced technology, power over this world, and control of the forces that dominate it.

Grimm, still disoriented by the curse and the chaos of the situation, seemed to be hesitating. But Lilith's words began to take their toll.

"I'll think about it..." Grimm murmured, almost as a confirmation to herself. She was clearly more vulnerable than ever, and at that moment, Lilith knew she had won one more small battle for Kisaragi.

Lilith gave a calculating glance at Rokugo, who was looking at the situation without knowing what to say. The expression on Rokugo's face showed that he was worried about the turn the conversation was taking.

"Anyway, Alice," Lilith turned to her, "Do you have samples of the angel you summoned? I'd like to analyze them. If it really was an angel, it could be useful for our investigation."

Scene: The Necklace and the Revelation

In his makeshift office, Rokugo leaned back in his chair with a thoughtful air. He looked out the window at the desolate landscapes of the planet's surface, while he processed what had happened with Grimm, Black Lilith, and especially the new contract with Grimm. Things were taking an unexpected turn, and he wasn't sure if he could really continue playing with the young girl's heart without the consequences catching up with him one day.

—"If I play with Grimm's heart, I'll earn negative points every day with minimal effort" —Rokugo thought, with a mischievous but unsure smile—. "But... will this not get out of hand? Grimm is so unpredictable..."

He couldn't help but feel a little nervous, even tense. It could be a joke, something to make her fall into his trap, but maybe it was too much. However, his mind was busy. The next day, Rokugo was more relaxed about the plan, and the moment she saw the necklace in a local shop, she couldn't help but think of Grimm.

The next day, the mood at camp seemed more relaxed. Despite the previous tensions, Rokugo was determined to go ahead with his plans, though there was a new sense of awkwardness hanging in the air. Grimm, on the other hand, had been quieter than usual, probably processing what happened the night before. Meanwhile, Rokugo approached her with a shy smile, holding something small in his hands.

“Grimm…” Rokugo said, somewhat nervous. “I bought you something.”

Grimm raised an eyebrow, looking at the small box Rokugo was offering him. Opening it, he found a pretty necklace, with a shiny stone that seemed to change color depending on how you looked at it.

“A necklace?” Grimm asked, surprised, but quickly smiled at the gesture. “It's very pretty, Rokugo! Why did you give it to me?”

Rokugo, visibly embarrassed, looked at the ground, unable to meet Grimm's gaze.

“Well…” he said quietly. “It's just that… when I saw the necklace, it made me think of you. I wanted to give you something, and… I don't know, I thought you'd like it.”

Grimm, with a soft laugh, stared at him. A thought suddenly crossed his mind, and his eyes lit up with a mischievous glint.

“Are you… in love with me?” Grimm asked, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing, his voice mixed with disbelief and excitement. “Really? Really?”

Rokugo blushed to the roots of his hair, unable to hide his nervousness. For a moment, he didn't know what to say, but in the end, with a small, embarrassed smile, he sighed.

“Yes, Grimm, I think… yes.” he said softly, almost as if he was resigning himself to the idea.

Grimm was silent for a moment, watching Rokugo as she processed what she had just heard. Something inside her started to click, and her mind began to spin. The Commander... is in love with me... she thought. He wants a girl like me? I can't believe this day has finally come. It's like a dream

An involuntary blush appeared on her cheeks as her thoughts began to overflow. —"I can't believe it... The Commander... is in love with me... and he wants a girl like me, who would have thought? I thought this day had finally come. It's like a dream!"

Grimm, unable to control the flood of emotions that invaded her, began to overthink the situation. Questions invaded her mind, and she couldn't help but ramble.

—But... what difference would there be now that we're real boyfriends with what we already did? And if I don't know how to do it... what if I screw it up? What will happen?

lilith retorn

The next day, Rokugo took Lilith to meet Rose, who, to everyone's surprise, was disguised as a stuffed animal in an old man's house. The man, an old man who resembled his grandfather, seemed to be the only one who knew Rose's true identity.

“This is the place where Rose has been living all this time,” Rokugo explained with a slight smile. “I never imagined she would hide something like this.”

Rose, standing by the fireplace, watched Lilith's arrival with an expectant look. She didn't seem to care about the leader's presence, but something in her eyes carried a silent wisdom.

“I've been here... as a mere stuffed animal.” Rose shrugged, though her tone was more serious than expected. “The old man reminds me of someone I knew in the past. His wisdom has served me well.”

Lilith, hearing the story, frowned, feeling a strange unease. It wasn't just the fact that Rose had hidden herself for so long, but also the way she had done so. Something didn't add up.

"Rose, is there anything else we should know?" Lilith asked, looking closely at the chimera.

"I'll tell you when the time is right," Rose replied calmly. "But now, there's something else we need to see."

With a determined gesture, Rose led Lilith and Rokugo to the ruins she frequented. As they walked, the landscape seemed to change, becoming darker and stranger. The air was charged with electricity, and Lilith couldn't help but feel that something in this place had a direct connection to the advanced technology she had discovered earlier.

Reaching the center of the ruins, Rose pointed her finger at a particular area, where the remains of an ancient structure stood with what appeared to be advanced technology. Lilith began to examine the reports, photos, and files scattered around the place, and what she found only confirmed what she suspected.

"This..." Lilith said, almost to herself, as she looked with increasing horror at the details. These giant animals... the slime... none of them are native to this world. They are... biological weapons. They were created with genetic engineering and weird experiments.

Rokugo, hearing this, looked perplexed.

"Biological weapons? But... how is that possible?"

Lilith looked at him with a grave expression, but did not share her discovery with Rose at that moment. The chimera was looking at a map on the wall, focused on something else.

"Here..." Rose said, pointing with her finger. "This is the place where the Kingdom of Grace found me years ago. I was in a cryogenic tube."

Lilith looked at the map with interest, noting the location of the laboratory that Rose was pointing at. A chill ran down her spine as she thought about the magnitude of what was happening. That laboratory, those experiments... everything seemed to connect somehow with what she had already suspected.

Still, Lilith remained silent, knowing that it was not the time to reveal everything she had discovered. The truth was still hidden, but she had a feeling that the pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit together. And when everything was clear, no one would be able to stop what Kisaragi had planned.

Scene: The Invasion Plan

After several days of planning and gathering information, Lilith's satellite finally located the Demon King's castle, a place that had been kept hidden for generations. With the precise location in hand, Lilith called a meeting with her allies to discuss the next steps.

Rokugo, Rose, Alice, and a few others were present at a table filled with maps, old books on fantasy, and battle plans that talked about defeating Demon King castles, but it all seemed too typical, like something out of an adventure novel.

“Are we really going to do this?” Rokugo asked, his gaze fixed on the reports. “It's… it's the Demon King's castle, and his entire army is watching us. It's not just any invasion.”

Lilith crossed her arms, looking at the papers with a cold calm.

“We have planned enough. The demons in their army underestimate us, but I have a better plan.”

Rokugo raised his head with an arched eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

Lilith smiled, and suddenly, the room was filled with a strange energy. From a secret compartment within Kisaragi's fortress, a futuristically designed plane appeared on the screen. It was something completely out of place for that world, a plane completely different from anything they could imagine.

“I'm going to use this plane to invade the castle,” Lilith said with a calmness that made everyone fall silent for a moment.

Rose, who until that moment had been watching in silence, couldn't help but let out an exclamation of astonishment.

“They can... fly? Really?” she asked, her eyes wide open in surprise.

Lilith nodded without losing her composure.

“Of course I can. What, did you think that everything you did to me was going to be a nightmare?”

What are weapons and robots? Sometimes a little innovation is necessary.

Rokugo, though still somewhat perplexed, nodded.

“Fine. If you say it can be done, we will do it.”

After a brief pause, Lilith looked at everyone.

“And to make things more interesting, we will set up a telecommunications center right next to their castle. The last thing they will know is what has reached them.”

Scene: The Assault on the Demon King’s Castle

With Kisaragi’s plane in full flight, the group landed near the castle. Despite the impressive defenses, nothing could stop the plane’s speed and precision. The Demon Lord’s demons, noticing the invasion, began to pour out in large groups, marching towards Lilith’s location.

However, Lilith had an unexpected offer for them.

“Stop!” she shouted, raising her hand as the demons approached. Before you try to attack us, I have a proposition for you.

The demons paused for a moment, surprised by the challenge, but laughter began to fill the air. However, a figure stepped forward, not laughing like the others. It was Heine, the demon commander. Her gaze fixed and defiantly directed towards Lilith.

“What nonsense are you speaking, human?” Heine said, raising a sword adorned with dark runes. “You, a mere insect, are going to give us orders?”

Lilith stared at her, undaunted. She knew exactly what she was about to do.

“My proposition is simple,” she said in a cold voice. “Join Kisaragi, and this could all be over before you even start fighting. If not, you’ll see what happens.”

Heine let out a sarcastic laugh.

“I will never kneel before you, creature!” he shouted, launching himself towards Lilith with terrifying speed.

But before he could reach her, Lilith raised her arm, and from the mechanisms hidden in her body, powerful robotic arms emerged that caught Heine in the air, lifting her into the sky like a puppet.

Rokugo, watching the scene, thought that Lilith was going to humiliate Heine, stripping her naked in front of her army as a sign of defeat. However, Lilith, with absolute coldness, did nothing of the sort. Instead, she simply looked down on her.

“I warned you,” Lilith said calmly.

At that moment, a large bomb, launched from Lilith’s satellite, fell on the ground around the castle, destroying the battlefields and the barrier protecting the Demon King’s castle. Heine, completely helpless, watched as the barrier disintegrated and the castle was revealed for the first time in centuries.

The next bomb fell with pinpoint accuracy, shattering the castle and with it the demon king within, reducing it to rubble.

Heine, seeing the end of everything he had known, let out a helpless roar, but there was nothing he could do to save himself.

Scene: Reflections and Aftermath

Back in Kisaragi, the team returned after the devastating victory. However, not everyone shared the same satisfaction. Grimm and Snow, upon learning that Rokugo had left them out of the final war against the demon king, felt scorned and left out.

“Why didn’t they take us?” Snow growled, glaring at Rokugo in irritation. “We’re just as valuable as any of them!”

Grimm, calmer, but equally frustrated, crossed her arms.

“I thought we were in this together, but it doesn’t seem that way, does it?”

Rokugo, visibly uncomfortable, attempted to calm the situation, but before he could speak, Lilith appeared with a glittering haul of jewels, brought from the Demon King's world. Arriving on her planet, she quickly made her way to the meeting room with Astaroth and Belial.

“I have done as I was asked,” Lilith said with a satisfied smile. “The Demon King's castle has fallen, and we now have access to his resources.”

Astaroth, however, was not pleased.

“And the main objective, Lilith?” he said in a grave voice. “Where is my beloved Rokugo? Why did you not bring him back as I instructed?”

Lilith, not wanting to tell the truth, remained silent, refusing to share what she knew of the relationship between Rokugo and Grimm. However, by refusing to share her loot, the situation quickly escalated.

What started as a simple discussion about the spoils of war soon turned into a pitched battle inside the Kisaragi offices. Lilith, Astaroth, and Belial clashed with each other, shouting and punching, making it clear that the chaos within the organization was only just beginning.

Astaroth's Video Call to Rokugo

The next morning, as Rokugo was reviewing some reports from the conquered lands, his communication device began to ring. The serious face of Astaroth, Kisaragi's leader, appeared on the screen, her expression revealing a mix of irritation and something deeper.

"Rokugo!" Astaroth said bluntly, as soon as the connection was established. "I have made a decision."

. I want you to assign your oversight mission to any of the agents we already sent out for the conquest. It’s time for you to return to headquarters.

Rokugo raised an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden request and the urgency in Astaroth’s voice.

“Why the rush?” he asked, trying to sound casual. “According to Kisaragi’s constitution, any mission change of this level needs the unanimous approval of all three executives. You can’t just ask me to.”

Astaroth pursed her lips, clearly annoyed, but still raised her chin.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll bring Lilith to give her vote of approval,” she said, gesturing to someone off-screen.

A moment later, the camera zoomed in to show Belial dragging a clearly immobilized Lilith, her arms bound and a resigned expression on her face. She had a few scratches and her clothes were somewhat disheveled after the fight the day before. Despite her condition, Lilith smiled in a sly way, as if she was enjoying the situation.

“Come on, Lilith, vote,” Astaroth ordered, with a mix of impatience and desperation in his tone. “Give your approval so that Rokugo can assign his mission and return to Kisaragi headquarters.”

Lilith let out a sarcastic chuckle, but, after a moment of tension, she nodded slowly.

“I vote in favor,” she said, her voice barely audible, although her expression made it clear that she was acting against her will. “Rokugo can transfer his mission and return.”

Rokugo narrowed his eyes, watching Lilith carefully. He knew something was wrong, and that Lilith was not someone who was easily manipulated.

“I don’t think so,” Rokugo replied firmly. “Clearly Lilith is not speaking of her own free will.

On the other side of the screen, Lilith smiled in satisfaction and let out a sigh of relief, shifting just a little in place, as if celebrating her small victory. Belial looked at her in confusion, while Astaroth rubbed his temples, clearly frustrated.

“Damn Rokugo!” Astaroth growled, realizing that her attempts to get him to come back had failed. “How dare he ignore my orders?”

Lilith, still immobilized and clearly exhausted, cast a mocking glance at Astaroth.

“I told you, dear Astaroth. Rokugo is not that easy to manipulate,” Lilith commented sarcastically. “Besides, I think your jealousy and lack of control are starting to become very apparent.”

Astaroth frowned and looked away, trying to hide his frustrated expression. He stood up and walked over to the window, from where he could see the entire city under his rule, stretching out as far as the eye could see. In a whisper, almost as if she were talking to herself, she muttered,

“Please, Rokugo… come back soon.”

Meanwhile, Lilith, in her strapped-in chair, began to squirm a little, as if trying to adjust herself.

“By the way…” Lilith said in a complaining tone, interrupting Astaroth’s moment of introspection. “Could you please let me go now? I haven’t gone to the bathroom all day, and I think I’ve earned a break after all this… “little discussion.”

Astaroth sighed deeply and walked away from the window, not deigning to respond, while Belial tried, somewhat cautiously, to untie Lilith without getting hit in the process.

Scene: At Rokugo’s Camp

Back on the planet conquered by Kisaragi, Snow hurried into the tent where Rokugo, Grimm, and Alice were gathered discussing strategies. He carried a thick sheaf of papers in his hand, his expression one of exhaustion and perhaps a bit of despair. He seemed to have been researching for days without rest.

“I found something about the Demon King!” he exclaimed, placing the papers on the table and breathing heavily. “His name was Mehlmehl. He ruled his people for 200 years before attempting to invade the Kingdom of Grace. The reason for his invasion was… desperate. He was looking for a place for his people to live, since their land was destroyed by

the “Mole Titan King of Sand.”

Rokugo raised an eyebrow, interested, as Alice looked through the documents. Despite the oddities of this world, the “titans” and their mysterious origins continued to be a thorn in the minds of Kisaragi’s agents. Snow’s account reminded Rokugo of rumors about an ancient civilization and the wars that seemed to have devastated that planet, leaving scars that could be seen even on its own maps.

“Hm, so a ‘titan’ was responsible for the desertification of their lands?” Alice murmured, clearly intrigued. “Interesting. Perhaps it was nothing more than a biological tool, like so many others we’ve found in ruins and archives. Perhaps it’s a creation of the ancient inhabitants of this world.”

Snow sighed, dejected. It had been months since they began their mission, and there was still no sign of the ‘chosen one,’ Princess Tilis’ brother, who had apparently been randomly teleported to some unknown location.

“And the chosen one?” Rokugo asked, realizing that there seemed to be no progress on that front. “Any clues as to his whereabouts?”

“Nothing…” Snow replied, lowering her head, defeated. “There’s no sign of him in any of the nearby cities. And the kingdom is too busy with demons and… those other ‘giants’ to look for him further.”

Rokugo sighed, and when Snow looked up, her eyes seemed… wavering. She was tired and desperate. And on impulse, she seemed ready to take drastic measures.

“Hey, Rokugo…” she said in a shaky voice, as she unbuttoned the collar of her shirt, revealing just a bit of skin. “If… if you give me some food, I can… show you more.”

Rokugo stared at her in silence for a second, his expression one of disbelief.

“Huh? You’re offering to show your breasts just for food?” he replied, raising an eyebrow with a hint of mockery in his tone. “Fine, but if I’m going to invite you, then I must invite Grimm and Rose as well. I’m not going to play favorites here.”

Snow, visibly embarrassed, gritted her teeth, but eventually agreed, knowing that Rokugo wasn’t going to give in without including the others.

Scene: Kisaragi's Dinner Meeting

During dinner, in a more relaxed atmosphere, Rose made an unexpected announcement.

“Rokugo, I have made a decision,” Rose said seriously. “I am going to resign from my position as a soldier in the Kingdom of Grace. From today on, I want to be completely an agent of Kisaragi.”

Grimm, hearing Rose's words, nodded determinedly.

“I will also resign from the army,” Grimm added with a smile. “Though, of course, I will continue to be a priestess. My devotion cannot be abandoned.”

Snow, hearing this, turned livid. The idea that her friends were renouncing their loyalty to Grace seemed like a full-blown betrayal.

“I can’t believe they’re saying this!” Snow exclaimed indignantly. “How can they do this to Grace? To our people?”

Alice, observing the scene, took the opportunity to express her own “ambitions.”

“Ah, that’s perfect. When we get to Kisaragi’s main headquarters, Rose can be turned into a super mutant by taking advantage of her chimera abilities.” She turned to Grimm, smiling with a mix of mockery and genuine interest. “And you, Grimm… we can make you our zombie-mutant-woman, perfect for Kisaragi’s missions.”

“Don’t call me a zombie!” Grimm protested, offended. “And I’m not interested in being a ‘mutant’ either!”

Scene: After Dinner

After dinner, Rokugo and Snow went outside to discuss their plans. They sat down on the grass, watching the stars twinkle in the sky.

“So, what do you think about all this?” Rokugo asked, breaking the silence. “Do you think we should stop them?”

Snow shook her head.

“No, I don’t think so,” she replied. “They’re adults. They have the right to choose their own path.”

“Yeah, I agree,” Rokugo said, nodding. “But… I still feel bad about it. They’re my friends.”

“I know,” Snow said sympathetically. “But sometimes we have to let go of what we love for the greater good.”

Rokugo sighed and leaned back against the tree behind him, closing his eyes and letting out a deep breath.

“I guess you’re right,” he said softly. “We can’t force them to stay with us.”

“Well, I guess we can just make you a regular zombie then,” Alice replied, shrugging. “But you’ll have to work harder to get stronger.”

Grimm glared at her, but ultimately decided to keep quiet.

But Grimm was actually worried about something else. He looked at Snow, who had previously shown interest in joining Kisaragi in a moment of vulnerability. However, when Rokugo spoke, his words were devastating to Snow.

“Actually, Snow…” Rokugo said, shrugging. “I have no plans to take you to Kisaragi headquarters. It’s not that I have anything against you, but… you don’t have any superpowers or special abilities. You’re just an ordinary girl.”

The words hit Snow like a bucket of cold water. She felt a mix of humiliation and rage, though she tried to hide it.

“So… I have nothing to offer them?” she muttered, lowering her gaze.

“Too bad, if you insist so much, I’ll turn you into a ‘mutant’ when the conquest begins.” Rokugo laughed, trying to take the weight off his words.

Later, at the makeshift bar, things got out of hand. Snow, completely drunk after several drinks, started making comments that never ceased to surprise and amuse everyone.

“Look, Grimm…” Snow said, staggering and pointing at Rokugo with an unsteady finger. “Your ‘boyfriend’ wants to get me drunk so he can take advantage of me! Hah!”

Grimm, aware of Snow’s tricks and already accustomed to his way of behaving under the influence of alcohol, didn’t even show a hint of jealousy.

  Instead, he smiled and patted her on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry, Snow. I know Rokugo is a pervert, but he’s harmless.”

“Harmless? Ha! He’s a pervert, a liar, and a coward! But…” Snow paused, looking at Rokugo with a strange expression. “He’s also kind, brave, and a good friend. So… I forgive him.”

Grimm chuckled, amused by Snow’s words.

“I see. Well, I’ll forgive you too, Snow. You’re drunk, so you can say whatever you want.”

“Thanks, Grimm,” Snow replied, smiling. “You’re a good guy.”

“No, I’m not,” Grimm said, shaking his head. “I’m a terrible person. But I’m not as bad as Rokugo.”

“Oh yeah? How come?” Snow asked, curious.

“Because I’m not a pervert,” Grimm replied with a smirk. “And I don’t have a thing for little girls.”

Snow giggled, amused by Grimm’s words.

“Well, that’s true,” she admitted. “But… you’re still a good guy.”

“Thank you,” Grimm said with a smile. “Now, let’s drink to that.”

They raised their glasses and drank together, laughing and having fun. And as they did so, Rokugo watched them from afar, feeling a strange sense of warmth in his chest. He realized that despite all his faults and flaws, he was grateful for the companionship of these two friends. They were always there for him, no matter what happened. And he knew that he would always be there for them as well.

Viper

The next morning, Snow woke up with a bad hangover and a face pale with shame. Memories of the previous night were beginning to come back, and with them, the shame of the fool she had made.

“Oh, no…” she muttered, bringing her hands to her face. “What did I do last night…?”

Meanwhile, Rokugo and the others watched her from a distance, smiling in amusement, and remembering every detail of the previous night.

Scene: Princess Tilis’ Invitation

The news of Princess Tilis’ summons reached Rokugo as she was reviewing the daily reports at the base. It didn’t take long for her to understand that this was more than just a formal invitation. Tilis had made it clear that only Rokugo and his select group would be admitted, explicitly leaving Snow out.

“So the princess wants to see me… but she forbids Snow from entering,” Rokugo muttered, reading the note with a hint of satisfaction in his voice.

Snow, hearing this, frowned, visibly upset.

“What does that little princess have against me?!” she protested, clenching her fists. “I am a knight of the Kingdom of Grace!”

“Well, it seems that the princess wants to ‘get rid’ of you, don’t you think?” Rokugo commented, amused by Snow’s discomfort. However, after a moment of reflection, he decided to take her anyway. If the princess wanted Snow to stay, then Rokugo was going to do exactly the opposite.

In addition, he decided to take Rose as well, who seemed interested in learning about the ancient history of the world and who knows, perhaps the Demon Queen’s castle held some secret about the times before the devastation and rise of the “titans.” The mysterious history of this world had traces that felt almost prehistoric, as if something ancient and terrible had shaped its culture and geography in bygone eras.

Lastly, he took Grimm. The priestess had cried bitterly the last time Rokugo came to confront the demon king and he did not take her along. Perhaps this time, she might enjoy a chance at “spiritual revenge,” even if she spent most of the time sleeping in the carriage on the way.

Scene: Arrival at the Demon Queen’s Castle

The group finally arrived at the castle of the new demon queen, Viper, daughter of the late demon king Mehlmehl, whose throne was left empty after Lilith’s satellite attack. The fortress was imposing, surrounded by tall towers and vestiges of an ancient, shadowy culture. Seeing it, Rose felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if those walls told her stories of bygone eras and lives she had never lived… almost as if there were echoes of giants in the stones themselves.

In the main hall, Viper, an imposing figure with an icy gaze and magnetic presence, awaited them. His bearing recalled descriptions of ancient “giants,” though without the same physical monstrosity. Unlike her father, she seemed shrewd and calculating.

“Welcome, Kisaragi agents.” Viper smiled as her eyes scanned the group. “How is my former prisoner, Russel?”

Rose stepped forward and answered.

“Russel is fine… although he is being forced to create water and clean while wearing a maid outfit,” she said, shrugging. “It’s not the kindest treatment for a prisoner of war, but… it could be worse.”

Viper sighed in disdain.

“I can’t deny that that sounds humiliating. But that’s life. It could have ended worse for him, after all,” she muttered, her voice cold and unconcerned.

Scene: Heine’s Cell

After the welcome, Viper led the group towards a dark prison deep within the castle, where the demon Heine was being held. Heine's expression was one of utter misery, her eyes reflecting the mixture of betrayal and humiliation she felt. She was being accused of betraying the demon kingdom, because in her last encounter with Lilith, Kisaragi's satellite had detected the location of the towers and the castle itself, facilitating the attack that killed her father.

Seeing her, Rokugo couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh.

"Well, Heine, who would have thought you'd end up here?" Rokugo commented, crossing his arms and looking at her with a mocking smile. "It seems your kindness to Lilith was misinterpreted."

Snow also took the opportunity to throw a dig at him.

"How does it feel, Heine, to know that the entire kingdom thinks you betrayed your own people? Are you enjoying your "vacation" in the cell?" she asked, laughing with Rokugo.

Heine, his face red with anger and humiliation, gave them a look of hatred.

“Idiots! You don’t know what it’s like to live here! I had no choice!” she shouted, trying to justify herself, although her situation was clearly desperate.

Viper, observing the scene, interrupted.

“Heine is here because treason is punishable by death. However, because of her long service to the kingdom, I have decided to keep her in prison… at least for the moment.”

Rokugo looked at V.iper smiled maliciously.

“How about you hand her over to me? We can use her in Kisaragi… as a slave,” he suggested, his tone cold and devoid of any compassion.

Viper was silent for a moment, but finally nodded.

“I suppose it's better than death. Very well, you can take her… but I hope you find some use for her in your organization,” Viper replied, keeping her composure.

Heine, hearing this, began to panic.

“No… it can't be! I don't want to go with you!” he exclaimed in despair.

Snow, always ready to stir up the situation, approached with a malevolent smile and whispered to him in a mocking tone.

“Oh, Heine… you're lucky that Rokugo wants to 'keep' you.” Then she added, with a devilish smile. “You know? He has a few interesting ideas for his 'slaves.'” Maybe I want to make you clean in a maid outfit, like Russel… or something much worse.

Heine's face paled, and her eyes filled with terror while Rokugo smirked. The demon began to imagine all kinds of dark and perverse scenarios.

"N-No! Leave me alone! I can't believe my life depends on a degenerate like you!" she moaned, her voice cracking in the process.

Rokugo simply shrugged, amused.

"We'll see what I do with you, Heine. Who knows? Maybe you'll find out that I'm not as "degenerate" as you say." And then, with a lower, mocking tone. "Or maybe I am."

The Viper Demon Queen had summoned Rokugo and her group privately in one of the oldest halls in the castle. The room, with walls covered in symbols and engravings evoking ancient times and lost powers, radiated a solemn melancholy. It was as if the stones themselves whispered stories of wars, titans, and catastrophes that had devastated the world in ages past. Viper, with an expression of resignation, addressed them in a firm voice.

“The last satellite attack,” she began, looking Rokugo straight in the eyes, “destroyed the defenses of our demon realm. Officially… we have nothing left. No power, no army, no territory.” She paused, and the shadow of defeat could be seen in her eyes. “I have no choice but to surrender to the Kingdom of Grace and its organization, Kisaragi.”

Rokugo’s eyes lit up with a spark of interest, though he maintained an indifferent expression. Hearing Viper's declaration, Heine, who was standing next to her, burst into tears of sheer helplessness, unable to accept the total defeat of her people.

Viper continued, staring at the ground as she clenched her fists.

"As a symbol of my surrender… I want to be executed in public. Let my people see the price of our defeat. That way, maybe they'll find a way to survive without my burden." She then turned to one of the tallest towers in the castle, as if planning her final farewell.

Scene: Viper's Announcement

They climbed the tower, where Viper, with what dignity she had left, gave a final announcement to her people. Her voice echoed loudly over the devastated demon citadel.

"Citizens of my kingdom!" Viper proclaimed in a firm voice. "I, Viper, your queen, officially declare our surrender. If you wish to survive, flee to the kingdom of Toris, which was once our ally." There is no more future here, but perhaps there they will find hope.

Viper's words hung in the air like a tragic farewell, and despair spread among the inhabitants who listened from the shadows of their homes.

Rokugo, along with his group, watched her with a mixture of curiosity and satisfaction. The mission seemed to have been a resounding success, and now they had the leader of the enemy surrendering to them. When Viper finished her speech, she and Heine joined the group and boarded the carriage that would take them back to the Kingdom of Grace.

Scene: The Public Declaration in the Kingdom of Grace

Back in the Kingdom of Grace, Viper was escorted to the main square, where the people of Grace gathered, expectant. With her head held high and without an ounce of fear, Viper made a public declaration.

—Today, on this day, I offer my head as a symbol of surrender. May my death be the price my people pay so they can live in peace. —Her words had a sacrificial tone, as if she truly believed her death would be a liberation for her people.

Alice and Rokugo exchanged a quick glance. The scene was dramatic, and both recognized that there was something useful in keeping a demon leader like Viper. After all, her people's loyalty could be harnessed for Kisaragi.

Rokugo leaned toward Alice, whispering to her.

—How about instead of killing her, we make her an agent of Kisaragi? We could even plan a "fake death" so that the kingdom of Grace thinks we executed her.

Alice nodded, a mischievous smile on her face.

—That would be much more fun. And besides, we can always use her influence for future conquests. Just don't worry. We need to plan how to make it seem credible.

Scene: Planning Viper's "Fake Death"

Rokugo stepped away from the crowd for a moment to write a report to Kisaragi headquarters. In it, he made clear his interest in learning more about the secrets of this strange world, a world that seemed to be filled with ruins, memories, and echoes of something much older and more devastating. The environment they lived in seemed almost post-apocalyptic, as if a catastrophe of unimaginable dimensions had wiped out entire civilizations and left scars on the landscape and culture.

Rokugo's report to Kisaragi: After further investigating this planet, I have detected signs of an ancient civilization destroyed in multiple wars. There are engravings, stories, and rumors of titanic creatures, and even a race that was able to dominate the earth before the appearance of these demons. For the time being, I will extend my stay for another month to explore these legends and try to find something of value for Kisaragi. — Agent 6, Rokugo.

Sending the report, I couldn't help but imagine Astaroth's face as he read it, knowing how much she envied the "freedom" he had on his mission.

Scene: Astaroth's Jealousy

At Kisaragi's headquarters, Astaroth read the report with a frown. She couldn't help but feel jealous and upset. Rokugo, her agent, was exploring a mysterious world full of secrets, and here she was, stuck in his office unable to do anything about it. It frustrated her that he had the freedom to stay "another month" while she could only wait for his reports.

Final Scene: Viper's Fate and the Taunting of Heine

Back in the Kingdom of Grace, as they were planning Viper's public execution, Rokugo approached her privately.

—Fine, Viper. It seems you are about to have a new “life” as an agent of Kisaragi. We have already planned how to make your “death” believable to everyone,” she said with an enigmatic smile.

Viper nodded, accepting her new fate with an expression of stoic calm.

“I will adapt, as I always have. If this means my people will live, then it is a sacrifice I am willing to make.”

