Chapter 61

"Ah~..." I groan out in relief, leaning back in the hot springs.

Truly, there's nothing like a good bath to wash everything out after a full-on paint fight.

Though admittedly, I do kind of feel bad for the people who have to clean the scrubs and brushes people use before going into the hot springs properly…

There was…so much paint.

In places, I didn't even know paint could reach.

I shivered a touch just merely thinking about it.

Probably shouldn't do that again any time soon.

Luckily, I have many more options next time I go out, which should be with Kunou.

I let out a light sigh, as I sink slightly more into the water, perfectly content in my lonesome and quiet.

I'm not sure the name of this particular spring, we…or rather I, was kind of in a hurry after Inari left.

That damn traitor.

Yasaka had been looking at me like a piece of meat ever since, and I'm fairly certain she'd have jumped on my hips the moment Inari left if I hadn't, rightfully, pointed out our very much-painted states.

Even that barely stopped her.

Still, I managed to rush us down here before her…whatever horny instincts took over and she tried jumping me regardless.

I'm under no illusion I'm safe, but hey, at least this place is far more relaxing than a literal hilltop.

Though, on the topic of not being safe…

I know hot springs are usually much more popular closer to the evening and night, but this one has been oddly…empty, so far.

I mean, I'm alone in the men's section, but I could have sworn I saw other guys.

With an annoyed groan, I sit up, activating my eyes as I rise, and look around.

Yeah, nothing strange like purple mist, distorted colors, and so on. So it's not like the Hero Faction has turned up or anything—

My head swivels as I look around, and sitting right next to me, at the edge of the spring, legs, and feet in the water.

"Why, hello there~..." Yasaka purrs, a small cute smile on her face.

Well, it would be cute, if her eyes didn't stare at me like I was fresh prey.

Her hand was holding up a stupidly thin white towel that barely covered her chest and upper body in general from falling.

It's pretty futile though, seriously…I can see everything.

…Huh, is this how Suzaku felt? Well, karma is a bitch ain't it?

And due to my eyes being activated, this sight has been committed to memory.

I'm honestly so caught off guard by this, that I can't even meme this situation properly!

"Hmm~?" Yasaka leans forward slightly, knowing exactly what she's doing, "What's the matter, Noriaki~? Fox got your tongue~?" She giggles slyly.

…Yeah, my bad, Kunou. You're about to be an older sibling here soon.

I deactivate my eyes and take a deep calming breath before I start talking.

If I hadn't, I'd wager I'd start making monkey noises or some stupid shit.

"Yeah, for just a second…" I admit, easy enough, "But you know, Yasaka…" I step over to her until I'm right in front of where she sits.

She raises an eyebrow, but her expression quickly morphs as she gasps hotly, becoming shocked as my arms come out, grabbing big handfuls of her ass as I pull her entire body into the water with me.

"The fox can keep my tongue~..." I growl out huskily, her face now inches from mine, "Because if you keep this up? I'm about to claim the whole fox~..."

"C~Claim me~..." She shivers, "You really mean that don't you~..."

I grunt, "I don't just fuck to fuck, Yasaka…so if you don't like that idea? Turn around, and get those fluffy tails out of here…quickly."

Because that ideal of mine is being tested very thoroughly at the moment.

Yasaka hums back, as though contemplating, "What would being 'claimed' by you entail, exactly~..." she mutters after a moment.

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes.

Instead, I explain, as briefly as I can.

"Essentially? You'd join my harem. Be only mine." I huff out.

"Oh my~...that sounds almost like a proposal there~..." Yasaka chuckles, to which I quickly stop by squeezing her rear tighter and pulling her right up against me.

She yelps, flushing and gaining a lewd smile as she feels Nori Junior pressing and throbbing right between her thighs.

"Proposal…?" I mutter in a lustful daze before snorting, "No, no…the way you've been acting, you're more fit to be a concubine than a wife…"

Yasaka freezes for a second, before shivering, "A~A…Concubine…you say~...my~..." She gulps, but before she can say anything, I keep going.

