Hello people, and welcome back to Goblin Slayer: The Team Year 2. With the Sword Maiden and Storm Mage dead, things just got quite a bit more serious didn't they? There is no way this won't get quite a bit of backlash from the public, let alone the team. Now...considering what stunts Cherub pulled so far, it shouldn't be a surprise if he has his fingers in this in some way. Here's hoping he can cushion the impact eh?
Review Response: Also considering they're both the only two known Platinum Ranks in the world, and they're on good terms now...Ranger might actually teach her a thing or two. Even though she has more raw power than he does, if you don't count Army of One, since...well, if Ranger pulls that out, it's the beginning of the end.
Summoning a World Spawn is an automatic promotion to Gold Rank, and Rhea Fighter outdid herself pretty damn well if you ask me.
I think of Cambion as a bit of a mix between Thanos and Madara Uchiha from Naruto, even though those 3 characters are not alike in most ways. Also...yeah Sword Maiden and Storm Mage biting the dust is a shame and a half, but heh, let's see Cambion make friends after pulling shit like that.
Warrior and Wizard's wedding being done by Priestess was a bit of a shoo-in since...I do want to see Priestess succeed Sword Maiden in as many ways as possible, but of course, I want to do it right. As for GS besting Ranger...well, it was a pretty even match, but Ranger wasn't training as long as GS was, plus Ranger is...if I'm not mistaking, about 4-5 years younger than GS, so they both trained since they were kids, but GS got in 4-5 years worth more, so...he's naturally stronger than Ranger.
Welcome back Danny Barefoot. It hasn't been the same without you. Even though you're a bit late to the party, input is still welcome. I may be a male, but I'm no stranger to the progression stages of child development. Using illusion to heal PTSD is something I couldn't not do, as for that term...well, I've seen it used before, and I saw nothing wrong with it, though "curvy" is still solid as a rock.
In a meadow not far from the monastery, Rhea Fighter and Wizard's brother were having their own private celebration for their promotions with a picnic, with Rhea Fighter practically dancing through the grass and flowers while Wizard's brother watched her have the time of her life. She was usually so insecure and nervous, but now...it's like she was a whole different person. She had the brightest look in the face he ever saw her have, and there was no sign of her nerves getting to her. For lack of better words...she was free.
"We really outdid ourselves didn't we?" She said as she returned to their blanket and Wizard's brother snapped his head down so she couldn't see him staring at her.
"Y-yes. Yes we did, very much so..." He said trying to compose himself.
"Is...something wrong?" Rhea Fighter asked.
"Nothing I can't handle, and don't question me; I said all I have to." Wizard's brother said as she looked at him funny.
"O...k..." Rhea Fighter said before sitting down, grabbing a small sandwich and looking at the lovely weather...while her companion kept looking at her. Yes they were different species, and she was more than 10 years older than him, but that hasn't stopped humans and elves from having their own families together...not that he'd want a family with someone so...childish.
"So...you're a giant-killer now." Wizard's brother said as an ice-breaker.
"So are you, with a World Spawn at your disposal no less!" Rhea Fighter exclaimed and got a proud smile out of him.
"Yes, I am." He said as his companion took another bite.
"Aren't you hungry?" She asked with her mouthful.
"I've..already eaten..." Wizard's brother said.
"Liar. There's still plenty of sandwiches in the basket here, and we brought a similar number with us when we came here." Rhea Fighter said.
"Alright, I didn't think about it..." Wizard's brother said and got another funny look.
"You...didn't think about eating?" Rhea Fighter asked in disbelief and Wizard's brother sighed deeply.
"I got distracted o.k.?" He said before biting into a sandwich.
"By what?" Rhea Fighter asked.
"Nothing serious..." Wizard's brother said.
"Really...?" Rhea Fighter asked and Wizard's brother groaned.
"I watched you dance through the meadow o.k.? Now get off my back." Wizard's brother snapped before taking another bite.
"You...watched me?" Rhea Fighter asked and Wizard's brother nodded. "How did I look?"
"I said get off my back!" Wizard's brother snapped before getting a grip. "I'm sorry...but my sister's teasing over us supposedly being involved is just murder. I'm all for being progressive, but there comes a point where enough is enough."
"Do you...want us to be involved? You know...like that?" Rhea Fighter asked cautiously and got stared at for a bit.
"You know, I have no fucking clue anymore..." Wizard's brother said in exasperation and they sat there eating the rest of their food in total silence until they were done. They then packed up their blanket, scraps, and the like into the basket and looked back at the monastery. "Should we pay the monks a visit?"
"Why not?" Rhea Fighter said as they headed there and saw Abbot coming out and looking into the distance clutching his heart with a worried look in the face. "Are you alright Father?"
"I feel...a great disturbance..." Abbot said harshly.
"What kind?" Wizard's brother asked seriously.
"The Sword Maiden...something terrible happened to her. I can feel it." Abbot said.
"Tell me that doesn't mean what I think it means..." Rhea Fighter said with horror in her voice.
"I wish I could..." Abbot whispered and Rhea Fighter covered her face with her eyes watering.
"Dear Supreme. No...!" Wizard's brother breathed out before a flash happened inside the monastery...and they heard a voice.
"The Supreme always has the final say in these matters..." The voice said before the three could see the person.
"It can't be..." Abbot said in awe.
Meanwhile, Fighter was giving the aspiring martial artists a crash course in some of the more advanced techniques, which included the chakras being opened. A few of them even managed to get them opened, and the rest got frustrated they couldn't get them opened, and got envious of the ones who did, but after hearing Fighter tell how envy was ultimately weightless, they dropped it. Afterwards, the ones who opened their chakras, engaged Fighter in a handicap match with her against them, and even though they outnumbered her...she still outmaneuvered them like she weighed nothing.