Meanwhile, Snow did not miss the opportunity to continue bothering Heine, who watched everything with a mix of anger and terror.

“Wow, Heine… who would say you would end up here, serving as Rokugo’s “pet” and now watching your queen become an agent of Kisaragi?” Snow told him, mockingly.

Heine, hearing this, could not help but tremble in helplessness.

Scene: Grimm Awakens

Grimm, who had been asleep for much of the conflict, finally woke up in the Grace Kingdom headquarters, where Kisaragi's group had temporarily set up shop. Still sleepy and somewhat disoriented, she looked around, taking in the surroundings and what had happened.

"What… what did I miss?" she asked, rubbing her eyes as she stood up and stretched.

Alice looked at her with an amused smile and replied,

"Oh, just the end of a war, the surrender of the Demon Kingdom, and… well, your boyfriend, Rokugo, now has a former Demon Queen working for Kisaragi. You know, the usual."

Grimm, hearing this, was shocked for a moment and then, furious, turned to Heine, who was sitting in a corner, visibly dejected and without the strength to fight.

"You!" Grimm yelled at her, with a menacing look. Don't think that because your queen surrendered I'm going to forget that you were our enemy!

Heine looked up, noticing the fury in Grimm's eyes, but she was too exhausted to respond with the same aggression. However, Grimm continued, not holding back her frustration.

"I never thought you would end up like this, Heine! Let alone that you would end up as... as the lover of my boyfriend and commander, Rokugo!" she exclaimed, with a mix of indignation and jealousy.

"What?!" Heine shouted, visibly horrified and offended by the accusation. "I hate that guy! I hate that my kingdom has fallen, I hate being a slave, and above all, I hate this situation!"

Grimm frowned, not convinced by Heine's words. He pointed a threatening finger at her and issued a warning:

"I don't care what you say!" If I find out that you and Rokugo have had some kind of… intimate encounter, I will curse you! And believe me, my curses are no fun at all.

Heine let out a desperate sigh, as if he no longer had the strength to argue, and simply muttered:

—As if my life wasn't miserable enough already…

Viper's Intervention

Viper, who was nearby and had been listening to the entire conversation, decided to intervene in defense of her former subordinate. She walked up to Grimm and introduced herself in a calm but firm voice.

—Listen to me, Grimm. I am Viper, the former Demon Queen. And if you intend to curse someone, then do it with me. I am the one responsible for my kingdom and dand my people, including Heine. If you wish to vent your anger, do so on me, but not on her.

Grimm blinked in surprise at Viper's determined voice. Although she was reluctant to accept the proposal of a former enemy, the intensity in Viper's eyes made her reconsider.

"Hmph... very well. But remember that this doesn't change anything. They are still our enemies," Grimm replied, although there was less hostility in her voice than before.

Alice and Work for Heine

Alice, watching the interaction, approached Heine and patted him on the shoulder, trying to instill some encouragement in him.

"Come on, Heine. Since you are now part of Kisaragi, we will find you a job that you can do. And by the way..." Alice smiled somewhat mischievously, "you can relax. Rokugo is not going to do anything to you. In Kisaragi, rape is forbidden for all members.

Heine breathed a sigh of relief, though his face still reflected a mix of resignation and humiliation.

“Thanks… I guess,” he muttered, barely able to accept his current situation.

Scene: Viper and Rokugo

A while later, Viper found Rokugo in one of the barracks’ lounges. He was sitting in a chair, completely absorbed in his Gameboy, a small video game console he had brought with him from Kisaragi headquarters. Viper was drawn to the device, something unfamiliar to her, and walked over to take a closer look.

“What is that?” she asked, genuinely curious.

Rokugo looked up from his game and smiled.

“This? It’s a Gameboy. A small portable game console. It’s a fairly common thing in my world.” He turned his attention back to the game, enjoying his free time, while Viper sat down beside him.

The former demon queen was silent for a moment, staring at the small, illuminated screen. It was something so simple and, at the same time, so fascinating. After a few seconds, he decided to talk about something that had been on his mind.

“My father never told me what life was like before these… giant animals appeared. He said that wars had changed the world in an irreversible way. That what was left was no longer what it once was.”

Rokugo listened attentively, without taking his eyes off his game, although his ears caught every word.

“Giant animals?” Rokugo asked, not hiding his interest. The mention reminded him of the old stories he had heard about this world, and what he had begun to discover in his research.

“Yes.” Viper nodded, and his voice took on a thoughtful tone. “Huge beasts that can only die if they are attacked in a specific point on the back of the neck. My father mentioned that they were failed experiments, created in a time when conflicts between kingdoms were fiercer. They say they tried to turn normal animals into giant beings, hoping to obtain an ultimate weapon to win wars. But… it got out of hand.

Rokugo smiled, intrigued by the story.

“Interesting. It seems this world has more secrets than it seems.”

Viper nodded, though his face was a mix of sadness and nostalgia.

“What we are now… is not what we always were. Maybe we were once like you, like humans. But now… now we are just the remains of a failed experiment, a desperate attempt to win a war that no one remembers.”

Rokugo fell silent, letting Viper’s words hang in the air. Suddenly, this world seemed much more complex and scarred than he had imagined, a place marked by ancient tragedies and mysteries that had yet to be fully revealed.

Final Scene: Rokugo and his Report

Later that night, Rokugo sat down to write his next report for Kisaragi headquarters. With what he had learned from Viper, his interest in exploring the history and past of this world grew even more. He knew that this information could be of great value to Kisaragi, and his thirst for curiosity drove him to stay longer.

Rokugo's report to Kisaragi: The world I have found here is much more than just a battlefield. The history of this land seems to be riddled with ancient experiments and endless wars that have left their mark on its inhabitants. There are rumors of artificially created giant beasts, and the atmosphere is reminiscent of a post-apocalyptic place, as if a previous civilization had perished in its own quest for power. I request to remain here for another month to continue investigating. — Agent 6, Rokugo.

Scene: "Sand King" Interruption

Viper and Rokugo were still talking in the barracks, and Viper was about to reveal a vital piece of information, something he had heard from his father, about a legendary demon who once granted a young girl named Fritz the "Power of the Titans", allowing her to transform into a giant creature to protect her village. But just then, a rumbling sound shook the earth, and a threatening vibration He walked around the barracks, interrupting the conversation.

“What the hell was that?” Rokugo asked, frowning as he looked outside.

Alice, who had been monitoring Kisaragi’s activities in the region, ran into the room with an alarmed expression.

“Rokugo, we’re in trouble! It’s the ‘Sand King’! That thing has surfaced, and it seems to be furious that our mines in the desert have invaded its territory. Plus, with the Forest King and the Mud King dead, it no longer has any competition to claim its domain!”

Rokugo let out a sigh, visibly exasperated.

“Another giant creature? Just when I thought we could catch a break…

The Sand King makes his appearance

The group left the barracks and could see, in the distance, a huge cloud of dust approaching rapidly. As the cloud cleared, the imposing figure of a giant mole appeared, with long fangs and sharp claws that could cut through any rock. It was the “Sand King,” an ancient beast claiming its right to the desert territory.

Alice, assessing the situation, wasted no time.

“This is an S-class threat!” she exclaimed, pulling out her communicator to deploy her spider-destroyer robot, a gigantic mecha Kisaragi had built for emergency situations.

The spider-robot descended with a rumble, its metal legs shining in the desert sun. Alice controlled it remotely, unleashing a concentrated fire attack on the Sand King. However, the beast did not retreat; instead, it lunged forward with surprising speed, managing to dodge several attacks and advancing dangerously towards the barracks.

“It can’t be!” Alice exclaimed. “That thing is faster than I thought!”

Rokugo's Sacrifice

Rokugo, in a desperate attempt to stop the Sand King's advance, launched himself at the monster with a high-powered explosive from Kisaragi, a last risky move. However, the attack proved insufficient, and the Sand King lunged at him, severely wounding him with its powerful claws before recoiling as it felt the pain of the explosions.

Rokugo fell to the ground, mortally wounded, coughing up blood as the group ran towards him. Alice, Viper, and Heine quickly approached, desperation setting in as they saw Rokugo's state.

“Damn it, it can't end like this!” Alice screamed, attempting to apply emergency first aid, but the wounds were too severe to be treated with her basic knowledge.

Viper uses the “Time Lady's Blessing”

Viper, still wounded in her pride but feeling a newfound loyalty to this strange group, knelt beside Rokugo, holding his hands. She pulled out a small amulet, a pendant she had kept since her childhood, which she had been told contained the “Blessing of the Lady of Time,” a mysterious power that could return a person to their former state, albeit at great cost.

“This is a power bestowed upon me as a queen,” Viper whispered, determined. “I don’t know if it will work on a human… but I cannot allow someone like you to die this way.”

With one last look of determination, Viper activated the amulet, and a mystical light surrounded Rokugo’s body. The wounds began to slowly close, and his breathing, which had been agonizing, stabilized. Although the amulet crumbled into dust, Viper’s sacrifice was not in vain. Rokugo had returned to his current state, safe and sound, though still unconscious.

Alice looked at Viper with a mix of surprise and respect.

“Viper… that was… unexpected of you. I thank you.”

Viper simply nodded, not saying another word. It was obvious that using the amulet had taken a lot of energy from him, and he could barely stand.

Rokugo's Report to Kisaragi

When Rokugo finally regained consciousness, Alice handed him his communicator and helped him sit up. Rokugo, somewhat confused but aware of the importance of documenting everything that had happened, began writing a report for Kisaragi headquarters.

Rokugo's report to Kisaragi:

"Lilith's actions on her last visit, which resulted in the deaths of the Forest and Mud Kings, have caused an ecological imbalance in this world. With the disappearance of these natural predators, the Sand King, an ancient giant mole, emerged from its subterranean habitat to claim territory without competition. Our mining exploitation in the desert also contributed to this aggressive response. Due to these factors, the creature attacked the headquarters and nearly caused significant casualties. My life was saved thanks to an intervention by Viper, who used an artifact known as the 'Blessing of the Time Lady'. I request a review of the resource exploitation policies in this world to prevent future conflicts with the local fauna. — Agent 6, Rokugo."

Afterwards After sending the report, Rokugo looked at Viper, who was sitting to the side, visibly exhausted. She returned a slight smile, a sign of respect between two beings who were once enemies but who now shared a strange and mutual understanding.

Closing Scene

The tension in the atmosphere began to dissipate as the group rested, aware of the magnitude of what they had just faced and the implications of their actions in a world that seemed to be constantly in imbalance. They now knew that every intervention, every step they took, could have unexpected and dangerous consequences.

Alice sighed and turned to the group with a somewhat resigned expression.

“It seems that, after all, our presence here is not as harmless as we thought. It is time for Kisaragi to consider the environmental repercussions and look for ways to coexist… or at least, not provoke more “Kings of the Earth.”

The group nodded silently, as the sun set on the horizon, leaving a feeling of uncertainty in the air. They knew that the balance of this world had been disturbed, and that facing these forces was just the beginning of what awaited them in a place full of secrets and unpredictable dangers.

Scene: The Hunt for the “Sand King”

Following the continued threat of the Sand King and the series of conflicts caused by resource exploitation in the desert, the group decided that they could not let the creature roam free. They needed to eliminate it to prevent further attacks on the barracks and the local town.

Preparations and Grimm’s Curse

The group ventured into the desert, setting traps to force the giant mole out of its underground shelter. Grimm was especially excited; it had been a while since she had the chance to test her curses on such a large and dangerous target. Finally, they managed to lure the Sand King to a specific area where Grimm prepared her spell.

“Ha, ha, ha! Finally, a creature worthy of my “Killing Curse”!” —Grimm exclaimed, smirking triumphantly as she raised her hands to the sky.

With impressive accuracy, she launched the curse directly at the Sand King, who had partially emerged from the ground. However, in an unexpected twist, the spell bounced off the beast's thick fur and hardened skin and came back at her.

—Wait, no, no, NOOOOO! —Grimm screamed, realizing too late the flaw in her curse.

A second later, Grimm fell to the ground, completely motionless. She had fallen victim to her own curse, and once again, she died on the spot.

Alice sighed and muttered in resignation.

—Same as always with Grimm… Someone please pick up his corpse after we finish this.

The End of the Sand King

Despite the unfortunate incident with Grimm, the team continued their assault. With a combination of attacks from Rokugo and Alice, and a final attack from Viper, they managed to corner and finish off the Sand King. The creature finally fell, and with its death, the balance in the desert, though weak, began to slowly restore itself.

Seeing the mole defeated, everyone let out a cry of victory. Even Grimm, who had been revived thanks to the intervention of her companions, joined in the celebration, pretending that the little incident with her curse had never happened.

“That's it! Mission accomplished!” exclaimed Rokugo, raising his fists in the air.

Celebration Interrupted

The celebration continued in the barracks. The entire team was enjoying the small impromptu party until a succubus, a dream demon who had served Viper in the past, burst into the room, visibly exhausted and nervous.

“My queen!” she exclaimed, addressing Viper with a deep bow. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have bad news. The kingdom we went to didn't accept us as refugees… they say they can't offer safety to demons.”

Viper frowned. She had been hopeful that her people would be able to find a safe home, away from conflict. But seeing the other kingdoms' refusal and constant rejection, she made an unexpected decision. She looked at Rokugo, a determined expression on her face.

“Rokugo…” Viper began, her voice firm. “I have come to appreciate Kisaragi's culture and way of life… I want to request that you accept my people. Allow them to join Kisaragi as soldiers and agents. I promise that they will be loyal.”

Rokugo looked at her with a mix of surprise and interest, but nodded.

“Well, we have room for more 'resources' in Kisaragi. Also, a group of demons on the team could be useful. I consider this approved.”

Snow and Tilis Oppose

Rokugo's approval was not well received by everyone. Snow, who had been watching the conversation, immediately exploded.

“Wait a second!” “We can’t just accept our former enemies as allies like that! This is madness!” Snow protested, arms crossed. s and his face flushed with indignation.

Rokugo looked at her, raising an eyebrow.

“Snow, who do you think makes the decisions here? That’s up to the Kisaragi council, and I’ve already submitted the request. They’ve already given their initial approval.”

Snow gritted her teeth in frustration, unable to do anything about it.

Princess Tilis, who had also been watching, walked up to Snow and muttered with a grim expression.

“I can’t believe we allowed this… by letting ‘Kisaragi help us against our enemies,’ we’ve actually given them power over us. Little by little, Kisaragi is subtly winning us over, and we’ve been too blind to see it until now…”

Snow’s Musings

Snow, still angry, walked away from the group and fell into thought. Her thoughts revolved around how, in an attempt to confront their enemies, they had opened the doors to an organization that not only wanted to help them, but also had its own interests in this world. Kisaragi's expansion seemed unstoppable, and now they were starting to rely on them more than they had originally intended.

“It's as if… Kisaragi had been planning this all along. They're invading us without even using brute force…” she muttered to herself, feeling a weight on her heart as she watched her companions celebrate alongside the newly arrived demons who were once enemies.

The party continued, but Snow and Tilis exchanged worried glances. They knew that, although they had won a battle against the Sand King, the war for control of their world was only just beginning.

Scene: The Surrender Agreement

After the victory over the Sand King and discussions about the fate of the demons, Viper, Princess Tilis, and Alice sat down to negotiate the final terms of the Demon Kingdom’s official surrender. Alice, as Kisaragi’s representative, was in charge of drafting the document, while Tilis and Viper discussed each clause.

The Agreement

Alice reviewed the first few lines of the agreement, making sure both parties agreed to the terms.

“So, first point,” Alice said, her tone professional. “The Kingdom of Grace will take possession of the Demon Kingdom’s territory as compensation for the hostilities of the war. But it agrees not to enslave or abuse any of the demon residents.”

Tilis nodded, albeit with a slight expression of displeasure. She wasn’t happy to give in, but she understood that there was no other option.

“I accept, on behalf of the Kingdom of Grace,” Tilis said seriously. We will respect the demons under our jurisdiction, as long as they abide by our laws.

Alice continued with the second clause, looking at Viper to make sure she understood what it entailed.

“Second, the demons may be transferred to Kisaragi headquarters, known as “The Hidden City,” if they so wish. There, they will be welcomed as members of Kisaragi and may join the organization as agents or soldiers, under the supervision of our council.”

Viper nodded slowly. She had had time to ponder this clause, and while it meant that her people would be under Kisaragi’s control, it also gave them a chance to live in peace.

“I understand. My people have nowhere else to go, so I agree to the terms on their behalf,” Viper said with resignation.

Finally, Alice read the last clause, a demand that made Viper’s lips tighten slightly.

“Third and final point,” Alice said. To symbolize the Demon Realm's complete surrender and seal the peace agreement, Viper, the former Demon Queen, will be required to commit harakiri in a public ceremony.

The room fell into a heavy silence as Tilis and Alice watched Viper. To their surprise, the former Demon Queen nodded without resistance.

"I accept," Viper said in a firm voice. "If my death helps my people have a chance of survival, then I have no objection. But..." Viper looked at Rokugo, who was in the room playing one of his handheld video games. "Before I die, I want to try one of those... video games. It sounds like something fun."

Rokugo looked up from his console, surprised by the request, but smiled at Viper's curious expression.

"Sure, if you want to try it, go ahead," he replied, offering the device. "But I warn you, it's not easy for beginners!"

Viper carefully took the console and stared at the screen, fascinated by the graphics and mechanics of the game. Rokugo sat beside her, showing her the controls and giving her advice as she tried to beat the first level. For a moment, it seemed like they were both in another world, absorbed in the simplicity of the game, forgetting the problems and weight of the agreement.

Rokugo and Alice's Plan

As they played, Rokugo took the moment to speak to Viper in a low voice, making sure only she heard him.

“Look, Viper… Alice and I have been planning an alternative. This ‘harakiri’ will just be a play,” she whispered, keeping her expression carefree so that no one would suspect. “Instead of you actually dying, we’ll fake your death. Afterwards, we’ll discreetly take you to the Hidden City with the rest of the demons.”

Viper blinked in surprise, and looked down at the game to disguise her reaction.

“A farce?” she muttered in a whisper, barely moving her lips. “Why would they do that for me?”

Rokugo chuckled, not taking his eyes off the screen.

“Well, you’re useful, and besides… it seems like you’ve

begun to understand how Kisaragi works. I think you’d fit in well with our organization. Besides, it would be a waste to get rid of someone with your skills and leadership,” she replied, her tone seeming friendly and slightly mocking.

Viper looked down, clearly touched by Rokugo's words. She wasn't used to receiving sincere recognition, much less from someone like him.

"I don't know what to say... Thank you, Rokugo. I thought we were just enemies."

"Kisaragi doesn't see the world in black and white. Enemies, allies, everyone has potential value. So, prepare for your 'death' and enjoy this last game, at least until the show starts," Rokugo added with a sly smile.

The Last Act and the False Death

While Viper continued to play and familiarize herself with the console, Alice and Tilis continued to organize the details of the agreement. The plan was in motion, and no one outside of Kisaragi suspected the farce that was about to be executed.

The "harakiri" ceremony was planned for the next day, with a large crowd summoned to witness the fall of the former demon queen. However, instead of a tragic death, Kisaragi had an elaborate strategy to save Viper and ensure that both she and her people would have a fresh start under his protection.

Final Scene: Rokugo's Report

That night, Rokugo retreated to a private room to write up his report to Kisaragi's headquarters. He wrote about the results of the battle against the Sand King, the addition of the demons to Kisaragi's team, and how they managed to avoid a major conflict with the Kingdom of Grace.

In the last part of his report, Rokugo added a note about the ecological imbalance caused by Lilith's intervention and the alterations Kisaragi was making to that world.

—"Furthermore, I deem it prudent to investigate further into the origins of this world and its strange inhabitants. Ancient references mentioning giants and powerful beings indicate a hidden history, possibly related to ancient abilities that could be valuable to our future plans," he wrote, ending the report.

Finally, he added a final line that was sure to provoke a reaction from Astaroth, his superior:

—"I request an extension of one more month to delve deeper into these mysteries. My interest in the origin of this world is high, and it could be of great benefit to Kisaragi."

He closed his report and sent it off.

"Now, let's see what kind of trouble I've gotten myself into this time," Rokugo thought as he leaned back in his chair, ready to face the consequences of his actions.

“You’re really good at this!” Rokugo exclaimed, watching Viper’s progress on the game. She was now on level three and had already defeated two bosses.

“Thanks! I’m having a lot of fun,” Viper replied with a smile. “It’s nice to be able to relax for once.”

“Yeah, it’s rare for us too,” Rokugo agreed. “We’re usually busy with our duties, but it’s good to take a break every now and then.”

Viper nodded in understanding. She knew that Kisaragi agents were constantly on the move, fighting battles and completing missions. It was only natural that they needed a moment to unwind.

“So, tell me, what do you guys do exactly? You fight monsters and demons, but what’s your main goal?” Viper asked, curious about the organization that had saved her people.

Rokugo chuckled, knowing that Viper was referring to the Kisaragi Corporation. He had already explained the basics of the organization to her, but she wanted to know more.

“Well, our main goal is to achieve world domination,” he replied honestly. “But we don’t just want to conquer the world; we want to change it according to our vision.”

“What’s your vision?” Viper asked, intrigued by Rokugo’s answer. She had never heard of an organization that wanted to change the world for the better.

The day had arrived for Viper's long-awaited "execution." However, long before the ceremony had even begun, Grimm had learned of the recent events and was furious.

Grimm, angrily, entered Rokugo's room, who was sharpening his knives on a chair as he waited for the day to begin.

"How come you left me dead during the fight against the Sand King?!" Grimm shouted, clearly offended, crossing her arms as she glared at Rokugo. "I wanted to participate too! You guys always do things without me!"

Rokugo sighed and set his knife down on the table, looking at her with a sarcastic smile.

"Come on, Grimm, don't be like that. You know very well that you always die at the most important moment," he said, amused, with a mocking smile. "It's not our fault that you're so... well, 'touchy-feely.'"

Grimm snorted, clearly not impressed with his excuse, and turned her head away with an offended air.

“That doesn’t matter! Even if I am a cursed priestess, I deserved to be there and fight… I can’t believe they left me out,” she complained, puffing out her cheeks like an upset child. “Do you know how frustrating it is to wake up and see that you’ve missed out on the best moments?”

Rokugo, in an attempt to calm her down—or maybe just to have a little more fun—made her a casual offer.

“Well, well, to make it up to you, how about we go on a date?” she offered, in a carefree tone. “Something to relax you, what do you say?”

Grimm blushed slightly, raising an eyebrow in surprise and skepticism.

“A date?” she repeated, looking at him suspiciously. “You think you can buy my forgiveness with a simple date? I’m not an easy girl, Rokugo!”

Rokugo kept his smile, finding her reaction both charming and entertaining. He pulled out a small bento he had prepared earlier and showed it to her, moving it slightly to tempt Grimm.

“How about I include this bento? We can eat together while enjoying the view.”

Seeing the bento, Grimm’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She wasn’t an easy girl, true, but she could never resist food, especially when it came with a special moment with Rokugo. Trying to keep her composure, she cleared her throat slightly.

“Well… if that’s the case, I guess we could go… but only because you owe me one for leaving me out of the fight,” she agreed, trying to sound carefree, although it was clear that the excitement betrayed her.

But the truth was that he also needed that break to clear his mind of the paranoia that was consuming him because of the “infidelity” that he thought Astaroth might discover at some point. Rokugo's heart, though he wouldn't openly admit it, was also stirred by what he had begun to feel for Grimm. However, his plan remained clear: to conquer without really committing, just using his charm to manipulate situations.

A few minutes later, on the "date"

Rokugo smiled, unable to help himself, and led her towards a nearby hill where the entire camp could be seen. from where the strange mutant creatures and chimeras of Kisaragi could be seen, howling towards the moon in a bizarre spectacle. They sat on the ground, and Grimm looked around, bewildered, while he opened the bento

Rokugo presented himself to Grimm with a small wrapped box. He offered it with a nervous smile, although his attitude still held a hint of forced nonchalance. Grimm raised an eyebrow at the package, but couldn't help but soften her gaze when Rokugo opened the box and revealed the contents: a neatly packaged bento, with a variety of dishes, one more appetizing than the other.

Grimm's eyes sparkled, and her lips curved into a smile, something she rarely showed.

In the camp, in the distance, were the tiger man, Rose, and Russel, howling at the moon, a rather strange sight but characteristic of their group. They sat on the ground, and Grimm watched everything around her, bewildered by Rokugo's calmness as he opened the bento and began to eat.

But when she looked closer, she noticed something strange. Rokugo wasn't really enjoying his meal. Instead, he was staring intently at the nearby trees, as if he was searching for something. Finally, after a few minutes of awkwardness, Rokugo turned to her, with a calmer expression, and spoke to her.

“I’m looking for Titan Mokemoke Locust eggs. I need some for an important project…” he said, not looking directly at her, as he carefully stepped towards a tree, avoiding any mistake that would cause him trouble.

Grimm was bewildered, watching as Rokugo, instead of enjoying his moment, was examining the ground with great seriousness, as if he was looking for something more than just eggs.

“Is that… is that all you have planned?” Grimm asked, with a mix of disbelief and frustration. It was clear that there was no  She had expected such a strange date, where her partner, instead of focusing on her, was looking for ingredients.

Rokugo, however, didn't seem to notice Grimm's disappointment and continued explaining, as if there was no interruption.

—Yes, these eggs can become a powerful biological weapon for Kisaragi. The taste is not the important thing, although... —he laughed nervously—... the taste is horrible. But all of that has a purpose.

She would start eating.

—Wait... This is the "date"? —Grimm asked, perplexed, watching as the strange creatures made disturbing sounds under the moonlight.

Rokugo smiled at her, as if he didn't understand why she was surprised.

—Sure. Tell me, isn't it romantic? A picnic under the moon, accompanied by these... uh, "unique" beings. This is what makes Kisaragi special —he said, biting back a laugh as he offered her a bite of his bento.

Grimm sighed, resigned, but took the bite of food and ate, feeling a little cheated. Still, deep down, there was something about this chaotic moment that amused her. After all, being with Rokugo was always an enigma, an unpredictable adventure that she never quite understood.

“Tsk, this doesn’t count as a “normal” date at all…” she muttered, blushing a little, but finally giving in. “But I guess I’ll let you slide… this time.”

Rokugo laughed at her frustrated expression, and they continued eating in silence, enjoying the strange “peace” that Kisaragi’s bizarre surroundings offered them.

In his mind, Rokugo was starting to get more restless, thinking about Astaroth and how he might think of all this. Somehow, he had been given permission to get involved with maidens if it would help Kisaragi’s conquests. However, he couldn’t let Grimm become an obstacle. How could he be involved with someone like her? In the end, he wasn't going to let her harm his plans, but at the same time, a strange feeling of nervousness was growing inside him.

Despite everything, Grimm didn't stop watching him, with a mix of bewilderment and exhaustion. She had begun to imagine that maybe something real could emerge between them, but this moment seemed more like a mockery than an opportunity for genuine connection.

"Rokugo, what are we doing here?" she said, her voice tinged with frustration.

Meanwhile, in Viper's cell

While Rokugo and Grimm enjoyed their particular moment, Viper was alone in her cell, patiently waiting for the start of her "execution." She was calm, although her thoughts wandered between worry and curiosity about what the future held for her.

She knew that this "death" wouldn't be real, but the fact of faking her own execution and leaving behind the title of Demon Queen was bittersweet. Her mind returned to the memories of her childhood and the stories her father, the former Demon King, had told her about the ancient demons and titans. As much as she wanted to deny her past, she knew it was in her blood.

She looked up at the small window high up in her cell, from where she could see a sliver of sky. She closed her eyes, remembering Rokugo's words and the promise of a future in Kisaragi. Perhaps, under the protection of this organization, her people could finally find peace.

And though her heart was divided, a part of her was excited for what was to come.

Scene: Rokugo's "telepathy" and Viper's escape

In the darkness of the cell, Viper was still patiently waiting for the moment of her "execution." Her thoughts took her back to the last memories she had shared with Rokugo and Kisaragi's peculiar company. She didn't know exactly how, but she had grown fond of their culture and customs, despite how chaotic everything seemed to be.

Suddenly, a soft and mysterious voice echoed in her mind.

"Viper... it's me, Rokugo. I can communicate with you through telepathy," the voice said, in a serious and deep tone.

Viper blinked in surprise, standing up immediately.

"Rokugo? Is that you? I didn't know you had that kind of power..." she replied, incredulous but with a glimmer of hope.

The voice continued in her mind.

"Viper... tell me the truth, what do you really think about all this? This is your last chance to be completely honest. No one else can hear us."

The former queen took a moment to reflect. She lowered her gaze, letting out a sincere confession, something she had kept deep in her heart.

"The truth is... all this, these days I spent with you... have been the best moments of my life. I feel… free, for the first time,” she admitted, a slight tremor in her voice. “It’s like I’ve finally found a place where I belong.”

Just as her words became more sentimental, Rokugo deactivated his suit’s stealth mode, suddenly appearing in front of her with a mocking smile.

“Surprise!” he said, laughing as he watched her blush. “It wasn’t telepathy, Viper. I was just using my invisibility suit.”

Viper gaped, completely embarrassed.

“What?! You made me say all that… and you were just standing there listening? Rokugo, you’re a…!” she shouted, frustrated, but unable to find words to describe her anger.

“Well, that was pretty revealing, huh?” he replied, still laughing. “Come on, we have a mission. I’m getting you out of here, so we better move quickly.”

Rokugo used his Kisaragi knife to cut through the bars of the cell and, after making sure there were no guards in the hallway, he led Viper through the castle.

As they moved forward, some Kisaragi agents created a distraction, engaging the Kingdom soldiers to facilitate their escape. The sounds of combat echoed through the halls, and the screams of the guards mixed with the echo of clashing swords.

Just as they reached the outer courtyard, Princess Tilis appeared, accompanied by Snow, and raised a hand in a halt signal.

“Rokugo, stop! You can’t do this. Viper’s death is essential to the peace treaty. Don’t ruin all the effort we’ve made!” the princess implored him, her voice firm and authoritative.

Rokugo sighed, raising an eyebrow.

“I’m sorry, princess, but I have other plans,” he said with a defiant smile, and quickly put the invisibility hood over Viper. “I’m going to distract them. You just follow the plan.”

Viper, still somewhat embarrassed, nodded silently and disappeared under the hood.

However, just at that moment, Grimm appeared on the scene, looking around with a distressed expression.

“Wait, wait!” “Where do you think you’re going, Rokugo?!” Grimm shouted, visibly upset.

Rokugo raised his hands in a sign of calm.

“What’s wrong, Grimm? I thought you were on our side.”

Grimm looked at him with tears in his eyes, shaking with rage and jealousy.

“I… I didn’t know you were planning to run away with Viper! What kind of commander runs off with another woman and abandons his faithful Grimm?!” he exclaimed, clearly imagining a future where Rokugo and Viper fell in love and left her behind.

