-Sleeping Dragon Forest-
In the middle of the night, Dante was sitting up on a tree. Keeping watch, as he was replaying the scene in his head. Over and over again.
//Flashback //
Artoria: Artoria... Artoria Pendragon.
Dante: Phuuuufhhh.....
The moment the girl announced her name, Dante spitt out the water from his mouth.
He was just looking at the girl right in front of him, he was shell shocked.
Dante:( Artoria Pendragon!?... That Artoria Pendragon!? The future king of knights!?...I mean, Queen of knights in this situation. If I recall it correctly. The books from Alain's house, they mentioned the three big houses of the Domain. Right now, the heiress to the Pendragon house hold is sitting with us.
Is that weight or advantage for us?)
While Dante was deep in his thoughts, Lilith was more frantic than ever. She have bombarded Artoria with a huge amount of questions at high speed.
Dante grabbed a hold of Lilith and excused them selfs as he walked into the woods with Lilith in hand. When Dante was a safe distance away, he let go of Lilith.
Lilith: Gaahhh! I told you! This is not the way to treat a Lady!
Dante: Be quiet for a second and listen.
Lilith: What?
Dante was massaging his forehead and tryed to faze his sentences as the best he could.
Dante: We can't take her with us. She is too much of a liability.
Lilith: WHAT!? You can't be serious. She is the heiress of the Pendragon family! We can't just leave her.
Dante: And that is why, we must not. She IS the heiress of the Pendragon family. If we take her with us, our cover is blown or worse. We will be confined and imprisoned for kidnapping and for impersonation. Maybe even for murder!
Lilith just gave Dante her deadpan face and continued.
Lilith: Really? It is your fault, that you are impersonating a royal brat and second of all we saved her, not kidnapped her.
Further more, you, yourself are a CHILD!
Who would think a child would be capable of such things?
Dante was annoyed but he saw logic in Lilith's words. It was true that, he was indeed a child himself. But...
Dante: Still, it's too dangerous. If we don't count the things I said, she is still brings us danger.
Lilith: And Why?
Dante: Do you really think that, just a small team of bandits, would risk their hide to kidnap the heiress of the second most powerful family? No. There is more to this.
Lilith: One more reason to bring her with us!
She is just a child. She would die out here alone. Look. At least, let's take her to Latram.
There, we will figure out, what to do.
Alright?
Dante was frustrated. In the end he gave in.
Dante: Haaaaah, OK! Fine. But only to Latram.
As the two returned from the woods, they put out the fire and headed to sleep. Except Dante.
// End of Flashback //
Dante: hmmm... trouble seems to always find me. I need to grow stronger. Strong enough to crush anyone, who dares to stand in my way. *Stats*
LV: 11
Exp: 1062/5639
Dante Dragneel Uchiha
HP: 280/280
MP: 1095/1095
Strength: 30
Dexterity: 40
Endurance: 50
Constitution: 30
Intelligence: 50
Attribute points: 10
Skill point: 8
Racial progress:
[Fullbringer 60%]
[Uchiha 17%]
[Demon 2%] [LOCKED]
[Quincy 18%]
[Hollow 5%]
[Soul Reaper 20%]
Skills:
Transmute, Bone dart LV II, Appraisal LV III, Bringer's light LV III, Bone spear: LV II, Ghaster Blaster LV I,
Zanpaktou LV III: Asauchi,
Advanced sword combat,
Fullbring LV II, Fullbring: Tracer's light ,
Flash step LV II, Getsuga Tenshou LV II,
Full Counter LV II, Bala LV II,
Mirage Blades LV II
Unique skills:
[Fullbring: One Winged Angel LV I:]
The host combine his Quincy side with his Fullbring capabilities, entering a state of greater potential. While in that state, the host gains a creation like ability and can absorb spiritual energy and mana from his surrounding, further enhancing him self and his abilitys.
[Unique skill: Sharingan 3 tomoe:]
The three-tome Sharingan grants the user enhanced perception and analysis and the ability to copy various skills and moves, predict enemy movement and the ability to perceive mana flow. It also allows to cast more powerful genjutsu and gain a greater understanding of mana. The host becomes highly resistant to illusions and can see through them and through invisibility as well.
[Sharingan Genjutsu:]
The fully matured sharingan can easily cast a an illusion to manipulate, confuse or make the target fall asleep.
[ShiKai reales:]
Using the call world of the Zanpaktou, release the first stage of it's form. Granting the host increased strength, speed and increased MP.
While in Shi Kai, the host's MP will constantly act as a natural shield, absorbing some of the incoming damage at a cost.
