3rd Pov
Walking down a long corridor, Dawn Arceid was on his way to see his master.
3 days ago, Dawn had felt the disappearance of Veldora thus the birth of Rimuru into this world.
He didn't plan to go meet him now...his first encounter with him will be during the Walpurgis 2 years later when he becomes a demon lord.
For the sole reason that his presence would undeniably modify the course of the story and mess up some of Rimuru's decisions.
But that didn't mean Dawn was going to stay in Ruberios the whole time...there are things he had planned.
Dawn : Permission to enter.
Stopping in front of the door leading toward the garden of Ruberios, he waited for an instant before opening the door.
Walking through a path of flowers, he stopped a few feet away from his master and her butler.
Luminous : It's rare for you to come here on your own, did something happen ?
The last time he came here on his own was on Hinata's case, when she discovered the truth behind Ruberios.
After defeating her, Luminous decided to make her one of her knights and direct subordinates and that day Dawn himself asked to train her.
Because of that, Hinata was stronger than she was originally.
Dawn : I need to leave for a while.
Luminous : Heh, is it because of that overgrown Lizard disappearance ?
Dawn nodded, 300 years ago...Veldora rampage happened and Chloe (Hinata) defeated and sealed him.
After that, Dawn came back after a long journey...ever since the foundation of Ruberios he hasn't left the nation besides for some missions.
Due to that loyalty over the century, he was fairly well known and acknowledged...yes right now in Ruberios.
There were a few individuals and groups known by all...the Seven days Clergy, the 10 great saints, the right hand of God Hinata Sakaguchi...the Pope Louis.
And finally, the Ace of God, Dawn Arceid...he could use his true name after most of his crimes and accused deeds 2000 years ago become history.
His name slowly became white again, bland of all accusations.
He was now Dawn Arceid, the man who served the holy empire since its creation.
Luminous : Well you served me well for the past century, so go ahead take it under the pretex of vacation.
Dawn : Thank you.
Over the years, Dawn and Luminous grow closer into a sort of spiritual sibling relationship.
Having nothing else to do here, Dawn bowed and left.
Gunthler : He sure grew stronger.
Luminous : Indeed, his progression is terrifying, even after awakening i'm not confident in fighting him head on.
Gunthler just nodded, a few rare people know about his true strength...one of the few beings that could somehow rival one of those true dragons.
This doesn't mean he can defeat them but at least put up a fight, this alone puts him high in the hierarchy...because most people would die the moment they stand in front of those catastrophes.
Luminous : Despite being a member of the 10 great demon lords, Guy is still on my back since that event 2000 years ago...
Gunthler : Indeed.
Luminous : Who do you think is the strongest ? Guy Crimson or Dawn Arceid ?
Falling silent, this was actually hard to tell as they never saw either of them going serious since Dawn came back.
He was a different man, not the one broken by regret and sorrow...
Gunthler : I believe even the likes of Guy Crimson will have to be ready to lose something important.
Dawn Pov
Walking back toward my room, I met a few holy knights and priests on the way...they bowed silently waiting for me to leave before returning to their daily life.
I really became famous here...well not like it affects me anymore, 2000 years worth of experience and life drastically changed my mind.
I'm originally just a human, we aren't supposed to live that long...
Dawn : Oh ?
On the other side of the corridor, I could see Hinata accompanied by Litus approaching...they must be on their way to the meeting room.
I think it's about some recent bandit activity near Ruberios.
As we crossed paths, both stopped and stepped aside...it's hard to imagine the cold hearted Hinata doing this to anyone beside Luminous.
Hinata : Where are you going, sensei ?
Dawn : My room also gathers the 10 great saints later. I have an announcement to make.
Hinata : As you wish.
Litus didn't say anything keeping a low profile, well i guess it must be pretty tense for her...her direct superior Hinata and on the hierarchy i come even further above.
Having nothing else to say, I left the two of them and went to my room.
Dawn : The number of bandits attacks have been increasing the last few years...maybe i should take care of it when I leave.
Grabbing my sword and strapping it on my wrist, I turned around and voiced something quietly.
