Elms suddenly shot his eyes wide open, sweating, confused, scared as to what had happened for him to be in such a state. There was no recalls to what happened when he collected the fragments all together. He blacked out.

Ian.......Elle.......hello! ~(Ethan)

Master, do not worry. You seemed worried for us not answering fast enough. We're here. We sworn to never leave the master's side ~(Elle)

Oh thank goodness. W...why am I in a bed? It seems my clothes still have those holes....my back is killing me ~(Ethan)

To his surprise, no clothes got removed which thankfully. It was just him at....someone else's bed? Not his.

Where am I? ~(Ethan)

Using his sense stat, there were auras coming from downstairs. Two devils and two humans. Do those two know that there's devils with them? Not only that, there's no killing intent they're giving off. Ethan found his bags of clothes just sitting by the entrance along with his backpack for school. Everything inside is untouched. Yet, why was he brought here?

"Whose house am I in?" Ethan asked his swords

Issei's ~(Ian and Elle)

"Oh...wait....how long have I been out?"

Ehhhhhh a day. You didn't miss much ~(Ian)

"Please no-"

Daily Quest: Preparation to get stronger!

"....*sighs* okay. Okay. I'll get to it." Elms dressed up in a new set of clothes, replacing those torn up clothes with some black shorts, blue shirt, and a white zip up hoodie. He put on the hood and jumps out the window without making any noises "got the location."

While doing that, he needed a quick stop by his house. Two birds in one stone. Once his daily routine reached its end, Ethan still had his old key waiting in his inventory. He popped that bad boy in and entered his old apartment. His bed still there, TV is untouched, kitchen accessories are remained in their places, a bit dusty but nothing to worry about. Glad no one broke in to steal anything from his belongings. There's basically nothing but still!

"Where's Coco? Kuro?"

Safe. Hanging back at Issei's house. I see you almost miss feeding time for the animals ~(Elle)

"Phew! Let's get to work." Ethan used the shop to purchase animal food, more bowls, more water, and more blankets "best thing to ever come."

Bowls were filled to brim, animals were petted and cuddled, neighbors saying morning. A perfect day that one might say 'yeah....nothing can go wrong'. All of a sudden, cats were meowing to catch his attention which is strange. Normally they would only purr to gain it but to meow? There's an eerie feeling Ethan's recieved.

"Show me." He demanded the cat

Not far from his current location, a group of dogs and cats surrounded one dog. It....it's motionless and blood pools the body.

"No. Nonononono....oh shit....it's been...stabbed..." Ethan checked her pulse ".....none....."

There's no saving the dog. Whoever made this wound must pay for their sins, since the system is there to back him up, Ethan will no longer become the person to alert police. Those bastards will pay with their own blood. Elms curled the dog into his arms, blaming himself for entering a state of slumber. It probably felt scared and weak to do anything since she's only a baby Shiba-inu.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me...."

Please choose a command phrase
for Shadow Extraction

what?! ~(Ethan)

The system asked for a command, to raise the dead? Since when did this happen?

No way! ~(Ethan)

"....Arise...."

And with that....With a heavy moan that came from somewhere, the shadows of the dog started quivering as if it was alive. Ethan looked around the confused animals. All of their shadows were moving. A black hand appeared from its shadow. Then it placed itself on the ground and seemingly pulled itself up from the shadows. His eyes were wide open. There stood in front of him...a dog with black mist covering its body while the legs, underbelly, and eyes were glowing Pale-blue. The corpse of the Shiba-inu remained in his arms while the Shadow version was standing perfectly...fine?

"W...whoa...." Ethan is astonished that an ability like this exist and only he knows about it "....hey.....I'm sorry for not being there....."

She barked happily and licked his arms as to assure he did nothing wrong to lead her death, on the other hand, the animals were glad to see she's alright and alive again. But what about the corpse?

"I'll bury your remains somewhere even on death, you'll find quiet mesmerizing." Elms proposed "I know just a place."

A couple of minutes later (thanks to sprint), Ethan buried it at a sight. It was by the mountains, where a little village has set in those lands. A path of lanterns stretching out for miles. To make a long story short, think of it as heaven to foreigners visiting for the first time of their life.

"There. This way, you'll be happy. I know you don't blame me but I can't help it....I couldn't save what I loved...." Ethan exhaled deeply "for a guy that's fast, I sure arrive late."

The Shadow dog whimpered at the sight of her king, crying.

"It's a bad day to rain."

It isn't raining ~(Ian)

"Yes it is."

This guilt. This life. It's not worth living anymore, for some anyways. Losing a loved one is tough to handle, money won't be able to bring them back.

Would you...revive Delilah and Raynare now that you are the Shadow Monarch? ~(Elle)

"Never. It was their wish. I do not want to disturb them. They lived a long happy life, and I won't ruin their meaningless death." Ethan protested, but still has the urge to revive them "anyways...I'm finish with the quest. What do you so say we meet Issei's parents?"

