Songs in the Void: A Multiversal Score

ICDS Universe, Earth, United States of America, Antelope Canyon, Arizona. 

"Damn, this place looks more like the Grand Canyon than Antelope Canyon." Alfonzo said while looking at the Wyvern Nest from the limousine's window. "Field Dungeons really change everything about a spot, huh?" 

"Yeah, don't they..." James said, about to reply to Alfonzo's statement. 

"So, where are we staying?" Tatsuo asked while glaring at James. 

"Oh, that's right.... My bad." James said when he noticed that not only Tatsuo, but all the other members of the Dimensional Chat and the visitors from other worlds were glaring at him. 

'I forgot that Shin and his two girls don't know about us being from other worlds outside of this multiverse, or whatever the hell ICDS is.' James thought to himself while shaking his head at his near slip up. 

Though he was confused by why Tatsuo cut off James, shin turned to him to answer the question. 

"According to what I found out, there are hotels set up near the canyon for the Awakened who fight the wyverns to rest in." Shin said while pointing at a series of buildings not too close but not too far away from the Field Dungeon. "I'm not sure how good they are, though." 

"Well, I'd bet they're not too luxurious." Hwaya said casually. "I mean, there's always a chance of them getting knocked down, you know. And I bet the people who funded them are not in the habit of wasting money like that, even though the world is facing a damn crisis." 

"If I didn't know any better, I'd think you didn't like politicians and what not." Alfonzo said with a grin. 

"Yeah, especially those from Britain and South Korea." Hwaya replied in a fiery tone. 

The reason for Hwaya's dislike of politicians was split into two. First, her dislike for South Korean politicians stems from the fact that because she is half-Korean, they consider her one of South Korea's SS-Ranked Awakened, even though she was clearly an English noble.

As for her dislike for British politicians, it's because of the other SS-Ranker from England, Joshua Brightman, who had been doing some rather unsavory things involving her. Such as, having his former subordinate, Edward Walker, the same one who is now Kang Yua's bodyguard, take photos of Hwaya while in the shower, or constantly pestering her to be in a relationship, despite the fact that he is almost fifteen years older than her and married, he had also tried to kill Shin after she had asked him to help her clear England's A+-Ranked Field Dungeon, the Graveyard Over the Lake, among other things. 

"Dame Mastiford, we're here." The driver said from the front seat. 

"Thank you." Hwaya replied while shaking off her negative thoughts about politicians. "Anyway, are you all ready to check in? After that, we can take a little rest and start hunting the wyverns tomorrow. Does that sound good?" 

"If things really go that smoothly." Tatsuo replied. "But something tells me there will be some kind of interruption to your plan." 

Tilting her head in confusion, Hwaya had no idea what Tatsuo was talking about. Shin, on the other hand, could not help but think aback to the letter he received shortly before he left South Korea signed by Ciara Kenex. 

'I hope he's wrong.' Shin thought to himself after he climbed out of the Limousine and started making his way to the hotel. 

["Lord Hero, Lord Sage, you've really come."] The voice of a girl, Ciara Kenex, sounded in Tatsuo's and Shin's minds as they walked towards the front entrance of the hotel they had booked rooms in. ["Please, I implore you, come to my room so that we may speak in person. My room number is 1301. I'll be waiting with reverence and trepidation.' 

While Shin looked uncomfortable at the fact that someone just spoke directly into his mind, Tatsuo looked enraged. More than that, he looked like he was ready to kill. And although he had considered killing Ciara just because he knew what kind of person she was from the novel, it had only been a thought. However, when she broke into his mind, that thought was inching closer to being put into reality. 

'There's only one way she could have known about me.' Tatsuo thought to himself as his head whipped in Peika's direction. 'And it had to be the lying little lightning dragon who told her about me.' 

Feeling Tatsuo's glare, Peika, who was sitting on Shin's right shoulder turned her head in his direction. However, when she saw the expression on his face, she almost jumped off Shin's shoulder in terror. Especially since she remembered the higher being that spoke to her a while ago. Even so, she was completely unaware of why he was looking at her like that. However, after a moment, she realized what made him so angry. 

'That stupid little girl.' Peika thought as she thought of Ciara. 'I made sure to tell her to be completely respectful to Lord Tatsuo when I spoke to her in her dreams. In what world does speaking to someone you've never met in their mind count as being respectful. Because of her, Me, Shin, and even that stupid wolf might end up being killed. Damn it!' 

"Shin, what's wrong?" Palludia asked after seeing the change in Shin's expression. 

