Do You Have the Resolve

This chapter starts from Hero's POV

After leaving Floor 21 behind, we Fast Traveled away from some really familiar looking ruins.
I wanted to go straight to Demon King's Castle but we couldn't get to the chamber. Probably because Demon King is there.

As I was wondering what to do, I noticed Alma and the others standing by near the castle.
I had put Markings on Alma and Reina beforehand to prepare for them joining my party so I can Fast Travel to them anytime.
...I see, that's why he suggested me to add them. He foresaw this far ahead. But then, can't it just be Alma?


"Uh, isn't it cause you hate the idea of letting a man join as the final member?"

"Besides, the last person is currently higher leveled than Neora-san, so he must have purposely lied to avoid Neora-san rushing it..."


...Yup. If I were to be honest, I still can't get over having an all girl party.
But we really can't afford that right now though we still have to do something about our level difference. Really.

<<A certain Feature becomes available once he reached Lv90. I believe he was aiming for that.>>

You're telling me that feature can solve the issue with level difference?

<<In all likelihood yes. That man has amassed an absurd amount of Resource after all. It's as if he defeated the last boss of a world or something...>>

What was he doing on Floor 21 anyway...
Well whatever, we gotta join up with Alma quick.



I teleported next to Alma where she was waiting with several other members in front of Demon King's castle.
They all look surprised... No wait, they don't look all that surprised? They're kinda glaring at me looking kinda impatient.


"You're finally back! We've been waiting forever!"

"What took you so long. Kajikawa-san's fighting on his own right now, yaknow?"

"...Yeah, he's a boy who just looks like a girl. My eyes musta played a trick on me back then, yep."

"Welcome back, Neora. We've heard everything from Hikaru. Add me to your party quickly and let's go to where Hikaru is."

"O, ou...?"


They're all inching on me hard. Leaving aside one guy who's muttering something dumb.
It's good that things go smoother without me explaining but it's also kinda hard to accept.


"Once I'm a party member, perform fusion immediately."

"Next up, Baredo, Rasfin, Alan, Hiyoko and I will buff you with Energy Control."

"Better than us draggin' yer feet up there... I still don't like it."

"And once all that's wrapped up, I'll be carrying you to Demon King with Shadow Dive."

"He thought that far ahead huh..."


Demon King's plan was super simple and nasty, but Kajikawa-san won't lose on that front.
If Kajikawa-san was on Demon King's side by some sorta mistake... Humanity prolly won't even last three days. Way scary.


"Quit spacing out, and fuse already dangit. Go beat the crap outta that Demon King."

"Y, yeah yeah I get it. Lend me your hand Alma, I'll add you to my party."

"Un."


I gripped Alma's hand and added her.
Activating Valorous Fusion.


My body as well as Alma's, Levia's, Olivie's glowed and turned transparent.
Four lights mixed into one.

....

.....


........Err.


Valorous Fusion you see, is a Skill that gives me the sum package of the fused party members' abilities, combat experience and knowledge.
A not insignificant amount of memory and feelings also get transmitted to me, mixed in with my own.

The feelings Alma's got for Kajikawa-san is so strong, I'm taking it head on.
...Kajikawa-san's so blessed. Blow up.


The light subsided as the Fusion completed.
And now, I just gotta get buffed by Aizawa (dumb brat), Radia and the rest then Reina's gonna take me--

...?
Why are they all looking at me in silence? What's wrong?


"Fuhaa...!"

"W-whoaaa... I ain't never seen anyone like her..."


Ah, I seldom showed Valorous Fusion in front of anyone, no wonder they were surprised.
...Hm, Aizawa just grabbed my hands. Ah yeah yeah, go ahead and buff me.


"Marry me."


.....


Wha?

Wha?

Whaaa?


Aizawa dropped a huge bombshell with his hands still grabbing mine.


"Oy, this ain't no time to joke around. Actually, ewww. You said it yourself earlier, I'm a man."

