Morning came, and with it a new range of responsibilities for the Shield Hero.

Raphtalia had been the first to wake and had a small panic attack which woke up her friends before managing to calm down when she realized that they were in a safe place and was being offered food by the Evolved.

Keel, who Ash had discovered was also a girl that she hid behind a tough facade, made it her mission to make sure Rifana and Raphtalia were comfortable and ate enough when their savior had given them breakfast.

Rifana ate what she could, but was hindered by her illness. Something that Ash made sure to address quickly. Giving the little weasel-girl some of the medicine he'd gotten the night before. She hesitated a moment, but managed to drink the bitter concoction with the promise that it would help her get better.

Making sure that Keel and Raphtalia also took a bit of the medicine as well, they all tucked into their meals in comfortable silence.

"Um…Master Shield Hero?" Keel asked when they had finished. Ash looked up, letting her know he was listening. "Th-Thank you for saving us."

The Evolved smiled, "It's no problem, kid. You three needed help. And killing that man helped a lot of people."

"Raphtalia kept saying…that you would save us." Rifana said with a small coughing spell interrupting her.

Ash looked at the tanuki demi-human who was blushing and trying to hide in her long hair. "Well, I'd hate to disappoint three ladies who were in need." he replied kindly.

"You're even stronger than the stories said you were!" Keel said with a wide grin. "And the way you changed your arms into weapons, that's so amazing!"

It had been the first time someone had openly praised his abilities as an Evolved. Ash didn't really know how to respond, so he decided to change the subject for the time being. "How long were you three trapped there?"

The young trio looked both scared and solemn, "Ever since our village was destroyed in the first Wave." said Keel. "The monsters were killing everybody, local adventurers and the village guards held them off until the kingdom's forces arrived and finished them off."

"Our families and friends…they didn't make it." Raphtalia continued with a broken look in her eyes. "Then the knights…" she started crying and curled into Rifana's side.

"The king's knights started killing the adults that survived, then locked us in cages to be sold." Keel growled in anger. "That man you killed, he bought us with the intention of…breaking us in before selling us off again." The wolf-girl looked to Raphtalia, "Raphtalia was to be sold first because she refused to scream loud enough for him, I tried to fight for her and Rifana, and ended up getting punished for it. That was when you arrived. We had been in that dungeon for a couple of weeks before you came."

Ash clicked his tongue, pressing down hard on his own anger for the sake of the girls. "I'm sorry you girls have been through so much. Believe it or not, I know what it's like to lose your home and the people you love."

They finished eating and the Evolved checked them over with his acquired medical knowledge. "Well, it's too soon to tell. But if you girls keep taking the medicine I got and eat and sleep regularly you should be okay."

Raphtalia played with her tail, "W-What are you going to do with us?" her question being one of curiosity rather than fear.

"First, I'm going to see about getting you three some actual clothes instead of those rags. After that…" Ash trailed off in deep thought a moment, "Do you have anywhere to go? Family in another village, somewhere safe?"

Keel shook her head, "No. Everyone we knew is…gone."

"That complicates things." thought the former Marine. "I can't just leave them, not with how this damn kingdom treats demi-humans. And the chances of finding them a safe place is moot considering the Waves could sprout up anywhere."

"Master Shield Hero?" Ash looked up at Keel who was looking back with determination. "Let us come with you!"

The Evolved blinked, allowing the wolf-girl to press on. "I…WE…all vowed before the Waves came that if we ever met the Legendary Shield Hero, that we would do whatever we could to help them. Let us come with you!" she said again.

Ash sighed, "It's not that simple. This mission I am on, the enemies I will have to face, I can't put you kids in that kind of danger."

"Then we'll train!" Keel stated, refusing to relent. "We'll train hard and fight at your side! Please, I know we can do it!"

Running a hand down his face, the former Marine turned his attention to Raphtalia and Rifana. "I can only assume that you two have the same thoughts?"

Raphtalia bit her lip, still playing with her tail. "Y-Yes…" all eyes went to Rifana who slowly sat up, coughing into her closed fist. "I…I want to help too." The tanuki demi-human steeled her resolve and turned back to their savior with a nod of agreement.