Every time one charged at her, she tripped them, shoved them to the side, or flipped over them. Every strike was blocked, dodged, deflected, or even redirected at themselves, another, or even the ground as she slammed them into it. She even wowed the people watching by spinning and twisting around them as they charged her from different angles, sometimes in-mid air. It was like she was telling gravity "fuck you and everything you stand for". Inside the tavern...Guild Girl was doing some twisting of her own...
"You want to become an adventurer now?" She asked Cow Girl.
"I want to join Goblin Slayer's team." Cow Girl said with pure determination on her face.
"Are you sure?" Guild Girl asked.
"I've never been more sure. I've given this alot of thought, and I've seen what Goblin Slayer, Ranger, and their teams can do, and I've even tried some of their moves on my own time. Granted, I didn't do very well; thank goodness no one saw me fail, but I know they can give me a hand, and I won't slow them down." Cow Girl said.
"Alright...but you'll have to start at Porcelain Rank." Guild Girl said.
"I don't care." Cow Girl said before getting her tag and slipping it on.
"Well, for what it's worth...Ranger and his team became Silver Rank in less than a year, which ironically is what I predicted; I actually told them they'd make Silver Rank in less than a year to their faces." Guild Girl said.
"And with them each giving me a hand..." Cow Girl trailed off and Guild girl exhaled sharply.
"If you take a page out of each of their books, you might get to Silver Rank even sooner than they did..." Guild Girl said.
"I do like the sound of that." Cow Girl said with pride before getting a grip. "Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves..." The two ladies then saw Warrior, Wizard and Priestess come in. "Priestess? You look like a younger version of the Sword Maiden now."
"That's the idea." Priestess said with a smile before Wizard showed her ring and the ladies eyeballed it.
"You too?" Guild Girl asked.
"Yep. We just married." Wizard said.
"Surprise." Warrior said and some people heard them.
"Another marriage in the team?" One of them asked.
"What next? Priestess hooks up with a monk or something?" Another asked dryly.
"You know people of the faith rarely ever marry." Another answered.
"I was just kidding." The second one responded.
"Hey Ranger? You want to duel instead of arm-wrestle? I do owe you a rematch." Heavy Warrior said and Ranger looked at him funny. "No hard feelings, but I did whoop your ass when you were Steel Rank."
"Good point..." Ranger said with a smirk, then the two men went outside...and the whole tavern went with them; it's not every day you get to see a Platinum Rank in action, let alone against a Silver Rank with they have a score to settle, even if it wasn't personal.
Fighter was about to come inside when the two came outside and she watched the people follow. She then watched from a distance with Cow Girl and her teammates by her side.
"Congrats on your wedding by the way." Fighter whispered to Wizard who smiled.
"Now, before we start, you should know a few things." Ranger said as they entered the arena.
"Alright, let's hear it." Heavy Warrior said as he prepared his greatsword.
"I'm not just Platinum Ranked because I killed the vampire queen; I have a whole arsenal stored in my armor." Ranger said and got some funny looks before morphing a crossbow and some people exclaimed.
"How did you do that?" Spearman asked.
"Alchemy of course, and I have four- well...five weapons I prefer, there's this crossbow obviously, there's these guns..." Ranger said as he turned his crossbow into a pair of revolvers. "...which are able to launch small metal projectiles at ridiculously high speeds, and hit with enough force to blow a goblin's brain out the back of it's skull with one shot. So I won't be using these, or the crossbow." He then morphed his twin swords and lashed them around like whips which wowed the crowd and made H.W. back up. "I won't use that function either, but the swords themselves? Fair game."
"Will you please get on with it?" One of the people called out.
"Hey! It's not my fault there's alot to go over, and my opponent needs to know these things! Anyway...for this duel, I'll use what you have." Ranger said before he morphed a greatsword bigger than he was. "Not this..." He then changed it so it's as big as his opponent's. "Now I can fight fairly."
"Well...I can see why you're Platinum Ranked now..." H.W. said somewhat nervously.
"Relax, we're on the same side, and this armor was a gift, and don't ask who it was from." Ranger said.
"Hey, as long as you know which side to be on, I don't give a damn how strong you get; there aren't enough Platinum Ranks as it is, and who knows? I may very well become one myself." H.W. said as he prepared his sword.
"I would love to see that. Now...one match, or two out of three?" Ranger asked and H.W. thought for a bit.
"Two out of three. I want to see exactly what you can do..." H.W. said as Ranger prepared himself.
"I got 40 silver on the big guy." One of the adventurers said.
"I got a hundred silver on Ranger." Rookie Warrior said.
"Aren't you going to make a bet?" Apprentice Cleric asked, and Female Knight shook her head.
"No way, I learned my lesson the hard way." She said as Ranger and H.W. clashed over and over head-to-head, then Ranger turned it up a notch but dodging swings and attacking from different angles, but H.W. blocked them regardless...which gave Ranger a flashback to their first duel; he wasn't expecting H.W. to know how to cover his blindspots and got floored because of it. That wasn't going to happen again. H.W. then tried to bash Ranger with the wide end of his sword...only for Ranger to duck and move back when H.W. came back with a second swing.
Meanwhile, Cow Girl was taking note of their movements. From H.W. covering his blindspots, to Ranger's movements, to them trying to attack from different angles, to H.W. using sweeping movements to cover as much ground as possible. Although...Cow Girl would need quite a bit of training before she could roll off of a greatsword's wide end mid-swing like Ranger did once.
"Enjoying the show?" Fighter asked.
"Observing actually. I want to be that good someday too." Cow Girl said.
"You can be..." Fighter said as she tapped her shoulder as the dueled raged on with it ending with them both putting their greatswords at each other's necks at the same time.
"Tied, go again..." Ranger said as they clashed again over and over with H.W. eventually hitting Ranger in the side...then Ranger morphed his real greatsword. "I'm kidding; I said I was going to fight fairly, and I am. Which is why I won't use my war gauntlets in the next round."
