56 Farewell and Next Step (2/2)

Hm, that's why, while they are still being tolerant, I will need to go to various worlds to flirt, no, to train more. Hahaha, I am really a genius.” Rafi said as he clasped his hand happily after he forgot his trauma of running for his life previously. Though his easy way of thinking might bite him back later if he kept challenging his wives's bottomline. That,... was for another story later...

Meanwhile, now that he already walked quite a distance away from Serafall's mansion, Rafi disappeared in a flash as he traced the Hiraishin mark he left on Vali previously. As he wanted to leave some precautions to Vali and his team before his departure, he ended up with meeting Ophis again to his surprise. Though, Ophis only silently looked at him in a calm manner as he appeared suddenly.

His arrival was a surprise for Vali and his team as they always tightly kept their hiding place in secret. While some of them preparing to face Rafi in battle, Vali stopped them as he then started a conversation with Rafi, who didn't appear like he wanted to pick a fight.

In their chat, Rafi reminded Vali that he still could to strengthen himself by mastering his Divine Dividing better. He gave Vali a hint of how to awaken his Empirio Juggernaut Drive, and hinted Vali that Divine Dividing still had more abilities to unlock, including Albion's ability that was sealed by Albion himself before. Only at that point did Ophis looked more interested in their conversation, though she still looked at them silently.

”Is that true that you sealed your own ability, Albion?” After hearing Rafi, Vali couldn't help to ask Albion in his curiosity.

”...yes, although, that was a long time ago. We, Ddraig and me, decided to seal our own ability back then to let us enjoy our fight to the fullest. Now that he already told you about this, I assume that man already unsealed Ddraig's other abilities, Vali. Is that right, Ddraig?” Albion sounded more to curiosity rather than surprise as he guessed that his rival already unsealed his abilities.

”Hmph, like I said before Albion, this current holder of Boosted Gear is an exceptional man, surpassing all the previous holders in history. You should train your current holder more if you want to fight my partner properly, Albion.” Ddraig's voice was tinged with pride as he bragged to Albion, much to Albion's annoyance.

”Hahaha! To think that there are still things I don't know about you, Albion. It looks like my training is lacking. And, why are you telling me these, Rafi?”

”I know that your aim is to defeat Great Red and kill Rizevim. You know about Rizevim's Sacred Gear Canceller, so you gather capable people that don't lean on Sacred Gears. I am telling you this so that you know, even with your current power you still couldn't kill Rizevim to avenge yourself. So, keep your training up, Vali.

Besides, I also train Issei to master his Boosted Gear before. Although, because of his lacking magic power, he do not take the path of using Juggernaut Drive, unlike what you do. In his own way, he has found a path of power that allows him to reach the might of Juggernaut Drive, without even resorting to Juggernaut Drive.

Thus, you two are the best people to keep me entertained with a good fight later. I will wait for you two to surpass your own potential. Make sure to give me a good surprise in our next meeting, Vali.” Rafi explained lightly as he then grinned at Vali in the end.

”Are you sure? You don't think that I will someday topple you from your seat?” Vali asked Rafi seriously in a deep voice.

”That is more interesting than a boring battle isn't it. Of course, that is only an assumption if you could really defeat me.” Rafi replied lightly as he then also looked at Vali's team members who were roused from his words.

”And, what do you see of us, Issei and me, to actually giving us pointers like that?”

”Hmm, you both are interesting person, in your own ways. Also, beside for other faction in Chaos Brigade, I never see your team as my enemy you know.”

”Aiya, if you aren't, then why did you attack us at that time?” Bikou asked Rafi puzzledly, after remembering his previous defeat in Rafi's hand.

”Well, you were asking for a beating back then. If I didn't show you our difference in strength, I am afraid that you would not give up inviting me back then.”

”...Good, then, I will be giving you an interesting battle you want later. Don't let yourself be defeated by other person, for I will claim that honor myself.” Vali's fighting spirit burned fiercely as his eyes exuded a competitive spirit, more than what Rafi previously expected.

'Hm, maybe because he has heard about Issei who found a path of power that don't rely on Juggernaut Drive, I guess.' Rafi thought silently to himself, as he was suddenly brought out of his thought after Kuroka's sudden action, when she licked his face a bit.

”Wha-what are you doing, Kuroka-san?!” Le Fay Pendragon raised her small voice in surprise as she was blushing slightly after seeing Kuroka's action.