She barked and panting with her tongue sticking out.

"Ashborn."

Nothing.

"Ashborn?"

Again, nothing. It seems Ashborn is no more...for now.

"One question I'm worried about is if you're body system works just as fine? Can you eat, sleep, breathe, go to the bathroom, and yelp in pain?" Ethan realized what he just said "I take that last part back."

Now jogging back to Issei's house is an easy task now that Agility is beyond a human's speed, but does it match a low-ranking devil or a mid-ranking one? Elms' speed from the fight with Raynare was even, without the use of sprint, so that much is all Ethan knows.

"Wait. The S-Rank key! I forgot about this!" Ethan pulled out a blue treasure-like key out of his inventory "but...Issei and Asia are gonna be wary of my disappearance. Tough choice."

The fight with Cerberus yesterday was proven on his ability to take on bigger enemies whether they're small or not, and Ethan wants to continue going. Well, a few or more hours couldn't hurt anyone. On a plus side, no one is even waiting for his return. The key was used to open up an instant dungeon in middle of the forest, away from civilization and out of range from the Gremory household.

You have entered a dungeon

Cold! It's a blizzard in his current location! He must purchase something warm to handle low temperatures such as this.

You have purchased a 'Warm Coat'

You have purchased 'Winter boots'

So...leaving us to die in the cold? ~(Ian)

Don't act so ridiculous, IAN. We cannot feel temperatures unlike humans who will die in low or high. Master, worry about your body ~(Elle)

"Let's see who will become the first victim." Ethan ventures deeper into the blizzard, knowing the consequences

The shadow dog had no problem, in fact, it continued to walk without any resistance of the winds. Will all Shadow Soldiers become like her?

Ice Troll 'stonebeard king'

The names' red. Perfect. You seem a lot stronger and sturdier than Cerberus ~(Ethan)

Elms twirled his swords as an act of expertise in them when they only been in his hands for 13 days, or he could be taunting the troll so it can loose its cool, making this an easy fight. But the enemy is a new encounter. What attacks will it use for advantage towards the Hunter? Will this creature use brains or use brawns to exterminate.

"A human? Why has a human entered into our territory? Did Odin send you?"

"Sorry, I ain't with Odin-" Ethan recoils from discovery as he was speaking the same language as him "why did you bring him up?"

"That bastard of a god thought it was a good idea to let us die here. That idiot doesn't understand we survive in the cold."

"Well...I guess that idiot of a god doesn't know I'm about to kill you. Will you, an ice troll, help this human become stronger?" Elms smirks while putting up his guard "I'd appreciate that."

"No. I shall not grant a human's wish. You're a bunch of greedy individuals who seek nothing out but destruction and lust."

"You must be thinking of those humans. Will a human such as myself enter your homeland without knowing what's beyond? No, you can't. I'm different from those pesky things you call... monsters in human skin. Come at me you fucking troll. Me and my swords will make sure you die a warriors death." Ethan taunted the troll before rushing in

"This is no competition, boy. Return back to whence you came and forget about getting stronger." The troll lifted its pillar made of stone over his shoulder, as it began to glow blue "on the behalf of my kind, you are...idiotic. foolish human. I am hungry, so I'll savor your flesh."

Skill: Sprint (Lv. 1)

Ethan vanishes out of sight, moving faster than a average human could keep up. His swords slashed left and right between the troll's legs while keeping distance, but the creature is unfazed from the tiny cuts it recieved. It scoffs at the human.

"Fine. I didn't have to resort to this...come out." Ethan summoned his very first shadow soldier, the Shiba-inu

Little did he know the dog is currently weak. Seeing a creature bigger than her is frightening and Ethan here expects this poor dog to annihilate the giant troll whose holding a pillar. She looks back at him and whimpers while the troll stood there, dazed at the situation.

"Ah....shit....I forgot you ain't strong. Don't worry! I'll help you!" Ethan calls back his soldier into his shadow "I'll let you take the final blow, king! Step down and your death will be quick, or...refuse and die in a honorable manner of death."

"I choose to stand. I will not let a human carry destruction he will uphold in the future. Fate...the entity of fate....has changed. All because of you."

"Hold the fight. What are you trying to say?"

"It was never you who should be granted a gift that god feared. It was originally supposed to be the red dragon boy. The red dragon boy was supposed to become the Strongest! He was originally destined to conquer all who stood in his way along with his harem. But you, BOY! Why did you ruin all of that? Now the sisters of fate are troubled after your appearance. You were supposed to be forgotten along with the other humans as The Red Dragon boy and his brethren climb, and climb. Instead...you are now taking his place...even without the strings. No one is controlling you..."