"I'm being serious. I declare without a shadow of doubt that right now you are the most beautiful..."

"Hey, the hell you're blabbering about, for real!? Your eyes don't got focus on, pull yourself together dangit!!"


Wait wait wait! Was this guy always like this!? Something's obviously not right with him.
Checking his State shows "Charmed [Maximum] (Target: Neo Raifu)."
Is it cause I fused with Alma? What? Was Alma a Succubus or something?


"Aah aah aah... Well, can't really blame him when she's this gorgeous..."

"Look away, Baredo... I hate to admit but she's quite the temptress."


Reina was half laughing while Rasfin said something while covering Baredo's eyes.
Eh what? What's going on with me?

<<No uh... How about you look at yourself in the mirror for now?>>

I'm afraid to check but I gotta see myself on a hand mirror.


"……………Ｏｈ"


My face reflected on the mirror... Is the incarnation of Beauty itself.


My red and silver forelock now has black hair from Alma mixed in, and my features has become even more devilishly attractive.
It's not just my face looking pretty. There's this sort of charm that directly aims at men's instinct in a barrage... My vocabulary can't express it.
My body's all filled up here and there thanks to Olivie, yet they're all perfectly in harmony.

I really loathe to admit, but my fused form which was already a pretty girl before Alma has now become an unreal super pretty girl that perfectly embodies the ideal beauty in men's dreams.


....No good, this is not good. She's too cute. Too beautiful.
I'd have confessed to her without a second thought if only she weren't me.


"....Why can't this girl leap out of the mirror..."

"You're kinda sounding like a narcissist there."

"I'll make you happy for the rest of your life. Once Demon King is defeated, let's--"

"Oh shaddup! Just get on to buffing you dumbaaarse!"


I slapped Aizawa's face twice, thrice to forcefully wake him up and got the buff done.
We don't have time for this crap, not when everything might end for real if we're too late...



