A young man with long black and red hair with red eyes and slitted blue pupils was sipping his morning coffee as he was atop of an odd crystal castle.

???: You know, I'm pretty bored right now.

???2: Why don't you just go on some adventure?

Ryu: Cause you know the evil marshmallow will bitch at me for being gone.

This was a male who used to be a hero, but now has taken a slightly darker path... For now.

RYU KAIZEN!!!

And with him, only spiritually and not physically technically, was his long time companion of many lifetimes.

SHOJO!!!

Shojo: True. Manslaughter for the second time this week?

Ryu: Nope. I'm evil, not a complete psychopath.

???: Ryu.

He turned around to see a white haired woman with pale skin, black veins protruding over her body, and eyes as dark as the night sky.

SALEM!!

Ryu: Yo.

Salem: What's wrong? You'd usually be causing mayhem somewhere right about now.

Ryu: *Sigh* I'm just super bored right now. Sure this new strength and ability to be heartless is cool and all, but there's no person that's challenged me since.

Salem: Well, why don't you take a look somewhere?

Ryu: I don't think there's a soul in the Kingdoms who can actually rival me anymore.

Salem: If not in Kingdoms, why not try outside?

Ryu turned to Salem confused.

Ryu: Hold up, what?

Salem: You heard me. Have a little fun.

Ryu looked at Salem before smirking and manifesting something out of thin air.

PORTAL GUN

He shot a portal open as he jumped through without hesitation.

Ryu: Be back soon -probably not to me- THANKS!!

The portal closed as Salem looked at the spot he went through.

Salem: I was talking about the other half of Remnant but I guess that works too.

WITH RYU

Ryu was falling through the portal waiting for another few seconds before shooting the gun again going through the second portal seeing he was in the sky.

Ryu: Best part, Salem doesn't have control of all my movements here.

Shojo: Yeah, but I'd say that going back to base form would be smart.

Ryu: Yeah.

Dark energy seemed to form around Ryu as his appearance changed with his hair no longer being as long and his pupils being non slitted.

Ryu: Feels weird being in my normal state again.

Shojo: That's only natural. You've been in that form for weeks.

Ryu: Ok.

As he fell he saw a massive city but it seemed old fashioned.

Ryu: A fantasy world huh? Game on.

He saw a nearby tree and as he grew closer he grabbed the branch and flipped himself upright before landing on the ground.

Ryu: Never gets old.

He looked in his pockets and saw an abundance of money that wasn't lien or cash, but straight gold and silver.

Ryu: Ok then.

He walked into the town getting strange looks.

Ryu: What? Never seen a 6'4 dude with black and red hair before?

They all looked away realizing that he was ready and willing to knock every one of them out. He made his way to a library. He walked in and rented a few books before walking out starting to speed read.

Ryu: Damn, so there are monsters that aren't Grimm in this world.

Shojo: That's pretty interesting.

???: Looks like you're into reading there big guy!

He turned around and saw a woman with blonde hair and an impressive bust size.

Ryu: ... -_- I don't know who you are, but you remind me of a yellow ball of energy I know.

???: Uhhh, ok~. So I'm gonna go on a whim and say you're not from around here!

Ryu: Uh huh. Normally I wouldn't bother speaking more and just walk away, but just to not be THAT big of an ass how did you know?

???: Well it's those books you're carrying. I've lived around here for a long time, by now it's easy to spot a new face.

Ryu: Neat. Well if you don't have anything to tell me Imma just-

???: Hey hey, you don't seem like the kind of guy who likes his time being wasted, I can tell you things about the kingdom that those books can't.

Ryu: I'm listening.

???: Let's take a walk then!

She turned and started walking with a noticeable bit of pep to her step.

Ryu: -_- Getting strong Yang vibes off of this one.

He followed her as they made their ways to a small cafe. They ordered coffee and started talking.

Ryu: First off before anything else, who the hell are you?

???: Ah right! The names Leone!

LEONE!!

Ryu: 'Fucking Christ the letters are here.'

Leone: This is the Imperial City. Judging by how fast you were reading one of those books you shouldn't have gotten to this places current state.

Ryu: Yup, so explain.

He took a sip of his coffee.

Leone: For starters this place is definitely not as great as it is in the books you've got there. There are some pretty rotten people that make Danger Beast seem friendly.

Ryu: Hm.

Leone: And this next part you're gonna have to make sure you don't say this very loudly in public.

Ryu: Spit it out.

Leone: The emperor is just a little kid, and the Minister controls him.

Ryu: So an adult is manipulating the young and easily influenced mind of a child Huh? Sounds like a good old case of bad parenting.

