The Anime Trope System: Stone vs. Viper, #6 a LitRPG (ATS)

by Alvin Atwater

“Enough,” Tear snapped, interrupting Kitome. “Or I’ll give you both terrifying nightmares.”

  The two didn’t say anything else, but Kitome still glared. When Toru gave her a blank stare, anger aura burst around the young woman.

  “Anyway, Kitome will cut off her from magic and we’ll—”

  “I’m not sure if Necro uses magic,” Ashard said. “At least, not only magic.”

  “We still haven’t answered the main question yet,” Sahara said. “And that is, why are you still here? Do you not have an altar to pray to? You’ll never fix your homeland’s problems by bothering us.”

  “There’s a flock of devil bugs having a family reunion north of here, the direction I need to go,” he said. “They’ll be gone in a day or two, so I’m stuck,” Ashard said. “And I’m not trying to get ra—”

  “So you’re hanging out here,” Clare said. Ashard shrugged.

  “Like I said, I’d like to see how this entire thing plays out.”

  The party continued to chat and plan the raid well into the lunch hours. Clyde secretly thanked Yuki for the double energy boost. Midafternoon, the young man dismissed everyone for either training with Toru or relaxing until the next day’s raid. Sazuki, Kiko, and Yusuke groaned. Even though the student council president seemed to have a knack for magic, the young man didn’t allow anyone to slack off on her training. He’d have to get to know her over time. She’d probably be difficult to get on a date.

  “Don’t forget to give Yusuke an extra push,” Clyde told Harumi. “I’d love to see his improvements.” He grinned evilly. Harumi gave him the Gin smile.

  “Don’t you worry about that,” she said, pinching Clyde’s cheek. “He’s in capable hands.”

  “I bet he is.” The young man chuckled. “He’s looking quite fit these days.”

  Upon noticing that the others left, the pink-haired girl pinned the young man to the wall. She gave him a deep kiss.

  “I know who else is—”

  She quickly moved away as Neko and Alice returned.

  “The cat’s forcing me to go to the mall with her and you’re coming with me.”

  “Sure,” Harumi said, innocence in her eyes.

  “And you,” Alice said, pointing at Clyde, walking over to him. She whispered, “attack me more.” She nibbled his bottom lip. He grinned.

  “More you say,” he said. Not even willpower could keep his erection down. He wondered if he was becoming worse than Chika.

  “Nya, you know we can all hear that,” Neko said.

  “Jealous?” Alice said, smugly.

  “Nyya, come on, let’s go before I die of old age,” Neko said.

  “Fine,” Alice said.

  When the three left, Clyde sat on the sole couch of the room and relaxed. The raiding plan was simple on paper. A barrier protected the skyscraper where the demon lord resided. Three guarded magic circles scattered across the city needed to be deactivated before the team could so much as enter the building. They’d have to deal with high-level minotaurs and at least one holstaur, the cow equivalent—which don’t attack humans. She’d have to be detained somewhere until the main fight ended.

  They were going to storm in like a police force and probably tear up shit in the process. Something about doing that just made Clyde feel uncomfortable. But in his position, it’s either continue to be a bystander while people lost their souls every night or suppress the demon lord. Hard lessons. He really didn’t want to hurt that peaceful-looking young woman.

  **

  Demon lord’s Skyscraper…

  “Please continue to enjoy yourselves,” Noona said. She bowed and left her faithful guards, servants, and minotaur friends to party on their day off. She wished Leon could join them. She folded her arms as she continued the walk down the hall of the first floor.

  “Maybe it’s me,” she said. “I know. When he gets back, I’ll apologize to him.”

  Apologizes always came a long way. She’d ask him for his advice, try to make his life as the captain of the guards easier.

  Passing a random room, she heard the voice of anime characters conversing on the TV inside. Unable to resist the urge, Noona went into the room.

  “To be the king of games, one must believe in the heart of the cards,” a man said. “With this draw and the power I summon from my friends. DESTINY DRAW.”

  Noona’s eyes seemed have stars in them as she watched the protagonist defeat the bad guy during the climactic scene.

