(Chapter 21: Bringing Down the Giant)
At the current moment in time Kiba was feeling pretty good about his life right now, after all with him soon going after his future Rook and was partially done in completing his peerage to which he was quite happy with. Since he not only had Sariel and Therian take the extra amount of days for some R&R between them and let them have some fun on the surface world, but also to get to know his new peerage members better as a whole; due to the fact that if they were going to be an effective unit he wanted to know more about them.
Nevertheless one thing that Kiba could say was that he was mainly ready to go in recruiting his soon to be Rook, as not only would help out with him having a heavy hitter in terms of fighting up close and personal. But also someone who from the experiences he's had in keeping contact with the hobgoblin; liked to keep things more or less simple in how he did things in his life, would make things quite a good deal easier in managing his peerage as a whole.
(May 26th 2017, 2:10 Pm, Mt. Mayon)
It was 10 minutes after 2 as the trio were in the wilds near Mt. Mayon, as the dark elven twins were in awe of the area considering that when you've lived in the Underdark for so long as they did then the sights were a sharp contrast to the bleak and conniving atmosphere.
"I swear the surface world looks gorgeous." Therian spoke as he used his recently bought camera to take pictures of the sights around them
"As I told you guys, the surface world has a lot to show. Which is why I can't wait to have you all together, so we can truly get things started." Kiba said to them considering that he couldn't wait to get them assembled
"Because once everyone is together, then that's when the real fun starts." Kiba added in knowing that once his peerage was completed then the real fun would begin
"I must admit that the surface world so far has been rather delightful. Yet I do have one question in particular?" Sariel said as she as well admiring the sights around her that looked quite wonderful to her
"What is it?" Kiba asked the dark elf beside him
"Where is the hobgoblin at exactly, as he should be somewhere around here." Sariel answered
And as if to give her, her desired answer a Roc the thrice the size of a pickup truck crashed to the ground while a figure atop it was busy hacking it to pieces; for the Roc had managed to get the figure off it's back. But not before it slammed it's greataxe into its beak causing the Roc to rear back in pain from the cracks in its beak, for it made the mistake of in its theory trying to bite the figure in half only for him to jump and like a buzzsaw slice through its neck covering the field in gore as the Roc soon began to hemorrhage out blood.
With the figure soon stepping away from its kill to reveal the hobgoblin who now stood in full appearance with his skin being a dark russet orange and having a very brutish and semi bestial look to him with a small muzzle with minorly sharpened teeth, a heavy set jawline and prominent brow ridge. As well as having his matted black hair that had of dark burgundy in it done in dreadlocks that went to his biceps, with him having deep goldenrod colored eyes that held an almost savage cunning to them.
For he was also a solid wall of muscle that went hand and hand with his towering height made him look like a towering behemoth with wide shoulders, thick muscular limbs that led to hands that could crush your skull like a grapefruit and legs that were as thick around as Kiba's chest and a barrel shaped chest of dense muscle. For he wore a vest of reddish brown leather made from the hides of Roc's and dire boars and pants of mottled green from dire crocodiles, while in his hands was a large greataxe that had a large axe blade a bit longer than both of Kiba's arms put together and as wide as Therian's waste with a 4 foot long handle made of maple wood.
