Chapter 58

In the dining room,

Asia dug into the delicious food Viser had whipped up. She was the only one who could really cook, unlike Kalawarna.

"Hey, where's Kiba?" Asia wondered.

"He's off training," Viser replied.

"Then what's she doing here?" Asia asked nervously, eyeing Kalawarna who was silently eating.

"Kiba told her to stay. No need to worry, she won't cause trouble. He made sure of that," Viser explained.

Asia couldn't wrap her head around why Kalawarna would follow Kiba's orders like that.

"Both of us are like his slaves," Viser shrugged.

"Slaves?!" Asia exclaimed, shocked by the word.

"Yeah, you heard right," Viser nodded. "In my case, I kinda started a fight with him once, so he made me his slave, just like he did with that whore."

Kalawarna's anger flared up at Viser's insult, and she bent the spoon in her hand to show her frustration.

"You, bitch. How dare you address me like that?!" Kalawarna retorted, irritation evident in her voice.

"You're nothing more than a whore, willing to trade your body to take down Kiba. That's what I've heard," Viser stated coolly, laying bare the harsh truth.

Gritting his teeth, Kalawarna seethed with anger, acknowledging the painful reality that Viser had exposed.

Asia's eyes welled up, tears trickling down her cheeks as she witnessed the tense exchange unfold before her.

The heated dispute between Kalawarna and Viser came to an abrupt halt.

"Are you alright, Asia?" Viser's concern was palpable.

"I'm okay. It's just... it's been a while since I've seen people argue without resorting to violence. I miss the sense of camaraderie we had back at the Church," Asia confessed, wiping away her tears.

"Hey, didn't Kiba warn us not to make her cry?" Viser whispered to Kalawarna.

"Damn it," Kalawarna cursed under her breath.

"I stumbled upon something quite intriguing," Kiba remarked, his presence looming behind Kalawarna and Viser, a hint of menace in his smile. Swiftly, his expression softened to a more typical grin, his gaze turning to Asia. "How have you been, Asia? Are Ar and Viser treating you well?"

A playful nod escaped Asia's lips. "Yep, they're treating me really nicely."

"Given that," Kiba's attention shifted to Viser and Kalawarna, "I suppose you two are off the hook for now."

A collective sigh of relief escaped Viser and Kalawarna.

"Kiba, have you eaten?" Asia inquired, her concern evident.

"Not yet," Kiba admitted.

Asia's smile widened as she suggested, "Let's all sit down and eat together."

"Sounds good," Kiba agreed.

....

After their meal had concluded, Kiba found himself seated on the veranda of the mansion, gazing up at the expanse of the sky. His hand clenched into a fist, the visible tension reflecting his inner frustration.

'Even though I've attained the esteemed status of Ultimate Class Level through Ophis Blessing and Yamato,' he mused, a sigh escaping his lips, 'I'm still lacking the strength I need.'

He contemplated his ongoing journey, recognizing the considerable distance he had yet to traverse before becoming an unstoppable force against any adversary.

Meanwhile, Asia, having concluded her exploration, spotted Kiba from a distance and decided to join him on the veranda.

"Finished with your exploration?" Kiba inquired, his gaze shifting to Asia.

"Yes, I am. But what about you? What are you doing here?" Asia asked curiously.

"Taking a moment to clear my mind," Kiba responded.

"Um, Kiba, if you don't mind, can I ask you something?" Asia requested.

"Of course, go ahead," Kiba granted permission.

"How did you manage to survive that attack? I was so scared and devastated when I saw my first friend nearly die right before my eyes. Why did you put me through that? You're the absolute worst," Asia's voice quivered with a mix of frustration and emotion, her hands landing a series of gentle hits on Kiba's chest.

Kiba gently intercepted her hands, pulling her into a heartfelt embrace as he tenderly patted her head. "I'm truly sorry for putting you through that," he whispered, his voice filled with remorse.

Their eyes locked in a profound moment, Kiba revealed, "To survive that attack, I used my abilities to mend the injuries I had sustained. I promise, I won't subject you to such worry again." He sealed his words with a soft kiss on Asia's forehead, the gesture causing her cheeks to flush a deep shade of red.

A warm smile graced Kiba's lips as he remarked, "You're incredibly adorable, Asia."

Embarrassed, Asia buried her face into his chest, enveloping him in a tight embrace.

Kiba's reassuring hand rubbed her back as he reassured her, "From this point forward, I'll be here to take care of you. You don't need to worry about being alone anymore."

For the next half-hour, they remained intertwined, a comforting connection shared between them. Eventually, Asia reluctantly withdrew, her cheeks still tinged with red as she departed.

"She's just as cute as Koneko," Kiba mused to himself, a fond smile lingering on his lips.

"In just a few more days, we'll have the displeasure of Riser's visit. Brace yourself for his insufferable arrogance," Kiba remarked with a hint of exasperation.

"Meanwhile, I've got approximately two days left before our excursion to the familiar forest, where we'll search for Issei's familiar," Kiba sighed, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "You know, I'm starting to wonder if Yasaka could be my familiar, like a sort of Kurama figure. Maybe it's worth a shot."

Kiba's gaze turned more serious as he added, "And remember, we should steer clear of Tiamat's territory. Her abilities and sheer strength are beyond my current capabilities to counter. It's frustrating, really. I wish I could follow the same trope as countless fanfics I've read and have her as a familiar, but I have a different mythological being in mind for that role. Medusa, you're next on my list."

Kiba yawns and stretches his arms, thinking, "Okay, time to get back to training. Basement's the spot." He heads to the living room, pops open a trap door, and there's a ladder leading down. With a leap, he descends into the basement, a big empty space.

Gripping Yamato, his trusty katana, he conjures it from nowhere and starts slashing through the air, getting into the swing of things.

-----

On the other side of the world,

Shapeless Isle,

In the opulent embrace of their palace, the resplendent Gorgon sisters find solace. Among them, Stheno and Euryale emanate an air of ancient wisdom, while Medusa's presence is an enigma of its own.

As the first rays of dawn kiss the horizon, Medusa's eyes slowly unfurl like glistening coils of molten gold, revealing a mesmerizing gaze reminiscent of ancient reptilian nobility.