(Here cos the long-awaited mont. At the mont of chapter 249, my fanfic officially has 1 million words. According to statistics, the average number of words per chapter is 4.1k words. Wow, it was a really long journey. Initially, I planned to write a short story, just to check how everything would go. But in the end, my story continues. I have never regretted starting to write my own fanfic, I am grateful to those who have made this long journey with . I am grateful to those who treated to coffee. I love you all, my dear readers. I hope that we will continue this adventure.)
As soon as Alex pulled Koko out of the storage room, leaving Toji and Kyoko to enjoy each other's company, he barely held back his laughter. The mont the door closed, he finally let out a chuckle, recalling Toji's sour expression when he was caught red-handed.
Koko's eyes practically sparkled with excitent, eager to learn more details. Alex was certain that if he hadn't stopped her, she would have definitely tried to sneak a peek at how their secret rendezvous ended. Shaking his head with a smirk, he reached out to ruffle her snow-white hair, attempting to calm down the nosy troublemaker.
Koko narrowed her eyes mischievously, dodging his hand in an instant before skillfully jumping onto his back, wrapping her legs around his waist. Resting her chin on his shoulder, she started rubbing her cheek against his, clearly demanding attention.
"I never would have thought that Toji would be the first to find himself a girlfriend," Koko said, continuing her affectionate gestures.
"I wouldn't say it's that surprising," Alex replied, feeling Koko still rubbing against him like a cat. "From the start, I figured it would be either Toji or Ugo."
Koko froze for a mont, intrigued by his words. Why those two? However, before she could ask, Alex was already heading toward the Humvee to begin his work. Not willing to let the opportunity slip, Koko persistently poked his cheek with her finger.
Alex sighed, realizing she wouldn't stop until she got an explanation.
"Alright, alright, I get it," he said, sensing Koko's determination only growing stronger.
Satisfied, Koko stopped poking his cheek and instead rewarded him with a light kiss on it, signaling that he had made the right decision.
"It's simple," Alex began. "Lehm is already quite old, relatively speaking, and he's not looking for a relationship right now. He's the type who would rather settle down when he finds the right place. Lutz acts like a teenager, and that doesn't exactly make him an attractive candidate. Wiley is a nice guy, but he has a strange obsession with explosives. He can talk about them for hours, and well… that's kind of off-putting."
"So, just like you when you start ranting about your techno-babble?" Koko squinted at him with a sly grin.
"Almost," Alex smirked. "But don't interrupt. Mao is a family man. I talked to him, and he admitted that he has a family, but he has no idea where they are now. I gave him a phone so he could try to reach them, but the call didn't go through. Maybe his wife just didn't pick up, but he still hopes she's okay. And as for R, there's no point even talking about him—he's a typical, fickle womanizer. Girls can see that, and if he doesn't settle down, he's going to have a hard ti forming any real relationship."
Koko listened intently as Alex continued.
"So that leaves Toji and Ugo. In short, Ugo is a kind, responsible guy. Girls always like that, especially in tis like these. And Toji… well, if you set aside his obsession with manga and ani, he's actually a pretty decent person too."
Finishing his explanation, Alex noticed how Koko's eyes widened in surprise.
"You know so much about my people," she murmured, squinting at him playfully. "You really are everywhere."
Alex just smirked, neither confirming nor denying her words.
Then he suddenly stopped walking. He turned his face toward Koko, locking eyes with her bright blue ones. But sothing changed. His gaze darkened, and within monts, the light in his eyes completely faded, leaving behind two empty voids, like black holes.
Koko noticed the shift imdiately.
If before, his irises held a mysterious, alluring charm, now they were filled with a cold, bottomless darkness, ready to consu everything around them. And yet, against all logic, Koko felt no fear—instead, she was drawn to his gaze, as if it were calling her into its abyss.
"I have to know everything about everyone to make sure no one harms my family," Alex said calmly, his void-like eyes locked onto Koko. "I don't care who they are or what they do. If soone is my enemy and threatens my family, I will hunt them down until they cease to exist. I will destroy anyone who even dares to think about hurting my family."
"Am I your family too?" Koko asked, her voice carrying not just curiosity, but a hidden hope.
