Gaming Badly in DxD

-Zatren Fumigami-

‘’An extravagant entrance, mysterious Lancer,’’ Saber said in an amused tone.

The throne room was a lot emptier than I expected, and she wasn’t even sitting in the giant evil throne itself, but standing ‘tall’, both hands clasping the pommel of her blade as the tip was embedded into the floor.

Her armor consisted of an entirely dark set of chainmail and plate I very much recognized. Honestly, I was even mildly excited.

‘’I greet you, King of Britain,’’ I answered in kind, the pointed tips of the White Dragon Emperor’s Trident aiming at the sky as I lazily rested part of my weight on the Legendary Weapon. ‘’Though I have to say… I remembered you being taller.’’

‘’…That is not the first time I’ve heard such a jab.’’ The platinum blonde’s expression turned blank. ‘’I assume you have heard word of me, yet I lack remembrance of you… Considering the might you showed back against this war’s Servants, I fail to see how that came to be.’’

‘’Ah, no, you wouldn’t know of me, mostly because we never met.’’ Smiling, I pressed my free hand against my puffed-up chest. ‘’However, let me do the introductions! I am Zatren Fumigami, a mage from far away, and you… You are Artoria Pendragon, wielder of the legendary blade Excalibur, and the one who repelled the invasion of Britain.’’

I really liked my theatrics, they just left a giddy feeling in my chest as if I was having the perfect treat, or watching my favorite show.

‘’Accurate, but then, how would you know that?’’ Artoria questioned, her pale, golden eyes narrowing in doubt. ‘’You’re no Servant, and you do not belong to this world’s history, Ser Zatren. So, why are you here?’’

‘’Right, that…’’ I chuckled. ‘’Would you believe me if I said I came from another world? One filled with different sapient species, gifts and blessings from Gods, and a completely different magic system to the one you’re accustomed to? Heck, I believe Merlin himself would salivate at the prospect of learning every school of magic back home.’’

A heavy silence filled the air as Artoria mused over my words.

‘’…It sounds like a book from a fairy tale.’’ The woman scoffed. ‘’Yet, you do not strike me as one who lies with such a bold face—No, more like, I do not believe you capable of properly lying. Your face simply says too much—’’

‘’Rude.’’

‘’—However. It makes sense, considering the strength of your comrades and how easily they took care of Rider, Archer, and now Berserker.’’ She continued, uncaring of my interruption, as her golden eyes locked into mine. ‘’I ask you, compared to your world’s strongest, how powerful are you and your people?’’

‘‘Oh? Now that’s a hard question to answer.’’ I gave the woman a foxish grin. ‘’Saying ‘my people’ would be the wrong notion. For you see, accompanying me were Serafall Leviathan and Ayuka Beelzebub. You may not recognize them by first name, but surely you recognize the title of two devils?’’

Artoria’s plain face suddenly scrunched in disgust as if she got a whiff of something foul. ‘’…They are fiends then? Not just any kind either, but the Lord of Flies and the Twisting Serpent? Yet, I haven’t caught presence of the great evil that should come from uprooting such beings from either death or the deepest parts of the underworld.’’

‘’It’s… complicated. However, you must know that their titles do not represent them as people.’’ I noted.

‘’…I shall be the judge of that, were they to step into my castle.’’ The woman shook her head, taking a step forward.

The energy of her corrupted blade flickered with anticipation, as if it had taken a glimpse of my own weapon. ‘’You have not yet answered my question, Ser Zatren.’’

I scratched my chin before pointing forward at the shorter Knight. The grin on my face got twice as wide at the chance of messing with her.

‘’Then let me give you the clearest of answers, oh King!’’ I exclaimed. ‘’Of the three of us… Ayuka stands at the top, like a slumbering yet intelligent beast, unbothered by threat nor foe, for she is the Apex! Afterwards, rests the Serpent, in her realm of expertise, there is but a single being who could match her…!’’

‘’Lastly, I consider myself an accomplished mage, who, in this ‘tale’, has struck down many a foe and has continuously learnt magic without stopping for a break, determined to achieve the grandest seat at the top of them all!’’ With the grandeur of my exclamation, I knew that I held the King’s attention, considering how her gauntlet-covered digits clung to her blade like a lifeline.

And then, I dropped the bomb. ‘’With that being said… I am the weakest of the three!’’

A heavy silence filled the room. Slowly, Artoria’s face changed from amazed to confused, and lastly, to annoyed.

‘’…The weakest?’’ She half-whispered in confusion. Yet, I already felt the weight of her presence filling the room. ‘’And you believe that, as the weakest, that your might is able to take me and my sword; the beast of Gluttony itself…?’’

I chuckled, slowly but surely, the castle walls trembled as I matched Saber’s mighty presence with my own thick pool of magic. For a moment, she froze, as my full presence matched hers easily.

