The Hidden Sector, Dap of Farewell
The sun almost start rising slowly to the Crimson Demon Village. Smoke still drifted from broken rooftops. Craters scarred the once dramatic streets where Crimson Demons proudly displayed their exaggerated magical poses. Now the village looked like it had survived a natural disaster. Which, in a way, it had. Villagers were already rebuilding with loud enthusiasm. Some shouted heroic stories about the battle. Others argued over who contributed the most mana. In the middle of the chaos—Kazuma sat on the ground with a bandage around his head. "I died again as always," he complained. Across from him, Aqua crossed her arms smugly. "And I revived you again always." Kazuma pointed accusingly. "YOU'RE THE REASON I KEEP DYING." Nearby, Megumin leaned against her staff, exhausted but satisfied. "That was a magnificent Explosion." Yunyun nodded quietly beside her. "…Yes. Even I'm shock."
Darkness simply sighed in relief. But there was one problem. Kazuma looked around again. "…Wait." He frowned. "Where's Ruko?" Megumin blinked. "…Huh? Didn't he should have revived too." They searched the area again. Nothing. No body. No sign. Kazuma scratched his head nervously. "…That's not good." Far beneath the village. Ruko's eyes slowly opened. Dark stone surrounded him. The air was cold. For a moment, he didn't move. The memory of the void lingered in his chest like a shadow. That presence. That thing watching him. His fingers tightened slightly. "…Yeah, that was scary," he muttered quietly. "…Ans I didn't like that at all." He pushed himself up slowly. His body felt whole again. No broken ribs. No blood. No pain. Return-by-Death had worked. But something about the experience felt heavier this time.
He exhaled and looked around. The underground storehouse ruins were nearby. Collapsed beams and cracked stone marked the path where Sylvia had rampaged earlier. Ruko brushed dust from himself and his coat. "…augh! ...Since I'm already here. Let's look down here since yew keep systemizing about something down here when we enter the village." He walked back inside the ruined underground structure. The air inside still carried the smell of burnt magic. Broken walls exposed parts of the deeper foundation beneath the warehouse. The time he went inside the vault that's when he noticed it. A narrow corridor hidden behind fallen stone. "…What the? that wasn't there before. Well who I'm I to bring since I haven't enter the vault myself." Curious, Ruko stepped inside.
The tunnel was older than the rest of the building. Smooth stone walls. Strange carvings. And at the end—Another door. Much smaller than the vault. But far more complex. Embedded beside it was another strange device. A controller. Buttons. Levers. Symbols. But the writing wasn't Japanese. Ruko leaned closer. "…The hell language is this?" The symbols twisted across the metal surface in unfamiliar patterns. But something about them felt oddly readable. Fragments of meaning slipped into his mind. Ancient runes. Instructions. Warnings. And something else. "…Why is this describing… sexual life of how to conquer women compatibility tests?" Ruko muttered in disbelief. He rubbed his forehead. "…The person who made this place had some fucking serious issues. Well it doesn't matter since I'm a pro at this."
Still, the mechanism seemed simple enough. The runes glowed faintly as his fingers brushed across them. Click. The door slowly opened. Cold air drifted from inside the chamber. At the center of the room stood a tall black object. An sha–obelisk fragment. The fourth Sha-Obelisk piece. Ruko stared at it for a moment. "…Oho it's seems I finally a fourth piece." He stepped forward. The moment his hand touched the fragment— The void flickered in his mind again. Just for a split second. The same presence. Watching. Then it disappeared. Ruko slowly pulled his hand back. "… Bomboclot," he said quietly. "…You're still there. Y'know what forget it lets get this and leave."
He picked up the fragment and stored it carefully. One more piece secured. Then he noticed something else in the chamber. A narrow tunnel leading deeper underground. But instead of descending—It sloped upward. Toward daylight. Ruko followed it. After several minutes, the tunnel opened into a cave outside the village walls. Fresh wind greeted him. Birds chirped peacefully above. The chaos of the village was now far behind him. Ruko stretched slightly. "…Wowoo nice shortcut. I wonder whats everyone is doing since I'm disappear out of thin air." He walked back toward the village entrance. By the time he returned, the others had already gathered near the main gate. Kazuma spotted him first. "…BRO RUKO?" Megumin turned immediately. "Ruko!" Yunyun nearly jumped in surprise.
Kazuma ran over and hug him. "WHERE WERE YOU?!" Ruko is surprised. "Um? I was at the unground vault exploring." Kazuma stared. "You just disappeared after the explosion!" "Yeah." "YOU WERE GONE FOR HOURS." Ruko blinked. "…Oh really? That long." Megumin crossed her arms. "You had us worried." Ruko scratched his back of his hair slightly. "…My bad." Kazuma sighed deeply. "…You're unbelievable y'know that." The tension faded quickly though. The village had survived. The Devil General had fallen. And the journey forward was waiting. Kazuma raised his hand again. "…One more before we leave?" Ruko smirked.
He understood immediately. He daps the Crimson Demons. Their hands met again. A clean, perfect dap. Then go back to his party. "Brothers' dap," Kazuma said. "Brothers' dap," Ruko replied. And with that—The road beyond the Crimson Demon Village awaited them.