"Of course," Alex gave her a slight smile. "There's no point in trying to run from . No matter where you go, I'll find you and bring you back."
Koko narrowed her eyes, still gazing into his empty ones. The contrast between his gentle smile and his ominous stare gave her a strange feeling. Alex wasn't just protecting his loved ones—he was possessive in the deepest sense of the word. But against all reason, Koko didn't want to run from him. On the contrary, she wanted to stay close, even if it ant becoming a part of his obsession. At that mont, she rembered how the other girls talked about Alex's obsessive love. Back then, she didn't understand what they ant… but now, everything beca crystal clear.
Alex suddenly leaned in close to her ear and whispered,
"If you do run, I'll catch you… and lock you away. That way, you'll always be by my side."
His voice was soft, but there was a promise in those words.
Alex's eyes then regained their light, returning to their usual state, and he flashed a wide smile, as if to show he was just joking. Of course, he had no real intention of locking anyone up… but kidnapping Koko if she ever decided to disappear? That was a different matter entirely. Not that it would ever co to that—he already knew she wouldn't want to leave.
Koko was montarily stunned, her eyes widening and her heart skipping a beat. But when she saw his familiar teasing smile, she realized he was just ssing with her. That didn't an she was going to forgive him so easily, though. Pouting, she grabbed Alex's cheek and tugged on it in retaliation.
"You idiot!" Koko grumbled in frustration. "You scared ! I actually thought for a second that you were serious about locking up. And anyway, why would I run? To whom? Unless it's to so super-cool zombie guy?"
"Of course!" Alex nodded seriously, playing along. "He'll bite you, and you two will beco a happy zombie couple. anwhile, my poor little heart will break, and I'll cry alone in despair."
He dramatically wiped away an imaginary tear, putting on an exaggeratedly hurt expression.
Koko looked at his face, full of fake heartbreak, and couldn't hold back her laughter. She burst out laughing, genuinely enjoying the mont. Seeing this, Alex dropped the act and laughed along with her.
As the laughter faded, Koko suddenly grabbed his face and, without hesitation, kissed him on the lips.
"Actually, you're the one who should be careful not to run off with so zombie girl," she said with a sly smile. "Otherwise, I'll turn into a zombie too… and make sure to ruin your 'zombie life' with her."
Alex smirked and kissed Koko again.
If the virus that turned people into zombies had any effect on him, he might have preferred to simply hit himself with a rubber hamr to get it over with. But his body didn't succumb to any external changes. Even Nyan-Nyan's power, when they first t, turned out to be useless against him—let alone the zombie virus. Anything that posed a threat to his existence was imdiately destroyed by his destructive power.
Moreover, his blood was so toxic that when a single drop touched Nyan-Nyan's avatar, it caused him unimaginable suffering. The only question was whether he could even have children. His body was the embodint of destruction, and Alex had no idea if this trait extended to his reproductive abilities.
The only thing that troubled him was one question—sooner or later, he would have to find the answer. After all, Freya really wanted a child... and other goddesses as well, though they kept it hidden.
In the worst case, he could always talk to his father—he surely knew how to bypass any limitations related to his power.
After finishing his kissing session with Koko, Alex moved on, carrying the girl on his back. She seed quite pleased, pressing against him and lazily swinging her legs. Returning to the spot where their transport was parked on the ferry, Alex saw that his three little helpers had already cleared the work area and even changed into new clothes.
Koko and Alex watched with curiosity as the trio of pranksters now looked like real chanics: they were wearing overalls stained with grease, and there were oil smudges all over their faces. However, it seed the marks were intentionally applied, as if they weren't working, but playing Indians.
Koko jumped off Alex's back and giggled, seeing the funny appearance of G.I.R., MIMI, and Stitch. Alex just shook his head with a smile, realizing that instead of waiting and preparing, these three were having fun.
Not wanting to deal with the trio's antics, Alex placed the tools on the hood of the Humvee and brought over a chair with a small table for Koko so she wouldn't get bored. Koko, picking up on the hint that she could relax and stop pretending to help, smiled contentedly and kissed Alex on the cheek. At that very mont, her hand discreetly slipped into his pocket in search of his phone.
Alex felt her movents but didn't say anything. After all, without his permission, no one could find anything important on his phone.