  Power from friends. Well, Noona couldn’t hang out with the minotaur women, as they had to learn how to be nice without her around. Her old friend Titania was too far and the closer demon lords seemed scary to befriend. She didn’t want to be acquainted with her father’s rivals anyway. Old meanies.

  Fine, she’d become the queen of card games without any friends. Time to dig out that old Stone-Tokken deck her father was once obsessed with. She knew the game—but of course, the cards were only going to be there as a prop. She’d have to find a nice costume from her closet. So much to do! It would still be nice to have at least one friend, she thought as she hurried to her room.

  Episode 36 (Part 3)

  Late afternoon…

  Clyde stared blankly at Natalia and Nina. Well, he stared at Nina. The other loli was on his back. The brats ambushed him the moment he stepped outside for a walk in the city. Perfect timing, at least for his Right hand.

  “Natalia,” he said in an innocent voice. “Perfect timing. Guess who’s coming with me on a task.”

  “Me!” the girls chanted simultaneously.

  “I’m his right hand,” Natalia said then stuck her tongue out at Nina. “Aren’t you Toru’s assistant? Go help him train the newbies.”

  “No way! I never get to hang out with onii-chan,” Nina said.

  “Not you too, gothic munchkin,” Clyde said. She was extra gothic today—sporting a dress straight out of some his favorite animes. “I barely tolerate it from this one.”

  “He’s my nii-chan, so you can’t call him that until you’ve earned it,” Natalia said.

  Clyde cringed.

  “Now about the task,” he said. “We—”

  “I want ice cream!” Nina chanted.

  “Me too!” Natalia cooed.

  “Fine, but if you do well on this task,” Clyde said. He spoke slightly dramatic, almost as if the objective would be the biggest honor in existence. “This is your chance, brat—Natalia. Are you actually strong or just talk? Are you just a kid with amazing powers, pretending to be an adult? And you Nina—you’re starting to fade into the background. I let you join as Toru’s assistant, not an official party member. But are you worth the ice cream?”

  “I’ll have you know—”

  “Nope, you’re no longer in a fancy vampire household anymore,” Clyde said, interrupting the vampire. “Think how Toru feels having to tell his dad you’re his girlfriend’s adopted sister. And that he lets a kid assist him with business matters. In fact, now that your vampire household is finished, you’re free to go.”

  Nina wilted then hugged his leg.

  “I don’t wanna! I don’t have any money, friends, or power.”

  “Tear sent a succubus crew to clean up that mansion,” Clyde said. “No one’s living there. We’ll hand over the safe of money.”

  “No way! I don’t want to be in there by myself,” Nina said. “It’s scary.”

  “You’re a vampire—”

  “Please! Don’t send me away,” Nina whined.

  “That’s not my decision, it’s Toru’s,” Clyde said. “Your kid act isn’t going to work. Prove yourself and maybe I won’t remind Toru.”

  “Scary onii-chan,” Natalia said softly. “Big bully.” She whacked the top of Clyde’s head then harrumphed, anime-girl style.

  “Ow,” Clyde said. “I wasn’t bullying her. Isn’t she like a thousand years old? She’s entitled to the money in the safe and the vampire house. I’m just letting her know she’s not empty.”

  “She doesn’
t want to go, and that’s that,” Natalia said. “Are you going to try to send me away too?”

  “Would you like to go away?” Clyde said. Silence. “Look, you’re missing the point. She’s loaded. She doesn’t have to live off Toru.”

  “I’m not living off Toru,” Nina said, folding her arms. Clyde gave her a blank stare. “And I’m not a thousand years old. Who gave you that idea?”

  Natalia whistled an unknown tune. Nina stared blankly at her. “Baka.”

  Clyde sighed.

  “Forget I brought this up. Let’s just go.”

  “I have to pee,” Natalia said.

  “Me too!” Nina echoed.

  “Oh my go—fine, but hurry it up,” Clyde said.

  “You have to come—” Natalia started to say, but Clyde interrupted her.

  “If you suggest such a thing again, I’ll call Alice,” he said. “And I’ll tell her to leave you hanging without the chance of dinner.”