‘’I do not ‘believe it’, no… For my main goal was not to merely fight you, but learn about you.’’ I shook my head. In a swift movement, I had my trident pointing at her. With a flash of crimson light, the Tyrant’s Wheel appeared on my head. ‘’Because if your Gluttony and my Desire were to clash, as if they represented two dragons in a match of might… I assure you that I would leave victorious, King of Britain!’’

A beat of tension pulsed through the room. The air was so thick with both of our energies to the point where it was suffocating.

I felt it before I saw it. In less than a blink, or maybe even less than that, Saber had already breached my raised guard. The corrupted Excalibur shone with a foul light as the edge reached for my neck.

‘’Fast!’ My eyes widened. ‘But… not overwhelmingly so!’

One hand covered in body-augmenting magic stopped the blade dead in its tracks. However, the impact was like a cannon going off. The pressure released by the blow was such that I heard my gauntlet creak under the strain, and the floor behind me cracked apart with the shockwave alone, releasing a cloud of dust.

‘’You may not be all talk, Ser Zatren.’’ Artoria declared as she made no move to push her sword deeper.

It was like a beast biting down softly into its prey, just to test how much force it would need to crack its exterior and feast on the juicy insides.

‘’I pride myself in not disappointing beautiful women.’’ I grinned, hand tight against Excalibur’s edge.

A deadpan and a raised eyebrow were my answer.

‘’Allow me to be the first.’’ Artoria jabbed without remorse. ‘’Shall I push you a bit further?’’

Just as she spoke, a glowing red light made itself known from beneath her plates of armor. Immediately, I felt the physical prowess of Saber shooting through the roof. However, I simply smiled as the King’s armored fist cocked back.

Ca-chck! ‘’Boost!’’

The first spin of Tyrant’s Wheel completed as I felt a wave of power strengthen my muscles, toughening my skin, and reinforcing my soft, fleshy organs, even.

And in the next second, a fist collided against my raised guard.

CRACK!

The roof of the castle cracked open as I was literally punched through the heavily reinforced structure. Yet, even as the bones in my arms snapped back into place with the use of Healing Magic, I couldn’t help but laugh.

‘’Then, allow me to match your move!’’ I shouted in the air as my momentum stopped dead in its tracks with a flap of my extended wings. ‘’…Haaa!’’

I didn’t use a Hero Skill, not yet. Instead, I simply coated my entire body in Reinforcement and descended upon the castle trident-first.

I entered right through the hole I used to leave. However, the destruction I left in my wake was of a much higher grade, to the point that the castle, as resilient as it was, started to shake as its very foundation threatened to collapse under the strain.

Artoria’s eyes sharpened as her blade came up from below.

I matched the blow by swinging my Trident in a downwards arc.

CLANK! CRACK!

Both weapons collided with a sound so deafening it made my ears pop. The draconic energy coming from the Trident, along with Excalibur’s viciousness, mixed and clashed against each other as we were blocked in a stalemate.

I pulled back exactly the same time as Saber did, and another blow was exchanged. Then, another… and another!

Quickly, each brutal and powerful swing of the King’s blade was matched with the finesse I had learned to use my spear with. Each blow made the air shift and expand, heating up the entire room with the sheer velocity of the exchange.

‘’Water Surge!’’ I extended a palm forward just as Artoria pulled back for an overhead arc.

She guarded just as a typhoon in serpent form shot through the air like a missile. The pressure was more than high enough to push the King through the walls of her castle. However, instead of remaining inside, I followed along with a reinforced jump.

With a slash, the waters parted, and our confrontation was taken outside as the castle behind us collapsed.

‘’…You claimed bold words, and yet here I stand, waiting for the results!’’ Artoria spat. Her blade swung in an arc that cut cleanly through the second wave I sent her way. ‘’It is futile!’’

‘That sword…’ I frowned. During our exchanged blows, the blade got darker and darker. Even now, while slashing apart my constructs, the foul miasma of her sword just got thicker. ‘…That is her Gluttony?’

‘’Don’t worry, I’m just getting warmed up!’’ I shouted back and dashed forward, only for my eyes to widen in shock as Saber disappeared without making a sound. ‘’…!’’

I pointed my trident upwards, just as I saw a black arc of death fall onto my head. Saber had merely jumped without me being able to keep track, and swung her blade into the air, releasing an arc of pure and disgusting corruption, akin to the vilest of poisons.

‘’[Draconic Howl V]!’’ The roar of a beast echoed through the ruined hill as the arc was pushed back by the Hero Skill.

The dirty mud trembled and suddenly exploded just as my attack ended. Only for me to erect a yellow barrier a second later as the remains of Saber’s attack fell from the sky.

For a second, it seemed the spilling mud would fall harmlessly off the barrier. Yet, a second later, a sizzling sound made me aware that mud was literally eating through the magic I had used to make the structure in the first place.