Ash closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Opening them again, he brought up his status screen and checked the time limit until the next Wave.

"Your main concern right now should be getting better." he said before seeing them about to protest. "Finish recovering first. During that time, I want you three to really think about this. Because if you decide to join me, there won't be any turning back. If you change your mind in that time, I will do my best to find you somewhere safe to go."

The three girls looked at one another for a few moments before nodding at the Evolved.

"At least I bought some time." Ash couldn't help but think.

X

"Are you certain?" A purple haired woman in regal robes and a crown said to the cloaked woman kneeling before her.

"Very certain, my Queen. I saw his abilities with my own eyes, and there was no hesitation in his tone when we spoke." the Shadow responded, "I have no doubt he will carry out his threat if the King pushes him too far."

Queen Mirellia Melromarc thought over all the information her Shadow had reported to her. She was well aware of what her husband had been doing in her absence, all for the sake of the Church and his own personal vendetta. Her diplomatic skills had been put to the test having to sooth the agitated royals of the neighboring kingdoms, even more so with a smear campaign having begun against the Shield Hero.

Speaking of said hero…the Queen was in further thoughts. What her spy had reported left her in disbelief. The speed, untold strength, not to mention turning his own limbs into an array of bladed weaponry, as far as she was aware, there were no magics in this world capable of such transfiguration. Let alone on a living person.

Whatever abilities the Shield Hero possessed, it was more than likely something he carried over from his world. But there were so many questions left unanswered. And if her husband made an enemy out of someone with such power combined with a legendary weapon…she feared the fallout that would befall her queendom.

"Return to your post, keep an eye on the Shield Hero at a distance. But under no circumstance are you to antagonize him. He showed you mercy in your last meeting, I doubt he would be as generous if pressed."

The Shadow nodded seriously, "By your order, your majesty." the cloaked woman faded into the shadows leaving Mirellia alone in the room. Gently rubbing her forehead, knowing full well that she would need to return to Melromarc before her husband or her eldest daughter did something utterly foolish. But there were still things she needed to complete before doing so.

"Please bring Melty, I need to speak with her." she said to one of the maids who bowed and left the room to find her youngest daughter. All the while hoping that the future queen-to-be would be able to talk sense into her father.

X

Ash walked along the winding dirt road back toward the small town he'd set up shop in.

It had been a couple of days since he rescued the girls from their captivity, and he'd spent that time taking care of them and going on various jobs that had been posted at the local bounty boards to acquire extra funds.

Currently, he was returning from a mission that involved clearing out a small group of goblins in a cave a couple miles outside of town. It didn't take much to deal with them, and they had a small horde of money, weapons and armor stashed in their hideout. All of which was in a sack that was slung over the Evolved's shoulder.

The recent jobs had also yielded other results as well. Ash not only managed to level up his shield some more, but had learned that whenever he touched another shield, his acquired the properties of the one he'd put his hands on. Along with any enchantments the original possessed.

In addition to this discovery, he'd also learned that whenever he consumed another creature's biomass, their more defining features and abilities were absorbed into his shield similar to how he had been putting parts into it before.

This easily explained why whenever he tried putting his own infected flesh into it it had been rejected. The shield and his powers as an Evolved were now linked somehow, but at the same time still separated due to something unknown.

Entering the town, he made a quick stop at the mayor's home and collected the bounty for the assignment before heading back to the inn. Entering his room to find Keel and Raphtalia tossing a small rubber ball he had gotten for them back and forth while Rifana sat on the bed petting the infected flier he'd left to look after them as it sat on her arm.

It was a rather unusual sight, considering the flier looked like a demonic crow composed of only muscle, bone and glowing-red veins that matched its eyes. But the weasel-girl gave it attention as though it were a parakeet without any hesitation.

"Having fun girls?" he asked, setting the sack in the corner.

"A little bored actually." said Keel as she caught the ball as it was tossed to her. "How was your mission, Master Shield Hero?"

