BOOM! đź’Ą
"I am the one and only Dragonoid, also known as the Destroyer, Demon Lord Milim Nava!!"
The voice echoed through the air, carrying the weight of an ancient beast and the energy of a hyperactive child on a sugar rush.
And there she was.
I stared at the human-looking girl in front of me. Well, "girl" might be the wrong word. She looked around fourteen or fifteen, with glossy platinum-pink hair tied into twin tails that practically screamed chaotic energy incoming. Her sky-blue eyes shimmered with excitement, and her outfit, or lack thereof, consisted of thigh-high socks, a thigh band, black panties, a long-sleeve shirt that barely covered her chest, and a cloak fluttering behind her.
"...Seriously?" I muttered, sighing at meeting one of the final bosses right at the start.
Taking a few steps toward her, I noticed her eyes widen slightly—not in fear, but curiosity.
"Oh? You're approaching me?" she said, grinning like a cat who'd just found a new toy. "Good! Come on, show me your strongest move! Let's see what you've got!"
Her laughter rang out, loud and unrestrained. She didn't even flinch as I got closer. Probably thought I couldn't hurt her, which, to be fair, wasn't wrong. I doubt my current power could even scratch her.
When I got within a meter of her, she tilted her head up to look at me, her eyes gleaming with mischief. I was taller, of course—using Antares's form has its perks.
Then, without warning, I activated Material Creation.
A faint shimmer rippled in the air.
And in the next instant—poof!—a modest skirt appeared in my hand.
Before Milim could react, I wrapped it around her waist with a serious expression.
"You should really wear more clothes," I said flatly.
"Ehh?!" Milim blinked, looking down at herself before glancing back up with puffed cheeks. "Whaaat? But I like this outfit! It's cute and easy to move in!"
Yeah, too cute… and too easy for my hands to move in.
Of course, I didn't say that part out loud. I'm not suicidal. Instead, I cleared my throat and asked, "So, why did you come to me, Milim?"
"Oh, that?" she said, tapping her chin with a finger. Her expression turned thoughtful for exactly half a second before her usual grin returned. "I was actually on my way to meet Luminous! But then I sensed a really familiar aura nearby and thought, 'Oooh! I gotta say hi!'"
"…You came here just to say hi?"
"Yup!" she said proudly, puffing out her chest like she'd accomplished something amazing.
I blinked. "…You sensed me?"
She nodded with that bright, carefree smile of hers.
Well, that stung a little. I didn't expect the Detection Blocking Ring to work on beings like her, but still—ouch.
And she also said I have familiar aura, I asked, "Do you know me?"
Her eyes sparkled. "Of course I do! Aren't you Veldora's child?"
Ah. So she knows I'm Charybdis, huh? Guess hiding that part's pointless now.
Before I could say anything, Milim floated closer, studying me like a curious cat. "You've really changed since the last time I saw you," she said, her tone unexpectedly gentle. "Back then, you couldn't even talk—you just attacked anything that moved. But now…" She smiled, hands behind her back. "You can stand still and talk calmly."
"Yeah, well," I muttered, shrugging. "I've gotten control over myself."
Milim giggled. "Hehehe! You've gotten stronger and smarter! I like that!"
Me too.
"Though…" she tilted her head, eyes glinting with mischief, "I don't get why you took on a male appearance when you're clearly a girl."
Ah yes. My dark history. The one I was desperately trying to bury six feet under.
Charybdis is technically female, but I was a guy in my last life. Well, in one of my last lives, at least. Hard to keep count after dying so many times as a giant flying calamity fish.
I coughed into my hand, looking away. "Ahem. Well… I just like myself like this, that's all."
Milim tilted her head, muttering softly, "Hmm… red-haired ones really do like staying male, huh? Guy also keeps his male form most of the time…"
Then she suddenly perked up, eyes shining like she just had the greatest idea in the world. "Ah! I should tell Guy about you! Then you can become a Demon Lord too!"
Wait, what?!
"Hold on, hold on, hold on," I said quickly, waving my hands. When did I ever say I wanted to become a Demon Lord?
Of course, I didn't actually deny it. I am planning to get there eventually.
So instead, I focused on the more urgent issue. "Milim," I said, lowering my tone, "don't tell Guy about me. No—actually, don't mention me to any of the Demon Lords. Got it?"
She blinked, clearly confused. "Ehh? Why not? You'd totally fit in! You're strong and can easily beat Carrion and the other new Demon Lords."
"Milim."
"Okay, okay! I won't tell anyone!" Milim huffed, puffing her cheeks like an angry hamster.
I exhaled, rubbing my temple. "Good…"
Now that she'd found me, though, that meant others could too. Maybe some already had. The Church's cleanup squad was one thing, but if any Demon Lord besides Milim got curious, that would be a nightmare.
The best option is to—
My train of thought broke when I noticed Milim hadn't stopped staring at me.
"...Milim, what are you doing?" I asked slowly.
She leaned forward, eyes wide and sparkling like a curious cat. "I'm trying to figure out why you feel so different."
"Different, huh? How exactly?" I frowned, though a small part of me already suspected what she was doing. Is she using her Milim Eye?
Milim tilted her head, then suddenly gasped. "Ahhh!"
"What now?"
"You…" She squinted, waving her hand vaguely around me. "You feel like my Auntie and Uncle, but also like Guy and his maids. It's weird! I've never seen something like this before!"
Auntie and Uncle… meaning Velzard and Veldora. And rain and misery, huh?
I blinked, processing that. So she's sensing traces of both True Dragons and Demons in me?
That actually made sense. Antares was born from the Darkness Spirit of Solo Leveling, kind of like how demons in this world are born from the Great Spirit of Darkness. Combine that with my origin as Veldora's offshoot, and the fact that Antares was considered the first dragon in his world, after assimilation, my existence might really be drifting close to that of a True Dragon. Not quite the same, but definitely similar.
Knowing that only reinforced my decision to stay low-key.
If Guy Crimson ever decided to drop by for a "friendly chat," I might as well start digging my own grave.
Just the thought gave me chills.
I looked at Milim, who was now crouching and poking a rock for no reason, humming happily like she hadn't just given me an existential crisis.
"Milim," I called out.
"Hmm?" she looked up, head tilted.
I took a slow breath. "Can I… stay with you for a while?"
Her eyes went wide. "Ehh?! You wanna live with me?"
I nodded, trying to sound calm. "Yeah. Just for a bit."
Milim's grin stretched from ear to ear. "Hehehe! Of course you can! We're friends now, right?!"
"...Friends, huh." I muttered under my breath.
Well, I wasn't planning to deny it. If staying with her meant Guy wouldn't fry me out of curiosity, then yeah—call me her best buddy if it helps.
"Best friends."
*************
What would happen if AQUA is summoned, will she be divine being? Or what happened if grayfia is summoned? What stage she should be?