"Mhmm~...Concubine. Kunou can be a wife…I'm sure she'd love to order you around, huh~?" I smirk down at her, as her face flushes harder before she suddenly blinks in realization.

"...Ah~? Even my daughter~!? You'd even take her too, wouldn't you~!" She exclaims with mock outrage.

I chuckle deeply, leaning closer to her as I do, "Oh yeah I would~...isn't that what you want, anyway~?" I call her out.

She nearly flinched but seemed to manage to hold herself back at the last second.

After taking a moment to compose herself, she doesn't even try to deny it, "Then I suppose, as a Mother, it's only right to make sure you don't work Kunou half to death as your wife with…this~..."

Slowly, she starts rocking her hips back and forth, stroking my shaft between her thighs.

She smiles as she looks up at me, even if I don't react beyond a smirk, "Besides~..." she continues, running a hand along my chest, "I do still owe you, as I said, and despite what you say…especially after today~..."

Abruptly, she throws away her towel.

"I~...suppose becoming your concubine would make for everything, and allow me to make sure you don't work Kunou so hard, wouldn't it~?" She asks, sultrily.

I can only describe a fluffy naked Yasaka as having the perfect hentai MILF body.

To be fair though, I'd have trouble describing pretty much anything now, as I let the growing sheer unadulterated lust building within seize the reins.

My response, hence, isn't verbal, but action.

I claim Yasaka's small yet very smooth and plush lips with my own quickly, prompting the fox MILF to yelp before moaning into the kiss, pushing herself into it more.

I'm taken slightly off guard when she tries to use her tongue, but I quickly seize that opening as well, causing her to quiver as my tongue pushes aside hers and claims her mouth as well in turn.

When I finally pulled my mouth off hers, Yasaka gave a lewd giggle, "My~...You were such a gentleman before~...now look at you…have I perhaps awoken a beast~?"

Well, she isn't necessarily wrong.

This feeling, it's a lot like the feeling I had back when I first met and endured Kuraka's teasing.

That raw, unadulterated lust.

But in this case, it's tinged with a touch of something…more.

It's not a mental compulsion or anything, no, I know that.

It's more than likely the fact that Yasaka is a very hot MILF, and I'm discovering a brand-new kink as I think.

"Well~..." Yasaka continues, slowly pushing me with her hands, "Allow me to try and calm said beast, yes~?"

I allow her to guide me, curious to see where she's going with this.

Turns out? To the spring wall.

She pushes me there, then motions for me to sit atop it.

I do so quickly, as I realize what she's going for.

Turns out? This position puts the one in the spring at around waist level with the one sitting.

Which means…

Yasaka smiles, almost devilishly, as she hefts her massive breasts up and onto my lap.

She doesn't say anything, instead looking at my member with a lewd smirk. Then, she looks right into my eyes as she moves her rack forward, and swallows my cock whole with her cleavage as she squishes her bust around it tight.

I stare, shell-shocked.

I knew her chest was huge, but…

I can't even see Nori Junior anymore. Not even the tip.

Kuroka, Uzume, Suzaku? They have large busts, but none of them could pull this off.

Then she started moving, bouncing her jiggly, heavenly soft, and squishy globes that had just completely consumed my member home.

I had to suppress an embarrassingly loud groan before it could escape my throat, it felt that good.

"Fuck~..." I hiss out, a fraction of the groan that managed to escape.

"Ah~...Noriaki~..." Yasaka moaned, softly, "I can feel it, you know~? Between my breasts…with how hot it is, I'm glad we got it out of water~..." She giggles, amused, "Or else it might start boiling the liquid around it~..."

Not my fault I'm that turned on. Hell, I probably could manage that even if I tried.

Regardless, I'm not about to sit around and let my new concubine here do all the work.

After all, front and center right before are, are a pair of things that just scream bullseye.

I poke both of her nipples, gently, and her reaction is immediate.

