Akube stretched his arms as they walked through the busy streets.
"Man, last night was a blast! I don't care about the first part, but that festival… it was glorious for me."
Dranexx sighed.
"Still boringly normal to me… I want to change my clothes, get a new outfit. We've been in school uniforms ever since we were summoned to this world. I don't like it one bit."
"Alright, chill out, no need to yell." Akube waved him off. "I got you."
As they passed by a shop that specialized in self-crafted weapons, Dranexx suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"Over here."
His footsteps halted.
The same voice again…
"Over here, by your right?"
By my right…? Who are you?
"If I may ask…"
"Please… come closer."
Dranexx turned his head toward a rack of dusty weapons.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Wait… a sword?!"
"Yes. Got a problem with swords?"
Is it being rude to me? I thought it was the one calling… so why be rude?
"You're being mean now, aren't you? So rude."
Me rude? What's going on here?
"Why are you being mean?" the voice sniffled.
Dranexx rubbed his forehead.
I'm lost here… Hey, look, I'm sorry, okay? Should we talk somewhere? I presume you want me to purchase you from this shop?
"Yes, please."
Oh… okay.
Walking up to the counter, he pointed at the battered blade.
"I would like to buy this sword, sir. How much is it?"
The shopkeeper looked at the weapon, then at Dranexx.
"Wait… this ugly sword? It's banged up… what for?"
"See why this man deserves a painful torture?"
*Be quiet…Dranexx said *
Akube glanced at the sword.
"You want to purchase that sword?"
"Yes, and I have my reasons." Dranexx replied
Akube shrugged.
"No problem. I was going to tell you to buy it anyway, no matter the cost."
Dranexx blinked.
"For real?!"
"Yes, really."
"Ah… never mind. I'll take it. That's final."
The shopkeeper scratched his head.
"Sure… take it for 2 gold coins."
Dranexx placed three coins on the counter.
"Here's 3."
The man's eyes widened.
"Really?" The shock keeping ask in Suprise
"Y-yeah… keep it." Dranexx said with a faint smile
A few minutes later, they left the shop with the sword in hand.
Akube glanced at it curiously.
"So this sword is special, isn't it? I can feel the high amount of energy it contains."
"Yeah…" Dranexx answered casually. "And it talks too."
Akube immediately burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Are you mad? A talking sword?"
Dranexx raised an eyebrow.
"Have I lied to you before?"
"Not really…"
"So believe me when I tell you it's real. I can really talk to the sword."
Akube's laughter slowly died down.
"Oh… okay. So, what does it say? Or what does it do?"
At that moment, the sword began to shine.
Golden light spread across its surface as hidden markings revealed themselves.
A strange feeling washed over Dranexx.
"Shirokuyomi."
"Huh?" Akube tilted his head.
"Shirokuyomi. That's your name now."
Akube immediately started laughing again.
"Hahaha! What kind of ridiculous name is that? Hahaha!"
"What name is that?!" the sword protested.
"Don't question me. That's your new name."
The voice fell silent for a moment.
"Wait… how did we… sign a contract just now? Was this your doing?"
Dranexx smirked.
"No, I just gave you a name… and voilà! Contract signed. Now we're bound together. You will grant my every wish."
Akube stared.
"Really?"
"Yes. This sword isn't ordinary it's dangerous."
And he wasn't wrong.
The sword had been forged long ago by the Grandmaster of Divinity using fifty percent of her power. It had once belonged to a hero who died in battle, losing the weapon in the process.
Now, it had found a new master.
Its purpose was simple.
To define logic.
To override causality.
To nullify and cut through conceptual defenses.
To kill its target regardless of the laws of time and space,A single slash could rewrite reality itself.
Dranexx stared at the sword for a few moments before speaking again.
"What's Causality Override? You can do that, right?"
Shirokuyomi's golden glow intensified slightly.
"I exist to serve a worthy master. The stronger my wielder becomes, the more of my power awakens."
"So that's a yes."
"Indeed."
Akube folded his arms.
"You're actually having a serious conversation with a sword..."
Dranexx ignored him.
"So explain it."
The sword remained silent for a moment.
"The hero who wielded me fifty years ago was too weak. He never unlocked my true abilities."
"And?"
"The moment our contract was formed, I awakened Causality Override."
Akube frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Shirokuyomi answered calmly.
"It means I can sever cause and effect."
Silence.
Akube blinked.
"...What?"
Dranexx's eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
"If an outcome exists, I can cut the process leading to that outcome. If a defense exists, I can sever the reason it protects its owner. If fate itself stands in the way..."