"Therian, Sariel; I'd like you to meet Zaegar." Kiba spoke as they all looked up at the behemoth of a hobgoblin who looked back down at them
"As tell me how have you been since we've last spoken?" Kiba asked the large hobgoblin who slung his greataxe across his back
"Aside from killin' these bastard orcs, nothin' else." Zaegar answered back in a thundering baritone before he turned his attention to the elven twins
"And who in the hell are these two, as these ones don't look like they've seen a fight a day in their lives?" Zaegar questioned as he stared down at the dark elves
"They are Therian and Sariel, as they are going to be your comrades." Kiba told him
"And trust me we can more than hold our own in a fight." Sariel spoke in defense of herself and her twin
"I'll see it when I believe it." Zaegar spoke as Kiba already took out a Rook piece for the hobgoblin
"Let us not bicker amongst each other, after all there will be more than enough opportunity for combat. Since after your reincarnation we can focus on a plan of attack." Kiba told them as though there wasn't any malice in his voice but with enough authority to get them to not start an argument of which he'd have none of
"Good since the faster we kill these, orcish cunts the bettah." Zaegar spoke wanting to kill the orcish threat as fast as possible
"Well then let's not waste anymore time then." Kiba spoke as purple light burst into existence
"By the powers vested in me I say that Zaegar shall be reborn as my Rook, for may he long serve and prosper within my court." Kiba intoned as the Evil piece flew into Zaegar's chest and giving him the same brand as Therian and Sariel did except his was in the dead center of his abdomen
"Now that, that's out of the way tell us what we're up against." Kiba requested from the newly made hobgoblin Rook
That in mind Zaegar informed him of how throughout his time in fighting against the orcish hordes and had found out that they were all in service to a fire giant named Araroch; who'd been having the orcs raid across the area and mainly slaughter the hobgoblins who'd been acting as the deterrent for so long. With it having come down to Zaegar having become the sole vanguard of Mt. Mayon against the orcs, due to the fact that the younger ones were not yet ready to take up arms and leaving him as their sole defender against them.
"Well the good news is that we've only got one left to take down, before we fight against their leader." Therian spoke in consolation
"The question is when do we strike out against them?" Kiba questioned as to when they'd strike out against the orcish threat
"We do it at nightfall, for that is when they'll be resting and recovering from their raids. As that will be our best chance to ambush them." Zaegar answered as to what would be the best course of action
"I can definitely do an ambush, as now we'll be where I'm the most at home." Sariel spoke with a smirk as if there was one thing her skills excelled in it was in ambushing and sneak attacking an enemy
"Not to mention I've got a few spells at my disposal, that I've been waiting to try out. Since I never really could use them in Eryndlyn, but now I finally have the chance to do so. Since this is going to be a good deal of fun." Therian agreed considering their were a number of spells that he had at his disposal that up till now he couldn't use and wanted to do so with great fervor
"Because the thing is you still haven't seen what we're completely capable of; now that we're out of that blasted city. Since just like we haven't seen all of what our hobgoblin friend has to offer, neither have either of you." Sariel added since now that they were out of Eryndlyn they could do so much more than what they were once allotted
"Well I think we have it, as by nightfall we'll strike out at the orcs." Kiba spoke as Zaegar grunted in approval of what they should do
"As long as we finish this once and for all, then I am all for it. But until then let us all eat, as I assume you are all hungry from traveling here?" Zaegar asked as their stomachs growled in response
"That is what I thought, as follow me. As I maybe a brute, but I know at the very least how to make food for us to feast on." Zaegar spoke as the hobgoblin used his impressive amount of strength to heft the Roc's corpse and carry it with him like a ragdoll
"I did not think he'd be that strong." Sariel thought impressed by the amount of strength displayed by Zaegar as he one handed carried the corpse of the beast over his shoulder
(8 hours later, Mt. Mayon, 10:17 Pm)
It was hours later after they all ate the Roc's corpse to which they were surprised by the fact that the hobgoblin was actually an above average cook; in addition to being a fearsome warrior, as they now were mere yards away from the orc's camp.
"Alright is everyone ready?" Kiba asked as he had summoned forth a sword as they all nodded
"Well then Therian let's give them are welcoming present then." Kiba told the warlock who summoned forth his longsword in a cloud of navy colored ash and light
"With pleasure, as finally I get to use this." Therian spoke with a smile as he channeled considerable amounts of eldritch energy into it
That in mind the large eye on his hilt began to have its pupil dilate as soon enough sapphire and jet black power soon condensed itself into a melon sized ball of dark power, before he swung it forth like a baseball. With it soon hurtling forwards until it soon landed and detonated in a 60 foot sphere of necrotic energy that decayed the ground around it, as the orcs that were soon slumbering or around the dying embers of their campfire, were all caught off guard by it and roared in pain as it tore into their being as their flesh decayed and sections of their flesh withered away.