Spells:
Wind manipulation LV II,
Wind Blades LV II,
Gale palm LV II
Hurricane LV II
Wind sword LV II
Mana zone: Tempest LV II
Ashen Arsenal: Ashen Daggers
Ashen Gauntlet
Ashen Switch Blade
Traits:
Artificer prodigy
Herbologist
Exceptional talent
Crimson red eyes
[Evaluation: as stronge as a Gold Rank Adventurer]
As Dante was cruising through his stats, he decided to add all his AP to his Dex stat.
Dexterity: 40 -> 50
Dante: I should focus on speed for the time being. My small figure would be more effective with speed than strength for now.
He than looked through his upgrade menu.
There were multiple good choices to buy new skills or upgrade the previous ones.
There were a few skills that he definitely wanted such as Vanishing Counter, Lightning reales Affinity, Hollow Mask and Blut. Some skills were more beneficial at later levels but they cost more skill points or were locked. Such as, Short Cut, Sharingan expansion, Demon Mark and Dragon Trigger.
Dante: If I can cultivate my sharingan to it's Mangekyou state and get sharingan expansion, I will have access to all of the mangekyou sharingan abilities and the eternal state as well. Of course there is the question of the Bankai as well. For now, let's go with the obvious choice.
-Ding-
[Congratulations on acquiring: Lightning release affinity!]
[Skill development room, unlocked!]
[You gained a one time free access!]
Dante: Huh!? A new funktion? But it's limited.
I have one free use. Do I live with it now or later?
Dante was thinking hard but ultimately decided to live with it now. As he clicked use, his consciousness was pulled into a special space.
Dante:What? Is this some kind of pocket dimension?
Dante was standing in an empty gray space that felt and looked like a digital interface. As he was wondering, what is this place. A mechanical sound called out from the sky.
[Wellcome. Host has an opportunity to create a single skill of his liking, creation is limited to a single skill and can only develop the skill if the host is in possession of it's requirements and capable of handling it.
Please, imagine the skill in your head and extraction will commence shortly.]
Dante was amazed. He can create any type of skill, that he wants for free. Of course, he had only a few options but still.
Dante was thinking hard. He could create any type of skill as long as it is in his range of affinity. In the end he came up with something simple but deadly. A lightning based, fast paced and precise, sword style. Combining the infamous Vergil's Dark slayer style from Devil May Cry and Zenitsu's thunder breathing style from Demon Slayer while constantly reinforcing himself with lightning to enhance his reaction speed.
[Host's thoughts being captured...]
[Host's thoughts have been captured!]
[Beginning of simulation...]
Before Dante's eyes, a perfect copy of himself appeared and started to execute various movements using his sword.
After an hour the figure executed all the moves and disappeared.
-Ding-
[Simulation completed!]
[Preparing for skill transfer... ... ... Transferring skill.]
Dante's sharingan activated and his body started to move by itself. Executing the same moves as his clone before. Pain coursed through his body, his eyes were burning and all his muscles and Mana circuits were jolted with electricity. His head was killing him, while all the information was flowing into him.
The next hour was spent with performing all the moves multiple times until, he could execute them on his own without the system's help.
[Congratulations on creating a new skill!]
[Please name the new skill...]
Dante: hmm...How about...
[Congratulations on creating the new skill: Thunder slayer style]
As the system announced the creation of a new skill, Dante's consciousness started to slip again. He found himself again at the tree top but it was already dawn. As he looked down, he activated his sharingan. But he only saw Lilith, sleeping deeply.
Dante:( SHIT! I spent the whole night on the new skill! Where is Artoria?!)
Without wasting time, he immediately jumped down and started to search after Artoria. As he was running through the forest he spotted Artoria's Mana flow. He accelerated using bringer's light, he jumped high and draw his revolver and sword. He landed near Artoria's location with a heavy thud. She was at a small lake not far off from camp.
He looked around but didn't see anything threatening. Than he turned in the direction of Artoria.
Both Dante's and Artoria's gaze met.
She was washing up her face in the lake.
Under that much dirt, Dante never properly saw Artoria's face. Now he was a little bit stunned. In the sun's first rays, her emerald green eyes and golden blonde hair were glowing faintly, perfectly complementing her face.
Artoria was startled when someone landed near her, she stopped immediately and looked at the newcomer. When the boy turned around, she immediately realized it was Dante. As he stood at edge of the lake, she froze. His blood red eyes were not as menacing in the sunlight as it was in darkness. She was almost mesmerized by the slowly rotating pattern in Dante's eyes.
Dante: Um...Morning. I didn't saw you at camp so I... Let's just head back, when you are done.
Artoria snapped out from her daze and shyly answered Dante.
Artoria: Oh...I'm sorry...I...just wanted to wash my face a little. Sorry for making you worried.
Dante turned around, hiding his embarrassed face and continued.
Dante: It's ok. Let's have breakfast and gather up. We need to hit the road.
Artoria just nodded and followed Dante back to camp. They were quiet on the way back, Artoria was staring at Dante's back. She started to get used to Dante's imposing presence but she was still a little afraid.
