Bisca's Journey

by thehappy

Occurs immediately after the end of Dragon of the Cog. Summoned to a new world, Bisca will face new challenges, monsters and hardships on her quest to return home. With several new companions, Bisca will walk the path of a hero paved with blood and war.

3. Caves, Snakes, and Guns

Well, I'm back with another chapter. I think readers are enjoying this story which is promising. But, other than that, not much going on aside from work and life.

Anyway, next chapter!

Chapter Three: Caves, Snakes, and Guns

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501. H.A. August 9th, Holy City of Lanill outskirts

The grassy fields swayed with a summer breeze, the tall blades rustling under a pleasant sky. A nearby stream gurgled with crystal clear water, eventually leading to the farmlands that surrounded the holy city several miles away. Its towering church could almost be observed on such a clear day, its stunning spires an inspiration.

"Push them back!" Isamu roared, his short sword swinging through the air to defeat the creature. It sliced through, spilling a clear liquid across the soil.

"I…Icicle!" Mei stuttered, the former high school student wrapped in black wizard robes. Unleashing a shaky lance of ice, it killed three of the monsters.

"Last one!" Akame roared, the obvious leader of the heroes swinging a curved katana at the last beast. It squealed as the polished blade cut through, splitting the enemy.

Silence overtook the field as the assembled heroes slowly laughed and smiled, the training complete.

"Congratulations. Your skills are improving every day. Mei, you still need to work on concentration for your spells, but your natural affinity for ice magic will eventually make you quite the force to be reckoned with" Captain Trent stated, the knight standing firm among the swaying grass.

"Yeah! We totally kicked those slimes asses!" One of the males cheered, high fiving his nearby friend as their armor sheened with polished zeal.

"Hell yeah! The demon lord won't know what hit him!"

Akame wiped her katana down, the raven haired swords woman looking down at the dead slimes with a frown. While she was glad their training had progressed, fighting low level slimes was a far cry from demons.

"That concludes your physical training for the day. Let us return to the temple for a mid-day meal and then the studies of magic and tactics. For a strong hero must be able to think as well as swing a sword" Trent lectured as he began to lead the way along the dirt path to the city.

Knowing he was correct, Akame and the other heroes followed, content with the advancement of their training.

501. H.A. City of Augith, That morning

"Ha! How about this one!" Vera proclaimed with a grin and smile. Pulling the quest off the board in the adventure hall, she spun on her heel to shove the parchment in Bisca's face.

Bisca took the quest as the dark elf crossed arms beneath her sizable bust, much to the enjoyment of a few nearby men who risked a quick peek at the stunning elf.

"Hmmm…reports of a few missing women and girls from Filla, a resort village to the East. Near the border of Valos. No information on the cause, only that they all disappeared around night-time. Twenty-five silvers for a complete investigation. An additional three gold pieces if the lost females are found alive and well. Alright, let's take it"

"But Bisca! Filla has spas and hot springs!" Vera stomped, her cleavage giving a slight jiggle before pausing. "Wait. You said yes? Usually, you shoot down my quest ideas"

"I've never done that unless it's a waste of my time. Finding some missing women is not a waste of my time" Turning to Dia, Bisca pointed to the nearby guild shop "Dia, get a map and an estimation of supplies for our journey"

"Right!" Smiling with her signature grin, the purple haired feline quickly got in line for the interior guild store.

"Vera. Start packing our things at the inn then meet us back here"

"Got it, Bisca" Running out of the guild with a wave, the jubilant elf was already gone, her excitement palpable.

The gun mage let out an annoyed breath as she stood in line, the obvious heavy traffic of the morning making the que far longer. But the ladies at the front desk knew their jobs, quickly filing and accepting with words of caution and encouragement.

A few minutes of waiting finally placed Bisca in front of a green skinned female, her uniform almost bursting at the chest. Sharpened canines barely poked out from her upper lip while black hair attempted to hide pointed ears lined with several earrings. Staring for a few moments, the receptionist's smile turned into a frown.

"Do you have a problem with half orcs, miss?"

"No. I've just never talked or seen one before" Placing the quest on the desk, Bisca pushed it forward. "I'd like to take this quest with my party" Her voice stoic and businesslike, the gun mage tried to smile, but failed miserably.

"Place your hand on the magic tablet to confirm identification. Can't have members taking quests out of their rank range" The half orc tried to joke while sliding the magical tablet forward. It was fast, properly identifying Bisca and her rank of class 'E'

Stamping the paper a moment later, the busty half orc filed the parchment. "There you go. Quest approved"

"Thanks" Moving away from the front desk, Bisca decided to simply wait near the main doorway for her party. Sitting down on a long bench that lined the wall, the woman watched a wide assortment of beast-men, dwarves, humans and even a lizard-man going about their business.

Crossing her arms across her armor, she delved into thought. "Tork and his father have barely started with establishing a new weapon industry so waiting around for the next few weeks is not an option. I still need to earn money for food and a room. And even with my share of the wealth, it will take time to see any sizable gains. Well, unless I've completely underestimated the mechanical aptitude of gnomes, dwarves and other species. Maybe I'm wrong and Vork will have a working rifle before months end"

Frowning, Bisca found herself looking to the West, despite the buildings wall blocking her view. "It's only a matter of time until Ghevan invades and everybody knows it" Bisca's brow furrowed deeper, hidden beneath her wide brimmed cowgirl hat. She had done some research about Ghevan and Valos yesterday. From all available information, Ghevan was ruled by a power hungry, detestable king and noble class that had taken several city states in the last decade. His rule was brutal and actively supported slavery and subjugation of those deemed as second class…so basically anybody he conquered.

Border raids of smaller villages to the West had come to the point that Bantill threated military action. But it was simply posturing of the kingdom. Both sides knew that this country really was no match…so the slave raids continued.

Valos counter-balanced them in a way, along with a few minor allies to the north, but the call for arms against the demon king was draining troops from those kingdoms.

Many believed with the demon king on the march, it was only a matter of time until Ghevan made their move.

The situation was a mess that Bisca wanted no part of. Getting a viable source of fresh ammunition and a stable income to assist in her quest to return home was the priority, not getting embroiled in some meaningless war over crops and territory.

Letting out another weary sigh, Bisca simply tilted her hat forward to shield her eyes in a pointless attempt to take a nap.

"Bisca! I'm back!" Vera said in a joyful outburst, the dark elf fully equipped with her combat leathers, twin blades and supply pack. Setting down two other packs nearby, the bubbly elf sat down next to the brooding woman.

"There goes my nap…" Figuring it was for the best anyway, Bisca pulled her pack toward her. It was second-hand, but still capable of carrying what she needed. The main problem was finding one that wouldn't interfere with her firearms and the magnetized plate of her armor.

This drab-colored pack did that, which is all she needed. Looking up as Dia approached with a map and a bundle of traveling rations, water, and other essentials, Bisca gave a slight nod in approval. "Alright, do a double check of our inventory, then we can get moving"

"I really hope we have a chance to enjoy the spa. That would be soooo nice" Dia exclaimed as the three women began to pack, preparing for the journey.

"Pretty sure you've complained about rain in the past" Bisca pointed out to the cat woman as she finished first, swinging the short pack straps over her armored shoulders. It was a little awkward still, but she could reach her firearms in an emergency. Still, it was most likely going to be her magical abilities that would be used if needed.

Or the combat knife sheathed near her left breast, the dull, gray colored handle matching the rest of her gear.

"That's because it wasn't enjoyable. A spa is different" Sliding the supply pack over her own shoulders, Dia grasped her gnarled wizard staff and stood, her tail automatically coiling around her waist.

"Yeah! Spa!"

Bisca scoffed. "You two seem to forget that this is a quest to find some missing women. A spa bath should be the last thing on your minds. Now Dia? You have the map which means you navigate"

Huffing, the purple haired cat woman unfurled the map, her eyes quickly studying the parchment. "Filla is about a week's journey from Augith directly to the East. The route is well traveled as its one of the main roads toward Valos, so the odds of bandits or minor monsters are very low"

"Then let's stop wasting time and get moving" Waving her group forward, Bisca and her companions merged into the crowds of the city.

Within the hour, they were walking along the Eastern hi-way, passing rice farms, wagons of goods, and moderate foot traffic.

Moving to the shoulder, Bisca tilted her hat once more in a vain attempt to block the August sun. Casting a look southward, the towering Hammer Mountains were snow capped peaks, hiding the horrors of the frozen passes.

Dust rose from several wagons, causing Vera to cough, but other than the minor inconvenience, the party of three would have no issues reaching the town.

Lord Hermes Cremore's wagon clicked and rolled through the streets of Augith, its wooden paneling painted a deep burgundy and lined with curved, painted gold reliefs around the door. Drawn by two white horses and escorted by eight guards of high standing, they expected the common folk to make way, and they did like a parting sea.

Crossing over the bridge dividing the wealthy and common sectors of the city, the wagon continued to roll until finally stopping at the adventure guild.

Stepping out, two men in fine clothes revealed themselves as their dark hair seemed to pool like midnight.

"What's so important about this adventurer again, Nolan?" Hermes asked, the lord of Augith raising his brow in question.

"She saved my life and the lives of our entire convoy by single-handedly killing over twenty ice trolls" He explained deeply. "Not only does she deserve a handsome reward, but her strength and beauty…that emerald hair and bravery…"

"Please don't tell me you're going to propose to this…Bisca woman the moment we step inside. Remember Hilda the innkeeper? You talked to her once and wanted her to give you an heir"

"Hilda was a very kind and humorous woman. How was I supposed to know she already had a betrothed?"

Pressing a hand to his head, Hermes just shook it in embarrassment. His brother had a warm, generous heart and a weakness for women. Unfortunately, he also moved too fast with courtship.