And before the dust could even settled they all went into action, with Sariel having taken one of them by surprise by driving the blade of her rapier into one of their throats; while Kiba in a flurry of stabs had turned one's insides into a pincushion. While Zaegar had unleashed himself into a rage and began bisecting and beheading them when they were unlucky enough to get in range, while Therian would either hack away at them with his sword or firing off blasts of eldritch energy at those who tried to run after him or his comrades with sword or spear.
With the orcs scrambling to make a cohesive defense as a unit considering that if Zaegar's rage fueled offensive or Kiba impaling or slicing off their flesh with surgical precision didn't kill them, then Sariel using the darkness to either impale the unsuspecting orcs through their hearts, or firing off a crossbow bolt through their throats. As the quartet continued to through the camp of orcs like they were nothing, as the former paladin's peerage were able to have a surprising amount of synergy with one another despite the relative newness it had.
"Told you I had this covered Zaegar." Sariel spoke as she killed an orc by stabbing him through the neck with her rapier
"I'll admit one thing. That you and your brother can fight pretty decent, but when we fight that giant and you two survive that..then I'll be impressed." Zaegar retorted as he slammed his greataxe down on a orc that tried to gore him with a jagged looking sword
"Oh trust me we'll make it through that giant and so much more, I guarantee it." Sariel spoke as she killed off another orc before disappearing back into the shadows
"I'll hand it to these kids, that they've sure got spunk in em." Zaegar thought as he went back into the middle of the melee
That in mind the decimation of the orc camp continued as Kiba and Therian were through their combined efforts on their end, with it being through Kiba's bladework as his blades now radiated violet radiance from the fact that the divine power of his paladin abilities radiated that strongly within him. While Therian used a combination of him blasting them back with a combination of eldritch energy and hacking them apart with his longsword, as the two continued to hack and slash their through the opposition that tried to overtake them.
While on Sariel and Zaegar's they were fairing just as well with Sariel providing support by either from afar by firing off crossbow bolts, or impaling enemies through the lungs, heart, or throat with her rapier. Conversely Zaegar was proving himself to befitting as his position as rook was not only able to use his prodigious strength to tear through the orcish opposition, but also his rage and fury allowed for the attacks that did hit him only were enough to only irritate and cause lesser damage; as he continued to destroy the opposition before him.
For soon enough minutes had passed by as our quartet had finished decimating them with the orcish bodies laying dismembered and bloodied, with them soon scavenging the area until they found the orc chief who'd tried to make a break for it but was tackled to the ground by Zaegar. With them having captured him, Kiba soon used a spell to force him to tell the truth of Araroch's location, which befitting of a fire giant was within the base of Mt. Mayon itself; and after having gotten the information Sariel slit his throat with her rapier.
"Well everyone I suggest that we all take a short break, and afterwards we go and kill a giant." Kiba advised, since he'd rather his peerage be at full strength when fighting said giant
"That sounds perfect to me." Sariel spoke as she went about collecting crossbow bolts
"I'm fine with it, besides I'll need a bit of rest to use my spells to their full capacity." Therian agreed as he went to find a place to take a short respite
"So tell me Zaegar, what do you think of them so far? As I hope they've delivered on being good comrades; with as far as first impressions go." Kiba asked the hobgoblin as to what he thought of the dark elven twins
"I will say that if anything else, is that the both of them are decent I'll give them that much. But I like the brother more since at least he's got the stones to fight up close and personal." Zaegar spoke respecting Therian more since he fought in the frontlines
"Well it's not to see that you'll start to come along to them, because I want for you guys to get along. Because it we are to function as a unit, then at the very we need to get along with and have some respect for another." Kiba responded as at the very least he wanted everyone within the peerage to respect each other if nothing else
"We'll see since as I was told as a child, nothing is set in stone. So I will wait to see what else they show, before I make my choice on if I like em' or not." Zaegar said as he went off elsewhere as well
"At the very least my peerage is coming together soon enough." Kiba thought as he looked up at the starry night for all of what was still needed to be done
(4 and a half hours later, 2:53 Am, May 27th 2017)
It was several minutes till 3 in the morning as our quartet was now within Mt. Mayon itself to kill the fire giant, as they were ready to strike out against Araroch and destroy him.
