Chapter 45 - Monsters and Krekyo (Patreon)

The two monsters finished their amorous activities and dried off, getting dressed in more relaxed wear before exiting. Rose was nose-deep in a book, and Narya flitted back and forth in the kitchen.

“Hey Narya! How are things?” Echo asked jovially, reinvigorated after cleaning up, among other things.

“Hmph!” The pixie zipped over to the two monsters. “If you must know, I had a date.” She proceeded to describe this other pixie – similar to herself, but with green wings and a predilection for flowers and indoor plants.

Fumi smiled, “Good for you.”

Fumi stayed behind with Narya while Echo went down to the Guild Hall. He made his way to the Rewards window and met a familiar face. A tall, ruggedly handsome man with a chiseled chin and a world-class weight-lifting physique. His nametag read ‘Bartholomew.’ The same reincarnated hero with the enormous Adamantine Greatsword he had met a few seasons prior.

Echo slid the two quest slips under the window, “I’m here to turn these in.”

The man cracked a wry grin, pulling the slips towards himself. “Identification?” Echo slid that over as well, and the man nodded, sliding the plate across some type of silvery platform.

A small illusory screen appeared, showing the fight with the Hydra, and the Colossus, respectively, from Echo’s point of view. Bartholomew nodded and slid the plate back to Echo. “The monies have been credited. One hundred thousand dreks. The ten kilograms of Blightsteel will be delivered in a day once the client is notified.”

Echo nodded, “Thanks. Enjoying the retirement?”

The man chuckled, “Yeah.” He smirked, “Thinks are getting a bit too dangerous for an old timer like me. That, and I got myself a lovely lad to boot!” His grin was ear to ear.

Echo nodded, “Good for you. Mind me asking one more thing?” Bartholomew nodded, and Echo continued. “What can you tell me about the situation in the Krekyo Dominion?”

“It’s pretty bad.” He gestured to the job board, and Echo saw the whole of the Rank A through SS section stuffed to the brim with quest slips. He explained that all of them came in that morning – from across the Krekyo Dominion. Mishappen monstrosities that were fused flesh of Gori and Ogo.

“There are more jobs than we can handle right now. The Great Clans don’t want to risk their own warriors with an impending Sanctioned War. So, they’re holding up and paying others to do the dirty work.” Bartholomew shook his head, “It’s a damn shame. If I was twenty years younger, and not married, I’d go make a fortune.”

Echo nodded, “Thanks for the info.” He left the desk and went to the job board, flagging down one of the several blue-suited attendants who were putting up fliers.

“Can I help you?” The Llios woman asked as she shuffled over, her otter tail swishing around.

“How would you like to clear a ton of the board in one go?”

The woman sighed in relief, the whiskers on her snout flitting back and forth. “That would be amazing. We have so many requests coming in-”

“Just put all the Krekyo Dominion monster quests in a pile and assign them to The Undying. We’ll handle it.”

The attendant’s eyes went wide, and she nodded enthusiastically, “Okay! I’ll get right on it!” She turned and began shouting at the other attendants who looked at her with exasperation, glanced at Echo, and then turned to the board and began gathering armfuls of the contracts from the various sections – except for the highest ranked.

He tapped the otter-folk on the shoulder, leaning down to her, “Master Grovesward promoted us to SS Rank. Grab those ones, too.”

The Llios nodded and shouted to the other attendants as they wheeled about on the large rolling ladders.

A few minutes passed while Echo sat at the bar. The attendant walked over and handed Echo a large pouch filled with quest slips. “You can condense all of these down if you want to.” She pointed to the window labeled Accept a Quest.

Echo thanked her and did just that, soon walking back to his apartment with an enormous scroll that would update as they killed the monsters. The cumulative award was ten million dreks.

And dreks are about the same amount as one dollar back home, judging off vendor prices.

He chuckled. He had never expected to be this wealthy. He wouldn’t ever have to scrape together money for a meal.