"At least this one seems to be skilled in magic and combat. But in all honesty, an adventurer is a different type of breed than city folk or nobles"

Stepping into the Augith Adventure Guild, the two nobles and their guards assessed the structure, finding it only half full during the late morning. Most of the mercenaries and fortune-hunters that remained were eating breakfast with their respective groups.

Nolan stepped forward, the dark haired man stepping into the center of the room, his smile wide and pleasant.

"Bisca the Troll-Slayer! Please present yourself to the lord of Augith and his equally handsome brother!"

"Does he mean that Rank E?"

"Who?"

"Was it that busty dark elf? She was beautiful"

More mutterings and low talking rose from the treasure seekers and those willing to risk life and limb, but nobody came forward.

"Maybe she's upstairs in the library? Or maybe she's somewhere in the city?" Hermes suggested with a shrug.

"That's possible…" Stroking his chin, Nolan turned his gaze to a half orc in the official guild uniform.

"My lord, you seek Bisca Mulan and her party?"

"Yes. I wish to invite her to a handsome feast at the lord's manor. After all, she did kill twenty ice trolls by herself"

The orc woman smiled, her cleavage ample and a pleasant green as she smiled. "Surely you jest, my lord. She is a simple rank 'E' Only the feline wizard with her is superior in rank. It would take several 'A' or 'B' ranks to defeat that level of monsters in those numbers"

"I witnessed the feat with my own eyes, along with several dozen witnesses. Did she not report her achievement to the guild?"

"She didn't, my lord. But if what you say is true, that would put her skills at minimum class 'C"

"Then she will be pleased when you increase her rank. But in the meantime, do you know of her whereabouts?"

Bowing again, the half-orc female almost burst out of her top. "I'm sorry my lord! But she took a quest this morning with her party. She won't be expected to return for at least two or three weeks!"

"No need to shout. And the bowing is unnecessary" Nolan waved in dismissal as he sighed in depression.

"Just try again in a few weeks, brother. No sense in trying to pursue Bisca until she returns"

"I suppose…" Muttering, the merchant was a cloud of sulking as he left the guild hall, his shoulders slumped.

Hermes looked at the half orc, her hands wringing in nervousness as several co-workers looked onward. Technically, nobles and the elite classes couldn't force the guild to do anything since they were a multi-national organization spread across the planet. If he suddenly threw his weight around, it would come back to bite him politically or socially.

One simply didn't mess with the adventure guild.

"Miss. When Bisca Mulan returns from her latest quest, please inform her that she is invited to my manor as a special guest"

"Of..of course!"

"Good day" Turning, Hermes Cremore, the Lord of Augith and the surrounding lands left, leaving poor Bellanna stunned and quivering. Finally recovering her close encounter with the actual lord of this city, she rushed behind the desk to look up Bisca's file through the magic database.

"SHE KILLED A CRIMSON EYE QUEEN SPIDER ON HER FIRST QUEST!"

Continuing to read, Bellanna could understand how this woman had defeated a horde of ice-trolls. "Strange magic, Gun-mage classification. Exterminated an entire bandit party and captured the leader. All while barely in the guild for two months. Several minor quests were easily completed"

"By Lanill, it's almost like she's an unknown hero" Laughing awkwardly to herself as her nerves ebbed, Bellanna went back to work, knowing that the issue of Bisca could be dealt with later.

Hermes Cremore's wagon pulled up in front of Vork's Engineering Shop, the bustle of delivery's, clamor of work and low shouts coming from within hard to ignore.

"Now what are you up to, brother?" The lord asked as Nolan climbed out, his sulking forgotten.

"I overheard Bisca talking with Vork's son about a business venture. If I had to place a wager, something to do with those weapons she carried. Plus, I'm a merchant. If there is a new opportunity for investment, I wish to take part"

Walking into the large work shop as the guards took station outside, the two nobles entered a scene of controlled chaos among the working gnomes. Some were yelling orders, leading teams as machinery was being rapidly constructed. Others were already working, using their skills to create and manufacture.

"Now just what is Vork building?" Hermes inquired to himself, the lord watching as one gnome used a strange machine to bore through a long, thin shaft of metal. The noise was deafening as sparks flew, the machinist's eyes thankfully protected by a pair of thick goggles.

"Can I help you, Lord Cremore? I am very busy" Vork asked, his signature red hat and dirty work smock covered with fresh grime and splashes of lubricants. Nearby, his son Tork adjusted the apparatus of a strange, steam powered press, muttering to himself as gnomes tended to do.

"My brother mostly. But now I am very curious what you're crafting in your shop? A new arquebus for some nobles?"

"Heh, even better. Something that will change warfare and ensure that this nation can defend itself…Assuming we build enough in time. Come, follow me" Waving the two men to follow, Vork led them into the bowels of the shop as the heat and steam seemed to swallow all the noise of industry.

Coming to a table, several gnomes were hunched forward, working on the finer innerworkings of several incomplete rifles. Their fingers and tools danced, the workers thrilled at the chance to work on something new.

"We've been working almost non-stop in shifts of twelve hours to get our machinery ready. Some still aren't, but in a week or two, the age of guns will be born!" Showing with a wave of his hand, Vork's face scrunched in a wrinkled smile. "Rifles my lord! A contract signed with Miss Bisca will put the strength of a dozen men into a common soldier! Imagine somebody capable of shooting further than any archer with more accuracy! A thousand men could defeat five or ten thousand if properly used according to Bisca!" Waving his hand once more, he showed off several blueprints on the nearby table. "These rifles are superior to any shop built arquebus in every conceivable way. Ease of cleaning, reloading and maintenance will ensure a rapid change of this country's military. Especially with such a hostile neighbor to the West. Not only that, but they are breechloading and will use a 'bullet" Digging one of the samples out of his pocket, he held up the round to the light, showing it to the two nobles in question.

"Fascinating…" Hermes muttered as he held the lone bullet, studying its brass casing with an inquisitive eye. "The king would definitely be interested in something such as this"

"Vork. I'd like to invest in this. As you know, I own several weapon shops in the area. Some are run by dwarves, other's humans. But if I were to get them to start building these weapons too, the industry and trade would make all of us extremely wealthy" Smirking, Nolan looked down as Vork stroked his chin in contemplation.

"Hmmm…the contract I signed with Bisca Mulan is binding, but there isn't anything about establishing supporting industries. If a disaster were to befall this shop, it would cripple our chances against Ghevan" Snapping his fingers, the gnome looked upward. "Bring some of your forge masters tomorrow and a proper contract. We'll negotiate then and see if we can get some serious work done. Also, some brass makers and those knowledgeable with elements and chemicals. Wood-makers for the rifle stocks would help too. If I think of something else, we can hash it out tomorrow"

"Excellent. This will be quite beneficial not only to us, but Augith and the kingdom of Bantill. Once the king hears of this newest invention, he will have to adopt a widespread use for our brave men and women that serve" Smiling once more, Nolan knew that this would lead to great profit in the future.

Withing one week, half a dozen shops and several supporting industries began to shift their focus to rifles, bullets, or the parts need to assemble them in a standardized manner.

The town of Filla. August 16th H.A. 501

Night had settled, twinkling stars above partially hidden by clouds as the two moons glowed in the sky. Settled among the heavily forested hills that lead quickly to a mildly active geothermal area, it was easy to understand how Filla had established an industry of spa's, splendid hotels and hotsprings near the national border. Towering peaks of mountains added to the beauty of the landscape, snowcapped as melted runoff fed into a few lakes and rivers used for recreation.

Trudging onto the main street of the community, the three women showed exhaustion from the journey as merchants began to close up their shops and stalls for the day. Other pedestrians really paid them no heed, only giving a small glance.

"Ugh…my legs…" Vera complained, the dark elf drooping with fatigue and exhaustion.

"I thought you were excited for the spa?" Bisca reminded the white haired woman with a light smirk.

"Not after a whole week of walking! I'm exhausted!"

"Well, lets just find an inn and check in. Hopefully the local leader can give us details about those that are missing tomorrow" Dia supported despite her own, aching feet. Looking over at Bisca, the gun-mage hadn't complained once, but the wizard knew that their team leader must be feeling the effects of the long journey.

At least it had been uneventful, the worst being a few drunks at a waystation stop the night before.

Finding a modest inn on a side street away from the main road, spas and higher end businesses, the three women got a room on the second floor at Bisca's insistence. Entering the room itself, it was sparse but clean, the lone window overlooking the road below. The establishment did offer a steam room and outdoor eating area, but they were closed for the night, not that Vera or Dia had the strength to go anyway.

Eyeing the road below from the shadows of the room, Bisca didn't see any unsavory characters watching the inn, but she wouldn't take chances. Pushing the lone dresser against the door with a grunt of exhaustion, the gun mage finally undressed, leaving her armor stacked next to one of the beds.

"Why did you block the door? We're in the middle of a resort town, Bisca" Dia asked with a stifled yawn, the feline mage dressed for sleep…which really left little to the imagination.

"Just in case somebody tries to break into our room, or a whole gang of bandits. Blocking the door will buy us a few precious seconds if we need to kill or fight our way out" Sitting on the edge of the second bed near the window, she set her Boltok on the small night stand, the lone lamp powered by a small magic core.

"Sometimes I can't tell if your being cautious or paranoid" Vera added as she lay down, the dark elf wearing barely anything. Sharing a bed with Dia, the elf groaned as she rubbed her sore legs. "But, since you are from another world, that could be normal for your people anyway"

"It didn't use to be…" whispering those words, Bisca cut off the magic feed to the lamp, casting the room in a glow from the twin moons and the soft noise of a few, nearby brothels of the tourist town.

"What was that?" Dia inquired, her hearing picking up the words.

"Nothing. Get to sleep. We have a quest to complete tomorrow" Closing her eyes, Bisca was once more cast into the hellish nightmare of her mind, the bloodsoaked battlefields a never ending horror of suffering and death she could never escape.

A light rain dripped through the foliage of the forest canopy, the patter of raindrops adding to the gloomy day as the three women finished inspecting the last known site of disappearance.