"Tatsuo-Kun, is everything all right?" Violet asked at the same time when she felt Tatsuo's [energy] starting to roil. 

Hearing the two women's questions, everyone turned to see what happened. When they did, they saw a perturbed expression on Shin's face. At the same time, they noticed the unbridled fury on Tatsuo's. Also, they also noticed Tatsuo's [Energy] starting to leak and distort the air around him. 

"His power is increasing at a stupid fast rate." James muttered in shock. 

"But why?" Alfonzo asked in a curious toen. "And why the hell is he so mad?" 

{[Notifications] 

[Strength has incrased in rank from B- to B

[Agility] has increased in rank from B to B+

[Dexterity] has increased in rank from B to B+

[Endurance] has increased in rank from B- to B

[Perception] has increased in rank from B to B+

[Energy] has increased in rank from B+ to A-

[Charm] has increased in rank from A- to A}

"He's going to breakthrough into the advance level of the High-Rank." Scáthach said, her interest in training Tatsuo rising with every second that passed. "No, he already has. And it appears that his growth is not stopping." 

Just as Scáthach said, Tatsuo's [Energy] level continued to rise, despite the fact that he had just ranked up. It took a few more minutes for Tatsuo's [Energy] to stabilize. When it did, Tatsuo's [energy] was sitting firmly at the peak of A-, or the peak of the initial level of the Ultimate-Rank in terms of devil power ranking. Unfortunately, the rest of his body wa s not ready to make the leap into Ultimate-Rank, as his aura peaked at the advanced-level of the High-Rank.

"Tatsuo-Kun! Tatsuo-Kun! What's wrong?" Violet asked once again while holding Tatsuo's hand with a worried expression on her face. 

However, before Tatsuo could give an answer, his draconic aura exploded from his body, putting pressure on everyone in the surrounding five hundred-foot radius, scaring everyone into motionlessness, as a result. 

"Hey!" Elicia shouted while imbuing some of her magic power into her voice. "Snap out of it, you're gonna knock everyone out if you keep this up!" 

The fluctuations from Elicia's magic power brought Tatsuo back to his senses. Surprised by Elicia's loud shout, Tatsuo looked at her with confusion, though the angry expression he had been wearing was not gone. However, he did reel in his draconic aura, or [Dragon Fear], and stop flaring his [Energy]. 

A moment later, he registered what Elicia said. So, Tatsuo looked around at everyone who he had been walking with. Currently, Shin and Hwaya, were looking at him with dumbfounded expressions. Meanwhile, Shea, Ye-Eun, and Palludia were crouching on the ground, unable to stand the pressure. However, the difference between them was the fact that Shea was looking at Tatsuo with worry while Ye-Eun and Palludia's eyes were filled with fear. 

As for the others, James, Alfonzo, Elicia, Rias, Sona, and Scáthach were looking at Tatsuo with curiosity, wondering why he lost control just now. As for Aletia and Tio, they, like Shea, were looking at him with concerned gazes. However, it was clear to see that they were a bit wobbly on their feet. Though, Tio also looked as if she were excited if you took into consideration the blush that was present on her cheeks. 

"Um... Sorry about that." Tatsuo said while rubbing the back of his head with a hint of embarrassment replacing the furious expression he had been wearing. "Someone just spoke to me in my mind. And I don't' know why, but it pissed me way the hell off." 

["Ah! Makes perfect sense."] Ddraig said inside James' mind. 

'You know what's going on, Ddraig?' James asked curiously. 

["Yeah, it's his draconic heritage."] Ddraig replied. ["It seems it's been stimulating his mind, body, and soul ever since his bloodline awakened."] 

'But what's that got to do with this?' James asked. 

["Think back to how irritated you were when Ayame was stalking you, Partner."] Ddraig replied. ["Your pride made you resentful that someone who you deemed as insignificant was following you without showing themselves, right?"] 

'Oh! I get it.' James replied. 'And because he knows who it is talking to him, he's pissed. Like, really pissed. Especially since she's so weak.' 

["Exactly."] Ddraig replied. 

Though it seemed like that conversation took a while, it happened at the speed of thought. So, not much time passed. And just as James and Ddraig finished their conversation, Shin spoke up, as well. 

"You, too?" Shin asked in a dumbfounded tone. "But why? I thought she only wanted to speak to me." 

"Who?" Violet asked, looking visibly upset on Tatsuo's behalf. 

"Ciara Kenex." Shin replied. "She's the heir or leader of some powerful American family, or something." 

"Oh, Tatsuo-Kun got a letter from her, too." Violet said, recognizing the name. "But he said he had no interest in meeting her. So, I threw it away." 