Leone laughed hearing that.

Leone: It's basically that yeah!

She was about to take another sub of her coffee before they saw a kid with a sword on his back. He walked into a shop before getting kicked out about 1 minute later. Leone looked at Ryu as he knew exactly what she was thinking.

Ryu: Eh, haven't conned someone in a while, should be at least a little fun.

Leone: Oh I like you, uhhh... Hold on what is your name?

Ryu: Names Ryu.

Leone: Well then Ryu let's do this.

They both walked over to him.

Leone: HELLO~! What's with the long face there little guy? Big sis is here to cheer ya up!

He was completely at a loss for words with his mouth agape looking at Leone's chest. Ryu seeing the opportunity for mocking took the chance.

Leone: Try to focus here-

Ryu: Yo short stack, I know her tits are big but you look WAY too excited there. And to you "Big Sis", try to say that in a less pedophilic way.

???/Leone: HEY!!

Ryu: What? Who in their right mind wouldn't think it?

Leone: Ugh, anyway, so let me guess, you came in from the countryside in search of fame and fortune didn't you?

???: HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT?!

Ryu: Long story short she can tell who's new here and who's not.

Leone: Yup! And I know the secret to becoming an officer in the Imperial Army really quick!

???: TELL ME!!

Leone: You really wanna know?

He nodded his head rapidly.

Ryu: Well kid you gotta know that everything around here isn't free.

Leone: He's right! First you gotta treat us to lunch!

TIME SKIP!!

The three had gone to a tavern as Leone was drinking the most having a mug of beer with Ryu just taking a few sips of his whisky here and there.

Leone: MAN!! Never too early in the day for some hooch am I right?!

She purred a bit before holding a bottle to the kid.

Leone: Go ahead, drink up. There's still a little left.

Ryu: I wouldn't kid, once you start young you'll never stop.

He took another sip before remembering a dusty old crow. He looked outside expecting to see something but remembered he was in a new world.

???: Look just forget the drinks and tell me how to become an officer!

Leone: Yeah, well uh, about that, you're gonna need a lot of money.

???: Money?

Leone: You see, we just happen to know someone in the army.

Ryu: The guy could hook you up, if it's worth his while if you catch my drift.

???: Ok then, let's see.

He looked in his bag bringing out a pouch of gold.

Leone: WHOO!! What do we have here?!

???: It's just some reward money from killing a Class 1 Danger Beast, no biggie.

Ryu: 'Wait wait wait so I can earn that much money from killing some monster?'

Shojo: I sense a get rich quick scheme in your mind.'

Leone: Mm, big guy. You might just jump straight up to captain!

???: Yeah?! Let's hope so!

Ryu took the money as they started walking off.

Leone: I believe our little encounter has been far more educational than you know kid. Right, we'll talk to him. Wait right here!

???: See yah~!!

They walked out with Ryu and Leone laughing once they were far enough away.

Ryu: I cannot believe the kid's that naive!!

Leone: Of course! I mean he couldn't be older than 16!

Ryu: That was fun, but now for the question I actually care about.

Leone: Oh right, we'll ask away!

Ryu: Is there anyone in the entire kingdom that are some worth while fighters?

Leone: Huh? What do you mean by fighters?

Ryu: You know, guys that can can actually fight, give some kind of challenge, possibly even have some special powers, that sort of stuff.

Leone: Well, I might know a few, but why do you want to know?

Ryu: Well like you guessed, I'm not from around here. I'm pretty much traveling to find a good fight. Reasons why: I've been bored as hell.

Leone: Well it depends now, are you any strong?

He walked over to a nearby tree with a smug smirk before punching it with his bare hands causing some of it to be ripped before the whole thing fell.

Ryu: Yeah, you can say I am.

Leone was mesmerized before grinning.

Leone: Well hot Damn! You probably could take on a few soldiers with your fist alone! I haven't seen guys who can do something like that with their bare hands in a while!

Ryu: Oh, you mean like you?

Leone: Yeah just like... Heh?

Ryu: I can always tell if someone is an actual fighter, and you're it blondie.

Leone looked at him before she smirked as well.

Leone: Can't fool you Huh?

Ryu: Nope, so, who do you think is tough enough to give me a challenge.

Leone: Well, how about you follow me and find out? But if I show you, you've just gotta do one thing.

Ryu: That is?

Leone: You have to promise that you'll join us.

Ryu rose an eyebrow.

Ryu: Hm, well I've got nothing better to do at the moment, so game on. If you guys are too weak though I'm out.

Leone: Fine by me.

CHAPTER END!!