OniVerse/ MDK (Ch 5)

Later that day, Reiji was relaxing in his bed, looking at his Holo-watch. Then, Layla and Tai burst into his room. Reacting as quickly as possible, Reiji jumped up and extended his arms as if he was going to shoot a concentrated magic blast from his hands. However, Layla, nor Tai, wasn’t there to attack him. They wanted something completely different.

"Okay, one more time. You here to what?” Reiji asked.

"To apologize to you, and ask you to let us join you,” Layla said, softly.

"Riiiiight, and you're okay with?” he said to Tai.

Tai just nodded silently while forcing a smile. Layla glanced over at Tai and smiled. She saw how much he was trying. Reiji sighed.

"No, you two and your party can't stay here. You're too much of a risk. But I'll let your mother and siblings stay. And, I'll personally escort you guys back to the guild.”

"But...

"No buts! You and Layla are a security risk I can't deal with while I'm away saving the rest of the demons and beastmen.” Reiji said, interrupting Tai.

"Reiji, please?” Layla begged.

"Why? Why are you two so determine on staying here?”

Layla looked down and remembered all of the experiences in this world. From having to selling her body to fighting for her and her family’s survival, Layla went through a lot of traumatizing events. "I just want to be safe in this world, and away from its dangers,” Layla said.

"Come on, Reiji, show some compassion. We’re desperate. I'll even let you have a piece of Layla if you waaa...

Tai began to rise off the ground while being choked.

"That's enough out of you. Reiji said you two can't stay. You should respect his wishes. Besides, he already has people he loves.” Raven said as she walked in while holding her hand out.

"What!” Reiji yelled.

"Don't worry, I won't tell Eriko about your three love interests,” Raven said, teasingly. "Just like your father.” she thought to herself.

Reiji sighed as Layla looked at him.

"So, you really have changed, Reiji. I guess there's no room for me anymore in your life.” Layla thought to herself.

Noticing, Raven stopped choking Tai. Then, he grabbed Layla's arm and pulled her out of Reiji 's room, leaving Raven and Reiji. The door closed, and Raven rushed Reiji, knocking him over onto the bed.

"So, what were you designing before those two interrupted?”

"Nothing. It was just some satellites to orbit the planet. That way mom could contact me using her ID band.”

"Satellites, huh. You brought this world into a new age of communication.”

"No, this is only a design. It's far from being made. Besides, I still need to find a way to link it to the universal satellite. But, it's so advanced that I can't even imagine how it works.”

"Well, you can ask the person who made it.”

"I would, but dad already left. Something about getting out of the doghouse.”

Raven laughed slightly. "Alright, but I was talking about Sage.”

"Sage?”

"You do realize that Sage is the knowledge of Reo, Anko, and the Void. Everything they know he should know. All you have to do is ask.”

"Is that true?” Reiji thought.

"Yes, I know how the universal communication satellite works, and could easily link it to the Armory and relay them to your satellites. All you have to do is get it to the edge of this universe,” Sage answered.

"Well, it looks like I'm making a trip to the edge of the universe.”

"No!” Eriko yelled.

"Mom!” Reiji yelled as he rolled out of the bed. "What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I came here to convince you to let Layla stay here, but I didn't expect this. What do you mean you're making a trip to the edge of the universe?”

After explaining to Eriko his trip, Reiji was forced to let her, Raven, and Layla come with him. Unfortunately, Reiji only had one armor that could travel through space easily. But, Raven informed Reiji that he and she could survive in any environment, including deep space. However, Layla still didn't have a way to travel in space.

"Reiji, it's probably a bad time to say this, but your father left you another gift in the basement of the Armory,” Sage said.

"Basement?”

Reiji walked to the hidden elevator in his room and rode it down to the Armory. Once there, Reiji asked Sage to give him a geoscan of the Armory, which he used to create a map of the newly upgraded Armory. Unlike the version he made, the upgraded version has ten basement levels and was as large as the forest surrounding the village. Luckily, it had many ways of getting around the Armory, but Reiji prefers to fly. After ten minutes, Reiji reached the door to his surprise gift from Reo. The door slid open, revealing a ship.

"Really, a ship!” Reiji said.

“I'm not just any kind of ship. I'm a shadow cart.” A female voice said.

"Shadow cart?” Reiji said.

"Beings that transform into various forms of vehicles. Some could even transform into human forms. They're the only beings, besides Jan-gu and Primordials, that’s able to travel between universes.” Sage said.

"Wait, does that mean we can fly to the edge without my space armor?”

"Yes, but you'll still have to carry it. Shadow carts can't hold that much weight.”