"The goblins have been dealt with, the mayor was very grateful." replied the Evolved. He let out a soft whistle, causing the flier to spread its wings and take to the air, Rifana pouted as the infected avian landed on its master's shoulder before being absorbed back into his body.

Raphtalia played with the hem of her new dress. Ash had gotten the new clothes the day after their rescue, the young tanuki was wearing a brown dress with long gray sleeves that reached her ankles, Keel was in a gray tunic-like shirt and a dark-blue skirt, and Rifana was in a cream colored dress with red highlights. Each of them were also wearing a pair of brown-leather shoes to protect their feet.

Each of them were surprised by his generosity, though they had started to come to expect such things from the man that had saved them.

"Something wrong, Tali?" Raphtalia looked up and blinked. The shield hero had started calling her and Rifana by shorter versions of their names, not that either of them minded. Rifana had even blushed a little when he first did it.

When she didn't answer, the Evolved knelt down to her height. "Speak your mind, you don't have to be afraid to say what you're thinking."

Raphtalia took a deep breath, "Well, it's just that, Keel and I are all better. And Rifana is getting stronger again too..."

Ash knew this conversation was coming. Keel and Raphtalia had both recovered from their imprisonment, and Rifana was on the mend and would be back on her feet again in another day or two. "I know. And I'm glad you girls recovered as well as you have. Can I assume you thought about everything during that time?"

Keel nodded, "We did. We talked about it together whenever you had to leave for a while."

"And your minds haven't changed?" asked the Evolved.

Rifana shook her head, "We made a promise together to help the Shield Hero. We want to be strong, and help you stop the Waves."

"We don't want people to suffer like we have. We want to save people too." added Raphtalia.

Taking a deep breath, the former Marine sat at the edge of the bed and thought hard about this. On the one hand, as much as he would have been able to handle things on his own, it would have been foolish to run into any kind of combat situation without someone to watch his back. On the other hand, they were just kids. If he were to train them, he'd essentially be making child soldiers to help fight the Waves.

Despite how his world was so different compared to his own, making kids only a bit younger than what his sister had been fight in a war like this left him with a horrible feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Looking at them again, he saw them looking back. Waiting for his answer. Their eyes reflecting hardship and loss no one that age should ever experience. Their childhood was already tainted by what this world had put them through and they needed a focus, a purpose. And at the moment, he was the only one able to give that to them.

But was it worth the danger they would be in?

"Before I make my decision. I think it's fair to tell you girls exactly what you will be getting yourselves into. And once you have all the facts, I want you to answer three questions with complete honesty. Understand?" he asked with a grim seriousness.

The young demi-humans looked to one another before going back to him and nodding.

"The world I come from is a lot more advanced than this one. We don't use swords and shields, or drawn carriages. Our countries are vast, and filled with all kinds of people. But we also have a good amount of corruption as well. But one of the worst things certain people committed was weaponizing illness."

"Illness?" asked Keel.

Ash nodded, "There are people in my world, very smart people, who work and experiment with viruses similar to sorcerers and alchemists here. Many work to find cures to help others…but some…they find ways to use it as a weapon against other nations. Sometimes using small towns or villages to test the effects, regardless of the innocents killed in the process."

The Evolved squared his shoulders, knowing he had their full attention. "But one virus that was created, was by far the worst of any possibly thought of. One called Blacklight. Countless people died from it, those ones were lucky. Others were turned into monsters that sought only to kill and spread. But there was a small amount, whose bodies adapted to it…" he held up his hand, a flurry of tendrils covering and changing it into their claw form, "It gave them powers beyond understanding. These people were called the Evolved."

For the next few hours, Ash explained what had happened to his home. How Alex Mercer and his virus had brought New York to its knees and how Gentek and Blackwatch tried to profit from all the chaos.

How he had lost his mother and sister. How he was hellbent on revenge and ended up losing his humanity when he faced Mercer for the first time.

He talked about Father Guerra, and how the two of them fought to liberate their home from the virus and all those trying to use it.

