Location: The Capital of Rome - Imperial Palace Plaza
Status: Under Siege by the United Empire
The path to the throne room was blocked not by an army, but by a single woman.
She had white hair, red markings on her skin, and held a sword that hummed with tri-colored light.
Altera (Attila the Hun). The Scourge of God.
She stood amidst the rubble of destroyed buildings.
"Civilization," Altera spoke in a monotone voice. "Is bad. It must be destroyed."
Nero stepped forward, clutching Aestus Estus. "Altera! You would destroy my Rome just because you lack appreciation for art?!"
Altera looked at Nero. "Art is bad civilization. Rome is bad civilization."
She raised her sword, Photon Ray. The blade elongated, turning into a whip of destructive light.
"Tear... Drop... Photon Ray!"
The beam slashed horizontally, cutting the top off a nearby coliseum.
Mash gasped. "Magic energy output rising! It's Anti-Civilization grade!"
Raiden walked past Nero.
He stared at the rainbow-colored sword.
"It spins," Raiden observed. "It glows. It has three colors."
He looked at Mio.
"It looks like a candy cane. Or a peppermint stick."
Altera paused. "Candy...?"
Raiden vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Altera, mid-swing.
He didn't dodge the light. He grabbed the energy blade with his bare hand.
[Gluttony: Energy Assimilation]
The destructive photons hissed as they touched his skin, but instead of burning him, they were sucked into his palm.
"Let me taste," Raiden said.
He licked the energy blade.
Zzzt.
"Minty," Raiden concluded. "Fresh. A bit tingly."
Altera's eyes widened slightly - the most emotion she had shown. "You... ate the destruction?"
"You call this destruction?" Raiden released the blade (which was now flickering weakly). "I call it a breath mint."
He flicked Altera on the forehead.
Thwack.
The King of Combat staggered back, dropping her sword.
"Sit down," Raiden ordered. "You're not the main course. You're the palate cleanser."
From the balcony of the Imperial Palace, slow clapping echoed.
Lev Lainur stood there, his green hat casting a shadow over his smirk.
"Impressive," Lev sneered. "Truly impressive. To humiliate Altera... you are no ordinary familiar."
"Cut the chat, Leprechaun," Raiden called up. "Show me the squid."
Lev's face twisted into a mask of rage.
"Squid?! I am one of the 72 Demon Gods! I am the King of Magic's pillar!"
"TRANSFORMATION!"
Lev's human body exploded in a shower of gore.
In its place, a monstrosity erupted from the ground.
It was a massive pillar of red flesh, covered in hundreds of blinking eyes. It towered over the palace, pulsating with mana.
Demon God Pillar: Flauros.
"BEHOLD! I AM THE OBSERVER! I WILL INCINERATE YOUR HISTORY!"
The eyes all focused on Raiden. Beams of heat prepared to fire.
Raiden didn't flinch. He drooled.
"Look at that texture," Raiden critiqued. "Squishy. Chewy. Definitely octopus."
He turned to his team.
"Kitchen stations, everyone!"
Jalter: "I am NOT your sous-chef!"
Raiden: "Jalter! Fire control! I need a slow roast!"
Jalter grumbled but summoned her flag. "Fine! La Grondement Du Haine!"
Black flames erupted around the base of the Pillar, trapping it in a ring of fire.
Raiden: "Melusine! Tenderize the meat!"
Melusine: "With pleasure, my love!"
She launched herself like a missile. "Innocence Arondight!"
She flew circles around the pillar, her blades slashing the flesh, cutting off the hard outer bits and exposing the tender mana core.
Raiden: "Ishtar! Seasoning!"
Ishtar: "Seasoning?! I am a Goddess!"
Raiden: "Drop the gems! Hard minerals add crunch!"
Ishtar sighed and opened her Gate. "Take this! Venusian Gemstone Shower!"
Thousands of jewels pelted the pillar, embedding themselves in the flesh.
Flauros screamed. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! I AM A GOD! STOP COOKING ME!"
It fired lasers from its eyes.
