Almighty Anime Developer System

"WRYYYY!!!"

"Muda! Muda! Muda! Muda!"

Choosing the first option in the game, Dio Brando intervened on Artoria's behalf, stepping in to beat the ever-living crap out of the knight who had dared to challenge her—Sir John.

Dio didn't hold back for a second, relentlessly taunting and humiliating Sir John with a wooden sword, all the while yelling "useless, useless, useless!" like a battle cry.

Every strike carried the sting of mockery, each one a slap to Sir John's already crumbling pride.

Sir John's face was drenched in cold sweat as he struggled to defend himself.

No matter how much effort he put in, he was clearly outclassed.

Even with a real sword in his hand, his attacks lacked the force and conviction needed to match Dio.

Dio's physical stats were on a completely different level, and to make things worse, his wooden sword was brimming with mana, adding an extra punch to every swing.

The relentless barrage left Sir John stumbling, his form shaky and his defenses full of holes.

With a sharp, decisive strike, Dio slammed Sir John's sword out of his hands, sending it clattering to the ground.

Sir John stood there, panting heavily, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.

But Dio wasn't done. He smirked, a triumphant, devilish grin stretching across his face, and delivered the final blow—a brutal kick right to the crotch.

Sir John crumpled to the ground in agony, clutching himself as Dio loomed over him, exuding absolute dominance.

[Kamijou Touma: That was... Well, Dio-san, don't you think you went a little too far?]

[Dio Brando: Too far? Too far?! No, what he did was far worse when he tried to humiliate my sister in the game. This? This was justice.]

[Nero Claudius: UmU! Dio is absolutely correct. He got exactly what he deserved.]

[Kamijou Touma: I don't even know how to respond to that.]

"Is the boy really the savior mentioned in the prophecy?" one voice murmured doubtfully, their skepticism rippling through the crowd.

Others quickly picked up on it, whispering and grumbling amongst themselves.

Another voice, louder this time, barked out, "His companion is too cruel! Why humiliate the knight like that over a simple duel?"

"Yes! Yes!" The outrage swelled, voices rising in a chorus of anger and disbelief.

The crowd's indignation turned palpable, almost suffocating in its intensity.

Artoria stood nearby, her gaze fixed on Sir Kay—who was currently being played by Dio Brando.

Her expression twisted with a mix of confusion and discomfort as she watched the scene unfold.

She wanted to ask him, to demand an explanation for why he had treated the knights so harshly.

Yet, no words came. Her throat felt tight, her thoughts tangled.

She understood, though. Deep down, she knew her brother (?) had willingly taken on the scorn and wrath of the crowd, all because he was trying to defend her dignity.

That truth made her emotions even more conflicted.

Meanwhile, Merlin, standing a short distance away, frowned at the spectacle unraveling before him.

This… this wasn't what he had anticipated when he planned this moment.

Merlin's gaze shifted to Kay—no, to Dio Brando. His expression hardened, his eyes narrowing with a colder, more hostile edge.

For a rare moment, his ever-smug composure cracked, and something darker simmered beneath.

When Merlin opened his mouth to speak, to calm the crowd and salvage the situation, Dio moved faster.

With a commanding step forward, he turned to face the furious mass of onlookers, his voice booming like a hammer striking iron.

"What right do you have to question your king?" Dio's tone was venomous, filled with raw, menacing authority that made the air feel heavier.

His piercing gaze swept across the gathered crowd like a blade, silencing some, intimidating others.

"If anyone here dares challenge the rules and authority of your king, then step forward and face me, Sir Kay!" He shouted the challenge with absolute dominance, his imposing aura making even the bravest among them shrink back.

The crowd hesitated, murmurs fading into awkward silence.

A few who had been the loudest in their outrage now shifted nervously, avoiding eye contact with him.

Gradually, the masses began to disperse, booing under their breath as they left, their earlier outrage now tempered by Dio's overwhelming presence.

As the tension dissipated, a series of system notifications appeared in his vision:

[Congratulations, Player. You have completed the tutorial phase of the game. Now, let the real journey begin.]

[You have earned +10 Obedience from Artoria Pendragon.]

[You have earned -10 Trust from Merlin.]

[You have chosen the Path of Conquest.]

"Brother, we need to talk," Artoria said, her voice laced with a mix of frustration and guilt. "I know you didn't agree with me becoming king, but what you did was unnecessarily cruel."

"Cruel? Cruel?!" Dio Brando spat the words, his voice rising with each syllable, raw with resentment.

"Listen, Artoria. I hate that pointless prophecy! I hate the fact that you were chosen as king because of it—not because you're the most talented on this entire island, not because you're the strongest or the wisest, but because of some damned prophecy! Everything you have was handed to you on a silver platter! I hate it! I hate all of it! Why not me?! Why does it all have to be you?! Why?!"

His voice cracked as the bitterness poured out of him like venom.