  The two lolis laughed and scurried into the hotel. Clyde took off running with all of his might. He even spent some of his MP on flash stepping.

  And he ran smack-dab into the middle of the crazy minotaur cult.

  **

  Minotaur Cult Headquarters…

  Sophia let out a breath as she relaxed in her oversized bathtub. To think the enemy of her future master roamed around this city without a care. The man had an incredible sense of paranoia—he somehow knew to Jump right as she approached. The white-haired woman sighed again. Prey of that caliber wasn’t supposed to be easy. She didn’t even know where to begin looking for the Viper, yet the pull of destiny sung in her blood. For many generations, her family served, obeyed and toughed it out whenever the current master just wasn’t strong enough to keep his or her empire going.

  The new Viper, whom she considered may be the true master, had power beyond her imagination. Her family and her fellow maidens knew of his existence only from the first day of his arrival. Then the stupid entities masked both the presences of the Stone and him. So frustrating!

  She shoved two fingers inside herself.

  She truly hated being a guest at the minotaur cult headquarters, but with the Stone in town, leaving just wasn’t an option. Not when she could help out the side of the Viper. Not if she could bring the day of conquering all nations closer.

  She let long washed white hair drape onto her dark tan breasts. Her green eyes flashed like emeralds of excitement. They soon became longing as she neared her self-pleasuring climax. Being a maiden, she was only allowed to lose her virginity to either the Stone or the Viper. Naturally, she’d give herself to her master of course. But…she had no idea of his location. And the aphrodisiac drink hadn’t worn off in days! Why did the cult who called themselves the children of the minotaur keep such an awful potion around as a sacred drink? Sure, it boosted stats—but Sophia needed no such thing. To think they slipped some into her wine, buttering her up with the honored guest treatment, passing themselves off as nice women. Sophia wondered if she should start the destruction early, on the cult. Kill them all, paint the town in blood. She suddenly felt sick. She just wasn’t good with blood—not even to think of it. Vaporizing spells were the best. Blood-free and fast.

  Her song poured as she finished.

  “I’ve waited long enough.” She wondered…maybe having… wild sex with the Stone first before killing him. At least that would take the edge off the potion poisoning. She could capture the man for on-the-road sex until she finding her true master. This was so frustrating! She rose from the bath, pulling the plug to drain the water.

  She wanted to start moving. But…with the crusaders around, that posed a high risk. “Damn them. Crusaders are the biggest pains in the asses on this planet.”

  **

  Niyoto…

  [Sixth Quarter] [Plunging Street]

  Clyde allowed himself to breathe as he sat on a bench. Those stubborn whackos chased him for quite a while until he decided to waste more MP on flash stepping. To think they kept up with his base speed stat. Holy shit, they were fast as fuck! They reminded the young man of World War Z zombies. If they weren’t trying to get him to sign the obvious magical contracts, preach to him about worshipping the “all-mighty female powers,” and minotaurs and just spouting nonsense, Clyde would’ve enjoyed the view. Hundreds of naturally beautiful anime women. But man were they wasting their time with this cult. How did it come to this?

  How could the team end it? Where were the fucking police? So many questions, yet factions ran the city like minotaurs running men.

  Abruptly, he realized one of the magic circles wasn’t too far from his position. Just a brief electrical sensation, but he knew. This street was suspiciously empty, except the presences of demon spawn. And of course, the stronger monster that guarded the circle. Killing it now could save his team some time.

  One problem with that. The lolis weren’t there with him. He called off the ordeal because they were over-the-top…

  “Finally found you, pervy-nii,” Natalia said, then fell on her face, breathing heavily. Nina managed to keep standing, her vampire system gifting her with vast stamina. Clyde walked over and lifted the loli up.

  “Did you two run all this way?”

  “Of…course,” Natalia said between breaths. “And then you…and…those stupid cult…” He burst into laughter, holding the kid in his arms. “I.. can’t walk…anymore.”

  “It seems Harumi and Tear forgot someone in their exercise plan,” Clyde said. “You may take your place on my shoulders, this once.”

