Hello people and welcome back to Goblin Slayer: The Team Year 2. Now that Ranger is Platinum Rank and his team (and Storm Mage) are Gold Ranked...let's see where they go from here.
Review Response: Yeah, I can see why a "Praetor" armor beats the Berserker Armor, although...GS facing his inner demons could make a world of difference...although Cow Girl having him do that would secure their relationship quite well. But you have a point; poor girl's been through hell recently, so even if GS was interested in sex, which I doubt considering his introduction to it...I doubt he'd go for that, or even be very good at it.
It's "Revenant"; the 1st one acted like he cared about nothing, when he really just wanted to be able to live again...even though he wanted to provide the greatest service which meant he couldn't really live. Elder Revenant doesn't have that problem. As for his quest for armor? Well...we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
I honestly never thought about Wizard's bro and Rhea Fighter's ranks, and I'm a bit embarrassed. Also...I saw that Rhea Fighter has a sword and shield...I wish I knew about that earlier; she's a complete shoo-in for several upgrades!
"I would be honored to marry the two of you like I did for them." Sword Maiden said.
"That would be lovely Your Grace." Wizard said as she kept holding her new fiance.
"Will it be another big wedding?" Cow Girl asked.
"I don't think so; let's surprise everyone with our marriage itself this time." Warrior said.
"For once, you're thinking like me." Wizard teased.
"Hey, what do you mean "for once"? I may not have a brain the size of a mountain, but I can still think on my toes like the best of them." Warrior said.
"Says the guy who would still have trouble swinging his blade in a straight line if it wasn't for my husband here." Fighter teased.
"O.k. that is a low blow..." Warrior said dryly and the others laughed at the antics presented to them.
"Now, I'm happy for the two of you and all, but when do the two of us get our Gold Ranks? I don't want to be Steel Rank forever." Wizard's brother said.
"Me neither." Rhea Fighter said.
"Well, since we have some time to spare, we'll get to work on your stuff right away. As for you, my dear brother...well, we'll get you sorted out when we get back." Wizard said with genuine sugar in her voice.
"Someone's in a good mood." Fighter said knowingly.
"Hey, what girl wouldn't be?" Wizard asked dryly.
"Next to me? Probably none." Warrior boasted.
"You're luc-" Warrior cuts her off.
"...lucky I don't have my staff. I love you to pieces, but you're more predictable than I could ever be." Warrior said and a few people laughed.
"Can we go to bed now?" Priestess asked.
"First...I want to dance again, as an engaged lady...by ourselves." Wizard said while leaning into her fiance.
"Alright, say no more. Let's go people." H.E. Archer said as several of them left...except for Priestess, Ranger, Fighter, and Wizard's brother.
"Why are you still here?" Wizard asked.
"Cambion...he said we have a month to prepare...but what if he does something between then and now?" Ranger asked then Cherub poofed in.
"If he does, I'll let you know. Now, put that month to use, get some training and head-busting in, and you two, get married pronto." He said.
"Well that's romantic..." Wizard said sarcastically.
"You don't even want a huge wedding anyway; getting one set up should be cake." Fighter said.
"She's got a point." Warrior said.
"And it's taken." Wizard said with a huff.
"Alright...now, get some shut-eye...you're going to need it." Cherub said before vanishing.
"Nice of him to drop by. I swear, these cases can be more awkward than the talk we had with Sword Maiden after our marriage." Fighter said.
"What did she want?" Warrior asked.
"Oh...just about what our roles are, and that I had a duel with Goblin Slayer that ended in a draw." Ranger said and Rhea Fighter, and Wizard's brother raised their eyebrows.
"What did you say about us?" Wizard asked and Fighter groaned awkwardly. "You didn't say anything did you?"
"About you? Yes, plenty. About him? Ehhh, no...didn't get a chance." Fighter said.
"Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me?! You had a golden opportunity to put in a good word for me with the freaking Sword Maiden and you didn't take it? That's the stinkiest pile of donkey shit you've ever dropped on me!" Warrior exclaimed.
"We can do so now, especially since we're Gold Rank now." Priestess said.
"Oh...I have quite a bit to tell Her Grace, I promise you that; I'm even going to tell your stories I've heard about, just to show you how it's done." Warrior said.
"Boom! There's the fire of a dragon right there." Wizard said playfully.
"Well...while you do that, I'm going to bed." Wizard's brother said as he walked away.
"Me too." Rhea Fighter said as she followed.
"So am I, enjoy your dance you two." Priestess said with a small bow before leaving.
"Look...we're sorry,. If we could've talked to Sword Maiden about what you do for the team, we would've." Fighter said.
"Believe it or not, the fact that she went an entire year without knowing what I do for this team is what gets me." Warrior said.
"Well, we probably would've said you've been taking after me, and...it's not wrong." Ranger said.
"No it's not..." Wizard said with a small smile.
"So, what? You would've married the boss if Fighter hadn't gotten him first?" Warrior asked and Wizard stared at him.
"That is the weirdest question I've ever been asked..." She said.
"Maybe in some other reality, you two did get hooked up. But in this one...I'm not sharing." Fighter said as she tugged on Ranger's arm playfully.
"Right. Now get your asses to bed, and let me take my future husband to that floor." Wizard said.
"Asses on the way out." Ranger said casually as the two left.
"Shall we?" Warrior said with a bow, then Wizard smiled and curtsied.
"We shall." She said before taking his hand, they went into the middle of the floor, held each other while looking into each other's eyes, then they went side to side, turned and swayed, spun every now and then, and eventually...just stood there in each other's arms, then the two embraced as closely as they could. I love you...so much..."