‘’Where are you looking at?’’ The words were almost like a whisper, but I heard them easily enough as Saber descended upon my barrier with blade in hand. ‘’…Devour them whole...!’’

I froze as Artoria cleaved through the barrier like a hot knife through butter.

I was short of breath. Like I was standing directly in front of a true dragon. With an existence so deeply wrong that it sent a shiver right into my core.

The barrier shattered into nothing as Excalibur came swinging down like a Dragon’s Maw, ready to devour its next meal, even though it would never satisfy the hunger that this beast held deep within it.

‘I can’t help it… It’s so…’ I chuckled. ‘Exciting!’

I swung my weapon in an arc of sharp and deadly water magic. Yet, the King’s strike was a faint. The moment my spear reached forward, she pulled ever so slightly to the left. Excalibur swung sideways, and I hissed as its edge cut through my shoulder.

Staring back in amazement, Artoria clutched her weapon and bent her knees. I had to immediately go on the defensive as lightning-fast blows kept echoing through the hill, carried by the wind.

No matter how or where I blocked, I couldn’t break off. Artoria’s body pulsed red as her graceful steps, surely born out of years of diligence and practice, turned into savage stomps that made the hill tremble with every push and dash.

Any counter-attack I tried was met with a parry. Water constructs bounced uselessly against her armor, and any barrier didn’t slow her for more than a second.

‘Left, right… from above!’ Pushing forward, I threw my Trident like a javelin at the descending King, only for her to bat the weapon aside with a swing, followed by an arc of putrid miasma falling onto my head.

My throat strained with effort as I pushed through the limit of what I could do. ‘’FUS RO DAH!’’

For the first time in the fight, Artoria’s eyes shot into a mix of anger and sudden caution. Her attack was vaporized by the power of the Dovazhul, and she was pushed back far enough for her body to be embedded into the hill itself, which started to crumble under the aftershocks of my shout.

The Legendary Spear returned to my hand for my next cast.

‘’To vanquish an energy so foul, may my divine might roar like a true dragon’s HOWL!’’ The White Dragon Trident shone with a purple glint as I pushed forward. ‘’You’re getting slow, King of Britain!’’

Artoria grunted and easily tore her rocky prison apart to meet me in the middle. Her blade rose to guard my strikes, yet my superior reach while on the offensive allowed me to prepare spells on the side while the woman tried to match my short burst of strikes.

Once more, another red glow came from the sword-wielder. This time, infused in Excalibur itself, but she wasn’t the only one.

Hints of purple were replaced by arcs of lightning. Swiftly, and almost unconsciously, I tried to match Artoria’s Command Seal empowerment by infusing my lightning magic, not into my spear, but into my body.

Immediately, I felt as if a fuckton of caffeine had been directly injected through my veins. My entire body felt faster, to the point that Artoria’s next swing almost seemed too slow.

However, it lasted for merely a second as I parried the blow and smashed the side of my Trident on Artoria’s plated side. A creak of metal, along with the following CRACK, told me that the King’s armor won’t hold much longer under the strain.

Artoria scowled, her golden eyes a mix of determination and cold hatred, even if the latter didn’t seem like her own.

Once more, I pushed lightning through my whole body. As if the entire world paused, I cackled like a maniac, and Shadow Stepped just behind the King.

’Let me take a page out of your book, Vali…!’ In the time that she had managed to turn around to strike, my body was already like a wild thunderstorm.

‘’Lightning, wield her…’’ The incantation was almost a whisper, as the entire hill shone. ‘’Use and yield her!’’

The light that shone on the hill wasn’t for mere show, because after less than a second, the skies roared as lightning fell, splitting the entire hill in half with such strength that my whole body rocked with the aftershock.

The wind felt cold and refreshing on my burnt skin.

Yet I couldn’t even feel the pain! Had I burned through my nerves? Was this what it felt like to chew on a power cable?!

Another metallic clack made me aware of my Adaptation working overtime to heal the damage I inflicted upon myself by literally becoming the point of fusion on a move that would have vaporized a lesser man.

That attack, reckless as it was, would have been enough to put Vali and his Balance Breaker out of commission, yet…

A shout akin to a dragon’s roar cut through the ringing in my ears, and a massive, crooked grin stretched through my face.

The dragon of Gluttony wasn’t satisfied nor done for.

Not a single bit.

-X-x-X-

-Ayuka Beelzebub-

‘Quite the ruckus, isn’t it?’ I wondered as I watched the castle on the hill of Fuyuki disappear in a flash of lightning… along with the entire hill. ‘’Saber, was it? She must be quite something.’’

‘’Ayu-chan, I know you’re salivating over Za-kun's feats right now, but could you give me a—Woah!’’ Serafall shouted as she dodged under a meaty fist. Getting just barely out of the way for the ‘Berserker’ to fall back to earth. ‘’—Hand!’’