The sword's voice became colder.
"...I can cut fate."
Akube immediately took two steps back.
"Yeah, that's ridiculous."
Dranexx smirked.
"I like it."
"Of course you do."
Dranexx rested the sword against his shoulder.
"Quick question."
"What is it, my lord?"
"Stop calling me that."
"As you wish, my lord."
Akube burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
Dranexx sighed.
"Anyway. Combined with your power and mine... could I defeat the Grandmaster of Celestial?"
The sword became quiet.
For several seconds there was no response.
Finally—
"No."
Dranexx froze.
Akube immediately pointed at him.
"Hahaha! Someone finally told you no!"
"Be quiet."
The sword continued.
"At your current level, you would most likely force a draw."
Dranexx raised an eyebrow.
"A draw?"
"However..."
A faint golden light pulsed through the blade.
"If your abilities continue evolving alongside mine, victory becomes possible."
Dranexx smiled.
"I knew it."
"You are unbelievably arrogant."
"I prefer confident."Dranexx replied
"There's little difference."
Akube shook his head.
"Both of you are weird."
Dranexx suddenly stared directly at the sword.
"You're hiding something."
The sword paused.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. A floating talking sword isn't normal,I know this world is full of fantasy and mysteries but you… you're different. I'm 100% sure I'm talking to a Grandmaster indirectly! Hahaha!"
Silence.
Akube looked between them.
"Wait."
The sword remained quiet.
Dranexx laughed.
"Hahaha! I knew it."
"You know nothing."
"I know enough."
"No, you don't."
"I do."
The sword sighed.
"Annoying."
Dranexx's grin widened even further.
"That's basically a confession."
For the first time, Shirokuyomi didn't argue.
Which only made Dranexx laugh harder.
"Hahahahahaha!"
Indeed, Dranexx was right. The sword was connected to the Grandmaster of Divinity, who had been watching him since he was summoned. Dranexx now had blessings from three Grandmasters: the Grandmaster of Void, the Grandmaster of Pure Magic, and the Grandmaster of Divinity.
Shirokuyomi's voice echoed calmly from the Golden blade resting beside Dranexx.
"Have you checked the library? There's an ancient book they're about the species of this world."
Dranexx blinked. "There is?"
"Yes," the sword replied. "But it's inside the king's palace."
Dranexx scratched his cheek casually. "Can't I just… teleport there?"
"Yes."
Akube immediately turned toward him in shock.
"Instant teleportation?"
"Yep." Dranexx shrugged carelessly. "Shall I go now?"
The golden blade floated slightly beside him as Shirokuyomi spoke with amusement in her tone.
"Invading the king's library… bold, mi lord."
Dranexx nearly stumbled.
"Mi lord?" he repeated awkwardly. "Since whe? Never mind. Let's move. We'll deal with that later."
Akube sighed dramatically.
"Man… I wish someone called me that too."
Dranexx stared at him blankly.
"You're weird. It's literally a sword that talks. Nothing special."
"Yeah, but come on…" Akube muttered enviously.
"You're weird, I swear."
Shirokuyomi floated beside Dranexx.
"Let us move, mi lord."
"Stop calling me that. It's creepy."
The next moment FWOOOSH!
Space twisted violently around them before the trio vanished through instant teleportation.
The royal library was massive.
Ancient shelves stretched endlessly beneath a dim golden glow, packed with countless dusty books and forbidden records. The air itself felt heavy with history.
Dranexx slowly looked around.
"Damn… this place is huge."
His eyes landed on a strange title.
"'Surface Duelers'… what's that?"
Shirokuyomi floated toward the shelf calmly.
"That book details species that duel on the surface realms. For example, the Underworld… ancient records regarding demons from a separate world known as the Demon Realm."
Dranexx glanced toward the sword suspiciously.
"You're surprisingly knowledgeable…" He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Didn't expect that from a Grandmaster."
"I am not a Grandmaster," Shirokuyomi answered instantly.
Dranexx snorted.
"You're deceiving yourself, not me."
He grabbed another book.
"Now let me read."
Nearby, Akube floated excitedly through another section.
"Strange," he muttered. "This library contains every known magical spell."
The sword trembled slightly in excitement.
"Some of these spells require more than twenty mages to cast… but lucky for me, I can perform them alone."
A grin spread across his face.
"Time to read and learn."
Silence filled the gigantic library as pages quietly turned.
Several minutes later Dranexx suddenly paused.
"'Demon Lord Hub'… interesting."
Shirokuyomi's tone became slightly more serious.
"That refers to Demon Lord Raiga. He conquered the surface for centuries nearly two thousand years ago until he was defeated by a hero named Shieyen."