The Redgrave name, carried a cearten menace. After all, they were called the Executioners for a reason.
As they reached the camp, Lilith was already up and having breakfast. Eating her berries.
She glanced at the duo, she could see the tension between the two but Dante's eyes were normal, not in the sharingan state.
Than she giggled.
Lilith: hehehe... Good Morning you two. How was the...Aaaaahhhhh!
Before Lilith couldn't finish her sentence, Dante grabbed his Grimoar and smacked her down like an annoying fly.
Dante: Don't even try to finish that sentence!
Anyway, why did you let her to wonder in the forest alone!? She could have got hurt!
Lilith was in agony as Dante was pulling her cheeks from both side but her pain was temporary. She was smiling under her nose.
Because Dante's cheeks were also a little red.
Lilith:(OH MY GOD! HE IS BLUSHING! For the first time, he is embarrassed! Ohohoho, I am going to enjoy this.)
After they finished their meal and packed up. The trio continued their journey to Latram.
Their speed was noticably slower.
Dante was walking at the front, making sure that there are no surprises on the road. His sharingan surveying the path up ahead.
In the meantime, Artoria and Lilith were walking behind Dante. Not too far so if something happens, Dante could react but not too close so he wouldn't hear their conversation or at least that's what Lilith thought, while they were whispering.
Lilith: nah,nah, What happened at the lake?
Tell me.
Artoria was hesitant but she answered.
Artoria: N-Nothing much...he was just worried.
Lilith now was eager. She never saw Dante worrie about anyone. She saw him concerned but never worried.
Lilith: Tell me, how he looked like? How he acted? Tell me every detail.
As Artoria thought back, she remembered Dante's eyes. How they were looked like in the morning light. She was getting flustered but fear also got a hold of her. Lilith immediately caught on.
Lilith: ( She is still afraid of him. I need to change that.)
They continued to walk like this for a while.
Lilith was trying to explain to Artoria, that there is no reason to be afraid from him.
Dante mostly ignored there "secret" conversation as he walked forward. His eyes on the road. Searching his surroundings for any potential threats.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully.
They made camp not far off the road at the side of the forest. The dinner passed swiftly and everyone headed to bed.
Dante was perching on a rock nearby. His eyes scanning the night but his mind was elsewhere.
Dante: ( Fuck it. I was thinking the whole day. I will earn more skill points in the future. It's time to spend some cash.)
Dante pulled up his upgrade tab and decided to spend his points.
[Congratulations on acquiring the skill:
Hollow Mask LV I]
[Congratulations on acquiring the skill:
Blut LV I]
Skill points: 6 -> 3 -> 0
Dante: ( Nice. This will come in handy.)
As Dante were immersed in the system, someone was coming up behind him.
Learning from his past mistakes before he looked at the system, he let some of his spiritual energy out to sense if anyone is approaching.
He sensed someone's spiritual energy as they were coming up to him but the feeling was familiar. Dante turned around and his crimson red eyes spotted Artoria in the darkness. She jumped a little bit as Dante looked at her. His eyes casting a crimson red light in the darkness.
Dante: Hey, Artoria. Something wrong?
Hearing Dante's question, Artoria came out from her daze and moved closer.
Artoria: May I sit next to you?
Dante: I don't mind.
She sat down next to him and they were just sitting there for a while, in silence. After a while Artoria was the one who broke the silence.
Artoria: I...I would like to apologize...
Dante was confused. She wanted to apologize. She didn't do anything wrong.
Then he curiously asked.
Dante: For what?
Artoria: When...we first met. I was scared. I'm... still a little scared.
I-I heard that, the Redgraves were ruthless killers...and when I saw your eyes...I thought...
Dante: You thought, I was there to kill you?
Silence were stretching between the two but after a while Artoria answered, on a low and regretful tone.
Artoria: ...yes...
In that moment, something compelled Dante to come clean. Somehow he couldn't lie to her.
Dante: I'm not a Redgrave.
Artoria looked at Dante with surprise.
Dante also looked at Artoria and stared into her eyes as he continued.
Dante: Look into my eyes and tell me, what you see.
As Artoria looked into Dante's eyes, she saw for the first time clearly his sharingan.
His red eyes didn't had that distinctive yellowish red hue as in any other Redgrave's eyes. In fact, they were crimson red and there were three point like symbols. Slowly rotating around his pupils.
Artoria was captived by them. Now. From up close, the eyes she feared were no more. Her fear slowly disappeared as she realized that the boy wasn't a Redgrave. But then, who was he? Curiosity took over her mind.
Than she asked.
Artoria: Who are you?
Dante was searching a way to lie but he couldn't. In the end, he decided to go with the truth this time.
Dante: ...Dante Dragneel Uchiha...
To be continued...