The naturally warmed pool of water was nestled among some rocky outcrops, almost like a tiny crater while a small stream fed into the crystal clear water. With the natural heat of the earth rising from below, it created a well balanced temperature that was enjoyed by many. Nearby, a tiny structure allowed for the changing of garments, but it had been devoid of any clues.

"This path either leads back to the outskirts of town or a few of the other natural pools in the area. No witnesses or clues…its like these women just disappeared" Vera stated. Taking another full view of the area, she saw no signs of struggle or abandoned belongings.

"They are linked though" Bisca added, the gun mage stooped near the edge as her gloved hand treaded some of the water before standing up. "All were single visitors, and all were alone when they were taken. Ten in total"

"I just wish the mayor had been more helpful. All he really seemed to care about was making sure his town didn't earn a dangerous reputation for kidnapping. Basically told us to search the area for monsters and say it's safe. His lack of caring was detestable"

"I agree, Vera. But he also has a whole community to think of as well. The needs of the many…" Her words trailing off as the rain fell a little harder, Bisca pointed toward the hills and towering mountains. "We should search the nearby caves. It would be easy for slavers or bandits to use them as a base and snatch up the lone victim for sale"

"Don't we have to worry about lava!? This area has hot-springs you know!" Vera said loudly, the dark elf planting her fists on her hips.

"If there was a volcano here, the locals would know about it. Sometimes the heat of the inner planet is just closer to the surface is all. But hey, if you can't see a lava flow because of your massive tits, I'll steer you clear" Bisca said with the ghost of a grin.

"YOU KNOW WE'RE THE SAME SIZE!"

Dia giggled despite the rain, finding the teasing pleasant. Especially since Bisca woke up almost screaming again this morning. It was concerning to the black mage and Vera, but she really didn't want to pry. As long as Bisca managed to function, then she wouldn't push.

"For now at least"

"Okay, enough joking. Let's locate those caves and investigate" Pushing through the foliage of the forest, the three women trudged as the rain fell harder.

The first four caves had been a bust, all either too small or narrow to contemplate as some bandit base. Cave number three had a small snake population, but other than that, nothing.

Hiking along the muddy game trail that was starting to turn rocky from geothermal vents and increasing heights of the mountains, the rain poured like a sheet, adding to their misery. The trees and forest were starting to separate, the heavy foliage thinning with each step further up the hills.

"I see another cave" Dia pointed out, her finger extending as the rain plastered her purple hair and ears. Following the line of sight through the trees, Bisca nodded in confirmation.

Several minutes later all three were inside the entrance, mainly to just duck out of the nasty weather as lightning flashed along with a rumble of thunder.

"Bisca? Maybe we should just wait here until the storm passes?" Vera suggested while trying to wring water from her white hair, not that it really did much. Dia was trying to do the same, both women's leathers and clothing soaked.

"Your probably right about that" Bisca added as another surge of lightning flashed, cracking the sky with a snap. Turning away from the cavern entrance as wind gusted, her boots crunched some loose gravel while her gaze fell upon the tunnel that led to a distant glow further within. Glancing downward, a trail of steps had disturbed some of the dust.

"Hey, you two. These look like footprints?"

Vera crouched down, her elven gaze falling upon the different sizes and drag marks. "Definitely. Some bigger with serious weight. Lighter drag marks could be some of the victims"

Bisca pushed some magic forward, forming a green tinted lancer in her hands as her scowl deepened. "Might be a lead. Prepare for a fight, just in case" A fresh crunch of her boots seemed to echo among the cave as the three females advanced, their faces grim.

The distant glow of light seemed to get brighter with each step, along with the warmth of the cave. Dia felt a pit in her stomach, the black mage doing her best to hide her fear.

Steps appeared before them, cut into the rock in a downward slant. Indistinct noises rose from the depths, along with the unknown light source seeming to flicker.

"Bisca… I really don't like this" Vera added in a low whisper as they descended.

"I'm not fond of subterranean areas myself" Bisca replied, the words low and barely heard with laces of stress. Coming to the bottom of the stone steps, the walls were craggy and broken, often with streaks of some black stone mixed in with the natural veins of rock.

The tunnel turned sharply to the left, the noise becoming more distinct and pronounced. Moving slowly, the three females advanced, finally coming to the ending as the tunnel opened up. A large cavern like a dome was before them, the illumination of a large fire pit in the center burning with a crackle of flames.

A second tunnel entrance loomed from the left along the curvature of the cavern, its entrance a gloom of darkness.

Several wooden crates and barrels sat near the entrance, the cluster of goods an excellent position to observe from as the trio crouched and hid.

Dia patted Bisca's hand, her gaze pointing toward a large cage near a strange, ancient altar across the cavern. Several women were locked inside, their eyes fearful and bodies covered in dirty rags.

Two pillars rose from the altar on opposite sides, each surrounded by bones and skulls while flame poured out, the dancing embers taking a blue tint. Four more robed figures stood in silence at each corner of the altar, most likely underlings as their faces remained hidden as well. In the center of the alter floated a silent cube of black material, the surface almost swallowing light.

"MORE! WE NEED MORE FOR THE SACRIFICE! JUST FIVE MORE FEMALES TO AWAKEN KI'GRATH! THE UNDERGOD!" A man in a black cloak roared before the floating cube, his face hidden while a gnarled staff topped with a human skull seemed to sneer outward. Spreading his arms outward, the cloaked figure unleashed a crackling laugh before pointing toward his tiny army of orcs that filled the chamber.

Unlike the half-orc female at the adventure guild, these creatures were wild, snarling beasts. An obvious different tribe or breed.

Bisca felt her breath hitch, her hands tighten with dread, hate and sweat as her mind quickly connected the dots of those abominations that preformed the menial tasks of this dark wizard.

Scaly skin of a dull gray or near yellow or a bright orange, many were covered with simple leathers. Sharpened teeth and a pudgy, flat nose sat beneath two sinister, yellow tinted eyes. Most carried simple swords, cleavers or bludgeons, often pitted with imperfections.

A slight tremor rocked the cavern, vibrating the ground as Bisca's eyes went wide with horror.

"Orcs…wild ones at that" Dia muttered. Looking over at Bisca as the three continued to observe, she could instantly tell that their team leader was overcome with a waking nightmare.

"Locust…" Saying the word like a curse through clenched teeth, Bisca suddenly popped up and opened fire on the nearest creature, the magical bullets ripping through its chest with a splatter of gore. "I WON'T LET YOU CONSUME THIS WORLD YOU MONSTERS!" Roaring as battle rage overcame her senses, Bisca quickly shot down three more of the beasts as flecks of red swam in her vision.

"Intruders!" The main dark priest yelled with a pointed finger.

"Bisca! What the hell are you doing!? We need a plan!" Vera screamed as her friend unleashed more magical rounds into the charging monsters. Two came at the elf from the left, both brandishing clubs that she couldn't ignore. Blocking with her twin blades, Vera felt the vibrations of the blows through her arms as stinking breath washed over her. The nearest orc snarled, sharpened teeth showing discoloration as they tried to break past her blocking blades.

"They're female! Capture them for the resurrection of Ki'grath!"

"Grrr! Shut up!" Vera screamed out as she pushed back against the two beasts. They momentarily stumbled, giving her the opening she needed to cleave their heads from their necks.

"Lightning bolt!" Dia shouted as a surge of electricity shot out from her staff, striking one of the cloaked beings on the platform. A hellish scream erupted from the man, his cloak sparking with electricity as he convulsed. "Lightning bolt!" She cried again, targeting another of the cloaked evil-doers with similar results.

"DIE YOU FUCKING GRUB!" Bisca howled in unhinged rage and hate, her magical lancer buzzing and cutting through one of the orcs with a cleaving of gray hide, blood and bone. Gore splattered across her armor and lower chin, the red ichor dripping while the corpse dropped to the rocky ground. Stepping over the vile chunks of meat, her magical weapon pulsed with light, the magic stabbing through four more charging monsters.

"FIREBALL!" Dia shouted loudly, the black mage launching the roiling heat at a cluster of creatures. Three were horribly burned, their scales literally on fire as they tried to extinguish the flames with howling screams. A lone orc charged the purple haired feline from the left, his yellow eyes almost glowing with hatred. Swinging a pitted, curved sword, Dia barely dodged as the tip cut along her leather armor, leaving a harsh furrow.

"Damn!"

The orc swung again, striking her wooden staff that hastily blocked. Unable to bring her magic to bear as the monster grinned a sickly smile, Dia quickly pulled her combat knife and thrust into its neck. A gurgled scream frothed from the throat, red pooling out as the feline twisted and yanked, causing a spray to arc across her face.

"FUCKING GRUBS!"

Bisca was lost in rage, her vision a crimson hatred as her heartbeat seemed to thud in her ears. Carving through another monster that was trying to crawl away in fear, the magical blades ripped through the back, spreading a hellish ichor. More magic light bullets pulsed a light green, sundering flesh and scales as Bisca killed and killed.

Vera flipped over a horizontal sword swing from another orc, her natural agility coming into play against the foe while twisting herself upright in midair. "Hyaa!" Stabbing downward, her twin swords punched through the beast's throat while she used the body as a landing pad. It gurgled, blood frothing from the mouth as she pulled the swords free. "Bisca! You need to calm down!" Vera immediately roared as her friend gunned down the last five monsters in a hail of carnage and gun magic.

"Locust…" The word was harsh, dripping with her rage as the last of the orcs tried to crawl away, his spine a ruined mess. Feeble grunts came from him, but Bisca didn't care. Stepping on its back with a heavy boot, she grabbed its left arm and began to pull upward. Sinew and muscle began to tear…then suddenly ripped as the limb came free. Blood spurted as Bisca roared out, her visage covered in slick gore, blood and viscera that slid down her armor like sinister raindrops.