"Well let's get to work everyone." Kiba spoke as they entered the hollow portion of the mountain that Araroch used as his lair
That in mind Therian started things off by having sapphire tendrils of eldritch energy burst to life, before being fired out in a arc of grayish black and sapphire colored energy that struck the fire giant in his side, allowing for Sariel to catch Araroch off guard as she aimed a crossbow bolt into his thick neck as it sunk like it was made of heated butter. While the fire giant was stumbling back from having been attacked, found himself wide open to being hit by both Zaegar and Kiba, with Kiba using a baseline divine smite as he summoned forth his serrated arming sword to slash him across the chest and Zaegar going in with twin cleaves and carving a chunk off Araroch's gut.
For the fire giant reached into the earth and ripped out a large boulder of superheated rock and obsidian and chucked it at Kiba who would've taken the hit, had Zaegar not intervened at the last moment and shoved Kiba out of the way. With him having taken the brunt of it, as although he stood defiant in the face of the attack despite the chunks of skin grinded off of him, as Kiba soon had a violet glow upon his hand and used it to heal over the wounds as they now stood looking at the fire giant who rose to his full 2 story height and leveled a glare at them.
For he soon reached his hand into the ground and from the molten rock pulled a jagged greatsword half the size of a street lamp out of the ground, as the obsidian blade shined in the light of the volcanic mountain with a menacing light. With him coming fully into view with his plate armor being alight with a dull shine from that of the magma, with his burning orange eyes seething at the fact that these insects would dare to challenge him.
"How dare you maggots come here to challenge me! As I will tear you all apart and see you turned to ash for all the trouble you've caused me."Araroch bellowed in anger at the fact that these insects would encroach upon his lands
"The only thing that'll happen to you is me takin' yer damn head off your shoulders." Zaegar snarled as he hefted his greataxe
"I'd like to see you and these band of pathetic and worthless maggots try and take me out." Araroch spoke getting a vein to pop out of their heads
"It's official this bastard/fucker is so dead." Therian and Sariel thought as they would make this giant pay for underestimating their worth
That in mind Sariel once again took cover behind one of the stalagmites and took aim with her crossbow and took a shot that sadly enough scraped against the plate armor, as she quickly reloaded her crossbow with another bolt. Meanwhile Therian's blade glowed with eldritch energy, before he whipped it forth as a static like corona of sapphire colored energy crashed it's way into his face and was assaulted by the eldritch gone psionic energy.
That out of the way Araroch went to swing his massive greatsword out at Kiba yet due to the prior attack from Therian, he felt his mental control of his body become muddied as when he went to swing with his huge blade it missed and carved up a shallow gash in the heated rock. Allowing for Kiba to riposte and slash at the thick flesh in his leg, with Kiba then following it up with twin slashes as he ran up the length of his leg and in a flurry of sword thrusts causing boiling hot blood to run down to the length of his massive thigh and leg.
With Zaegar having used his rage to summon forth an aura of lightning as he jumped up and slashed at his lower abdomen, before having jumped up to slammed onto his left side that Araroch tried to swipe him away with in vain; only to find 5 inches of his greataxe buried into his hand. Yet during the melee going on Sariel had been analyzing Araroch in a way to effectively down, from the way he swung his sword down to his throwing the boulders of molten rock at them, until it soon came together on how they would be able to overwhelm him much more quickly.