"War gauntlets?" H.W. asked as he put his greatsword down and his eyes popped out of their sockets when Ranger's gauntlets grew five times their normal size.
"These. The same ones I use to make goblins alot thinner." Ranger said and some people snickered or burst out laughing.
"Good one boss!" Warrior said as Ranger de-morphed his gauntlets.
"Well, fists then?" H.W. asked.
"Fists, feet, heads, you name it." Ranger said as H.W. put up his fists and Ranger ducked and side-stepped one punch after another and landed a few of his own then took one to the side of the head before dropping down, and putting both feet in H.W.'s gut which staggered him as Ranger got up, and they each got their barrings.
"I'd rather see this than them arm-wrestling to be honest." R.W. said as the two kept exchanging and avoiding blows.
"Me too." A.C. said as Ranger tried to spin-kick H.W. in the head, only to have his foot caught...the Ranger tried to kick him with the other foot, H.W. ducks it, and Ranger twisted his first foot free and locks both legs around one of H.W.'s and trips him before rolling backward and onto his feet...then H.W. got up.
"I'm not done yet." he said.
"Good, I'd be a bit disappointed to end this duel on such a note." Ranger said before H.W. grabbed him, and just when he picked Ranger up to throw him, Ranger locked both legs around his neck and shoulder and didn't let go. He then twisted and pulled H.W. to the ground and held him there before H.W. tapped out and caught his breath.
"Alright...last round, winner takes all..." H.W said.
"Not so fast. You both need a drink." Female Knight said as she tossed them both a life potion and they both downed them.
"Alright...now winner takes all." H.W. said as he slammed the empty bottle to the ground and Ranger threw his away with a smirk before morphing his twin swords and they exchanged and avoided blows again. This time, with Ranger having twin swords, his ranger was inferior, but he could attack about x3 as often, so he had to be more nimble and fluid than straightforward and brutal, not that it did much good; H.W. knew just about every way to use his greatsword, and it showed.
Eventually, after deflecting one greatsword blow, Ranger jammed it into the ground, spin-kicked H.W. in the head hard enough to knock him off-balance, but H.W. recovered in time to block one stab after another from Ranger who spammed thrusting blows into the wide part of the greatsword as H.W. held it in front of him like a shield. Ranger then pushed H.W. to the ground by kicking the sword and put one sword on each side of H.W.'s neck as he was going to behead him.
"Looks like you win..." H.W. said while breathing hard.
"Yes...it does." Ranger said as he de-morphed his blades and helped his opponent up and they kept their hands locked as if to say "good game" as the crowd cheered and looked at each other.
"Well...that was something else wasn't it?" Summoner said from behind the team which startled them as he laughed at them.
"How long were you standing there?" Wizard asked.
"Long enough to see that big one get his ass kicked by someone 2/3 his size." Summoner said.
"Right..." Wizard said.
"You weren't staring at their asses were you?" Warrior asked seriously.
"Even if I was, ever hear the phrase "look but don't touch"?" Summoner said as Guild Girl came out.
"Summoner!" She exclaimed.
"In the flesh..." Summoner said dramatically before Ranger and H.W. were both praised by the crowd and bets were being cashed in.
"You two were awesome." Cow Girl said brightly.
"Yes she was taking notes." Fighter said knowingly.
"I'll bet..." Ranger said before noticing her tag.
"Yes, I'm sure about this." Cow Girl said as if reading his thoughts.
"Well...we'll give as many hands as we can." Ranger said and the team each nodded.
"Thank you all." Cow Girl said brightly.
"Hey, where's my horse?" Ranger asked.
"Still in the stable. Yes, I've been taking care of her for you, which includes taking her for a run every now and then, if your father didn't do it for me." Warrior said as Ranger's parents and daughter showed up.
"That's right boy, though it's mostly up to me when it comes to his horse nowadays, but to be fair...I can imagine being Platinum Ranked is quite a chore eh son?" Ranger's dad asked with amusement and pride in his voice.
"I've been less comfortable." Ranger said honestly.
"Well, how about you take that horse for a stroll while we look after our granddaughter?" Ranger's mom asked.
"Sounds like a plan, we'll get your horse while you set up the cart for once?" Warrior asked and Ranger huffed.
"Sure..." Ranger said.
"I'm coming too." Summoner said as he followed the team to get the horse.
"I'll see what Goblin Slayer's team has in mind for me." Cow Girl said.
"Sure..." Ranger said as he and Fighter went to their old apartment.
"You're starting to sound like Goblin Slayer again." Fighter teased.
"At least I'm doing my own thing as well." Ranger said and Fighter put her hand on his shoulder.
"I'll get some things set up myself, you...my dear, need to shave." She said.
"Of course, can't have my lady upset now can I?" Ranger teased as he went upstairs to shave, and when he was done and came outside, he heard a whoosh in the nearby room, and went to see a hell rift closing and a pair of sword-whips he recognized as Storm Mage's appeared as he looked at them in horror.
"What was that- What the hell?" Fighter exclaimed.
"We have to see the Sword Maiden about this." Ranger breathed out as he opened a portal to the Temple of Law...and saw Sword Maiden and Storm Mage's bloody corpses.
"NO!" Fighter exclaimed as she collapsed to her knees and wept as Ranger looked on in disbelief.
"But...but we...we stopped the goblins' assault we- we saved them! We saved them! How was it not enough?!" Ranger said frantically as he closed the portal and kicked over a dresser before leaning against the wall while listening to his wife weep into her hands.
About five minutes later, the rest of the team came back, and found no cart to rig the horse to.
"Hey boss? Why's the cart-" Warrior stopped talking the moment he saw Fighter and Ranger sitting together with tears in their eyes and Storm Mage's sword-whips were on the table. "What the fuck is going on?"
