Harald, the king, made the first move. He cast a runic circle that sprouted massive tree branches. It perfectly countered Elon’s incoming murder of ravens. The arms dealer himself effortlessly dodged the attack.

Elon summoned a crow the size of a bungalow. In response, Harald created a common weakness for any avian: a glass wall five meters thick. Elon’s eyes widened at the bird’s cruel fate of having its neck snap in two. “That was too much, you bloody cunt.”

Harald cast another large runic circle. Massive stone fists threw a flurry against Elon, and they converted into steel momentarily. No matter what he did, the king countered his every attack. Yet no matter what the other did, the arms dealer moved out of the way and never received a scratch.

After thirty minutes of nonstop, back-to-back techniques, they panted in exhaustion. “Do you understand now…? We cannot do this forever…” said Harald.

He nodded. “Yeah… This standoff would last us until we’re both six feet under. So what do you propose instead, mate?”

He pulled out two cups via runes. “Care for some Darjeeling?”

Elon chuckled. “You’ve read my mind. That’s my all-time favorite.”

They decided to sit at a table with a chessboard. Instead of bloodshed, Harald and Elon settled their fight in one of the oldest allegories of strategy.

Three minutes in, Elon lost his queen and two rooks. He chuckled again. “You’re awfully devilish for a humble king, your majesty. Now, I’m not so sure if fate is telling me the truth.”

Harald smiled. “What fate tells you is not trickery before your eyes. I lead people, first and foremost. I’d never make unlawful sacrifices. If I had one wish—I would carry all their burdens and keep them out of harm’s way.”

The sibling trio finally caught up with the couple’s whereabouts; the latter rode on William’s airship. Haruto and Tokino introduced them to the other couple. Kakunō stood in utter shock. “Damn… never knew they’d be pals with two notorious murderers.”

Kenkō stepped in front. “You two! Over here,” she pointed at William and Grace. “I don’t trust your guts for a millisecond. I don’t care how real your friendship is. Try anything funny, and I swear upon the Gods I’ll end you on the spot.” Her eyes glared intently.

Tokino covered her mouth and gasped. “How could you say that? You don’t have to be cruel to them. Where’s your heart—” Grace held her shoulder and walked past her.

She patted Kenko’s head. “Oh, you poor thing. Everyone’s been looking down on you as a child, haven’t they? Is that why you lash out?”

She blushed. “Th-That’s not true, idiot! I have lots of friends back home who respect me. And I love my family dearly!”

Grace shook her head. “I’m not talking about people close to you. The general public has a different viewpoint, after all.” The head patting continued.

Grace talked in a very soft and welcoming tone. Kenkō’s heart bounced instantly.

She gave her simple yet very impactful words. She knew people viewed Kenkō as a cold, irritable kid who was never good to her family members. Or a vulnerable little girl that needed help at all times, regardless of her actual strength. “It’s always healthy to speak your mind with someone else, dear. Your family won’t be with you all the time.”

Tears welled up in Kenkō’s eyes. She immediately hugged the one woman she threatened death before. “Oh, Grace… You have no idea what I’ve been through. I can’t even ride roller coasters unless I have that country boy with me. They think he’s my big brother.” She bawled on her chest more.

Kakunō’s eyes drooped down. “Oh, come on… That’s way too dramatic, dude….”

Grace rubbed Kenkō’s back and gave her comforting words. Yukino stepped in to comfort her further with a head pat, and with that, she dried her eyes and thanked them.

Yukino turned to the gun-wielding wife. “Are you my godparents, now?” She tilted her head.

William gave out a hearty laugh. “Of course! We already planned to be from the start. I have a son just about your age. A bit of a handful, but he’s a good boy nonetheless.”

Yukino’s cheeks unexpectedly reddened in front of everyone. Haruto thought she would see the boy as her brother, but he jogged his memory. He now remembered his daughter’s unusual quirk. She placed her hands on her cheeks. “Oh no… Oh no! My heart’s beating too fast. I-I’m not sure I’ll be ready for it. I’m still young….”

“Wait… Yuki sees every boy her age like that!” Kakunō raised an eyebrow.

Tokino giggled with her eyes closed and moved closer. “Don’t stress yourself, honey. Go for it with no second thoughts! Give it time, and your love together will bloom like me and your father’s.”

Haruto rebuked her advice as very poorly thought out. Even if they end up together in the future, numerous problems may arise. “I don’t deny our Yukino’s feelings. But wishful thinking is not a good thing.”

She raised an eyebrow with eyes squinted. “Huuuuuh? Are you saying I should have thrown you behind bars? Instead of saving you from your endless tears? I like you less every time you’re petty.” She rested her hands on her waist and walked closer.

Haruto backed away with his hands raised. “N-No! Y-You got the wrong idea. I’m just worried that—” He received a forehead tap, much to his annoyance.

Tokino smirked and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I know what you’re saying, honey. But if we found love toward each other, so can our Yukino.” She neared her lips onto his. Everyone from afar blushed.

Yukino giggled and smiled with pure happiness. “I love you all, so mu—” She heard a massive thud that tilted the whole airship for a while.

It startled everyone as well. When they turned around, they saw the Peerless Champion himself.

After greeting his family, Hokori looked from afar and gasped. “Micro Willy, is that you? Holy fuck, man! Long time no see!”

Haruto noticed William looking very embarrassed. “Why did you call him that?” he asked.

“Oh, we made a bet, boy. If I beat his ass, we’d measure our Johnsons. My nutsack alone was longer. Hahahahahahahaha!”

An angered Grace came up to Hokori for a slap in the face. “Why are you here in the first place, you bastard. Don’t tell me you’re here to torment my William again.”