Keel, Raphtalia and Rifana sat in silence, listening to the Shield Hero's tale of war and death. Of how he had to do many horrible, yet extraordinary things to save his home and the survivors still in it. They were enraptured, horrified, anxious and a little excited as the story progressed.

Though they were deeply saddened when they were told how the kind priest had died. The man's passing having an obvious effect on the Evolved.

Ash's journey concluded when he described the final battle against Mercer, stopping the infection and saving what was left of New York before going into hiding. Where he was then transported to this world to help fight the Waves.

"I never really saw myself as a hero." The Evolved explained when his story was done. "I've killed an untold number of people, consuming most of them. Many have called me a monster, a demon, a terrorist, maybe I am all these things. But I've made it a point not to lose what little humanity I have left. That's why I agreed to fight the Waves. Because there are people out there who need to be saved. And I'll do all I can to save them."

When he finished speaking he blinked, realizing that he had spoken a lot more than he had intended to. But it had been the first time he had ever talked about what had happened to him and couldn't stop the flow of words even if he wanted to.

A pair of small arms wrapped around his middle and looked down to see a head of white hair and ears pressed against chest.

"Y-You're not a monster." Rifana sniffled with tears dripping from her yellow eyes. "You're a hero."

Keel and Raphtalia joined her in holding the Evolved. "You saved us, when no one else would. You helped all those people even if they were afraid of you. You killed the monsters." said Raphtalia.

"Your powers are kind of scary. But you don't use them like a bad guy." Keel threw in. "You're strong, and you care. The kingdom's knights don't even protect us anymore. But you did without thinking about it."

Ash hesitated a moment before wrapping his arms around the three girls. Not since Father Guerra and Dana had said anything remotely like that. Even though he couldn't care less of what people thought of him, it was still nice to hear that someone actually saw past the things he did.

"Now then." he pulled back and looked at each of them, "I believe I had three questions for you to answer,"

The look on the girls' faces showed a bit of trepidation, but their resolve remained strong. Ash couldn't help but admire their tenacity despite what they had been told and the odds they may face.

"Alright, first question. Why do you want to fight the Waves?"

Keel went first, "To save people. To be true heroes and help you on your mission."

"To beat the monsters, so that no one loses their loved ones." added Rifana.

"To…To be strong enough to protect ourselves, each other, and everyone else." said Raphtalia.

Ash nodded, "Next question, are you prepared to train hard? No matter how difficult it may be or how long it takes?"

"We are, no matter what we will get stronger!" Keel said with dedication.

"We will do our best not to let you or the people we fight for down," said Rifana.

"Even if it's difficult, we won't give up," said Raphtalia.

The former Marine smiled, "Last question, can I trust you to watch my back? To watch each other's backs? And always fight together as a team?"

"Yes!"

"Always!"

"We won't fail!"

Ash stood up and crossed his arms, "Alright then. Tomorrow we'll find you some starting weapons and I'll show you how to use them. After that, we'll start training. The next Wave is in three weeks, so we will need to be ready before then."

"Yes Master Shield Hero!" the girls all said with a salute.

The Evolved shook his head, "My name is Ashton Fenix, call me Ash." He heard a series of chimes as his stat screen appeared over his vision.

Keel - Level 6 - has Joined your Party

Raphtalia - Level 5 - has Joined your Party

Rifana - Level 5 - has Joined your Party

"Guess it's official now." he thought as the girls talked among themselves. "I can only hope I made the right choice in the end."

X

Outside the window, the queen's Shadow had listened and filed all the new information she had learned away. Still in disbelief from what she had just heard about the Shield Hero. It certainly was something she was sure the Queen would want to hear, and have a hard time trying to grasp.

Though, her mistress had been right. She had no doubt that if he was antagonized, the Shield Hero could be capable of almost anything. And depending on who wronged him, mercy would be the last thing he would exercise.

Mission complete for the time being, the Shadow slipped away to report back to the Queen.

X

A/N: Another short chapter, but I'm setting the stage. And with the addition of two more members to the party compared to canon, it's going to be good.