"We have terrible news..." Fighter said with a cracked vice.
"What?" Wizard breathed out as Priestess started to shake, and Ranger looked right at his team.
"The Sword Maiden's been assassinated...!" He breathed out as Priestess broke down crying as Warrior exhaled deeply as he leaned against the wall and Wizard sat down.
"What now...? What the hell do we do now?!" Warrior asked seriously as Ranger finally got a grip.
"We make her death mean something..." He said.
"Don't give us that crap! We've done nothing but that very thing day-in and day-out for over a year now, and look what happened! The farm we fought to save is destroyed, that farm girl lost her uncle, the kingdom we saved from the goblins is in ruins, the people were literally dragged to Hell...now the fucking Sword Maiden bites the dust. That future of hopes and dreams we fought so hard for turned out to be total bullshit, and if you think about it, it's all our fault! The Supreme God abandoned us, our world is falling apart, and we're all totally fucked!" Wizard snapped, then Summoner picked up the belt with the sword-whips and looked it over.
"My brother..." He whispered before holding the weapons close to his chest as Priestess got a grip...somehow.
"Come on, there has to be something we can do!" She exclaimed.
"Like what? Sweep this under the rug and pretend it's no big deal? Wizard is right; we've lost. Everything we worked on is ruined; the Sword Maiden is dead...and for what? Once upon a time I might've said that she no longer has to deal with the memory of what the goblins did to her, and while that's a valid argument, the love she has between herself, Storm Mage and the people is also gone, and the world may never see that kind of love again. That is not something you just get over. If that Cambion is the one who did it, and I very much think he is, and he wants to finish whatever task he's working on...so be it." Ranger said seriously.
"I agree...the Sword Maiden was a symbol of hope to the whole country; where are we without her to light the way? Where are the people for that matter?" Warrior asked with the despair getting to him as well. Priestess then looked at Ranger holding his crying wife, Wizard leaning back still fuming, and Warrior looking away.
"I don't think she would want us to be so torn up..." Priestess said softly.
"Well guess what? We didn't want to see our life's work turn into a pile of shit right in front of us after an incredibly awesome day!" Wizard snapped. "Now do us all a favor and quit trying to polish it..." Priestess then rushed upstairs, jumped onto a bed and sobbed into the pillow.
"Sword Maiden...please come back..." Priestess whispered in melancholy, then heard the door fly open.
"You are never going to believe this!" Rhea Fighter exclaimed.
"What...?" Fighter asked with a cracked voice.
"Well...you'd have to see it first but- just follow us to the monastery; Abbot wants to show you something that will blow your minds out of your asses." Wizard's brother said seriously.
"This better be good news...!" Wizard said through her teeth.
"Sis...you don't know the half of it." Her brother said.
"Seriously, if this is a wild goose chase I'm going to kill you...and I mean end-your-life." Wizard said seriously.
"For crying out loud, please come with us and quit wallowing in your misery...not in that order." Rhea Fighter said and one by one the team got themselves together.
"Alright..." Fighter said as she helped Warrior put the cart together as Priestess came down slowly.
"Priestess...I'm sorry I yelled at you..." Wizard said as Priestess reached for her shoulder...and Wizard didn't shoo away, but embraced her. "I can't believe I yelled at my little sister...!"
"I don't blame you; we're all emotional right now." Priestess said softly as Wizard's tears mositened Priestess' shoulder while the two hugged each other tightly for about half a minute. Ranger meanwhile embraced Fighter and petted his horse who was curious about their situation.
"I love you both..." Ranger said as he and Fighter touched the horse who neighed a bit. "Would you like to go see the monastery with your old rider?"
"I'm sure she would..." Fighter whispered and tried to smile despite being so torn up as Warrior hooked the horse to the cart and the team hopped in, while Ranger took the reigns as they rode off to the monastery in total silence. What was there to talk about? Sword Maiden blessed Ranger and Fighter's marriage, helped them defeat the vampire queen, gave them yet another reason to achieve greatness, helped defeat the Demon Lord 10 years prior to when Hero did, ruled over Water Town with the same grace she showed them, which was really saying something, helped take care of Ranger and Fighter's child, and who knows how many others things...and now she's gone. Like Ranger said: that's not something you just get over.
And Summoner? He just came to good terms with his brother and now all he had were the weapons the Cambion must've seen to taunt them. How insulting could a gesture be?!
When they got to the monastery...Abbot was waiting for them with a bright smile on his face.
"Welcome. We've been hoping you would arrive soon." He said as they exited the cart.
"We?" Warrior asked as the team looked inside with Rhea Fighter and Wizard's brother rushing ahead and joining Abbot to increase the suspense. When the team looked inside...they couldn't believe their eyes. The Sword Maiden...the very woman they grieved over...was alive and well. She had a faint glow about her, wore a new outfit that hugged her figure and exposed none of her skin, while still leaving nothing to their imagination.
"Archbishop!" Priestess exclaimed as she dropped her staff, and rushed to hug Sword Maiden and wept her heart out into her bosom.
"I'm here Priestess...and I missed you terribly..." Sword Maiden said softly, and the team watched the entire scene unfold. Sword Maiden held Priestes like a mother would for a daughter as they embraced.
"H-how? We saw your dead body!" Fighter said in disbelief.
"My service and devotion to the Supreme God brought me to a greater level of existence. I am now a Nephilim, a human being, with an angel's power." Sword Maiden said.
"You still appear human..." Ranger said still not believing his eyes.
"Appearances can deceive good Ranger." Sword Maiden said while still holding and caressing her surrogate daughter.
"Why...? Why did they kill you?" Priestess asked with a sob-choked voice.
"It was that Cambion you spoke of, he wanted my help to aid the people in a way that was forbidden. One that was forbidden for a reason." Sword Maiden said seriously.
"What do you mean?" Warrior asked.
