As a matter of course Milo was a Hunter, and thus when it came down to it he would snuff out any Mamono he crossed. It was his profession, his unique skills and magics lent him the ability to overpower most monsters he came across, to say that he had become as much a predator as the beasts that stalked Humanity was certainly correct.
So then why does he hesitate to end this single Mamono's life?
The maid at his feet was powerless to stop him, she had already passed out from shock after he had spooked her not a moment earlier. She more than likely witnessed him dispatching the Gargoyle, so it was easy enough to instill some terror in her. His original intent was to interrogate her into revealing the location of his main target, but the scare tactic proved to be a smidge too effective. She was useless to him now.
The saber in his hand pressed the tip up against the girl's throat, with just a fraction of his weight he could end the Mamono and be done with this… But still his hand refused to listen to him. Why? The answer would not come to him, no matter how many precious seconds he wasted pondering his inaction.
With a gentle motion so as to not actually cut the skin he traced the sword point up the girl's chin, past subtly plump lips, and used it to move some locks of silky auburn hair away from her tear streaked eyes. Her makeup was ruined by this point, but somehow the dark smudges running down her cheeks didn't detract from her natural beauty. He recognized the maid now, she had been the one who the Gazer had tormented earlier.
Milo recalled the scene; it had happened right as he had scaled the walls and was looking for a suitable entrance to the fortress, while looking though a window to inspect the interior he came across them. From his vantage point just above the two Mamono's heads he had witnessed the whole interaction between the Kikimora and the vile tentacle abomination. Milo wasn't sure how the Gazer hadn't bothered to look up with any of her many eyeball stricken appendages, he put that up to the sadistic brute focusing her vision straight at her target. The… casual and malicious way she had emotionally assaulted her fellow comrade further solidified his view that there still existed Mamono that needed to be slain.
Then what about this Kikimora though? She had been the victim, just as much as if she were a Human in that situation; but then were these feelings of sympathy enough to warrant her sparing? Could she possibly be one of the so called 'Good Mamono'? …But then what if he was wrong, and in an act of kindness and pity he had condemned other Humans to suffer because she was left alive?
No… It wasn't worth the risk, it was a shame but doctrine dictated that he finish her off here and now. The saber was redrawn across the soft skin until the blade caressed her windpipe. The gentle breathing of the unconscious Mamono only causing her slim chest to rise slightly with each intake. It was as if she was peacefully dreaming. It would be a mercy, as she'd feel no pain in her final moments.
Milo was about ready to plunge his blade when the girl decided to talk within her slumber. "Mis…tress… I… Your… -cious treasure... Let you... down…"
The Hunter withdrew his blade fully now and knelt down, leaning in until his beaked mask nearly touched her forehead to see if he could catch any more of the sleep talk, but that seemed to be as much as of the dream that would seep out into reality. Anything more that came from the girls lips were lost in incoherent murmurs and a slight string of drool leaking onto her dress.
With a sigh Milo stood back up and sheathed his blade. "Damn it. You're really making it hard to kill you, you know?" Leaning back down the Hunter used one of his gloved thumbs to wipe the string of drool off the Kikimora's mouth.
With a bit of rope from one of his pouches the maid was quickly trussed up and ready to be slung over his shoulder. This little detour of his would cost him some precious time, but if this little monster had any info on how to access the Vampire's 'Treasure' then it'd be worth it in the end. This line of rationalizing his actions kept him occupied as he ran through the castle, his 'passenger' slung like a sack of potatoes across his shoulder.
"Get ready men! The time is neigh for Humanity to show these bestial dogs the light of her Holiness, the Chief Goddess smiles on us this day!"
The young lad shouting his throat off at the head of the formation of Order troopers, clad in gaudy golden armor, was supposedly one of the chosen Heroes gifted by said Goddess. To be perfectly honest, Jacob Valdis didn't see much of what the whole fuss was about.
Sure, the kid could survive within the thick miasma of the Demon Realm without his mask on due to his patron's wards, but if that was all the Chief God had seen fit to gift him then Jacob could immediately list two dozen other good men and women who could have benefited from such a boon. Rather than this jumped up school boy playing at being a 'Leader' there were medics, sappers, and mages that often found their masks getting in the way of their work, but instead it was this golden haired child atop his horse.
They had been wasting precious minutes as this speech about the righteousness of their holy mission droned on and on. If Jacob any say in the matter, the Duke's son would have made a better firebrand preacher than a military leader.
"Enemies of the Order shall burn!" Yep, definitely a firebrand alright.
With that part wrapped up Roderick Ainsworthy was about to launch himself into another tirade before one of his flunkies went up and whispered something in his ear. Whatever she said, it got him nodding in agreement before directing his attention back to the massed forces before him.
"Alright, prepare yourselves for battle! Make sure to show no quarter to these foul monsters!"