"So, my young Padawans, it's ti to take apart the Humvee. We need to finish its upgrades before we arrive at the next city," Alex said with a slight smile.
"Okay, Dad!" the trio responded cheerfully, nodding in sync.
Alex just smiled, glad that he had dressed in clothes he didn't mind getting dirty. He assigned tasks to himself and his little helpers, and soon they all got to work dismantling the military Humvee that belonged to Rika and was used by the girls for expeditions.
Alex wanted to upgrade it because he was concerned about the girls' safety in case they went on a raid without him. After positioning the jacks, they first removed the wheels entirely for convenience. Then each of them focused on their part of the work.
From ti to ti, various people walked by, curiously watching the process. Even Namiyo stopped by to bring snacks, knowing that Alex might forget to eat while working. Koko, feeling a bit bored, left and soon returned with an armful of snacks, which she tossed onto the table.
When the Humvee was halfway dismantled, Alice, Malka, and their new friend, Honoka, approached them. Alex noticed their approach and raised an eyebrow, imdiately understanding that the girls weren't just visiting for no reason.
"What's up, Alice? I see you've found yourself another friend," he asked, wiping his hands to grab so water.
"Yes! Her na is Honoka, she's my new friend," Alice cheerfully introduced her. Then she hesitated but continued, "Older brother, do you need help?"
Alex smiled slightly and shook his head.
"No, little one, I don't need help. If you're bored, you can ask Rebecca to set up a new ga or sothing like that."
However, Alice clearly hadn't co just for that. She lowered her head, a little embarrassed, but still asked,
"Older brother... could you train us too?"
Alex raised an eyebrow in surprise and looked at her closely. He then glanced at Honoka and Malka, and both girls nodded, confirming her words.
He thought for a mont, wondering why they wanted to train. Deep down, Alex prayed that the trio of pranksters hadn't managed to brainwash any other kids. He already had enough on his plate with Alice dreaming of becoming a Battle Sister, and he was doing his best to talk her out of it.
Looking for support, Alex turned to Koko, but she simply shrugged, showing that he'd have to deal with this himself.
"Why do you want to train?" he asked cautiously, hoping he was wrong.
Alice looked up at him with determined eyes.
"I want to beco strong to protect big brother and the big sisters. I don't want to be the one who needs saving. I want to be able to protect myself."
Alex sighed heavily, realizing that this conversation was going to be difficult.
He rubbed his nose bridge, letting out a heavy sigh at Alice's words. He had been deliberately delaying her training simply because the girl dread of becoming a Battle Sister when she grew up. Alex wanted her to abandon those thoughts first before seriously starting her training.
His gaze swept over Malka and Honoka. Rembering how Honoka had also wanted to train after becoming a victim of Kenichi's enemies' kidnapping, Alex couldn't help but wonder. Back then, she was passionate about the idea, but maybe the zombie apocalypse had changed her perspective on life. Perhaps now she realized she had to be able to protect herself and not be a burden to others.
"Didn't you want to beco a Battle Sister when you grew up?" Alex asked, sighing.
"I'm not grown yet, and I still have a long way to go. But, older brother, I'll be able to stand up for myself, and you won't have to worry about ," Alice confidently stated, looking him in the eye.
Alex sighed again. He crouched in front of his little sister, placing his hand on her head. Alice was stubborn, and her desire to train only seed to grow stronger.
"Oh, you silly potato," he smirked, gently stroking her hair. "You don't need to be afraid of becoming a burden. You have an older brother who will always protect you, and older sisters who can handle everything. Your job is to stay a child and enjoy your childhood. Leave all the adult worries to ."
"But, older brother, I still want to be able to defend myself!" Alice said firmly, expressing her resolve.
Alex exhaled wearily.
"Alright. Then go ask Brunhild if it's okay. If she agrees, I'll start training you."
"Really?! Thank you, big brother! I love you!" Alice joyfully exclaid, hugging him around the neck and kissing him on the cheek.
Alex smiled and shook his head. He wasn't sure how Brunhild would react to Alice's request. She was strict, but kind, and had grown quite attached to the girl. Convincing her to allow the training wouldn't be easy.
"You two as well," he addressed Malka and Honoka. "Malka, ask Jonah for permission—he is the elder in your family. And you, Honoka, ask your parents. I won't train you if they don't agree."