"He wanted me to help him give the people a chance to obtain the same glory you all have now. While his heart is in the right...his mind could not be further from." Sword Maiden said.
"What does that even mean?" Summoner asked.
"It means he wants to do what the Demon Lord wants to do..." Wizard said.
"Most likely, but other than that...he didn't say, but I do not care. If I joined his cause, I would have betrayed everything I stood for, and everyone I care about, especially all of you." Sword Maiden said softly.
"And now you're back..." Priestess said softly as she snuggled into Sword Maiden's chest.
"I'm sorry I couldn't call you here in person; I am forbidden to leave this monastery, so I sent those two instead." Sword Maiden said.
"Don't get us started on how awe-struck we were, in multiple ways too." Rhea Fighter said as she watched the two holy women continue to embrace.
"I heard you call for me..." Sword Maiden whispered and Priestess snapped up to look at her warmly-smiling face.
"You...heard me?" She asked.
"Yes. We are both devout servants of the Supreme God, and therefore, our souls are connected. Even if it's not a strong tie, it's still a tie." Sword Maiden said as she stroke Priestess' hair.
"What about my brother?" Summoner asked and Storm Mage's ghost came from behind Sword Maiden.
"I'm here brother..." Storm Mage said and Summoner walked up to him and tried to touch him, and the place he tried touched turned solid, then the two hugged.
"How...?" Summoner asked.
"Limbo travel. What's not to love?" Storm Mage said and Summoner laughed before hugging him tighter. "Hey...I'm here aren't I-"
"You're dead! I know you thought you deserved this for the crimes you committed but...you're still my brother, and it's not going to be the same without you..." Summoner said as he buried his face into Storm Mage's shoulder.
"I'm sorry..." Storm Mage whispered as he kept his hold on Summoner. "Do me a favor and tell our sister I love her as well, and I'm sorry for everything..."
"O.k..." Summoner said with a cracked voice, before getting a grip. "Did you at least go down swinging?"
"Yes...even though that Cambion bastard was actually able to dodge lightning, I'm not kidding you, I actually told myself that if I'm going to die here, at least I'm going down swinging." Storm Mage said seriously before backing up and turning into a ghost again.
"Did I hear you say he dodged lightning?" Wizard asked seriously.
"Yes, he also took a surge of lightning all over his body, and just stood there like I threw a handful of sand at his chest." Storm Mage said and the team stood there in disbelief.
"So...he's strong enough to snap the boss' greatsword in half between his fingers, nimble enough to dodge two sword-whips lashing at him, has enough raw speed to dodge lightning, which moves nearly instantly...and he's tough enough to withstand a surge of lightning directly. How do we fight this guy?" Warrior asked.
"You'll have to find some way to weaken him, or if you can...trap him." Sword Maiden said.
"Trap him? How?" Wizard asked.
"Not how, where." Sword Maiden said.
"O.k...where?" Wizard asked and got a giggle out of Sword Maiden, and a huff out of Storm Mage.
"He's trying to dig up a passage to the abyss in another set of ruins. I'll let Priestess fill you in." Sword Maiden said.
"What? How?" Priestess asked before Sword Maiden put her hand on her head.
"I'll give you my skills and abilities, although...you should wait until the greater ones mature before you use them." Sword Maiden said before closing her eyes, then her hand glowed and Priestess spasmed a bit before sucking in one breath after another.
"I...I can map where it is..." Priestess said in awe.
"Later." Ranger said.
"Wait, can't you help us out? Get some payback if you will?" Warrior asked.
"I'm sorry, we can't. Even if we had a desire for revenge, we are here to give you all closure; Heaven awaits us." Sword Maiden said.
"But we'll miss you, the people will miss you...I'll miss you." Priestess said.
"This isn't the last time we'll see each other, and I can make a brief appearance at our funeral to let the people know we're alright." Sword Maiden said.
"As for me? Well...let me see that hammer." Storm Mage said to Warrior who pulled his hammer and Storm Mage poured a surge of lightning into it. "Alright, now it should be able to let you control not only lightning, but the weather itself."
"Wow..." Warrior whispered in awe as he looked at his new hammer.
"And you my brother...those sword-whips are in good hands." Storm Mage said before sparking them as well and Summoner looked at them.
"I'll use them well..." Summoner whispered with a forced smile.
"You still remember the Demon Lord's language right?" Storm Mage asked and got a nod.
"The Demon Lord has his own language?" Wizard asked.
"...then make sure you teach these two clowns." Storm Mage teased.
"Hey!" Warrior and Wizard exclaimed at the same time and Storm Mage's face split with a grin.
"You two really are made for each other..." He said with amusement.
"Anyway, with the Demon Lord's tongue, you can work some...pretty interesting mojo, so to speak." Summoner said.
"Like?" Warrior asked.
"Like entering Limbo, like I did, although this is Her Grace's doing; I'm just a tag-along." Storm Mage said.
"You're my protector, and my lover; I couldn't not bring you." Sword Maiden said softly.
"You...gave him your heart?" Abbot asked.
"I have indeed, and I never regretted anything less." Sword Maiden said softly.
"No doubt." Abbot said before Sword Maiden approached him.
"I have a parting gift for you as well..." She said as she put her hand on his chest...and his grey hair turned brown and his wrinkles disappeared. His youth was restored! The team stood their watching the miracle as Abbot stood their shaking and breathing hard as he felt his body change and looked himself over as Sword Maiden back up.
"I...feel young again...!" Abbot said.
"You look young again Father." Fighter said in disbelief.
"Quite a parting gift isn't it?" Sword Maiden asked as Abbot hugged her.
"Your charity is only surpassed by your beauty Your Grace..." He said with reverence as Sword Maiden returned the embrace.