"Everyone attack his left side." Sariel told them as she began to line up a shot
"What for damn it?!" Zaegar demanded as he was busy cleaving apart the oncoming boulder of molten rock trying to crush him
"Because look at his eye damn it, and you'll get what I'm talking about!" Sariel informed them before diving over and taking a shot at his lower left jaw as the bolt embedded pierced through the thick flesh
"Of course the damned giant's blind in that eye...how could I not see that before." Kiba cursed in not realizing that weakness sooner
That in mind Kiba ordered everyone to focus fire on that side of him as he used his impressive speed to scale up Araroch's side and used a powered up divine smite and slashed his arming sword into his collarbone; causing a bellow of pain as that along with the 2nd strike caused the sword to practically saw through the bone. With Therian following it up by causing his blade to mist with cold and eldritch energy; before a 60 foot cone of frigid cold blasted forth striking the fire giant in the stomach as it caused him to catch his breath as he gasped from the sudden attack.
And while he staggered back from it he stumbled back, yet still in fury he grabbed another boulder made of molten rock and this time threw it at Sariel; who managed to get out of the way in time to avoid it crushing her. Albeit with her waking up with a few bruises in the morning from getting clipped with it; while Zaegar was doing his best to deliver on his promise to take off Araroch's head from his shoulders, as he began chopping away at his neck; which caused spurts of boiling hot blood to spurt forth as small forks of lightning arced out of Zaegar and shocked him.
While the fire giant was distracted by Zaegar and Kiba going to work on him; Sariel decided to be vindictive for the remark about her and Therian being worthless maggots and aimed a successful crossbow bolt in his left testicle. Which like any other male who had been shot in said area let out a roar of pain as he fell to one of his knees in abject agony, with Sariel wisely taken cover once more as Araroch bellowed out in pain and angrily swung his greatsword where she'd once been and failing to cleave her apart all the while.
"I'll hold him in place and give you the chance to take his head off." Therian told both Kiba and Zaegar who nodded
"You damned well don't need to say anything more to me." Zaegar spoke rushing after him as Kiba followed him in tow
"Well I've never tried it on something this big before, so now or never time." Therian said to himself looking at the greatly wounded giant's body with nervousness
"Damn it all to hell, as how could I be losing to these worthless maggots!" Araroch internally seethed at the fact that he was being so completely bested by 4 inferior insects
With Araroch once again raising his greatsword to try and cleave these inferior insects into pieces, yet failed as soon enough sapphire colored ropes made from eldritch energy bound him together and brought him to his knees. For Araroch struggled to get out of the binding yet Therian's spell held strong as he struggled to keep the giant in check, yet in still Kiba and Zaegar soon raced up the fire giant's large body and soon found the gash left from the hobgoblin's attacks.
For Araroch tried to get up and break free from the spell restraining him as the wrathful paladin and hobgoblin barbarian hacked away at his flesh, yet Therian's spell continued to hold him down as they worked to behead the fire giant. With Sariel helping to ensure he didn't get up soon unsheathed her rapier and flipped up into the air and with the grace of a deer landed onto the ground as she sliced through his right Achillies tendon.
As Araroch tried in vain to break the spell as boiling hot blood gouted from his neck he soon stopped struggling and dropped his greatsword, for out of the back of his neck burst Kiba and Zaegar with their weapons out as they landed onto the ground. With Araroch's body grasping at the gaping wound in his neck before soon enough the tendons in his neck snapped; unable to support his now decapitated head that fell to the ground as soon enough after looking around his lair for anything of value they departed from it.