Rokugo couldn’t help but sigh, realizing that things were getting more complicated than necessary.

“Grimm, it’s not what it seems…” he tried to explain, but before he could continue, Viper, still under her hood, was discovered by Alice, Snow, and Princess Tilis.

Alice smiled mischievously as she lowered her hood, revealing Viper.

“Well, well… it seems like someone was trying to run away. Do you think you can fool us that easily, Viper?” Alice said in a playful tone.

Snow, for her part, drew her sword and looked at Rokugo with accusatory eyes.

“This is a betrayal, Rokugo. Were you really planning to break the deal?” Snow asked, disappointed.

Viper looked at Rokugo, a mix of sadness and determination in her eyes. Before they could stop her, she ran to a nearby tower and, in front of the entire crowd, pulled out what looked like a small bomb.

“For the sake of my people and for this war to end once and for all…!” she shouted, activating the “bomb” and letting a blinding light envelop everything around her.

Rokugo barely had time to shout her name before being blinded by the explosion of light.

Moments later, as the smoke cleared, Viper’s body had disappeared. Everyone in the place accepted her "death."

Heine, who was watching from afar, broke down in tears, his cries of pain echoing throughout the field. His beloved queen had given her life for them. The deal was struck, and the demons were transported to Kisaragi's main headquarters, where they would begin a new life as agents of the organization.

Some time later, at Kisaragi's headquarters

Rokugo was still in mourning, unable to assimilate what had happened. He felt betrayed by Alice and furious with himself for not having prevented Viper's "death." Until, suddenly, in the middle of a group of newly arrived demons, a familiar figure appeared.

It was Viper, although she had now adopted a new appearance under the name of "The Mutant Viper Woman." The physical changes were evident, her body was now more agile and stronger, with certain mutant features, adapted for Kisaragi's missions.

Heine, seeing his queen alive, burst into tears once again, but this time from joy, running towards her to hug her. The other Kisaragi agents also became emotional, including Rose, who had always shown some affection for Viper.

At that moment, Alice approached Rokugo with a satisfied expression.

“Surprised?” Alice asked, raising an eyebrow. “Viper’s ‘bomb’ wasn’t lethal. It was just a flash grenade, enough to fool everyone and allow her to escape.”

Rokugo looked at her in disbelief and relief, finally understanding Alice’s ingenious plan.

“So… it was all part of the plan,” he muttered, letting out a sigh. “I can’t believe you put me through this, Alice.”

Alice smiled widely.

“You had to do it.” "That's pretty compelling, don't you think? Plus, you now have a more powerful ally for our missions."

Snow, who had been dismissed by Princess Tilis after these events, came over at that moment, watching the scene between Rokugo, Alice, and Viper.

"Rokugo... since the princess has dismissed me, can I join Kisaragi? Is there a mission you can give me?" she asked, trying to sound casual but showing her desperation to not be left without a purpose.

Rokugo shrugged, looking at her with a mix of sympathy and mockery.

"Well, Snow, we might as well find something for you. I can't promise it will be easy, but I guess you'll have to get used to Kisaragi's 'culture.'"

Snow sighed, resigned, but deep down relieved to be able to find a new place where she could continue fighting... even if it meant adapting to the bizarre customs of the Kisaragi organization.

Scene: Viper in Kisaragi and Rokugo's call to Astaroth

It had been a while since Viper was officially named "The Mutant Viper Woman" and joined Kisaragi. Now, in addition to being part of the organization, she was in charge of a faction of new recruits, made up of the demons who had been transported along with Heine and his troop. Meanwhile, Grimm, Snow and Rose had also fully joined Kisaragi, forming a unique and chaotic group alongside Rokugo and Alice.

Rokugo, visibly satisfied with the outcome of the mission and having Viper alive and leading her own squad, decided to take advantage of the moment to make a video call to Kisaragi's main headquarters. The figure of Astaroth appeared on the screen, the leader of Kisaragi and a woman who, although strict, shared a rather... complicated history with Rokugo.

—Rokugo, it's strange that you report so often. What do you need now? —Astaroth asked, arching an eyebrow, clearly puzzled.

Rokugo smiled and crossed his arms, without losing his usual confident tone.

—Well… actually I was thinking of asking for a little vacation —he said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world—. I want to go home and, well, get some rest.

Astaroth looked at him in silence for a few seconds before answering.

—Vacation? Now? And why right now, Rokugo? You've been away for quite some time. I'm surprised you're just now thinking of asking for a break.

Rokugo, keeping his smile, moved a little closer to the screen and whispered suggestively:

—It's just that… I thought it would be interesting to see the face of a certain Kisaragi leader when she saw me in person again. You know, to remember old times.

Astaroth, for the first time in a long time, seemed to blush slightly, but kept his serious expression.

—Are you implying something, Rokugo? Because I seem to recall that our “relationship” never included things like… seduction, or am I wrong?

Rokugo laughed, amused at Astaroth’s reaction.

—Oh, right, as if you never asked me to arrive early to meetings with “certain words of encouragement.” Have you forgotten, Astaroth? Because I haven’t.

Astaroth sighed, visibly annoyed and at the same time… nervous. Something in her expression changed, becoming a little more serious, even melancholic.

—Look, Rokugo, I’ll be honest with you. The reason we send agents to other planets and why you have the mission to conquer that world… is not just because we want to expand our domain. Our planet… is practically ruined. The pollution has reached an unsustainable point, and the situation is critical.

Rokugo frowned, surprised by the revelation.

“So this whole invasion operation is to… find a new home?”

Astaroth nodded slowly.

“Exactly. Kisaragi is looking for habitable worlds to move our people to, and you… are the one who has been the most successful in this mission. That is why I ask you, Rokugo, to finish the conquest of that planet once and for all. It is not just for Kisaragi… it is so that we all have a safe place to go.”

There was a moment of silence. Rokugo, though usually carefree and sarcastic, seemed to process the seriousness of Astaroth’s words. Finally, he nodded determinedly.

“Alright, Astaroth. I will finish what I started. For you… and for everyone else.”

Astaroth gave him a slight smile, one that Rokugo could not remember seeing in a long time.

“Thank you, Rokugo. I will make sure that you have the recognition you deserve when this is all over.”

The screen blacked out, ending the video call.

Just then, Alice entered the room with an alarming expression.

“Rokugo! I just received some disturbing news. The country of Toris… has simply disappeared.”

Rokugo raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

“Vanished? What do you mean by ‘vanished’?”

Alice nodded, her voice filled with tension.

“There are no traces of their people or their structures. All that remains are ruins… as if someone or something had wiped them off the face of the planet.” It's like they've been... wiped out in a single blow.

Rokugo frowned, his thoughts spinning as he tried to understand what that meant. The disappearance of an entire kingdom was something out of the ordinary, even by Kisaragi standards.

"This can't be a coincidence. Could it be that... there's someone else on this planet playing at conquering territories besides us?" Rokugo muttered, starting to see this world differently.

Alice looked at him, sharing his concern.

"It could be. If there's a bigger threat, we need to find out what or who is behind this. Perhaps the 'conquest' Astaroth asked of us isn't as simple as we thought."

Rokugo sighed, knowing that this was just the beginning. He had promised to finish the mission, but the challenge before him was far more complicated than he had imagined.

“Well, it looks like my vacation will have to wait,” he said with a wry smile, looking at Alice and preparing for what was coming.

the night of Rokugo and Grimm 

Rokugo had successfully established himself in his position as Kisaragi's agent, and with the Kingdom of Grace practically under the organization's control, Princess Tilis was nothing more than a figurehead. In his mind, Rokugo felt great satisfaction at the "progress" he had made. To him, every victory and every step forward was proof that he was achieving something great. Although his method was not that of a hero, but rather that of a calculating and pragmatic mercenary, the complacency he felt was unmatched.

During the date...

That night, despite everything that had happened, Rokugo decided that, for once, he was going to try to give Grimm what he had been asking for. Not without some misgivings, of course, but at least he felt that a little time together wouldn't hurt. If he could calm the waters between him and Grimm, perhaps he could focus on what really mattered.

The two met at a small cafe in the center of the city. Rokugo had invited her without much ceremony, but seeing her so excited, he felt that perhaps he had done well to give in a little. Grimm was sitting in front of him, talking and gesturing non-stop while he just listened. Although he didn't show it, inside Rokugo felt a little uncomfortable with the situation. He had so many things on his mind, so many worries, but there he was, willing to spend a moment of calm with her.

"...And then, the captain of the ship said that we had to find a way to get off that island because the storm was approaching, and I thought we would never get out of there!" Grimm continued, his voice full of emotion while Rokugo nodded calmly.

Finally, after a long monologue, Grimm stopped and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Rokugo, we have to talk," she said, her tone taking a more serious turn.

He looked at her, intrigued, but she continued without giving him time to respond.

"Why don't we do boyfriend and girlfriend things if we're boyfriend and girlfriend?" —she asked, crossing her arms over her chest—. We don't hold hands, we don't say things like "love", "darling", "my life"... we don't even kiss! —she added, now clearly annoyed—. You can't tell me you're not interested in that or... something more intense! —Grimm said, looking at him with an expectant smile and a glint in her eyes.

Rokugo sighed, thinking to himself: "Oh, Grimm... if only you knew you were the other one." But he decided not to say it out loud. Instead, he tried to laugh softly.

Rokugo, who had been listening patiently, felt a strange pressure build up in his chest. The way she spoke... It wasn't just a complaint, but an invitation, a demand. And that demand, combined with the fact that he hadn't had any intimate relationships for months, began to make him feel a growing need that he hadn't anticipated. The urge to run away or give a sharp answer faded, and in its place, something more primal began to emerge.

Time seemed to slow down as he processed her words. Grimm, on the other hand, was clearly anxious, waiting for an answer that wasn't coming. But before she could add anything else, Rokugo did something she hadn't planned.

"Well, Grimm, you always talk about boyfriend stuff, but… are you really ready for that?" he asked, with a slightly mocking smile.

Grimm seemed to take a bit of offense, putting her hands on her waist.

"Of course I am! I'm a mature woman and ready to do boyfriend stuff!" she protested with a slight blush, although clearly nervous.

Without giving him time to say more, he lowered his head, approaching his wheelchair. In a surprising movement, he leaned towards Grimm and kissed her, his lips touching hers in a soft, almost experimental contact.

Grimm stood completely still, taken aback. The surprise left her breathless for a moment, but then, as if something had been unleashed inside her, she closed her eyes and returned the kiss, her trembling hands gripping the sides of her chair. The tension she had felt up until that point disappeared completely, replaced by a warm, fuzzy euphoria.

After they separated, Grimm opened her eyes and looked at him, clearly stunned but with a big smile on her face.

When they finally separated, Grimm, visibly stunned, but a big smile appeared on her face, as if everything she had been waiting for had finally happened.

Rokugo, feeling the warmth that had built up in his chest, smiled crookedly. But the truth was, he couldn’t help but feel pleased with himself.

“So… my place or yours?” he asked, keeping his tone relaxed, though his words hid a slight nervousness.

Grimm blushed deeply, his mind beginning to spin. He knew that if they went to Rokugo's house, Alice could interrupt at any moment. The idea of ​​Rokugo's young assistant interrupting them was not something he liked, especially with what had just happened.

rrir.

“Better... better let's go to my house,” she finally said, with a small, mischievous smile. “I don't want any surprises.”

Rokugo looked at her, a satisfied gleam in his eyes, as he stood up from the chair and helped her up as well. Even though she wouldn't admit it, she felt a strange relief, as if at least that uncertainty had been resolved, at least for a moment.

They both walked towards the exit of the cafeteria, but something in the air had changed. Words weren't necessary to know what each of them was thinking at that moment.

Rokugo followed her into her humble dwelling, a small and somewhat ramshackle place. The walls had an ancient look, and the atmosphere was filled with a certain rustic charm, if somewhat rundown. It wasn't exactly a palace, but it was what Grimm could afford, and Rokugo didn't seem to mind too much.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Grimm said, in a nervous tone, leading him to her room, which was equally simple, with a small bed and somewhat worn sheets.

Rokugo looked around the place with a slight smile, then turned to her.

"Nice place, Grimm. It's… cozy," he commented, trying to be diplomatic.

Rokugo crossed the threshold of Grimm's humble home, looking around with a mix of bewilderment and humor. The decor of the house was… peculiar, even by medieval standards. There were lace curtains that looked like they had seen better days, a tapestry depicting chickens, and some woven baskets stacked in a corner. It was like walking into a granny's house, which seemed completely out of place with the image of the temperamental priestess of death.

Also, she noticed that the place was set up in a strange way. Although Grimm used a wheelchair most of the time, it seemed that she had managed to have the house arranged in such a way that walking barefoot was the ideal option, with mats and cushions on the floor, soft and padded. Of course, it made sense considering her curse of not wearing shoes.

Grimm, who had been holding back her excitement and nervous anticipation the whole way there, finally got off her wheelchair, letting herself get carried away by the moment.

“This… commander… this… this is what I always imagined for my first time,” Grimm murmured, clearly lost in her own romantic illusion, as she nervously fixed a lock of her hair. Today I'm finally going to break my chastity, and with you… —he whispered, but then he seemed to remember something and his face darkened, as if bad luck had hit him in the stomach.

Rokugo, who was already exploring the environment, was looking at a collection of ceramic figures that seemed to be representations of old women praying.

Grimm, with a serious and suspicious expression, turned to look at him and sighed. She approached him and said in a low voice, almost timidly:

—Rokugo… Commander Rokugo, I have to confirm something first… —she said, and he, still distracted by the small idols and not paying much attention, automatically answered:

—Yeah, sure, whatever.

—Are you my boyfriend? —Grimm asked, in a sweet voice and with a slight hope in his eyes.

—Yes —he repeated, still distracted, examining the shelves full of small amulets and pendants.

—Aren't you here just to leave me and go? —she insisted, seeking some reassurance.

—No… of course not. —Rokugo barely looked up, trying to ignore a creepy rag doll on the shelf.

Grimm cleared his throat, impatient, and tried to sound casual as he threw out his next question.

—Are we sleeping together today?

—Yes.

—Are we doing boyfriend stuff today? —Grimm insisted, his excitement visibly rising.

—Yeah, whatever… —Rokugo said, nodding as his eyes fell on a strange cross-stitched picture of a cat. He couldn't understand how Grimm lived amidst so many strange objects.

Grimm frowned. There was something about Rokugo's answers that didn't quite convince her, and since he didn't seem to be paying attention, she decided to be completely direct.

—You know that when I say "sleep" and "boyfriend stuff" I don't mean literally sleeping or dating stuff, right?

Rokugo blinked, as if finally understanding the question and what Grimm was really implying.

—Oh, yeah, sure! —he replied, as if he had understood perfectly.

—Good! —Grimm said, relieved.

—Now, come here and give me a kiss! —she said, grabbing his arm and pulling him closer.

Rokugo, surprised by the sudden change of pace, stumbled slightly, but managed to recover quickly and lean down to kiss her.

Grimm closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of his lips against hers, and felt a surge of pleasure run through her body. She had waited so long for this moment, and now it was finally happening.

But then, suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest and collapsed onto the floor.

Rokugo, shocked by the sudden turn of events, watched helplessly as Grimm's body convulsed on the ground. He didn't understand what had happened, but he knew that something was wrong.

He quickly knelt down beside her and checked her pulse. It was faint, but he could still feel it. He didn't know what to do, but he knew that he couldn't just leave her like this.

He looked around frantically, searching for anything that might help him revive her. And then he saw it. A small bottle of holy water on the shelf. He grabbed it and sprinkled some on Grimm's body.

Grimm's body immediately stiffened and she let out a groan. Rokugo breathed a sigh of relief as he saw her eyes open slowly.

—What… happened? —she asked, in a confused voice.

—I don't know… I think you had a heart attack or something… —Rokugo replied, still shaken by the experience.

—A heart attack? —she repeated, as if trying to process the information.

—Yeah… I don't know… —he said, still unsure of what had happened.

—I see… —she said, looking at him with a strange expression.

—Are you okay? —he asked, concerned.

—I'm fine… —she replied, getting up slowly and dusting off her clothes.

—Are you sure? —he asked again, as she seemed a bit dazed and unsteady on her feet.

—Yes… I'

Grimm blushed a little, but still unsure, she took a breath and finally blurted out:

—I know I'm not supposed to be so direct, but since you're not paying attention to me... Are we going to have sex right here and right now?

Rokugo's patience was already at its limit, and exasperated, he decided to put an end to the barrage of questions.

—Yes, Grimm! Yes, we're going to do it right here and right now! —he blurted out, with a somewhat tired but determined tone.

Grimm blinked, and in a second his face regained all the excitement and brightness.

—Oh, perfect! But... wait! Don't come into my room yet. —She turned quickly and disappeared behind the bedroom door, leaving him waiting in the living room.

Inside, Grimm began to move things hastily. He removed the idols and candles dedicated to Zenarith from his nightstand and put some amulets under the bed. She hadn't considered that the night would end like this, and in her excitement she had forgotten that the spiritual decor could be… uncomfortable. She also hid a few bottles of potions of dubious origin.

From the living room, Rokugo heard the noises and knocks coming from Grimm's room and raised an eyebrow, wondering how long it would take to "put everything in order."

Finally, Grimm appeared at the door, smiling widely.

"Everything is ready, Rokugo... you can come in." She waved at him with her hand, somewhat nervous, but also visibly excited.

Rokugo smiled back, resigned to what was coming, but something inside her told her that the night was about to become much more surreal than she had imagined.

Grimm, trying not to feel intimidated, sat on the bed and, with obvious nervousness, tried to adopt a flirtatious pose that she had seen in an old magazine, raising one arm over her head and crossing her legs in a somewhat uncomfortable way.

“So… how about we… do some boyfriend stuff?” she said, her voice shaking, looking at him through her eyelashes awkwardly.

Rokugo let out a small laugh at the obvious attempt at seduction. He couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed by Grimm’s poor social skills, but also a little tenderness at how hard she was trying.

“You know, Grimm? Before anything else… why don’t you take a bath first? Relax a little, use warm water,” Rokugo suggested with a smile, trying to ease the tension and give her some time to prepare.

Grimm nodded quickly, though clearly nervous.

“A… a bath? Yeah, sure… that sounds good,” she said, standing up and walking towards the small bathroom in her house.

As she made her way there, she looked back with a slight blush and muttered:

“Y-You’ve already seen me in my underwear before, so… I guess it doesn’t matter, right?”

Rokugo just gave her an amused smile and nodded, giving her some privacy while she got ready.

Rokugo (laughing): "You know what, Grimm? You should relax... You don't have to try so hard."

Grimm (blushing and somewhat unsure): "Ah... yes, you're right."

She complied, especially remembering that she had been walking around barefoot all day due to her curse. As she bathed, Rokugo opened a beer and whispered quietly:

Rokugo: "I never say no to a cold one."

Rokugo took off his battle armor to join her in the bath, Grimm stepped into the shower. She made sure to wash every part of her body thoroughly, especially her feet, which were always bare due to her curse. The feeling of the warm water was soothing, and even though her thoughts were coming and going nervously, she began to feel a little more comfortable.

Suddenly, the bathroom door softly opened, and Rokugo entered, moving her hands in a carefree manner.

“Huh? Are you… are you going to give me a massage?” Grimm asked, surprised, as she watched him approach with a calm expression.

“Yeah, something like that. Since your feet are bare all the time, I thought it would do you good,” Rokugo replied as he knelt in front of her, gently taking one of her feet.

Grimm blushed deeply, closing her eyes as she felt his hands on her skin.

Rokugo began to massage Grimm’s feet with skill and care, his hands gently pressing on the tension points. Grimm let out a sigh of relief, clearly enjoying the attention he was giving her.

“Rokugo… this is… very nice,” she murmured, her tone softer than usual, as she relaxed more and more.

“I’m glad you like it,” Rokugo said, with a genuine smile. “Just relax and enjoy. Today is your day.”

Grimm smiled back, her cheeks slightly pink.

“Thank you, Rokugo,” she said, feeling grateful for his kindness.

Rokugo finished the massage and stood up, helping Grimm out of the tub. He handed her a towel and waited patiently as she dried off and put on a robe.

“You’re really sweet,” Grimm said, as she wrapped the towel around her hair.

“I’m just doing my job,” Rokugo replied, with a slight blush.

Grimm laughed lightly.

“Well, I appreciate it anyway. Now… I think it’s time for us to…” she trailed off, looking at him expectantly.

Rokugo chuckled.

“I think you know what I mean,” he said, with a wink.

Grimm blushed again, her face turning red.

“Yes, I know,” she said, with a shy smile. “But… I’m still a little nervous.”

Rokugo nodded sympathetically.

“It’s normal,” he said. “Just relax and let yourself go.”

He took her hand and led her to the bedroom, where he sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her close.

“Now, Grimm… do you want to tell me what you want?” he asked, looking into her eyes with a serious expression.

Grimm hesitated for a moment, then leaned in and kissed him passionately.

“I want you,” she whispered against his lips.

Rokugo smiled and kissed her back, pulling her closer and wrapping his arms around her.

“Then I want you too,” he said, his voice husky with desire.

They kissed again, their bodies pressed together, as they explored each other's mouths with their tongues. Grimm moaned softly as she felt his hands on her body, caressing her skin and exploring her curves. She ran her fingers through his hair, pulling him closer and deepening their kiss.

Rokugo groaned as he felt her touch him through his pants, his cock growing harder by the second. He lifted her up and laid her down on the bed, kissing her neck and shoulder as he undressed her. She gasped as he slid off her robe and revealed her.

In his mind, Rokugo mused to himself, "Is it okay to do this? I don't know if Grimm can get pregnant, but... what would Astaroth do if he found out about this? Though, come to think of it, this isn't the first time I've had a one-night stand... As long as no one knows, everything will be fine."

Meanwhile, Grimm, still lying on her bed, was immersed in her own thoughts. For a long time, she had fantasized about a moment like this, but now that it was actually happening, the weight of the situation made her feel a mix of anxiety and excitement. In her mind, she could only say to herself, "Forgive me, Lady Zenarith, because tonight... tonight I'm going to sin."

Rokugo took a breath, breaking the silence between the two, and gave her a somewhat mischievous smile.

"I'll give you a real excuse to use that wheelchair, Grimm," he said, with a knowing look.

The two exchanged a knowing smile and, with the room lit only by the dim light of a candle, let time slip away between them.

Grimm sat nervously on her bed, skin still damp from the hot water, feeling a mix of anxiety and anticipation. She glanced at the bathroom door. She didn't know what exactly to expect from him, but deep inside, a part of her was ready to move on to something more. Her mind kept spinning, though, wondering if she was really ready for what was about to happen.

He walked towards her, and Grimm couldn't help but watch as his posture and attitude seemed to change as he got closer. At the moment, she wasn't entirely sure what he intended to do, but there was something in his gaze that left her uneasy, a sort of silent determination.

"So...?" Grimm whispered, feeling the air in her chest and the butterflies in her stomach. "What are we going to do now?"

Rokugo didn't answer right away. Instead, he crouched down in front of her, slowly bringing his face closer to hers. Grimm, despite her nervousness, couldn't help but remain still, watching her every move with a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

Suddenly, Rokugo leaned forward and, with a calculated but gentle movement, slid his tongue over the underside

of her body, running it with an eerie slowness. Grimm was startled slightly, taken aback by the gesture.

"What... what are you doing?" —he asked with a trembling voice, unable to avoid a small nervous laugh.

Rokugo, with a slight smile on his lips, moved away a little, but did not take his gaze off Grimm.

"I'm sorry," he said, his voice low and calm. "I just wanted to taste you."

Grimm was speechless for a moment, unsure of how to react. She felt a strange mixture of embarrassment and pleasure at the same time. She had never experienced anything like this before, and the thought of being tasted by another person made her feel both vulnerable and excited.

"Is that... okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rokugo nodded, his smile growing wider.

"Of course," he said. "I promise I won't bite."

Grimm laughed nervously, her cheeks flushing slightly. She couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed at the situation. But at the same time, she couldn't deny the thrill that was coursing through her veins.

"Okay," she said, her voice still shaky. "Let's do it."

Rokugo grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He leaned forward again, his tongue tracing the outline of Grimm's body before finally taking it into his mouth. Grimm gasped as she felt the warmth of his tongue on her skin, the sensation sending waves of pleasure through her body. She closed her eyes, letting out a soft moan as Rokugo continued to explore her body with his tongue.

"Ohhhh... yes..." she murmured, her voice barely audible. "That feels so good..."

Rokugo chuckled, his hands moving up and down Grimm's thighs as he continued to lick and suck on her body. He could feel her shivering under his touch, her body responding to his every move. He knew that he was pushing her limits, but he couldn't resist the urge to taste every inch of her.

"You taste so good," he murmured, his voice low and raspy. "Like honey and sugar mixed together."

Grimm giggled, her cheeks flushing even more. She couldn't believe what was happening to her. She had never been so intimate with anyone before, and the fact that it was Rokugo made it all the more surreal.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're really good"

Rokugo leaned towards her again, this time to kiss her directly on the lips. He kissed her with more passion than before, his tongue slowly entering her mouth, and Grimm couldn't help but try to pull away at first.

“Wait, Rokugo!” she exclaimed, somewhat out of control. “You shouldn't use your tongue like that… before kissing me.”

However, Grimm's protest faded as the intensity of the kiss increased. The reason she had tried to resist was completely forgotten when Rokugo's hands began to move up her back, and desire took over her. Grimm stopped resisting altogether.

She opened her mouth, allowing Rokugo's tongue to enter deeper.

Rokugo pulled away slightly, panting heavily. He looked down at Grimm, who was staring back at him with a dazed expression.

"Sorry," he said, his voice hoarse. "I couldn't help myself."

Grimm smiled, her cheeks still flushed. She reached up and gently stroked his cheek.

"It's okay," she said, her voice soft and tender. "I liked it."

Rokugo grinned, his eyes shining with happiness. He leaned in and kissed her again, this time more gently. Grimm responded, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him closer. They kissed for a long time, lost in each other's embrace.

Eventually, they broke apart, both panting heavily. Grimm looked up at Rokugo, her eyes filled with desire.

"Now," she said, her voice low and sultry. "It's my turn."

Rokugo grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He lay down on the bed next to Grimm, who quickly straddled him and began to kiss him passionately. Rokugo moaned softly as she ran her hands over his chest and shoulders, her fingers tracing the lines of his muscles.

"You have a nice body," she whispered, her voice husky with desire. "I want to touch you everywhere."

Rokugo groaned, his hands moving up and down Grimm's thighs as she continued to kiss him. He could feel her shivering under his touch, her body responding to his every move. He knew that he was pushing her limits, but he couldn't resist the urge to touch every inch of her.

"You have a nice body too," he murmured, his voice low and raspy. "I want to touch you everywhere."

Grimm giggled, her cheeks flushing even more. She couldn't believe what was happening to her. She had never been so intimate with anyone before, and the fact that it was Rokugo made it all the more surreal.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're really good"

Rokugo pulled away slightly, staring at Grimm intently. She, eyes half-closed, was breathing deeply, her chest rising and falling unevenly.

“Don’t worry, Grimm,” he said, smiling in a relaxed manner. “It’s just a kiss. A normal kiss… just with a little twist.”

Grimm, now blushing and unable to think clearly, looked at Rokugo and finally, after a sigh of surrender, lay down on her back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling, a slight smile on her lips.

“Do with me whatever you want…” she said, without further reservation, gesturing for him to come closer.

Rokugo smiled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He leaned forward, his tongue tracing the outline of Grimm's body before finally taking it into his mouth. Grimm gasped as she felt the warmth of his tongue on her skin, the sensation sending waves of pleasure through her body. She closed her eyes, letting out a soft moan as Rokugo continued to explore her body with his tongue.

"Ohhhh... yes..." she murmured, her voice barely audible. "That feels so good..."

Rokugo chuckled, his hands moving up and down Grimm's thighs as he continued to lick and suck on her body. He could feel her shivering under his touch, her body responding to his every move. He knew that he was pushing her limits, but he couldn't resist the urge to taste every inch of her.

"You taste so good," he murmured, his voice low and raspy. "Like honey and sugar mixed together."

Grimm giggled, her cheeks flushing even more. She couldn't believe what was happening to her. She had never been so intimate with anyone before, and the fact that it was Rokugo made it all the more surreal.

"Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're really good"

Rokugo leaned towards her again, this time to kiss her directly on the lips. He kissed her with more passion than before, his tongue slowly entering her mouth, and Grimm couldn't help but try to pull away at first.

round 2

The atmosphere in the room was calm and relaxed. Rokugo was lying next to Grimm, watching her as they both breathed calmly. He had a satisfied expression, while she seemed to be processing what had just happened.

After a moment of silence, Grimm looked at him with a neutral expression and asked, in an almost disappointed tone:

—That was it?

Rokugo, clearly surprised and somewhat hurt in his pride, let out a sarcastic laugh.

—Wow… you are so cold, Grimm. Is this how you thank your boyfriend? —he said, trying to keep the humor in the situation, although with a hint of resignation.

Grimm blushed slightly, realizing that his comment had perhaps been a little insensitive. However, in his mind, he had idealized the moment in such a fantastical way that reality did not match his expectations.

—No, no… it’s just that I thought that… I don’t know, maybe something more… spectacular… —she answered, trying to find the right words while avoiding his gaze.

Rokugo let out a soft laugh and put a hand on her shoulder, giving her an understanding smile.

Rokugo looked at Grimm, who still showed a mix of dissatisfaction and disappointment on his face. With a confident smile, he gestured for her to come closer.

“I still have energy left for another round, you know?” Rokugo said with a glint in his eyes, hinting at something else.

Grimm looked at him with a mix of surprise and nervousness, hesitating a little about what he was suggesting.

“What… what are you planning to do now?” she asked, feeling a small pang of uncertainty in her stomach.

Rokugo gave her a mischievous smile and gestured for her

“Trust me, just… just relax. I have something special in mind, crouch down,” he murmured, approaching her. Grimm, although with a slight blush on his cheeks and some fear, nodded and slowly turned around, following his instructions.

Carefully, Rokugo leaned forward, close to his ears, and whispered softly,

“Easy, Grimm. Just go with the flow. This time, I’m going to make it memorable,” he said in a tone so soft and loving that it made Grimm’s heart race even faster.

As Rokugo continued to whisper sweet, comforting things to him, his nervousness began to fade away little by little, and, despite what he initially felt as embarrassment, Grimm couldn’t help but enjoy the attention and dedication he was giving him.

Rokugo took Grimm’s head in his hands and gently caressed her hair, his fingers running through her silky strands. His lips moved to her ear, whispering sweet nothings and caressing her earlobe with his tongue. Grimm let out a soft moan, her body tensing as she felt the warm sensation spread throughout her body.

“You’re so beautiful,” Rokugo murmured, his voice low and raspy. “I love your body, Grimm. I love every single part of you.”