He took a step closer, his glare sharp enough to cut steel. "You stole everything from me! You took Father's love, my feelings, my independence—you took it all!"

"Kay..." Artoria whispered, her tone heavy with guilt as her mind churned over his words.

"No! Don't call me that!" he snarled, his rage boiling over. "I am nothing to you, just as you are nothing to me! King Uther, Merlin, and you... all of you took everything from me. You got the best of everything while I was left with nothing. I don't like you, Artoria. Don't ever talk to me like we mean something to each other."

Dio snorted, the sound cold and dismissive, before turning on his heel and striding away without another glance.

"Kay... wait!" Artoria called out, her voice trembling as guilt tightened its grip around her chest.

She wanted to fix this. She had to fix this.

Completely forgetting to question his sudden change in demeanor, she rushed forward and grabbed his arm, desperation seeping into her words. "Tell me how I can make this right."

Her tone was steady, firm, yet tinged with vulnerability.

For a moment, Dio stopped in his tracks.

A victorious grin crept across his face, though he was careful to hide it as he stood with his back to her.

Composing himself, he turned around to face Artoria, his expression schooled into one of cold indifference.

"Tell Merlin to mind his own damn business. I don't like the way he keeps staring at me, plotting like I'm some bug he can squash whenever it suits him," Dio Brando said, his voice cold and sharp. "He wanted to kill me over a simple disagreement, Artoria. Are you really so blind that you haven't realized what kind of man he truly is?"

Artoria frowned, the words cutting deeper than she wanted to admit.

She fell into a moment of deep thought.

Was that really the truth?

Could Merlin, the trusted mentor who had been by her side for so long, really have such ill intent toward her brother?

She felt a knot of conflict tighten in her chest, her mind racing between loyalty to Merlin and the accusations Dio had just thrown at her feet.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Dio's tone was mocking, but beneath it was a simmering anger.

 "Fine, then. Farewell, Artoria. We'll go our separate ways. I'll return to my estate and stay out of your life for good." He turned sharply, the edges of his cape swirling behind him as he prepared to leave, his presence radiating disdain.

But even as he strode away, there was an air of inevitability hanging over them.

This wasn't over—not yet.

And they both knew it.

"Wait, brother," Artoria's voice cut through the tension, halting him in his tracks.

"I'll look into it. If what you say is true, then I will protect you from Merlin. No matter what. I won't let him harm even a single hair on your head. If I find him guilty, I'll punish him myself—I'll banish him from Camelot if I must." Her tone was firm, her gaze unwavering as she made her vow.

Dio paused, turning slightly to look at her.

There was a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes, though he masked it behind a softened expression.

"Thank you for trusting me, Artoria," he said, his voice calmer now, almost... genuine.

Artoria nodded, a small smile breaking through her conflicted expression.

She felt a sense of relief that her brother—Kay, as she had always known him—seemed to forgive her hesitation.

Still, the guilt lingered, and she wanted to make amends.

"Is there any position you desire, brother?" she asked, her tone earnest. "Merlin suggested I make you the head of the knights. Shall I appoint you to the position?"

Dio smirked, his sharp features lighting up with a mixture of amusement and cunning. "Head of the knights? No, Artoria, I aim higher than that. I want to replace Merlin as your advisor. Let's be honest—he's done a piss-poor job, hasn't he? You deserve better. Let me show you how it's done. Together, we'll make Camelot great again."

Artoria blinked, her expression awkward at his request.

The idea of completely replacing Merlin felt strange to her, but given Dio's earlier outburst and the guilt she felt for doubting him, she swallowed her hesitation and forced herself to nod.

"Yes, you can take on that role," she agreed, though her voice carried a note of caution. "But I won't dismiss Merlin. You'll work alongside him. Prove to me that you're better suited for this role."

A system notification suddenly appeared before Dio:

[Quest: Prove Your Superiority]

[Details: Demonstrate to King Arthur that you are a better advisor than Merlin in every way. Deliver results that back up your claims.]

[Rewards: +30,000 EXP, +30 Trust with Artoria Pendragon, Unlockable Mount: Majestic Griffon, Title: Strategic Genius, +5,000 Gold, Haki Conqueror (1)]

Dio's grin widened, his ambition shining through. He bowed with exaggerated flair, his voice dripping with confidence.

"You won't be disappointed, my king," he said, temporarily acknowledging Artoria's authority.

For now, at least.

...

Question: Do you think we should let Dio Brando become an unstoppable player in the Arthurian Era and turn this place into his personal backgarden, or should we add a challenge for him by turning this game into Multiplayer Mode?

We could do so by introducing Touma Kamijou, the protagonist from Toaru, to play as Sir Bedivere, making the story much more unpredictable than a simple conquest.

If you choose Multiplayer Mode, I could also add Nero Claudius as a player in the game, taking the role of Guinevere or Morgan le Fay. She could build her own kingdom and empire, becoming a rival to both Dio Brando and Touma Kamijou.