"Speaking of parting gifts..." She said as she materialized a partially used bottle of sterility potion and handed it to Fighter...who looked it over. "Yes, me and Storm Mage have made love, on more than one occasion. As much as I'm relieved to not need it anymore...I don't want someone find out, and you need it more than I do."
"I understand..." Fighter said softly.
"Now...I must go. All of you, gather your forces with the demon hunters and do to the Cambion what you did to the vampire queen." Sword Maiden said firmly.
"Our plan exactly Your Grace." Ranger said. "And I'm sorry...we were having the time of our lives, and you were in the last confrontation of your life."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I'm free now; I'm no longer burdened with what happened to me in life, and I get to spend an eternity with the love of my life, never to be ensnared by goblins, or anything else, ever again. And you Wizard? Your outburst was driven by despair, the Supreme knows this, as I know it." Sword Maiden said as she joined Storm Mage.
"I will do everything I can to make this team as strong as we need to, and maybe find a way to weaken that bastard who murdered you." Wizard said firmly and Warrior took her hand and she interlocked their fingers.
"I know you will succeed. You are the greatest team of adventurers I know. Not one of you is not blessed by the Supreme, whether it's on the battlefield, in love, or in fortune. Warrior and Wizard, I know how simple yet refined your wedding was, and not just as archbishop, but as your friend...I hope you obtain nothing less than what a marriage should be. Ranger and Fighter...yours was the only wedding I have blessed, and it couldn't hold a bigger place in my heart. I would say continue to stand by each other but...I can see there's no chance of you not doing so." Sword Maiden said and got a few chuckles from the team. "As for you Priestess...that Cambion said we both left worthy successors, and my last word...was your name."
"You really want me to be your heir?" Priestess asked in awe.
"It would be no less than my deepest honor to have you as my heir. You have achieved more than I did when I was your age; you have your own Gold Rank, you're part of a team led by a Platinum Rank, and you even survived a trip to Hell itself. You...have a great deal to be proud of." Sword Maiden said as she stroked her cheek, then Priestess sucked in a breath and turned to Ranger.
"Sir...may I have your hairband?" She asked and Ranger removed the hairband he got from Fighter and handed it over...then Priestess tied part of her hair into a ponytail and Sword Maiden smiled brightly.
"You look just like me now..." She whispered and Priestess hugged her yet again. "This is not good-bye...but I will still miss you."
"And I'll miss you...mother..." Priestess said before weeping again as Sword Maiden kissed her forehead...and the feeling lingered.
"Until next time...and, tell Goblin Slayer I said thank you..." Sword Maiden then took Storm Mage's hand, they embraced...then vanished into thin air.
"Farewell Sword Maiden. May Heaven hold the richest place for you..." Abbot said as Priestess was surrounded by her team as Rhea Fighter and Wizard's brother looked at each other as they kept watching from a respectful distance.
The team rode back to town in a much better mood, but still had nothing to talk about...until Warrior decided to break the ice.
"Wizard...I want to learn illusion magic myself. Helping heal minds is nothing to sneeze at and I'd be honored to get involved in it." He said seriously.
"Alright. I have no idea how good you'd be at it, but I cannot argue with your point to save my life." Wizard said with the same tone.
"Me neither...what kind of in-law would I be if I fought with you over something valid?" Her brother asked and a few people smiled over it.
"Well, the boss learned more than just illusion magic, so if he can do it, so can I." Warrior said.
"Typical, my husband has something, so must you." Fighter teased.
"Now to be fair, he doesn't know how to heal minds. Wait, you don't know how to heal minds right?" Rhea Fighter asked.
"No, but that's what my team is for. Like I told Priestess...I may be on the right side, but I'm not a gentle spirit; there's a reason I serve the War God with so much enthusiasm." Ranger said.
"You know the Rage and Fear illusion spells right?" Rhea Fighter asked and Ranger nodded. "Well...does a Rage spell work on allies as well?"
"It might, but there's no way I'm testing it; people under a Rage spell attack anyone, friend or foe until the spell wears off, and the last thing I want to see us be killed by each other." Ranger said.
"Right. Doing it to goblins is one thing since...well, they're fucking goblins, but other people? Eh, that's iffy..." Wizard said as the team simply slouched into themselves as they enjoyed the rest of the ride. When they finally got back it was twilight, and when they entered the tavern...it was nearly empty since the adventurers al likely got quests...and Guild Girl and Inspector were crying as they hugged each other.
"Not them too..." Rhea Fighter breathed out.
"Ranger? Someone told us the Sword Maiden is dead...tell us it's not true!" Guild Girl said and Ranger sighed and said nothing.
"How could this happen...? How can anyone be that heartless?" Inspector asked.
"It was a Cambion. The offspring of a demon and a human. He killed her because she didn't want to betray us. She died upholding the Supreme God's values. We actually came back from seeing her now-divine form giving us her blessing; she actually said I should be her successor. I even changed my appearance to honor her..." Priestess said with reverence.
"You...have got to be the sweetest person I've ever met Priestess." Inspector said with a sob. "Tell us you'll stop this Cambion before any more lives are lost."
"Mark my words: that Cambion will pay for this...!" Ranger said as he walked out...leaving the team behind.
"Where is Goblin Slayer and company?" Fighter asked.
"In the back room...they heard what we heard." Guild Girl said as she dried her eyes, and spotted Summoner leaning by the door. "Summoner..?"
"My brother was murdered as well...and that Cambion had the audacity to drop his weapons off at the team's home as an insult!" Summoner said while tensing up.
"Your brother? Storm Mage?" Guild Girl asked.
"Yes Storm Mage! Who else?" Summoner snapped and the two ladies flinched before Summoner got a grip. "I'm sorry..."
"Don't worry, we're all emotional here." Fighter said as she put her hand on his shoulder.
"Did you really see Sword Maiden's ghost?" Inspector asked.
"His and Storm Mage's, and Sword Maiden is a Nephilim now." Warrior said.