<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >

~~~~~~~~~Kajikawa's POV~~~~~~~~~~






"So Reina got me here afterward where I saw you locking hands with Demon King. I was going for his neck given the chance but nope, he dodged that."

"Yeah, no way you could defeat Demon King just like that. Thanks a lot for the save."


Sounds like things went mostly as planned.
...I'm worried about Aizawa-kun in all sorts of ways though.


"! Hikaru, what happened to your eye!"

"Ah, Demon King gouged it out. Sorry, mind healing me with magic?"

"Sure thing, but I can't grow missing organs back you know."

"That's fine, I can do it myself as long as I've got HP... See."

"U, uwaa, it really did grow back..."


Fumu, I was sure he should know about Life Force Control now that he's fused with Alma. Guess he doesn't get to access all of her memory and knowledge.
Well, nobody wants to share everything with another person so this is good.


"...I see, to think you rescued the hero even after time slip had taken him into the far future. Truly you are our greatest adversary, Kajikawa Hikaru."


Demon King murmured while glaring at us.
Well, the hero he finally went all the trouble of banishing got back here not a moment later after all.


"However, he must have lost the Grace of Revival after his connection was temporarily severed from this timeline, correct?"

"...Well yeah."

"If so, I have no need to expend effort on such a serpentine scheme. I merely ought to exterminate you here and all is well."


He found out about the loss of Revival already huh.


"For your information, I'm way stronger than I was before, yano?"

"...It appears to be the case. Attribute values that exceed my True Demon Release deserve extol indeed. Tremendous Status."


All thanks to the Energy Control buff he got from Aizawa-kun and the others outside. Think they're around 70000-80000 right now.
They're probably around 10k-ish without the buff.


...Hold it.
Something felt amiss with what he just said.

He could see Status?
Meaning, his Menu Function is back online...!?


"Heroes have three Great Graces."

<<U...!?>>

<<...!?>>


Noises ran through my and Neora-kun's Menus a moment after Demon King started speaking.
The usual blue screen turned into sand blank tv-like with a sizzling sound.


"The first being Heroes' abundance of powerful Skills including Brave Skills and their superhuman Attributes. The second being Grace of Revival. And lastly--"


<<Oh... No...! This... Is...!>>

<<■Jamming... ・Akin to Virus・...・Forced・ ...Shut Down・...>>


"The existence of Menu Function."


Our Menus' Noises got worse with every word Demon King uttered.
What the hell's going on...!?


"My Menu has malfunctioned due to my imperfect reincarnation. It has lost several Features, and gained a particular new one. The feature to amplify Menu Function's bugs, capable of affecting other Menus."

"You're talking about this!?"

"Indeed. It is a feature that forcefully shuts down Menu Function for a period of time. I name it 'Support Virus'. It has put my Menu Function in a hibernated state yet my situation is far from dire, unlike you two."


Oh crap, I won't be able to fetch all those potions I stockpiled in Item Screen.
No, more importantly!


"Menu!! Quick give Neora-kun--"

<<...『Resource Transfer』・・..It is・..・...Done..・..>>


'Fsh' Menu Display disappeared along with that vanishing sound.
I tried opening Item Screen, Map Screen and Status Screen to no response.

...He got us good, who could've thought he can do something like this too...!


"Well then. Now that we all have lost our Menu Function. Have you sufficient recovery items on hands?"

"Y, you bastard...!"

"It appears you have them all stored in Item Screen. Be ashamed not... Such was the way of Souma Ryuta as well."


Considering that geezer's personality, he probably hoarded a mountain of trash inside. Demon King's Item Screen must look like a chronic hoarder room.
...The only thing we have left are several vials of potions intended for Alma's immediate use.
Might be a tad chancy against Demon King.


"Very well then, and now onto your disposal... Gu, uuu....!!"


Demon King crouched down and started groaning.
Almost looks like he's in pain, but that's not it.
The power I feel from him is gradually increasing, no his body itself is swelling.
Is he seriously gonna transform into his Final Form now...!?


"Like I'd let you!!"


Neora-kun swung his katana at Demon King, but a black barrier covering Demon King stopped his attack.
...Guess you're not allowed to attack during the transformation.


"Dammit... It's no good, the recoil feels all wrong. Ain't no way we breaking this."

"No stopping the transformation huh... Guess we'll finish our business too while he's at it."


I stretched my hand to Neora-kun.


".....Are we seriously gonna do this?"

"There's no winning this fight if we don't. Demon King's power is already doubling as we speak. Gotta shoot every shot we got."

"...Err, isn't it impossible cuz I'm lower leveled than you?"

"Before hibernating, Menu-san transferred exp points to you, Neora-kun with 'Resource Transfer'. Your level should be higher than me now. No problem."


Yep, I acquired 'Resource Transfer Feature' when I reached Lv90.
An incredible feature that lets me transfer exp points I didn't use to level up other people.

Apparently Menu-san forcefully unlocked a part of this Feature to preserve the Resource I got from defeating that Kyuubi BBA on Floor 21.
It wasn't possible to give it to other people until I reached Lv90.
The amount was quite enormous, I glanced and saw Neora-kun at Lv94 now.


We might just be able to defeat Demon King's Final Form if we add my Attributes in there.
Neora-kun opened his mouth and confirmed me one last time.







"...Hikaru is going to turn into a woman, albeit temporarily, once we're fused. Do you have the resolve?"


.....

AAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
No! Absolutely not!! Why must I bid farewell to my son!
But there ain't no more hands we could use besides this! I get it! I get it really, but dangitall!!


"..................I really really don't, but this is no time to act selfish."

"Okay then, let's do it."

"...Yeah you go and get 'em."


Neora-kun grabbed my arm before both our bodies got wrapped in lights.
...Ah, I've steeled myself and all, but, still...

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