Raiden manifested [Void God Azathoth].
But he didn't summon a black hole.
He shaped the void energy into two massive, black, mile-long cylinders.
[Void Art: Cosmic Chopsticks]
The giant black chopsticks descended from the sky.
Snap.
They pinched the Demon God Pillar.
Flauros struggled. "UNHAND ME! I CANNOT BE EATEN! I AM INFINITE!"
"Nothing is infinite," Raiden floated up to the giant trapped pillar.
He expanded his jaw. [Gluttony: True Form - Partial].
A spectral dragon head the size of a mountain materialized around him.
"Except my appetite."
Raiden (and the spectral dragon) took a bite.
CRUNCH.
He bit off the top third of the Demon God Pillar.
Blood, mana, and screams sprayed across Rome.
Raiden chewed.
"Chewy," he mumbled. "Tastes like calamari soaked in old books."
He took another bite.
CHOMP.
Half the pillar was gone.
Flauros: "NO! NOOOO! GOETIA SAVE ME! HE'S EATING MY SOUL!"
"Last bite," Raiden swallowed.
He shoved the remaining stump of the pillar into his mouth.
Gulp.
The Demon God Pillar was gone.
Raiden patted his stomach.
"Needs more soy sauce."
Silence fell over the plaza.
The Roman soldiers dropped their weapons.
Nero stood with her mouth open in an un-emperor-like fashion.
Altera, who was sitting on a rock nearby, stared blankly.
"Civilization..." Altera whispered. "Was eaten."
She looked at Raiden.
"He is... Scary Civilization."
Raiden landed. He burped a small cloud of black smoke.
[System Update]
[Consumed: Demon God Pillar Flauros.]
[Mana Capacity: Increased.]
[acquired Skill: Demon God Eyes (Clairvoyance C+).]
"Not bad," Raiden picked his teeth. "A bit heavy on the stomach though."
He looked at Nero.
"Job done. Your city is safe. Your calamari problem is solved."
Nero ran up and hugged him (or tried to, Melusine intercepted her with a growl).
"Umu! You are magnificent! You shall be the Imperial Protector of Rome!"
"Pass," Raiden said. "Too much stone, not enough food."
He turned to Ritsuka.
"Hey, Gudao. Where's the cup?"
In the crater where Flauros used to be, the Holy Grail was lying in the dirt, slightly covered in saliva.
Ritsuka picked it up with a handkerchief. "We got it!"
Location: Roman Countryside - Rayshift Point
The group prepared to leave.
Nero was crying dramatic tears. "Do not go! My harem is incomplete without you!"
Altera stood next to Nero.
"I will stay here," Altera said. "I will learn about... Good Civilization. Maybe try candy."
Raiden patted Altera's head.
"Try the peppermint. It fits you."
Ishtar was trying to pry gems out of the nearby rocks before they left. "Just one more emerald!"
Jalter crossed her arms. "Hmph. It wasn't that impressive. I overcooked it slightly."
Raiden patted Jalter's head. "The char was perfect."
Jalter turned red and looked away. "Whatever."
Romani (Hologram): "Retrieval commencing! Good job everyone! Though... I'm worried about Raiden's cholesterol after eating a Demon God."
The light of the Rayshift engulfed them.
Location: Chaldea - Briefing Room
Time: 2 Hours Later
Raiden sat in a chair, digesting.
Da Vinci was poking his stomach. "Fascinating. The Demon God tissue has been completely converted into bio-energy."
Olga Marie sighed. "We secured the second Grail. But the readings for the third Singularity are already active."
"Third?" Raiden yawned. "What's on the menu?"
"Ocean," Romani brought up the map. "1573. The Age of Discovery. Pirates. The Pirate Drake."
"Ocean," Raiden's eyes snapped open.
"That means fish. Real fish. Not demon squid."
He stood up.
"Let's go. I want sushi."
Nyx: [Alert. High-Level Divine Spirit signature detected in the next Singularity. Greek Origins.]
Raiden smirked.
"Greek food is good too."