"Well we defeated a fire giant, so that's now a thing." Therian spoke feeling pretty good about how things were in their victory
"Yes as even I will admit that what we pulled off tonight, or rather this morning as it stands was quite a thrilling victory." Sariel said finding this was a pretty thrilling victory that they achieved together
"Sariel's right as this was a victory well earned for us all. As well done everyone, since tonight was a many of firsts for us in terms of victory as a unit." Kiba responded feeling that tonight was a job well done for his peerage
"But I'm more keen to hear what our hobgoblin friend has to say about how Therian and I did tonight?" Sariel spoke as she turned her attention towards Zaegar
"I will admit this. That the two of you did pretty damn good tonight, as I didn't think the two of ya would do as well as y'all did. But tonight I'd say I was happy to be proven wrong about my initial opinion of the two of ya." Zaegar responded as he was pleasantly surprised that they fought as well as they did, since in all honesty he expected them to get knocked unconscious and have Kiba and him pick up the slack
"That's some good news ain't it Sariel, as looks like things are looking up for the both of us. As hey who was the better fighter back there me or her?" Therian asked the behemoth of a hobgoblin
"Please do not answer that, as I do not want him getting a bigger head than what he already does." Sariel interjected as Therian gave him the stink eye
"Hey I don't have a big head at all, I just want to know if I did rightfully better than you; when we were fighting that giant?" Therian wondered as soon enough an argument broke out between the two of them on who was the better combatant
"Are they always like this?" Zaegar asked as they continued to walk away from the mountain
"It depends, but eventually you'll get used to it I think." Kiba answered back
"This is gonna be a long walk ain't it." Zaegar spoke as Kiba walked onwards
"Well we better get to the city with haste then." Kiba responded as he continued forwards
"What in the hell did I get myself into." Zaegar thought as he continued to listen to the dark elves bicker
(3 days later, May 30th 2017, Naga City, 2:35 Pm)
It was the end of May as Kiba had plotted out a course towards their next destination in order to recruit his next bishop, but as of now after sending his peerage members to relax after fighting Araroch he was currently in a Skype call with Issei.
"Hey there Kiba, it's been awhile since I've last seen you. How've you been?" Issei asked the former paladin as to how he's been as of late
"Well for the most part I've been doing quite well. Since as of now I've currently got 3 of my peerage members under me and currently I'm making a course to find my 2nd bishop." Kiba informed the revenant as to what he's been up to lately
"That's great man, I'm real happy for ya." Issei spoke happy that things were looking up for Kiba
"Thank you Issei I appreciate, as so far they've been everything I've been expecting in my peerage. As truly I've got high hopes for us as a unit." Kiba spoke as he genuinely felt hope for how his peerage would function as a unit both in and out of combat
"The only thing I can really say for you on that subject, is good luck so far. Since I've got no doubt that once everyone in your peerage is assembled; that you'll make an excellent king." Issei replied knowing that Kiba would make an excellent king with his peerage
"Many thanks Issei I appreciate it." Kiba told the revenant as he smiled from his kind words
"No problem, so where exactly is your next bishop located at?" Issei asked as to where Kiba's next bishop would be at
"Easy really as she's actually located with some of the people I've done some of my contracts for. Since we will be headed to Nidavellir, the realm and home of the dwarves." Kiba answered back to the revenant who raised an eyebrow at the answer
"Wait a minute aren't they associated with the Norse Pantheon?" Issei asked
"Yes as they supply them with a good deal of their armor and weapons. In fact I've been a bit of a help to the Norse Faction, since unknown to Rias; that's been where a considerable portion of my contracts have come from. Since I'm quite well liked by some of them." Kiba told Issei as to his relationship with them
Since the thing was that from the valkyries to some of the warriors and dwarves Kiba was known as an ally and friend to the Norse Pantheon; considering he did everything from helping fight off their enemies, to helping them out around the house among other things that he didn't mind. After all his master told him to make friends and allies where he could, therefore he did so within one of the pantheons that he found himself respecting quite considerably.