"What? I thought Nephilims were a myth." Inspector said.
"Trust me, they're as real as Cambions." Rhea Fighter said.
"Well...at least she's still watching over us from Heaven..." Inspector said softly as she looked away and clutched her scale amulet.
"Let's just go get Goblin Slayer's team, head to the fort and go get that Cambion." Wizard's brother said.
"I'm staying here for a bit; I need a beer..." Summoner said as he went to the bar and got a mug while the team went to get GS' crew...who were in the back with Cow Girl and H.E. Archer mourning as well.
"When does it end...?" Wizard asked with the frequency of people being so disheartened getting to her.
"This is likely going to happen to the whole country. Like the boss would say: all we can do is stop this before it gets worse." Warrior said as Fighter worked up the nerve to go see them.
"I heard you talk to Guild Girl. Tell me this plan will work." H.E. Archer said as she held Cow Girl.
"I don't know...but it's our only shot." Fighter said and Cow Girl stood up.
"Take me there and train me now!" She demanded.
"Alright, and I think it's best you and I train first. If you can handle your body as if it were a weapon, using an actual weapon should be cake." Fighter said.
"Not a problem." Cow Girl said.
"And Goblin Slayer? The Sword Maiden said thank you..." Fighter said.
"Alright..." GS said softly; even he was taking this seriously. They then heard Bard and Songstress singing, and to their surprise...Summoner joined in. As the team watched them honor his brother; that song was the one he and Bard sane at Noble Fencer's birthday. They then heard Ranger yelling as a hell rift opened, and he was smashing one goblin after another to a paste with his gauntlets while everyone, especially Guild Girl, and Inspector watched from the window.
"Wait...I recognize their life forces. Those are the same goblins we fought on our first quest, and the ones we killed in that cave the second time." Fighter said.
"Well, this is one hell of a way to deal with pent-up rage." Wizard said as the ground shook from Ranger stomping a goblin's brains in with a heavy boot morphed.
"Ranger..." Guild Girl whispered as she watched him literally crush the goblins like they were made of glass. Eventually, he tackled a hob to the ground, tore off it's head, then threw it at a goblin that made for the tavern to get Guild Girl and the goblin died on impact. Another hob came out, Ranger flipped it onto it's back then repeatedly punched it in the face with escalating violence.
"Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam ! Bam Ba- Sorry, couldn't resist..." Warrior said awkwardly as Ranger kept punching away until it's head was paste, then looked around at his prey and yelled to the sky in victory.
"I hope you saw that Cambion, because what he just did to those goblins, is what I'm going to do to you..." Summoner said coldly as Guild Girl looked at him with concern.
After the massacre the team took Fighter and Ranger's daughter from his parents, loaded the cart and headed through a portal to the demon hunter's fortress. The hunters were returning from missions and others were working on the fort itself, or their respective crafts. When they went inside, they were greeted by a dwarf...with no beard, and well-kept clothes and hair.
"Welcome back boss." The dwarf said.
"What in-? Who are you and where is your beard?" Dwarf Shaman demanded.
"Oh for fuck's sake, this is getting ridiculous...I've been more interested in human culture than my own for ages. So if you're going to ridicule me, go ahead and get it out of your systems now, and leave me alone..." The other dwarf said dryly and as he crossed his arms.
"Well, it's pretty bold to stick to your ways like this." Fighter said.
"Thank you very much my good ma'am." The dwarf said with a smile before noticing her ring. "Ah...who's the lucky man?" Fighter then pointed to Ranger with her thumb. "I take it back: who's the very lucky man."
"Point taken, now...if you don't mind, we've had a pretty shitty day..." Ranger said as they went inside to sit down with the dwarf following.
"Ah, I can tell you a thing or two about shitty days..." He said before grabbing a two-handed gun.
"Is that another gun?" Wizard asked.
"Nothing gets past you milady. This isn't just a gun, it's a rifle. Arguably the best kind of gun. Wait, how do you-" The dwarf shut up the moment Ranger morphed a pistol. "O...k...you're- A Platinum Rank! Holy shit his just gets better and better!"
"What is it with you dwarves and guns?" H.E. Archer asked and Dwarf Rifleman looked her over.
"You know we take pride in our creations Long Ears, and why shouldn't we?" Dwarf Shaman asked when GS showed up.
"Wait...I know you! You're the Goblin Slayer, and you must be his team, and you must be the ones who helped him wipe out the goblins and save that elf girl who was captured by an ogre a year ago!" Dwarf Rifleman exclaimed.
"Yeah? So?" Warrior asked and Dwarf Rifleman laughed.
"Boy, if I knew you were around I would've sought your asses out a long time ago. This calls for a celebration, at least for me." Dwarf Rifleman said before fetching a bag full of food and setting it up. "A dwarven delicacy in case you don't know."
"We haven't had this since my birthday..." Wizard said as she took some.
"We had some before we fought the ogre remember?" H.E. Archer said as she took some herself and the rest of the team took a bite themselves as Cow Girl walked in holding the baby.
"You have a baby with you?" Dwarf Rifleman asked as he went to see her as Cow Girl knelt down to his level and the baby stared at the dwarf.
"Cute isn't she?" Cow Girl asked with her usual soft voice returning to normal.
"Yes she is. May I ask who the father is?" Dwarf Rifleman asked.
"Uh, she's not mine." Cow Girl said before looking at Ranger and Fighter.
"Oh...well, same congratulations apply." Dwarf Rifleman said as the awkwardness wore off.
"Thank you very much." Fighter said as she took the baby back from Cow Girl and rocked her.
"You all probably don't know this but...that girl you saved from the ogre and I go way back. She actually looked after me when I was just a pup." Dwarf Rifleman said.
"You were looked after by an elf girl, and you're interested in human culture, to the point where you took after them? You're one interesting dwarf." H.E. Archer said as he huffed at her.