”Hey, hey, don't you want to have a kid with me? Actually, I want a dragon baby~”

”...did Vali already reject your attempt to get his kid, Kuroka?” Rafi asked Kuroka after a brief of silence for a moment there. It was because her boldness really made him speechless, though he didn't really dislike it, as it was also part of Kuroka's charm.

”I don't have time to care for those things. Though, I think you may be suitable for her, seeing that you have that many wives. Her addition won't matter to you will it.” Vali sounded interested as he teased Rafi after Kuroka's attempt on him.

”It matters, especially from my wives...” Rafi replied with a serious face as he looked at Vali and Kuroka.

”Auu~, well, I just need to ask your wives permission then~.” Kuroka smiled in slightly regretful tone as she then spoke seductively at Rafi, causing the little girl Le Fay to blush more after hearing her friend's bold statement.

”Ugh, well, now that I have said what I want to tell, I will be going shortly. Let's meet again later, Vali.”

”Wait. Before you go, please bring Ophis with you. Actually, if you don't suddenly visit us just now, we may need to look for you, to fulfill Ophis's request.” Vali said suddenly as he saw Rafi was about to go, causing Rafi to stop in his track as he looked at Ophis who suddenly appeared beside him.

”Hmm, what do you want now, Ophis?”

”I want to follow you?” Ophis looked at Rafi in an asking(?) manner, with her pure eyes looking upward cutely.

”Why are you looking at me like that? Are you even asking me or telling me now?!” Rafi could feel a headache coming as he saw Ophis's expression who didn't look like she was joking. When he looked back at Vali behind him, he could see his smirk as he felt Vali was gloating over Rafi's future troubles at the moment.

”Why?” Rafi asked Ophis in confusion after seeing Ophis held his hand tightly, refusing to budge in the slightest.

”I want to know...how you can be so strong... I may be able to take back my home,... if I know how to raise my strength...”

”Ugh, I don't really have any secret way of power up, Ophis.” Rafi said(lied) sincerely as he couldn't bear to look at Ophis's cute appearance.

”You lied. I know when someone lie to me. So, I will follow you.”

”.....”

”Just accept it, Rafi. Besides, I think it is better if she is by your side. Recently, other factions inside Chaos Brigade shows some suspicious movements which indicate that they may have a secret plan for Ophis. Especially, after they declared that Ophis is a traitor, now that she doesn't give them more of her Snakes power.” Vali advised Rafi sincerely after seeing Rafi's hesitation, though his voice was still tinged with a gloating tone for the trouble Rafi might face after Ophis followed him along.

”You are really happy to see me in trouble aren't you, Vali. But okay, I will bring Ophis along with me.” Rafi then sighed slightly after hearing Vali. As he remembered the event later, when Ophis's power would be stolen by Hero Faction after they used Samael to steal a portion of her power.

After remembering that event, Rafi couldn't let Ophis's power got stolen as he won't allow it to happen. Besides, it just happened that he also wanted to go to another world at the moment. Thinking about it, he would remind his clone to pay attention on what would Chaos Brigade did, after they couldn't find Ophis everywhere. At that time, all concerned parties who desired Ophis's power might did some extreme measures for their plan to work, just to force Ophis to appear. While they did extreme measures, Rafi would be happy deal with them quickly as he had a justification for it, rather than being seen as a tyrant who just abused his power.

.....

Thus, after settling the matter with his clone, as he made a mokuton clone with roughly 80% of his abilities, Rafi then appeared in a secluded place while he was surrounded by dense purple mist around him.

”Uh, this is my first time doing world travel without System's help. I hope nothing goes wrong now.”

[There will be no accident. Although I can't guarantee about your destination, because it will be random. Hmph, but I think it will be a good exercise for you to harness your space-time power, Rafi. Because, you also need to reach that world for Familiar Summoning Ritual, before you attempt your First Tribulation.]

”...Can't you at least console me a bit there, Claire? Besides, if you really want me to go that world, you can just send me straight there can't you.”

[If you need consolation, just go to your companions. I am only responsible to help training you. And you know, I will not help you further in world travel. You should do it with your own ability now that you have Dimension Lost.]

”Ugh, fine... you are still as strict as ever huh, Claire.”

[...]

After a moment passed, bursts of purple mist appeared from Rafi as they started to distort the space around them. Slowly and surely, Rafi controlled the purple mist to form a space portal that was filled with space-time fragment power in a shape of a door. After that space door stabilized itself, Rafi inhaled a deep breath before he stepped inside, to the new world that might be his new adventure.