Grimm let out a soft whimper, her body trembling as she felt Rokugo’s hands run over her body. His fingers traced the curves of her hips and waist, his palms caressing her thighs.

“You have such a perfect body,” he murmured, his voice low and seductive. “I want to touch you everywhere.”

Grimm let out a soft moan as she felt Rokugo’s hands move up and down her thighs, his fingers tracing the outline of her body. She closed her eyes, letting out a soft moan as he continued to lick and suck on her body.

“Ohhhh... yes...” she murmured, her voice barely audible. “That feels so good...”

Grimm cry

Rokugo laid down next to Grimm again, breathing deeply as a satisfied smile spread across his face. He turned to her and whispered,

“That was… pretty amazing, don’t you think?” he said, his voice soft but full of enthusiasm.

Grimm, her cheeks completely red, avoided looking directly at him, still overwhelmed by what had just happened. She felt a mix of embarrassment and surprise, especially since, against all odds, she had actually enjoyed what they had just done.

“I-I… didn’t expect that I would like it so much,” Grimm admitted quietly, barely audibly, as her hands tried to hide her face. She felt embarrassed that something so unusual had been so pleasurable for her.

Rokugo let out a small laugh and, amused, gently patted her on the head.

“See? It wasn’t so terrible, was it? Not everything has to be like in the romance novels you read.” Sometimes, the unexpected is the most exciting,” she told him with a satisfied smile.

Grimm, still blushing, let out a sigh and looked up at the ceiling, trying to calm her racing heart.

“I guess… you’re right,” she murmured, still processing everything that had happened that night.

Rokugo put an arm around her and pulled her towards him,

although the moment was intimate, he didn’t do it with genuine affection. To him, Grimm was nothing more than a temporary distraction. It wasn’t true love, or even deep affection; it was simply a “fling.” 

Grimm, with the nerves and excitement of having her first boyfriend, agreed to indulge one of Rokugo’s fantasies, both of them lying on the bed. Rokugo lit a cigarette and exhaled the smoke with satisfaction, while Grimm stared at the ceiling in silence. The adrenaline of the moment had faded, and a strange emptiness began to fill her.

Suddenly, Grimm began to sob. Rokugo turned his head, arching an eyebrow at her.

“What's wrong with you now?” he asked, still holding the cigarette between his fingers.

Grimm tried to wipe away his tears, but they wouldn't stop flowing.

“Zenarith… is going to punish me for this… I'm his priestess, and… and I let you seduce me. I got carried away by the excitement of having a boyfriend and… and I liked fulfilling your fantasies.”

Rokugo let out a small laugh, shaking his head.

“Don’t worry about it. You’re not the first woman I’ve seduced, and you won’t be the last. Besides, you’re still young, you have plenty of time to find someone worthy of you,” he said, trying to console her.

Grimm looked at him with a mix of sadness and anger, her tears continuing to flow.

“I don’t want to find anyone else! I want to marry you!” she exclaimed, her voice breaking.

Rokugo looked at her with a surprised expression, his eyebrows raised in confusion.

“Marry me?” he repeated, unsure of what she meant.

Grimm nodded, her tears beginning to dry up as she calmed down.

“Yes! I want to marry you! We can get married in nine years!” she said, her eyes shining with hope.

Rokugo let out a small laugh and shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but that’s not going to happen,” he said, putting out his cigarette and getting off the bed.

Grimm looked at him with a hurt expression, her hopes shattered.

“Why not?” she asked, her voice barely audible.

Rokugo sighed and sat down next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you. I’m not looking for a serious relationship, I just wanted to have fun. Besides, I don’t believe in love,” he explained.

Grimm looked at him with a mix of sadness and anger, her eyes filled with tears.

“Then why did you seduce me? Why did you tell me that you loved me?” she asked, her voice breaking.

Rokugo let out a sigh and put his head in his hands.

Rokugo, seeing her so upset, approached and put a hand on her shoulder.

“Hey, calm down. You don't have to torment yourself. You didn't do anything wrong. Besides, it's not every day that you get to fulfill your fantasies, right? It's nothing out of this world.”

Grimm wiped away her tears, looking at Rokugo with determined eyes.

“Rokugo… I want you to remember, because it's important to me: we're getting married in nine years. So don't think this is just temporary, okay?”

Rokugo smiled reassuringly at her, nodding.

“Sure, Grimm. In nine years, then,” he replied, pretending to accept it to calm her down.

Finally, Grimm stopped crying, closing her eyes as tiredness overcame her and she fell deeply asleep. Rokugo let out a small laugh, putting out his cigarette and lying down beside her, as the silence of the night covered the room.

“Look, I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanted to have some fun and distract myself from my mission,” he explained, trying to justify himself.

Grimm looked at him with a hurt expression, her eyes filling with tears again.

“But I thought… I thought you loved me too,” she said, her voice barely audible.

Rokugo let out a small laugh and shook his head.

“No, I don’t love you. I don’t even ... Come on, Grimm, you're overreacting. I don't think Zenarith cares much about what you do.

Grimm hid her face in her hands, embarrassed and overwhelmed.

—You don't understand... I'm her priestess, I should be above these things. But here I am, crying like a fool, because... because I got carried away by all these fantasies. Not only that, I liked them! I enjoyed doing it!

Rokugo: "I'm sorry, Grimm, but my true love is Astaroth."

hiiragi

Rokugo sat in front of the screen, waiting for Astaroth to answer his call. The excitement he felt when talking to her was genuine, very different from what he felt with Grimm.

After a few seconds of waiting, Astaroth's image appeared on the screen, illuminated by the cold light of his office. His expression was serious, but upon seeing it, he let out a small smile.

Astaroth: "Rokugo? I didn't expect you to call so suddenly. Is something wrong with the mission?"

Rokugo: "No, everything is going well. In fact, it's going better than I expected. We're practically in control of the Kingdom of Grace now, and its inhabitants are quite... cooperative."

Astaroth: "That's good to hear. You've done an impressive job."

Rokugo gave a confident smile and gave the screen a direct look.

Rokugo: "Actually, I was calling to ask for something more... personal. I was wondering if I could take a vacation. I could use a break, and besides... I want to see you in person."

Astaroth blinked, a little surprised, and blushed slightly. It wasn't often that Rokugo made these kinds of requests.

Astaroth: "Now? After all this time? Right when you're in the middle of one of our most important missions."

Rokugo: "Come on, it's only for a few days. Besides, wouldn't you like to see each other? I admit that I've missed seeing you... your face, your voice."

Astaroth hesitated, and although she tried to remain serious, it was evident that the idea of ​​seeing him in person generated some excitement in her. Rokugo took the opportunity to remind her of some of the moments when she had motivated him to return early on past missions, appealing to that special connection they shared.

Rokugo: "I remember those times when you practically seduced me into finishing missions quickly and returning to your side. I guess that was a long time ago, huh?"

Astaroth (feigning indignation): "I didn't do such things! Rokugo, don't twist history."

After a moment, Astaroth sighed, adopting a more serious and sincere tone. His expression changed, revealing an undertone of concern.

Astaroth: "The truth is that the situation at our headquarters is not as good as it might seem. The planet is... well, it's almost uninhabitable. Pollution has reached alarming levels, and there isn't much time left for us. That's why we've had to expand, sending agents like you to other worlds... looking for somewhere habitable."

Rokugo listened to her in silence, taking in the weight of her words. Until now, his mission had always been a matter of conquest, but hearing the reason behind Kisaragi's expansion gave him a new perspective.

Astaroth: "Rokugo, your mission has been the most successful of all. You have achieved in a few months what other agents have not achieved in years. This world could be our salvation, a new home for us. We need you to complete the conquest. If you succeed, this planet will be our refuge."

Rokugo nodded slowly, understanding what this implied. It was not just a personal goal or fulfilling his duty as an agent of Kisaragi; it was a mission that meant the survival of his entire organization, of the people he considered his family.

Astaroth: "I have dreamed of what it would be like to live in that world when it is completely under our control. You and I, with a place of our own, far from the pollution and problems of our planet... it would be like a new beginning."

Rokugo felt a chill. The idea of ​​Astaroth living there, with him, excited him, but also made him somewhat uneasy. He thought about Grimm, about the relationship he had been developing with her, and what Astaroth might think if he found out he was “spending time” with someone else. The pressure of the situation was starting to weigh on him.

Rokugo (grinning mischievously): “I’ll do whatever it takes to make that dream come true, Astaroth. But for now, I guess I’ll have to put my ‘vacation’ on hold.”

Astaroth smiled, pleased, and nodded in approval.

Astaroth: “Thank you, Rokugo. I knew I could trust you. Complete the mission, and then we can talk about a future together, in a new home.”

With one last smile, Astaroth ended the call, and the screen went black, leaving Rokugo alone in the dim light of the communications room.

Shortly after, in the corridor…

As Rokugo pondered the conversation, Alice appeared at his side, her usual expression calm and efficient. However, the information he brought was disturbing.

Alice: "Rokugo, I have an important report that you might want to hear."

Rokugo: "What's happening now?"

Alice: "The country of Toris, which until recently was the Kingdom of Grace's main enemy... has disappeared."

Rokugo frowned, incredulous at what he had just heard.

Rokugo: "Missing? What do you mean by 'missing'?"

Alice: "Only ruins remain. There are no survivors or signs of combat.

"It's like something wiped them off the face of the planet without a trace."

Rokugo's expression turned grim. Something strange was happening in this world, something that not even Kisaragi could foresee.

Hours later, in the helicopter, on the way to the site of the ruins of the long-gone country of Toris...

The helicopter was flying through the cloudy sky, with Rokugo sitting next to another Kisaragi agent and the Tiger Man. The atmosphere in the helicopter was tense, as none of them were clear about what they would find upon arrival. But Rokugo, with his typical carefree attitude, tried to lighten the mood.

Rokugo: "Last night... I had the best sex I've had in years, you know? I'd almost forgotten how good it feels. So much time just reading that pile of magazines that I redeem with my bad points... There's nothing like real action."

Tiger Man snorted with a mix of humor and displeasure, giving him a sideways glance.

Tiger Man: "Oh yeah? And who were you with this time? Don't tell me... it was Grimm, right?"

Rokugo smirked and nodded, as if he was proud of his "accomplishment." But Tiger Man looked at him with a mix of disapproval and concern.

Tiger Man: "Look, buddy, I'm telling you as someone who appreciates you: Grimm is a girl who... well, she's desperate for some affection. Taking advantage of that isn't something you should be so proud of."

Rokugo (shrugging): "Come on, don't be a party pooper. Besides, she seemed to enjoy it too. And who am I to deny him what he wants, right?"

Tiger Man sighed and shook his head, knowing he couldn't change his mind. Still, he decided to give him a warning.

Tiger Man: "I'm warning you, Rokugo. If Astaroth ever finds out what you're doing... well, I wouldn't want to be in Grimm's shoes, or yours. Because Astaroth doesn't forgive. Either Grimm ends up badly, or you... well, maybe both of you end up in serious trouble."

Rokugo smiled, as if it was all just a joke to him.

Rokugo: "Relax, Astaroth doesn't have to find out. Everything is under control."

Tiger Man didn't seem convinced, but preferred to leave the subject there. Sometimes, Rokugo just wouldn't listen to reason.

Arriving at the ruins of the long-gone Kingdom of Toris...

As the helicopter landed, the team descended and found themselves facing a desolate landscape. What had once been a flourishing and energetic country was now just an expanse of charred rubble. The ground was covered in ash, and there was no trace of any buildings left standing. Even the trees and plants had been reduced to ash. Everything seemed to have been destroyed by an unstoppable force.

Another Kisaragi Agent: "What kind of weapon could have caused this? This doesn't look like an ordinary attack."

Rokugo (looking around): "I have no idea. But it seems like it was something powerful enough to wipe out everything in a matter of seconds. Some kind of shockwave... and furthermore, it seems that there was an intense heat that burned everything."

As they cautiously advanced through the ruins, they suddenly saw someone approaching. It was a human figure, but his presence radiated a strange and menacing energy. The stranger, who was wearing some kind of dark uniform, stopped a few meters away from them and looked at them with a cold and contemptuous smile.

Unknown: “So the people of Kisaragi have finally arrived. Welcome to their doom.”

Rokugo narrowed his eyes, sensing that something was terribly wrong.

Rokugo: “And who are you? What kind of trick is this?”

The stranger raised his chin and looked down on them.

Unknown: “This planet… already has an owner. It belongs to the Hiiragi Order Agency.”

Rokugo (angry): “What are you talking about? Who the hell are you?”

The stranger laughed mockingly, as if amused by Rokugo’s ignorance.

Unknown: “I am the Hiiragi Order Agent. You should thank them for finishing off the Demon Lord before they tried to invade this planet, but you should leave now.”

Rokugo (stunned): “Thank us for killing the Demon Lord? Are you crazy? This is a planet that hasn’t been claimed yet!”

Alice: This planet is about to be annexed by the Kisaragi Corporation

The stranger shrugged and looked back.

Unknown: "Well, it's not like you can prove otherwise. Besides, we'll be taking over the entire planet right now. All you can do is run away."

Rokugo felt a chill run down his spine. He knew something was terribly wrong, but he couldn't figure out why. He had never heard of this "Hiiragi Order Agency," nor did he know anything about this "Demon Lord." But he knew he had to act quickly to prevent further damage.

Rokugo: "Listen! I don't know what game you're playing, but I won't let some corporation out of nowhere claim this planet!

Unknown: We'll take this planet back!"

The stranger laughed again, as if amused by Rokugo's determination.

Unknown: "I'll be waiting for your defeat."

With those words, the stranger turned and walked away, disappearing into the distance. Rokugo watched him go, feeling a growing sense of unease. Something was definitely not right. He had to investigate this further, and fast.

Back at Kisaragi Base...

Eventually, Rokugo, Tiger Man, and Agent 21 manage to return to Kisaragi Base, wounded and exhausted from the confrontation. Rokugo, limping and with his suit damaged, heads to the maintenance area.

Rokugo: "I need emergency maintenance for this suit. Check all the software... it seems this 'Hiiragi' has technology that can disable them. I don't want that to happen again."

As the technicians begin to work on his suit, Alice approaches him, noticing the grim expression on his face.

Alice: "Rokugo, what happened out there? The mission was just reconnaissance, how come you come back so badly injured?"

Rokugo (snorting): "Alice, we have a problem. We're facing a Hiiragi guy... apparently an organization with technology similar to ours. They treated us like invaders and made it clear that this planet belongs to them."

Alice blinks, taking in the gravity of the situation. Wasting no time, Rokugo makes a request.

Rokugo: "Scan the satellite for unusual activity. Something's not right with this planet. There's more to it than we know."

Alice nods and begins working on the computer, checking the satellite readings. A moment later, she frowns, staring at the screen in surprise.

Alice: "Rokugo... it seems that the mysterious island we detected in the sea, the one that was constantly changing position... is no longer there."

Rokugo (alert): "It disappeared? What is it that appears in its place?"

Alice (staring at the screen): "In its place... there seems to be a large object. It resembles a submarine, but... it's not just any submarine."

Rokugo (frowning): "What do you mean?"

Alice adjusts the readings again, performing a new scan. The image on the screen shows that the object is slowly rising towards the surface, revealing more of its structure with each scan. With each passing minute, the object emerges more and more from the water, until it is apparent that it is not just a submarine.

Alice: "Rokugo... that 'submarine' is rising from the water. It is not just a vessel. It appears to be a spaceship."

Rokugo (feeling a chill): "A spaceship? What kind of organization has something like that?"

Alice performs one last scan before the signal abruptly cuts off.

Alice (with an alarmed expression): "The satellite! The ascending ship has destroyed it upon exiting the atmosphere."

Rokugo stares at the blank screen, concern growing on his face. They were now not only facing an unknown organization, but a threat that was armed with far more advanced technology than they had anticipated.

As Rokugo tries to come to terms with the situation at the base, Alice receives a new alert on the radar.

Alice (in a tense voice): "Rokugo… the radar is detecting multiple objects approaching at high speed. And they're coming straight for us."

Rokugo (regaining his composure and growling with determination): "I'm not going to let them destroy the base again. Not after all the effort it took us to rebuild it!"

Wasting no time, Rokugo activates a defensive barrier around the base. It's an advanced type of barrier, very similar to the one the previous Demon Lord had used before being defeated by Lilith, but this time enhanced with the help of Viper. The barrier's generating pillars are placed internally within the protective shield, allowing them to prevent direct damage from the outside.

Rokugo (mumbling as he watches the barrier generators): "Thanks, Viper…

The objects on the radar turn out to be missiles, and they begin to hit the barrier over and over again. Each explosion vibrates the shield, and although the barrier is holding up, small cracks are slowly beginning to appear on the surface.

Alice (alert, watching the readings): "Rokugo, the barrier is starting to show signs of fracturing. I don't know how much longer it can hold up with these constant impacts."

Rokugo (frowning, assessing the situation): "Wait… something doesn't fit here."

Looking closer, Rokugo notices a strange pattern to the bombardment. Although the missiles are hitting the barrier, most of them seem to veer off course and end up hitting the nearby forest. And although the explosions are powerful, the shockwave isn't enough to devastate an entire region like it did with the Kingdom they visited.

Rokugo (thinking out loud): "These missiles… they don't seem designed to destroy a base or a city. Their power is too low for what would be needed for that."

Alice (curious): "So what is the goal of these attacks?"

Rokugo (hypothesizing): "Maybe... they're not attacking us directly. These missiles could be meant for something else."

Alice (confused): "What else could be in the forest?"

Rokugo recalls the months Kisaragi has spent exterminating giant monsters in the forest close to the base. If the Hiiragi Agency weren't aware of that activity, they might think that monsters still inhabit the area.

Rokugo (nodding, as his hypothesis becomes clear): "The missiles aren't for us. They're programmed to destroy the giant monsters that lived in the forest. But Hiiragi doesn't know that we eliminated them months ago."

Alice (realizing): "Ah, so the Hiiragi Agency thinks that the monsters are still alive."

Rokugo (smirking): "Exactly. So, if they keep firing those missiles, they'll eventually destroy the forest."

Alice (nodding, understanding the strategy): "And then they'll be able to move freely without worrying about the monsters."

Rokugo (grimacing): "But we can't let them do that. We need to stop them before they destroy the forest."

Alice (nodding, agreeing): "Understood. I'll start sending countermeasures against the missiles."

Rokugo (smirking): "Good. I'll go check on the others."

Rokugo leaves Alice behind and heads towards the infirmary, where the injured soldiers are being treated. He finds Tiger Man lying unconscious on a bed, surrounded by medical staff.

Rokugo (concerned): "Tiger Man… what happened to you?"

Tiger Man's condition is severe, and he has lost a lot of blood. The doctors are trying their best to stabilize him, but he remains unconscious.

Medical Staff: "He's stable for now, but we can't say anything for sure yet."

Rokugo sighs and turns to leave, heading towards the barracks where the rest of his team is waiting. He finds them sitting in a circle, discussing their next steps.

Agent 21 (worried): "We can't let the Hiiragi Agency destroy the forest. We need to stop them."

Viper (nodding in agreement): "I agree. We should try to take down their ship."

Rokugo (considering the options): "That could work. But we need to be careful. Their ship is powerful, and we don't know what kind of defenses they have."

Agent 21 (nodding): "Right. We should gather intel first and try to find a weakness in their defenses."

Rokugo (nodding): "Good idea. We need to act fast, though. The longer they keep firing those missiles, the more damage they'll

Alice (while adjusting the barrier controls to maximize its efficiency): "Understood. I will continue to monitor the barrier's integrity. I will do my best to stabilize it and reduce the impact on the cracks."

Rokugo and Alice stand tensely, watching as the barrier continues to take the hits of the missiles. Although each explosion causes more cracks and the shield continues to barely hold out, Rokugo is confident that they can hold out until the bombardment stops.

Finally, after several minutes of constant pressure on the barrier, the bombardment begins to subside. Alice's radar shows that the missiles are decreasing in number, until finally the attacks cease completely. The barrier remains standing, although severely damaged, but the base has managed to hold out.

Alice (letting out a sigh of relief): "We did it... The barrier held."

Rokugo (smirking): "Good job, Alice. Looks like our friends at Hiiragi need to upgrade their intelligence if they really think we're still surrounded by giant monsters."

Alice (nodding with a smile): "Let's hope they don't find out the truth too soon."

Rokugo: "Anyway, we'll keep monitoring in case they try anything else. I don't want to be caught out again."

After the tension of the bombing, Rokugo decides it's time to clear things up. He calls a meeting in the base's conference room, and calls Princess Tilis in to ask some questions. Tilis arrives accompanied by some of her guards, though her expression shows she's also confused and worried about the situation.

Rokugo (seriously, looking at the princess): "Princess Tilis, I need to understand more about the history of this planet and its ancient conflicts. This so-called enemy, the 'Hiiragi Agency', claims to be the true owner of this world."

Tilis (surprised): "The Hiiragi Agency...? I don't remember hearing about them before. But there are stories... ancient tales about wars and catastrophes that happened centuries ago."

Rokugo (crossing his arms, expectant): "Stories? What kind of stories?"

Tilis (thoughtful, remembering): "There is talk of an ancient being known as the 'Demon of the Earth', someone who possessed incredible power. They say that this being could transform into a huge creature, with unparalleled strength and regenerative ability. His followers called him 'Titan'. With his help, an empire known as Eldia was formed, which he ruled with brutality."

Rokugo (interested, connecting pieces): "Eldia... and what happened to this 'Demon of the Earth'?"

Tilis (nodding): "According to legends, a hero named Helos Ackerman defeated him. But I don't know much more than that, as the story was erased or hidden for generations. Noble families have kept some fragments, but very little survives.

And the last king, my father, didn't know anything about it either."

Rokugo (nodding, considering the implications): "So, this 'Hiiragi Agency' is claiming to be the descendants of this 'Demon of the Earth'."

Tilis (nodding, confused): "Yes, but why? What do they want?"

Rokugo (smirking): "Well, that's a good question. I'll have to investigate further. For now, I just want to know more about this Eldia Empire and its history."

Tilis (nodding, understanding): "I understand. I'll have my advisors look into it and provide you with any information they can find."

Rokugo (smiling, satisfied): "Thank you, Your Highness. I appreciate your cooperation."

After Tilis leaves, Rokugo turns to his team.

Rokugo (to his team): "Okay, we need to investigate this Eldia Empire. Find out what they were like and what happened to them. And if possible, find out who these Hiiragi people are and what their plans are."

His team nods in agreement, ready to get to work. Rokugo smiles, pleased that he has a team he can rely on. He knows that they'll be able to uncover the truth about this mysterious enemy and stop them before they can cause any more harm.

Meanwhile, Alice is busy working on the repairs of the barrier. She has found a way to stabilize it temporarily, but it will require constant maintenance and reinforcements to keep it from collapsing completely. Alice knows that Rokugo will be busy with his investigation, so she decides to focus on keeping the barrier intact until he returns. She works tirelessly, using every bit of her knowledge and skill to keep the barrier strong.

Finally, after hours of work, Alice finishes her repairs. She takes a deep breath and lets out a sigh of relief. The barrier is stable for now, but she knows that it won't last long without further reinforcements. She hopes that Rokugo will return soon and be able to help her strengthen the barrier before it collapses completely.

Rokugo returns to the base. After listening to Princess Tilis, Rokugo heads to the base's lab where Viper, or as she's now known in the organization, "Mutant Agent Viper," is located. Viper is working on one of her experiments, but Rokugo interrupts.

Rokugo (seriously): "Viper, you mentioned a while ago that your father

told you stories about ancient times, something about a demon and its offspring… I never paid attention, but now I need to know what you remember."

Viper (arching an eyebrow and sighing): "Oh, now you're interested, Rokugo? The truth is, I didn't even hear my father properly when he talked to me about such things. But I remember some of what he said."

Rokugo (crossing his arms): "Any little detail helps. We have an enemy who claims to be the true owner of this world, and it seems to be related to something they call 'Titan'. If there's anything you know, spill it."

Viper (stepping aside from the experiment and thinking): "My father used to tell me that my grandfather was a direct descendant of this 'Demon of the Earth'. Supposedly, this demon possessed a special ability that allowed him to transform into a colossal being. During his reign, he created an empire that subjugated many nations, but was eventually killed by one Helos Ackerman, or so they said."

Rokugo (making a mental note): "And your grandfather survived all that?"

Viper (nodding): "Yes, although he himself was a hybrid, born from the union between the demon and a human. He stayed hidden for years, until the wars finally allowed him to establish a territory of his own. That was when he had my father… and eventually, I was born from him and another human."

Rokugo (thoughtful): "So… you're part of that lineage. I didn't know you had such a direct connection to this story."

Viper (with a wry smile): "It's not something I talk about much. Most people wouldn't be interested in hearing stories about 'demons' and 'titans'. But if this enemy claims to be the owner of this planet, it might have something to do with those old legends."

Rokugo (mumbling to himself): "The Demon of Earth… Helos Ackerman… Hiiragi Agency… It seems we're dealing with something that goes beyond a simple invasion.

We need to gather more information."

Rokugo leaves the lab and heads back to the meeting room where his team is waiting.

Rokugo (to his team): "We need to dig deeper into this. I want you all to gather as much information as you can about the Eldia Empire, Helos Ackerman, and the Hiiragi Agency. We need to know what we're dealing with here."

His team nods in agreement, ready to get to work. Rokugo smiles, pleased that he has a team he can rely on. He knows that they'll be able to uncover the truth about this mysterious enemy and stop them before they can cause any more harm.

Finally, after hours of work, Alice finishes her repairs. She takes a deep breath and lets out a sigh of relief. The barrier is stable for now, but she knows that it won't last long without further reinforcements. She hopes that Rokugo will return soon and be able to help her strengthen the barrier before it collapses completely.

After the conversation with Viper, Rokugo begins to mentally piece together a theory. Perhaps the Hiiragi Agency has some connection to the Eldian Empire, or even the Ackerman family itself. With this new knowledge in mind, Rokugo realizes that he is dealing with an enemy that has been dormant on this planet for centuries, waiting for its moment to return.

Rokugo (speaking to himself): "If this is true… then it could mean that this fight for control of this world is much older than we thought. And we, Kisaragi, have barely scratched the surface."

The scene closes with Rokugo looking in the direction of the barrier that recently defended his base. He knows that the threat of the Hiiragi Agency is real, and that their connection to this land and its ancient histories could bring deeper consequences than he imagined.

Rokugo steps onto a makeshift platform in the middle of Kisaragi's base, surrounded by the agents and soldiers who have been working on defending and expanding the territory for the corporation. They all watch him intently, aware of the gravity of the situation after the recent bombing and the discovery of the mysterious Hiiragi Agency.

Rokugo (in a firm voice): "Listen to me carefully! What we're facing is no ordinary enemy. This 'Hiiragi Agency' claims that they are the true owners of this planet, and it seems that they have the technology to back up that claim. What that means for us, Kisaragi, is that we have to be prepared for a possible war."

The agents murmur amongst themselves, taking in the magnitude of Rokugo's words. The atmosphere is filled with tension, but also determination. Rokugo watches each face, making sure that everyone understands the importance of the mission.

Rokugo (continuing): "We don't know much about them, and that puts us at a disadvantage. But if we've proven anything so far, it's that Kisaragi doesn't back down. We've established our base here, we've fought monsters and nations, and we're not going to back down just because a group comes along that claims to have more right to this planet. So prepare your weapons, check your suits, and be ready for anything! The Kisaragi Corporation never abandons its own, and this time will be no different."

The crowd cheers and shouts enthusiastically, showing their loyalty and willingness to face whatever comes. As the excitement begins to subside, Grimm approaches Rokugo, taking advantage of the moment of pause.

Grimm (excitedly): "Rokugo! You were amazing! I knew you'd be perfect for this job!"

Rokugo (smiling): "Thanks, Grimm. I couldn't have done it without your help."

Grimm (grinning): "Of course! I'm always here to support you. By the way, I heard that you're planning to send a team to investigate the Hiiragi Agency. Do you need any help with that?"

Rokugo (thinking): "Actually, yes. I'd like you to take charge of that operation. I trust your abilities, and I think you'll be able to uncover some useful information."

Grimm (proudly): "I'll do my best! Leave it to me!"

Rokugo (nodding): "Good luck. And be careful."

Grimm (waving her hand): "Don't worry, I'll be fine. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some preparations to make."

Grimm walks away, leaving Rokugo alone on the platform. He watches her go, feeling a sense of pride and gratitude towards her. Despite her eccentricities, Grimm is a valuable member of the team, and he knows that she'll be able to handle this mission with ease.

Rokugo turns his attention back to the crowd, addressing them again.

Rokugo (in a serious tone): "Now, let's get to work. We have a lot of ground to cover, and we need to make sure that our bases are secure. Let's show these Hiiragi bastards what Kisaragi is made of!"

The agents cheer once more, ready to follow Rokugo's lead. They begin to disperse, heading towards their respective tasks. Rokugo stays behind for a moment, watching them leave. He knows that this will be a long and difficult battle, but he also knows that they have what it takes to win. With a determined look in his eyes, Rokugo steps off the platform and joins the rest of his team. Together, they will face whatever challenges come their way and emerge victorious.

Alice stands on the work.

Grimm (looking at him with a nervous smile): "Hey, Rokugo… do you realize we've barely spent any time together lately? Maybe after this we could… you know… do something special."

Rokugo (sighs, rolling his eyes): "Grimm, do you really think now is the time for that? We've got a potential war upon us, and you're thinking about romantic dates."

Grimm (crossing her arms, offended): "It's never the time for you, Rokugo! There's always an excuse…"

Rokugo ignores her as his thoughts return to the threat. Just then, an alarm sound echoes through the base, and everyone looks up at the sky, seeing a ship floating overhead. It's not the gigantic ship that appeared out of the water and that he recognized in the last satellite images, but a smaller one.

Rokugo (analyzing the situation): "That ship... If so, then the Hiiragi ship that came out of the water must be much larger, some sort of mothership... and this one, one of their scout or combat ships."

Rokugo rushes to initiate an emergency call to Kisaragi headquarters. The holographic screen projects the image of Lilith, who answers with her usual carefree expression, though clearly interested in the report.

Rokugo (firmly): "Executive Lilith, we have a bigger problem. The Hiiragi Order, an unknown enemy, has destroyed our satellite and sent ships to fly over our territory. Right now, we have no way to spy on their movements, but they can easily monitor us. They are operating in our airspace."

Lilith seems to weigh the information, her expression barely showing surprise.

Lilith (with a light smile): “So you finally met a challenge up to par, Rokugo? I must say, I was hoping you could handle this with the demons we sent. We’ve trained and upgraded them as agents, they should be more than enough to contain any threat.”