"So I keep being told. Anyway...she's a good woman; she didn't deserve whatever they did to her...hell no one did." Dwarf Rifleman said as he took another bite. "And that business with the Sword Maiden? That has to be the biggest fuck you to the country I've ever heard of..."
"You heard of it too?" Ranger asked.
"Heh, who hasn't? It's been doom and gloom for the better part of an hour around here, and since we hunt demons for a living...that's saying something." Dwarf Rifleman said.
"We're here to get ready to find the Cambion to murdered her and my brother." Summoner said.
"Cambion? Shit, this is serious..." Dwarf Rifleman said.
"You've heard of them?" Fighter asked.
"Heard of them? I met one, and no I don't know if it's the same one, but...ho boy...he was one cold son of a bitch..." Dwarf Rifleman said in exasperation.
"I'm here to get some training in as well, and maybe look after the baby if I have to." Cow Girl said as she showed her tag.
"Ah...a Porcelain and a Platinum Rank in the same room...that's rare. As for he baby, I'm sure she's in good hands...very good hands." Dwarf Rifleman said as he stared at Cow Girl's supremely-developed chest.
"Hey, keep your eyes in their sockets." Wizard snapped.
"The whole reason women have breasts, aside from being that much easier to look at, is to feed a baby if need-be. It's an established fact." Dwarf Rifleman said honestly.
"That doesn't mean you have a license to kill." Fighter said.
"If that's the case, Heaven help Long Ears' child." Dwarf Shaman said and H.E. Archer gasped and glared at him.
"Whoa! Hold up! There's a handful of things you just don't make fun of, and a lady's chest size is one of them." Dwarf Rifleman said.
"Says the guy who was just undressing me with his eyes..." Cow Girl groaned.
"Not at all; I'm sure the man you have a family with with be quite a lucky lad, and I couldn't be more serious." Dwarf Rifleman said seriously.
"Well, I do appreciate the compliment, if you can call it that." Cow Girl said.
"That is all it was meant to be my good ma'am. Besides, it's not the size, it's how it's used..." Dwarf Rifleman said.
"Must this discussion be about something so trivial as a female's body shape when there is a genuine threat on the horizon?" Lizard Priest asked seriously.
"Right...well, if what I've heard about this Cambion is anything to go by, your work is cut out for you. He once ran through a small army of crusaders, at least 40 to be precise, killed them all with his bare hands, didn't get hit a single time, shrugged off Holy Light miracles, and even punched through a solid stone wall with enough force to make it literally explode before he did all of that..." Dwarf Rifleman said and the team tensed up and some, like Cow Girl were practically wetting themselves.
"It's a good thing we have the idea of weakening him first, we just have to figure out how." Wizard said.
"Weaken him you say? That gives me an idea..." Dwarf Rifleman said.
"What?" Wizard asked as the whole group turned to the dwarf.
"Ever heard of elder dragons?" Dwarf Rifleman asked and Lizard Priest exclaimed in excitement.
"Ancestors be pleased! You know of an elder dragon?" He asked and Dwarf Rifleman nodded. "Yes! We are saved now!" The baby started crying in fear of Lizard Priest's outburst as Fighter shushed and rocked her baby until she got ahold of herself as Fighter kissed her forehead. "I apologize for frightening your child Lady Fighter, but this...it is a miracle we found you Sir Dwarf."
"What are you all talking about?" Rhea Fighter asked.
"Elder dragons know secrets of magic so powerful, it was entrusted to them for centuries, and only a select few are chosen to learn this magic, and one of the branches is the ability to drain, or at least nullify another person's power, even if they are stronger than you. Like, much stronger than you." Dwarf Rifleman said.
"Eh, I killed a dragon myself and even got use out of it's body parts...should I be anywhere near it?" Warrior asked.
"Good question, but I guess that depends on why you killed it. Elder dragons aren't morons in any way, shape, or form. Hell, unlike the lesser dragons which are little more than wild animals, the elder dragons possess so much wisdom, they might as well claim to have the minds of gods. On top of that...they're a dream to talk to." Dwarf Rifleman said.
"Well, let's go see him. Wait...you know where he is right?" Wizard asked.
"Yep, like the back of my hand." Dwarf Rifleman said.
"Alright, let's go see a drag-" The alarm cuts Ranger off as Fighter gave the baby back to Cow Girl.
"We're under attack..." Summoner said as Dwarf Rifleman grabbed his rifle and followed the team outside...and saw the hunters set up their defenses as a group of scouts entered the gates yelling warnings and Summoner got involved himself. Then Wizard used Life Sight...
"Undead...lots of them, and one has a damn powerful signature." She said.
"I can feel it...it's the same man who cursed me." Fighter said as Ranger walked forward and sensed him out himself.
"Whoever you are...you made the biggest mistake of your life coming here." He said coldly.
Well, yet another assault to fight off, all in a day's work for the Team eh? So...an elder dragon's going to join the fun. Fun fact: that Dwarf Rifleman is not my character; someone else helped me write him. Looking at you TheCarlosInferno. Anyway, next episode, we'll get to see the dwarf in action alongside the team, and minor spoiler alert: he's going to join GS' team later on, so he'll have two dwarves to haul around...yeah. Also...Sword Maiden is a Nephilim now, but is that really so surprising? She has the Supreme's blessing times a million, and if Cherub can get involved directly from Heaven, the team can get dragged to Hell, and a whole bunch of other supernatural shenanigans, then her going back and forth between Heaven and Earth is certainly on the table. It kind of makes her like a female Jesus now that I think about it...but that's pure coincidence I swear. Anyway, undead are on the hitlist for next episode, and so is that shitstain that cursed Fighter. Be sure to Rate, Review, and Share while we await whatever medieval bullshit Ranger has in mind for him. Stay tuned...