"I love you too." Warrior whispered before she slowly pulled away, looked up at him, then they kept dancing while they kissed just as slowly and sweetly.
Cow Girl meanwhile was still holding Ranger and Fighter's daughter while Sword Maiden kept fawning over the baby.
"Can we have our baby back?" Fighter asked half-jokingly, as Cow Girl handed over the baby to her mother.
"Sorry..." She said.
"You training for your own or something?" Ranger asked.
"Oh no...I just...o.k. maybe part of me is planning to be a mom, but there's no way I'm just going into it." Cow Girl said seriously.
"No kidding." Ranger said before turning to the baby and putting his finger in grabbing range. "You enjoy your first time at the north little one?" The baby then grabbed his finger. "I thought you might..." Meanwhile, Sword Maiden watched this man, this powerful, well-trained, and apparently incredibly wrathful man, handle his baby daughter liker she was made of glass. What a sharp contrast...
"Could you please give us a moment to talk?" Sword Maiden asked.
"Of course Your Grace." Cow Girl said before leaving.
"Ranger...while you were at the frontier, we talked about your rampage at the ruins..." Sword Maiden said with worry.
"With all due respect Your Grace...that subject is resolved." Ranger said somewhat bitterly.
"No, it's far from resolved. Remember when I told you following the War God is risky? You are getting close to taking probably the greatest risk of all." Storm Mage said seriously.
"I am not going to endanger the people, let alone my team, or family." Ranger said firmly.
"And if the choice is made for you while your desire for revenge is blinding you? What then?" Storm Mage asked and Ranger took a moment to think.
"Ranger...your rage is justified, but that doesn't make it safe." Sword Maiden said before motioning to Fighter and the baby she was holding. "Look at them...yes your wife was wronged, severely, but she is alright now, and your daughter will not grow up taking care of her, rather than the other way around. Please...focus on that instead of revenge."
"I am amazed how no one understands but me..." Ranger grumbled.
"We do understand. You feel an insane amount of grief and anger. How do you think I felt about the goblin that stabbed you near your heart, or that goblin champion after it reflected Wizard's fire back at you?" Fighter asked.
"Don't...they're not even remotely the same." Ranger said.
"How? Because you pushed Wizard out of the way voluntarily? I know that. Or that the goblin snuck up on you? That's expected." Fighter said.
"This was neither!" Ranger snapped and the baby started crying and Fighter shushed and rocked the baby and Ranger snapped out of it and looked at his crying daughter ashamed of himself.
"You see? What if something worse than this happens because of you? Directly, or indirectly." Storm Mage said and Ranger tensed up like he wanted to smash something, then relaxed before his daughter finally stopped crying and Fighter dried her daughter's tears.
"I'm so sorry..." Ranger whispered as he took his daughter from Fighter.
"Let's just get some sleep." She said exhausted physically and emotionally as the people went to bed.
Warrior and Wizard meanwhile, went back to their room then Wizard walked over to the window, and looked at the twin moons...then the aurora, and her breathed hitched as Warrior came up behind her to look at it with her...only to see her eyes water.
"It's so beautiful..." Wizard said with a cracked voice as she put her hands on her face, and Warrior hugged her from behind.
"It's like the gods put it there for us." He said softly, then Wizard hugged him before sobbing into his shoulder, and he returned the embrace, and allowed her to her let her feelings out for about 10 to 15 seconds, then dried her tears and saw her smile at his gesture, then they looked at each other in the light. "Red is definitely your color..."
"Then I'll wear at least some of this from now on." Wizard said softly before kissing her fiance as softly as she could. "I want to get something from our apartment. Wait here a minute." She then went over to her bag and got her gateway scroll, and true to her word, she came back...only to see Warrior hanging up his suit, and she looked him over a bit, then he noticed her.
"So...what did you get?" He asked, then she held up a med-sized cup of ice cream. "You really are a genius..."
"I know, now let's share it..." Wizard said before handing him a spoon, then they took turns eating some ice cream.
"Like how we traded Gold Tags." Warrior said before eating a spoonful of ice cream.
"Now that was a genius move; we each have each other's tags...talk about a symbolic connection." Wizard said before licking the spoon.
"You read my mind like a book." Warrior said as they finished it and rubbed his head.
"Brain freeze?" Wizard asked and Warrior nodded. "That's what you get for eating too fast."
"It was worth it though. Those lights, this ice cream...what could top this?" Warrior asked and Wizard unbuttoned his undershirt.
"I also drank some potion earlier..." She said.
"Seriously...?" Warrior asked.
"Yes. We're engaged now, and the mood is absolutely flawless, so please...make love to me." Wizard said softly and the two kissed softly, as he helped her remove her dress before she pulled him onto the bed, removed his pants for him with her magic making her break the kiss, see her smirk at him, then continued their passionate kiss as they removed their underwear as well before getting under the covers. "The ice cream we ate makes this even better..." Warrior chuckled at this before locking lips with his fiance again.
"Makes kissing you sweeter too." He said before he kissed her cheek, and then went up and down her neck as she held his head there, then gasping in bliss as he slowly licked up and down her swan-like neck as she leans back, offering him more space to work, and smiling and chuckling before he groped and played with her generously-sized breasts, and stifled her moans with a kiss. She, in return, held onto him as she stuck her tongue into his mouth and he moaned himself as their tongues danced together. She then flipped them over, they took a moment to look each other over and catch their breath, as she caressed his face.
"My strong, handsome dragon killer...who also kills goblins and demons." Wizard said as Warrior chuckled at her while running his hand through her silky, shoulder-length hair.
"A strong and handsome dragon, goblin, and demon killer, in bed with a lovely and powerful sorceress...how fitting." He said softly before pulling her down to another sweet kiss before they looked each other over again and basked in each other's glow as she caressed his chest.