My words quickly reached the shadows and a few people started to move...while the 10 great saints are the light of Ruberios, The clergy are its icons...
I have created another unit who mainly work under the light, Unit : Fallen light, a group of 6 people directly working under me.
Only the Luminous has knowledge of them...the particularity of this unit is that those 5 individuals are otherworlder and one of them being another one like me, someone who came from that reality who viewed Tensura as fiction.
Speaking about that...Sola, I had only seen her one time in 2000 years, when I started my last journey.
I wonder if she survived...I still freshly remember that one last interaction, sometimes it made me want to go back to that time when we were still friends.
Flashb-
No, I already sealed that memory away due to the pain it caused, I only have some residue that leaks into my mind from time to time.
Anyway, I should go now...as for the order I gave to the Fallen light, it's simple...all of them have another identity in Ruberios.
Some are apprentice priests/nun, others are knights and more...I ordered them to go on standby for now and only act when the situation turns dire.
Dawn : You can come too, Yuu...
Coming out from the shadows, Yuu Kitanashi...the one who shares a similar past to me and Sola, a japanese girl who had read Tensura from its source.
She was reincarnated into this world around 72 years ago as a human slave, she was abused for being a mistress's daughter.
Her father was quite the right man but after losing his parents, he fell into depression and despite being married, he went on sleeping with multiple other women.
One of them led to Yuu's birth...after this came out, Yuu was mistreated and then thrown, since she had a rather beautiful mother, people expected her to be equally beautiful when she grew up.
And thus, she was sold off for a large sum of money...at that time she was 6.
After that, she was taken into one of those horrible slave trading centers where she slowly lost hope in life, fortunately this didn't last long, only a few months.
Since Ruberios discovered this and rescued the slaves...i was at the command at that time and noticed her status.
Perhaps because I felt guilty toward Sola, I took Yuu in and raised her myself.
It felt like having a daughter, it wasn't bad...also she kept her name since she abandoned her name given here.
Yuu : I came here to ask for a favor.
Dawn : What do you need this time ? Ice cream ? Pasta ? Chocolate ?
One fact about Yuu, she is a glutton of the finest rank but also a Shion level cook.
She wanted to taste things from earth but can't because of her talent in ruining food.
Yuu : Ugh...no ! I mean if you want to make some for me I don't mind but that's not the point ! Please let me come with you !
Dawn ; You know I won't interact with Rimuru yet, I'm just going out to recruit a new member for the Fallen light.
That's right, Shizu will soon meet Rimuru...and die. My goal right now is to recover her soul and revive her.
A lot of things had changed, I had worked with her a few times and her mindset changed a little. I know she doesn't want to die yet.
Yuu : That doesn't matter, I only want to follow you.
This really looks like a father and daughter discussion now, you know i'm barely 2000 years old and still virgin...please don't lump me with those old dad...
Yuu : What's wrong ? You're unusually silent...
Dawn : N-nothing, anyway follow me if you want.
At approval, she made a delighted expression and nodded before quickly following me.
Her public identity is also my personal secretary and helps me with all the paperwork I get from Louis and Roy...
Those bastards can't properly make reports and have to lump everything on me...I can't wait to let them suffer while I'm gone.
Yuu Pov
Staring at his back, many things flew through my mind...back when I was living in Japan.
I wasn't someone remarkable, just an ordinary girl who started reading manga because of my father, he was a manga editor.
I have bathed in this since birth and one day came across Tensura, though I didn't pay much attention to it.
And before I knew I was here...in this same Tensura world, everything was cold when I came...I was abused over and over.
My father was a depressed guy who probably didn't even know my existence and my mother was just after money.
This is why when Dawn-san saved me, I felt relieved and grateful but after some time together...I started to look up to him like how I did with my father back then.
This feeling when you can only stare at his back...honestly even if i can surpass him, i wouldn't want because this gap between us is comfortable.
I owe him a lot, this life of mine is one thing but even my name...Clarice is the name given to me in this world but I hated it after living through that hell.
Dawn-san had some skill that could overwrite my name and he gave me back the precious name father had given me.