Heck, he could even afford to be charitable. And he knew he had to set aside a large amount for Bertram’s daughter – the only penance he could perform to make up for eating her father.

As he stood in queue to enter the apartment, a company of Ayshor and Vaysani – beast and bird folk, respectively, came up to him.

“Hi there!” The leader chirped. The Vaysani sounded female based off the tone – but Echo couldn’t really tell. They were a cross between a human and a falcon and had two large crossbows slung along their back. “Saw you getting all those quests. Mind having some help on that?”

Echo turned and regarded them. “What ranks?”

The Vaysani gestured between their group and themselves, “A’s and B’s.”

Echo held up his identification, “SS.”

Another of the Vaysani whistled, “So you’re the Monster of the Guild. I’ve heard of you. How’d you get so strong?”

Echo smirked, “I went through hell.” Quizzical stares met him. “Right, sorry. I went through The Void.”

This caused all but the leader to pale. They smirked, “How do I go about getting the treatment you got?”

A dark expression crossed Echo’s visage, “You wouldn’t survive.” His voice came out as a guttural growl.

They stood their ground and crossed their arms, “Says who?”

Echo grimaced and grabbed them by the shoulders, pinning them to the spot as they shrank from his withering stare. “You. Would. Change.” His silver Quintessence flared and sparked around him with the fiery crimson glow.

He lessened his grip and spoke quietly, “I went through the worst pain I have ever experienced. I feel an impulse, whenever I see a black-eyed monster, to eat them. And I don’t know if they used to be people or not. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

“You…eat people?” One of the Ayshor – a cat-woman – asked, her tone tinged with horror.

Echo nodded, “Yes. I don’t know how many by now. Over fifty, at least.”

The company backed off, “You’re a freak, you know that?”

Echo frowned, “Yeah, I know.”

When he turned back forward, the queue had vanished. He walked back into his home.

I’m not a person anymore. Just a monster.

The thought that he was no longer human tugged at his mind, despite his attempts to embrace that fact. Just a monster who had done what was necessary. What instinct required.

It still did not help the feeling of revulsion for his past deeds.

Rickard was allowed back to Heimfold for a short time. In his new, angelic form, he soared above the land, tracking down a close friend or family member for each of the want-to-be paladins. He would then send local clerics to fetch them, bring them to a temple devoted to Lux, and he would abscond with them.

They would have to do the same as he did. Kill someone they loved to prove their devotion.

Someone who had sinned in her eyes.

Several candidates stood out to him. He was sure he would have a squad of at least three that would pass the tests and be endowed as he once was.

But I also have to do that.

He was to find Brightsteel on this journey and bring it back for the forging of armaments for the new paladins.

Whoever survived their trials, that is.

But he had to stay away from them. He had to stay away from him. The architect of his pain and humiliation.

Damn divine pacts.

The Undying geared up for the journey over the next day. Echo had retrieved the Blightsteel and stored it away.

No time to use it now. I can mess around with it later.

He really wanted to get the other two Divine Metals he was missing: Red Steel and Shiversteel. The inner videogame completionist in him wanted a piece of gear made from each type of Divine Metal.

Narya had gone out and gathered plenty of provisions, and after loading everything into Echo’s pocket dimension, they set out through the main doors of the Adventurer’s Guild, exiting through the closest set of double doors to the Krekyo Dominion.

All those doors were barred with large boards. They were painted with a message. Impending Sanctioned Clan War.

“Which one is the next closest?” Echo asked.

Rose pointed to a set near the Saint’s Hold doors, “Longshire. South-East of the Capital. It’ll then be overland travel until we reach the Krekyo Dominion.”

She led them through. Tall townhouses lined the road, and the first floors were primarily used as shops and business fronts. The streets were orderly and Imperial patrols were very active in their roaming. People moved about in a hurried fashion.

“Shall I sit in the pocket dimension?” Rose asked.

Echo nodded and channeled the Quintessence, helping Rose climb through the aperture as she sat at a small table in the separate space, pulling out several puzzles Narya had bought her. Echo closed the portal.