"Really?" Shin asked, sounding confused. He then turned to look at Tatsuo, who still felt rather angry at the mental intrusion as he continued. "I know why she wants to see me, but what could she want to talk with you about, Tatsuo?" 

"No idea." Tatsuo replied as he turned around. "And I don't really give a damn." 

"Tatsuo-Kun, where are you going?" Violet asked as she started moving to follow Tatsuo. 

"To book a room at another hotel." Tatsuo replied. "There's no way I'm staying in the same hotel as that little bitch." 

Tatsuo then continued walking without another word. Seeing that, Violet, Aletia, Shea, and Tio also followed him. At the same time, James, Alfonzo, and Elicia exchanged glances before shrugging and following Tatsuo, as well. 

"Come on, let's go." James aid, looking back over his shoulder at Rias, Sona, and Scáthach. "I don't wanna stay with someone who would violate someone's mind without a second thought, either." 

Nodding in response, the three devil ladies also shrugged their shoulders before following the rest of the group, leaving Shin, Hwaya, Ye-Eun, and Palludia behind with dumbfounded and fearful expressions on their faces. 

"Damn.... He really has gotten strong." Shin muttered while watching Tatsuo leave. "I thought we would still be about even before this." 

"Yeah, he's a lot stronger than I thought he would be, too." Hwaya said in a dumbfounded tone. 

"But he's only a Silver-Rank, right?" Palludia asked, having subconsciously looked at herself and Tatsuo as equals since she had yet to become a Gold-Ranked adventurer, either. "How is this possible?" 

"He's so scary." Ye-Eun said, taking advantage of the situation to cling to Shin. Though, had anyone been paying attention to her, they would have seen that her eyes were no longer black. Instead, they were glowing red, denoting that she was excited for a fight. 

"Oh, and Shin." Tatsuo said just before walking out of earshot. And when he felt that he had Shin's attention, he continued in a cold tone. "Tell that girl, if she comes to find me, I'll kill her. No questions asked." 

Feeling the killing intent in Tatsuo's words, Shin, Hwaya, Palludia, and Ye-Eun could not help but shudder. Still, Shin nodded his head in understanding. Then, he led the rest of his group into the hotel to see what Ciara Kenex wanted. And by the time they left her room, Shin, Hwaya, Palludia, and Ye-Eun were all thinking that it might be a good idea to direct Ciara to Tatsuo's new room at some point. 

Meanwhile, Tatsuo and the others eventually booked three rooms for the smaller groups to stay in. Then, after they put all their luggage down, they all met up again in the hotel's lobby. 

"So, what do you guys wanna do for the rest of the night?" Alfonzo asked curiously. "If I can commandeer the kitchen, I could cook us up something good. You brought ingredients in your space storage, right, Tatsuo?" 

"Yeah, I brought some." Tatsuo replied. "And if that's what you guys wanna do, go ahead. But I'm not hungry." 

"Then what are you going to do, Tatsuo-Kun? Violet asked. "I mean, you're still wearing your body suit." 

"I'm gonna go to hunt wyverns." Tatsuo replied, still sounding a bit angry. "I gotta work off this anger." 

"Oh, sounds like fun." James said. "I'll join you." 

"As will I." Scáthach added. 

"Well then, I'll take Ri Ri and So-Tan with me." Elicia said as she wrapped her arms around one of Rias' and Sona's arms each. "I'm gonna get their measurements and start asking them about what kind of clothes they like." 

"Please, do not call me that." Sona said while rolling her eyes, which made Elicia smile at her playfully.

Knowing that Elicia was a magical seamstress from getting to know her during the plane ride, Rias and Sona were not opposed to letting Elicia make some clothes for them. However, they were also curious to see the wyverns of this world and how they compared to the ones back home. 

"I shall accompany you, as well, Mast--- *Cough* I mean, Tatsuo." Tio said, blushing slightly when Tatsuo glared at her for her slip of the tongue. 

Before Aletia and Shea could speak up, Violet grabbed the two of them. Then, she smiled at Tatsuo. 

"We'll make sure you have a warm meal when you get back, Tatsuo-Kun." Violet said "so, we'll be in the kitchen with Alfonzo-San. Just don't stay out too late, okay?" 

Hearing that, Tatsuo's scowl softened for a moment before he smiled at Violet. 

"Sure." Tatsuo replied. "I just wanna blow off some steam. I'll probably be back in a couple hours." 

With that said, Tatsuo led James, Tio, and Scáthach out of the hotel while everyone else went off to do the things they said they would do.