Her body quivers slightly and she gasps, before breathily exclaiming, "Don't do that~...please~?"

It almost sounded kind of whiney.

I'm going to do it again.

This time, instead of just poking them, I grabbed them.

Her response is just as immediate as the first time.

"Ahhhnnn~!" She moans and shivers, loudly, "You…I even said please~..."

'You', huh?

Well, looks like I know where Kunou got that from as well.

"So~?" I mutter, continuing to play with her nipples, causing random spasms throughout her body as I do.

Even then, she continues bouncing her bust. In fact, I'd say she's going at it harder now.

"Ugh~...they're sensitive on occasion~..." Yasaka murmurs between stifled gasps and groans.

I'm somehow not surprised.

An errant thought passed by, about how maybe I could milk her or some shit, but to be honest…I'm not really into that.

So, instead, I take big handfuls of her bouncing orbs myself, and start thrusting up to meet said bounces…

"Ah~!?" Yasaka cried out, "My~...Hah~...Beast indeed~..." She mewled, "Assaulting my chest so vigorously after I told you they were sensitive~...!"

"Well~..." I grunt out between thrusts, "This is what you're for now, no~?" I ask with a toothy smirk.

"Hah~...I suppose so~..." she chuckles lewdly, "Well then~...sate your lust upon my body, I've been oh so lonely myself over the years, you know~? It's been so long~ since I last felt this~!"

"Oh yeah~?" I ground out, the pace of my thrusts increasing with every word from her, "Well~...you won't have to worry about that any~...more~! Ugh~!"

I stifled a breath and groaned as the heat building within finally snapped and released, and I came…for the first time today, of course.

It isn't over yet.

Looking down and not finding a single drop of seed oozing from the top of her cleavage surprised me.

With a soft smile, Yasaka parted her bosom, freeing my member at last, along with showing just what happened to the ropes I let out.

It all stuck smack in the center of her chest, contained there, and around my rod.

I didn't get to look for long, though…not like I wanted to anyhow, as Yasaka slipped back into the spring water, washing it all away.

I watch as she turns, sauntering across the spring, and as she does her tails slip away, vanishing from sight so I can see her bare ass as she walks.

I can see the intentional sway of her hips as she walks, the way she looks back at me and smiles, before reaching the wall on the other side, and leaning over against it, sticking her bottom out toward me.

"I don't believe you are quite done yet, are you~?" Yasaka calls out with a knowing smirk, giving her hips a shake or two, "How about you come over here…and make your new concubine a mother again, hmm~?"

Well.

I can't certainly say no to most of that, now could I?

I take the short drop back into the water, any seed left on my length quickly washing away as I walk through it.

My hands immediately grasp onto her waist as I come up to her, and finally get a good look at what she's offering up.

I'd be lying, if I said her rear compared to her front, but it certainly isn't bad either. Nowhere near Shirone levels of dahm, but it's pretty damn good.

The main thing I'd say about her in this regard is those hips. Those child-rearing hips.

I give her ass a nice spank, and she gives a nice moan in response, before I promptly quit my stalling, and thrust forward, burying myself as deep inside of her as her body will allow in one thrust.

"Ooooohhh~! Ahhh~...My~...That~..." Her body quivers, as she grips the wall tightly, "It's been, far, far too long~..."

I can feel her walls as they shiver around my shaft, just like the rest of her body, and damn does it feel good.

"Alright then~..." I grumble, "Let's fix that then, yes~?"

"Yessss~ OH~! AH~!?" I interrupt her trailing confirmation by immediately moving my hips and starting to pound into her.

For every last tease, every last sly remark, I swear I'm going to stuff this fox!

So stuff this fox I do.

I lean down and over her, my arms wrapping around her neck to hold her in place as I continue thrusting.

Yasaka looks up at me, eyes shining with an almost delirious amount of lust, a drunken lewd smile grinning up at me, "So~! Vigorous~! M~Mmmm~!" She breathes out rather than speaks.