"Useless creatures!" The cloaked figure yelled as he lifted his own staff, the skull on top starting to glow a horrific red through the empty sockets. "Crimson…PAIN!" Lightning lashed out, a crippling red of static bolts that surged and popped within a mere eye-blink. Slamming into Bisca, the woman unleashed an agonizing scream as rippling lightning crossed her body.

"BISCA! Let her go you monster! ICE LANCE!" Dia Stormclaw yelled as she pointed her staff, the ice magic surging out in a flash.

The spell crashed into the evil mage, splashing across his robes with a shatter of noise, but it did little to effect him.

"DO THAT AGAIN AND I KILL HER! NOW SURRENDER!"

"Never! Bisca would never give up!" Vera yelled back, her twin swords dripping with lizard blood as she took a step forward. The dark mage cackled, pushing more power into the spell, causing a fresh wave of agony to erupt from the gun-mages throat.

"SURRENDER! SURRENDER TO KI'GRATH!"

"RRRAAAAARRGGHHH! MYRRRRAHHHH!" Bisca roared, the words a cursed howl of pain and rage as red lightning swept through her body. The pain too great to summon her normal gun-magic, her dulled mind knew there was only one way to stop this madman. Stepping forward despite the convulsing agony, her teeth were clenched as she pulled her physical Boltok from its holster.

"SURRENDER YOU FOOLS! OR SHE DIES!"

Bisca fired twice, the booming gunshots slamming into his chest. Staggering backward as his magic suddenly cut off, the hooded man tentatively put a few fingers to the wounds now leaking a dark crimson.

"What?"

"HYYYAAA!" Vera ran and jumped, her blades twinkling like stars as she spun and swung, the steel cutting thought the robed man at the neck. Coming free, the head rolled across the alter, finally coming to a stop right below the floating cube.

"A Centaur?" Dia observed in shock, the horse like face and pointed horns now exposed to light as the black mage came up and kicked the head. Hearing a groan, both women turned as Bisca staggered to the alter, the woman promptly sitting down on the stone steps.

Breathing deeply, her body was covered with gore as her face showed signs of the agonizing lightning spell with errant sparks still popping. Hands trembling, she tried to reload her sidearm, but the after-effects were still prevalent.

"Bisca? Are you alright?" Vera asked in concern.

"T…that's why…I need back-up weapons…and ammo…help Dia free the prisoners" She commanded through clenched teeth, a few remaining strings of power coursing across her gore covered armor.

Vera and Dia did that, finding the padlock key on the Centaur's corpse. Quickly unlocking the large cage, cries of thanks and relief filled the cavern as the females were released.

"Thank you! Thank you for saving us!" A busty brunette cried with tears in her eyes, the woman barely covered at all as others thanked in similar ways.

"You adventurers were so brave!"

"I'll make sure my father rewards you all!"

Bisca slowly stood, her nerves on fire. Wiping some splattered blood and gore from her chin, she merely nodded as her body felt like a train wreck. Looking at the state of the former prisoners, most were now barefoot, simply covered in skimpy rags and cloth. Some were bare chested, showing off their assets while grime and dirt covered them all.

"Vera. Dia. Help them find some clothes and shoes" Slowly walking toward the second cave tunnel, Bisca peered into the darkness while her comrades carried out her commands.

Nothing came from the depths, nor any screams of orcs or monsters. Still, she really had no desire to explore. For all she knew, there could be a whole city of creatures or unknown horrors beneath these mountain's and she was in no state to take on another fight.

"Did I lose my mind during the fight? All I remember was fighting the locust…killing them and then that spell" Looking down at her gloved hand, it shook with a tremble, the stress and falling adrenaline making her body shake. Slowly observing the women finding a crate with their former clothes and belongings, all were relieved and overjoyed at that fact they would live.

"The cube. Right. Almost forgot about that thing" Walking over, she ascended the short steps to the floating object, its onyx surface still pulling in light. Upon closer inspection, it really wasn't that big, maybe six inches across on all sides.

Pulling her combat knife, Bisca stabbed the cube…or attempted. Sparking off with a bare clang of noise and steel, it continued to float like nothing happened.

"Bisca. Something like that should be given to a high-class wizard. I doubt any of us have the magic power to destroy it"

"Couldn't we just drop it in a volcano? Or one of the geothermal vents outside? Better than leaving it here for the next maniac"

"I'll hold onto it for now" Taking the floating object, Dia Stormclaw placed it in her pack, the feline breathing in relief. Looking over at Bisca, the woman looked strained and tired, in obvious need of rest. "Not to mention her rage during the battle. But locust? Why was she screaming about bugs? I know Vera said to leave her be, but we can't just keep ignoring these issues. Maybe after we get back to town"

Looking down at the vertical blade furrow that barely missed her breasts, the studded leather had done its job. For the first time, Dia was really glad she had switched from robes to the light armor.

"I'm going to check if the storm has died down" Bisca said simply. Leaving the chamber without another word, Dia and Vera looked at each other warily.

"Okay. Whatever causes her nightmares and…whatever that was? We need to get to the bottom of it"

"Obviously she suffers from some sort of trauma. Far worse than myself losing my party" Dia stated, the mage keeping an eye on the survivors who had at this point, dressed themselves in more appropriate attire. Well, at least enough so their bare breasts weren't hanging out. Tail twitching as her ears rotated, Dia heard Bisca return a few minutes later, her blood spattered armor and features still unnerving to some of the females.

"The storm has lessened considerably. It's still raining, but its manageable to deal with"

"Alright. I'll let them all know we'll be leaving soon"

Bisca barely heard Vera's response, her eyes looking upward to the cavern ceiling, the altar, and the secondary tunnel. The whole area put her on edge, especially with a few dozen bodies still covering the stone floor in all manners of death. Kicking the bare foot of a dead orc, her face took on a hint of hatred. "They do look like locust. No wonder I lost it"

A few tendrils of imagined screams pulsed in her ears, quickly manifesting into the bodies rising as the dead transformed into the hated locust from her home. Red blood seemed to seep from the floor, slowly rising to her feet as the revived monsters snarled around her.

Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Bisca spun with a flash, her magic instinctively forming a lancer that glowed with renewed fear and power.

"Bisca? We're ready to go" Dia informed warily, the black mage noticing the rapidly disappearing sidearm. Vera stood nearby with the rescued women, some muttering to themselves as the gun mage shook away the hallucinations.

"Right….Let's get out of this fucking place" Words like a curse, Bisca stomped past, leading the way back to the resort town of Filla.

Several hours later…

Night had fallen, the stars and moon pouring lunar light upon the town as damp humidity hung in the air. The low mumblings and noises of the resort town wafted over the walls of the inn, but the three women were unconcerned as the privacy wall for the out door sauna were high and secure from peering eyes.

"Ahhhh…twenty five silvers and five gold pieces total. Rescuing all the victims and killing that Centaur summoner earned us quite the little bonus" Vera commented with a sigh, her large breasts sinking below the heated water. With wafts of steam rising into the cooler air, the dark elf was all contentment as her aches and pains seemed to melt away.

"I know! I really wasn't expecting that. But the mayor insisted since we did exterminate such a dangerous threat. Plus, all those women are being provided compensation for their ordeal" Dia responded back, the purple haired feline sitting up straighter against the rock wall to the right. Her sizable bosom was exposed to the air, a light sheening of sweat and water clinging to the skin as the feline enjoyed the sauna bath with her comrades. Reaching for a light, alcoholic drink that glowed a soft pink, Dia Stormclaw savored the strawberry infused concoction.

"It's no wonder they didn't find anything though. The town guards are mainly used to deal with drunks, the odd fight or low level crime. If they had found that cave, most of them would have been killed. Bet that mayor will invest in more preparation from now on" Bisca added, her long, green locks flowing downward to rest upon the water. With her arms stretched out along the rock shelf edge of the pool, her large breasts were also exposed to view, their round firmness an enticing sight to see. Picking up a tall glass filled with a dark liquid, the whisky was exactly what the gun mage needed to relax for a bit.

Dia looked over at their party leader, taking a small sip of her drink before setting it down with a look of concern. "So Bisca? What's a locust? You screamed it when you basically fell into a battle rage today"

Vera stayed quiet, watching as the emerald haired woman stiffened.

Bisca sighed deeply, looking up at the twin moons and velvet sky of stars. Taking another deep drink, the woman's sizable chest rose with an inhale. "My world…was attacked by monsters. Monsters that came from a different universe. They were called the Locust Horde and they were evil incarnate. Children, women, the elderly, men….it didn't matter your religion or nation. It didn't matter if you were a soldier or civilian. To the locust, humans were simply a species to exterminate" Waving a hand in a wide motion, Bisca continued. "My planet of Earthland is very similar to Enterra. We have magic, our technology level was a little higher than yours right now before the war, but not by that much"

Taking another sip, Bisca wasn't interrupted as her face became laced with sorrow. "Cities burned…whole nations were destroyed as we tried to bring our weapons and technology to a matching level. We stole technology from other worlds, or it was given to us by the Serans to try and fight the horde"

Her stare went to the past, Bisca locking on a gnarled knot in the far wall of the sauna enclosure. "I fought in this war along with my whole guild. Some of them died…horribly. Countless battles against monsters that would make you two piss yourselves. But…we were losing, the locust attacked everywhere…so queen Hisui and King Dragneel ordered an orbital bombardment of the planet that turned whole continents to ash…by that final, last desperate battle, my world had gone from over two billion humans to less than twelve million. Then, during that glorious moment of victory against the horde as they were destroyed by the Genetic Desolator, I was summoned here, ripped away from the man I love and my surviving family"

Finishing her drink in one, long gulp, Bisca wiped her mouth. "Every night, I see the dead, the burning atrocities and carnage that swept my planet. The frozen pillars of humans turned to ash…the monsters and oceans of blood" Standing up, water dripped down her nude form in rivulets, passing along her toned abdomen and long legs. "I'm done talking about this. Enjoy the sauna"

Vera sniffed, her eyes brimming with redness as the tears flowed freely. Suddenly moving with the swiftness only a dark elf could muster, the nude woman wrapped Bisca in a tight hug, their large breasts pressing against each other. "WAAAAHHH! Bisca! Why didn't you say anything!? That's so sad and awful! WAAAA!" Crying harder, Vera wailed. "Dia! Give Bisca a hug with meeeee!"