"Alright, big brother!" the girls chorused.
Alice bead with happiness. She grabbed her friends by the hands and dragged them upstairs. Alex couldn't help but think about how quickly children grow. Then he imagined his own children growing up just as fast.
A heavy sigh escaped his lips. He already foresaw the headache he'd face once he had children. Especially considering that the most troubleso ones would likely co from Loki and Rebecca... He shuddered at the thought.
"You're such a softy," a cheerful voice ca from behind him. "A few words, and little Alice convinced you."
"Tell about it," Alex shook his head with a grin. "Who turned into such a nice guy who can't say no to his family? Though... Alice still has to convince Brunhild. That's no easy task."
Koko laughed. It was true. In the past few days, she had seen people on the ferry literally afraid to contradict Brunhild. Just one of her piercing looks could make soone fall silent mid-sentence.
But Alex knew that Brunhild wasn't just strict—she was smart. When Ragnarok began, and the gods wanted to destroy humanity, it was she who planned everything so that in the end, the victory went to humanity. She was also the one who managed to take revenge on Odin for her son, even if Alex hadn't intervened in the events of Ragnarok.
Brunhild was one of those people who should be feared. You wouldn't even blink before finding yourself in her trap, with nothing left to show for it.
Shaking off unnecessary thoughts, Alex returned to his work. When the Humvee was fully disassembled, he and his three little helpers began planning. So modifications involved runes, so Alex made sure that Koko didn't hear anything she shouldn't.
He didn't try to hide his identity, but the fewer people knew the truth, the better. Otherwise, he would constantly have to explain why he hadn't intervened in certain events, why he hadn't saved soone, why he had allowed the world to slowly die.
But even if he told the truth—that the main instigator would simply have wiped Earth off the face of the Universe and fled—it wouldn't help people cope with the pain of loss. They would still need soone to bla. And that soone would be him. Because Alex could have prevented all of it... but he hadn't.
Once the planning was done, Alex and his three little helpers began working on the Humvee modifications. Unnoticed by Koko, he applied runes to the parts, enhancing their properties and fixing damages. Everything was done with perfect precision, so no one would ever guess the changes made. Ultimately, the Humvee was ant to turn into an impenetrable tank capable of withstanding the temperature of the solar corona, while passengers inside wouldn't feel the slightest discomfort.
Continuing his work, Alex crawled under the vehicle to work on its undercarriage. Humming a simple lody, he thodically drew another rune, not paying attention to what was happening around him. Sowhere off to the side, Koko was comnting on sothing, discussing it with the trio of little troublemakers. Suddenly, a tal plate almost fell on him, cut by G.I.R. Alex managed to jerk his head back just in ti, avoiding the blow, and with a dissatisfied sigh, he looked at the hole in the vehicle's underside. G.I.R.'s head was sticking out of the opening, wearing a welding mask.
Alex shook his head—monts like these made him especially wish he could just use magic and finish all the work in a few seconds.
"Alex, you have visitors," Koko's cheerful voice rang out.
Alex sighed wearily. Why does no one approach him when he's not busy? The mont he gets imrsed in his work, everyone urgently has sothing to ask. Trying to hide his irritation, he crawled out from under the vehicle, grabbed a rag, and wiped his hands and face. After tossing it back, he glanced at the group of girls, who clearly hadn't co just to chat.
In front of him stood Renka, Kisara, and Kana, with a group of girls known as the "Valkyries" behind them.
"So, what do you need from ?" he asked in a calm tone, taking a sip of water.
"Can you train too?" Renka suddenly asked, looking at him intently.
Alex raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. Koko, on the other hand, was clearly enjoying the situation, watching it unfold with genuine amusent. Shifting his gaze to the other girls, he saw that they nodded affirmatively—they had co with the sa request.
Alex sighed again and looked at Kisara, Kana, and the girls standing behind them. He rembered that these girls had once been part of the "Ragnarök" group, a gang of school bullies. Under his intense gaze, they began to grow a bit nervous, unsure of what he was thinking. Finally, Alex shifted his gaze away from the group and turned back to Renka.
"Why don't you ask your father to train you?" he asked calmly.
