Micchi Versus the New World - Chapter 96

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Chapter 96

"Anego, you big dummy!" Yui started thumping her fists into my chest. "I won't show you any mercy next time!"

"Heh. I don't expect you to," I said, squishing Yui's cheeks as she pouts.

Our eyes were drawn to the top of the pyramid where whatever was shining on the pedestal intensified to a blinding pitch, like a dying star about to explode. The prize of the bitch goddess trial was up there.

Yui put a hand over her eyes and frowned. "I don't actually care about what's up there. If you think it's gonna make you strong enough to fight Chika, then it's all yours."

"What? Suddenly you don't want it anymore?" I asked.

"I know you're stronger. Always have. I've been watching from the back for as long as I can remember." She flashed a toothy smile.

"Alright, then. Let's go take this cunt's shit."

As we walked up to the pyramid, an invisible force stopped both of us. Yui and I tried to punch through it, but it only caused ripples through the rest of the barrier.

"Maybe there's a hidden switch somewhere?" Yui suggested.

It occured to me that the sound of fighting in the other chamber had also quieted down.

"Is that it up there? Doesn't look like much," Kaoru said from behind, Kamigoroshi in hand and dragging Anya in the other.

"Looks like… I'm losing my edge…" Anya croaked.

Kaoru tossed Anya to the ground in front of us. She was bruised badly, bleeding from countless cuts, and struggled to breath.

"Anya!" Yui rushed over to help her.

"You really did a number on Anya. Didn't even bother to hold back?" I growled at the avatar of Bishamonten projected behind the yakuza delinquent's back.

"I've told you before, Micchi. Anything that threatens my paradise will see no mercy from me. I stopped believing in gods when my little brother passed away, but that power up there, whatever godly blessing it is in this world, I'll believe in them one last time just to seize it." The flames wreathed behind Kaoru grew larger.

They reflected her resolve. Kaoru slaughtered me back then when I had Sacchan, so what chance would I have now without it?

No, it didn't do me any good acting like chickenshit. If I did, then I already lost. Kaoru was showing me everything she had. It was only right that I do the same.

"Yui, get Anya outta the way. Maybe one of those shields are enchanted enough to protect you guys," I said.

"We're fighting this bitch together!" Yui insisted.

"You haven't noticed yet? Our battles here have been one on ones the entire way through. If I go down, it's your turn. But I ain't planning to go down. I'm kicking this shotacon's ass back to Jinwa crying."

This trial belonged to the god of battle and glory. I should have known this wasn't going to go down any other way.

Yui nodded, then carried Anya away on her shoulders.

"You can barely stay standing after your fight with Yui. I understand you want this power to grow strong enough to fight Ashura, but we both know you still won't have what it takes to face her. I do. I'll take revenge on your behalf," Kaoru said.

"Revenge?" I shook my head. "That's where you're wrong. This ain't about getting even with Chika. It never was."

"Then for what reason?" she asked, frustration coming through in her voice.

Instead of answering her question, I raised the only two weapons I had left— my fists.

"Bishamonten of Kyushu, Kaoru Sensoukouji. The only god you'll be when I'm done with you is the god of day care, you resting-bitch-faced shotacon!" I taunted.

"Kaminari, Michiru Tokiwa." Kaoru shut her eyes for a second, and upon opening them, ignited Kamigoroshi with black flames. "I hope you remembered to wear your diaper, because the one in need of day care the most is you."

In a blink of an eye, she slammed into me with a bone-shattering kick. I blocked the hit with both arms. The impact sent me skidding.

Attack after attack, Bishamonten, the god of war, unleashed an unrelenting series of blows that would end me if I missed the block. My arms felt like they were going to be torn off their sockets. Had we fought before Anya tired her out, I'd be seeing stars about now.

Kaoru swooped my legs out from under me. I saw the ceiling first, then the point of her spear. When I dove out of the way, the attack cratered the ground.

I saw it. Unlike Anya's method of fighting where she temporarily enhanced physical strength and defenses with magic, Kaoru was all magic. Right at the second she hit, her legs, arms, and even Kamigoroshi exploded with crazy energy on the level of Mildred or Loraine's destruction, but all at a single point.

And with the accuracy of a spellslinger.

Was that what Kaoru was?

If so, she could have fooled me. All this time, I thought she just hit hard. Time to put that theory to the test.