"This lovely and powerful sorceress wants her strong and handsome monster killer to keep touching her." Wizard said seriously.
"I'm sure he can oblige..." Warrior said before kissing her yet again while lightly gripping her waist, and sliding his hands up and down her round, plump butt, which makes her chuckle into their kiss.
"You just can't help yourself can you?" Wizard teased.
"That's what you get for having such a nice ass...and you know you like this." Warrior said before fondling her butt some more.
"You're not wrong, my love..." Wizard said against his lips before molding them together. He then stopped playing with her butt and rubbed her sides and back before she scooched up, dangled her breasts in his face, and he sucked her nipples, making her chuckle and gasp some more. He then threw some fondling into the mix before she got off of him snuggled into his side a bit, before kissing him again and fondled his manhood making him groan. "What's wrong? Too much for the big, tough hunk in my bed to handle?"
"Not if it's from the gorgeous goddess in my bed." Warrior groaned out before stopping her with a...pretty tight grip. "But...if she keeps this up, I'll make a mess." He then notices how tight his grip is, and stroked her lovely hand with his own. "Sorry..."
"Don't worry." Wizard said before making her hand glow dimly. "Alright, good as new."
"You didn't put a spell on me did you?" Warrior asked making Wizard chuckle and stroke his face.
"Would you like me to?" She teased.
"Please...I've been under your spell since...well, a couple of months after we met." Warrior said seriously.
"Makes sense...I never did anything serious for you like Fighter did for the boss." Wizard said somberly, before Warrior hugged her.
"Wizard...you do serious things for everyone. If you ask me...you're the one who should be Platinum Ranked." He said and Wizard flinched abit. "Think about it, where would we be without you to supply us, support us, or just plain be there to give us a hand?"
"Good point...I guess I took after the boss as well didn't I?" Wizard said with pride as she hugged him back.
"I love you in the same way Fighter loves Ranger; she and I have more in common than I thought." Warrior said.
"Do you want children like they have?" Wizard asked before Warrior looked her in the face.
"I want children like we will have." He said softly before kissing her forehead, holding her close and interlocking their fingers.
"Well, we have quite a bit to do before then. But for now...please...make love to me." Wizard said softly as if pleading with him, then he got between her legs, pushed into her womanhood, and watched her take in the sensation as he moved in and out slowly but steadily, picking up speed overtime, and her gasps turned into moans that got louder and more frequent as her fiance pounded her slick opening like a hammer on a nail, until they both snapped from the euphoria and he collapsed on top of her, and she interlocked their fingers before he gave her a series of sweet, deep, and soft kisses one after the other before he pulled away and looked at her incredibly happy face.
"I ever tell you your hands are as lovely as your face?" Warrior asked softly.
"Once or twice..." Wizard whispered.
"Make it thrice then." Warrior teased before giving her a quick kiss, removes his manhood, rolls to the side and holds her close. "Can you imagine me using that clone spell at a time like this."
"You dirty little mutt..." Wizard said with a lusty voice before kissing him as deeply as possible..before he roughly squeezes her ass.
"Hey, several clones of me all taking a piece of you? Don't tell me you wouldn't love that." Warrior teased as he kept working her ass.
"I do love the idea..." Wizard said.
"But not as much as you love me, right?" Warrior said.
"You know me so well..." Wizard said with a smile.
"Good night..." Warrior said softly.
"Good night." Wizard whispered as she snuggled into him a bit more.
"It pleases me to have another wedding to bless." Sword Maiden said as she put her scepter in the corner and start removing her dress.
"I'm certain. May I ask how Fighter and Ranger's wedding went? I mean, just how much it meant to you?" Storm Mage asked as he removed his armor and Sword Maiden stopped cold as she was about to remove her underwear.
"It was...it was more personal than I dare measure. Seeing those two, so very much in love; so hungry for each other to be part of each other's lives in holy matrimony. I don't ever want to forget it." She said with a sob before Storm Mage removed his shirt and hugged her.
"And now you can do it again, and this time...with me as your protector and a witness." He said as he dried her tears and got a smile from her.
"I look forward to it." Sword Maiden said before her protector graced her with a kiss, then they looked at each other softly.
"I love that dress you wore. It's a shame your role as the archbishop prevents it so often." Storm Mage said as he brushed her hair out of her face.
"Were that not the case, I would never remove it, unless your divine touch was promised. It's a greater shame we cannot make love here, even if we had drunk a potion." Sword Maiden said.
"My touch is as ever-present as I am, my dear Sword Maiden." Storm Mage whispered before Sword Maiden held him closer, despite her enormous breasts squishing against his chest.
"Give it to me..." She said before he kissed her again. She then peeled off her underwear, and moaned as her protector and lover squeezed and massaged her soft buttocks while kissing her more deeply. She then laid down on the bed with her eyes closed, waiting for him to treat her breasts...and he did. She inhaled deeply as she felt his warm, strong hands press into her breasts before squeezing them with his usual power and affection and smiling in response. "Talk to me..."
"What would you like to hear?" Storm Mage asked.
"Tell me why you love me, enjoy my body...and your promise..." Sword Maiden breathed out before Storm Mage touched her face as she looked up at him to see a face full of affection.
"I swore I would protect you from the goblins, and you saw me keep that promise when you needed me the most, and as long as I'm with you...those worthless beasts will never touch you again...only I will, and when I do, the blessings the Love Goddess gave you will be respected, not squandered. Most of all, I love you for what you did for me, what you have done...and what you are." Storm Mage said softly.
"And my blessings?" Sword Maiden asked.