Reiji sighed.

"Alright, let's get the others down here, and we'll leave.”

“Teleporting Eriko Toujou, Raven Lucrada, and Layla Aoi here,” Sage said.

A light shined and Reiji’s clothes changed into a black, skin-tight space suit with a white dragon symbol covering the right side of the torso. His long, red hair returned back to his regular short, black hair.

"Wow, I think I like you better with like this,” Raven said.

Reiji looked back and saw Eriko, Raven, and Layla in the same outfit. He quickly turned away while blushing beet red. Raven noticed and decided to tease Reiji.

"What's the matter, Reiji? Are you all hot and bothered after seeing us in these outfits?”

"No! Not at all!” Reiji yelled.

Raven laughed.

"So, out of curiosity, which one of us made you excited?” Raven asked as she hugged Reiji.

He blushed even redder as he felt her breast on his back. Struggling to speak, Reiji began to float off the ground.

"Nope, you can't just float off out of embarrassment. You have to control your powers properly.” Raven said.

Suddenly, the queen and her two daughters fell through a hole in the ceiling. Surprised, Reiji also fell to the ground with Raven, who fell on his back. Worried for Reiji, Raven immediately got up and used a healing spell to heal his back, even though he didn't need it.

"It's strange. She teases him one moment, then be kind and nice the next. What is her game? Is she trying to win some points with Reiji?” Eriko thought to herself as she observed Reiji and Raven.

"Mother, next time you see a hole in a boy’s closet, don't go down it assuming the best,” Freya said as sat up.

"That's not something you should say, Freya. You had a soft landing. Besides, I was only following your sister who impulsively jumped in.” The queen said.

"Hey, I only jumped in because I thought it would lead to some secret room under the castle,” Valkyrie said.

"Well, you're half right,” Reiji said as he extended his hand out to help them. However, its was turned away by Freya. "Okay... What are you three doing here?” Reiji asked.

"We came here...

“We want to go back to the castle. You brought us here you take us back.” Valkyrie said as Freya interrupted their mother.

"And, this couldn’t wait until I got back from our trip.” Reiji's mother said.

“Trip?” The queen said while noticing the strange outfits they’re wearing.

Suddenly, Reiji noticed the queen's eyes. They were begging to let them come along on the trip. Reminded how Touka would use the exact same look on him, Eriko asked Reiji to allow them to. Unable to say no, Reiji shot a beam of light at the queen and her daughters, changing their clothes into the spacesuits.

"Lord Reiji, what these strange clothes?” the queen asked.

“They are designed to keep you warm in the coldest of temperatures. It should be enough while we’re in space.”

"Space? Do you mean the realm of the gods?” the queen asked.

"No, I mean... I'll let you see for yourself. Get on the ship.” Reiji said while smiling.

Immediately, Raven, Eriko, Layla, the queen, and the princesses got on the shadow cart. And, Reiji picked up the satellite over his head.

"Reiji, I think we should leave first and you follow behind us. That way we can protect you if someone or something tries to attack you.” Raven said telepathically.

“Alright, I’ll follow you.”

"Wait! Isn't Reiji get on the spaceship?” Eriko asked.

“No, he has to carry the satellite.”

"But, how is he going to breathe in space?” Layla asked, concernedly.

“Jan-gu can survive in any environment. Breathing in space should be easy for him. Now take your seats.” Raven said, annoyed by her.

"Let’s go... Uh? Reiji, what are you going to name her?” Raven said.

"Keiko,” Reiji responded quickly.

“ Keiko, I like it. From now on, my name is Keiko Lucrada.” the shadow cart said as she powered up.

The ceiling of the room opened, which revealed a square tunnel that leads to the outside. Then, the floor around Keiko and Reiji lifted up slowly. As it reached the outside, Keiko levitated high into the sky. Unfortunately, she was high enough to be seen by everyone in the Kingdom, including the king of Hyland.

“Milord, there’s an unknown object flying above the forest of monsters. What shall we do?” A soldier yelled as he burst into the king’s study.

The king was looking at the object from his window. “Gather all the troops. We found the location of the demon king’s lair.” He said.

“Sir!”

Then, a loud roaring sound filled the air. This came from Keiko’s afterburners.

“What are they planning? Maybe he’s trying to escape. I can’t let that happen. We have to hurry.” He thought as he was shocked by the sound.

Suddenly, Keiko disappeared into thin air. Truthfully, she manipulated the light around her to camouflage her body. Then, she moved through the air to the upper atmosphere with ease. However, as she exited the upper atmosphere, a beam of light grazed one of Keiko’s wings. The light came from the planet.