With a collective sigh of relief at the finality of the boy's rant everyone began to move into position. The noise was intense, as command whistles blew, marching drums beat, and several hundred men and woman marched in synch with each other. Several square formations of pike and shot sprung up along the flanks, while artillery pieces where wheeled up the center, their aim was at the practically shredded main entrance to Castle Kharstien's last bastion. The only thing keeping the gate together after the night long barrage was the faint glow of sorceries of the defenders.
Jacob watched with a critical eye with his men as they formed a flanking formation to the right. Their battle plan had been simple, yet an effective strategy: to draw the enemy out, bait them into their killing fields of fire, rinse and repeat. It was simple, yes, but relied upon the Monsters to fall for the obvious ploy. Sure, there would still be a portion of their forces that would seek out a direct battle regardless, those were the Oni and other similarly honor bound or simple minded Mamono. But the others… Too many unknowns about what species actually consisted of the opposing force to form any more of a detailed strategy.
If they retreated further into the keep then it would be a grueling door to door fight with the Mamono having the home advantage. It was imperative they kept the Mamono focused on them until their numbers were culled down to a more manageable size.
It was up to Milo to help insure there was a steady flow of Mamono rushing to their death.
Once the last formation of Order soldiers had found their staging ground a silence came over the streets of Kharstien. It was eerie to say the least, as nearly a thousand Humans silently stood at attention. Not even the degenerates up on the ramparts could be heard, as they too watched with anticipation as to what was about to happen.
Then a horn blew, signaling the last act to take place. As an answer to the call for battle two dozen eighteen-pounder cannons detonated their powder all at once. Those that were close enough could feel the shockwave of the massed artillery deep inside their ribs, to a few who had experienced fighting upon the seas they would have likened the shots to that of a full naval ships' broadside.
Two dozen heavy lead balls shot forth, their kinetic payload obliterating the remnants of the once regal looking gate. With a blinding white flash of light the enchanted seals placed upon the doors were broken. If the metal balls didn't penetrate the structure's orifice then the shrapnel caused by spalling would have shredded those who had taken shelter behind the now pried open gateway.
Regardless, it was pointless to guess how many perished in the first volley. The raining debris and fallout of the impacts and subsequent magical explosion left a massive plume of smoke to obscure the now gaping entrance.
From the depths of the keep came a soul shuddering roar, as hundreds of giant class Mamono sprung forth from the cloud of dust. The red, green, and blue skins of the girls charging forth confirmed Brigg's suspicion that it was indeed Oni, Ogres, and Cyclops leading the counter attack.
What was odd though was for a city ruled by the undead Vampire Lord there was a distinct lack of any undead Mamono in their forces… Oh well, they'll have to burn that Bridge Troll when they got to it.
With a battle cry to match any of the giant ladies rushing forwards Jacob raised his war hammer, "Men! ATTACK!" His forces echoed his valiant call, two hundred of his best fighters lowered their pikes and charged into the flank of the oncoming Mamono.
Beneath the fiery red sky the Order would see their conquest fulfilled, no matter how much blood needed to be spilled.
Diana didn't feel anything for the longest time, neither could she see, as her world was an endless void of dark shadows.
From what she had overheard other girls talk about what the afterlife might actually be like she had thought there would be something a bit more raunchy than being stuck within a void by yourself. Certainly the Extremist faction harped on about a sea of endless pleasure, with a Husband for every Mamono, or to be reunited with their departed partners so as to never leave each other's side even after death! That the love they shared would build their own garden of Eden to frolic in.
…Diana never had a Husband before, so perhaps that was why she was here? The only being in an absolutely barren plane of existence. Was she condemned to an eternity of loneliness, all because she never found a Master to mate with?
…Purgatory would have been more bearable if she at least had someone to talk to...
It seemed as if someone had heard her prayer as a low and slightly raspy voice chimed in her ear "Wake up." How could she? The sleep of the dead was eternal, even most undead Mamono needed something to rouse them from their slumber. Diana doubted that she was ready yet to wake from this afterlife. She was a weakling after all. She didn't have the willpower to escape death.
"I said wake up!" Something stung the Kikimora's cheek, a feeling of a pulling tightness along her soft skin, as if her face was being pinched.
"I… I can't!" Diana cried into the void, "I'm not ready yet to become an undead!"
"…Girl…" the masculine voice sounded annoyed with her, "If you do not wake up then I shall send you to Hel herself!"
A leather gloved hand slapped the Kikimora hard across her other cheek, the power behind it enough to twist her head nearly off her neck. That roused Diana in an instant, with a gasp her eyes fluttered open to see she was indeed not dead, but Diana was soon to realize she might have been better off in the afterlife.
Crouching in front of the Kikimora, still wearing his weird owl skull mask, was the deadly Human that had infiltrated the castle. Diana's chest hitched as her blood ran ice cold in his presence.