Dia did just that, the feline mage splashing through the sauna pool to embrace the now crowded Bisca, the three nude women fully embraced.

"WAAA! Bisca! You lost sooo much! No wonder your always crabby!" Dia wailed with a cry, her purple hair still dripping with moisture as her own Double D breasts pushed up against Bisca's right flank.

"G…gah! Let me go you two idiots! I tell you something serious and you cry!?"

"HUG HER TIGHTER! WAAAA!" Vera ordered with a running nose and red eyes, the elf doing just that as her large breasts squished harder against Bisca's own large assets.

"Grrr! What did I say about hugging me in the nude! Let…let me go!" Finally pushing the two women away, both fell with a splash, temporarily submerging before breaking the stirring water.

Glaring with her signature scowl at the two, Bisca crossed her arms beneath her sizable breasts as water dripped down her nude form, her green locks adding to her beauty. "Seriously, you two are such bimbo's. It's like you can't even read the room"

Vera sniffed again, the dark elf pushing some of her soaked silver hair away from her eyes. "But your story is so awful and sad! I needed to give you a hug!"

"Yeah! We're your friends and team-mates! We gotta support each other no matter what!"

"A hug wont change anything" Stepping out of the pool, Bisca turned away, her long emerald hair resting right above her shapely backside as she walked toward the changing room nearby. "We leave in the morning"

Watching Bisca leave the sauna area, Dia was positive she saw the smallest of smiles coming from their leader before disappearing inside.

Sitting once more upon the submerged seat of stone, Vera looked across the rippling pool at her friend. "Despite everything we just learned, Bisca still needs our help getting home. Especially to her lost love!" Clenching a raised fist, the dark elf was all determination as Dia quickly nodded.

"Right! We'll help her get home! It's not fair she was summoned against her will after fighting a war like that!"

"Of course, now that we know she has a man waiting for her, we'll have to get all the details even if it annoys her"

"Obviously"

With that, the dark elf and feline mage enjoyed another half hour in the sauna with the stars spinning above.

Outskirts of Avrith, Twenty miles from the Ghevan Border. August 23rd 501. H.A. (Forty three miles to Augith)

The heavy woods were perfect for the infiltration team, along with the rolling hills and smaller rivers that cut through surrounding land. Their orders were quite simple, and the five men were already on their way to completing their mission in record time.

Approaching the crumbling ruins of a long abandoned dwarven outpost, the team leader stopped, taking a cautious stance behind a fallen pillar of stonework. Peering over the moss-covered relic, his attention was instantly drawn to the large creature sleeping among the broken buildings and jutting trees.

The head was resting on a pile of rubble, the long snout covered by a colored mixture of green and brown scales. A temporary flick of the forked tongue shot out on reflex, the beast's slumbering instincts checking for threats. Other than that, however, it slept soundly with barely a rustle.

"There it is. The Grand Python. The locals say it wakes only once every ten years to feed on whatever it can find. Those future slaves in Avrith leave offerings to keep it at bay"

A different man spoke up, his voice a harsh whisper. "I heard only a class S Adventurer or a the most elite knights even have a chance to defeat this thing" The solider paused, looking at his leader. "Are we really waking this monster up?"

"Of course. Once it starts to rampage, it will either destroy Avrith, or simply bypass it and cause destruction and death in its wake. Once it destroys Augith, our glorious king will move in troops to secure the area and defeat the beast. After that, Bantill will be easy pickings. Especially with Valos pledging so many troops to fight the demon king. Even with all their allies, none of these nations can stop our military might" Smirking heavily to himself, the man imagined all the fun he would have with some of the Bantillian females.

They would soon find employment in the Ghevanian pleasure brothels or as simple sex slaves.

"Drek. Henrill. You're up" Easing himself away from the stone, the two mages moved into position, each wielding a gnarled, wooden staff to focus their magic. One was a silver-haired wolfman, the other a slender lizardman, his green scales allowing him to match the forest in some ways.

Both aiming, the magic was quick to follow.

"Iceberg!"

"Lightning Surge!"

A crackling ripple of lightning surged through the ruins, arcing and snapping past fallen homes to strike the slumbering python in the side of its head. Bursting across the scales, its eyes instantly slid open as the beast quickly rose.

Barely half a moment later, a titanic shelf of ice formed, crushing trees while churning soil. Striking the gargantuan snake, the creature was bowled over in a temporary, stunning blow.

"Mission complete! Fall back to the border!" the commander roared out as the giant snake tried to right itself and center its gaze on those that woke it. Running as fast as he could, the infiltration team was directly behind him as the snake let out a hissing roar.

"Into the river!" Drek roared out as snapping trees and slithering scales upon dirt grew louder. Jumping off the small embankment, the wolfman was already working on his next spell. Splashing into the narrow, yet deep and swiftly moving current, the mage formed a spherical air bubble around the team, letting the churning waters carry them further downstream as the mighty python let out another monstrous shriek of anger.

Finding the attackers gone, the beast turned, deciding that its anger was not satisfied. Slithering toward the town of Avrith, the settlement would soon see destruction and ruin before advancing along the main road toward Augith.

Several hours later. The city of Augith.

"Run! Everybody run!" A woman screamed frantically while pulling her two crying children along the main road. A nearby man was laden down with the bare essentials, fear in his own eyes as countless people screamed and ran in an Eastward direction.

More citizens ran and screamed, the terror in their eyes beyond reason. A few guards tried to maintain order at the city gate, but the panic was too much, easily bypassing them as the panic stricken citizens ran for their lives.

"It's coming! We're all dead!" another man bellowed, his eyes laced with fear. Suddenly grabbed by Bsica, she pulled him to a stop.

"What the hell is going on!? Why is everybody evacuating the city!?" She screamed as a woman jostled into her before running away down the road.

"It's coming! THE GRAND PYTHON!" Wrenching his arm away, he ran, the fear taking hold.

"Get to the guild!" Bisca commanded, Vera and Dia already pushing into the crowd. Quickly cutting down a side street, it was more manageable, but still laden with fleeing men, women and children of half a different species. Running and sprinting past the roads clogged with all manner of people, Bisca's face grew harsh, the memories of the war flooding back.

Reaching the adventure guild twenty minutes later after a heated sprint among twisting alleys and side streets, Bisca pushed through the doors to find the hall in chaos.

Bellanna stood on a table, the slim and busty half-orc holding up a piece of paper. "THIS IS A MANDATORY EMERGENCY! ALL ADVENTURER'S ARE TO FIGHT THE GRAND PYTHON! COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID AFTER THE BEAST IS SLAIN!"

Bisca strode up, noting that the numbers of men and women available barely numbered twenty. A mixture of some swordsmen, mages, a lone priestess, and a dragon-newt summoner. Two elves with bows were present, but judging by equipment and the nervous faces of all, none would be above class C.

"Where?" Practically seething the words, the gun mage locked eyes with Bellanna.

"The Western Road that leads to Avrith. It will be here in less than an hour. Survivors of the town and nearby villages says its in a complete rampage!"

"Vera. Dia. Let's go. The rest of you, either follow or run" Heavy bootsteps echoing across the wooden floor, the team of three women quickly left, knowing that time was running out.

"That's the Troll-Slayer. No way am I running from some giant snake!" A slender swordswoman shouted, her red hair cropped short. Hurrying after Bisca, the adventurer's followed, their bravery and promise of coin pushing them to risk their lives.

The Grand Python was fast, slithering over the rolling hills and rice farms of the surrounding lands. Some helpless souls were crushed underneath its mass, the beast simply not caring if it moved over a house or homestead. A sinister hiss erupted as the python eyed the walled city, the beast almost eager to cause ruin and destruction.

"Ahh…it's way bigger than I thought…" Vera gulped, the serpent moving closer and closer. Looking over at Dia, the black mage clutched her staff tight, her palm almost white with fear.

"This is something for A class or S class! I'm barely D-rank!" Gulping once more, Dia's tail puffed up, the fear making her instincts scream in fright.

"The riftworm was bigger" Bisca commented with barely a concern.

Vera cocked her brow, her dread momentarily forgotten. "What? Seriously?"

"Yeah. It sank whole cities. The smell inside was horrific along with monsters in its belly" Looking to the left and right as Vera trembled from that latest image, the assembled adventurer's and several city guards had arrived.

"Mages with long range spells! Aim for its head and eyes! Same with you archers! Once it's stunned, melee move in and start hacking! Keep moving and don't get crushed!" Forming a long, tube-like magical weapon, Bisca took a knee, the glowing green magic pulsating as the few mages started to build up their own spells.

The python unleashed a sinister hiss, the reptile raising its head and forward portions in a vertical rise. Its long body coiled, crushing farmland and homes behind it with barely a care. Holding momentarily still as drool dripped from its massive maw, the mercenaries, adventurer's and guards prepared for the coming attack.

"MAGIC ROCKET!" Bisca howled, the woman pouring a significant portion of her magical reserves into the shot. A green lance of light pulsed, flashing across the land. Striking the beast directly below the gaping maw, it shrieked in torment as the magic attack broke against its scales in an explosion of green particles and dust.

"LIGHTNING BOLT!"

"BURNING FLARE!"

"ACID LANCE!" the few mages yelled, their throats almost raw from the fear as their magic spells flew straight and true. Slamming into the massive python, the cascading spells splintered scales and drew the faintest amount of blood.

Raising itself higher, the python hissed, the sound carrying across the area as the elven archers fired, their arrows trying to pierce the damaged areas with little effect.