"Haha. Is there a reason for me to be controlled? The sisters of fate do not control me. I! Am my own fate. I! Will be what God fears. Once I do that..." Ethan's eyes began to glow Cyan "...then others will bow down, and acknowledge who was destined for greatness."

"Then your humanity will be no more. Do you, a human, wish to go down a horrible road? Killing those deserving...and many not? Would your father, mother, brothers or sisters, glare at you from becoming the monster you become? Think, boy! Think! Treat me as the troll I am, but I, dare never let a sane person go down that path! Leave. And let that Red Dragon become his original fate."

".....for the first creature I came across, only you has treated me like this. A human such as I should listen to your wisdom, but I seek a dream. It was there in my hands, reachable, but a horrible reality set in and finally took my life. Death, is nature's beauty and my hands were pushing it back."

"Your fate, your death, was supposed to end a year from now. Now that it cut short, here you are, standing in front of me. Having to die was painful, yes? Earlier your threat is a joke. Since we're on the topic of death, here's what I should say: step down and your death will be quick, or...refuse and die in an honorable manner of death. Second choice will lead you to Valhalla. Both choices will fix each strings of fate."

Elms thought of it. Did he want to stop here at level 24 after coming a long way? Or will his drive force himself to shed blood from his own or not? Ethan sighed after negotiating with the troll.

"I choose C. Kill you and I'll be on my way." He replied

"Very well. Tell me, human. Your true identity, your true story, what are they? What leads you to become stronger as of right now?"

"Did those old ladies tell you my name or my story? Call me....Magic Swordsman. And my story began a while ago, it's just I'm beginning to review it. What keeps me going is....being recognized. That's my reason." Ethan admitted before rubbing his nose "I'll show you why must I be this."

The northern snowfields were very cold. A person who didn't wear winter clothing would get the flu in a matter of minutes and eventually become a frozen statue. However, Ethan's current cold resistance was higher after equipping the purchased winter set from the shop. The enraged Troll shouted at the astonished Ethan and ran towards him. Then the stone pillar with Nordic symbols descended towards Elms' face. Elms defended with both swords. His eyes narrowed. The troll was so powerful that his arm became numb. It was a sensation similar to when he blocked the sword of Lika, the D-Rank boss. Now he acknowledged it. The frost troll was strong! It was natural. Its agility might be lacking, but the attack power and stamina was far superior to his level. Originally, the level 24 Elms wouldn't be an opponent for the Troll. It was normal for him to die in one blow. However, his status was equal to a mid-ranking devil thanks to nonstop exercise and stat inputs from small quests and big ones. He was able to face the giant head on.

"You're not serious." He kicked the troll in the stomach while checking himself for frostbite. Nothing it seems

Ethan felt strength boiling inside him. Then he stood firmly in front of the Troll. He broke through the gap while the Troll was in pain and stabbed its neck with Elle. This was the moment when his experience of hunting monsters as a warrior showed. It shook with pain as blue blood emerged from its thick neck. Due to the heat from the flowing blood, steam occurred and covered its eyes. But even in the midst of this, the troll continued swinging its pillar. Ethan suffered enormous damage even with the defense from his set items. Nevertheless, Elms kept up his spirit and fought back. He counterattacked every time he was hit. It was a dogfight between Ethan and King to see who would die first. Who would die first? Red and blue blood dripped as the fight between the human and the Ice Troll continued. Due to the heat, a blue and red fog spread around the area. Ethan was the one who was in a crisis first. His health was low and barely had room to drink a health potion. In the end, Ethan allowed an attack and his health fell under 10%. The abnormal creatures took large steps backwards.

"The human is weak. Always will be. You will all cease to die in each other's hands. You cannot face anything stronger than themselves. If a human, normal one, went up to face me...it'll run. The creature is too strong to handle, but a facing a human...is acceptable? The hypocrisy."

"It's natural for someone to be stronger than the person who you're referring to. Little did you know that leaves room for the person to grow. And that person is me. I'll overpower you eventually." Ethan's eyes began to light up (metaphorically) "when I do, it shows you that there's one human stronger than any human combined."

Status recovery ~(Ethan)

Every time the Troll swung the pillar, wind pressure was generated and tore at the ground. The ground of the frostlight orc village covered by snow was gradually revealed. The heavy wind pressure hit every time the troll wielded his pillar! He sustained damage just from the wind pressure. What was this absurd strength? It became angry that he was avoiding his attacks and started striking quicker and sharper. Ethan focused and barely managed to avoid direct blows, while being constantly damaged by the wind. But couldn't get a chance for a counterattack. This was the true dignity of a boss monster! The boss monsters he hunted as a warrior were all under C-Rank. This was the first time to ever face a S-Rank magic beasts. Then his mind calmed down. Now wasn't the time to lose composure, he needed every sense of focus to take this Troll down. Ethan stabbed his sword into the Troll's thighs. It flinched at the deep thigh attack and fell to one knee. Elms use sprint to move through this gap. Then