Rokugo (resisting a sarcastic retort): “Yes, but this is different. We’re talking about technology that seems to rival our own. We need more resources, and perhaps some form of outside support to ensure that—”

Lilith (interrupting him, with a smirk): “Oh, don’t worry, Rokugo. If the demons aren’t enough, I have a backup plan. And it turns out another female executive is interested in seeing this rival up close. So I won’t be the one to go—”

Before Rokugo can respond, Lilith hangs up the call, leaving him silently in front of the blacked-out screen. His face pales as he considers what that means. If Lilith doesn't come, then…

Rokugo (sweating coldly, muttering to himself): "No… Astaroth…"

Fear flashes in his eyes as he thinks of the possibility of Astaroth, the executive he fears so much, coming to the planet. Not only because of how formidable she is in combat, but because there's a chance she'll find out about his relationship with Grimm. Ever since they came to this planet, he's been… involved with her in a way Astaroth probably wouldn't like to know about.

Rokugo (gulping, tone resigned): "Great… as if it wasn't enough to deal with an advanced war agency, now I also have to worry about Astaroth coming here and finding out I've been cheating on him."

As Rokugo looks out at the horizon, trying to clear his mind of the possible personal disaster looming with Astaroth's arrival, Snow quickly approaches him, pointing to the sky with some concern.

Snow: "Hey, Rokugo! Those helicopters have been flying over the country for days. What's going on? Is Kisaragi under attack?"

Rokugo (glaring at her): "Snow, correct yourself. They're not helicopters. From their shape and maneuverability, they're clearly warplanes. In this case, I'd rather call them 'Death'."

Snow (frowns): "'Death'? You're so dramatic! They can't be that bad, right?"

Before Rokugo can respond, a loud sound rumbles through the air, and several Hiiragi Agency planes begin to descend, dropping their soldiers to the ground in reinforced capsules. As soon as they touch down, the soldiers come out armed to the teeth and with a mechanical precision that makes their advanced training evident.

Rokugo (taking control of the situation): "Everyone, get ready! They're attacking us head-on!"

The Kisaragi agents quickly get into a defensive position. Rose, Russell, Tiger Man, the demons-turned-agents, and Viper advance to the front, ready to face the first wave of Hiiragi soldiers. Rokugo watches as everyone prepares for battle, and noticing Snow starting to move back, decides to intervene.

Rokugo (in a stern tone): "Snow, are you going to leave again in the middle of battle? Because I've seen you do this before. Do you remember the attack on the Demon Lord's castle a year ago?"

Snow (surprised): "What? Of course not! I... I I was there for…"

Rokugo (interrupting her, annoyed): "Don't make me remember the scene, Snow. You yourself said 'save Grimm and Alice', and while I was doing the work, you were standing by… doing absolutely nothing."

Snow, speechless, realizes that Rokugo had seen her that time, pretending not to notice while he fought. Embarrassed and without any more excuses, she turns around and runs towards the battlefield, determined to redeem herself.

The fight quickly escalates, with casualties on both sides due to the Hiiragi soldiers' equipment and tactics being surprisingly similar in effectiveness to Kisaragi's. However, amidst the chaos, Viper stands out. With her tremendous strength and skill, she begins to destroy the Hiiragi soldiers' weapons and vehicles one by one, clearing a path for the other agents to advance without as much pressure.

Viper (destroying a Hiiragi machine gun with her bare hands): "This is our land! I won't allow anyone to threaten my people!"

Grimm, on the other hand, is still Grimm. As she attempts to cast a curse spell towards the enemy

. Just before one of the Hiiragi bullets hits her, Viper rushes to her aid, destroying the enemy weapon in the process and moving Grimm out of harm's way.

Rokugo (watching Viper with a satisfied smile): "Well done, Viper. I knew I could count on you."

The battle continues until the Hiiragi soldiers, seeing their weapons and vehicles being completely destroyed, choose to retreat, climbing back into their pods and being picked up by their planes that quickly disappear into the sky.

When it's all over, Rokugo walks towards Viper, who takes a deep breath, still filled with the adrenaline of combat.

Rokugo (with an approving smile): "Good job, Viper. Thanks to you, we managed to repel the attack and prevent Grimm from killing herself in the process."

Viper (proud but tired): "It's an honor to fight for Kisaragi and my people, Rokugo."

Rokugo nods and looks at the battlefield, littered with debris and remnants of Hiiragi equipment. His thoughts are now divided between the threat of this new agency, the personal problems that await him if Astaroth shows up, and the fact that the situation continues to escalate.

Rokugo (mumbling to himself): "If this was just an advance, then I don't want to even imagine what it will be like to face their true strength… But at least we're ready for whatever comes next."

The battle had ended, but the tension at Kisaragi Base was still palpable. From the sky, several ships from the Hiiragi Agency continued to fly over the area, maintaining a threatening presence. Rokugo watched the scene, his gaze fixed on those ships. Despite the victory in From the recent confrontation, he knew that this was only the beginning of a war that promised to be long and brutal.

Rokugo (thinking out loud): "Even for them, Viper's strength without her combat suit must have been a surprise… I admit that even I was taken by surprise. I didn't expect her to have this much power."

While Rokugo mentally assessed the situation, Grimm approached him with a hopeful smile, as if the recent victory was reason enough to let his guard down.

Grimm: "Rokugo! How about we celebrate? We won the battle, after all!"

Rokugo (looking at her skeptically): "Celebrate? We may have won this battle, but the war isn't over yet, Grimm. We're just getting started."

second ninght of rokugo and grimm

Rokugo noticed Grimm's insistence on cheering him up. Sighing, he decided to be a little lighter, at least for a moment.

Rokugo: "Though... hey, Grimm, how about we toast to something? This time, at least, you managed not to die in the middle of battle. That's already an achievement, don't you think?"

Grimm (rolling her eyes, though slightly blushing): "Hey, Rokugo! Is my 'undeath' in battle reason enough for a date? How nice of you..."

Rokugo (smiling mischievously): "Take it as you will. At least it worked."

Grimm, though annoyed by the comment, couldn't hide that the idea of ​​spending time with Rokugo made her excited, so she finally agreed. After all, any excuse was good enough to be close to him.

After the "celebration" was over, which consisted of an improvised dinner and a couple of drinks, Rokugo, with that mischievous expression that characterized him, looked at Grimm with quite clear intentions.

Rokugo: "Grimm... How about we repeat that wonderful night we had the other time at your house? Do you remember?"

Grimm looked at him, her face instantly reddening as she understood Rokugo's intentions. Nervous and somewhat embarrassed, she gave him a look that was somewhere between incredulous and worried.

Grimm: "Eh? Are you going to... Are you going to use my... my breasts again? I still remember that after that... my back hurt for two days."

Rokugo, unfazed by Grimm's reaction, simply smiled and nodded.

Rokugo: "Well, I don't know how to do it differently. And besides, you seemed to enjoy it the last time."

Grimm (blushing): "I... I did? Really?"

Rokugo (nodding): "Of course. You were moaning and wriggling around like crazy."

Grimm, though embarrassed, couldn't deny the truth of Rokugo's words. She remembered the pleasure she felt that night and how she had moaned and squirmed under Rokugo's touch. She also remembered how sore her back had been afterwards, but she quickly pushed those memories aside.

Grimm (trying to sound confident): "Well, if that's what you want... But I'm warning you, Rokugo! If you hurt me again, I swear I'll kill you!"

Rokugo (smiling): "Don't worry, Grimm. I promise I'll be gentle this time."

Grimm (annoyed): "Don't say that! It makes me feel bad!"

Rokugo (grinning): "What? You don't want me to be gentle? Then tell me what you really want."

Grimm (flustered): "No! That's not it! Just... just stop teasing me!"

Rokugo (laughing): "Okay, okay. Let's go to your room. I promise I won't tease you anymore."

Grimm (reluctantly): "Fine... But if you hurt me again, I swear I'll kill you!"

Rokugo (smirking): "We'll see about that."

As they walked towards Grimm's room, Rokugo couldn't help but notice the way Grimm moved. She was swaying her hips in a way that made him feel aroused just watching her. He couldn't wait to get his hands on her again.

Once they reached her room, Rokugo wasted no time in pulling her close and kissing her deeply. Grimm responded eagerly, her arms wrapping around his neck as she kissed him back with equal passion.

After a few minutes of intense kissing, Rokugo pulled away and looked at Grimm with a mischievous grin.

Rokugo: "So, Grimm... What do you want me to do to you?"

Grimm (breathlessly): "Anything you want, Rokugo! Just... please don't hurt me!"

Rokugo (smirking): "Don't worry, I won't. Now, lie down on the bed."

Grimm (obediently): "Yes, Rokugo."

Rokugo watched as Grimm lay down on the bed, her body trembling with anticipation. He couldn't wait to get started.

Rokugo (whispering in her ear): "Grimm... I'm going to take off your clothes now. Are you ready?"

Grimm (nodding): "Yes, Rokugo. Please hurry."

Rokugo slowly began to undress Grimm. He moved on to her dress, carefully unbuttoning it and sliding it off her shoulders. Next came her bra and thong, which he removed with equal care.

Once Grimm was completely naked, Rokugo stood up and took off his own clothes, revealing his muscular body. Grimm couldn't help but stare at him, her breath catching in her throat as she took in the sight of him.

Rokugo (teasingly): "What? You like what you see?"

Grimm (blushing): "I... I can't help it! You're so... so strong!"

Rokugo (smirking): "That's right. And I'm going to show you just how strong I am."

With that, Rokugo climbed onto the bed and straddled Grimm, his hard cock pressing against her pussy. Grimm moaned in pleasure as he began to grind against her, his hips moving rhythmically as he teased her entrance.

Rokugo (breathlessly): "Grimm... I can't wait any longer. I'm going to fuck you now."

Grimm (moaning): "Yes! Please do!"

Rokugo (groaning): "Here goes nothing..."

With a powerful thrust, Rokugo entered Grimm, his cock stretching her tight pussy as he buried himself deep inside her. Grimm cried out in pain and pleasure as he began to move, his hips slapping against her ass as he fucked her mercilessly.

Rokugo (panting): "Oh fuck! Grimm! You feel so good! I'm going to cum soon!"

Grimm (breathlessly): "Me too! Don't stop!"

Rokugo (groaning): "Never! I'm going to make you scream!"

And with that, Rokugo began to pound into Grimm harder and faster, his cock sliding in and out of her pussy with ease as he neared his climax. Grimm moaned and writhed beneath him, her pussy clenching around his cock as she felt herself getting closer to orgasm.

Finally, with a loud groan, Rokugo came inside Grimm, his hot cum filling her up as he collapsed on top of her, panting heavily. Grimm wrapped her arms around him, her body trembling with pleasure as she felt his warm cum fill her up.

Rokugo (breathlessly): "Wow... That was amazing."

Grimm (smiling): "Yeah... It was."

Rokugo (laughing): "I guess I owe you another massage then."

Grimm (laughing): "You bet."

As they laid there, spent and satisfied, Rokugo couldn't help but smile. He knew that he had made Grimm happy, and that was all that mattered to him. He also knew that he would have to do it again soon, as he could already feel his cock twitching in anticipation.

Rokugo (teasingly): "Grimm... Are you ready for round two?"

Grimm (laughing): "I'll never be ready for that!"

Rokugo (grinning): "We'll see about that."

Rokugo and Grimm were lying on the same bed, both naked, surrounded by the silence of the room. Both Rokugo and Grimm were sore from physical exertion and unable to move. Rokugo had a cigarette in his hand, lighting it and bringing it to his lips as he slowly exhaled. Grimm above Rokugo watched him with curiosity and some bewilderment, unable to help but ask.

Grimm: "What is that, Rokugo?"

Rokugo (with a slight smile): "It's a cigarette, Grimm. I smoke it… well, to increase the pleasure after a good night."

Grimm (curious and a little confused): "More pleasure? And what does it feel like?"

Rokugo smiled mischievously and extended the cigarette to Grimm. With some hesitation, she took it and took a drag, only to immediately cough, with a disgusted expression on her face.

Grimm: "It tastes like burnt ashes! "How can you enjoy something like that?"

They both laughed for a moment, relaxed, enjoying that momentary complicity. Rokugo noticed that Grimm was still awake, looking at him with a love-struck expression and completely absorbed in him. Deep down, he felt a little trapped by that sincere gaze.

Grimm (smiling happily): "Rokugo... I love you."

That statement hit him harder than he expected. Inside his mind, alarms began to ring.

Rokugo (thinking): "What did I do? This was supposed to be just a one-night stand..."

Rokugo glanced at Grimm, who was staring at him, her face radiating a mix of happiness and love. He sighed internally, wondering why he wasn't falling asleep already.

"Damn it, Grimm, why aren't you going to sleep? I want to watch Kisaragi's commercials..." Rokugo thought, while faking a calm and relaxed smile.

At the same time, Grimm was lost in her own thoughts, unable to hide her happiness.

“I can’t believe it, I got a boyfriend… and here we are, in my bed, sore, unable to move a muscle. I could stay like this for the rest of the night,” she told herself, feeling complete and content.

However, as the minutes passed in silence, they both began to notice the uncomfortable weight of insomnia. Rokugo began to move a little, frustrated and less and less interested in prolonging this moment.

“Damn insomnia… I don’t want to be awake anymore,” she complained mentally, as she looked at the ceiling in resignation.

Seeing that Rokugo didn’t seem very keen on staying silent, Grimm decided to bring up a topic of conversation, although she wasn’t sure how to start.

“Hey, Rokugo… when you came to the Kingdom of Grace and we met, did I catch your eye from the start?” she asked him with an awkward smile, clearly expecting a positive answer.

Rokugo rolled his eyes in some discomfort, though he tried to hide it.

“Uh… well, yeah, I guess so,” he said without much enthusiasm, while she continued looking at him with a curious expression.

“Really?” Grimm insisted, visibly excited. “But… you… also, let’s say… groped or undressed Snow on more than one occasion.”

Grimm’s comment caused an awkward pause between them. Rokugo sighed, realizing that he couldn’t avoid this conversation and, with resignation, decided to be honest.

“Well, the truth is, when I first met Snow, I thought she’d be a rich noblewoman, with well-off parents and all that…” he began, shrugging his shoulders. “You know, someone I could conquer and then add to the list of one-night stands.”

Grimm blinked, surprised and somewhat offended. The dreamy expression on her face changed to one of clear disappointment.

“What…?” “So that’s how you thought of Snow at first?” he asked in a somewhat bitter tone.

Rokugo nodded, not realizing what his words provoked in Grimm.

“Yes, but I was totally wrong. Snow turned out to be the complete opposite: an orphan up to her neck in debt, without a single gold coin to offer,” he added with a sarcastic laugh. “When I tried something with her, Snow almost decapitated me. And not because she disliked me, but because… let’s say she was offended that I only saw her as another quick fling.”

Grimm looked down, disappointed by his confession. His love-struck smile had faded, and a shadow of sadness appeared on his expression. After a moment of silence, he simply said quietly:

“I see…”

Grimm sighed, running a hand over his face as he laughed wryly.

“That’s what I get for asking. What else did I expect you to answer?” —she said, more to herself than to Rokugo.

Rokugo glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, unsure of what to say, when she broke the silence.

—Commander, since we've come to this point… —Grimm looked at him with a small smile on his face, but there was something challenging in his gaze—. We already trust each other, right?

—Trust? —Rokugo raised an eyebrow, having no idea where that question was going—. I guess… why do you ask?

Grimm settled back on the bed, looking at him curiously as he fiddled with his hands.

—Have you ever had anything with Alice? —he asked suddenly, a mix of interest and some jealousy in his voice.

Rokugo blinked in surprise, then let out an incredulous laugh as he caught on to what she meant by 'that level of trust'.

—Alice… isn't 'alive', Grimm —he replied, still chuckling a bit at the question.

Grimm frowned, processing her words. After a moment, a look of shock lit up his face.

“She’s not alive?” he said, sounding almost triumphant. “So… she’s some kind of undead? I knew it! She’s like a lich who denies being dead! Sure, that would explain why she always disparages magic, and why she doesn’t seem to have any emotions.”

Rokugo shook his head, holding up a hand to stop her enthusiasm.

“No, Grimm. Alice isn’t ‘she’… she’s ‘it.’”

Grimm stared at him, not understanding.

“That? What do you mean by that?”

“Alice is actually an undead.”

“Droid,” Rokugo said, realizing he would have to explain further upon seeing Grimm’s puzzled expression. “You know, a machine… something like a robot.”

Grimm stared at him, frowning even deeper, evidently not understanding the concept.

“Robot? Like some kind of golem or something?” he asked, trying to make sense of his words.

Rokugo sighed, knowing he would have to simplify it.

“Look, Alice is like Kisaragi’s construction machine or the destruction robot… a complex piece of engineering that simply follows programmed instructions. She has no soul or true emotions.”

Grimm finally seemed to get the idea and nodded slowly.

“Ah… I get it,” he said, though he seemed to still be processing it. “She’s like a reanimated doll… no soul, just following set orders.”

Rokugo nodded, satisfied that he at least had a rough understanding.

“Exactly.”

Rokugo sighed, looking at Grimm, who was still lying on top of him, hugging him with a tender and possessive expression. The situation was starting to make him uncomfortable.

“Hey, Grimm… I’m not complaining, every man enjoys the touch of a woman… especially down here,” he said, making a vague gesture with his hand, “but it’s starting to get a little uncomfortable.”

Grimm pouted, hugging him even tighter.

“I don’t want to move,” she murmured, with a satisfied smile. “Besides, you’re my first boyfriend, my first love. I want to stay like this… forever.”

Rokugo let out a sarcastic laugh and stroked her head.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m your first boyfriend, your first love, whatever… But if you don’t move soon, we’re going to start sweating.”

“So what?” she said, shrugging. “I don’t mind.”

Rokugo looked at her skeptically, frowning.

“Grimm, don’t you have hygiene habits? I mean, did you ever consider… you know, taking a bath?”

Grimm avoided the topic with a quick change of conversation, glancing at him sideways.

“So tell me… did you ever have desires… for the princess?”

Rokugo sighed, but decided to play along. It was obvious she had no intention of sleeping.

“Well, I admit I thought it would be a situation like in the novels. You know, that one day the princess would propose to me, I would become king, and in the process I would have Snow too. But, well, that was before I realized what was really going on with them.”

Grimm made a face of disbelief and let out a sigh.

“My boyfriend reads too much fiction…”

Rokugo shrugged, feigning indifference, when Grimm decided to take the conversation to another level.

—You… you come from another planet, right? —she asked suddenly, with an unusual seriousness—. ​​Come on, I don't think I'm the only one who has noticed the advanced technology you bring, nor the fact that you talk about "Kisaragi" as if it were something familiar. Also, the language you use is not from here…

Rokugo looked at her, realizing that there was no point in hiding it anymore.

—Yes. Japan is in a world beyond the visible stars —she finally admitted, with a slight smile.

Grimm made a false pout, bringing a hand to her forehead and pretending to cry.

—I can't believe it! My first boyfriend… and it turns out that my first time was with an alien!

Rokugo (smiling): "Well, you're not used to it yet, Grimm. But I assure you, it's worth it."

Grimm (disgusted): "I don't think so."

Rokugo (smiling): "Okay, Grimm. I understand. But I have something else to tell you."

Grimm (curious): "What is it?"

Rokugo (seriously): "I'm an alien spy."

Grimm (surprised): "An alien? From another planet?"

Rokugo (nodding): "Yes, from the third planet. I came here to conquer your planet."

Grimm (confused): "But why did you come here?"

Rokugo (explaining): "Well, my planet is about to become uninhabitable. We need to find a new one to live on."

Grimm (understanding): "Ah, I see ... So you came here to conquer our planet?"

Rokugo (nodding): "Yes, that's why I'm here."

Grimm (concerned): "But what about us? What will happen to us?"

Rokugo (smiling): "Don't worry, Grimm. I promise you that I will protect you and your people."

Grimm (smiling back): "Thank you, Rokugo. I trust you."

Rokugo (smiling back): "Good. Now let's go back to sleep."

Grimm (happily): "Okay, Rokugo. Good night."

Rokugo (smiling): "Good night, Grimm."

Rokugo smiled, relieved that he had finally told her the truth.

“I’m glad you understand now, Grimm.”

Grimm smiled back at him, hugging him again.

“I trust you, Rokugo.”

Rokugo closed his eyes, letting himself relax and drift off to sleep.

* * *

Rokugo woke up to the sound of a bell ringing. He opened his eyes and saw that it was already morning. He looked around and saw that he was alone in the bed. Grimm wasn’t there anymore. He sighed and got out of bed, stretching his arms and yawning. He looked at the clock on the wall and saw that it was already 9:00 am. He groaned and walked to the bathroom, brushing his teeth and washing his face. Afterwards, he went to the kitchen and made himself some breakfast. He ate in silence, thinking about what had happened last night. He smiled to himself as he remembered Grimm’s confession. It was nice to know that he had won her over with his charm. He finished eating and washed the dishes, then went to the living room to wait for Alice. 

As he checked his Kisaragi bracelet, Rokugo was surprised to see a new notification. Apparently, some messages had arrived from Kisaragi headquarters, and their content was not exactly what he expected.

Message from Kisaragi HQ:

"Situation on our planet: ABSOLUTE CONTROL. The heroes have been eliminated, and for the first time, we have achieved complete world conquest. In response to our peaceful situation, one of our executives will be immediately dispatched to oversee the progress of your mission."

Rokugo's face went from confusion to panic in a matter of seconds. The notification on his bracelet flashed again, alerting him that the teleportation machine was activated and in the process of bringing someone to the planet.

Rokugo (sweating cold): "I'm being taken by... An executive here?! No, no, no... It can't be that they decided to send Astaroth just now..."

Rokugo glanced sideways at the bed, where Grimm was still sleeping soundly, naked and tangled in the sheets. The image of Astaroth suddenly appearing and discovering that he had spent the night with another woman made his panic grow even more.

Rokugo (thinking, panicking): "If Astaroth finds out that I was unfaithful to him with Grimm... He's going to kill me, or worse, he's going to castrate me! But if Grimm finds out that she's the other one... Won't she kill me with a curse? Although more likely she'll end up accidentally exploding herself..."

The worst possibility crossed his mind, and Rokugo felt a chill run down his spine.

Rokugo (thinking): "What if Grimm decides to punish me with an impotence curse… That would be a nightmare!"

Desperate, Rokugo searched for some way to keep Grimm asleep and safe until he could deal with the situation. An absurd and ridiculous idea occurred to him, but in his stressed mind, it seemed like a viable option.

Rokugo (mumbling as he opens his bracelet's menu): "Well… I have no choice. I have to do something so she doesn't wake up. Come on… redeem evil points… Here they are!"

With a series of hurried taps, Rokugo redeemed some evil points to obtain a pair of socks. Carefully, he put them on Grimm as she slept. Grimm's curse, which prevented her from wearing footwear, caused her to immediately begin to glow.

Grimm (mumbling in her sleep as she feels the heat): "Mmm… Is it hot?"

Seeing Grimm start to move and murmur, Rokugo quickly got out of bed and ran towards the door, before she could react.

Grimm (waking up suddenly and feeling his body increase exponentially in temperature, seeing his feet wearing socks): "Commander?! Why did you do this to me?! I... I... I love you!!"

Rokugo was already outside the house when he heard the internal explosion caused by Grimm's curse. Breathing heavily, he tried to calm himself as he quickly walked away.

Rokugo (muttering to himself): "I'm sorry, Grimm. I'll send you to Zenarith Temple to be revived as soon as Astaroth leaves this planet."

In a rush, Rokugo ran towards Kisaragi's teleportation base, his heart still pounding in fear. He wasn't sure what was in store for him, but he knew he had to act fast if he didn't want to end up a marked man, or worse, mutilated.

When he finally arrived at the base, Rokugo was met with an unexpected surprise.

Rokugo (panting, looking at the figure that just arrived): "...Belial?"

The figure in front of him was indeed Belial, one of Kisaragi's other executives. With his brutal appearance and impulsive personality, Belial was someone he wouldn't want to cross, but at least it wasn't Astaroth, and that gave him a small sigh of relief.

Belial (crossing his arms and looking at him with a raised eyebrow): "What's wrong, Rokugo? Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"

Rokugo (trying to act normal): "Eh… nothing, nothing. I was just… really excited to see you, Belial. I didn't expect… you to be the one they sent."

Belial (laughing disdainfully): "I see… Well, stop shaking like a scared dog. I'm here to assess how your progress is going in conquering this planet, so you better have something good to show me."

Rokugo gulped, trying to stay calm. Although Belial wasn't as ruthless as Astaroth in the sense of personal punishments, she had a brutality that he preferred not to face. Furthermore, the memory of Grimm and his chaotic situation continued to haunt him, and he needed to quickly come up with a way to handle everything.

Rokugo (smiling nervously): "Sure, Belial… I'll show you how far we've come here. Trust me, this world is about to fall under Kisaragi's rule."

Belial (with a skeptical look): "You better be, Rokugo. Because I didn't come all this way to watch you waste your time."

Rokugo forced a smile as his mind continued to work at full speed, trying to figure out the crossroads he was at. He knew he didn't have much time, but now, with Belial here and Grimm enraged and probably burned to death by her own curse, his troubles were far from over.

Rokugo (thinking, as he walks alongside Belial): "This is going to be harder than I thought… but first, I have to survive this assessment without getting killed by Belial or Grimm."

Inside the Kisaragi base facilities

Rokugo walked alongside Belial through the facilities, trying to maintain his composure as he gave the executive a tour. Every now and then, he would cast nervous glances back, afraid that Grimm would suddenly appear, but at least for now he seemed to be safe.

Rokugo (showing a training room): "And this is where the new recruits are trained. I'm sure you'll be impressed with our latest pledge. She's Viper, the Viper-Mutant. Kisaragi rescued her from a rather... sticky situation, so in theory she owes us absolute loyalty."

At the mention of Viper, a tall, slender figure with scaly skin and slanted amber eyes appeared from one of the training room doors. Viper had a fierce air, with a distrustful expression on her face as she watched Rokugo and Belial.

Viper (with a tense voice): "Commander Rokugo. Executive Belial."

Belial (with an interested smile): "Oh, so this is the famous Mutant-Viper. I've heard about you. How do you feel working for Kisaragi, Viper?"

Viper hesitated for a moment, his sharp eyes casting a cold glare before answering.

Viper: "I appreciate what Kisaragi has done for me, but... the organization's lifestyle is not something I'm quite used to. I'm still having a hard time adjusting to some methods."

Belial gave a short, amused laugh, as if Viper's attitude was something endearing.

Belial: "Oh, believe me, I understand what you're saying. Kisaragi's way isn't for everyone. It's... a way of life that requires some moral flexibility. But in the end, if you're loyal, you'll be rewarded."

Rokugo watched as Viper seemed to struggle between showing gratitude and her discomfort. Despite her loyalty, there was still something about her that didn't quite fit Kisaragi, which was understandable given her past.

Belial (glancing at Rokugo): "By the way, Rokugo, I thought you might be interested in knowing something curious. At first, I had openly declared that I wanted to take this mission. But... well, the dice decided, and here you are, enjoying this experience in my place."

Rokugo (forcing a nervous smile): "Oh... Really? Well, it seems luck was on my side."

Belial: "Yes, or maybe not. Maybe it was just luck that he didn't come. But anyway, I've also recruited some interesting elements to support this mission."

Rokugo (intrigued): "Oh? Who are they?"

Belial: "I found someone named Grace Reiss… does that ring a bell? According to him, he's a hero in this world, albeit a very stubborn one. And besides, he has a surname that seems vaguely familiar…"

Upon hearing "Grace Reiss," Rokugo opened his eyes, his mind quickly connecting the dots.

Rokugo (thinking): "Reiss? He's Princess Tilis' brother! He went missing in action due to an accidental teleportation… so he ended up here and is now an agent of Kisaragi… What a stroke of luck! Though I guess it'll be a problem if she finds out."

Belial: "Oh, and I've also recruited a local villain, the same guy who teleported the prince. I thought her ability might be useful, so she's working for us now."

Rokugo nodded, impressed by Belial's ability to manipulate circumstances to her advantage. He had always had a professional respect for the way she managed to recruit "useful" people for Kisaragi's purposes.

Belial (in a carefree tone): "And since our planet is at peace for the first time in years, I thought it wouldn't hurt to visit this fantasy world. Besides, there's a Hiiragi Tribe that's preparing an attack. I think I'll have fun helping Six and the others put them in their place."

As they walked, a familiar figure appeared in the room: Heine, a red-haired, dark-horned demon who had been enslaved in the past and now acted as Viper's assistant. Heine looked at Belial with a mix of respect and confusion.

Heine: "Executive Belial? It's an honor to have you here."

Belial looked her up and down, his expression neutral, but with one eyebrow raised noticeably.

Belial: "Ah, Heine, right? Yes, I've heard of you. But… there's a small problem. Your voice and name are too similar to mine. I can't allow there to be any confusion in the chain of command."

Heine (nervous): "Oh! S-Sorry, I didn't mean to…"

Belial (with a commanding tone): "From now on, change your name and… modulate your voice. I don't want to hear even a hint of resemblance. Understood?"

Heine nodded quickly, trembling slightly. It was obvious that he didn't want to contradict Belial, so he accepted the change without asking questions. Rokugo observed the situation, surprised at how Belial handled his subordinates, and couldn't help but feel a strange mix of respect and fear towards her.

Rokugo (without irony, thinking): "Belial… is still a reliable boss. She's the caring type, at the end of the day. Even though she's tough, she really cares about her subordinates."

Belial (looking at Rokugo with a smirk): "What? Did I touch you? Come on, Rokugo, don't tell me you're looking at me like I'm a saint."

Rokugo (quickly, smiling): "No, no… I just thought you were… really reliable. Someone who can be trusted to handle things… even if you can be brutal at times."

Belial (crossing his arms and laughing): "Wow! Is that a compliment? You almost sound like you're in love with me. But come on, Rokugo, there's still work to be done. You haven't convinced me that this mission is in the best hands."

Rokugo (laughing nervously): "No, of course, of course… we're working on it. I'll show you the rest of our facilities and plans."

Inside the Kisaragi facility, the day continued with its usual pace of frenetic activity, but with a touch of calm due to the presence of Belial, who supervised the tasks and ensured that everything was in order. Now, he was checking the performance of the fighters under his command, a process that was not usually so simple, especially when it came to such... eccentric characters.

Belial (with a fixed gaze on his screen, checking the reports): "Well, I see that the recruited devils are still a pain... it seems that they are not motivated to advance as they should."

Rokugo (nearby, observing the data with some discomfort): "Yes, the devils do not care much about points. Some do not even redeem them. It seems that they have no need for anything... or they simply do not bother."

Belial (in a dry tone): "Exactly, a difficult group to handle. But anyway, let's see Rose's report… hmm, nothing, as expected. Is she eating all she can again?"

Rokugo (smiling nervously): "Yeah… it seems Rose has been focusing more on getting food than anything else."