"So pent up~, huh~?" I mutter back down at her with a husky chuckle.

She said she was pent up, didn't think it meant she'd go absolutely woozy at the first sign of pleasure!

We just started!

Her hands come up, grabbing a hold of one of my arms as I pull up, standing upright, dragging her along with me.

"Ghhuoohh~...Yessss~...Yessss~..." Yasaka whined, her voice barely carrying over the sounds of the water shaking, and flesh slapping together, "Just like that~...like that~! You beast~! Mmm~!"

With every word, I can feel her walls grip and pulse around my shaft, as if begging, in their own way, like Yasaka herself is verbally.

I pull back one of my arms, the one she isn't holding onto, "Beast, huh~? You know~...I think we might need a proper name for you to call me~!"

I abruptly deliver a thunderous slap straight to her ass, without stopping or even ceasing my piston-like thrusting whatsoever, causing the slapped cheek to shake even more, and for Yasaka to jolt as she let out a loud lewd shriek.

"Calling me a beast~...well, that makes me sound like an animal, you know~?" I grunt, "For a mere concubine to be calling me that~..." I trail off, my voice lost in the sound of grunting and pounding flesh.

"I~ Mmmm~! Understand~! My~...Lord~!" She giggled hotly, briefly, before it was quickly overtaken by lewd moans.

I deliver another slap to her other cheek, just for good measure, drawing another jolt and sultry shriek.

"Good girl~...coming up with that on your own~..." I cooed and heaped some praise upon her, "The good stuff, like 'darling' 'dear' and so on are saved for the wives after all~!"

Her walls clenched and shivered tightly around my manhood as I uttered those words, with Yasaka letting out a long hot moan at the same time, shoving her hips out more, in an almost desperate need for my cock.

She turned her head, looking back at me, her tongue stuck out as she panted between breathy moans and sultry cries.

"Aoohhh~, that's~ right, my lord~! Use my body however you wish~! Ravage me until I can barely walk~! Mmm~!"

Well now, she didn't have to tell me, I was going to do so anyway.

As she stuck her rear out more, I met it with harder, faster, thrusts.

My hand gripped her waist, and my arm tightened around her neck, as every cry I drew out from her, caused another heat to rise and build in my groin.

At some point, Yasaka got so lost in the heat herself, that she couldn't speak words, instead just giving out lewd vaguely audible moans from her wide-open mouth.

"Oooh~! Yesh~! Mmm~! Aooh~!"

And any words she tried to speak, were slurred heavily, like she was drunk or delirious.

Something about the way the usually mature, yet sultry, sounding Yasaka moaned and screamed as she took my cock was really setting me off, and I can't quite tell why.

Maybe the idea of a sexy mature woman being dominated so thoroughly by me that she can barely speak is hot to me.

Regardless, that heat inside me was quickly building, up and up, and I soon found that trying to hold it back for much longer simply wouldn't be possible.

My pace quickened as I suddenly grunted out loud, "Well~! You're certainly good at taking dick, but I wonder how well you'll be at taking my seed~!?"

That caused Yasaka to perk up, her daze lifting just enough to form coherent words, "My Lord's seed~!? Mmm~! I assure you, my lord~! My body can handle it just fine~! This concubine could even give you a child if you so wished~!"

She reached an arm up, wrapping it around the back of my head, holding onto me as she continued with a lewd giggle, "Yesss~...Your concubine could give you plenty of children if you so wish it~! In fact~! Please dooo~! Mmm~!" She practically begs.

That offer…sounds way too tempting.

But no, not yet.

"Ahhh~! I can feel it my Lord~!" Yasaka moans out, "You're close, aren't you~? So very close~! Well~ come on then~! Fill your concubine with your divine seed~! Please let me feel it~!"

"Ugh~...damn it~!" I grunt out loudly, my final few thrusts coming in hard and roughly, before abruptly ceasing to hilt my entire length inside of her.