Fumi looked at him with anticipation, “Let’s go fast. I want to find my Clan.” The two ran, heading North towards The Holy Wall, and the Krekyo Dominion beyond.

Rickard was enraged. He could not interact with the merchant as he wished to – which would involve him crushing the man’s skull.

“I’m sorry! I just gave the last of my Brightsteel stock to The Guild.”

“Why?” Rickard’s deep, heavenly voice resonated through the small smithy.

“The Guildmaster is buying lots of it. I don’t know what for!”

Rickard felt hatred – white hot – burn in his stomach. He tried to grab at the man – but his arms passed through the smith who shrank away in terror.

Stymied, he returned to The Sun in a flash of radiant glory, leaving the smith trembling in terror.

At least the paladins can test their fervor.

He had already gathered their loved ones and set about binding them to the executioner blocks. Heretics who spurned the light and love of Lux’s holy radiance. Traitors to her divine will.

His lesser angelic servants prepared for the event. Sanctifying the room with holy prayers to Lux’s radiance.

He put the sacrifices to sleep using a spell – not for their own sake. If he had it his way, he would let them experience every moment of pain and suffering. Dread at having their own kin slay them.

But that was not her will. She showed mercy.

He let the paladins in, handing them the large hammers as they took their position.

“Now it is time for the test of your devotion…”

The two monsters sprinted along the main trade road, running faster than many birds could fly. The gorgeous, rolling, green hills and farmland sped by them. Echo gestured for Fumi to slow as they arrived at The Holy Wall, and some type of military checkpoint that was heavily guarded.

“Halt!” An Imperial Legionnaire with an ornate helmet walked up to the two as they panted from the exertion of their travel. “What’s your business?”

Echo held up the large quest scroll. “Killing monsters in the Krekyo Dominion.”

They were waved through and continued their journey past The Holy Wall, and into the sweeping expanse of the Grass Ocean. The vibrant stalks shimmered with moisture as they tore across the landscape.

Tiberius was giddy with anticipation. He had been keeping tabs on his various monstrous detachments that had gone out into the Krekyo Dominion.

The Clans were already hiding in their cities. Any material his monsters found outside were brought back with speed only possible through their monstrous evolution.

And he continued to grow his forces. Piece by piece, limb by limb.

Soon, they will arrive. And my creations will evolve further.

He still had concerns. Isaac knew where he was. He had contingencies prepared, just in case. But the thought of that God suddenly appearing and destroying him in an instant constantly lurked in his mind.

North and South Watch – the gateway to the Krekyo Dominion. A series of towers and walls spanned the distance between two colossal towers built out of the mountains to the two cardinal directions.

The fortification was an amazing feat of engineering, seemingly crafted from the same rocks as the mountains themselves, and easily thirty meters tall. A small shanty town was sprawled along the base of this wall, and there was clutter everywhere save for the main road that led to an impressive Ironwood gate.

Fumi looked up at the structure with some satisfaction on her face, “The gate is new.”

Several beggars came up to their group, asking for money and food.

Echo looked at one of them closely up and down. A human, who might have once been a decently well-off merchant. She had torn clothes, and her hair was a mess. “What happened here?” Echo asked.

The woman pouted, “Give me somethin’ and I’ll tell ya.” Her accent reminded Echo of the Southern United States.

He reached into his pocket dimension and pulled out several bits of hardtack, handing it to the woman.

She took it and – despite the hard biscuit’s exterior – seemingly swallowed the whole thing in one gulp. “Ahh…That hit the spot. So, us all, we’re traders, right? The damn pointy-eared bastards locked everyone out.”

“Why would that be?” Echo inquired.

The woman shrugged, “No clue. I’ve got a bunch of goods that’r rotting by the road.”

“Why not leave and sell elsewhere?” Fumi asked.

The woman spit, “Ptah! And go where? The Siltar Republic don’t have no taxes on goods, but I’d get got without guards. No good pointy-ears locking us out.”