"These blessings...I don't know why or how you got them, but your flesh reflects your divinity flawlessly." Storm Mage said before he ran his hand from her thigh, to her belly, to her chest to her face, and she held his hand there.
"My blessings are available to you, as long as your caring touch is available to me." Sword Maiden said as Storm Mage ran his thumb across her cheek.
"Always...my sweet Sword Maiden." Storm Mage whispered before kissing her softly and they interlock their fingers. "Now...I confess, I was sourly jealous of the Goblin Slayer for having your heart before me, despite how hypocritical that must sound..."
"I do still care about him, but...he is not my protector, no matter how much I used to wish he was." Sword Maiden said.
"And now?" Storm Mage asked seriously.
"Now...I realize he is needed elsewhere, but you? Your place is in Water Town, to protect me from the goblins, and to warm by bed." Sword Maiden said.
"I will protect Water Town to the best of my ability; I've done so countless times before, but...I would protect you above all." Storm Mage said firmly.
"Storm Mage..." Sword Maiden whispered.
"I'm not ashamed of putting you first; you're not just the woman I cherish, but the archbishop. If something happened to you, the entire country would grieve...and I would grieve more than anyone." Storm Mage said seriously.
"At this rate...you will become a Platinum Rank yourself." Sword Maiden said.
"You wouldn't mind your protector outranking you?" Storm Mage asked.
"I told you, I have no intention of resuming my time as an adventurer; I have things to do in the church, and...ironically, that includes aiding other adventurers, like at the siege." Sword Maiden said.
"In that case...I would gladly accept a Platinum Rank." Storm Mage said proudly.
"If you were to become one, would you have any targets?" Sword Maiden asked.
"Huh, that's easy, the God of Wisdom...if he can even be called that." Storm Mage said bitterly.
"Why?" Sword Maiden asked in awe.
"Sword Maiden...if it wasn't for him, the goblins wouldn't be the abominations they are now; what they did to you wouldn't have happened!" Storm Mage exclaimed before getting a grip and Sword Maiden touched his face.
"I'm alright now. You freed me remember?" She asked.
"You still shouldn't have had to go through that kind of hell; I'd give just about anything to undo whatever happened..." Storm Mage said softly.
"But you cannot; all you can do...is keep the promise you already made, and you are." Sword Maiden said before pulling him down for an elongated kiss.
"I love you so much..." Storm Mage whispered.
"And I love you." Sword Maiden said as Storm Mage came down to claim her lips again, and the two spent the better part of a minute laying there kissing. As they laid on that bed, only the feeling of each other's lips touching their own, and their hands touching each other's skin, especially their faces was prevalent. Storm Mage then locked one hand with hers and continuing shifting his lips against his lady's. He then pulled away, saw the bright smile on Sword Maiden's angelic face, then continued kissing her as sweetly as ever.
"Tell me how our first connection felt..." Storm Mage said against her lips...and she shuddered in bliss.
"Oh...the memory, it's overwhelming..." Sword Maiden breathed out as she remembered the feelings of Storm Mage's manhood filling her lower body after his masterful hands prepared her body for the most incredible experience of her life.
"From the sound of your voice, I cleansed you in more ways then one." Storm Mage said proudly.
"Very much so. Before you...I knew only the pain of a goblin's touch, but yours? Yours conquers every pain I felt because of them, and others." Sword Maiden said before holding Storm Mage close, and he approached her ear.
"Shall I continue touching my lady?" He asked.
"Please..." Sword Maiden whispered before he got back to work on her body, starting with a massage for her thick, creamy legs and plump, deeply-curved buttocks. Storm Mage then fondled and squeezed the breasts he loved so much, and licked her nipples, with Sword Maiden's moans and occasional spasms encouraging him. He then finished by kissing up and down her neck, and running his hands through her hair and along the rest of her creamy skin. She eventually returned the favor by stroking his muscled form up and down, with the same strength and affection he graced her with. "Stay with me..."
"As long as the Supreme deems me worthy of your presence, my love..." Storm Mage said before they held each other and bathed in each other's glow.
"It truly is a shame we cannot make love now. I miss being connected to you." Sword Maiden breathed out while shifting against him.
"Next time we do make love...well, you know what to expect." Storm Mage said.
"Sing to me..." Sword Maiden whispered, then after thinking for a bit, he choose a song that tells the person listening that pain can be overcome thanks to the singer's love, and even how it can be easy to look at how messed up, or how lovely the world can be...the message and tone of his voice eventually made the woman sob into his neck as he held her tightly. Storm Mage couldn't help but smile for her and caress her hair as she poured her heart and soul out in his arms she saw as her safe haven. She eventually got a ahold of herself, backed up, and dried her tears...before he dried some for her which earned him a smile and a kiss.
"Good night my love." Storm Mage whispered.
"Good night my love..." Sword Maiden said softly before snuggling into him as sleep claimed them both.
Ranger and Fighter went straight to their room not wasting any time, then Ranger removed his suit, then held up his Platinum tag, still unable to believe he once envied Hero for hers. But now...here he was: the champion and hero of the north, even though he spent almost no time here. Granted he killed the vampire queen, and several other grave threats in-between now and the first time he came here...and even did things Hero couldn't, despite her not being alone.
"Ranger?" Fighter asked as she entered and watched him look over his tag.
"I remember when I asked about Platinum Rank, just before our first quest...how uncommon it was, and how I wanted all of us to obtain such a rank ourselves." Ranger said seriously.
"Just because there's two Platinum Ranks around, we're not out of the woods yet." Fighter said as she approached him, then looked at her Gold tag.
"I'm sure there's going to be more than that. I don't know when, but each of you can become just as powerful; Priestess might be able to blow up a castle with one Holy Smite.." Ranger said.