"Yesssss~! Ooooohhh~..." As soon as the first rope of cum leaves me, Yasaka lets out a cry, and her entire body shivers as she swiftly follows suit, climaxing herself.

I can feel it as it shoots up from her core, right up her spine, causing her entire body to quiver.

"So…long~..." The fox woman mutters, a hand gliding down to rub her stomach, "So~...warm~! Mmm~!" She moans softly, grinding her behind up against me, like she was trying to milk me for more or something.

Unfortunately for her, I wasn't delirious enough to let my seed be virile enough to get her pregnant, and getting more inside her won't change that.

Fortunately for her though, I have godly stamina, and getting more inside of her won't get her pregnant.

Which means I can continue filling her up as much as I can or want.

Her grinding against my hips isn't even necessary, as my member never turned soft in the first place.

Without uttering a single word, I pull my hips back slightly, before thrusting right back into her, the single clap of flesh shocking her out of whatever state she's in.

"Oh~!?" She breathly gasped out, "Not even two, my Lord~? My~...I'm going to have my work cut out for me, aren't I~?"

She didn't at all seem nervous about that prospect. In fact, judging by her smile, I'd say she's quite looking forward to her work.

So, let's get to it.

"Heehee~! Aoohhh~! Mmm~!"

~ A New Sun ~

Well, I certainly did stuff that fox.

But nowhere near as much as I would have liked.

I clicked my tongue, now sat on the edge of a bridge…I think the one that the Kuoh field trips kids are going to cross or visit or whatever.

It's getting dark out now, it's been hours since then, and I'm still a little pent up.

We had to stop, eventually, because Yasaka had stuff to do…as did I, because she had stuff to do.

Tonight in the night, after all.

I can't really be mad about it because I knew it was coming up, but I'm going to be, because why not?

Nothing else is happening!

Seriously. I sent a dozen plus clones out, even kept one in Urakyoto to, secretly, watch Yasaka and Kunou, yet nothing has happened yet, in Kyoto or otherwise.

There are no signs of anything suspicious, no odd energies, nothing.

I even came out to do a little patrolling myself, thus why I'm even out here, yet still, nothing.

If I had to guess, if they are even here at all, it might be because Dimension Lost is bullshit and Georg is a pretty good Magician. That combination means finding these guys before they try something is painful.

Even when you have a date and know, in general, what to look for!

…Ugh.

On the bright side, I didn't actually breed that fox. Yet.

I managed to stop myself there, at least. I have the self-control for that.

Even if I do think it'd be very hot to breed that fox.

And I don't have a kink for that, as far as I'm aware.

I quickly shake my head of that train of thought, and pull out my phone from my robe.

Finding no update from Kuroka, or anyone, really, I absentmindedly tap the bottom of the sheath for my sword with my free hand.

I even got all dressed for the occasion.

Hmm, maybe there's a not complete shit mobile game I can find and play until Yasaka is ready to head out for that meeting?

I doubt it, but who knows? Maybe I just haven't looked hard enough before.

With a sigh, I flip open the app store on my phone and—why do I have no cell service?

I look back up, only to find the world around me…not changed, but off.

It all looked the same, but the backgrounds felt slightly out of sync with everything else.

It's odd to explain quite right.

What isn't, is the purple mist wafting beneath me, and that's spreading out from seemingly nowhere around the entire place.

"Huh."

That was my first thought, and word, once I realized what was going on.

Man…was I really that put out that I didn't even feel myself getting caught by Dimension Lost?

There's supposed to be a feeling when that happens right? Didn't even feel anything there.

Well, in any case, I put my phone away, and hopped off the railing, onto the bridge proper.

"Well, damn…Alright, can't say I saw this coming." I set my hands in my pockets and walk to the center of the bridge, holding back the urge to let a very big, very stupid smile spread across my face.

A surprise, certainly.

But this certainly isn't an unwelcome one.

"Let's get this over with, yeah?" I call out to no one.

Yet, after a moment, I'm greeted by mist nonetheless.