Belial (resigned, sighing): "Not that I'm surprised. Rose doesn't have any points, but she's able to exchange them for food when she needs to. A pity. She's a good fighter, but it's clear that her priority is survival, not the point system."

Rokugo (nodding): "Yeah, as if the system doesn't have much importance to her."

Belial (moving to another report): "Now, Snow… what do we have here? Oh my god!" (Laughs in a loving way) ga) "He just went on a wild sword spawn!? What the hell did he spend points on that for?"

Rokugo (a little worried): "I knew Snow was… peculiar, but I didn't think he'd be that clueless."

Belial (with a frustrated face): "Snow spent a significant amount of points on creating swords that he can't even sell. Swords are so expensive that even the Kingdom of Grace can't afford them. That's a total waste!"

Rokugo (sighing, looking at Snow, who was at the back of the room): "He really doesn't know what he's doing with those points."

Belial (in a stern tone): "That's called mismanagement. I'll give him a warning for not only earning few points, but wasting them like that! He'll learn to be more careful with what he redeems."

Rokugo (with a nervous smile): "Warning? What kind?"

Belial (seriously): "I'll make her understand that her decisions are important. This kind of behavior cannot be allowed in Kisaragi."

Just then, Snow, with a confused look, approached Rokugo, clearly looking for something.

Snow (innocently): "Commander Rokugo, have you seen Grimm around here? I've been looking for her all over the base, but I can't find her."

Rokugo (panicking, looking around): "Grimm? Ah... no, I haven't seen her today. Why? Do you have something to do with her?"

Snow (smiling with a slight smirk): "Well, as her boyfriend, I should know where she is, right? Come on, don't tell me you don't know anything! I'm sure you've already seen her."

Rokugo (in a cold sweat, stuttering): "E-eh... no, no... I don't know where she is. I mean, no... no... What? Boyfriend?! No, I'm not her boyfriend, of course not."

Belial, who was listening to the conversation from the side, let out an internal laugh, but his face remained serious. However, the expression in his eyes said everything he needed to know.

Belial (thinking, with a slight smile on his face): Stupid Rokugo... Astaroth will kill you with his ice powers when he finds out about your betrayal of his love affair. But then again, I don't get involved in personal matters... although I do enjoy watching you get tangled up in your own lies.

Snow (looking at Rokugo, suspicious): "Commander, are you sure you don't know where Grimm is? Why are you so nervous?"

Rokugo (feigning indifference, but clearly nervous): "No, I'm not nervous! Why would I be nervous? I just... haven't seen her, that's all. And... well, you know how Grimm is, always disappearing."

Snow (with a slight mischievous smile): "I see... don't worry, Commander. If you haven't seen her, I guess it's because she was too busy with her 'boyfriend', right?" (Makes an exaggerated gesture of concern) "Poor thing, I'm sure she's looking for comfort elsewhere. If you were her boyfriend, you'd surely know."

Rokugo (with a drop of sweat falling down his forehead, embarrassed): "Y-yeah, sure... well, I'll... keep looking, then. If you'll excuse me."

Belial (watching intently, not directly intervening): "Hmm, keep getting into trouble, Rokugo. It's not Grimm that's going to kill you, but Astaroth, if she finds out about this whole mess. But I'm not getting involved. Whatever happens, happens."

Snow (muttering as he walked away): "I'm sure it's okay... don't worry, Commander. Anyway, if you see her, let me know, huh? Whatever you're hiding, I'll know soon enough."

Rokugo (with a panicked expression, looking at Belial): "God, why me?"

Belial (with an enigmatic smile, watching Rokugo fade away down the hallway): "Because, dear Rokugo... the complications only increase with every step you take. But don't worry... I enjoy watching you get into a mess. Maybe one day you'll get out of this situation... or maybe not."

Rokugo, as he walked away, couldn't help but feel trapped in a web of lies and bad decisions. The threat of Astaroth, his relationship with Grimm, and the possibility that Belial was watching him with a smile of amusement... all of that kept him on edge. How to get out of all this without things getting even more complicated? Only time would tell.

At the Kisaragi facility, an air of tension was felt in the room where Belial and Rokugo were discussing the points accumulated by the agents. The computer screens flickered with data and statistics, and the sound of keys being pressed filled the air.

Belial (with a fixed gaze on the screen, raising an eyebrow): "It seems that not everything is as easy as you thought, Rokugo. The agent with the most accumulated points is Viper. In fact, she has broken your record for points kept."

Rokugo (with a nervous smile, trying to maintain his posture): "That's not fair... If I didn't have to spend so many points on exchanging weapons, I probably would have accumulated more points than her."

Belial (crossing his arms, not looking at him): "Weapons, you say? You know that the records of the exchanges are in the database, right?" right? And what you trade the most... is pornography and manga, Rokugo."

Rokugo (with a bright red on his cheeks, trying to divert the topic): "That's not relevant! It's just that I'm a man of culture, of course! Can't I enjoy those things?!"

Belial (with a dry tone of voice, unfazed): "It's not about what you enjoy, it's about what you spend. Are you really going to tell me that you don't realize that those trades aren't helping you progress?"

Rokugo (making a frustrated face): "This isn't fair! Viper, being a half-demon, doesn't need those points. It's an innate advantage that he has, unlike me, who has to be surviving with my... hobbies."

Belial (with a fixed gaze, as if he was calculating everything he said): "Yeah, yeah, sure... But, did you know that Viper has accumulated more points in much less time? And by density, she's achieved more than you."

Rokugo (incredulously, rubbing his head): "That's... that's impossible. Viper, even though she's a former demon queen, can't be... Ah, wait! That's the real reason! Viper, being the daughter of a demon king, has a track record that makes her rack up points effortlessly, right?"

Belial (smiling slightly, as if he's enjoying the moment): "Exactly, Rokugo. And by the way, I think you forgot one small detail... She was also trained to be a leader, and she doesn't get distracted by... her personal interests, like you."

Rokugo (smiling reluctantly, trying to change the subject): "Well... I can't deny that she has advantages. But what about you, Belial? You've racked up a lot of points too, and I'm no fool. You're not fooling me, I know there's something weird going on with you."

Belial (staring at him, as if reading his thoughts): "Oh, are you questioning me? Don't you realize that, because of my density and nature, I've achieved much faster than you? But then again, you must be used to you always putting yourself at the center of everything."

Rokugo (getting even more uncomfortable, not knowing how to continue the conversation): "That... that's not what I meant, but... why are you always so perfect, Belial? You're like a machine!"

Belial (looking away, with a barely visible smile): "Well, Rokugo, not all of us are losers like you. Some of us do know how to manage our points."

Grimm revival

At that moment, the door swung open, and Snow walked in, clearly irritated.

Snow (with a furious face, crossing her arms): "Commander Rokugo! Grimm has failed to fulfill all her duties at the base! Where is she?!"

Rokugo (in a panic, trying to put on the best face possible): "E-eh... I don't know, I haven't seen her. Maybe... she went out to do something on her own."

Snow (looking at him suspiciously): "Really? I don't buy that, Rokugo! You know perfectly well that she can't leave without giving an explanation to Rose, her best friend. Tell me where Grimm is!"

Belial (raising an eyebrow, observing the situation with a small, but noticeable smile): "Do you really think I haven't noticed what's going on, Rokugo? I've already noticed your little betrayal of my friend Astaroth. It doesn't take a genius to see what's going on between you and that native priestess."

Rokugo (in a state of absolute panic, eyes narrowing): "Damn it! How did you know?"

Belial (still staring at him, tone scathing): "I'm not stupid, Rokugo. Astaroth won't be so lenient when he finds out what you've been up to. And you know it. Astaroth's going to turn you into mush with his ice powers when he finds out."

Snow (with a face of horror, looking at Rokugo): "Oh, by Zenarith, you killed her? Did you really?"

Rokugo (trying to explain himself): "No, no, I didn't kill her! I just... I had to do it, Snow! I didn't have a choice!"

Belial (with a smirk): "Did you really? Or did you just get scared that you were going to be caught?"

Rokugo (with a defeated look on his face): "Well... yeah, maybe..."

Belial (with a satisfied smile): "So, you killed her because you were afraid of getting caught, huh? Well, I guess I can't blame you for that. But you know what that means, don't you?"

Rokugo (with a resigned look on his face): "What do you mean?"

Belial (with a sadistic smile): "You're going to have to pay the price for your actions. You know that Astaroth won't let you off the hook."

Rokugo (with a defeated look on his face): "I know..."

Belial (with a mocking smile): "But you know what? I'm feeling generous today. So, instead of letting Astaroth deal with you, I'll give you a chance to redeem yourself."

Rokugo (with a confused look on his face): "Really? What do you want me to do?"

Snow (with a cruel smile): "Simple. You're going to collect Grimm's remains and bring them to Zenarith's temple. There, the priestesses will revive her, and she'll be back in action soon enough."

Belial (with a cold smile): "Don't thank me yet. You still have to pay the price for your actions. And don't worry, I'll make sure that Astaroth knows about this."

Rokugo (with a defeated look on his face): "I understand..."

Belial (with a mocking smile): "Now, hurry up and get going. You have a lot of work ahead of you."

Rokugo (nodding his head and leaving the room): "Yes, "

Belial (looking at him curiously, tilting his head): "Hmm... So that thing about reviving someone in Zenarith Temple is true... I always thought it was a story to make the agents not feel so guilty about their failures. I want to see how all that works."

Rokugo (with a defeated expression, lowering his head): "Fine... Let's go. Although I fear what we'll find there."

When they arrived at Grimm's house, the chaos was evident. The explosion had caused more damage than he expected, and the place was a mess. Through the smoke, Alice, the base's android, appeared with a logical and cold expression on her face.

Alice (in a mechanical tone, looking at the rubble): "Maybe Grimm was a robot and had a self-explosion. That would explain the damage."

Rokugo (staring at her in shock, taking a couple of deep breaths): "A robot? Grimm... a robot? Alice, what the hell are you talking about? No! Grimm... it's not a robot."

Belial (with a smile of amusement at Rokugo's confusion): "Well, it seems like this is getting interesting. Rokugo, this chaos... is all yours."

After a tiring day that included cleaning Grimm's room, maintaining the plumbing and electrical installation, and picking up what was left of "Grimm", Rokugo and Belial finally arrived at Zenarith's temple

s. The temple, with its solemn architecture and mystical air, seemed to be in complete contrast to the chaos of Kisaragi's daily life.

Rokugo (standing in front of an altar in the temple, looking at Grimm's limp body): "Here we are, Grimm. A place full of mystery and... power. Sigh... I hope this rite works."

Belial (watching the scene with some interest, but with a serious expression): "I never thought we'd be here for something so... human. But I guess this is the price for Rokugo's complications." (He crosses his arms, watching as Rokugo prepares for the ceremony.)

Rokugo (looking at Grimm's body with a distant expression, while placing a cigar on the altar as an offering): "This is the cigar we shared the day before... Do you consider it suitable for the ceremony, zenarith?"

Rokugo (smiling slightly, lighting the cigar before placing it on the altar): "It's more symbolic than it seems. Well, the rest is in the hands of the temple. I just hope Grimm doesn't take offense when he wakes up."

With the offering in place, Rokugo began reciting the words he had learned from the reports. The atmosphere became charged with an energy that made the room feel denser, as if the very walls were breathing. Finally, a soft glow illuminated Grimm's body, and after a few moments, Grimm's figure began to slowly move.

Rokugo (with a slight nervous smile): "Finally…"

Grimm (waking up with a gasp, looking around, confused): "What the hell!? Rokugo, you KILLED me!? Why!? You killed me for no fucking reason!? What kind of fucking psycho are you!? Why did you do that?!"

Rokugo (relieved but somewhat flustered, with an awkward smile): "Well, I wanted to know if you really couldn't wear shoes."

Grimm (with wide eyes, clearly offended): "What!? Is that what went through your head!? What kind of shit is that!? You killed me! You killed me and you're making fun of me for a pair of damn shoes!

Belial (trying to calm the situation, with his usual cold and calculating tone of voice): "What's wrong with it? It's great. She can't die. That makes her a valuable subject, right? If she can't die, we can take advantage of that. Nobody wants to lose such a valuable agent."

Grimm (visibly furious, she stands up and starts walking around, talking heatedly): "GREAT!? You know what it's like to be stabbed, shot, decapitated, ground up, burned, run over, eaten alive, exploited... Do you want to know what it FEELS LIKE!? It hurts so much, and it never ends. It never ends, because every time I recover, I have to go through it all again. And why!? Because nobody wants me, because they see me as a damn zombie, not as a person. And no, it's not GREAT!"

Rokugo (with a serious expression, knowing that now the situation had gotten a little out of hand):

Belial (looking at Grimm with an eerie calm, as if not fully understanding the extent of his frustration): "Rokugo is right. If you couldn't die, that would mean you would be a valuable asset to Kisaragi. The last thing we need is to lose you. Of course, we weren't treating you like an object... but maybe Rokugo hasn't considered the emotional impact. Do you have anything else to add, Grimm?"

Grimm (completely distraught, looking back and forth between Rokugo and Belial): "Emotional? What emotional impact!? Didn't you hear what I just said!? The pain doesn't go away, it never goes away! Every time I'm reborn, I have to remember all the suffering and it never ends! And the worst part of it all is that it keeps happening to me.

Rokugo (quickly changing the subject, to try and calm the situation): "Listen, Grimm... I know, and I've actually reported something in the reports. Actually, I did get engaged to you, but only on an agreement. If neither of us find a partner in ten years, we'll get married. That was all. It wasn't anything personal, just a way for me to make sure you stay alive."

Grimm (stays silent for a moment, confused): "What!? An agreement!? An agreement!? It's been a year since we made that deal!? That means I have nine years left! And... what about the two nights we spent together? And why is that girl here? Who is she!? Why is she with us!? What does this mean!? I don't understand anything!"

Rokugo (looking at Grimm with a slight nervous smile, pointing at Belial): "This is Belial. She's the executive of Kisaragi. She's... well, one of the bosses. Don't worry, we're not in a weird situation. It's just that... she wanted to see how this works."

Grimm (remembering the stories Rokugo had told him earlier about Belial, and quickly changing his attitude, switching to a more respectful tone): "Ah! So... you're... Belial... the executive. Sorry, I didn't want to make a scene. It's just that... well, things haven't been easy lately."

Belial (watching the change in attitude with a glint of amusement in his eyes): "Don't worry, Grimm. Everything is in order. And it seems Rokugo has a... communication problem, but that's nothing new."

Rokugo (sighing in relief, as the atmosphere calmed down a bit): "Well, at least now I know you care a little less about the fact that I killed you..."

Grimm (with a grimace, still irritated but less explosive): "I still don't forgive you, but whatever... It's just that this isn't the end of it, Rokugo! We'll see how we handle this."

peace

Rokugo (nodding his head, as if agreeing to a challenge): "Oh, yeah? Well, I'll be waiting for you. But until then, we have a war to win."

Grimm (with a sigh, looking at the horizon): "Yes, we do."

And so, the three of them left the temple, ready to return to their duties as agents of the Kisaragi Corporation. Little did they know that their adventure was far from over.

Belial (looking at Rokugo and Grimm with a stern expression): "We're not done yet. We still have a mission to complete."

Rokugo (nodding his head in agreement): "Right. We need to conquer Planet 407."

Grimm (with a sigh, looking at Rokugo with a hint of annoyance): "We're stuck in the past. There's nothing we can do about it."

Belial (with a cold smile, looking at both of them with a hint of amusement): "That's true. But we can't leave it like this. We need to move forward. And besides, there's a lot more to explore in this world than just this planet."

Rokugo (with a determined look in his eyes): "Then let's go. Let's conquer this planet and move on to the next one."

Grimm (with a sigh, looking at Rokugo with a hint of admiration): "Yeah, you're right. Let's go."

And so, the three of them left the temple, ready to return to their duties as agents of the Kisaragi Corporation. Little did they know that their adventure was far from over.

Belial stood up from his seat, looking around with a calculating expression. He was the linchpin in Kisaragi's strategy, and his power was not something to be ignored. With the wave of a hand, he could summon devastating explosions, and his mastery over pyrokinesis made him one of the most fearsome combatants.

Belial (addressing the agents who were ready for battle): "Listen up, everyone. The Hiiragi are a powerful tribe, but we are not beginners in this game. Kisaragi has what it takes to take them down. All agents deployed must do their best. I will lead the offensive, and I do not want any failures."

Rokugo (watching from the side, slightly uneasy): "So... how do you plan to end this, Belial?"

Belial (looking at Rokugo with a crooked smile, his eyes shining brightly): "How, you say? Well, for starters..." (He raises his hand and immediately begins to concentrate) "First, we must ensure that the battlefield is ours. The Hiiragi will have a surprise." (He gestures, and a large explosion of fire erupted outside the facility, lighting up the sky.)

Rokugo (surprised by the display of power): "My goodness! That was... incredible! How the hell did you do it?!"

Grimm (calmer now, watching the scene with admiration, but without losing his sarcasm): "Is this what you expected when you brought me into this? I always wanted a fireworks show, but I didn't think it would be like this."

Belial (as he stared into the fire, his face impassive): "It's just a small sample. Kisaragi grants me the means to go further. And as for this attack..." (Pauses for a moment, looking at the horizon as his words turned cold and deadly) "The Hiiragi will never know what hit them."

With a fluid movement, Belial activated her pyrokinesis, and large columns of fire began to form around her, as her energy increased with each second. The level of power she possessed was terrifying. She could control fire, allowing her to destroy everything in her path, from soldiers to entire buildings, and the flames were so intense that they turned the very air into something scorching.

Grimm (with a slight smile, though he still felt the weight of his own frustration): "Is this what you call a 'plan'? Blowing everything up in a big way and watching them drop like flies?"

Belial (voiced calmly, as the intensity of the flames grew): "Sometimes, the most efficient way to end problems is to burn them down. Literally. And don't worry, Grimm... no one is going to mess with you while we're at it. At least not until I've dealt with the Hiiragi."

Rokugo (trying to calm the situation as he felt the tension in the air): "Wait! We still have to get organized. We can't just jump into the fire... well, not literally."

Belial (smiling subtly): "I've organized it, Rokugo. Chaos is my ally, and I know how to handle it. Besides, we don't have time for scruples. The Hiiragi tribe will not be an obstacle for Kisaragi."

With a gesture, Belial focused again, and the intensity of the fire explosions increased, causing a series of explosions throughout the battle zone, where the Hiiragi tribe fighters began to react, but they were too late. Devastation was imminent, and the battle had begun in full swing.

Grimm (looking at the battlefield, wearing a nonchalant expression as he felt the discomfort of his wheelchair): "Well, it looks like things are about to get really ugly."

Belial (smiling confidently): "Just remember, Grimm... this is what Kisaragi does. We leave nothing undestroyed when we're at stake."

Rokugo, looking at the scale of the destruction, thought back to everything that had happened so far and what was yet to come.

As the flames of Belial's pyrokinesis devoured the battlefield, the offensive against the Hiiragi tribe was in full swing. Kisaragi's fighters charged forward with relentless determination, inspired by their leader's devastating display of power. However, the focus soon shifted to the Dark Forest, where several agents and Belial herself had ventured into, but so far had not returned.

Rokugo, after making sure the situation was under control at the base, began to notice that Belial's return was taking longer than expected. Concern crept across his face, and he was not the only one to notice.

Viper (who had just returned victoriously from the front, covered in dust and with a proud expression): "Well, it seems we have neutralized the Hiiragi threat. But… has anyone seen Belial? He has not returned from the Dark Forest."

Rokugo (with determination, raising his voice for everyone to hear): "I'm going to look for her. We can't leave our leader in a dark place."

"I'm not going to fight in a place like that, let alone alone. Belial is strong, but the Dark Forest is treacherous."

Tiger Man, one of Kisaragi's most loyal fighters, approached Rokugo and nodded firmly.

Tiger Man: "I'm going with you, Commander Rokugo. You can't face that alone. Belial is our boss and deserves our best to find her."

Just as Rokugo and Tiger Man prepared to leave, Grimm, who had been watching from his wheelchair with an increasingly furious expression, approached Rokugo with his arms crossed and a look filled with jealousy.

Grimm (in an irritated voice): "So you're going to risk entering that dark, cursed forest… just to rescue that woman? Why? Tell me, Rokugo!"

Rokugo (sighing, but standing firm): "First, because she's my boss. She's the leader of Kisaragi and I owe her loyalty. And second…" (pauses and looks directly at her) "because she's also my friend. I've known her since we were teenagers, Grimm."

Grimm (biting her lips, angry and with obvious jealousy): "Friend, you say? Don't give me that! After what you did, I don't even know why I should trust you!" (remembering the "accident" when Rokugo killed her in one of his experiments, supposedly just to see if she would explode) "Have you already forgotten about the time you killed me, Rokugo? According to you, it was just a whim to see if I would explode. Is this how you take care of your 'friends'?"

Rokugo (with an uncomfortable expression, but trying to calm her down): "Grimm, that was... well, it wasn't my finest moment. But now we're talking about something serious. I can't leave Belial there alone."

Grimm (glaring at him with a mix of anger and pain): "Well then! Rokugo, rot away! Do whatever you want. Go into the forest, get lost and never come back, I don't care!"

Without another word, Grimm turned her wheelchair around and walked away, furious and not intending to listen to him anymore. Rokugo sighed and looked at the Tiger Man, who seemed to enjoy the situation.

The Tiger Man (laughing with a playful expression): "Looks like someone has love problems. Oh, Rokugo, always causing trouble! You know, sometimes, you don't seem to forgive anything.

Rokugo (grimacing, trying to justify): "Grimm will be in a better mood when he gets back. You'll see."

Tiger Man (mockingly): "Yes, yes... but don't forget about Astaroth. When she finds out you've been involved in 'dubious affairs', I assure you that you won't be spared from her fury."

Rokugo (grimacing at the name of Astaroth, his 'official lover'): "Oh, great. Thanks for reminding me, Tiger. Just what I needed... two angry women. So we better make this quick!"

Rokugo and Tiger Man set off towards the Dark Forest, advancing carefully through the hostile terrain, shrouded in darkness. After several hours of walking, they saw something unexpected: a gigantic wall, guarding an unknown territory. The atmosphere around the place was strange, and some small animals seemed to be watching them from the shadows, but what caught their attention the most was the inscription at the main entrance.

Rokugo (reading aloud): "'Grunade Kingdom'. I had no idea there was a kingdom so close to the Midgard Mountains."

Tiger Man (scratching his chin, intrigued): "Grunade Kingdom, huh? This place seems to be quite peculiar. I've heard rumors, but nothing concrete."

Rokugo (looking around curiously and cautiously): "From the inscription it seems to be a kingdom that worships dragons… That explains the number of explosive lizards roaming around here."

As they moved through the place, they noticed that there was a protection mechanism powered by a huge red magicite, a glowing gem of colossal size that seemed to radiate a warm, protective energy. As they approached, Rokugo felt a slight vibration in the air.

Tiger Man (looking at the gem in awe): "What is that? It seems to have some kind of protection spell… No monsters, except dragons, would dare to approach the kingdom."

Rokugo (analyzing the situation with a sly smile): "Interesting… so this red magicite is their national treasure. No wonder the place seems so peaceful despite being surrounded by monsters and giant walls. It's an impressive defense."

The Tiger Man (looking at the walls): "Colossal walls, but… if you look closely, it seems like their army isn't much. They probably rely too much on that magicite and the walls."

Rokugo (chuckling): "That could be a problem for them if someone decided to attack. But we're not here for that right now. First, we must find Belial and get her out of this forest before something happens to her."

Rokugo and the Tiger Man's conversation was interrupted by a figure approaching from a distance. It was a man dressed in ceremonial robes, who seemed to be a guard or some kind of emissary of the kingdom. He watched them with a look of relief. He was suspicious, but noticing the Kisaragi emblem on Rokugo's clothes, he became more cautious.

Grunade's Emissary (in a formal tone): "Outsiders, you have arrived at the sacred lands of the Grunade Kingdom. What is the purpose of your visit?"

Rokugo (with a carefree smile): "We are looking for someone. A friend who might have passed through this place. We have no intention of staying for long."

The Tiger Man (in a mocking tone): "Unless, of course, you have something interesting to offer us… you know, a good challenge always comes in handy."

The Emissary, noticing the two's confident and bold attitude, hesitated for a moment before speaking.

Grunade's Emissary (with a mix of respect and suspicion): "The dragons of Grunade do not take the presence of outsiders in these lands lightly. However, if your intention is peaceful… you may enter. But be careful. Our dragon gods do not tolerate those who disrespect their sanctuary."

Rokugo and the Tiger Man exchanged a knowing glance and nodded. They knew that entering Grunade's realm could pose a number of challenges, but nothing would stop them until they found Belial and returned her safely. Rokugo, always with his usual carefree attitude, could not help but think about Grimm and Astaroth's reaction upon returning, but he decided to leave those problems for later. Now, his priority was to solve the mystery of the Dark Forest… and perhaps discover what secrets Grunade's realm held.

Within Grunade's Kingdom, Rokugo and the Tiger Man were escorted by the emissary through streets paved with fine stones and surrounded by vegetation. Unlike many other places they had visited, this kingdom was filled with canals and crystal-clear bodies of water that ran through the entire city. The sound of the streams and fountains brought an atmosphere of peace and prosperity, which was in contrast to the usual missions of chaos and destruction they were used to.

Rokugo (looking around, admiring the scenery): "This place is... impressive. It's nothing like the other kingdoms we've seen."

The Tiger Man (arms crossed, nodding): "Yes, and it seems that water plays a major role here. It's almost as if the place was designed around it."

Grunade's Emissary (listening to the conversation and smiling slightly): "Water is a symbol of life and prosperity for our kingdom. Furthermore, it strengthens our ties with the Primordial Dragon, Midgard, who grants blessings to our people in exchange for our sacrifices."

Rokugo (arching an eyebrow, intrigued): "Sacrifices? What kind are we talking about?"

Grunade's Emissary (solemnly): "Every hundred years, our kingdom's ruler must make a journey to the Midgard Mountains, where the Primordial Dragon lies in a deep sleep. There, he must retrieve a new magicite to keep Grunade prosperous... though the dragon awakens in the process, leading to the governor's death."

Tiger Man (frowning): "So the governor has to sacrifice himself to keep the peace? Wow, that's a high price to pay."

Grunade's Emissary (nodding): "Indeed. Our political system, though monarchical, allows citizens to elect their governors from among the members of the royal family. Only the bravest accept the fate of going to the Midgard Mountains when their time comes."

Rokugo (thinking out loud): "Wow, that sounds... complicated. I imagine the people here must have a lot of faith in their ruler."

As they continued through the streets, they were led to a prison cell in the kingdom, where they were locked up. The cell was more spacious and clean than the ones Rokugo and Tiger Man were used to, but it was still a prison. Inside the cell, to their surprise, they found Belial, who was sitting with his arms crossed, wearing a frustrated expression.

Belial (upon seeing Rokugo and Tiger Man enter): "About time someone came looking for me. What, did it take them so long to notice I was here?"

Rokugo (smiling in relief): "Belial! Well, you know, it's not easy to track someone down when they're in a kingdom surrounded by exploding lizards and magical walls."

Tiger Man (muttering in a mocking tone): "And not to mention how annoying it is to walk among so many… peaceful citizens."

Belial (looking at them seriously): "I've tried everything to get out of here, but it seems my pyrokinesis is useless in this place. Most of the walls and objects here are resistant to fire… and to top it off, all the guards seem to have some magic resistance."

Rokugo (thinking, with a sly smile): "Well, if fire doesn't work, maybe we can try something a little… less conventional."

Belial (glancing at him, somewhat intrigued): "Do you have any bright ideas, Rokugo?"

Rokugo (looking at Belial, remembering or his special ability): "Belial, what about that microwave-producing ability of yours? I know you don't use it much because it directly affects the cells of living beings, but perhaps it could be of use here."

Belial (frowning, somewhat uncomfortable): "Yes, I can heat the cells of living beings using microwaves, but… it's a lethal and rather cruel method. I don't like to use it if it's not absolutely necessary."

Rokugo (with a determined look): "Well, it seems we're in an extreme situation. If we don't try it, we'll be trapped here forever."

Belial (sighing, resigned): "Okay, I'll try. But don't get in the habit of asking for it, Rokugo."

Concentrating, Belial began to channel his power, emitting microwaves into the cell. The guards outside the prison seemed to sense a strange change in the air, but they didn't have time to react before the nearby magic artifacts began to fail. The prison seals, which prevented the use of magic, broke, and the iron doors began to shake.

Rokugo (amazed, watching as the magic artifacts stopped working): "Incredible… those microwaves act like an electromagnetic pulse. The magic artifacts are completely inactive."

The Tiger Man (laughing): "Wow, Belial, this is perfect. Looks like we have a way out!"

Belial (feeling a little fatigued, but satisfied with the result): "Well, don't say I didn't do anything for you. But if we're going to escape, we have to hurry. These effects won't last long."

They quickly left the prison and, using the confusion generated by the magic artifacts' failure, managed to evade the guards and sneak out of the realm. However, before they could completely flee, they noticed an imposing presence approaching. It was the Primordial Dragon, Midgard, awakened by the collapse of the magic barrier. The creature, a massive beast with scales as hard as steel and blazing eyes, stood before them, staring at them with a fierce gaze.

Rokugo (with a mix of awe and fear): "So... this is the famous Primordial Dragon, huh? I didn't expect it to be this big."

Belial (in a low voice, preparing for combat): "We have no other choice. If we want to escape, we'll have to face it. Rokugo, Tiger Man, I hope you're ready to fight."

Tiger Man (with a savage grin): "Oh, of course! It's been a while since I fought such an impressive foe."

Rokugo (sighing, but smiling): "I guess there's no other choice. Let's show this dragon what we're capable of."

The battle against Midgard was intense and brutal. The dragon's strength and fire attacks shook the ground, but the combination of Belial's skills, Rokugo's cunning tactics, and the Tiger Man's brute strength allowed them to hold on. Using Belial's microwaves to disrupt the dragon's protective spells and weaken it, they finally gained a crucial advantage.

After a grueling fight, the Primordial Dragon Midgard fell, and the trio found themselves standing in the remains of the battle, covered in sweat and deep in exhaustion.

Belial (looking at the dragon's body, catching his breath): "We did it… it wasn't easy though."

Rokugo (breathing heavily, but smiling): "That was too close… but at least we have an epic story to tell."

Belial, after the intense battle and overuse of his skills, began to feel a strange side effect: fragments of old memories began to surface in his mind, memories of his days at school, of when he first met Rokugo. It was a nostalgic moment, a revelation of sorts that brought mixed emotions to her.

Belial (mumbling to herself, with a wistful smile): "Rokugo… it seems that, after all this time, things haven't changed that much."

Rokugo (noticing her expression): "Belial? Everything okay?"