"That...would be insane, although at this rate, it's not unlikely." Fighter said, then sucked in a breath, but before she could speak...he beats her to it.
"That purple dress really suits you..." Ranger said softly as he looked her over, and she couldn't help but smile.
"Anything would suit me in your eyes." Fighter said.
"True..but I'd only tell you if it was a special case." Ranger said before pulling her into a kiss.
"You remember our first kiss?" Fighter asked softly.
"How can I forget? The moment our lips connected...I knew we would go somewhere major." Ranger said.
"So did I...which is why I'm so worried about you. I'm scared actually..." Fighter said and Ranger let go of her.
"Why?" He asked.
"I have a better question: do you love me more than you hate that man who cursed me?" Fighter asked seriously.
"How can you say that?! We're married aren't we?" Ranger asked in disbelief.
"Yes..." Fighter said.
"Then you should understand my anger-" Fighter cuts him off.
"Of course I understand your anger! Hell...I want to crush that man for trying to come between us as well, but I refuse to let it rule my life, which is what you're doing, or at least..are on the road to doing. The very idea of you getting consumed by your desire for revenge, and sweeping everything aside...it scares me more than a room full of goblins!" Fighter said while shaking.
"Fighter..." Ranger said.
"You get it now? Priestess, Sword Maiden, even Storm Mage, they all see what I see, and they're as scared as I am! Our first time at the pond, you broke down over what happened to those girls...well, guess what? I'm going through the same damn thing, only it's fear gripping me, instead of grief. Serious difference right?" Fighter asked sarcastically before turning her back to him.
"Fighter...I do love you more than I hate the man who cursed you, but that's why I'm so angry. I...I always thought you'd be the last of us who went down. I never had an issue risking my own safety if it meant for my team, like with Wizard, and I knew you were more than able to stand your ground...but seeing you, on the ground...completely defenseless? No...when I see the man who cursed you, I'm going to treat him the way I treat goblins, even if he isn't one. As for my rage? I know it's scary to think I have this much hate inside...but I control it, not the other way around." Ranger said before hugging his wife from behind and she deflated the moment he did.
"For how much longer...?" Fighter whispered.
"As long as I have your love, the team's power, the people's well-being in mind, and this Platinum Rank." Ranger said.
"Ranger...that archdemon we fought thrives on hate. You were very lucky you fought him before you saw me like that." Fighter said with no lack of fear in her voice.
"If he tries to turn me into a weapon of his, it will not succeed. Believe it or not, I am able to focus my anger; I know I've tortured goblins and...they're goblins, but I targeted my aggression. If I didn't, that Herbalist Girl would've died in the crossfire, or at least be seriously wounded." Ranger said firmly and honestly.
"I guess..." Fighter said still somber then Ranger turned her head to him.
"Please...just trust me." Ranger said, almost pleading and watched Fighter deflate, then get ahold of herself.
"O.k..." She whispered before softly kissing her husband, then hugging him close. "I'm glad I can share my fears without you getting too worked up over it."
"All the more proof I am in control; I may get rough at times...but I would do anything to protect those close to me...especially you, and our daughter." Ranger said softly and Fighter huffed a bit.
"There's the man I married, in all his glory." She said before looking up at him. "The man I love with my whole being." Ranger then smiled at her and kissed her deeply a couple of times.
"You married a man who loves you just as much." Ranger whispered against her lips before pressing his forehead into hers before they sat down for a while. She then removed her dress and underwear, not caring that Ranger was feasting on the sight of her flawless body practically dancing in front of him; she never felt dirty around him, only like she was wanted...and she knew he felt the same around her. He removed his pants and underwear himself and she couldn't help but chuckle at his arousal. She then walked over to him as he backed up and made room for her to snuggle up into him with a content sigh.
"I also apparently married a man who can't get enough of me." Fighter teased before putting one of his hands on her round butt.
"Only because you love being handled by me...like you just set up." Ranger said before squeezing her buttocks as she giggled and kissed him deeply, lashed tongues with him, and moaned in pleasure as he kept working her lower body, including the leg she wrapped around his waist.
"Too bad neither of us took a swig of that potion..." Fighter said huskily.
"Even if we did...it's a tad early isn't it? I mean...we had a bit of a spat awhile ago; wrapping it up with sex is a bit overkill." Ranger said honestly.
"You still want to touch me right?" Fighter asked.
"If I ever say no to that, clobber me." Ranger said seriously before she got on top of him with a lustful smile, laid on top of him flatly, and kissed him deeply as she could while he groped her ass with both hands, then she scooched up so he could lick her nipples...only for him to get on top of her and lick her nipples. "I'm driving this cart missy..."
"Just make sure it doesn't crash." Fighter teased as she ran her hands through his hair.
"Never..." Ranger said against her breast, with his deepened voice making it vibrate pleasantly. He then switched to the other nipple while he fondled and squeezed the one he finished licking as his wife kept gasping, chuckling, and moaning...especially when he ran his manhood along the entrance of her womanhood. "No, I'm not going inside..."
"Well, this time it was a bit alarming since...well, you know..." Fighter said nervously.
"I'm not connecting to you, and I'm sorry for the startle.." Ranger said firmly.
"Alright, I trust you. But when we get the chance...take that potion. I want to fuck me a Platinum Rank." Fighter said as her nervousness got replaced with lust.
"Not if this Platinum Rank fucks you first..." Ranger said with the same tone and she kisses him with hunger instead of passion, and he does the same.
Come morning, Bard and Songstress returned with the baby to Water Town, after Ranger and Fighter said good-bye to their child, and Ranger opened a portal to their manor, and the team decided to stay a spell, along with the others. Speaking of spells, Wizard and Warrior went to the court mage, who was going over some odd crystals.