A lot of the stuff, a massive plume in fact, right across from me.

I still have to hold back my smile, but oh boy do I take back what I said earlier!

Karma isn't a bitch. She's lovely, in fact. I love you karma!

After all, you just dropped one of the big problems I had to deal with, and something to beat my frustrations out on. All at once!

From within the mist, dozens of figures appear, before like a bubble the mist pops, dispersing, yet the people remain.

"Ah…so you just want to get right to the point, huh?" A new male voice I haven't heard before speaks out from the group of people.

At the same time, a man steps forward.

Unlike the others in the group, you could tell there was something different about him via pure looks alone.

It mostly had to do with the ornate spear he held casually over his shoulder, though.

Every one of them wore some kind of school uniform and held a weapon, most also looked around high school age as well, sans a select few, including the man who stepped forward at least appearing older than the rest, maybe a year or so.

Beyond that, his school uniform was also adorned with some sort of bottom half of an ancient Chinese uniform.

The man stopped and ran a hand through his short black hair before focusing on me, his blue eyes and small smile seeming sincere and inviting.

"I can get behind that, Noriaki— Ah, wait. My apologies, etiquette in this country dictates your last name first, correct?" He asks, though doesn't wait for an answer, correcting himself automatically, "Right. Kusanagi Noriaki…it's a pleasure to meet one of the few new modern-day heroes of this era."

I blink at him.

This guy…is being awfully nice, isn't he?

What does he want?

I kind of just expected him to show up, declare me a heretic or traitor to Humanity or something for fucking Youkai girls then try and kill me.

Hmm…

"I…thank you? I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure who you are?" I lie through my teeth, but my confusion at the way he's acting makes it sound the opposite.

He nods, putting a hand to his chest, "I am Cao Cao, the Descendant of the famous Cao Cao, Cao Mengde, who was recorded in the Records of the Three Kingdoms. As for everyone else here? Well…they are much the same." He waves a hand back behind him at the group of people who, despite carrying weapons, seem oddly relaxed, "Descendents and Inheritors of heroes and famous figures alike, blessed with powers and abilities, we are all bound together as The Hero Faction, to protect Humanity."

…This sounds like a fucking sales pitch.

Cao Cao continues, unabated, "Ever since that footage of you slaying that rampaging Boosted Gear user surfaced, I just knew we had to meet with you properly…"

…Wait a minute.

"After all…"

Don't fucking tell me.

"Us heroes should all stick together, no?"

Oh my me you've got to be fucking kidding me.

Cao Cao gives his best, dazzling real estate salesman smile, "Let's get right to the point, yeah? How would you feel about joining us?"

…Okay.

Okay.

Really didn't expect that.

Granted, why would I?

I'm not exactly human, or even half-human, right?

Maybe from a foreigner's perspective, I could seem like a Demigod, and the Hero Faction does have Heracles.

Well, the Spirit Inheritor, not the proper Demigod, but it kind of lines up.

That being said…if they aren't outright hostile, could it be that the Hero Faction here isn't that bad?

Or, more likely, a collection of absolutely dumb fucks.

Hmm, more information is required.

"Join you guys, huh?" I muse aloud, "...What are you guys up to, then? What's your goal here? If I join you, what will we be working to achieve?"

Cao Cao's smile grew, "I'm glad you asked, Kusanagi! Though, I can't expunge everything without you joining us first…I can say this. As heroes, it is our job to defend humanity, right?"

I nod along, though I don't exactly consider either of us truly heroes.

He nods back with me, "Right. So, as such, we need to take out humanities…problems, as it were. Devils, the Fallen, Dragons. So on."

…Hold up, is this guy going where I think he's going?

"Well, it shouldn't be a secret or anything, but as we speak…two of those enemies are currently fighting and destroying each other."

Oh, he is.

"And I think Humanity wouldn't mind if we stepped in and…sped it along if you understand what I mean."

Ah. Yes. I do.

I also see that you've still got a few screws loose, huh Cao Cao?