"I don't want to. He either gets lazy or distracted by stupid things. All he's interested in is spying on girls and finding ways to take photos of them from behind. I asked around, and I found out that you're a much better teacher than he is," Renka replied, crossing her arms over her chest.
From sowhere in the distance, a muffled sound resembling breaking glass reached their ears. Alex smirked inwardly—apparently, Kensai, who had been eavesdropping, had just received an emotional blow from his own daughter's words. ntally wishing the poor guy patience and hoping he'd get rid of his bad habits, Alex turned his attention back to the others.
"So, you all ca with the sa request?" he asked.
"Yes," Kana spoke first. "You're a master with all kinds of weapons, and I want to learn from you."
The girls behind her nodded in sync.
Alex rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly.
"Ugh... Alright, Kana, you should be learning from Brunhild, not . Take your friends—what do you call them... 'Valkyries'? Go to her."
Kana tensed slightly when she heard his tone.
"If you're calling yourselves Valkyries, first you'll have to prove that you deserve it. And Brunhild will beat all the nonsense out of you. Don't even think about claiming that na until she allows it," Alex said, narrowing his eyes.
Kana and her girls swallowed nervously and exchanged glances. They had already heard how strict and rciless Brunhild was, and now they were starting to doubt their decision…
Kana and the girls behind her flinched from Alex's words, visibly nervous.
"Why do you say we don't deserve to be called Valkyries?" one of the girls behind Kana timidly asked.
Alex narrowed his eyes and tilted his head.
"Seriously? Do I need to explain this? Valkyries are noble warriors who escort fallen heroes to Valhalla. And you—you're just a group of school bullies who think being in a gang is cool. You're no Valkyries. Want to be one? Then go to Brunhild. She'll straighten your heads. And don't even think about calling yourselves Valkyries until she gives you permission. You don't deserve it."
In Alex's spiritual space, the true Valkyries nodded approvingly, agreeing with his words. To them, these girls were nothing more than pathetic pretenders defiling a great na. If Alex hadn't held them back, they would have already gone out and taught the impostors a lesson.
Kana, realizing that arguing was pointless, simply nodded in silence. She looked at her subordinates and headed toward Brunhilde, as Alex had instructed. She understood that Alex disliked them because of their past, but she had no idea that there was sothing more behind it— in his spiritual world, there really were true Valkyries, and Brunhilde was one of them.
Alex watched them leave and then turned to Renka and Kisara, who remained.
"You were pretty harsh with her," Coco remarked, raising an eyebrow slightly.
"I've never liked school bullies," Alex replied calmly, lighting a cigarette. "If you look at the statistics, you can see how many kids lost their school life because of bullying. And how many of them ended their lives because they were pushed into a corner? School gangs— that's a whole different story."
"We didn't bully anyone!" Kisara retorted sharply, trying to defend herself.
Alex smirked.
"Are you sure about that? Do you want to open your file? How did your 'great' gang treat those who wanted to leave? Should I remind you how you beat up those who just wanted to live a normal life? Or have you forgotten? You wanted to prove that girls are stronger than boys, but in the end, you beca just another bully who tornts the weak."
With each of his words, Kisara slowly stepped back, until she felt her back press against an obstacle. Her gaze t Alex's, and suddenly fear flared within her. But along with it ca mories. She rembered why she had started training in the first place. She rembered how she had dread of becoming strong, not just being part of a gang.
Her shoulders slumped, and her gaze dimd.
"Well, it's sinking in," Alex sighed, removing the cigarette from his mouth. "You'll have to live with that. But if you change your mindset, you can beco stronger."
He extended his hand and gently ruffled Kisara's hair. The girl flinched but said nothing.
Alex returned to Coco, sat down on a chair, and lit another cigarette.
"Well, what am I supposed to do with you? I can train you, but which martial art will suit you— that's the question."
"I trained in Chinese Kenpo at a family dojo. And I'm very flexible," Renka said, imdiately demonstrating her skill.
Alex watched her movents with curiosity, taking another drag.
He observed Renka's movents, evaluating her style. After a brief mont of thought, he realized there was a martial art he knew that might suit her. Waving his hand, he signaled for her to stop.
Renka halted her demonstration and looked at Alex, waiting for further instructions. anwhile, he turned his gaze to Kisara, who was still recovering from their recent conversation.