"Excuse me? What are those?" Wizard asked and Court Mage snapped his head up to look at the pair.
"These...my good miss, happen to be mana gems. They're meant to contain, and restore magicka, but I'm working on a way to get them to make a spell stronger." Court Mage said.
"Do they work?" Warrior asked.
"Not yet, and if you would kindly stop interrupting me, I will tell you later." Court Mage said before Wizard looked one over, then Court Mage caught her. "What do you think-" Wizard cuts him off.
"What exactly have you done with them so far?" Wizard asked.
"So far, not much...I tried connecting their central lattice to one of the world's spiritual veins, I tried connecting to it myself, I tried binding them together and then doing either of those things..." Court Mage said.
"Did you actually try fueling it with a spell to give it something to work with directly?" Wizard asked and Court Mage stood there awkwardly. "Didn't think so..." She when put her glaive on the mana gem and thought for a bit. "Fireball..." A small, uncharged burst of flame entered the gem and the gem absorbed it's energy and started glowing. "Transmute." The gem then merged with the mace end of her glaive.
"That was pretty damn ballsy. You sure that thing won't blow up in your face?" Warrior asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Come on, who are you talking to here?" Wizard asked with pride.
"Good point..." Warrior said with a smirk.
"I'm sensing some history here..." Court Mage said.
"Some history? Boy, you need an update badly." Wizard said intensely.
"Nevermind...so, what will you do with that new glaive of yours?" Court Mage asked.
"Test it out. What do you think I'm going to do with it?" Wizard said like it was obvious...which it was.
"Dare I ask how?" Court Mage asked, and Wizard smirked.
"Hell yeah!" Wizard yelled as she jumped up in excitement. She used an uncharged Firestorm on a set of stone pillars a stone elemental raised out of the ground, and each pillar was blown to bits...with blue fireballs!
"Well...it is officially...you have mastered fire magic-" Warrior barely had time to finish before Wizard pulled him into a surprising but sweet kiss he eventually returned before she pulled away with their lips making an audible smacking sound and she still had a face-splitting smile on her face.
"And that was an uncharged Firestorm; imagine what I can do when I'm actually trying!" Wizard exclaimed with pride. "I'm going to become Platinum Rank myself at this rate."
"I'm alittle afraid to ask what kind of enchantments we can get out of this..." Warrior said.
"One miracle at a time baby." Wizard teased before kissing him again.
"Well...if you would be so kind as to make more pillars so I can use my sword? I want to try something." Warrior asked.
"Alrighty..." Wizard said casually before making her elemental raise more pillars, then Warrior focused his sword's energy, making it glow a bit, and he swung several times with the usual blend of power, speed, and precision...and without even touching them, the pillars fell apart. Cherub wasn't kidding; angel blood made his already incredible sword, even more incredible. Add his armor's body-enhancing properties, and the training he went through with Ranger, and the enhancements his brilliant and powerful fiance could cook up...he was also on his way to becoming Platinum Rank. One glance and smile at Wizard and they both knew they thought the same thing.
"So...you want to tag along with us now?" Hero asked.
"Sorry, I look forward to working with you again on something just as epic as that siege, but we have our own missions to fulfill." Ranger said.
"Any plans for your time here?" Sword Saint asked.
"We might as well set things up here." Fighter said.
"Right, and since we're bigshots here, we might as well go all the way..." Ranger said before Storm Mage showed up.
"What in blazes are you doing here?" Sword Saint snapped.
"The same thing Her Grace is doing here." Storm Mage said with a raised eyebrow.
"The Sword Maiden is here?" Hero asked.
"You didn't notice? Holy shit..." Storm Mage said in awe.
"We have to see her!" Hero said as Sword Maiden came out of their room.
"Well, now's your-" Hero rushed past Storm Mage before he finished. "...chance."
"Your Grace! Your- wearing a new dress...?" Hero said puzzled.
"Yes, I've decided to get back in touch with who I was before becoming the archbishop." Sword Maiden said.
"It fits you beautifully." Sword Saint said with a small curtsy and Sage nodded with a smile.
"You're too kind ladies." Sword Maiden said warmly.
"Your Grace...may I ask why you choose Storm Mage to protect you? Are you aware of his past?" Sage asked.
"He has redeemed himself multiple times over, and I do not regret giving him a place at my side, or in my heart." Sword Maiden said.
"Your heart? Are you serious?" Sword Saint asked in awe.
"Quite serious. I know what he is guilty of, but I pardoned all crimes he stands accused of in the Supreme God's name." Sword Maiden said.
"Hard to argue with that." Hero said with a shrug.
"Well...if you think he should be your protector, who are we to argue?" Sword Saint said.
"I hate to cut this short, but we should check this region for any more hell rifts, and pray none open here..." Sage said before Storm Mage walked up behind them.
"If any open here, we'll handle them." He said.
"You make sure nothing happens to-" He then cuts Sword Saint off.
"Yeah yeah yeah, you have a country to search, and I have a castle to protect." He said.
"Let's just go." Sage said and Hero led her team to the door before stopping in front of Ranger and holding her hand out and he shook it.
"Welcome to the Platinum Ranks again." Hero said and Ranger huffed in amusement.
"You and I won't be the only two for long." Ranger said as he let her go.
"I'll bet. Say "hi" to that ball of sunshine you call a daughter for me." Hero said as she left.
"You mean "us"." Sage said as she and Sword Saint followed.
"Yeah whatever..." Hero said.
"Fun girls..." Fighter said before Priestess came out. "Good morning."
"Good morning." Priestess said warmly as she hugged Fighter, then Ranger. "I have some news. I was given the miracle of Restoration last night by the Supreme God, just like the Sword Maiden's, only...I doubt I can use it as effectively."