The Servant crashed against the ground, making the entire street tremble as if an earthquake were taking place. If anything, I was quite surprised by how durable the buildings of this city were.

‘’You won’t need it if you stopped messing around, Serafall,’’ I stated, straightening my glasses, making the girl pout. ‘’I am not wrong, am I?’’

‘’…You’re not.’’ The Satan huffed, rolling her eyes. ‘’But with Za-kun dealing with the Saber chick, this is the last enemy we can ever fight here! Don’t you think it’s just perfect that both of us take it on?’’

I paused, pushing an open palm downwards to create a five-layer barrier that the giant of a man tried to punch through. However, he was only successful in breaking the first three, leaving the fourth with notable cracks, and the fifth completely intact.

The man wasn’t flying like we were, no. He had just jumped from his place on the street, which was basically a ruined wasteland at this point.

And, of course, the moment the Servant’s momentum died, he fell back into the ground with an audible sound of asphalt and concrete breaking.

‘’…Maybe you’re right.’’ I conceded, much to Serafall’s excitement. ‘’You already figured it out, right? Or, more like, you already knew what this Berserker was capable of.’’

‘’Yep!’’ Serafal chimed in with a ticket-winning smile.

Nonchalantly, she raised her hands in the air and sent a haymaker down just as Heracles shot into view.

The magic-reinforced blow was more than enough to send the man back down with a much more audible crack and a roar of fury.

‘’Heracles-kun here is immortal! Or, well, he’s immortal… a few times? I think you took one of his ‘lifes’ away when you shot that hyper-compressed magic bullet at him…’’

‘’Ah… I was wondering what sort of regeneration he’ll need to make himself an entire new torso.’’ I smiled, making her give me a flat stare. ‘’So, in short, this is a case of hitting him until he stays down, correct?’’

Serafall cracked her knuckles, ready to shoot back down at the massive man who stared hatefully at us from his place in the ground. ‘’Exactly! So, Ayu-chan… shall we use the power of friendship?!’’

Now it was my turn to deadpan. ‘’…And extreme violence?’’

‘’Sure, sure, that too~’’ She waved away the notion. ‘’But friendship first and foremost!’’

‘’Alright.’’

With the ‘plan’ decided, we shot from the air right back into the street below. Already, I had a few ways to stress-test just how the hulking man’s immortality worked, and just how much it would take for him to finally disappear like his comrades before him.

‘I hope you’re having just as much entertainment, dear student…’ I chuckled.

And promptly ignored the worried, almost scared look that Serafall sent my way.

-X-x-X-

-Zatren Fumigami-

‘’You’re not… half-bad.’’ I chuckled, feeling sweat pouring down my brow.

‘’I have to say… I expected much less.’’ Artoria frowned, her armored chest rising up and down slightly.

Both magic and Command Seals worked overtime to keep us in the fight. Each clash was debilitating as it was exhilarating. However, our fight couldn’t last forever, considering the weight and power we were throwing around as if it were a mere play.

‘’The strange abilities from your world…’’ She huffed, glaring at the wheel still lazily spinning on top of my head. ‘’Along with the chant-less conjurations you keep on repeating. Not to mention, the skill that you carry with that spear… I recognize it, Ser Zatren. Your mouth might be big, but your words are not empty.’’

‘’Aw, shucks… You’re going to make me blush!’’ I smiled impishly.

‘’…Your way of speech also makes me remember two people, one that I cherished, and another that I respected. Yet…’’ Artoria deadpanned, lips pressed into a thin line. ‘’I would much rather not remember right now.’’

Well, wasn’t that something? I wondered if she was comparing me to another Lancer I know of… and maybe Merlin. If I remembered correctly, both of those were horny bastards.

‘’Is one of them the one who gave you a dick?’’ I raised an eyebrow, holding back a snort.

…

‘’How do you even... Forget it.’’ Artoria Pendragon had known me for at best half an hour, but I already felt she was done with my antics, considering her dead expression. ‘’My point is… our fight is not going anywhere, unless you wish to try and obliterate the entire city—Or what remains of it—to see who exhausts first?’’

‘’You will.’’ I pointed out, which wasn’t even a lie. Unless that Holy Grail inside her body gave her an infinite supply of Command Seals, my HP regeneration was incredibly high. ‘’But I see your point, oh King. Then, shall we decide the victor of this fight in a single blow?’’

That seemed to bring a gleam of joy in Artoria’s eye. Unbothered by my claim, a surprising boisterous laugh escaped past the tight lips of the King of Britain.

‘’Indeed.’’ She nodded, Excalibur gripped tightly. ‘’…It was a long time ago since I was disrespected like you did today. I would even say, last who dared to jest in such manner had his head removed from his carcass.’’