Belial (shaking his head, smiling): "Yeah, I just… remembered something. Something from a long time ago."

With their mission accomplished, the trio returned to the Kingdom of Grace

Upon returning to the Kingdom of Grace, the atmosphere was calm, though clearly still tense after the Hiiragi Tribe's previous attacks. Rokugo, Belial, and the Tiger Man had barely set foot on the base when a Kisaragi agent intercepted them to inform them of the latest developments.

Kisaragi Agent (saluting firmly): "Commander Rokugo, Executive Belial! I'm glad to see you've returned. While you were gone, there were other attacks from the Hiiragi Tribe, but they were successfully repelled."

Belial (raising an eyebrow, interested): "Repelled? Who led the defense?"

Kisaragi Agent: "It was Viper, the Mutant Viper. She managed to hold off all the attacks and held off the Hiiragi forces without any major losses."

Rokugo (smirking): "Heh, it seems Viper has "I've been doing a good job while we were away."

At that moment, a familiar figure appeared, approaching at full speed. Grimm, on his electric wheelchair, was coming to greet Rokugo, with an expression that seemed somewhere between cheerful and determined. However, upon noticing Belial's presence, he immediately changed his attitude. He stopped suddenly, adopting a much more formal and respectful posture towards the Executive.

Grimm (with a polite voice, bowing slightly): "Executive Belial, it's an honor to see you back at our base."

Belial (with a slight smile, nodding): "Grimm. It's good to see that everything is in order here."

But as soon as the formality was over, Grimm looked at Rokugo with an expression of anger and resentment. Without saying a word, he turned in his chair and walked away, leaving him completely bewildered.

Rokugo (confused, muttering to himself): "What...? What's wrong with him now?"

Belial, observing the situation, let out a slight smile, amused by the tension between them. While Rokugo tried to understand Grimm's behavior, he couldn't help but think about how Belial's abilities could be useful for the situation with Hiiragi. The idea of ​​using his microwaves to interfere with magic in a close radius seemed like a solid strategy.

Rokugo (thinking out loud): "If Belial's microwaves can nullify magic in a range of meters, we could take advantage of that in combat. The Hiiragi Tribe relies heavily on magic and advanced technology. Combating their magic with Belial's microwaves and their technology with the demonic magic of our recruits... that could work."

Belial (glancing at him out of the corner of his eye): "Are you thinking of a strategy, Rokugo?"

Rokugo (nodding enthusiastically): "Exactly. If Hiiragi can damage our suits with his technological attacks, we'll put the recruited demons on the front line of defense. Also, if they use magic, you could disable it with your microwaves. In theory, we'd fight technology with demonic magic, and magic with technology."

Belial (with a thoughtful look): "It's a risky strategy, but it has potential. We can try it."

When the Hiiragi Tribe launched their next attack, Rokugo's strategy was put to the test. The demons, accustomed to receiving and resisting physical attacks, held off the first onslaught, while Belial used his microwave ability to neutralize any attempts at magic in the enemy ranks. Seeing that their spells weren't working and their technology was countered, Hiiragi's forces began to retreat, frustrated.

Hiiragi (retreating, with contained rage): "Damn you... this isn't going to end like this. We'll be back…"

With the Hiiragi Tribe on the retreat for the moment, Kisaragi's team had achieved another victory. Rokugo, satisfied with the success of his plan, decided to seek out Grimm to try and reconcile after her strange behavior at the base. However, the situation would not be as simple as he expected.

Rokugo found Grimm in one of the hallways, leaning back in her wheelchair, seemingly waiting for something. Upon seeing him, her expression changed, going from slight surprise to a look of disgust.

Grimm (crossing his arms and looking away): "What do you want now, Rokugo? If you've come to ask me to help you with another crazy plan, you better find someone else."

Rokugo (sighing, approaching her): "Look, Grimm… I wanted to apologize for… you know, what happened that time. It wasn't fair of me to kill you just to see if you'd explode when wearing shoes. I went too far."

Grimm (glancing at him, clearly upset): "And you think a simple 'I'm sorry' is going to fix it? That time it hurt, you know? Not just physically, but emotionally. And now you just come back like nothing happened."

Rokugo (trying to sound sincere): "Come on, I promise I'll do anything. We can go out together, I'll treat you to lunch, clothes shopping, whatever you want. Anything to make it up to you!"

Grimm (snorting, rolling his eyes): "You think I'm that easy to please? What you did was cruel! And as much as I like seeing you groveling a bit, I can't just forgive that."

Rokugo (in a defeated tone): "I understand… then… I guess there's nothing else I can do."

Disappointed, Rokugo turned around and began walking towards his room. As he walked away, he couldn't help but feel somewhat confused. His mind began to wander, asking himself questions that troubled him, but at the same time, gave him some relief.

Rokugo (thinking to himself, with a slight smile): Wait… why did I go looking for Grimm in the first place? And, more importantly… does this mean we're done? That I'm no longer tied to this relationship?

With a mix of shock and inner joy, Rokugo let out a sigh of relief, as a comforting thought crossed his mind.

Rokugo (smiling to himself, as if he just got a revelation): I'm finally free and single again? This It's a miracle!

However, what Rokugo didn't expect was that, from a distance, Grimm was watching him with a mixture of sadness and contained anger. Although he had tried to appear indifferent, his feelings for him were still present, and that "freedom" that he seemed to enjoy caused him deep regret.  Grimm (to herself, with a bitter smile): "Why did I have to be so stupid? Why did I have to fall in love with him? Now I'll

History Hiiragi

The next day, the tranquility of the base was interrupted when a massive spaceship appeared in the sky, slowly descending until it landed in the area designated for receiving important guests. Rokugo and the other Kisaragi agents looked in surprise at the imposing ship, clearly identified as a property of the Hiiragi Agency. The noise of the engines died down, and the access ramp slowly unfolded.

Rokugo (looking with curiosity and a hint of distrust): "What the hell is this? I don't remember requesting a visit from these guys."

Belial (looking coldly): "It seems that the Hiiragi Agency has decided to make a move. Be careful, Rokugo. They always have their own agendas."

From the ship, a figure began to descend with elegance and authority. It was a slender woman, with hair as black as night, with a face of sharp features and a calm but intimidating expression. Her white armor, with the Hiiragi emblem, shone in the sunlight. She looked like she came straight out of a fantasy novel about vigilante heroines. With a firm step, she walked up to Rokugo and Belial, and looked at them with a mixture of contempt and haughtiness.

Adelheid Krueger (raising her voice firmly and dramatically): "I am Adelheid Krueger, known as the 'Threshold Savior', proud ally of justice! I have been sent by the Hiiragi Agency to escort Agent Rokugo and his... companion? on a peace mission. So, come with me, and let's give the truce a chance!"

Rokugo (thinking to himself, frowning): "Threshold Savior"? Is this woman serious? (turns to Adelheid and speaks loudly) "Oh, right, right, 'ally of justice' and all that... how exciting."

Adelheid (with an offended expression, as if Rokugo had insulted her very existence): "Are you mocking my title? Justice is no joke! It is the sacred purpose of my life. And you, as the representative of Kisaragi, should be grateful to have someone like me to ensure peace!"

Rokugo (sighing, already tired of her attitude): "Yes, yes, what an honor it is for me. Well, I'm fine with the escort mission, but I need to bring someone with me. Alice, are you coming?"

Alice, who was nearby and heard the call, approached with an indifferent expression. As always, her attitude was cold and pragmatic, contrasting greatly with the melodramatic Adelheid.

Alice (with her usual flat tone): "Understood, Commander Rokugo. I'll be in charge of analyzing any anomalies in case of emergency."

Adelheid (rolling her eyes): "So you're bringing a little girl as an assistant? This will be… interesting." (She then mutters to herself) “A Kisaragi agent and his little assistant… I expected nothing less from such an evil organization.”

Rokugo (holding back laughter, clearly amused by Adelheid’s drama): “Oh right, we’re the big villains here. Fine, let’s go now. The less time I spend with you, the better.”

The trio boarded Hiiragi’s ship, and before long, took off for a neutral zone, where truce negotiations between the Hiiragi Agency and the Kingdom of Grace would take place.

At the landing zone on neutral land, Rokugo, Alice, and Adelheid were greeted by an imposing figure: Fritz, the director of the Hiiragi Agency. Fritz, a handsome man with silver hair and blue eyes, was waiting for them with a polite smile and a courteous posture, though his eyes reflected an inherent cunning. Seeing them approach, he gave a slight smile and greeted them in a high-pitched, cordial voice.

Fritz (bowing slightly): "Welcome, Agent Rokugo and company. It's a pleasure to have you here for this peace attempt. And of course, I hope Adelheid hasn't caused you too much trouble."

Adelheid (puffing out her chest, indignant): "Trouble?! I'm an ally of justice! I've done everything in my power to ensure that this mission goes off without incident. It's my duty to fight evil and protect the innocent!"

Fritz (smiling kindly, but her tone betrays a slight disdain): "Oh, sure, sure, Adelheid… you're quite the heroine. But, as usual, you always lack some discretion and prudence. Sometimes, acting too impulsively can lead to unnecessary conflict."

Adelheid (crossing her arms and looking away, clearly irritated): "It's not my fault that some don't appreciate my commitment to justice!"

Fritz (looking at Rokugo and Alice with an implied apology): "I apologize for any inconvenience our dear Adelheid has caused. Her… devotion sometimes leads her to make certain mistakes that, while well-intentioned, can be… problematic."

Adelheid (exasperated, looking at Fritz): "I don't have to listen to this! I'm an agent of justice and everything I do is in the name of peace and good!"

Fritz (with a patient smile, as if he were talking to a little girl): "Adelheid, my dear, Justice requires more than just good intentions. You need to learn to think about the consequences of your actions. There's a fine line between doing good and becoming a nuisance to others."

Adelheid (defending herself): "But I haven't done anything wrong! I just... maybe I was a little intense, but that's only because I wanted to make sure this villain Kisaragi didn't cause trouble!"

Rokugo (muttering to himself with a mocking smile): "Villain... right, because we're in a soap opera."

Alice (with an impassive expression): "It would be more effective if everyone focused on the mission instead of arguing about who's more righteous."

Fritz (taking advantage of Alice's comment, looking at Adelheid): "Did you hear that, Adelheid? Perhaps you should follow the example of our young guest here and focus on the objective. This negotiation is key to avoiding further unnecessary conflict."

Adelheid (pouting, clearly feeling attacked): "I was just trying to do my job right! But okay… I'll do my best to… to be more moderate."

Fritz (with an indulgent smile): "I'm glad to hear that. Remember, Adelheid, that true justice is achieved with a cool head and precision, not impulsiveness. I hope you learn from your mistakes this time."

Adelheid (sighing, resigned, muttering to herself): "Yeah, yeah… learning from mistakes… as if it were that easy."

A satisfied Fritz turned to Rokugo and Alice, formally welcoming them to the negotiation center, while Adelheid, still frustrated and pouting, reluctantly followed them. Rokugo smiled internally, knowing that the mission would not be easy, but at least he would have some entertainment watching Adelheid try to act as the "Umbral Savior" while being lectured by Fritz.

Rokugo (thinking to himself, with a smile): This is going to be more fun than I expected.

The negotiation continued in the conference room, with Fritz calmly laying out the situation and clearing up the incidents that had somehow led to the relationship between Hiiragi and Kisaragi becoming… tense, to put it mildly. With Adelheid crossing her arms and looking away, it was It was clear that the recounting of events didn't sit well with her, especially when she was described as the "cause" of certain problems.

Fritz (in a diplomatic tone, maintaining an affable smile): "Well, to start off, I think it's important to clarify that our 'Umbral Savior', Adelheid, was sent to the Kingdom of Grace on an observation mission. Our agency, Hiiragi, needed to determine whether the Kingdom of Grace would be a good addition to our network of protection and justice... or whether we should take it over by force, should they resist our oversight."

Rokugo (nodding slowly, with an expression of feigned disinterest): "Ah, I understand. So she was sent to assess the situation... and what exactly went wrong?"

Fritz (with a resigned smile): "Well, it shouldn't surprise you that Adelheid's assessment was... a bit chaotic. On her first day, she was arrested after patrolling the capital and attempting to crack down on the black market trade in orc meat."

Rokugo (arching an eyebrow, suddenly remembering): "Oh! That's where I've seen her before! I remember passing by that area and seeing her being arrested... I didn't know it was her." (Chuckles) "The 'Umbral Savior' arrested on her first mission? That's not exactly a good letter of introduction."

Adelheid (blushing in embarrassment and frustration): "I was doing my duty! It's not my fault that those people don't understand the evil they're fomenting. The orc meat trade is an aberration, and I only wanted to stop it. It's the people of that kingdom who don't know right from wrong!"

Fritz (ignoring Adelheid's complaint and continuing): "After that incident, she managed to get herself arrested again when she tried to free an enslaved chimera named Russell, which was deemed an 'attempted kidnapping'. In short, another big mess."

Rokugo (eyes narrowed, thinking): "Russell... wait... Russell is still officially registered as a slave? He was never granted freedom, was he?"

Fritz (nodding regretfully): "That's right. Officially, he was never freed. Of course, Adelheid wasn't aware of that and got herself into more trouble than necessary." (Sighs) "Then, after that disaster, instead of stepping back and reevaluating the situation, she was arrested once again for selling Toris water crystals without paying the proper taxes."

Rokugo (holding back laughter): "Toris water crystals? Did she get into the black market business too?"

Fritz (with a dry tone): "Let's just say that she didn't fully understand the tax laws of the Kingdom of Grace. This led to another misunderstanding with the local authorities. And to make matters worse, she was arrested for selling Toris water crystals without paying the proper taxes."

sas, in her last arrest, our dear Adelheid was interrogated by Private Snow, who accused her of corruption."

Flashback

Snow (crossing her arms, looking at Adelheid suspiciously): "I stand by it! I was sure that someone who broke so many laws had to be doing something dark!"

Adelheid (exasperated, looking at Snow): "I was upholding justice! If anyone is corrupt here, it's you and your absurd rules!"

Tillis (sighing, massaging her temples): "We've already discussed this, Adelheid. The crystal ball went dark because of an error in its calibration, not because I'm a 'Demon Lady'."

End of flashback

Fritz (raising his hands in an attempt to defuse the tension): "Calm down, calm down. It didn't help that Princess Tillis decided to join the interrogation either. As he placed his hand on Adelheid's crystal ball, it mysteriously darkened..."

Fritz (with a deep sigh, like someone who has told this story too many times already): "That incident almost sparked a civil war in Grace, and by extension, a war between Hiiragi and Kisaragi. If it weren't for some of our leaders intervening in time to defuse the conflict, we would be at full war."

Rokugo (finally realizing, with a shocked expression): "So... that's how Hiiragi found out about our existence. They've had this spy the whole time and I didn't know about it." (Pause) "Now I understand why the war broke out so suddenly. All this time I thought Kisaragi had wandered into another dangerous organization's territory without knowing it."

Fritz (with a slight smile): "Exactly. And truth be told, in order to continue the peace negotiations and avoid a full-blown conflict, Adelheid was forced to officially apologize."

Adelheid (offended, muttering): "It wasn't a real apology... just a formality."

Rokugo (smiling sarcastically): "Oh, sure, sure, 'just a formality'. But I imagine that was a great wound to your 'Umbral Savior' pride."

Adelheid (glaring at Rokugo): "You have no idea what it feels like to be misunderstood! I was standing up for good and... Oh, forget it! I don't have to explain anything to someone like you."

Rokugo (amused, stepping back with hands raised in a sign of peace): "Hey, hey, I'm just saying that maybe you should revise your definition of 'justice'. It seems like you caused more problems than you solved, don't you think?"

Fritz (intervening to smooth things over): "Well, at least both sides understand the situation better now. We're not here to see who's the fairest, but to bring about peace between Hiiragi and Kisaragi. We've had misunderstandings, yes, but if we can avoid a war, then this will all have been worth it."

Rokugo (nodding): "I agree. Maybe this truce is what we both need. But, Fritz..." (looking at Adelheid with a mischievous smile) "Why do I feel like this 'Umbral Savior' isn't going to make this easy for either of us?"

Fritz (laughing softly): "Because you're probably right. But well, that's the price of having agents with so much... 'spirit'." (Turns to Adelheid, who still looks offended) "Come on, Adelheid. Behave yourself this time, okay? Everyone is watching."

Adelheid (sighing, resigned): "I'll try... though I make no promises."

The conversation between Rokugo, Alice, and Fritz continued as they tried to solve the riddle of the Hiiragi Tribe and its intentions. Fritz's expression remained unperturbed as he revealed data that seemed to come from ancient times, capturing everyone's attention.

Fritz (with a distant look, as if remembering ancient times): "Centuries ago, civilizations on this planet lived primitively, just like on any other planet. Knowledge was limited, and people focused on surviving... until something changed."

Rokugo (interrupting, surprised): "Wait, wait... How do you know so much about other planets? That's not something anyone in this world would mention."

Fritz (smiling with an eerie calm): "Let's just say that, like Kisaragi, there are forces that are tasked with preserving knowledge... though not always for the same purposes."

Alice (squinting at him, suspicious): "And what changed? You said something or someone changed it."

Fritz (nodding, then staring into space as if reliving an ancient story): "That's right. A girl named Ymir Fritz. It was she who found something... though it wasn't someone. No, it was a thing, an ancient entity."

Rokugo (frustrated, folding his arms): "A thing? Be a little more specific, please. I'm losing my patience."

Fritz (unfazed, continuing calmly): "Ymir Fritz found the Earth Demon, a dark and powerful entity that offered him a pact. In exchange for his loyalty, he granted him the power to become the Titan. 

Founder, an invincible being. This power changed the course of history forever."

Alice (processing the information, intrigued): "A pact with a demon? That sounds like a legend... but what about after that? What did Ymir do with that power?"

Fritz (continuing his narrative tone): "Well, I'm sure you all know part of Eldia's history. Ymir went from being a slave, accused of freeing some pigs, to becoming the wife of the king of Eldia. With the power of the Founding Titan, her role changed completely. She became the centerpiece of an empire."

Rokugo (with a slight sigh, interrupting): "Yes, yes, we already know that story. Ymir and her titanic powers, the creation of the Eldian empire... nothing new. Or are you going to tell me there's something else?"

Fritz (smiling with a knowing look): "You may know the story... but did you know that Ymir, on her deathbed, let her three daughters devour her? They inherited a third of her power, and that tradition was upheld. Her daughters passed it on to their descendants, dividing the power into what would later be known as the Nine Shifting Titans."

Rokugo (visibly more interested now, his eyes shining with curiosity): "The Nine...? So the structure of the tribes, the history of Eldia... all of this was based on that power being divided, right?"

Fritz (nodding with a satisfied gesture): "Exactly. Ymir's daughters formed the nine tribes that would later build the Eldian empire. The influence of those powers shaped the world as we know it now. It's a story of power, sacrifice... and how the will of a single person changed the course of history."

Alice (in an analytical tone, evaluating the information): "¿King Karl Fritz?, and your lastname is Fritz, That means the Hiiragi Tribe considers these powers and territories to be under their domain... a sort of 'historical right' they claim, isn't it?"

Fritz (nodding, smiling): "You got it. The Hiiragi tribe believes that the powers of the Nine Shifting Titans belong to them, and that they have the right to use them. And that's why they want to take control of the Founding Titan. It's a matter of historical rights."

Rokugo (nodding in agreement): "I see. So, the Hiiragi tribe wants to take control of the Founding Titan to secure their historical rights...  

Fritz (nodding, then looking at Rokugo with a serious expression): "Yes, that's right. But I hope you understand that this is not a matter of power or territory. It's a matter of life and death."

Rokugo (raising an eyebrow, curious): "What do you mean?" 

Fritz (with a slight nod, as if in agreement): "You could put it like that. But it's not just an ancient legend. The Hiiragi Tribe sees their bloodline as a responsibility, a connection to those titanic powers. They're willing to defend it... even at the cost of their own lives."

Alice (surprised): "It's a complex justification, but... how true is it that these powers still exist? Are there still descendants of Eldia with those titanic powers in this world?"

Fritz (with a mysterious look): "That's not something I can confirm... or deny. But believe me when I tell you that Ymir's legacy lives on, in one form or another."

Rokugo (arching an eyebrow): "I see... but if Hiiragi plans to use this 'right' to drive us out, we're in trouble. We have no idea what kind of force they'll deploy if they decide to attack."

Fritz (with a slight smile on his lips): "Well, that's up to you. Kisaragi has its own power, its own means to deal with this threat. But if you wish to remain here, you must be prepared. This will not be an easy war."

Alice (looking at Fritz suspiciously): "And you... do you really have nothing to do with Hiiragi? Because it seems you have too much information about them."

Fritz (with a calm gesture): "I... am simply an observer. My role in all of this is to make sure that both sides understand what is at stake. No more, no less."

Rokugo (realizing that he is not going to get anything more from Fritz for now): "Okay... but don't relax too much. We are watching your steps."

The talk had become somber and mysterious. Fritz, sitting with a calm but intense expression, continued to reveal truths about the desert world they inhabited, a world that had been through countless horrors and ancient secrets, now buried in the sands. Across from him, Rokugo listened intently, processing each word as his thoughts revolved around the connection to his mission and his own interests.

Fritz (in a slow, enigmatic voice): "As I mentioned, the Eldian Empire once ruled much of this world. Its armies and power were legendary… but every empire eventually collapses. Marley, an emerging empire, conquered them, annexing their territories and relegating the Eldians to oppression. However, Eldia was not completely wiped out. Only a small remnant survived… on an island."

Rokugo (arching an eyebrow, curious): "An island? There are no islands in this world anymore, are there?"

Fritz (smiling slightly): "That's right, but the tectonic plates have changed the geography since then. That island would be a peninsula today, the same one where the Kingdom of Grace lies. It's a place where Eldia's heritage persists in a bloodline... or at least, in one person."

Rokugo (crossing his arms, beginning to understand): "Let me guess, Princess Cristoseles Tillis Grace Reiss... right?"

Fritz (slowly nodding): "Exactly. The princess is the last descendant of Ymir Fritz, the progenitor of the Titans and the founder of Eldia. Her royal lineage is confirmed because she is the only person capable of activating certain ancient devices, such as the water generator, that only respond to royal blood. That is the heritage of her lineage."

Rokugo (thinking out loud): "So… that means…"

Fritz (interrupting him, his gaze becoming more severe): "But there was more. It wasn't just decadence and subjugation that brought Eldia to its current state. There was a secret deal between the King of Eldia and the King of Marley, who was also the leader of one of the most powerful tribes, the Tiber tribe. Eldia would hand over its kingdom within a hundred years to Marley, a peaceful exchange in exchange for avoiding further bloodshed."

Rokugo (skeptical, with a grimace): "A peace deal between two enemies? And they expected that to work?"

Fritz (with a bitter smile): "Of course it didn't go as planned. Someone emerged… a revolutionary, or terrorist, depending on who you ask. His name was Eren Jaeger."

Rokugo felt a small jolt at hearing that name. Not because it sounded familiar, but because of the weight Fritz placed on it.

Fritz (continuing, in a serious tone): "Eren Jaeger… somehow, he gained the power of three titans: the Founding Titan, the Attack Titan, and the War Hammer Titan. With that power, Eren unleashed a catastrophe. He activated a legendary weapon of the King of Eldia, called 'The Rumble', releasing thousands of colossal titans to crush the world beneath his feet."

Rokugo (frowning, beginning to grasp the magnitude of what he was being told): "And what happened? Did they stop him?"

Fritz (nodding, though his face reflected sadness): "In the end, Eren was killed by his own comrades to stop the Rumble. But the damage was already done. The world had been devastated, and only a few civilizations managed to survive… one of them was the nation of Hiiragi, who weren't exactly happy with what happened."

A chill ran down Rokugo's spine. The mention of Hiiragi, a nation he had already vaguely heard of, brought him to a conclusion he didn't like at all. He knew that Hiiragi had some animosity towards Kisaragi and other groups that threatened their existence.

Fritz (pausing and looking at Rokugo with a calculating expression): "Now you understand, Rokugo… the world changed, and all that remains of that Eldian heritage is Princess Cristoseles Tillis Grace Reiss. She is the only direct descendant of the first Ymir Fritz. Though of course, it hasn't been confirmed whether the Titans' powers persist in her or someone from her lineage."

Rokugo (feeling more uneasy): "But the Titans don't exist anymore, do they? There is no one who can transform into one."

Fritz (with an enigmatic smile, his eyes shining): "Oh, really? Are you sure about that, Commander Rokugo?"

Rokugo felt a pang of doubt, suddenly remembering something he had been ignoring. He thought of the strange giant animals surrounding the Kingdom of Grace, huge, dangerous creatures that had caused trouble on more than one occasion. He remembered that Lilith, his partner in Kisaragi, had once observed them and commented that they did not look like natural creatures, but rather some kind of biological weapon… something created with genetic engineering.

Rokugo (muttering to himself, taking in the possibility): "Wait… you mean those beasts… those things we saw at the borders… are not simple animals?"

Fritz (nodding slowly, not taking his eyes off Rokugo): "Exactly, Rokugo. Those creatures might be remnants of the Titans, but in a different form… preserved and adapted for this desert world. Perhaps the Titans are not a thing of the past, but a latent threat, transformed into something that still lurks in the shadows."

Rokugo's expression changed, going from disbelief to understanding, and then to a kind of suspense that chilled his skin. The conversation with Fritz was revealing a world far more dangerous and dark than he had anticipated. If those monsters were indeed remnants of the Titans, then Kisaragi's mission in this world was far more complicated.

Fritz (ending with a dark tone, leaving Rokugo in suspense): "That, Commander Rokugo, is the legacy of Eldia and Marley. And if someone were to awaken the power of those ancient Titans… well, this world could once again face catastrophe. The question is… who will be the next to seek that power?"

Rokugo (with a lump in his throat, barely mumbling): "Damn… this is worse than I thought."

Fritz remained silent, watching as the weight of the information settled on Rokugo. The atmosphere in the room was tense and charged with a palpable darkness. Rokugo processed the magnitude of what he had just been told; the whole matter of the Titans and the endless wars between Eldia, Marley, and their respective allied nations was one thing, but that those horrors could still somehow linger in those colossal creatures of the desert was another entirely.

Rokugo (breaking the silence with a nervous voice): "So… those giant monsters we've faced, the 'Desert King', the 'Mud King'… are you telling me that they are… experiments related to the Titans?"

Fritz (nodding gravely): "It's possible. Hiiragi and his nation have always been staunch followers of science, obsessed with understanding the secrets of nature and life itself. No one knows how they did it, but it seems they found the key that gave the Titans their powers. After the Rumble, the Titans as we knew them disappeared, and it was assumed that there would be no more shifting Titans."

Rokugo (feeling a chill down his spine): "But… what exactly happened? Why did they come back?"

Fritz (explaining in a somber tone): "Although the Titans and their powers were sealed after Eren Jaeger's death, Eldia's genetic legacy and the Marley Empire's experiments did not disappear completely. Hiiragi's nation found what was left, fragments of knowledge and samples of Titan spinal fluid. They experimented with that power and used it for advanced genetic engineering."

Rokugo began to understand why the world was the way it was. Those gigantic creatures were not simply the result of a unique ecosystem; they were artificial aberrations, creatures born from a mix of science and ancient Titan heritages. He remembered every battle against those monsters and the devastating impact they had left on the environment.

Rokugo (thinking out loud): "The 'Desert King'… that giant mole we saw on the borders, causing soil degradation, transforming fertile land into dead sands. And the 'Mud King', that gigantic slime "It… absorbed water like a sponge, leaving deserts behind. They were like… like biological weapons created to destroy the ecosystem."

Fritz (nodding): "Exactly. With each experiment, the world became more inhospitable. The scientists of Hiiragi wanted to create powerful beings, but the price was the destruction of their own environment. The land became desert-like, and an endless drought occurred, a curse that seems to extend without end. The creatures they created were not only a threat to life, but also to the very survival of the world."

Rokugo (with an expression of shock and horror): "And all of that happened after the Rumble?"

Fritz (in a serious tone): "Yes. The years following the Rumble were marked by endless wars between the few survivors. Eldia, or what was left of it, formed an alliance with the nation of Hizuru, while Hiiragi and another emerging nation, the Headslitters, fiercely opposed it. It was in these dark times that Hiiragi unleashed his experiments, and the monsters they created wreaked havoc on both sides."

Rokugo (feeling the pressure of responsibility): "So this world became trapped in an endless cycle of war and devastation… and the remnants of that war are now haunting us."

Fritz (looking directly at Rokugo): "It is our curse, the legacy we inherited from the ambitions of our ancestors. And if someone doesn't stop this, the world as we know it could disappear forever."

Rokugo remained silent, taking in the magnitude of what Fritz had revealed to him. It was more than he had expected or wanted to know. Somehow, he felt a strange responsibility now, knowing that the mistakes of past generations continued to cause destruction. He knew that Kisaragi had been sent to this world for a specific mission, but now he understood that his role here might be more important than he imagined.

Rokugo (muttering to himself, but loud enough for Fritz to hear): "Damn it... Is this the future Kisaragi must prevent? If those monsters continue to grow and adapt, this world will soon become a lifeless wasteland."

Fritz (placing a hand on Rokugo's shoulder, with a solemn expression): "It's a heavy burden, Commander Rokugo. But if Kisaragi truly wants to change this world, they must be prepared to face the sins of the past, and perhaps, the monsters that still wait in the darkness."

Rokugo nodded slowly. It was no longer just a mission; it was a fight to preserve what was left of this desert world. But in the back of his mind, one question kept rumbling: could they really stop the cycle of destruction that the titans and human ambitions had started so many years ago?

Rokugo (finally speaking with conviction, looking at Fritz): "Very well, Fritz. If those monsters are the legacy of Eldia and Hiiragi, then Kisaragi will face them. We will do what is necessary to stop this destruction."

Fritz (with a slight smile, satisfied): "That's good to know, Commander. Just remember... the horrors of this world are not over. And there are secrets that still sleep beneath the sands of the desert. Secrets that could redefine what we know."

Fritz calmly watched as Rokugo processed all this information. The expression on his face went from shock to horror, and finally, to a firm decision. The Kisaragi commander had seen many things in his life, but knowing that the legacy of the titans still lived on in this form and that the world had suffered so much due to these experiments was, without a doubt, overwhelming. Fritz, however, was not done yet.

Fritz (ending his explanation with a somber tone): "After the world became uninhabitable, Hiiragi, in his desperation, created a gigantic mechanical weapon... a metal colossus where his people took refuge for centuries. It was their last resort to survive the devastation they themselves caused."

Rokugo (incredulous): "A... mechanical weapon? Are you saying that their entire civilization was hidden inside some kind of giant robot?"

Fritz (nodding slowly): "That's right. A shelter and a war machine at the same time. For generations they have dwelled there, waiting for the time when the world would become habitable again. And then, a few years ago, Hiiragi's sensors detected the return of the rains... the world had begun to become fertile again."