"No fear of that child. I only used it on the scale I did with no small amount of help; you doing it alone will be impressive enough." Sword Maiden said to her.
"How often can you use it?" Fighter asked.
"At least once a day." Priestess said.
"That's still more than my Army of One miracles; I still have only one to use this week." Ranger said.
"We saw you use that miracle on the vampire queen's fortress...it's official, that is the strongest miracle a person can have." Storm Mage said.
"True, but Restoration makes that kind of a difference, but in the opposite direction." Priestess said before the High King came out.
"A pleasant morning to you all!" He said.
"Good morning Your Majesty." Sword Maiden said as the team bowed a little as High King took his throne.
"May I ask what I missed?" He asked.
"The Hero and her team left to scour the country for any demonic threats, and we going over what Ranger and his team could do here." Sword Maiden said.
"Ah, well I suppose some assets could be of use to you. There is a small manor for sale, but no one wants it for some reason." High King said.
"Maybe we could look into it and see how we could improve it?" Priestess wondered.
"You couldn't be more right. How much is the manor worth Your Majesty?" Ranger asked.
"If you can improve it well enough, I'll give it to you with no charge." High King said.
"That's quite generous Your Majesty." Fighter said warmly.
"Not at all my dear; you've earned it many times over." High King said.
"In that case, we will be back." Ranger said before Sword Maiden stopped him with a paper.
"This is a layout of the city I took the liberty of retrieving. It should make your search brief." She said.
"Much appreciated." Ranger said before she hugged him.
"Are you better?" Sword Maiden asked.
"Yes Your Grace..." Ranger said as he hugged her back.
"I'm glad." Sword Maiden said before releasing him, then he, Fighter, and Priestess went to go find this manor.
Elsewhere, Elder Revenant exited a portal to a cave next to some woods, and Heavy Warrior, Female Knight, Rookie Warrior and Apprentice Cleric were just outside the entrance...that was coated in large webs...
"Do we really have to go in there?" Apprentice Cleric asked while holding onto Rookie Warrior's shoulder.
"The spiders in there are a threat to people's safety, and peace of mind, and therefore need to be dealt with." Female Knight said.
"Do we have to go in there with you?" A.C. asked.
"You want to become better adventurers don't you? Then stick with us, swallow your fear, keep your eyes open, and we'll be fine." Heavy Warrior said.
"We also have to be smart; spider webs are stronger and tougher than steel after all, so good luck tearing free." Female Knight said.
"Well, I've got this ice axe, and a new crossbow, and she can empower us, so...I say bring it on." Rookie Warrior said before Elder Revenant showed up.
"These spiders are guarding a possession of mine. Kill all you wish, but leave the treasure hunting to myself." He said as he walked in.
"Hey! Are you crazy?" Heavy Warrior exclaimed.
"I am a revenant; your two companions know one of my companions all too well." Elder Revenant said before going in, then slicing through some webs just to make a point.
"Well...at least this got easier." A.C. said letting go of R.W.
"You know this guy?" Female Knight asked.
"No, but we've encountered a revenant before...they're tough as nails to say the least." R.W. said.
"Then let's get in there before he hogs all the kills." Heavy Warrior said as he went inside.
Elder Revenant was craving through the thickest webs without a problem looking for his item when they got to him.
"What are you looking for?" Female Knight asked.
"A suit of black armor." Elder Revenant said as tore the soul out of a body in the webs...which got the team's attention.
"Dear Supreme in Heaven...!" A.C. exclaimed in horror.
"We have to get rid of these damned things!" R.W. said firmly.
"And we will-" Female Knight shut up the movement Elder Revenant threw a scythe...and hit a 3ft wide spider in the forehead, then reanimated the body, and had it go back into the cave to look for others as A.C. cringed heavily and R.W. supported her.
"The only thing worse than a giant spider, is an undead one...!" She exclaimed as Elder Revenant walked on.
"Keep an eye on the ceiling from this point forward; they could come from anywhere." He said as he went.
"Well, I'm staying behind you." A.C. said firmly.
"And I'm going to help you." R.W. said half-jokingly.
"Fine, then leave this to the pros." Heavy Warrior said before they heard violent rustling sounds up ahead, and when they got there...three more spiders were fighting the undead one...as the undead one sank it's fangs into the skull of one of them, and the two living ones ganged up on it...only for it to turn to dust and make them flinch back and try to clean themselves...R.W. then took aim, and shot one in the face, killing it instantly.
"Gotcha!" R.W. yelled then the other rushed towards them. "Oh shit..." Elder Revenant then plunged a scythe into it's brain as Heavy Warrior cleaved it halfway down the middle, and A.C. gagged and turned away as Elder Revenant kept going.
"How many people did these bastards capture...?" Female Knight asked in horror as Elder Revenant kept taking souls out of the people in the webs as they went, and craving through the webs. Then a 5ft wide spider jumped out at him, making A.C. scream as it sank it's fangs into Elder Revenant's chest, which he didn't care about as he made it decay rapidly, and the smell made R.W. and A.C. vomit as the two Silver Ranks with them simply covered their noses.
"Let's keep going..." Elder Revenant said as the two puncture wounds in his chest healed and his robe repaired itself. When they got past the dead spider, they went down a series of pathways, and R.W. took potshots at the spiders from above...and Female Knight impaled a spider that tried to drop down from the ceiling and tossed it off the ledge, and Heavy Warrior stomped on a smaller one that tried climbing up the ledge next to him, then impaled another. A.C. meanwhile was watching the massacre still shaking in terror, but trying to get a grip knowing that there are plenty of spiders left to kill, she then spotted one crawling along the wall in her direction, steeled herself and prayed.