For that i will be eternally grateful to him...yes, for now i'm satisfied and happy of this distance between us.
And that's why I want to follow him...
Dawn Pov
Seriously, that child...anyway, things are about to change...in fact it already started.
Making my way toward the meeting room, activated my ultimate skill Author...the world around me turned pale as everything became words.
For simple information, the ground below me will collapse in 245 years due to an unstable foundation. It was written for me like a book.
That didn't really matter though, what was important was the information in front of me...
Dawn Arceid : Status : Side character.
After i eliminated Luna, my status was Main character...at the moment i didn't really care because everyone is it's own story's main character.
But now...i become a side character...just when Rimuru came into this world.
This started giving me clues and confirmation that I'm currently inside a story...written by someone.
A,d judging by the name and design given to the important people in my life and myself...it's someone similar to me.
This is giving much more questions and I feel like the only way for me to get these answers is to get through Tensura's storyline.
I clenched my fist hard, my existence already changed a lot of things among the main cast...will everything be alright ?
Yuu : Dawn-san ?
Before I knew, I reached the meeting room...It seemed I spaced out in front of the door...
I shook my head and opened it, the 10 great saints were already present, my skill was still active so all the information about them was visible.
This ultimate skill is truly beyond this world...i lost most of the ability i once had when they were unique skills but my new power isn't to joke at.
Dawn : Everyone present ?
3rd Pov
At his arrival, everyone got up and bowed respectfully, without waiting he took his seat and told everyone to follow.
Dawn : I'll keep it brief, our Goddess Luminous gave me an order.
Everyone : !!!
This was naturally a shock though no one even tried to deny such a bold claim...Dawn was known as the Ace of God, someone who held a position equal to the pope Louis.
Dawn : I will leave later today for a few months...until then the post of supreme commander of Ruberios knight order will be vacant.
This naturally was like a bombshell exploding into the ocean, no one could utter a word as he continued.
Dawn : While I'm gone, Hinata will take over the lead...consider her words as mine.
Finishing with that, he got up and readied himself to leave...honestly, the 10 great saints aren't really worth his time.
He didn't like them either as for bonding, he was a knight for Ruberios since way before any of their birth...
Most of them grew up knowing Dawn as an icon figurine, knight of Ruberios so talking to him is hard.
They were merely at a subordinate and servant level.
Hinata : If you allow me, can I ask a few questions ?
Dawn : Yuu will take care of it, I have to take my leave first.
Turning toward his secretary, Dawn knew that among all the Tensura cast Yuu's favorite was Hinata.
He rather enjoyed seeing her getting along with her favorite character.
Hinata : I see...
As for Hinata, she actually gets along with Yuu...thought she was rather annoyed because Dawn literally pushed every interaction he could have with her onto Yuu.
Besides training, they haven't talked much...and for Hinata, Dawn was someone similar to Shizu.
Dawn : Oh...I almost forgot, for the group of bandits lurking around Ruberios, I'll take care of it.
With that finally said, he left the meeting room along with that, the pressure caused by his presence was removed.
Everyone could breathe a sigh of relief.
Yuu : Then allow me to cover the next few topics. I will charge all of you with some new daily tasks and reschedule some of your training and mission. You can ask questions later.
Smashing a large stack of paper on the table...everyone trembled even Hinata, outside her friendly behavior.
Yuu was still chosen to be Dawn's secretary, she is an elite among the elite when it come to administrative tasks.
She was a demon for everyone here as they most specialized into combat, so when Yuu took over they had to follow her astronomic pace...
Yuu : Dawn-sama will leave soon, so we'll have to accelerate the process...thus we'll cancel all your break, training and duty for today. I already have some people hired to do these, instead focus on the paperwork.
Her sinister smile and words were the last straw needed for the glorious 10 saints to fall into despair.
Hinata : (I would rather fight a demon lord than doing this...)
After hours, it was finally time to leave...with a small bag and covered by a cape.
It was essential to not reveal that he had left Ruberios or it would alert the other nation.