"N…no way! It's barely bleeding!" A nearby female wizard gasped, her blonde hair and snug robe showing a slender frame as she took a fearful step backwards.

"If you run, you die! Your best chance to live is to fight!" Bisca sneered out.

The python moved, its darting maw slamming into the dirt road near a few guards. They barely avoided death with a tumble, the men clamping down of fear as they sprinted to attack the long neck.

"HHHYYYA!" Vera shouted with a battle cry, the dark elf jumping and bringing her blades down. Several scales were chipped or damaged, but the effect was no where near enough to cripple the beast.

"Lightning bolt!" Dia yelled, the dark mage sending a fresh burst of electricity toward the serpent. More blasts of magic struck, a few managing to stun the snake with head strikes.

Rearing itself upward, it coiled itself, the dark eyes of its gaze falling upon Vera who tried and tried to find some weak point with numerous blade blows. Looking up, the elf suddenly realized how screwed she was as the snake flicked its forked tongue and opened its maw.

"Oh shit…"

"MOVE YOU FUCKING IDIOT!" Bisca screamed out as she pushed Vera out of harms way…just as the grand python struck. Fangs and mouth engulfed the gun mage, the python rising once again to swallow its meal.

"Bisca…BISCA!" Howling in rage, Vera moved forward, her fury and rage taking over at the sudden death of her friend. Pointing her blades flat, she managed to slide them under some damaged scales, pushing the weapons deep as the beast suddenly roared.

"GET UNDER THE SCALES!" Vera cried out, her thirst for revenge undaunted while arrows, magic, and shouts of fear filled the air.

A shadow formed far above, a circling griffon screeching a war cry. Diving at the monstrous threat, it raked deadly talons across one of the eyes, spilling viscous liquid. The rider jumped off nearby, her shimmering armor and blonde hair flowing as she pulled her blessed blade.

"Holy Protection!" Light pulsed, washing over the newcomer as Vera finally retreated, taking up station by Dia Stormclaw. Both females were panting, dripping sweat and exhaustion as the assembled warriors continued to fight.

"I don't know who you are, but I'm glad for the help"

"Celeste Brightwood. I'm searching for somebody in the city but saw this beast from my griffon after a long and hasty journey. As a holy knight, I had to intervene"

"Well, then you can help me kill it. It ate Bisca and I'll avenge my friend no matter what! Let's go, Dia!"

"Damn right! Lightning bolt!" The feline yelled, pushing more magic into yet another spell. Lightning arched out, slamming and cracking some of the scales. Vera Knightblade ran low and fast, her twin blades reflecting sunlight as she charged.

"You know Bisca? BISCA MULAN THE THENTH HERO!?" Celeste yelled at the feline mage, her mind reeling.

"We did! She's dead now! That thing ate her! Now we have to fight to save the city! LIGHTNING BOLT!" Another surge of electricity snapped and arced, rushing along side a fireball from one of the other mages.

"No…NO! She cannot have fallen here!" Rushing to join the battle, Celeste poured holy magic into her sword, the blade taking on a glowing hue of pure light. "DIE FOUL BEAST!" Magically enhanced by the light of Lanil, the blade cut through scales and flesh, causing a furrow of damage as the battle continued.

Bisca was swallowed by the snake, its insides a slick, viscous tunnel of muscle and flesh. Tumbling as she fell further into the beast's belly, the horrific smell made her want to vomit. Landing hard, she unleashed a pained cough as most of her body was now covered with a thin coating of saliva.

Somehow, her hat still rested on her head, its material now soaked with vile liquids.

The snake seemed to shift, rolling her a bit as the woman tried to stand, her boots deep in a pool of reddish liquid.

Trying to breathe through her mouth, the stench of the python's insides was even worse that way. Wiping some of the excess bile and liquid form her eyes and face, she flicked it away as the monster moved again.

"This…this disgusting" Unslinging her physical lancer, Bisca stepped forward, crushing something rotten and foul.

Thudding heartbeats came from further inside the snake, causing the gun mage to gain a sinister smile. Striding through stinking muck, fluids, and other internal material, Bisca was thrown a few times as the monster continued to battle the adventurers outside.

The thudding heart beat before her, two large arteries pumping blood in an unending cycle within the slender body. Almost leathery red in appearance, it thudded and pumped, a constant drumbeat of life.

Bisca revved up her lancer, the spinning blades a whine of metal and teeth. Quickly taking the last step, she cut through the nearest artery, the blood instantly spraying all across her armor and facial features in a warm spray that stank of copper.

"AAAUUGHHH!" Screaming to distract herself from the horror of the warm liquid splashing against her, Bisca finally cut through. Arterial blood continued to flow unabated, flooding the floor in a rising pool as the beast began to thrash about.

Getting thrown into the deepening pool of crimson liquid, the grand python was dying as its movements slowed.

"Shit…" Picking herself up, crimson dripped from every surface of her body as the cavern continued to fill with rushing blood.

The nearest wall was a sinister cavern of muscle and flesh, dripping with ichor as the woman flipped the switch of her rifle one more.

"Just like the riftworm…gotta cut my way out" Chainsaw teeth churning, Bisca gave a disgusted shout as she plunged the weapon into the wall of flesh. Blood and muscle sprayed, quickly covering the woman head to toe as sinew and vessels were severed.

"So nasty!" Pushing harder as the python reeled and twisted with one last spasm, Bisca kept at it, the spray of gore and chunks flying while the blood level continued to rise around her.

A cracking and tearing of flesh and scales suddenly ruptured, Bisca falling out among a torrent of snake blood, gore and ichor. Landing on her hands and knees, she coughed and hacked, knowing some was swallowed.

"It's…everywhere…ugh…" Trying to stand, she slipped on the puddle of blood, the woman simply giving up.

"BISCA! YOUR ALIVE!" Vera shouted with joy, the dark elf running at full speed with Dia and several others.

"Ugh…" Barely waving a hand, she let it flop back down with a sickening splash.

"What did you do!? Suddenly the python started acting crazy!" Dia asked with a horrified shout, her eyes studying the woman covered completely red with gore.

Coughing again as Vera helped her to her feet, Bisca coughed up some blood.

"Ugh…not even mine…Cut…cut its heart arteries then cut through its hide…" Spitting more blood, the taste simply would not leave her mouth. Breathing deeply, she managed not to vomit as she slowly stood. "I can't believe I got eaten like that again"

"I can't believe you're not dead, Bisca!" Hugging her friend, Vera wrinkled her nose. "You smell really bad, but I don't care!"

Dia swooped in for a hug, the purple haired cat mage taking part in the embrace. "Bisca! I'm really glad you didn't get killed!"

Celeste Brightwood couldn't believe it. The object of her mission that lasted several months stood right before her, dripping with the blood and gore of a Grand Python.

"Surviving such a foe is worthy of praise, but she actually killed the beast!" Taking a knee, Celeste planted her sword in the crimson soaked dirt, her blonde hair flowing.

"Bisca Mulan! Under order of the holy church of Lanill and the high priestess, I have come to reunite you with your comrades! You are the tenth hero and I will lay down my life to ensure you survive to defeat the demon lord!"

"She's a summoned hero?"

"The holy church wants her help defeating the demon lord…?"

A helmeted swordman surged forward, his armored pitted and scratched as more men and women muttered and talked. "ALL HAIL THE HERO! SAVIOR OF AUGITH, BISCA THE EMERALD RANGER!"

"BISCA THE HERO!"

"A PARTY FOR THE EMERALD RANGER AND HER COMPANIONS!"

"HAIL BISCA THE PYTHON SLAYER!"

"DEADLY AND BEAUTIFUL! HAIL BISCA THE RANGER!"

Bisca's eyes went wide with a shaking realization, the suddenness of her newfound hero status, the cheering, and the fact she was still covered head to toe in blood and gore just added to the sheer lunacy of the situation.

Even the blonde knight still kneeled, pledging loyalty as men and women cheered around her with unabashed joy and relief.

Stepping forward, she could feel the blood squelching in her boots, soaking her socks. Clutching her rifle as more droplets ran down her cheeks, Bisca squatted down, coming eye to eye with the holy knight. Jabbing a finger into the polished breastplate, the gun mage felt the growing anger rising. "You're going to tell me everything you know about why the fuck I was summoned to this world, who did it, and how I get back home, understand?"

"Of course, Miss Bisca the Hero!" Celeste practically shouted, her head still bowed and sword planted.

Running a hand through her blood soaked green locks that at this point were red, the woman had a fresh look of disgust on her face.

"I need a shower. Vera? Dia? Come on" Turning, the trio of women turned toward the city, leaving the giant snake corpse laying in the middle of the road as cheering grew louder.

Vera turned, waving a hand. "Well? Come on miss holy knight"

"Ah! Yes of course!" Springing to her feet, Celeste hurried, trailing behind as the word quickly spread among the citizens of Augith that the city had been saved by Bisca and her companions.

Several hours later…

The room was plush, furnished and no doubt expensive. Golden inlays decorated some of the wall corners, matching a sheening white paint. Several pieces of carved furniture decorated the room along with a dangling chandelier of crystal that illuminated the expansive hotel room.

A built in bathroom with everything and anything a person would need to clean themselves was to the left, wafts of steam of humidity still wafting out. Across from the main door was a wide, bay window overlooking Augith from the fifth floor of this extravagant hotel in the noble district of the city.

Two large beds of the finest linens and sheets rested against the right hand wall, each capable of sleeping two adults easily.

With the window open and the late summer breeze wafting in past the lace-like curtains, it was the embodiment of a luxurious rental.

Normally, the prices here would make Bisca and her team seek out lodging elsewhere. But as they had saved the city, the owner promised three full nights free of charge.

A generous offer considering the price of a single night would bankrupt the group.