"Holy Smite!" She yelled and landed a direct hit and it fell off the wall and hit the ground, never to get back up. "I did it...looks like these things aren't so tough afterall."
"Hoorah for getting over your fear, now please help us!" R.W. said as he kept shooting...then ran into a problem. "I'm out of bolts!"
"Throw your axe at them." A.C. said.
"Oh yeah..." R.W. said as he pulled his axe and threw at a spider, but removed a few legs, then he called it back, froze it, threw it again and hit it just above the face, and it's suffering ended, he then called it back again, bashed a spider with the edge of his shield, caving in it's face. Elder Revenant got bored and summoned his avatar to fly around and carve up the spiders.
"Alright...now let's move on." He said before walking down another pathway, before the others followed, and A.C. stopped R.W.
"Umm, aren't you forgetting something?" She said.
"Oh right!" R.W. said as he went back to get his bolts...some of which were embedded in the bodies of dead spiders, but he prepared his axe for when any jumped at him...but none did.
Elder Revenant killed some of the smaller spiders in the way as he casually walked through the place, harvesting souls, and craving more webs...then stopped and looked forward.
"We're getting close, I can feel it." Elder Revenant then made a beeline straight ahead and the others followed at a distance; he might be immortal, but they're not. Eventually, they got to a cavern filled with eggs,
"Dear Supreme..." Female Knight whispered, then an egg hatched and a handful of 1ft wide baby spiders came out and crawled around a bit.
"What do we do? We don't have any fire spells, or incendiaries for that matter." R.W. said.
"I will deal with these spiders..." Elder Revenant said as he summoned his avatar to destroy the eggs and he decays the babies.
"Are you nuts? What if you wake mom?" Female Knight called out then heard a rustling noise in a web-covered pathway...and a spider 10ft tall came out.
"Ohhhhh shit...here's mom!" R.W. exclaimed, and the spider charged at Elder Revenant...only for his avatar to get in the way and stop her cold. Then Elder Revenant casually walked up to the beast, and plunged his scythe into her face, killing her instantly.
"Now...where...is...that armor?!" Elder Revenant growled. as he looked around, as the team looked over the massive spider.
"I don't get nightmares, but I know I'm going to see things like this in my sleep..." A.C. said while breathing hard before Elder Revenant craved through a wall, tore it down and found a black suit of armor like he described.
"Here it is..." He said as he took and absorbed it..
"O.k. now what the hell is that?" Heavy Warrior asked.
"A piece of an armor I'm looking for, that is all you need to know, and all I will tell you." Elder Revenant said before tearing open a portal and going through.
Ranger, Fighter, and Priestess were looking around for the manor, and found it pretty far out of the way from the castle, and it looked like a really small castle itself: stone walls with a garden on each side of the pathway to the manor itself, iron gates, and even a watch tower. When they got inside, it was empty aside from the usual touch-ups.
"This is a pretty decent place. Why hasn't anyone bought it?" Fighter asked as Ranger looked around.
"Maybe the others were just better?" Priestess asked.
"Or maybe this one is just plain undesirable in some way." Ranger said before he hears a creaking sound from where he steps on, and after an inspection, he removes a panel and hears a distant screeching sound that tickles his memory. "It can't be..." Ranger then checks it out, and finds a hell rift...in front of a Goblin High Priest who launches him out of the place with a magic blast and Fighter and Priestess go outside to see him halt his trip across the ground by digging two swords into it, then the two brace for a fight when a faint rumbling that stops and starts over and over, and a quick look outside reveals a sight that makes their hearts sink...
"No way..." Warrior said as a shadow loomed over the castle from the mountains in the distance...a giant!
"Everyone...I sense a disturbance..." Sword Maiden said while shaking a bit.
"Hell rifts?" Storm Mage asked and she nodded.
"Some are opening, some in the castle, others in the town!" Sword Maiden exclaimed.
"Guards! Guards! Secure the castle! See to my people! Now!" High King yelled and the guards in the area left to alert the others and sure enough, the castle was swarming with guards on alert.
"Your Grace, please follow me to my room." Cow Girl said and Sword Maiden followed her before she turned to Goblin Slayer.
"Do what you must..." She said to him.
"I will..." GS said as he walked outside and his team followed.
"So will I." Storm Mage said before turning to the High King. "Your Majesty, let these elementals be your aids." He then took out two summon stones, made a pair of humanoid clouds with sparks coming out of them.
"You're certain they're not hostile?" High King said cautiously.
"Yes. They obey only me, and I order them, to look after you should you need their protection." Storm Mage said.
"I thank you Storm Mage. Supreme help us all." High King said.
"Your Majesty, if you can, start clapping your hands as loud and as fast as you can. Goblins hate the noise; I've done it myself." Cow Girl said and he nodded as she led Sword Maiden to a room with Storm Mage staying outside in the hall as a lookout.
Shit is going down. I repeat, shit is going down. Get the people inside! Throw me a shotgun! Batten down the hatches! lol But seriously, the kingdom is under attack from 3 different angles, with the goblin high priest making his triumphant return, and he was a total monster last time he showed up. Here's hoping things don't go too far south. Also...Wizard can use blue flames now, and according to my research, blue flames are twice as hot as orange ones, not to mention Warrior can cut things without needing to touch them...that's going to come in hand. Also...I'll bet you weren't expecting Cow Girl to reference that clapping tactic which...seems to be a recurring theme in this saga...anyway, what the hell's up with the giant? Why are hell rifts opening now? Why is the goblin high priest inside a freaking manor? Find out next time, so Rate, Review, and Share until then. Stay tuned.