‘’Because he angered you?’’ I questioned.

‘’Because his jokes were tasteless.’’ Artoria shot back.

…Was that her attempt at a pun?

‘’Very well then, Artoria. Let us show our full strength, right here and now!’’ I shouted as my spear changed forms.

The Red Dragon Emperor Spear had a slightly lower attack stat than its White counterpart. However, it held an extra bonus of penetration that I just knew I would need to pierce through the King’s scuffed armor.

‘’Show me in this next blow… all the experiences that made you into who you are now.’’ Pointing my spear forward, I met the surprised eyes of the King with an eager grin. ‘’Your sorrow, your shame, your ruthlessness, your joys, and your Gluttony! I want to see the full, unfiltered power of the dragon in front of me, and crush it with my own, ARTORIA PENDRAGON!’’

My declaration was met with silence… and then chuckles. Carefree, relieved even.

‘’Ser Zatren…’’ She spoke, trying to match my grin with one of her own. ‘’Anything less would be a disservice! The voracity and cruelty of the dragon, which I used to crush my honor and righteousness under my heel, is what will fall upon your head! Be ready, for I will swallow you whole!’’

…Kinky.

‘’Accursed Grail, this is my wish to you…’’ Artoria spat, and I almost recoiled at the sheer amount of disgust hiding in her tone. ‘’My power is the one who will swallow every morsel and crush every opposing voice… Grant me power beyond normal and supernatural means… for I am The Gluttonous Tyrant of Britain!’’

In the next second, Artoria's shadowy armor shone as if she were a red sun. Deep crimson marks appeared on her plate and even her face. I felt sweat run down my face as the mere presence of her completely unleashed commands pushed me back like a raging tornado.

Her armor started to grow and change. From the full plate with a flowing black dress, to a full titanic armor that covered every single inch of her body. Her golden eyes closed, and in their place, a visor made completely of the darkest of metals took place.

The only feature left to recognize the King of Britain was her blade, whose malignant aura grew each second that passed, and her flowing platinum hair that was freed from its bindings under the strain of the Corrupted Grail’s entire might.

This was Artoria Alter. The Boss of Fuyuki’s Epic Tier Dungeon.

The King’s right hand tightened on the grip of that accursed Excalibur. Yet, it was like the energy coming from it was never-ending

It truly wanted to devour my essence, like a hungry beast.

The blade, instead of pushing downwards, like an executioner’s axe, lay pointed at the floor. I didn’t need Analyze to tell me it was an upward swing, deceptive and unexpected, like a thief in the middle of the night.

‘’Iron hammer of the Hollow King…’’ Even her tone had changed, once cold yet snarky, into a serious vanity depicting the image of royalty.

My hands unconsciously locked into a hand sign. The words left my mouth before I could even register them properly. They were so familiar, but they felt so wrong at this very moment.

‘’Domain Expansion…’’ My tongue felt like it was stuck with honey.

Why was it so difficult to utter those words? Why were my fingers shaking, and why did I feel a deep burn in my chest that cursed me for all I was? ‘’Mockery… Of…’’

Suddenly, the world around me froze. Was it my Thought Acceleration acting on its own? Or did I prompt it unconsciously? No matter, time appeared to be moving at a snail’s pace.

Why?

Why didn’t I want to use my Domain?

Was it because I would lose?

No, that couldn’t be it. I knew I could beat her, even the Artoria empowered by the Holy Grail… I just knew I could!

Then why?

The pressure rose. If I didn’t expand my domain right now, that blade could kill me.

Yet my lips didn’t move an inch. I was still trembling, but not with fear, never with fear. It was anticipation, it was eagerness, not to win, but to properly match the King in front of me and all her aspirations.

‘…I get it now.’ I chuckled as I stared into the vile blade. ‘This is her. Just like I had asked, this swing carries the weight of her pledge, of her discarded honor, and the same iron fist that she used to lead her life. Unwilling to yield, be it for friend or foe…’

And here I was… thinking that my domain was enough to match such a beautiful sight?

I didn’t expand my Domain, not because it would lose, but because it wasn’t right.

At the same time, I embraced that burning feeling in my chest. Deep within me, I already knew the answer. After all, I had declared it to the King herself just mere moments ago.

‘Your Gluttony against my Desire.’ That’s what I said early in the fight.

Then I had to stick by my word now, don’t I?

Lying to beautiful women also leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

The heat passed down from my chest and all across my veins. I felt the burning golden blood pumping through them. It resonated deeply within my being.

Holy, Divine, Human, Mermaid, or Devil. It didn’t matter what it was, but I felt it all resonate together in a single song of the desire I held to take and live.

Be it treasure, be it people. All of it, I wanted to hold them close and never let go, like a dragon protecting its hoard!

My vision started to glitch as the HUD of my Weapon Tree was pulled up. Yet, I couldn’t pay much attention to it. Instead, I stared in surprise as that golden desire manifested on my weapon.