Water dripped from Bisca's hair, her body wrapped in a clean towel as the copious amounts of gore and blood were now gone, washed down the drain after a thorough shower. Her now cleaned armor and weapons sat in a corner, the gun mage insisting on the proper maintenance. Sitting upon the right hand side of the first bed in the plushy suite, she listened to Celeste Brightwood retell her story.

"So? This Alma priestess is the one that summoned me? Along with nine others? And they were teleported to some church while I got dumped in the woods, convulsing from the spell that seemingly set my nerves on fire…AFTER RIPPING ME FROM MY HOMEWORLD!?" Bisca yelled, her rage instantly rising. Clutching a fist, the knuckles were almost white as her teeth clenched with seething breaths.

"I am sorry, Miss Bisca, but we needed heroes to fight the de-" Celeste tried to explain before Bisca swiped an a hand through the air in another display of anger.

"Like I give a crap about that! I've already fought through a war that devastated my planet, then get ripped from my loved ones just because your fucking church is too lazy to raise your own heroes! Not only that, but these other nine sound like civilians that have never fought anything in their life! Hell, their summoning went off without a hitch while I get dumped halfway across this planet only to end up fighting a group of bandits intending on gangraping Vera!" Pointing toward the dark elf, Bisca leaned in, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "Give me one good fucking reason why I should help you"

"Surely you're not so heartless to place yourself above the needs of a whole world!? The demon king's army is rampaging across Dranell! Nearly a dozen countries have fallen or are in full retreat! We need all the heroes to defeat his evil!" Celeste suddenly stood up with a horrified shout, her voice full of disbelief at Bisca's level of uncaring.

Crossing her arms, the towel wrapped around her torso almost fell, not that Bisca noticed. "You still haven't given me a reason aside from the fact I'm going to break that bitch Alma's nose for stranding me on this planet with no way home"

"She would strike the High Priestess!? But she is a beacon of light and peace! Bisca must be bluf—" Celeste took one more look at the glowering gaze emanating from the gun mage, her stance practically screaming rage and fury. Turning her head to seek help from Dia and Vera, Celeste instantly knew those two would back Bisca in any decision based on the events so far.

Calming herself, Celeste sat back down on the second bed, her blonde hair flowing like golden wheat. "I see that your motivation is vastly different from the other heroes. Very well, it is rumored that once the demon king is sealed once more, the priestess can cast a reverse summoning. However, I do not know for certain if that is true or just a story passed down through the centuries"

"So basically, even if I defeat this asshole tearing up Dranell, there is still a fifty-fifty chance that I'll be stuck here forever"

"Yes"

Sitting back down on the other bed, Bisca stared at the knight, her gaze boring into the woman's soul. Tapping a slender finger on a bare thigh, she finally gave a slow nod as her anger started to ebb.

"That's a better chance than what I started the day with. Alright, I'll help you kill this demon, but don't expect to leave tomorrow. I going to meet with Tork and see how things are going. Plus, you need to plot a journey back to Kalm, right? That teleportation gate the church has there?"

"Yes. It's only for official church use or for the direst of emergencies. No doubt the assembled armies of man are sending troops through to the Dranell gate at the city of Kia. But, some nations would be better to send naval transports instead as overla-"

Bisca waved a hand to silence the blonde woman, not really caring about the possible logistics from several dozen different countries. She had no desire to know if the Kingdom of Basill along the northern portion of this continent would sail or send troops through the gate at Kalm.

What she did care about was the possibility of a new war exploding soon, especially since the balance of military power was quickly shifting in favor of Ghevan.

"Kalm. That city is located North-West of Ghevan, right? Wouldn't put it past those assholes to try something that just fucks up my journey home. Taking that city would be a rich prize to them" Scowling once more, Bisca stood up, the woman quickly approaching her travel pack.

"Vera? Dia? Take the rest of the day off. I doubt the guild has any jobs right now anyway considering we left a giant snake corpse outside the city walls" Pulling out a fresh pair of undergarments, a light green shirt and tan pants, Bisca started to get dressed.

"Really? You're not going to track us down to drag us on some new quest after I've been drinking?" Vera asked suspiciously.

"I've never done that. You seem to forget that you're the one that is constantly begging for new quests" Wriggling into the green shirt that was a little too tight, the fabric hugged her chest quite well. "But whatever. Go have fun and enjoy the parties. Just don't get so drunk you sleep with five men at once"

"I WOULD NEVER DO THAT!" Stomping her foot, Vera fumed.

"Don't worry, Bisca! I'll keep an eye on her" Dia smiled, the feline mage unleashing a small giggle.

Cocking an eye at the two, Bisca slid on her pants then grabbed her signature hat. "Just…don't do anything stupid" Studying the cowgirl hat, Bisca sighed at its state. While a majority of the filth had been scrubbed, it was glaringly apparent that some light stains would remain. Setting it upon her head with a slight adjustment, her main ammo belt and hip holster came next for the Boltok.

"Miss Bisca? Are you really going to continue wearing that filthy hat? I would be happy to find you a new one?" Celeste offered, hoping to gain some measure of approval with this difficult woman.

The response was swift and lightly threatening. "No. It was a gift from the man I love and has been with me through every battle. You throw it out and I'll break something, got it?"

"Oh…my apologies. I had no intent to insult you" Celeste bowed, her formality a little grating.

"Whatever" Hefting her lancer, Bisca would have to carry it as she had no desire to fully armor herself for a trip to Vork's workshop.

"Okay! You have fun with gnomes and steam engines! I'm gonna go join the party at the guild hall! WOOOO!" Running out of the room with raised arms, Dia quickly followed, both female's intent on a fun time.

Celeste wrapped a hand around the exposed hilt of her sword, the blonde knight ready.

"Um…you could go with them? I'm just going to Vork's"

"It is my duty to ensure that your life is protected at all times. As a summoned hero, I cannot not leave your side, especially now that your status is spreading. It will only be a matter of time before nefarious forces attempt to subjugate or destroy you. I will ensure that does not happen"

Bisca slightly sagged, not wanting to deal with the knight. "You do realize I fought through a global war back home? Or that I survived all this time without you watching my every move?"

"Regardless, I must carry out my mission until we return to the city of Lanill"

'She's like a blonde Erza…well. Before all the shit anyway. Was Erza always this uptight? It's hard to think about now"

"Fine. Whatever" Cradling her rifle near her chest, Bisca left the room given free of charge by a grateful innkeeper, the knight rapidly stepping in line behind her.

Bisca was on edge by the time she stepped into the manufacturing shop owned by Vork and his many gnomes.

"Did every single person have to try and shake my hand or buy me something? They're lucky I didn't accidentally shoot them" Trying to destress the clutching grip she had on her rifle with a flex of her fingers, the greenette breathed as a few civilians cheered her name outside, the exhalation calming in a minimal way.

The worst had been when someone would randomly jump out of side streets or the doorways of buildings, their loud voices almost pushing her over the edge.

"Are you feeling unwell miss Bisca?" Celeste asked with obvious concern, the knight studying the visibly stressed woman.

"I'm fine" she replied with a dull, emotionless tone.

"Killing them would be easy…frightfully easy…" Bisca told herself a brief moment later before quickly pushing the dark thoughts away as Vork approached among the clangs of machinery, gnomes yelling, and the oppressive heat.

"Bisca! Thank you for saving my shop and the coming age of firearms! Please, follow me!" The owner shouted with abundant pleasantness as a steam whistle blew.

"I hope you've taken precautions with the gunpowder. One spark could kill everybody in this shop"

Vork snorted, insulted at the words. "You think I'd be dumb enough to not take the proper steps? I've been crafting arquebus weapons for a few years now, I'm well aware of the dangers of gunpowder, Bisca"

"Just checking" Casting her gaze to a gnome talking with a few dwarves and humans, the four males were inspecting some empty brass casings that had been recently rolled. Past that collection of workers were a few more gnomes, each working on the rifling aspect of the long weapons while several dwarves observed the process.

There was a dull shrill noise, harsh and mechanical as the boring lathes belched steam.

"These gnomes work incredible fast. I was gone for two weeks and they're already lathing rifles, crafting bullets, and who knows what else"

It was inconceivably convenient that these shorter men could achieve so much in such a short amount of time.

Not about to complain about how fate worked in her favor, Bisca kept pace with Vork. Coming to a table with about ten finished long shot rifles, the owner extended his hand in a bit of showmanship. "Thanks to a very lucrative business contract with Nolan Cremore, one of the most wealthy trade merchants in the country, I've been flushed with workers, materials and the ability to sub-contract some of the work to his own shops. He and his brother are very excited about the possibilities with these firearms, Bisca"

"They should be, these weapons will allow every soldier of this nation to cause great losses on an invading enemy" Picking one up, Bisca worked the bolt, finding it smooth and oiled before sliding it back in place. Peering down the iron sights, she couldn't help but to be impressed. "You really did manage to copy my own longshot. Any chance you have some bullets to fire?"

Vork grunted, shoving a small box on the table forward. "This is all we've managed to make so far for your… spinning blade rifle there"

"That's it?" Bisca asked with a sense of disappointment.

"Don't give me that tone. I know damn well your impressed" Vork finished with pride. Crossing his short, bare arms over his work smock, he was almost defiant as a steam whistle blew shrill and sharp.

"It is impressive work you've accomplished already" Holding up one of the loose rounds, Bisca inspected it with a critical eye, not finding blemishes at all. Setting it on the table suddenly, she quickly compared to her own store of munitions, trying to find differences.

"Miss Bisca? What are those tiny things?" Celeste finally asked in curiosity, the knight lowering herself to study the tiny objects.

"Bullets. For killing men and monsters" She replied offhandedly. "Vork? You follow the chemical compositions? Too much or too little could either blow up the gun or become a dud"

"Think I didn't? I made this batch myself with my son leading a team of chemists and loaders as we speak. They're up to par. By tomorrow, we should have the processes churning out dozens or hundreds every hour"

"Hmmm…We'll have to see during a test firing"

Vork let out a throaty laugh, his bushy beard and pointed hat vibrating. "Funny you should ask that! Lord Cremore, his brother, and some officers from the king want a demonstration as soon as possible. With you here, I imagine they'd want you to lead the demonstration tomorrow. Plus, meeting the hero that saved our city will certainly be a boon for my business" Chuckling to himself again, the gnome knew he was going to become very rich.