He chuckled. “I’m here cuz my man Harald gave us a mission, bruh. But lemme tell ya a marvelous story….” He explained in full detail how he defeated the captain’s four elite guards:

1. All of Shōyu’s arm and hand joints were dislocated, and a jawbone was all but gone.

2. Shio lost thirteen spinal columns, had both femurs crushed to bits, and received a “wet willy” a middle finger deep.

3. Miso’s head got punched so hard, gray matter flew around the place, and his dismembered leg turned into a makeshift javelin right through his stomach.

4. Karē’s entire rib cage was yanked out and shanked back straight unto his exposed organs.

Hokori’s story gave Grace a gag reflex. Vomiting on the floor became inevitable. “Sorry, everyone…” she slowly stood up.

With the family now together, Kakunō concluded that this was the perfect time to go home. In response, Yukino pulled out the shrunken airship and regrew it in the air. It transformed back into a proper vehicle.

However, Tokino stepped in. “Wait a minute. What about Feuer and his comrades? They’re strong, but I foresee a vague future far away. It’s like they’re losing….”

William turned to her. “They’re fighting captain Aviary, as far as I know. He longed for a good fight against them.” His words made her sweat bullets.

Hearing all this, Hokori got an idea. An awful idea. He got a wonderful, awful idea. He wanted his family to go back to Coelestis and wanted to do karaoke night soon with Danielle.

He whispered to Kenkō, who immediately turned horrified. “Wait! Don’t—” She failed to stop him from leaping far away into the distance.

Kakunō held her shoulder from behind. “It’s pretty tough for you, I know… But he does what he does. You know we can’t stop that. All we can do is—” Thirty seconds after Hokori jumped, he saw the most unorthodox scene of the day.

Everyone saw two human-like figures hurling onto Grace’s airship. The impact was enough to destroy five floors inside.

In the distance, Feuer’s team came to his aid. Looking under the enormous crater formed, they saw Hokori rapidly healing him alongside Aviary. The Novus archmage and pirate captain slowly crawled out on opposite sides. They touched their dizzied heads.

Feuer stood up. “Must you be so insensitive and uncivilized, simpleton… On what side are you in!” His eyes narrowed.

Hokori chuckled. “Das simple. I’m on my Mom and Dad’s side from both worlds! They taught me to live freely!” He wrapped his arm around Feur’s back. “Listen close, pretty boy. We gon’ give dem a show to remember… So ya better watch it, y’all!” He exclaimed to his family and the pirate couple from afar.

He walked to Danielle and Aria. “It’s all good now, fam! Deadass why? Cuz now I’m here n’ shit!” He pointed with his thumb. He also revealed he destroyed the cooled magma that encased their airship before.

Danielle sighed and reluctantly agreed—under the condition that he would genuinely help Feuer. “Don’t you dare fuck around, you here?” she pointed, “Or I will fuck you up in the Fools’ Theater. Even if it sounds impossible.”

On the other hand, Aria would declare Feuer lower than trash if he failed to keep up with the “Worm Emperor’s” pace. Once again, Hokori corrected her that it should be “God” on the title instead.

With all that, the two archmages waved goodbye to everyone and flew to the sky.

Feuer grunted with his eyes narrowed. “Hokori… you are indeed like a brother to me, but as earthly people say: you’re really pissing me the fuck out! My tolerance now has all but vanished. Mark my words—I shall boil your live body—if you’re not of assistance!”

Hokori chuckled. “Well, that’s perfect, fam. It means we be doin’ the old-fashioned ‘teeth-clenched teamwork’ routine! After all, I’m the MC…” he grinned.

“What! Are you taking me for a curr?” he walked closer.

“Nah, nah, seriously. I really do be feelin’ like the actual protagonist. Otherwise, I can’t do shit like dis!” He charged at Aviary, the pirate captain. Before, he stood confused when he saw them arguing.

Even though he knew Hokori was sprinting toward him, not even his innate ability was fast enough to dodge the incoming attack. From a right hook, he flew many kilometers away. It destroyed nearby airships in the process.

Hokori ran back to his comrade and pointed at the distance. “Ya see dat? It’s the gold standard MC superpower! Even in shōnen works, they become gods in the end, y’know….” He lent Feuer a fistbump. It had been so long since he gave him one. He could not even recall the last time.

With all his irritability for his comrade, he complied with the gesture. Curiously, he felt warmth over Hokori’s confident smile.

They now stood tall in front, ready to battle the enemy—who eventually came back for them.

Kenkō sat and prayed with her eyes closed from afar. It was not a prayer for their success but for Feuer’s mental health.

The pirate captain slowly walked toward the two, smiling. “Hahahahahaha! Glad to see you never changed, Hokori. So, shall you present yourself like old times?”

“Sure. But be ready tho. It ain’t the same no more.” He grinned with his eyes widened.

Aviary felt an enormous amount of pressure so potent he fell to his knees and began feeling nauseous. Three years ago, the nonmagical aura of Hokori felt like encountering a giant predator in a dark forest. Now, it was far more terrifying.

Aviary felt like he was drowning underwater, and no matter what he did, he could never resurface. Then, at the corner of his eye, beneath the depths, he saw a hundred-meter long, serpentine monster swimming toward him quickly for a bite with its gaping maw.

As the beast’s mouth engulfed him, Aviary came back to his senses and screamed in pure fear. He got up slowly and saw Hokori before him.

He chuckled. “Scary, right? Now, where was I? Oh yeah!” He raised his arms into a T-shape, and his fingers curved down in front. “I am Hokori Udemaeno… When I walk, everything trembles…” the words were spoken in Japanese, going so far as to say his surname first.

“Dude, that sounds more like a villain introduction,” Kakunō noted from afar, eyes squinted.

Hokori grunted in disappointment and turned to him. “I ain’t no hero since day one, genius!” He turned back to the enemy with a grin. “I never plan to….”