So he was going to travel incognito, this strangely reminded him of the past when he had to hide because of his criminal record.
Yuu : The bandit's main camp is in the North-east, we should get there in a few minutes if we run.
Dawn : Mmh, then let's walk.
Yuu : Huh ?
Looking at the sleeping sun, the fresh wind hit his face...those light clothes far from the noble suit he had at Ruberios.
The irregular ground, everything screamed wild and adventure.
Dawn : Let's just travel normally Yuu, Rimuru should still be in that cave...we got time.
Yuu : Adventure, huh...
Dawn : I already lived a long adventure of 1700 years but you...you never witnessed that.
At that moment, Yuu once again saw this rare sight...Dawn might appear different in front of others, cold or ruthless but sometimes.
He would just do these random actions for those he held dear...he could have accomplished so much alone yet he went out of his way to help Yuu.
Killing two birds with one stone, giving this opportunity to Yuu while going on their quest.
Yuu : Thank you...
Dawn : Don't, I also wanted to adventure like that...it's refreshing.
Both walking at a slow pace, they just enjoyed this moment...
Sometime later, they reached the bandit's camp...it was already night time but still those on night duty noticed their presence and soon the entire camp was awake, weapon in hand.
Dawn and Yuu were still walking toward them without a care.
Bandit : Stop right there !
A first warning came but none showed hints of stopping, then came a second warning...
Finally snapping, an arrow was shot right toward Dawn's head...but shockingly enough, the arrow was cut into dust before it reached him.
Invisible to all, this was the result of centuries of swordsmanship...a swift draw too fast for even a saint, consecutive slash reducing the arrow to dust.
This nameless technique was formerly known as Cross cardinal slash...but the difference in strength and speed was like night and day.
Dawn : Yuu, i'll give you 30 seconds, don't disappoint me.
Yuu : It's more than enough.
Her eyes turning stone cold, Yuu is the holder of the unique skill : Shadow...the art to manipulate the darkness of the world.
Placing her hand on the ground, in the split of a second...multiple blades made of shadow appear under the bandits's neck...
Yuu : Execution.
The next instant, the 82 bandits present in the base were beheaded...blood spread everywhere with no sound, it was pure silence letting the night take over.
A flawless work from the strongest unit within the Fallen light.
Dawn : Your execution has become faster, huh.
Yuu : Well you often send us to exterminate the trash so I had plenty of time to become stronger.
What she means by trash is either the corrupted nobles within the Western nation or groups of mindless monsters who dare cause a ruckus.
Dawn : I see, anyway I'll clean the base and we'll depart for the Jura forest.
Yuu : Okay~I'll go loot their boss's room then !
Running off, from what Yuu told him...she was a huge rpg gamer and fan of those dungeon type manga in the past.
So she has a sort of fetish to loot down the boss or important people's treasure...bandits surely have some valuable things...
Dawn : Ahh, I'll just clean this.
Stretching his hand, the big problem from this massacre is the blood, the entire base was covered in red and that's quite the disgusting sight.
Dawn : Headless body is fine tho...
Shaking his head, this operation will consist in 3 steps...using Ultimate skill : Author.
The first one is selecting the composant, here it's blood....the second step is selecting the area, the entire base.
And finally erase everything, Lord of stories is mainly an ultimate skill that allows direct interaction with information particles, composition of all things.
Putting it simply, with his skill...he erased the matter known as blood within the chosen area.
Dawn : Good, I can probably instantly take on anyone that isn't a top tier chara now.
Though, his skill has a limit...first the effect is decreased if the enemy has an ultimate skill and if his EP are overwhelmingly higher.
Dawn : Thought the latter shouldn't be a problem for now.
After all 2000 years passed along that, he had awakened his own Hero egg...the number of beings that have higher Ep than him could be counted on two hands.
Dawn : Yuu should be done by now, i guess i'll just wait for her then...
Sighing, he sat down and waited...his mind going off toward a few memories of the past.
70 years ago...
Walking down a long road, Dawn was out for his duty with a direct order from Luminous.
It seems the Eastern empire had sent a unit toward the Western nation, his job was to intercept them and stop them before they came too close.