"I swear you just turn out to be full of more and more surprises." Issei spoke in surprise of this fact
"Like I told you I'm not the Prince Charming you and everyone else has thought me out to be. Since all of that was just a facade I've put up until I could enact my plan to be something greater, which has finally come to pass." Kiba told him considering that what everyone knew him as at the academy was just a facade he made until he could truly get the ball rolling
"As one thing I'd like to make clear is the fact that; while I will always do my best to act as a gentleman, since that's something that was drilled into me by my teacher, that manners maketh man. But also is that I was trained to be like the crusaders of old; where they were lethal warriors that not only rode out to battle to vanquish their enemies without mercy. But also eventually came to be effective leaders within their unit and that is something I will be and someone that I truly am." Kiba added as while he'd always act as a polite gentleman, there was also the fact that he was also a vengeful and unrelenting crusader at his core
"You see that right there, that is what I respect about you Kiba. As finally I get to see how you are when you aren't going behind that pretty boy facade. Because finally I get to see the man you truly are and I have to say I like it very much!" Issei replied as he much more liked Kiba as the wrathful crusader than as the standard pretty boy he pretended to be
"I'm glad you like my current persona, because it feels amazing to finally stop pretending for so long. Because having pretended to be that facade of another Prince Charming under Rias, was such an annoyance." Kiba replied considering that he partially despised playing the part of the school's prince
"Yet back on topic, as one thing I'd like to ask is why go for the dwarves to have as your 2nd bishop? Since they sound like something you'd want on more of the frontlines." Issei asked wondering why Kiba went for an odd choice like that
"Well it's the fact that she's also a cleric and a highly skilled blacksmith. Since not only would it help to have someone who can channel the power of their god to help bolster and to heal us in a fight. But also it would help to have someone who could help us in making new arms to fight with and armor and shields to protect us." Kiba explained his reasoning behind why he was going to recruit the dwarven cleric
Because the fact that she was both a cleric and highly skilled blacksmith for almost 2 centuries, was a 2 for 1 deal in the former paladin's eyes considering not only would he have someone to arm his peerage with new weaponry and armor. But also use the power of their god to help bolster them in combat and heal and have them recover from injuries and other such detriments, because unlike Rias he wanted his peerage to have not just power behind it but also utility where they had a defined role.
"I swear I can not argue with that logic. Because you sure do make a compelling case for who you want to put into your peerage." Issei spoke since he had to admit that he couldn't argue with Kiba's logic for having the dwarven cleric become his bishop
"Of course Issei, because unlike Rias who treats her peerage like a charity. I've put thought and effort into building my peerage. Because its the fact that unlike her
I've got a goal and purpose in mind for my peerage, since I actually aim for them to become something. Therefore in order to do that I make sure that my peerage is maximized for efficiency." Kiba told Issei since unlike Rias who treated things like a charity case and hoped for the best, he by contrast had his maximized for efficiency
"Trust me you will by far, always be a better king and leader than Rias. Especially nowadays." Issei remarked bitterly towards the Gremory heiress
"Oh yes my former leader. As how have things been since my victory?" Kiba inquired as to how things have been since then
"Well for the most part they really aren't doing so hot when I think about it. Considering that now that they're strongest asset is gone they are hilariously outmatched against some of the more vicious monsters and enemies out their. Hell had it not been for Asia stepping in they would've got destroyed by a fucking hill giant, for crying out loud." Issei chuckled at how pathetically weak they were
"You've got to be kidding me right...of all the things they could've struggled against. A damned hill giant is what almost obliterates them? Oh my lord is she a disappointment, considering that even I could kill one by myself no less." Kiba said as he pinched the bridge of his nose at how pathetically weak his former peerage truly was
Because for them to find themselves floundering against a hill giant of all things; was laughably pathetic since they were the weakest and least intelligent of the giants, yet for Rias and her peerage to have to have Asia to intervene in order to prevent them from dying against them was just pathetic in its own right.