With a squeak the Mamono maid attempted to push herself as far away from the monster in front of her, which led her to a terrifying discovery: she was tied and bound to a chair, her arms and legs uselessly struggled against the rope that bound her. Her wide hazel eyes began frantically darting around the room she was held captive in, desperate to find someone to save her!
When she didn't see any immediate source of escape Diana opened her mouth wide. As she was about to let out perhaps the loudest scream she had ever made in her life a black leather glove snapped up and immediately clasped itself over her mouth, a dagger had materialized itself out of thin air and was held in the man's other hand as it pressed up against soft flesh beneath Diana's eye. She could feel the cold steel press into her cheek with just enough pressure to draw a rivet of blood along it's length. The scream came out only as a muffled whimper.
"I'd advise against doing that," the Mamono Hunter chided calmly, "My blade is faster than any beast you could call to your aide. So, be a good little girl and keep that mouth shut. Okay?"
Diana didn't know what she should do, she was powerless and at the Human's mercy… However she wanted to live so desperately after getting a taste of what death for her might look like. She didn't want to die yet without living her life; she wanted to meet her fated soul mate, experience love, and have a family with him. She wanted to see the sun rise and see the wonders of the world like never before.
Diana nodded her head slowly behind the gloved hand, hot fresh tears running down her cheeks.
The glove was slowly removed from her face and a rush of oxygen flooded the Kikomora's burning lungs, causing her to hack uncontrollably, it wasn't until she could breath again did she even realize she'd nearly suffocated.
A canteen of was brought up to her lips and Diana hungrily sipped at the offered water, too busy trying to calm her lungs to check if what she had been drinking was actually water or poison… Not that she was in any position to reject it either…
"Good girl," the Human cooed behind owl shaped mask, it's dark lenses glaring into Diana's own scared eyes. "Now, I've got a few questions I'm going to give you, and you're going to answer each and every one of them."
Deep below the demonic fortress, dust began to sift from the ceiling with each tremor that rocked the foundation. Spiders and rats skittered for safety whenever a cannon struck the stonework above. Several priceless tomes and artifacts were knocked off their cobweb strewn shelves, some never survived the fall to the laboratory's floor, their irreplaceable knowledge lost forever.
No matter, Gloria would just have to spend a few more centuries to rediscover their mysteries again.
The grey Lich floated across to one of the shelves still intact, a purple aura encapsulated on of the intact grimoires and pulled it to her hands, the leather cover writhed beneath her touch as if alive in some unholy fashion. This forbidden book had survived throughout the millennium, predating even some of the original Demon Lords, back to the primordial times.
Gloria licked one of her fingertips and turned the screaming pages with a bored expression, as if she was reading any corner store slutty pulp fiction. Her fingers didn't stop until she found the section she was searching for.
Returning to the occupied lab tables Gloria set about finishing up her grim work, the zombie girls strapped in looked on at her with vacuous eyes. Normally the Lich didn't have to deal with such mortal constraints as "time" and "immediate looming destruction if the Order found her", so her work had to be uncharacteristically rushed… But it'd do.
Snapping a pair of goggles over her glowing eyes and letting the ancient arcane powers course through her veins the Lich began to chant words of power that had not been heard upon this mortal plane since the dawn of man. The demonic silver cross she had strapped to her back began to vibrate with energies as Gloria syphoned mana through it as a conduit.
The walking corpses on top of each gantry writhed in agony and screamed in unholy pitches, as their rotten bodies soon began to shoulder and grow as their dead cells were broken down and reconstituted into something never before seen. Had they been alive to begin with the process would have surely killed them by overloading their brains with unimaginable pain.
Nestled deep within the ancient catacombs that sprawled throughout Kharstien Gloria Maleficent used her necromantic powers along with the tome of Arse Goetia to fabricate an unbeatable army of undead to drive out the Order from her home above.
Author's Post Notes:
In part 2 of our Guild to OaHF we learn all about the Incubi of this world. I've even made it bullet point!
・No, Mamono do not birth male Incubi. (Yet in the Official release).
・Yes, Incubi have greater mana and powers akin to Mamono. Even sharing similar characteristics of their Wives.
・No, Incubi aren't second class citizens in the Demon Realms, if anything they're dotted on to an extreme as to the Mamono their husbands are very precious.
・Yes, Incubi of certain types do have extended life to match their partners.
・No, True Incubi aren't drooling sex slaves (unless they want to be), they're just hornier to match their partner's needs.
・Yes, Mamono need Incubi to live, but unless their species in the book specifically state that they'll die without mana from their "Husbands" they can survive by other means, though it's 'healthier' for Mono to feed off of Incubi mana.
・No, Incubi are not formed against their wills, or at least not fully if they're raped into being so. If they haven't fallen for their Mamono or share their love they will instead turn into zombie like husks as the feedback loop that generates between Mamono/Incubi couples is non-existent.
Now remember, if you believe being an Incubi isn't for you see a cleric or priest of your desired faith to wash away that DE! Otherwise... It's permanent.