I was worried for the dear partner that rested on my soul, but then sweet nothings filled my ears, from basic compliments to deeply loving reassurances, and I knew that it would be okay, for this power born out of my deepest trait would not harm her in any way.

It was time to match Artoria’s Gluttony with my desire… My Greed.

Conditions have been met for the ‘’Cursed Series.’’

Psychological interferences have been blocked by Mind Barrier.

Spear Form Unlocked: Harpoon Of Greed.

Hero Skill chosen… [Boundless Avarice].

In my hand, there was no longer a mere spear or a trident. Instead, its long shape was replaced with a more compact one. The spear tip was replaced by two jagged teeth like those of a drake that aimed downwards. Surely, if they were to bite into a prey’s flesh, it would never let go until it had taken everything from them.

The shaft changed into a thin golden shank, the same color as its tip, and instead of having a wooden handle, it was colored a deep cobalt.

Lastly, the mainline was tied directly to my arm, my flesh. No wonder, since the representation of this greed wasn’t just a fancy weapon form, but a deep part of me.

Suddenly, the world felt like it came back alive. The choking miasma of the corrupted Excalibur kept permeating the air. Only that this time, I could perfectly match in kind.

As Artoria’s lips moved, so did mine.

‘’Foolish heathen, who wishes to take my riches for yourself…’’

The words came to me naturally, even as my vision kept glitching to the point I could barely see.

‘’Reverse the Aurora… And Swallow The Light!’’ Artoria’s chant did not falter for a second, her blade sparkling with unholy and debased desire that shifted the air around it.

‘’Your thieving arm shall be cut down and kept as a trophy in my hoard…!’’ The words were thick, layered, yet I couldn’t say the voice that said them wasn’t mine.

‘’Promised Sword of Victory…!’’ Artoria’s tone cracked, as she gripped her sword with both hands that rose into a deadly arc of pure darkness that devoured even the sun’s rays. ‘’Excalibur… Morgan!’’

‘’Let the spoils of battle be mine forevermore…!’’ My hand shot forward, and the mainline stretched as my weapon was thrown with dead-center accuracy. ‘’Boundless Avarice!’’

Artoria’s swing was met with my golden throw. For a second, the world stilled completely, and both attacks stopped as if they sized each other up.

For but a second, the King’s Gluttony matched my Greed.

Yet, a second was not nearly enough. For her most powerful voracity was ever fleeting. Someone who consumes is spontaneous and can be satiated even if only temporarily.

Instead, a Greed that wishes to take everything for itself would never be satisfied, for beyond treasure, there are people, and beyond people, there’s a world, and beyond worlds were the stars… So on, and so forth.

Artoria’s Gluttony failed to devour my Greed, and instead, my golden harpoon pierced the voracious dragon’s heart, taking even its essence for itself, for that, and much more, were the rewards for defeating its foe.

Epic Dungeon has been completed.

Input restrictions have been lifted.

For beating the foe known as Artoria Alter, you have received the following rewards:

[Essence of a Legend].

[Three Gacha Tokens].

[Minor Holy Grail].

On top of the destroyed city of Fuyuki, I took a deep breath. My harpoon connected directly to Artoria through the mainline, as the golden weapon had pierced through her attack and deeply past her armor, impaling the King through the chest.

Speaking of, her armor was nothing but cracked and useless metal, falling off her body in destroyed chunks, leaving only a black dress, equally as beautiful as it was torn.

On her hand, Excalibur Morgan lost most of its glow, yet the blade didn’t have a single crack or dent.

It held strong… Like its wielder, who lay on the ground, staring with golden eyes at the clearing sky, as its deep red color vanished, and was replaced by soft blue.

Exactly like a dragon, Artoria clung to life stubbornly, even with my weapon having pierced through her chest, even as her black clothes were smeared and soaked in blood, even as her lips dripped with red.

Yet, the result was more than evident.

‘’I win.’’ I declared, with a tired smile.

-X-x-X-

-Artoria Pendragon-

‘I lost…’

Staring at the sky, with blood dripping down my body, and Excalibur in hand… It brought memories I would rather forget forever.

That cycle of going back to the throne… I didn’t want any of it. Yet I was willing to win this ‘war’ for my master, wasn’t I?

‘I don’t even remember his name.’ I acknowledged without any shame. After all, if he had perished when the Muddy Grail descended and fused into my body, then what worth did he have? ‘None, none at all… right?’

The ruthlessness I used to reign Britain… I used an iron fist to bring it to prosperity. Anyone who opposed was killed, and any foes that threatened my kingdom were slain.

Yet…

‘Was I wrong?’ I wondered. ‘Was my idea of ruling wrong?’

My musings were interrupted as the man—who still had his weapon through my chest—approached and sat right beside me. A quick side glance at him revealed a calm if tired smile.