Dranexx leaned against a shelf while listening.
"Shieyen was blessed by the Grandmaster of Judgment with the ultimate ability: Salvation."
The library remained silent except for Shirokuyomi's voice.
"It allowed him to override divine judgment, restore everything, dominate minds, and purify curses. His ultimate skill, World Salvation, could rewrite corrupted worlds themselves sealing demons and chaos before restoring holy order."
Dranexx blinked slowly.
"Damn."
A grin appeared on his face.
"That's ridiculously overpowered."
He closed the book halfway.
"Lucky hero. He's probably dead by now though, right?"
"Yes," Shirokuyomi replied quietly. "He was human."
The blade emitted a faint glow.
"He could have lived longer if he accepted Grand Evolution."
Dranexx raised an eyebrow.
"Grand Evolution?" He smirked slightly. "Some advanced form that grants permanent lifespan?"
"Exactly. One must first be deemed worthy by the system."
Dranexx immediately scoffed.
"Screw the system."
A dangerous smile crossed his face.
"I override it. I can force evolution anytime I want."
For a brief second, silence filled the library.
"Terrifying," Shirokuyomi admitted.
"Not even the Grandmasters have fully transcended the system."
Dranexx shut the book loudly.
"Wrong."
His crimson eyes glowed faintly.
"Seven have."
The atmosphere around him subtly shifted.
"But even they remain bound by cosmic law. Transcending the system only removes artificial limitations… not cosmic ones."
Shirokuyomi remained silent briefly before answering.
"Correct. Only the Four Omni Kings stand above all Grandmasters."
Dranexx's eyes sharpened with curiosity.
"Four Omni Kings…" He chuckled softly. "So this Zeikuverse really isn't small."
"Thousands of multiverses exist within Zeikuverse," Shirokuyomi explained calmly. "Different systems. Different realms. Yet all remain tied to Zeikuverse Law."
Dranexx whistled softly.
"How many exactly?"
"Enough."
Shirokuyomi floated toward another shelf.
"Continue reading."
Dranexx flipped through several pages rapidly before suddenly laughing.
"Hahaha!"
His grin widened.
"Now I get it…"
He pointed toward the ancient records.
"Nineteen Grandmasters. Different multiverses. Different systems…"
Excitement flashed within his eyes.
"And the Heavenly Paladin Realm is the brightest among them. Every verse even possesses its own World Tree."
Suddenly, Dranexx's expression sharpened.
"Hey."
He stared directly at Shirokuyomi.
"Reveal yourself."
The atmosphere became tense.
"I want to speak to the Grandmaster of Divinity. She clearly knows a lot… probably the closest one to the creator."
"No."
Dranexx smirked slowly.
"I knew it."
He pointed toward the floating sword.
"It's you."
Silence.
"True."
Shirokuyomi's voice echoed softly.
"If my true body descended here in person… chaos would erupt."
Dranexx blinked.
"Chaos… by what?!"
"My true body is too powerful for this world."
The black blade emitted a faint divine aura.
"Unless you come to my realm."
Dranexx's eyes lit up instantly.
"Sweet!" He leaned forward excitedly. "You have your own domain?"
"Yes… mi lord."
Akube floated awkwardly nearby.
"Huh… good theory."
Shirokuyomi suddenly asked,
"Do you wish to see my true form?"
Dranexx answered immediately.
"Yes."
A faint laugh echoed from the blade.
"If you are truly as strong as you claim…"
Her voice became distant and mysterious.
"Then find me if you can, almighty Dranexx."
"Hahaha…"
Dranexx's grin widened dangerously.
"Oh…?"
A terrifying pressure leaked faintly from his body.
"Is that a challenge?"
"All Grandmasters possess monarchs who serve beneath them," Shirokuyomi warned calmly. "Good luck passing mine."
Dranexx cracked his neck confidently.
"Alright."
Excitement burned in his eyes.
"I'll find you."
Akube laughed loudly.
"Oho? A quest now?" He floated around excitedly. "Sounds fun."
Shirokuyomi immediately shut him down.
"Do not bring your friend."
Akube froze.
"Huh?"
"I do not get along with the Grandmaster of Celestia."
"Seriously…?" Akube sighed dramatically. "Buzzkill."
Dranexx smirked.
"Fine. You've got a deal."
He turned back toward the endless shelves.
"Let me finish reading first…"
A wild grin slowly stretched across his face.
"Then I'll hunt you down."
"Hahahahaha!"
Dranexx laughed loudly as excitement blazed within his crimson eyes