"Yeah as apparently Rias is seeing the real face of things here in Kuoh. Considering that I had to literally save her bacon from an young white dragon; that would've turned her into a popsicle had I not intervened." Issei added as he'd thought for someone who's power could annihilate living matter with ease that she'd be able to handle herself, but his bar for Rias as always was kept as low as it has been
"The more I here about how weak she is, the more it angry it makes me that I once served such a weak king. Because had she trained like I told her to do for years, then she'd be able to keep things held down more in Kuoh. Yet instead she's just another spoiled princess without a purpose." Kiba spoke finding anger rising within him at his former king's weakness
"The only reason why Asia and I really bother to save her bacon; is because neither of us would want to have her grieving ultra powerful brother go on a rampage and potentially wipe out my home in the process. Because I might be strong and I have a pretty damn good regenerative factor on me, but that doesn't mean jack when he can practically with a literal flick of his wrist disintegrate me on a molecular level." Issei told Kiba as to the only reason why he bothered to save Rias, which was mainly out of fear for what would happened if her death was on his watch than anything else
"Yes as I can imagine the predicament you're in. After all I'd find myself angry if I had to protect Rias; since its either protect a spoiled princess who's not worth all that much, or have Sirzechs in his fury wreak havoc on Kuoh." Kiba spoke knowing that the predicament Issei was in was one that truly sucked
"Tell me about it, but at least the only consolation I get out of it is that I can keep my skills sharpened. Since it really helps for the day when Kokabiel is coming." Issei replied finding that it was his only consolation out of this
"Oh yes as how is your quest or vengeance against him going?" Kiba asked as to how it was going
"Its going quite well really, as with how much we've been cleaning shop recently. That we've managed to have Kokabiel start coming to me soon enough; with how much I've been a thorn in his side. Something I can't wait for." Issei spoke with excitement at being so close towards his revenge
"Excellent news to hear Issei, as congratulations on you being so close at hand to your revenge." Kiba congratulated him as Issei had a wide smile on his face
"Thanks as I've got till the end of August or the start of September, at his estimated time of arrival. So I've got no real time to lose." Issei replied as although his training regiment had been increased, he knew it'd be all worth it in the end
"But anyways as much fun as it's been talking with you again, I've got to run since I have a date to get to." Issei told Kiba as he had a date with Kuroka he had to get to soon
"Really you managed to land a girl, as color me impressed that you've done so." Kiba spoke genuinely impressed that Issei managed to get himself a significant other
"Thank you as I've finally found someone who gets me, as you've got no idea how much I've lucked out in finding her. Or rather how she found me." Issei replied thankful that he managed to have Kuroka in his life right now
"Nevertheless I'll leave you too your date, as hopefully I can meet the lucky lady soon." Kiba said in quite wanting to meet the woman who had Issei's heart
"Trust me I'm sure you'll like, but anyways I gotta go." Issei spoke turning off the Skype call so he could go on his date with Kuroka
"Well it seems as though things are truly looking up for the both of us." Kiba thought feeling good about how things were at the given moment
So with Kiba having now recruited his new Rook and his peerage gaining closer to completion, find out how everything shall come together as his court comes together in the new chapters of Red Dragon Revenant.
And cut as I hope you guys liked this chapter as it was a bit of fun to write out, yet without further ado let's get down to it now shall we.
First off we get the official introduction of Kiba's rook Zaegar which I thought would be nice to have as more or less the straight man of the group, which I think is gonna be a good deal of fun to write out.
Next up we've got our quartet doing an ambush on a orc camp, which I thought would be neat to do as mainly just a cool action scene and not much beyond that.
Following that up we've got their 1st boss fight against a fire giant, which I thought would be pretty cool to do in giving them their first enemy to fight as a still forming unit and showing some of what they can do as a unit.
Lastly we've got Issei and Kiba catching up with each other which I thought would be nice, since it not only allows me to expand a slight bit on Kiba's character and tell where he'll be going next to recruit his 2nd bishop; but also show how Issei has been going forwards.
With that being said please remember to favorite, follow, review and share this story out as possible for I hope with your guys help that it can become a real good story, so please help get this out there so it can become a great and well known story; please and thank you. Also remember flames will be ignored and constructive criticism is welcome so long as it well thought out and reasonable.
That being said this is Pravus666 signing off till next time, as the next chapter will be of Kiba and his budding peerage heading towards the realm of the dwarves for their next recruit so stay tuned for that.
Part 1.5 Theme Song: Devil you Know by Anthrax
Random End Song: Bringing Down the Giant by Saving Abel