"Come on… Give me your best shot!" I shouted, planting my feet firmly on the ground.

"I'll make it quick for you!" Kaoru thrusted Kamigoroshi forward.

I sidestepped it at the very last second, and a marble-sized magic orb at the tip of her spear exploded behind my head. Kaoru locked eyes with me for a split second and knew that I caught on. I threw out a punch, but she kneed my gut first and sent me flying backwards.

"Spellslinger, huh? You go in hard and fast so we got no time to fight back. Of course, you're gonna hit hard, but that means your defenses ain't so hot. That's why you blocked my attack back in Taiq'ae. You knew I'd off ya." I grinned.

Still, a spellslinger against my berserker class put me at a disadvantage. I was hurt to hell and back, which meant one hit from me should really fuck her up. Problem was, she was being careful now and keeping at a distance.

"Hmph. So what if you know? It changes nothing that you're on the verge of passing out. Even if you know how to fight back, I have one trick you cannot counter," Kaoru said, rearing back Kamigoroshi and channeling an incredible amount of magic into it. Black fire on her spear gathered to the tip. The room became a whole lot hotter.

There was no dodging this attack, but Anya caught it with a bare hand last time. Even if I somehow magically dodged it, the spear would return to Kaoru right away.

I had no other choice but to run. Straight for her. Putting every ounce of strength I had left in my legs, I ignored the blistering pain and continued forward. But there wasn't much left. I wasn't going to make it.

Just as my body was about to give out, the pendant around my neck— Loraine's silver pendant she gifted to me was glowing brightly. The stamina I thought had run out returned like a breath of fresh air.

Micchi!

I heard my name in Loraine's voice.

"Micchi!" Anya and Yui shouted to join her in cheering me on.

"Say good night, Micchi!" Kaoru threw Kamigoroshi, energy screeching all along its shaft and carving a trench as it flew toward me.

"YOU FIRST, BITCH!" I took off my jacket, rolled it around my fist, and punched the point of the spear.

Kaoru, Anya, and Yui were stunned.

The ensuing explosion from me and Kamigoroshi scattered debris, armor, and weapons up against the walls. My jacket received the brunt of the hit and disintegrated.

"I ain't done!" I yelled, running right up to Kaoru. Panicking, she summoned Kamigoroshi back to her hand. I buried my unclothed fist into her stomach first, throwing her across the room like a ragdoll, faster than the shockwave that came next.

Kaoru crashed into the wall, buried under rubble falling on top of her. A minute passed of me trying to catch my breath, and she hasn't gotten up.

"I did it… I beat Bishamonten…"

"Micchi, look up!" Yui pointed to the pyramid.

The barrier shimmered, then vanished.

Anya gave me a proud smirk and nodded me onwards.

I climbed the steps, wondering what it could be. A new weapon? A crystal like what was buried inside Sacchan?

However, what awaited me at the top was a woman, dressed in gold and silver armor like her own locks of hair, a large warhammer at her side. The goddess Lyria.

"The Trial may have accepted your victory, but I have not. You cheat, scoundrel!" Lyria snarled.

Fade emerged from the Celestial Bell himself to confront her.

"Your trial is over, Lyria! Micchi has won. Now step aside," the god said.

"Finally grew a pair?" I sneered.

"Although I may not be the strongest among my fellows, I know what is right and wrong. This victory is yours, Micchi. Whatever lies behind Lyria belongs to you," he declared.

"I decide who is victorious!" Infuriated, Lyria stomped forward with her warhammer. "I am the goddess of battle and glory! You are just a gnat in a pond of—"

I stopped the warhammer's heavy attack with one hand, shocking both gods.

"Fuck off." A single backhand to Lyria's face knocked her tumbling down the pyramid.

With the warhammer in hand, I walked up to the pedestal and used the weapon to smash open the glowing glass case. The light faded away, revealing a potion inside. I popped open the top and drank the cool liquid.

"Now what?" I asked.

I didn't feel any stronger. If anything, I wanted some water to wash the sour taste away.

"Hey!" I jumped down the pyramid and landed next to Lyria's head, then lifted her up to face me. "Goddess of Defeat and Disappointment, I drank your potion. What's next? If you don't answer, I'm dragging you back up there to chuck you off again for a new record."

"Ow… Please, don't hurt me… The potion… it gives you… a secondary subclass of your choice. Wish for it, and I shall grant it to you," she groaned in tears.