Idly, I noticed that the weapon was chained to his own flesh. Truly, what a strange weapon.

‘’You’re—cough—awfully… silent… Ser Zatren.’’ I almost spat, not at the man, but at the weakness pooling inside my body with each sharp, debilitating breath.

‘’Did you expect me to goad over my win?’’ He raised a curious eyebrow and chuckled. ‘’Nah… I only do that to arrogant bastards. To you, Artoria, I can only sing praise.’’ He smiled impishly. Where was the— ‘’If not for your strength, then for the beauty of which you embody and the brutality of your blade!’’

‘There it is.’ I groaned. ‘’You’re quite… the flatterer. I’ll bet you have a dozen dressed-up concubines… to which you spout the same words.’’

‘’What a loser's bet.’’ He chuckled, and I snorted, spitting a glob of blood that threatened to make me choke. ‘’You will be wrong, however.’’

I raised an eyebrow, ignoring the coldness slowly seeping into my bones. ‘’…Oh?’’

‘’First of all, I do not have a dozen lovers. I have half a dozen.’’ He corrected, pointing a finger at my laid form, as if somehow that explained everything. ‘’And I love every single one, thank you very much~’’

I couldn’t even muster the strength to shake my head or huff in amusement, lest I wished for more blood to make its way past my lips.

In reality, I couldn’t muster any strength. The harpoon on my chest sure stopped the bleeding, but I had used every bit of power that remained in that Corrupted Grail. And while, sure, I had used it multiple times already, never had I exhausted its power entirely.

Now, I was left with nothing. If anything, I would dematerialize any second now, and either be sent back to the throne or erased completely.

I took a deep breath, ignoring the blood rising to my mouth. In my now clear mind coursed the memory of the place I had once called home, and the people that had once been my comrades in arms, before I threw it all away and decided that the only way to end the Kingdom’s problems was to drop my speeches and treaties, and to embrace my sword.

‘’…You’re dying.’’ The man suddenly stated, I raised an eyebrow, and almost reeled back as those hazel orbs seemed to look past my very being.

‘’So?’’ I scoffed. ‘’The weak die, and the strong thrive. That’s just how it is.’’

For some reason, the man seemed unconvinced.

‘’So that’s it? One loss, and you’ll just throw the towel and die? Poof? Nothing?’’ If I had any strength left in my body, I would clench my fist in anger. Yet, all I could do was glare. ‘’…Won’t you prefer to live instead?’’

I blinked, feeling the fleeting anger vanish away. ‘’Ser Zatren... You are not from here, so I’ll say it… simply.’’

‘’The grail is gone, and with it… most of myself,’’ I explained, not even knowing why. ‘’Not even Merlin… could restore this body of mine.’’

The raven-haired man simply looked at me like I had said something nonsensical. I was half tempted to repeat my words, yet…

‘’Not with that attitude.’’ He huffed.

A cough escaped past my lips instead of an answer. Yet, suddenly, I felt a hand be placed on my unarmored chest. I glared suspiciously at the man who just smiled sheepishly. Then, a golden pulse rocked my body. It was warm, yet it could not dissipate the coldness of my limbs completely.

‘’You’re in a pretty bad shape, that’s true.’’ He frowned. Then, his eyes widened, and the grin returned to his face. ‘’Well… I do have a way, but it comes with some complications.’’

‘Complications…?’ I frowned. ‘’Ser Zatren… if I die or live today, I do not care. You are the victor of our duel, and the strong are the ones who get to decide for the weak.’’

‘’Yes, yes, you’re edgy, I get it.’’ The man deadpanned.

I did not have knowledge of what ‘edges’ had to do with this, but for some reason, I felt deeply insulted.

‘’I could bring you back… but as my servant.’’ He explained, making my eyes widen. ‘’There’s a particular set of technology back in my world, made by Beelzebub herself to reincarnate people into members of a ‘Peerage’. It’s even able to heal fatal injuries upon reincarnation or bring people back from the dead if they perished very recently. Ah, it’s also based on chess, and…’’

As the man rambled, I instead focused on the first part of his speech.

‘To come back… as his Servant?’ I could almost laugh. ‘My master cannot be weak, that much is true, but this…’

‘’I sense some sort of ploy… to turn me into one of your concubines, Ser Zatren…’’ I interrupted him, raising an eyebrow. ‘’Your so-called ‘Desire’ was just that strong, after all…’’

The man stopped as I huffed in amusement. ‘’Your stare is… quite noticeable. Countless times… had I seen the same thing.’’

‘’Hey, this is not a seduction attempt, you know?’’ He looked almost offended. Almost, if it wasn’t for the upturn of his lips in his otherwise worried expression. ‘’Though… if things come to that, I can at the very least promise that I shall treat you right.’’