"When and where?"

"Eh. At the training center and guard barracks in the middle of the city tomorrow morning"

"I'll be there" Taking one last look at the rifles on the table, Bisca gave a curt nod and left, knowing there wasn't much else to be done. "Unless I test fire in the shop? No…that would cause problems. Something Levy would do for sure"

Stepping outside, a crowd of civilians were waiting, cheering her name.

"BISCA THE HERO!"

"BISCA THE PYTHON SLAYER!"

"THE EMERALD RANGER! THANK YOU FOR SAVING USSSS!"

Men and women cheered while children threw petals and flowers, their smiles contagious. Bisca awkwardly tried to wave with a nervous smile, but the crowd of civilians were loud, noisy and pushy.

"Please make way for the hero! She has pressing business!" Standing straight and firm, Celeste rested a gauntleted hand on the hilt of her sword while pressing forward. "Your thanks and admiration are appreciated, but please go about you day!"

The cheers and shouting made Bisca's stress climb, the gun mage gripping her rifle even tighter. Knuckles almost white with tension, she followed the knight through the crowds…

The next morning. Augith Guards Training Grounds

Situated near the middle of the city and just south of the noble district, the tiny fortress was home to several hundred guards. A two story stone wall wrapped around the compound, its maintenance well kept. Mostly devoid of structures, the grounds were instead divided into zones for sword training, archery, and physical training.

Not that those details mattered to the dark elf.

Vera barely managed to hold down the bile, the elf doubled over behind some old barrels in the corner of the training yard. Nestled near one of the barracks, the woman breathed deeply, feeling another urge.

"I told you not to drink so much last night, Vera"

Vera looked over at Dia, her face tinted a bit green as sweat warmed her forehead, making strands of silver hair stick. "No..no you didn't. You bought me drin…urk"

The mere thought of alcohol made her vomit, the drink of last night…along with hours of partying, cheering and offers from men finally pushed her over the edge.

What was she supposed to do? Not celebrate with the entire guild and be thankful the city still stood?

Vomiting again, the busty dark elf finished the horrible task.

"At least I didn't wake up in a stranger's bed like that half-orc woman" Taking a swig of water, she cleansed the disgusting taste from her mouth. "Ugh…why are we even here again?"

"Bisca is preforming a weapons demonstration for Lord Cremore, his brother, several officers, and some representatives from King Bantill himself"

Pointing toward the open center of the field, Dia never thought she would be this close to anybody of the noble classes, let alone an actual lord of the land.

"Can't I just go back to the inn and sleep?"

"No. Now are you done?'

Vera quickly nodded, her stomach purged for the moment while her head slightly swam from the motion. Practically dragged by her feline friend, the two women made their way to the demonstration area, doing their best to stay un-noticed.

Bisca was holding one of the newly constructed rifles, her gaze falling on a rounded target one hundred feet away.

"Miss Bisca? Are you sure you don't want to move closer?" Nolan Cremore inquired, the merchant concerned about the distance. Standing next to his brother, Vork the gnome, and several officers. They knew of firearms, but they were clumsy, slow to load, and often, unreliable.

"It's fine. This is just a demonstration. This rifle has a range of a thousand yards assuming nothing stops the bullet" Taking a knee in the compacted dirt, Bisca pressed the rifle to her shoulder while feeding a fresh round through the movement of the bolt. Sliding in four more, she made the weapon ready to fire.

Breathing deeply as her grungy, gore streaked hat blocked beams of sunlight, she fired.

"AHH! MY HEAD!" Vera howled, the elf clamping hands over her pointed ears as the noise echoed like hammers.

"That's what you get for drinking too much" Bisca calmly retorted before working the bolt. The spent cartridge went flying, spinning with ejection while a fresh round was fed. Firing again, Bisca quickly went through the motions of putting rounds downrange.

Lowering the rifle as wafts of smoke drifted from the barrel, she stood and placed the weapon on the nearby table. Retrieving her own lancer, she slammed in a magazine filled with Vork rifle rounds. Stepping back to the firing line, she spoke above the ringing in her ears.

"This is my personal rifle, a Lancer Mark Two! While Vork does have the blueprints, the stamping machining required will make this very expensive to produce. I recommend production concentration on the rifle I just used" Quickly reacquiring the target, she fired a short burst, the brass kicking. More bursts of fire followed, the gun mage using up the entire magazine in several seconds.

Finishing with that weapon, Bisca retrieved her Boltok from the table. Shifting toward a target twenty five feet away, she checked the loadout one last time.

"This is a back-up firearm for close range combat. Heavy stopping power means most men will not get up after getting shot!" Firing at the newest target, holes were quickly punched in the center ring before clicking empty. Spilling the spent brass to the dirt, Bisca held up the sidearm. "This would be best suited for officers, cavalry or soldiers most likely to close with the enemy! Vork and his business partners will be able to make this firearm as its mechanics are far simpler than my Lancer! If you wish to try yourself, I will supervise! However, if you behave foolishly and wave these weapons of war around, I will drop you!"

"This could change the face of war forever. Just imagine if every soldier of Bantill had these. The hordes of Ghevan would wither against us…" A representative from the king muttered in astonishment.

"And the demon king. His orcs, goblins and war beasts would have no defense against these new rifles" A blonde officer concluded, his mind already thinking of the possibilities.

"HAH! This settles it!" Nolan Cremore concluded as he swayed toward the hero of Augith.

Cocking one of her eyebrows at the strange mannerisms of this merchant she vaguely remembered, Bisca was even more confused as he took a knee before her.

"Madame Bisca. Savior of Augith, the Troll Slayer and summoned hero of another world….Please accept my proposal for marriage and help the country of Bantill survive" Looking upward at the emerald haired woman, Nolan put on his most pleasant smile.

Bisca took a step back with a stunned expression, the sheer insanity of the words spilling from the merchant's mouth as Lord Augith palmed his face in embarrassment. Nobles and several men nodded in agreement, seeing the woman as viable partner for the merchant.

"Wh…what the fuck!?"

Gantrill, Capital City of Ghevan. August 24th, H.A. 501

Bisected by a large river that cut through the valleys of the surrounding hills, the city of half a million could be best described as drab, dull and utilitarian. With hardly any viable architecture, artistry, or culture, the kingdom of Ghevan only pursued the advancement of wealth, territory and military might.

During the last decade, half a dozen minor kingdoms had been absorbed or conquered, the citizens of those lands quicky beaten, broken or enslaved.

It was only through the military might of Valos to the East that the king's ambitions had been checked, but now that was quickly changing as troops and ships sailed from their Eastern ports to join the war effort against the demon hordes.

It was the perfect time to strike.

King Phillip Ghevan the Third was a by no means an attractive man in the classical sense. Narrow eyes rested above a pointed, hawkish nose, adding to the sense of brutality in his heart. Already bald, his black beard hid thin lips as he leaned over the map table with his generals and three sons.

The princes themselves had won the genetic lottery, missing the obvious blemishes that haunted their father. But despite their smooth, chiseled features and flowing manes of hair, they had that same dark soul of vileness.

To them, demi-humans, elves, and the vanquished were nothing more than slaves or peasants to be exploited. Nobles like them existed to oversee and rule, not to befriend.

"Your majesty, the strike team successfully awakened the Grand Python, but it was defeated at the gates of Augith. Details are still unclear, but our spies say a collection of guards and adventurers managed to slay the beast"

"How does that effect our plans for that theater, General Almiss?"

"The beast was only meant to cause havoc and devastation, allowing us to secure the farmlands of southern Bantill without issue. However, I would like to delay our invasion until the middle of the month. Securing extra supplies, wagons, and horses for the troops will greatly increase their readiness and effectiveness, especially since the region is no doubt on higher alert. The Bantillians are not fools, my king, and expect war at any time"

King Ghevan had to agree with Almiss. A short delay along the Eastern border would not ruin them, especially if the General thought it best.

One thing Phillip had learned during his reign…let his officers do their jobs. Studying the map once more, his finger slid toward the markers representing their forces along the North-Western border.

"Kalm, Temmol, and the Kingdom of Haveron…do they suspect anything?"

"They have increased border patrols in Haveron since we share a border, but they're allied with Kalm and believe nobody has the audacity to attack that holy city. To them, the idea is almost sacrilege"

"Excellent. Their ore mines and western farmlands will help feed our population and soldiers. But, the true prize is the magical transport gate in Kalm. We take that city, and the northern continent of Basil is ours!" Allowing himself a small smile of presumed victory, Phillip pointed to his eldest son, Gaston. "You will take charge of the Bantill invasion force. Twenty-five thousand men are yours to command. Take Augith and the Southern region. With their food supply taken, they will quickly crumble and submit"

"Consider it done, father" Gaston bowed, his eagerness spilling from his throat.

"Don't make foolish statements. You haven't even started yet, and war is unpredictable. Listen to the officers and don't presume that you know everything" Narrow eyes studied his two other sons and the surrounding generals, his face a pinched scowl.

"Men, prepare for war"

There we go! I think that's a good point to end the chapter! Celeste managed to find Bisca, the ladies killed some orcs and got to see some busty bodies while the new rifle industry starts to ramp up. Next chapter will obviously be the start of Ghevan waging war and all that while Celeste tries to 'protect' Bisca.

Also, I realize that this story isn't really for everyone, but I enjoy writing it anyway. Even if it gets minimal attention, that's fine. It's still fun to write.

Anyway, I'll probably do a 'Traveling the Multiverse' chapter next along with Rising from the Embers of Sera. Hopefully one will be done in a few weeks depending on work.

As always, read, review and enjoy!

Thehappy