"I 't go on thinking that anyone will e and save me. If you've grown to be a great hero, then all the more... I have to be a good example."— Tatsumaki, One Punch Man

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  The girls were happy for Roy. They crowded around Ren, introdug themselves.

  Ren, still ging to Roy, didn't speak, but she looked at them with a friendly expression.

  "Ren," Roy said, "why don't you call your subordinates back?"

  "Okay!" Ren nodded softly.

  She went to gather her spirits aurned quickly, snuggling bato Roy's arms. She seemed relut to let go.

  Roy chuckled and stroked her head. It seemed being rescued had made her rather attached to him.

  Kurome, who was also quite attached to her "Onii-," gred at Ren, hoping she'd leave Roy alone. Ren, however, ignored her.

  Roy ughed and patted Kurome's head. Some things never ge, he thought.

  Soon, Ren's subordinates arrived.

  "Ren-sama, what's going on?" The Dragon King, Bahamut, looked at Ren, fused. Why was she in the enemy's arms?

  "Bahamut," Ren said, "from now on, Roy is my master. He's your master too."

  "Ren-sama, are you… back to normal?" Bahamut asked, a hint of excitement in her voice.

  She'd been worried about Ren, knowing she'd been corrupted by the Otherworld Darkness.

  "Yes. Roy saved me." Ren turo Roy, a sweet smile on her face. Bahamut hadn't seen her smile like that in a long time.

  "Master!" Bahamut bowed, kneeling respectfully. The tens of thousands of spirits followed suit, bowing in unison.

  Roy chuckled and waved his hand. "Arise."

  With Ren subdued, he'd aplished half his goal.

  The other half up the girls. The pn was simple: each girl would form a pact with a high-ranking Elemental Spirit.

  Then, his peerage would be entirely High-Css level.

  'Now that's what I call a power boost!'

  But Ren's subordinates weren't enough. He he other five Elemental Lords and their spirits.

  His objective was clear: defeat the Five Elemental Lords Alliance, quer the Elemental Spirit World, and cim all the high-ranking spirits for his peerage. Plus, he'd get to avenge Ren. It was a win-win.

  "Let's get out of here," Roy said. "Find somewhere to rest." The area was barren, not a good pce to rex.

  "Right!" The girls agreed.

  Roy led the spirits to a new location, a picturesque spot by a mountain and a river. They set up camp.

  That evening, they had another barbecue.

  "I'm attag the Five Elemental Lords Alliaomorrow," Roy announced, handing Ren a grilled fish.

  "I'm with you, Roy," Ren said, taking the fish and smiling. She immediately devoured it. It was her first time trying this kind of food, and she loved it.

  Roy watched Re several fish, a worried thought crossing his mind. 'I hope I'm not turning her into a glutton.' Then, he g Akame and Kurome. 'Never mind. I already have enough gluttons in my peerage.'

  "Wait, Roy, I thought you were done here?" Rias asked, fused.

  "Half-done," Roy said.

  "What's the other half?"

  "P you all up."

  "P us up?"

  "Yep. You've seen how strong Elemental Spirits are, right? Form a pact with one, and your power skyrockets." He grinned. "So, I'm getting each of you a high-ranking Elemental Spirit."

  The girls were touched.

  "Thank you, Roy!" Rias looked at him, eyes shining.

  "Haha, no problem. You're mine, after all." Roy grinned, waving it off.

  "Does that include me?" Akeno asked, her eyes sparkling.

  Roy paused, then smiled. "Of course."

  Akeno's smile widened.

  "Perverted loli," Koneko muttered, unimpressed.

  "Haha, even if you call me that, Koneko, I won't leave you out," Roy said, patting her head.

  Koneko blushed and turned away.

  ????

  The m, Roy was woken by the sounds of fighting. Rias and the others were gone.

  He went to iigate. Saeko and Bahamut were dueling. Roy and Ren's battle yesterday had interrupted their fight, so the two had agreed to a rematch.

  "Hey, Roy! You're awake!" Leone was the first to notice him.

  "M," Roy nodded, watg the fight.

  Bahamut, a highest-ranking Elemental Spirit, was incredibly strong. She specialized in magid could transform into a dragon, making her formidable in close bat as well.

  Saeko, with her Demon Syer Mark, was much stronger.

  And her Dragon Syer sword, As, gave her an edge against Bahamut. The two were evenly matched.

  "Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderd Fsh - Eightfold!"

  "Thunder Breathing, Third Form: Thunder Swarm!"

  "Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Fming Thunder God!"

  Saeko fought with all her might. But Bahamut was no ordinary spirit. Dragons were ily powerful. At full strength, she could even hold her own against a Weak Ultimate-Css. Saeko, ultimately, lost.