‘’To offer such things to a married woman is—cough—Haa… whatever.’’ It’s not like that mattered much, considering just what sort of things happened back in Camelot. Could I even call what I had a proper marriage?

Ha… my eyelids were starting to feel heavy…

‘’…Do as you wish, Ser Zatren.’’

The man rolled his eyes before pulling a box out of nowhere. Idly, I stared as chess pieces were pulled from the box. A Bishop, a Rook, and a Knight. All of them are a beautiful shade of purple-blue with a hint of gold.

‘’Choose then.’’ The man offered. ‘’Do you wish to be my Bishop, a piece centered in magic prowess? A Rook, the one centered in taking blows and dishing them back? Or a Knight, capable of impressive feats of agility?’’

The man’s gaze lingered a bit too long on the Knight piece. I could not blame him, considering my title and strengths, yet I couldn’t bring myself to ever take a title like that again, no matter how meaningless it was.

‘’Rook…’’ I whispered with the last of my strength, as I felt my eyes close on their own.

For a moment, I believed the cold embrace of death had taken hold of my body before the warrior, mage… whatever he called himself, was able to heal me.

Yet, a second later, a powerful heat spread through my body. Instinctively, I clenched my fists around Excalibur.

There was no injury on my flesh anymore, but the exhaustion of the fight, along with most of my strength having disappeared with the grail, made me want to simply lie and sleep.

I felt my body being carried in between firm arms, no doubt those of that man who so boldly dared to hold a dragon as if she were a mere damsel.

And I couldn’t even protest about it.

‘So what? Let him have my flesh if he so desires.’ I nuzzled into the warmth for once. ‘To the victor go the spoils, and to the dragon goes the gold. That is the way of life.’

I didn’t even notice how we had shifted, but I barely cracked an eye open to notice we were in a different place. I saw a petite woman with hair tied in twin tails side by side with a stone-faced woman, much taller than even the man holding me, who had long, green, messy hair.

From the corner of my eye, I saw that there was someone else. A small white-haired girl in black, clean robes that hid behind the smaller woman’s leg, much to her rising excitement.

‘Jack The Ripper…’ I hummed. ‘So I was not the only person he saved.’

Suddenly, the man shifted. Then, in a panicked tone, he shouted.

‘’Oh shit. I’m missing Kokopuff’s forces getting their ass beat!’’ For some reason, he sounded equal parts disappointed and amused.

For a moment, I thought about asking who this ‘Kokopuff’ was… but that was something I could worry about when I had the strength to raise my blade. After all, a weakened Servant would be of no use to a strong Master like Ser Zatren.

‘…I wonder if there are fries or burgers here.’ I wondered, remembering the delicacies I had tasted before the entire war fell into chaos as my eyes closed again.

-X-x-X-

.

.

.

Author's Note:

Dungeon complete! Man, that felt a lot longer than I expected.

Hope I managed to depict Artoria Alter well enough, because being honest... she kind of doesn't exist.

What I mean is, in the Anime, Saber Alter is just Saber but corrupted. This is not the Saber we are looking at here. This is Saber Alter from F/GO, which is the embodiment of Artoria's resentment and or anger. The ruthless sword to the usually diplomatic pen. Ying and Yang, ahh. You catch my drift.

(In some cases, it's almost literal. OG Saber loves well-prepared, delicious meals, while Saber Alter prefers cheap fast food like burgers and fries and detests overplicated stuff, kek)

Anyway, if anyone's wondering (even if it is explained during the scene), the Cursed Series is not specifically the one born of Zatren's weapon.

Cursed Series in Rising of the Shield Hero are, in short, a failsafe. When the hero's perspective of the world gets shattered, it is equivalent to ''the destruction of one's heart''. Basically, an event that changes them on a deep and permanent level.

Zatren's Harpoon of Greed is a mix of his own Curse of Greed and being a God of Abundance. However, it's still a 'cursed series', meaning that overuse is less than ideal, and it comes with the psychological aspect of such a thing (which was blocked off by another skill), but because of it being born out of him and not out of trauma, then unlocking a ''Blessed Series'' should be that much easier.

Also, much like in the series, the special skills of the Cursed Series (Which some people like me have taken to call ''Execution Skills'') are basically a fuck-ton of true, fixed damage. Think of a game where a boss uses an attack that does 9999 damage and cannot be reduced in any way. Meaning your only bet is to tank it or dodge it.

And if anyone's wondering, Zatren did not need to reincarnate Jack to take her out of the Dungeon. That was only done because he could not ''heal'' Artoria's body, as the corruption from the grail composed most of her body by that point, unlike Jack. If he was able to heal Artoria, then putting the two of them in his party and exiting the Dungeon would have been enough.

Anyway! I have 14 more chapters of this fic on my if you wish to support me.

Discord Link: .gg/92Yt5wxeWN