Fumi frowned, “Watch your tone. You speak with Fumi Medrana Soju, Overlord of the Soju Great Clan.”

The woman’s eyes went wide, and she immediately prostrated herself, “Oh! My ladyship! I’m sorry.” She looked up pleadingly, “Please, lemme through the gates. I have kids to feed.”

Fumi glowered at the woman before turning on her heel and heading to the gate. There was no one atop the walls.

Fumi stood in front and shouted in Gori/Japanese, “Open up!”

A head popped over the side and responded in the same language, “Who seeks entry?”

“The Maven of the Blade.

The head pulled back and there was silence before the head popped back into sight, “The legendary warrior? She’s long gone. And her clan is gone, too.”

Fumi bristled and unsheathed her blade, her green quintessence flaring coating her body as red sparks flared off her. She screamed up at the gate, “You lie! My Great Clan lives!”

Echo could see the figure atop the wall go pale – an odd sight for a Gori warrior, who was supposedly fearless on the battlefield.

He walked over to Fumi and gently put a hand on her shoulder, trying to squeeze it reassuringly.

She shook it off and glared at him with pure rage as she ran up the structure.

“Fumi!” Echo ran up after her.

Fumi crested the wall and Echo joined her a second later. There were six Gori guards who all stood at the ready. The large, brutish elf-like warriors were dressed in lacquered leather armor that allowed for easy movement, and they each carried large glaives.

“You dare invade the Krekyo Dominion?!” One of them shouted at Fumi as his own Quintessence began to ooze out of his skin, dripping in streams of deep blue like sweat from his form. There was bravery there, but also fear.

“You are Xulatar?” Fumi asked, gesturing with her blade at the large oak-tree symbol on their armor.

“For centuries the Xulatar Great Clan has watched the entrance to the Krekyo Dominion.” He gritted his teeth and stabbed forward, shouting. “Death to our foes!”

Fumi easily sliced the glaive in half with a flick of her wrist. “I am Fumi Medrana Soju. You will submit.”

The other Gori glanced at each other and backed away slightly. But the one in the lead growled and his skin began to shift and peel as his muscles expanded and steam rose from him.

“Gori Rage!” he shouted as the blue Quintessence flowed like water around his torso, enhancing his physical stats even as his body suffered damage from the act. A unique race-based Ability.

Fumi sheathed her weapon and slammed her feet into a wide stance, her green Quintessence flaring upwards in a pillar of light as red sparks flew all around. She raised her hands with palms open in a martial arts stance.

Echo stood back, glancing at the other Gori warriors – one of whom had run off. Fumi was just flexing her raw superiority. The Quintessence oozing out of her and flaring upwards was just for show.

The Gori ran forward and threw an accurate, deadly, right jab. Fumi blocked with her forearm and used the palm of her hand to strike his chest, sending the warrior back several feet in a tumble. He stood up and charged her, throwing out a series of blows that would have easily cracked bone and pulverized the most professional boxer.

But Fumi was stronger. She simply deflected each blow and struck back – intentionally holding back her strikes – as she continued to dominate the fight without seriously harming her opponent. Her attacks only caused bruises.

The warrior screamed out a battle cry and his eyes bulged as the Quintessence began to fade, his reserve emptying. In a last-ditch effort, he loosed a wild haymaker – putting all his remaining strength into the blow.

Fumi simply held up her hand, caught the punch, and twisted. The warrior screamed out in pain as his hand was shattered, and he tried to back off. Fumi would not let him go and continued to twist the broken hand.

“I am Fumi Medrana Soju. The Maven of the Blade. You will submit.”

The Gori’s skin deflated as his rage ended, and he feebly looked up at Fumi. “Just kill me.”

“Do you desire a warrior’s death?” Fumi asked coldly.

The Gori shook his head, “I have lost.”

Fumi stepped forward and punched his temple, his neck snapping from the force as he went limp.

Next Chapter >