  Despite the loss, a satisfied smile graced Saeko's face.

  Aruck Roy.

  "Bahamut," he said, "you aowledge Saeko's strength, right?"

  "Yes. To fight me, a Dragon King, with the strength of a mere high-ranking spirit… I aowledge her." Bahamut, her blue hair and crimsoriking, nodded haughtily.

  "Then, how about being her tracted spirit?" Roy asked.

  "Hmm…" Bahamut sidered this. "I accept." Roy was her master, and she respected Saeko's strength.

  Saeko looked at Roy, surprised and delighted.

  "Haha, Saeko, work hard! With her, you might evehrough to Ultimate-bsp;level!" Roy enced her.

  He wasn't just saying that. Bahamut was a highest-ranking spirit, just a step away from Elemental Lord.

  Saeko was already High-Css. Together, they might reach Ultimate level.

  "I will!" Saeko nodded seriously. This was a rare opportunity. She had to succeed.

  "Go, Saeko-neesan!"

  "You do it, Saeko!!"

  "I'm so jealous!"

  "Saeko always works the hardest!" The girls cheered her on.

  Rias, Akame, Kurome, and the others who were at peak High-Css were especially excited. If Saeko could break through, maybe they could too!

  Saeko began the pact ritual with Bahamut. Soon, it was plete. Bahamut merged with Saeko. Their powers bined.

  A powerful aura erupted from Saeko. The girls cheered. She'd do! She was a Ultimate-Css!

  "gratutions, Saeko! You did it!" Roy beamed.

  "I did!" Saeko's smile was radiant as she looked at Roy. She didn't need grand words. She was ready to follow him, even to death.

  "Onii-, me too!" Kurome tugged on his sleeve.

  Roy chuckled. "You'll have to wait. Once we defeat the Five Elemental Lords Alliahere will be more spirits to choose from."

  "Okay." Kurome nodded obediently.

  The irls rexed, knowing there were more opportuo e.

  "Alright, let's get ready to move out!"

  "Yes!"

  They prepared, the off north with their army of spirits.

  ????

  Several days ter, they arrived at a massive mountain. Beyond it y the Five Elemental Lords' stronghold. But Roy stopped.

  He studied the mountain. It was like a giant sword thrust into the earth, radiating a sharp aura.

  "There's a Sword Spirit in that mountain," Ren whispered to him.

  The girls looked at the mountain curiously.

  "A Sword Spirit, huh? Iing." Roy looked at the kilometer-high peak with a smirk. He summoned his Ice Rose Sword and swung.

  "Ice Breathing, Sed Form: Ice Dragon Swirl!"

  A blue ice dragon roared as it smmed into the mountain.

  The earth shook. The mountain crumbled. Rod dust filled the air. Roy waved his hand, dispelling the debris with a gust of wind.

  A sword floated in the air. It had a golden hilt and a white bde.

  Roy's eyes lit up. It was the Sword Spirit, Termi.

  In the inal, o's avatar was summoned. Her true form remained in the Elemental Spirit World.

  As the stro Sword Spirit, even the five Elemental Lords and the Dark Elemental Lord were wary of her power. She was, without a doubt, a Ultimate-css spirit.

  "Perfect!" Roy was thrilled.

  "Is that the Sword Spirit you were looking for?" Saeko asked. Roy had given her As, saying he no longer . This sword must be his target.

  "Yep," Roy grinned.

  "She looks tough. And she's ing this way." Miugged on Roy's sleeve, pointing.

  Est had been sleeping. She was furious at being woken so rudely. She flew towards them, ready to attack.

  Roy summoned his Ice Rose Sword a her charge.

  'g! g! g! '

  Their swords cshed in the air.

  "Hey, Sword Spirit," Roy asked as he pressed his attack, easily overp her with his superior swordsmanship. "Want to be my servant?"

  "I fool. I will not spare you," a ft, emotionless, childlike voice echoed from the sword.

  Roy chuckled. "If you bey servant, I'll give you delicious treats." He held out a vanil ice cream e.

  He remembered Est's sweet tooth. Ice cream, tofu, steamed buns… she loved them all.

  Est's attack faltered as she smelled the ice cream.

  "If you give me that, I'll five your intrusion," she said.

  "Sure." Roy smiled, the ice cream.

  With a fsh of white light, Est transformed into an adorable white-haired little girl in a white dress. She looked like a doll. She took the ice cream and licked it.

  "Mmm, sweet!" Est's eyes closed in bliss.

  "If you bey servant," Roy said, holding out a box of cake, "I'll give you even more treats."

  Est's eyes wide the smell of the cake.

  "Deal!" She grabbed the cake and started eating. It was eveer than ice cream. She was hooked.

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