Rokugo (interested, leaning on the table): "So... when they discovered that the world was habitable, they decided to scan it?"

Fritz (nodding again): "Correct. They performed a complete scan and discovered that, while some civilizations had regressed to a medieval era, such as the kingdoms of Tilis, Toris, Grunade, and even the Demon Realm, others had become even more primitive, such as the Headslitters. It was a shock to them to realize that their world had changed. I love it so much."

Fritz (in a thoughtful tone): "That's the strangest thing. The cult of Lady Aqua, the Mistress of Water, has almost completely disappeared. In its place, the cult of Zenarith, the Mistress of Death, and a deity of time arose. This world is now inhabited by demons, orcs, and other creatures that, according to ancient legends, only existed in fairy tales."

Rokugo (with a wry smile): "It seems that radiation and time changed everything…"

Fritz (nodding, but keeping a grim expression): "I suspect that radiation had a lot to do with these changes, yes. Reality itself was shaped by the mistakes of our ancestors."

Rokugo (crossing his arms, regaining his posture): "Very well, Fritz, it's been a fascinating story… but, at what point do we talk business? We came here to negotiate an alliance, didn't we?"

Fritz (with a cold smile, as if he had been waiting for this question): "Alliance? You already have the wrong idea, Rokugo. We are not here to beg for an alliance. If we really wanted to destroy Kisaragi's base, we would have done so a long time ago."

Rokugo (raising an eyebrow, intrigued): "What do you mean? Why didn't they do it?"

Fritz (showing an impatient expression): "Because Adelheid's incompetence in her mission caused this conflict to spread. If it weren't for her failures, Kisaragi would have already been eliminated, like we did with the neighboring kingdom that disappeared."

Rokugo (alarmed): "What?

Fritz (taking out a vial with a yellowish liquid labeled "Colossal" and showing it to Rokugo): "Do you see this serum? We managed to synthesize the powers of the titans. We have access to powers that were once only available to a few. And as an example… watch."

Fritz took the vial and, without hesitation, injected it into a bird.

nuclear war

Fritz (gazing out into the horizon, as if he could see something beyond the devastated landscape): "Call this what you will, Rokugo. But remember: this world is merciless, and those who do not adapt do not survive. You have a role to play here, one that even you do not fully understand. If Kisaragi is truly a force that can bring about change… then you will survive the challenges that await you. And if not, you will be just another sacrifice on the altar of this world."

Rokugo (with a slight, defiant smile): "Then… may the best man win."

Fritz (with a serious expression): "May the one who deserves to survive win, Commander Rokugo."

With those words, both men looked at each other in silence, aware that what was coming would not be a simple confrontation of forces, but a test of ingenuity, strategy, and determination. In that instant, Rokugo understood that his mission in this world went beyond a simple conquest; it was an existential challenge. A challenge to prove if Kisaragi really had what it took to face the horrors of the past and the monsters of the present.

Kisaragi's base was in a tense mood, the echo of Hiiragi's impending threat resonating through the halls. Rokugo, accompanied by Alice, had returned from their mission, escorted by Adelheid, who never missed an opportunity to remind them that Hiiragi had already issued a serious warning: the next encounter would not be a game. As they walked through the halls, Rokugo felt the weight of Hiiragi's warning like a heavy shadow on his shoulder.

Adelheid (with a serious expression, keeping her posture upright as she led Rokugo and Alice towards the command center): "Remember, Hiiragi said he means business now. There is no more room for error. If you fail... we will all be in danger."

Rokugo (brow furrowed, worry weighing on him): "I know. We don't need to be reminded. This time isn't like the last. We're on the verge of something much worse."

Alice (looking at Rokugo, her voice filled with uncertainty): "Do you think we'll survive? Not just because of Hiiragi… the power of that 'Colossal' guy… that changes everything. We're not prepared to face him."

Rokugo (quietly, looking ahead, with a sense of hopelessness): "Probably not. This power is too destructive. I saw it with my own eyes. If Hiiragi decides to use it, we won't just lose… we'll be annihilated. And the worst thing is that we know they can do it."

Alice (looking at Rokugo, worried by his tone): "Are you saying it's a lost battle before it even begins?"

Rokugo (nodding, with a grave expression): "The odds are against us. But we have no choice but to face it. Kisaragi has to survive. We can't afford to lose."

When they arrived at the command center, Belial was checking reports on his terminal, but upon seeing them arrive, he looked up, his gaze immediately focused on Rokugo.

Belial (with a slight wry smile): "It seems that both of you have returned with fresh memories. How was the encounter with Hiiragi?"

Rokugo (not looking directly at her, with a distant look): "It's not what we expected. Hiiragi is more determined than ever. And… the power of 'Colossal' is not something we can ignore."

Belial (thoughtful, without changing her expression): "I knew it. Anyway, what about Alice's records? Did she have any chance to study what's happening in this world?"

Rokugo (leaning forward, seriously): "Alice recorded everything. From Hiiragi's powers to the history of this planet. Everything is documented. Now we just have to decide what to do with that information."

Alice (crossing her arms, a little worried): "What's the point of all this if we know that Hiiragi's power can destroy us all in the blink of an eye?"

Rokugo (looking towards the horizon, with a slight sad smile): "Because that information is our only hope. If we survive, we can use it to have a real chance in the future. If not, at least we'll know what to expect… and how it can all end."

Belial (with a calculating look): "I don't like to admit it, but sometimes information is more powerful than any army. We just have to make sure it's not too late."

With those thoughts running through their minds, Rokugo walked away, looking to clear his mind, but his path led him straight to an unexpected surprise. As he passed through one of the base's hallways, he saw Grimm, clearly trying to avoid him. When she saw him, she tried to quickly escape, but Rokugo, without thinking, deactivated the chair that helped her move, letting her fall forward slightly.

Grimm (with an angry expression, quickly standing up): "Rokugo! What are you doing?"

Rokugo (with a look of exhaustion and despair, slowly approaching): "I'm sorry, Grimm. I need you to listen to me. Please don't make this harder for me."

Grimm (trying to get away, but being dragged back to him by the force of her will): "Listen to you? What do you want to tell me now?"

Rokugo (staring at her, his voice shaking slightly): "I'm a fake, Grimm. I always was. I didn't mean to hurt her, but I did. I didn't lie to just you, I lied to myself. I dated you out of pity, I saw you as a one-night stand, and then it became something more. But I was never sincere."

Grimm (unable to hide the sadness on his face, staring at Rokugo without saying anything): "Don't… don't say that. What are you saying? Why now? After everything that happened!"

Rokugo (voice cracking, pain evident in his words): "Because now, after all this, I have to tell you the truth. I'm not a good man, Grimm. I'm a criminal. In my world, I killed heroes, I tortured them in horrible ways. I did things I can't erase. If hell exists, I have a VIP pass there."

Grimm (looking at him with a mix of compassion and sadness, her voice soft): "I forgive him, Rokugo. You may not understand why, but I forgive you."

Rokugo (looking at her in amazement, his voice breaking even more): "What? Why?"

Grimm (with a small smile, touching his chest with one hand): "Because you made me feel wanted, loved. You made me feel alive again. And that's something I can't forget, even if everything else was a lie.

So, please, don't let that define you. You're more than your past."

Rokugo (tears streaming down his cheeks, looking at her with gratitude): "Thank you, Grimm. Thank you for understanding me. I'm sorry for everything."

Grimm (smiling sadly, wiping his tears): "It's okay. I'm here for you. And I'll always be."

After that conversation, Rokugo felt lighter, like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was finally free from the burden of his past. And now, he could focus on the present and the future. He had a mission to complete, and he wouldn't let anything get in his way.

Rokugo (with a deep sigh, his eyes filled with regret): "Thank you… I don't deserve your words. I don't deserve your forgiveness. But I need you to give me something. Please, one last kiss goodbye. I don't know if we'll survive what's coming, and I want you to know what you meant to me."

Grimm (looking at him in surprise, not fully understanding): "A kiss? Why…?"

Rokugo (looking at her sadly): "Because… I thought we were over.

Grimm (annoyed, frowning): "You… you thought it was over!? I didn't think of it that way! It was just a lovers' quarrel, not a breakup!"

Rokugo (blinking, realizing his mistake): "Really? So that's it?"

Grimm (with a bitter laugh, giving him a gentle push): "My, you're such a fool! You thought it was all over, but we were just arguing. And now you want a kiss, huh?"

Rokugo (nodding, his eyes shining with joy): "Yes! I really want one. Please, Grimm."

Grimm (smirking, leaning in to kiss him): "Well, if you insist."

And so, Rokugo and Grimm shared a sweet kiss, one that would stay with him forever. It was a moment of happiness in the midst of chaos, a moment he would treasure for the rest of his life.

After that, Rokugo went to meet with Belial and Astaroth (Videocall) to discuss their plans. They had a lot of information to analyze and a decision to make. They needed to choose the next planet to conquer, and they had to do it fast. The Third Planet was becoming uninhabitable, and they needed to find a new home for themselves and their soldiers.

alice death

Rokugo (looking at Tilis and Belial with a serious expression): "Hiiragi will not give up. They are very close to launching a massive attack. This will be the last attempt, all or nothing."

Belial (with a cold and calculating look, nodding): "We did not expect them to give up so easily. If I have learned anything, it is that they do not understand reason. Attack after attack, they will continue to fight until we defeat them completely."

Tilis (thoughtfully, watching the screens in front of her): "That is true. We need to strengthen our defenses and increase the pressure. If Hiiragi has any hope, it will not be enough to face everything Kisaragi can muster."

Rokugo (in a confident tone, looking at Belial): "Then it is time for us to send in our copies of the Destructo Spider Fortress. The clones of the giant humanoid robot we took from Russel a year ago also have to go into action. We need power from the water and a reinforced barrier. Nothing must escape."

Belial (nodding): "Perfect. The robots will go to the front, fighting Hiiragi's ships from the water, while the enhanced barrier will protect our defense lines and neutralize those huge explosions that threaten us so much. We'll make sure there's no escape."

Rokugo (gesturing to a monitor, showing images of the robots and defenses): "So... everything is in place. But there's something I don't understand. What do you plan to do with 'that'?"

Belial (turning to Rokugo, a satisfied expression on his face): "That... is something special. I need to ask Lilith's permission before taking the final step. It will be our trump card, and no one expects it."

Rokugo (looking confused): "What do you mean? I don't understand."

Belial (smiling slightly, but with palpable seriousness): "It's something big. But I'll need you to trust me. Before that happens, I want you to say goodbye to Alice. Cherish that moment."

Rokugo (not fully understanding, but knowing that Belial has his reasons): "Alice? What does Alice have to do with all this?"

Belial (with a piercing look, turning to the video call screen): "You see, Alice has a crucial role to play. We need her to be there, ready to take the next step."

Rokugo (looking at the screen, where Alice is standing, her eyes closed and her lips moving): "But... why? What does she have to do with it?"

Belial (smiling cruelly): "Oh, you'll see soon enough. For now, let's say goodbye to Alice."

Rokugo (nodding, his heart heavy): "Okay. I'll say goodbye to Alice."

Belial (smirking): "Good. I'll leave you alone now. Make sure to tell Alice goodbye for me."

Rokugo (looking at the screen, where Alice is still standing with her eyes closed): "Alice..."

Alice (opening her eyes, looking at him with a calm expression): "Yes, Rokugo?"

Rokugo (stuttering, unsure of what to say): "I... I need to say goodbye. Belial told me that you have a crucial role to play."

Alice (nodding, her voice emotionless): "I know. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."

Rokugo (looking at her in confusion): "Waiting? What do you mean?"

Alice (her eyes glowing faintly, her voice becoming softer): "I've been waiting for this moment since I was created. I knew that my time would come, and that I would have to fulfill my purpose."

Rokugo (still confused, but feeling a strange sense of unease): "Purpose? What do you mean?"

Alice (her eyes glowing brighter, her voice becoming more urgent): "I'm the key to our victory. I'm the one who will turn the tide of battle. I'm the one who will bring peace to this universe."

Rokugo (looking at her in shock, his heart pounding): "What are you talking about? How can you be the key to our victory?"

Alice (her eyes glowing fiercely, her voice becoming more intense): "I'm the ultimate weapon. I'm the one who will destroy everything in our path. I'm the one who will bring peace to this universe 

Belial (glancing at him, as if he could finally reveal something important): "It's something that will change the course of the war. Something you would never imagine, but it's necessary."

After the video call, Alice is sent on a small infiltration ship, as tensions rise. Finally, the young android arrives at the headquarters of Hiiragi's wet nurse, Fritz, who looks at the girl who has been sent to negotiate peace.

Fritz (with a mocking expression as he sees Alice approaching): "Do you really think a little girl like you is going to make us give up? What do you think you'll achieve with your cuteness? Or do you expect your empathy to change anything here?"

Alice (smiling softly, unafraid): "I'm not a little girl, Fritz. I'm an android. And I've come to show you the truth."

Alice suddenly opens her chest, revealing a nuclear reactor inside. Fritz's gaze quickly changes, his tone becoming less confident.

Alice (seriously, while showing the video on her screen): "This is the power of a nuclear reactor. My heart is one. If you don't stop your war now, I can destroy the mothership and everything on it, including you. I can create nuclear reactors for Kisaragi if necessary. And it's not difficult for us. In a few hours, we could free all the survivors from the ships."

Fritz (with a bitter smile, but not quite believing what he sees): "So what? You think that scares us? We can destroy your walls with a few more colossal explosions. This will end like everything else. We don't need your threat."

Alice (with impressive calm, showing another video on her screen): "If you continue down that path, the explosions will only hasten the end of your planet. My world, where I come from, is so devastated by wars and pollution that it can't take much more. If you don't give up, your entire invasion will become the end of you."

Alice (as Fritz's eyes widen, recognizing that this threat is real): "Do you understand now? This is not an empty threat. This is the last chance to stop this madness."

Fritz (silence, his expression now somewhat nervous): "What... what do you want from us?"

hand hand

 Rokugo (listening to the news, his voice becoming more and more emotional): "No! No! No! I can't believe it! Alice died! Alice died! Alice died!"

Rokugo (weeping, his voice breaking): "Why did you have to do it? Why did you have to die? I didn't want you to die! I didn't want you to leave me! I didn't want you to be gone forever!"

Rokugo (weeping, his voice breaking): "I'm sorry, Alice. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough to protect you. I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me. I'm sorry I let you down. I'm sorry I failed you. I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

Rokugo (weeping, his voice breaking): "I love you, Alice. I love you so much. You were my best friend. You were my family. You were my everything. I'll miss you so much."

Hiiragi's remaining ships agree to split the planet 50/50 with Belial, who is pleased with the outcome. 

The planet 407, scarred by the devastation of years of war between Kisaragi and Hiiragi, was finally ready for what seemed like a new stage. After so many battles and losses, the truce had been sealed, and the weapons, worn down by constant use, were silent, while the leaders of both factions, exhausted but still alive, prepared for a new phase: reconstruction.

Belial, with his usual composure, sent the final report to Rokugo. The report, brief but precise, made it clear that the planet was "ready to be inhabited" and that the survivors would now have a chance to rebuild their lives, at least in theory.

Rokugo (looking at the report with an expression that showed satisfaction): "Finally... we are done. The war ended, and now, this planet has a chance to recover. We have done what was expected."

With a slight smile, Rokugo allowed himself a moment of satisfaction, looking at the horizon. It had been a long journey, one full of sacrifices, but the mission was complete. Even if peace was fragile, the promise of a different future was within reach.

Grimm, who had been watching from afar, approached him, a gleam of admiration in his eyes. With his firm step and his characteristic smile, he approached Rokugo.

Grimm (grinning widely): "You did it, Rokugo... You managed to bring about the truce we've long been waiting for. I knew you could do it. Though I still don't know if I should congratulate you for what you've done, or for what you didn't do."

Rokugo (looking at Grimm, a little distracted but grateful for his words): "Thank you, Grimm. But... there's something else I must tell you. Something I've been putting off. One last part of the story that you might need to know."

Before he could go any deeper, a loud hum and a blinding flash announced the arrival of a new teleportation machine, and from the shadows, a familiar figure emerged, followed by several groups of people with suitcases in hand, ready to inhabit this newly conquered world. Rokugo, upon seeing who it was, felt his heart stop for a second.

Astaroth (with a radiant smile and a loving look, jumping straight towards Rokugo): "Rokugo! I've missed you so much! You don't know how long I've waited to see you again!"

Rokugo (paralyzed with fear, feeling the weight of his actions falling on him): "T-the cattle have gathered around me... What are you doing here?!"

Grimm (watching the scene, his face turning a mix of confusion and anger): "Who is this girl? What's going on here?"

Astaroth (with an angelic smile, completely self-assured): "I'm his girlfriend, of course. Rokugo and I... we've been apart for so long, but finally, we're finally together again!"

Grimm (with rising anger on his face, his tone of voice icy): "His girlfriend? Rokugo, what is this!? Have you been cheating on me?!"

Rokugo (stammering, feeling the pressure from both sides): "N-no, Grimm... I wasn't cheating on you... In fact, I cheated on her with you.

Grimm (his face turning from anger to blind fury, his eyes filled with rage): "What?! How dare you!? I don't care how sensual you are, but you'll pay for toying with the heart of a maiden like me!"

Rokugo (attempting to defend himself, but his mind was clouded by the situation): "It's not what it seems! You know what we did, Grimm! It was a deal, if neither of us found a partner in 10 years we would get married, but I already found a partner.

Before she could finish her explanation, Astaroth, furious at Rokugo's revelation, conjured a blast of ice. The temperature instantly dropped and her feet were instantly frozen, immobilizing Rokugo on the ground.

Astaroth (with a cold expression, but with contained fury): "Now I've seen you! Whatever you've been doing... the consequences are dire! You're playing with everyone's feelings, and you pay the price!"

Rokugo (voice shaking, caught between the two, his mind exploding as he thought of the worst): "Please... Don't do this to me! Astaroth, Grimm... I...! I just need time to explain! This is a misunderstanding!"

But before he could continue, Grimm and Astaroth's fury gave him no room for any defense.

Grimm (with a cruel smile, enjoying Rokugo's torment): O Zenarith, punish this man with sexual importance.

Let him suffer the consequences of his actions!

Astaroth (with a fierce look, her voice echoing with power): O Zenarith, punish this man with a broken heart. Let him feel the pain of losing what he loves.

Rokugo (screaming, tears streaming down his face, feeling the weight of his sins crushing him): "No! No! Please, I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'll do anything! Just let me live!" 

Rokugo (his voice barely audible, his body trembling with fear): "I'm sorry..."

new game

Life in Axel had continued on its course, albeit filled with unexpected events and unforgettable moments. It had been several decades since the last time the members of Axis had faced truly deadly dangers. And although the routine seemed to have returned to normal, the passage of time had brought with it new challenges, some surprises, and many changes in the lives of Eren, Aqua, and their group of friends.

Aqua, sitting in the dining room of Eren's mansion, sipped her cup of tea as she narrated the most recent events to Eren, who listened distractedly while caressing a photo of his children. From Right to Left from the eldest to the youngest, Zell, the Son he had with Aqua, Mika, the Daughter he had with Historia, Zek, the Son he had with Ymir when Historia invited him, and finally Luna, the Daughter he had with Aqua.

Aqua: (sighs) "...And after all that confusion with Duke, the guy turned out to be a fallen angel, can you believe it? He thought he could replace Wiz as the Demon King's general because he thought his position was empty due to his... 'inactivity'"

Eren: (without looking up) "And what happened to him?"

Aqua: "Well, of course, he turned into a lich, as expected. Luckily, I took care of him with a proper exorcism. I don't know what went through his head, but in the end he wasn't a threat. Just another lunatic."

Eren: (arching an eyebrow) "A fallen angel trying to replace Wiz? Seems like the kind of trouble your presence attracts."

Aqua: (pretending to be offended) "Hey, I'm not saying I'm looking for trouble, trouble just finds me! I'm a very important goddess, I can't stop people like that from trying to challenge me!"

Eren smiled, knowing full well that Aqua's life was full of absurd and comical situations, but the goddess always managed to come out on top.

Aqua: "And speaking of problems, do you remember the test for Yunyun? She passed several tests to be the new leader of the Crimson Mages. It was a disaster, by the way, because no one seemed to know how to deal with the fact that she was now taking charge."

Eren: "Yeah, it seems the poor thing doesn't have much luck with the Crimson Mages."

Aqua: "Anyway, as if that wasn't enough, Seresdina appeared. This priestess of Regina, with her mental power, managed to take control of all the inhabitants of Axel. A disaster, but fortunately Eren took care of her."

Eren: (snorts) "Her power to reflect the damage caused by her was impressive. Although, well, my regeneration ability helped me resist."

Aqua: (sadly) "Yes, I know... But the worst came later. Seresdina was so good at infiltrating that, even though we defeated her, I had an existential crisis. I felt so... lost. In the end, I decided to go with my Axis followers to face the Demon King."

Eren: (looking at Aqua seriously) "So you decided to face the Demon King alone?"

Aqua: (nodding) "Yes, Eren. I needed to do it. It was my way of taking control of my destiny. I don't want to be a goddess who depends on others, although...

Eren: (curious) "Yes, I followed you, I defeated the Demon King, the one whose last name was Ackerman. I made a wish that you would spend a month a year at Axel's family. I didn't know if you'd like it, but at least... I wanted you to be with the kids during that time."

Eren smiled, though with a hint of sadness in his eyes. His relationship with Aqua had had its ups and downs, but now, more than ever, it seemed like time together was a luxury they both valued.

Aqua: "And... when I came back, I accepted your proposal to have an open relationship, but under my own conditions, remember?"

Eren: (nodding) "Yes, I remember. The conditions were clear. I'm surprised Historia and Ymir met those requirements."

Aqua: "Well, we're here now. But what about the kids? Zek, Mika, Zell, Luna... they're all grown up, right? Time passed so quickly, and now they don't even get along with me. Not even with their own parents."

Eren: (in a melancholic tone) "Yes. The kids quickly became independent. And... although I feel partly proud, it also hurts me that they have grown so distant."

Aqua: "It's not just that they grew up, Eren. It's that, to be honest, I'm scared that we've grown so far apart. That my role as a goddess has made me more distant from them. I've failed as a mother. Although you... you also have something to do with it."

Eren: (with a slight smile) "We both know that we haven't been the best examples of family. But they're all alive, right?"

Aqua: (looking at Zell tenderly) "Yes... But let it not be from the Axis order. That kills me inside."

Eren: (with a firm voice) "Not all is lost, Aqua. "

Aqua fell into thought, remembering how Zell played happily as a child, without the slightest concern. Eren's children, his family, followed their own path, but for Aqua, the time past seemed to leave a void.

The conversation drifted to other trivial topics,

In the end, Aqua thought about  The life he had led and how immortality gave him a different perspective. He decided that for now, he would be happy with the moments he had left, even if he couldn't have everyone by his side forever.

In a meeting room at the Kisaragi Corporation, the most powerful agents were gathered. Astaroth, Belial, Lilith, and Commander Rokugo, Combat Agent 6, were about to discuss the future of their interplanetary conquests. The room was modern, austere, and filled with digital screens that flickered with confidential information.

Astaroth, with his usual upright and professional posture, stepped forward while holding a document in his hands. Slight frustration was visible on his face, even though he maintained his usual cold and calculating façade.

Astaroth: (looking at Rokugo) "Rokugo, congratulations on your success in conquering half the planet. The Kisaragi Corporation is very pleased with your performance. However... I can't help but feel a slight discomfort knowing that during your stay there, you strayed too far from established protocols. In particular, I'm referring to your relationship with the local priestess, Grimm."

Rokugo, who was leaning back in his chair with an indifferent expression, barely raised his gaze. There was something about Astaroth that bothered him, although he didn't show it.

Rokugo: (in a relaxed tone) "You know what they say? 'If the rules don't fit the situation, then the situation must fit the rules.' Grimm was helpful in advancing the conquest process. I didn't do anything that wasn't necessary."

Astaroth: (coldly) "Your methods are not in question, Rokugo. But your behavior, should it be a constant for your future missions? It's not just because of the Grimm case, but because of what this represents. Do you think the time between your conquest mission and your 'personal excesses' did not affect your overall performance?"

Rokugo did not respond immediately, taking a brief pause before speaking, clearly already tired of the conversation.

Rokugo: "I understand what you say. I will not discuss the matter further. But honestly, I need a vacation. I have already conquered two planets... two, understood? I need time to recharge."

Lilith, who until that point had been watching silently, intervened with a defiant look, her eyes shining with indifference.

Lilith: (with a mischievous smile) "I'm sorry, but there will be no vacation for you, Agent 6. Right now, your work is too important. The Corporation has decided that you have a new mission. A planet that was left pending after Agent 22's failure...

Rokugo raised an eyebrow, and for a moment, he was silent.

Rokugo: (whispering to himself) "

That place of fantasy and chaos?"

Belial: (with a serious tone) "Exactly. We know that Agent 22 failed in that mission, but this time, with your capabilities, it should be different. We want you to finish what he started."

Astaroth: (with an appraising look) "The situation in Konosuba is not simple. There will be resistance. Don't underestimate that planet."

Rokugo took a deep breath, feeling the pressure of the new mission. The change in tone in the room made him feel even more burdened. He was tired. He needed more than just work, but there didn't seem to be any rest for him.

Rokugo: (resigned) "So what else is there? What am I supposed to do with my team?"

Lilith: "We've assigned a new assistant for you, an android girl named Alice. She'll be your personal assistant during the mission."

Rokugo: (in disbelief) "Another Alice." Hey, I've missed the old one since the incident with Hiigari.

Belial: (smiling knowingly) "Yeah, you'll find out soon enough. But, besides Alice, you can choose someone else to accompany you. This is a chance for you to use another agent if you wish."

Rokugo looked at the three, knowing he had no choice. Despite his complaints, the mission was the only thing that really mattered, and if he wanted some support, he would have to choose someone.

Rokugo: (seriously) "Fine. I'll choose someone, but this... is the last time I do a mission without a break. After this, I'm entitled to a vacation, I promise."

Astaroth: "We'll see about that. The mission comes first. If you complete it satisfactorily, we will discuss other arrangements."

Rokugo nodded, resigned to his fate. He knew he was a combat agent, and as such, his purpose was to conquer, not rest. Even though the conversation had been tense, he rose from his chair.

Rokugo: (looking at his superiors) "Understood."

Astaroth, Belial, and Lilith nodded silently. As Rokugo left the room, Astaroth watched him go with a thoughtful look.

Astaroth: (quietly, to herself) "I hope you can keep your priorities straight this time, Rokugo. This job requires much more than combat skills... it requires control."

Meanwhile, in another corner of the room, Lilith let out a peep.  She laughed softly as she saw the tiredness in Rokugo's eyes.

Lilith: (quietly to Belial) "Poor Rokugo, the one who can't catch a single breath."

Belial: (smiling) "There's never any rest for true Fighters."

Rokugo walked through the halls of the Kisaragi Corporation headquarters with a firm step, his face serious but somewhat tired. The last few days had been a mix of tension and chaos, but the mission ahead of him was not something he could avoid. The idea of ​​a new planet to conquer drove him on, although the price for doing so left him with a bitter feeling.

He stopped in front of the door to the Combat Agents' break room. Inside, the weretiger, Rose, and Viper were gathered together, as always, sharing a break between missions. They all turned around when they heard the sound of the door opening.

Tiger Man: (grinning ferociously) "Rokugo, it looks like you're finally going to be sent to the battlefield again. Are you sure you don't want to stick around here with us? You could at least have a nice beer before you go."

Rose: (raising an eyebrow with a mocking smile) "You've got that 'urgent mission' look on your face. You should relax a bit, buddy. A couple of days wouldn't kill you."

Viper, who had remained silent until then, looked at Rokugo with his enigmatic expression, as if trying to read past his appearance. His voice, soft but firm, broke the atmosphere.

Viper: "You won't get any older by staying still, Rokugo. Although, apparently, this mission doesn't give you the option to rest."

Rokugo smiled slightly, nodding as he looked at each of them. He knew there was nothing else to say. The life of a combat agent didn't offer him many options.

Rokugo: (in a relaxed tone) "I guess not, friends. But I don't care. What's happening to me is that... it's strange. I miss the old Alice, the one who helped me conquer the desert planet. She... seemed different. I don't know, maybe the memories are playing tricks on me."

Rose gave him a curious look, while Tiger Man gave a deep laugh.

Tiger Man: "Don't worry about it, Rokugo. There are always new faces, new people. Alice won't be the last."

But Rokugo didn't seem to be listening. His mind was traveling back to the desert, to the time when Alice had been his partner on the battlefield. With a sigh, he turned to head to the last place he wanted to be, but knew he had to: Grimm's room.

As he entered, Grimm was there, sitting in his wheelchair, looking around the room. There was something almost tragic about his posture, his face stern but with a hint of tiredness. Rokugo approached her with the intention of saying goodbye, but when she saw him, her gaze immediately hardened.

Rokugo: (in a gentle tone) "Grimm... I wanted to say goodbye to you before I left. You know, because of everything we went through together..."

Grimm, without looking up, moved the wheelchair to the side, away from Rokugo.

Grimm: (coldly) "Be thankful that I don't send you a curse that will kill you or leave you crippled. That's what you deserve, Rokugo.

Forgetting about me."

Rokugo sighed deeply, knowing that there was nothing he could do. Grimm was right; he had forgotten about her. He had been too focused on the mission, on the new Alice, and on the fact that he was going to be a commander again.

Rokugo: (with a bitter smile) "I'm sorry, Grimm. It's just that... I'm going to be a commander again. And I have a new mission."

Grimm's expression softened slightly, but she still didn't look at him.

Grimm: (in a quiet voice) "I know. I saw the news. Congratulations, Rokugo."

Rokugo nodded, feeling a little better now that he had apologized. He turned to leave, but before he did, Grimm spoke again.

Grimm: (in a whisper) "And... don't forget about me, okay? I'll wait for you."

Rokugo smiled sadly, knowing that she would be waiting for him. He turned and left the room, closing the door behind him. He didn't know if he would ever see Grimm again, but he promised himself that he would try to remember her.

As he walked down the hallway, he couldn't help but think about the mission ahead of him. The Kisaragi Corporation had chosen him to lead a group of agents to conquer a new planet, and he couldn't afford to fail. He knew that this time, he would have to rely on his teammates more than ever.

Rokugo: (to himself) "I hope they're ready for this. We're going to need all our strength to conquer this planet."

Rokugo reached the elevator and pressed the button to call it. As he waited, he took a moment to collect his thoughts and prepare himself for what was coming next. He knew that this mission would be different from anything he had done before, but he was determined to succeed.

The elevator arrived, and Rokugo stepped inside, pressing the button for the ground floor. As the doors closed, he looked at his reflection in the mirror on the wall. He was tired