Upon arriving there, Dawn was met with an unexpected person...
Dawn : Tatsuya Kondo, huh...
The gun saint, a former Japanese military who had swore total loyalty to the emperor Rudra.
Along with him were an army of 2000 soldiers...it seems Rudra planned to take over one or two nations to see how the Western nations were developing.
Kondo : You seem to know who I am...so I advise you to get out of the way, foreign knight.
Dawn : That won't happen, also you of all people should know that threats only work on people weaker than you.
This naturally tickled Kondo off, taking out his gun he pointed it toward Dawn with cold eyes.
Kondo : You talk big, tell me your name before you die.
Dawn : My name, huh...well neither of us wil die here so might as well give it.
Unshealting Dimension, this was a direct challenge thrown toward Kondo...who will win ? Your bullet or my slash.
Dawn : My name is Dawn Arceid,
Kondo : Oh ? I think I heard about you...the last wall of the holy empire, huh...
Tensing up, now he realized the generosity of the situation...Dawn Arceid is one of the few names Rudra himself was aware of.
Dawn : It seems the empire does know about me...what an honor.
Kondo : If you are truly Dawn Arceid, things sure took a dim turn.
His hand firmly holding his gun, he didn't show any sign of backing down...he was confident in his ability and thus wanted to test Dawn with his own hand.
Dawn : Overconfidence isn't a great trait.
Kondo : Wh-
Instinctively pulling the trigger, the moment Dawn finished his sentence he disappeared...out of pure instinct Kondo managed to aim a bullet toward his moving body, a sort of silver blur covering his movement.
But that bullet was cut down midway as it met Dimension's sharpness...it wasn't the work of a skill but pure swordsmanship.
Kondo : (This movement ! I can't avoid it, it's aimed at my neck!)
Gritting his teeth as he could only helplessly watch the sword coming...he didn't close his eyes, his pride as a warrior didn't allow it.
Kondo : (Is this the end ? The world seems so slow...)
When death is near, rumors say that the world turns slower from your vision...this state of total powerlessness where you can only await your doom.
But fate had other plans for him when Dawn's blade flew past him stopping right beside his head.
Dawn : That technique is called, Reverse of the other world...a fusion between multiple swordsmanship I acquired through the ages...you think a simple bullet can defeat a swordsmanship that was polished through the centuries?
Sweat dripped from Kondo's face as he turned around...the 2000 soldiers that accompanied him were all on the ground lifeless.
They were several meters away yet none of them survived...in fact none of them had the time to realize their own death.
Kondo : S-so this is the power of a true hero...this speed is beyond what i can perceive...
Dawn : Oh ? So Rudra did inform you about the True hero...
Kondo : Respect the emperor !
Dawn : Ah, shut up.
Kicking him in the stomach, Kondo was sent among the lifeless corpses...Dawn had lost interest in this interaction so he just turned around.
Dawn : I'll let you live Tatsuya Kondo, go tell your master about this and deliver my message.
Don't come near the border of the Western nation, we'll overlook your action this time but there won't be another.
This was a blunt taunt and certainly it worked as the empire needed everything to stop Rudra from rampaging.
Kondo too was frustrated, it was a total defeat and from then onward he grew a sort of hatred yet respect for Dawn.
His words left a deep mark into him, the moment they met Kondo acted like he was superior or at least equal...
But as Dawn said, how could they even be close when Dawn had thousands of years of experience...
Kondo : Thousands of years, huh...I already ashamed myself too much, next time I won't fall down that easily.
Looking up to the vast sky, he pondered remembering that day where he led the empire army to its worst defeat.
Kondo : At that moment, it felt like a meteor approached me...Ace of god, huh...bullshit, he didn't feel like a holy knight at all...
During a conflict, a single name can change everything...those names are also translated under titles, it's a way to honor and create a sort of myth around an individual.
These titles can vary among the nation...the one who served the holy empire, the Ace of god or also known as the biggest obstacle to the Western nation invasion, the white meteor Dawn Arceid.
That's the name given to him within the Eastern empire.