"I trained in Taekwondo," Kisara quickly blurted out, noticing his gaze.
Alex nodded, noting her words to himself.
"Alright, I get what you're strong at. I'll take you on for training," he sighed, realizing his free ti was about to beco even more limited.
"What are you going to teach us?" Renka asked, her interest clearly piqued.
"I'll teach you a martial art once mastered by the first emperor of China," Alex replied calmly.
"Which one?" Renka furrowed her brow.
"The one that helped unite China under one rule," he added, his tone mysterious.
Renka's eyes widened in shock, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets. She couldn't believe that Alex knew such an ancient and lost martial art. Seeing her reaction, he just smirked, not in any hurry to explain.
"And what about ?" Kisara asked cautiously.
"Since you practiced Taekwondo, I have sothing for you too," Alex replied, glancing at her.
Both girls nodded, then stayed a little longer to chat, discussing the details of their upcoming training. Soon, Renka was the first to leave, afraid Alex might change his mind about teaching her. Kisara lingered a bit, casting a thoughtful glance at him before she left.
Once the girls were out of sight, Alex tiredly leaned back in his chair. He hadn't even started their training yet, but he was already feeling exhausted. Now he had to co up with a training plan not only for Renka and Kisara but also for Alice, Honoki, and Malki. And he had a feeling that more people would be asking soon.
"Kensei, maybe you'll co out now? Stop hiding, or Renka will think you're peeking under skirts again," Alex said, lazily glancing toward the staircase.
"Not a shred of respect for your elders," Kensei grumbled, jumping down from the ceiling.
"If you weren't such a pervert, maybe you'd show so," Alex smirked.
Kensei only muttered disgruntledly as he approached. Apparently, he wanted to know about his daughter's training. Though the fact that Renka chose to learn from Alex instead of her own father clearly upset him.
"So, what exactly are you planning to teach my daughter?" he asked, trying to maintain a serious tone.
"Chi Yu," Alex answered in a calm voice.
Kensei froze, stunned by what he heard.
"You even know that?.. But all records of Chi Yu were lost! Anything even remotely connected to Qin Shi Huangdi was destroyed to erase his legacy!" he exclaid, utterly shocked.
Alex didn't comnt on it. He couldn't just tell Kensei that he was attacked by none other than Qin Shi Huang—the first Emperor of China—just because Alex once knocked him out to avoid causing trouble during Ragnarok. In the end, it led to an unexpected result: not only did Alex learn the Chi Yu martial art, but he also managed to beco friends with the legendary ruler.
"You'd better make up with your daughter," Alex said, glancing at Kensei with a smirk. "Otherwise, the day will co when she beats you up."
"I've tried, but she's always turning up her nose!" Kensei shook his head in frustration. "What kind of daughter is this?"
Alex chuckled.
"Maybe she wouldn't turn up her nose if you didn't disappear one day, leaving a note saying you were off to follow your dream... of filling your collection of won's underwear photos."
Kensei tensed, but Alex continued with a broad smile.
"I'm honestly scared to imagine what Mrs. Ma will do when she finds out why you ran away from ho. All I can advise you is to order a coffin in advance and pray your wife doesn't kill you."
"Don't remind ..." Kensei groaned, rubbing his face with his hands. "Alright, I'll go try talking to my daughter again."
Before leaving, he suddenly gave Alex a stern look and threatened with his finger.
"And don't you dare hit on her! I know guys like you. I don't want my daughter hanging around soone like you!"
Alex just laughed and waved him off.
"Too late to pretend to be a caring father," Alex thought to himself, watching Kensei walk away. He knew it wouldn't be easy for Renka to forgive the man who had so easily left her behind in the past.
Once he was finally left alone, he decided to sit down with Koko and chat. After all the silence, she probably had a lot of questions. Alex didn't mind answering them—he enjoyed talking to her.
anwhile, on the other side of the building, Brunhilde looked at the group of girls who approached her, asking for training. Her face twitched in irritation. She knew exactly who had dumped all the work on her again.
"Alex is making do all the work again..." she hissed under her breath.
She had only just managed to get rid of the extra responsibilities. And now, thanks to Alex, she was going to have to train a group of people once again.
To be continued...
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