  Natalia frowned.

  “That booby monster has fuel in her boobies.”

  Clyde patted the girl on her head.

  “Since you’re here, let’s get to saving our team some time.”

  The young man took a mental note that stated: fought demons with lolis. Please believe me.

  Because no one from home would ever believe this shit. Home...funny how Earth didn’t feel like home anymore. Fuck it. Satovia was his dwelling now. He already dropped the intention of going back anyway. Too bad he couldn’t stop leveling up. The Viper needed to be dead before he could relax. A morbid thought.

  “What are you doing back here?” two armored monsters shouted as they drew their swords.

  Clyde and the lolis prepared for battle.

  Episode 36 (Part 4)

  Fifteen minutes later…

  [Your party has entered combat!]

  “Get ‘em squirt!” Clyde said to Natalia. The loli raised her golden staff.

  [Natalia activated Tier 1 skill: Pulverizing blast!]

  A large white beam of magic smashed from the sky, instantly vaporizing the level eighty to ninety enemies.

  [Battle completed. Victory! Reward: 100,000 EXP. $10,000.]

  “Woo!” Clyde cheered raising a fist. This was the fifth battle in a row that the loli instantly wiped out all the enemies with little effort. He cheered her on the entire time. Nina’s anger aura hadn’t left since the first battle. He picked up Natalia, raising her in the air. “Are you sure you’re not the daughter of some god?”

  Natalia blushed, then fluttered her eyelashes, but Clyde ignored her attempt to get a frown from him.

  “Why onii-chan, is that flattery from you?”

  Now it worked. He gave her a brief blank stare then chuckled.

  “Don’t get used to it,” Clyde said. “Are you tired? Do you need rest? The other runt and I can—”

  “No!” Natalia quickly said, then hugged Clyde. “I want more praise.”

  “Sheesh, it’s no big deal,” Clyde said, “I don’t hand out praises lightly.”

  “You give them to the other girls,” Natalia said.

  Clyde sighed.

  “But who’s my right hand? Like good god, this is one of the few good choices I’ve ever made since I arrived.”

  “Really?” Natalia said.

  “Don’t get used to the praises,” Clyde quickly said. Natalia gave him a blank stare. “I’m just kidding, squirt.
Do I look like some kind of tsundere to you?” He smiled. “You are my prodigy. Maybe even a superstar—but you’re not a weapon. Don’t burn yourself over these stupid goons, we’re going to need you tomorrow.”

  Natalia smiled.

  “Okay!” She hugged Clyde.

  “I can do better than her!” Nina snapped then ran forward.

  “Shit, wait kid,” Clyde said, but she bolted around a corner. Natalia hopped onto the ground and they both sped after her.

  The magic circle was just ahead and Nina just had to ruin it. Maybe the shock of the young man laying the compliments on Natalia broke her brain—he didn’t know, but this was the kind of shit they didn’t need in a party. He couldn’t do much about because she wasn’t Team Stone. That’s why Team Stone only needed one lo….

  He immediately changed his mind about limiting his team to one loli when he saw the destruction. Twenty enemies downed and the brat with white-purple hair smiled smugly at Clyde, arms folded. Not a single drop of blood on her.

  “Murderous kids,” Clyde mumbled under his breath. “Hey, remind me to never piss you guys off. Good work, brat.” He pat Nina on the head. “It seems like we have two stars here.”

  Nina hugged his leg. “Alright, enough of that. People are going to be start questioning me.”

  “You know, you should really stop thinking that way,” Nina said, placing hands on hips. “People in our predicaments will be stuck virgins for an eternity.”

  Clyde shrugged.

  “Not my problem. Now—”

  “You’re not going to leave me a virgin, are you pervy-nii?” Natalia said.

  “Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing,” he said. “Now stop this conver—”

  “I won’t allow it,” Nina said.

  Clyde laughed.

  “And what are you twerps going to do about it? Besides cry.” He raised a hand, forestalling, as the idea came to mind. “Remember, I’m from another world. Customs and practices apply. You can’t break those rules.”