Same old, same old, isn't it?

Though, no mention of the original plan to lure out Great Red. That could just be because it's too classified to tell me about, which I could see.

It could also just be that for whatever reason, that isn't their goal this time around.

But you know what? Just for curiosity's sake.

"Oh, really…?" I muse, letting interest creep into my voice, "And where, hypothetically, would we start doing such a thing?"

Cao Cao smiles triumphantly, "With the Devils and Fallen still hiding and clinging to humanities, of course…like the two sisters of the New Satan's a town or so over."

…Huh?

Wait wait wait.

Is this…?

Hold on. Is this motherfucker planning a Kokabiel?

Like, seriously?

The fuck!?

I never skipped that arc? It was always on the table!?

Fuck.

Why…Why do Rias and Sona have to continue looking like slabs of meat prime for stabbing by literally every bad guy on the damn planet?

I take a deep, calming breath, and set my smile steady across my face.

"...No." I responded plainly.

Cao Cao blinked. Slowly.

"...No?" He mirrored, absolutely dumbfounded.

"No." I say again, done with shit, "That's dumb. You're dumb, and stupid. Did I mention that yet?"

Cao Cao stared at me, mouth slightly agape, as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Then, all of a sudden, he slumped his head down and sighed.

"...And after I made an exception too." He muttered though it was still loud enough for me to hear.

I raise an eyebrow, as he raises his head back up.

Surprisingly, he's still smiling, in fact, he somehow looks more relaxed now.

"Ah, well." Cao Cao huffed, brushing off my words, "Heracles?"

Huh? Heracles?

"BALANCE BREAKER!"

Purple mist exploded out from directly behind me, I raised and turned my head slightly toward the source of the obvious battle cry, to see a giant of a man barreling down upon me.

He's wearing a school uniform covered in Greek-looking armor, and his shoulder-length gray hair is whipping in the wind as his entire body glows like a comet entering the atmosphere.

"[MIGHTY COMET DETONATION]!"

Oh. Now his arms, legs, and back are covered in missile-looking protrusions

And his fists are inches from my face–

~ A New Sun ~

Cao Cao sighs as the massive explosion from Heracle's surprise sledgehammer attack reaches the sky in a plume of heat and smoke.

Honestly? He isn't surprised it's come to this. Here he was, willing to bend the rules to get this guy in. He was all nice and everything, the perfect salesman.

Then he turned him down. A shame, but not unexpected considering everything they knew about one Noriaki Kusanagi.

Unfortunately, he's got some divinity in him, so brainwashing him probably wouldn't work…which means the only way forward now is to take him out of the playing field.

For good.

Smart-ass guys like that would try and mess with his plans, and he can't have anyone get in his way of saving the world…the right way.

Just as Cao Cao is about to turn away, though, he hears a grunt of exertion.

Looking closer at the clearing explosion, he sees something he also honestly didn't expect.

Heracles, arms brought down, but shaking, as they were held back by a still very much alive Noriaki Kusanagi.

There was a golden glow covering the one hand he used to blow Heracles' attack but beyond that? He looks no different from before.

There isn't even a scratch on his fucking bathrobe.

That attack, that Heracles had just unleashed, was specifically prepared to one-shot this guy.

Based on the footage from his fight against the Boosted Gear user, he should have been within the Devil's ultimate class ranking, likely on the lower end.

Thus, accounting for potential growth, Heracles charged up enough power to, with his Balance Breaker, unleash an explosion that could kill borderline warrior gods, those within the high ultimate class.

Yet he tanked it. Easily at that.

Cao Cao's grip tightens on his spear, and he grits his teeth, as Kusanagi speaks.

"Ah, well." He chuckles, unnerved, as he looks at him, his eyes…changing. Spinning as they split into multiple tomoe-looking pupils, "So much for an ambush, right? Now…"

His golden aura envelopes his entire body, blazing around him with such force it throws Heracles away!

"...let's get right to the point."