“What was that?” The queen asked.

“I don’t know it was probably Reiji exiting the atmosphere,” Raven answered as she activated Keiko’s holo panel.

“Speaking of, where is he?” Layla asked.

Then, holo-screens appeared, revealing rings that surrounded the planet, similar to Uranus. However, the rings weren’t made from ice and rocks. They were made from a golden material.

“What is this?”

“An invention created by a bastard, that shouldn’t be in the universe,” Raven said, upset, as she left the control panel.

Curious, Eriko followed behind Raven. As they reached the back door, Raven stops.

“What do you want?” Raven asked, noticing Eriko walking up behind her.

“Well, I saw you were leaving and wondered. Where were you going?” Eriko said.

“A place where you won’t be able to come, even with Reiji suit. Now, go sit back down before Keiko shifts into Hyper-speed mode. Besides, you should be happy right. One less old woman preying on Reiji.” Raven replied as she phased through the door.

Eriko went back to her seat, and back down. She looked at the screen and saw Raven hugging Reiji. Then, a boy, that looked like Reiji’s age, appeared beside them. Suddenly, Reiji gets hit.

“See, its women like her I try to protect Reiji from.” She said as rushes to the door. However, Layla stopped her from leaving.

“Layla, what do you think you’re doing? Can’t you see my son needs my help?”

“But, that’s it, Miss Toujou. Only you see Reiji as the defenseless little boy who needed help from his mother. Everybody else sees a monster who is one snap away from becoming a monster that no one can stop.”

“See, that’s where you're wrong. Reiji won’t turn into a monster. Just like his mother said, No matter how overwhelming he may be, Reiji won’t have anything if he doesn’t have the right support behind him.” Eriko said as she pushed Layla away. Then, she ran to the door, but it wouldn’t open for her. “Keiko, why won’t this door open?” She asked.

“The door won’t open because you will die immediately. Not only from the coldness of space but there are also lots of cannons aimed at us. The slightest of movements from us could kill us.” Keiko explained.

Meanwhile, Reiji struggles to keep his composure. Towering and laughing at him was an angel named Raphael, Reiji’s adoptive older brother.

“Pathetic, How can you be the protector of this universe? You can’t even protect yourself from me.” Raphael said as he continued to punch Reiji repeatedly, knocking him unconscious.

“Raphael, Stop! You already won. Let’s go.” Raven said.

“Alright, my future queen. I’ll let the little shrimp go. But, I can’t them or this satellite survive.” Raphael said as he fired a magical blast at Keiko.

Suddenly, a woman appeared and deflected the magic blast away from Keiko.

“Jeez, It’s bad enough you decided to beat your brother unconscious, but you also want to take away everything he holds dear. With a family like you, who needs enemies.” She said.

“Who would’ve thought he left his top bodyguards to protect his long-lost son. How you been, Big Sis Yuko?”

The woman turned around, revealing blood-red eyes to Keiko.

“Get them out of here and back to the surface.” She said.

Then, another magical blast hit Yuko’s back. She looked back and saw Raphael laughing. Annoyed, She released a black aura and rushed Raphael. Raven slowly saw her rushing at Raphael and tried to stop her. However, she didn’t notice she was surrounded by thousands of daggers and thin, strong wire.

“Seems like you noticed, huh. Well, we won’t be needing these anymore.” A voice said.

Suddenly, two women appeared. One looked like an older version of Raven, and the other was an angel in her early twenties.

“Mother! Why are you here?” Raven asked, with a fearful tone.

“For you and Raphael, Of course. And, you know why?”

“Yes, but you don’t understand anything,” Raven said.

“Explain then,”

Raven explained to her mother and the other angel. Meanwhile, Raphael and Yuko are flying around at high speeds, while fighting. However, they didn’t realize Reiji was going through another change.

“Raphael, Stop!” Yuko yelled.

“Tell me, why should I? You’re only going to take me back to the people who took away my sister from me.” Raphael replied.

“What are you talking about? Cassiel is alive and well,” She said as they collided against each other.

“Don’t you lie to me! I know Reo killed her after she joined the Lucrada Clan.” He yelled as he began to overwhelm Yuko. He, then, felt a tapping on his shoulder. He turned his head slightly and saw a fist coming at his face, knocking him into a nearby ring.

"You okay?”

"Yeah, thank you for that, Cassie,” Yuko answered as she caught her breath.

"Looks like my idiot brother won't listen to reason. We’ll have to get through to him another way.”

“You don't mean?”

Cassiel nodded. "Exactly, so I want you to get our little brother out of here.”