Hello people, and welcome back to Goblin Slayer: The Team Year 2. We left off on...quite a foot forward didn't we? Well, wait no more for the rest of the ass-kickery folks.
Review Response: Well, according to the wiki, Sword Saint isn't interested in dating a man who isn't stronger than her, tight restriction by the way, but if she does get involved with the Elder Revenant...well, they'd need even more work than Storm Mage and Sword Maiden did, and that is quite a feat: he'd need to return to life...duh, he'd need one hell of an attitude adjustment, and...who knows what else.
As for those thugs Fighter floored? As Magneto once said: In chess, the pawns go first...make of that what you will.
Cow Girl getting an M14...or at least something like it is something I couldn't not do; I do respect the Garand for what it is, and what it did for America's army...but the M14 is where it's at in my opinion, especially in GS where guns were just getting started, and some alchemists were involved in handling them, and alchemists tend to be...pretty high on the academic totem pole to say the least.
"Well that was fun." Warrior said.
"What's the word with everyone else?" Fighter asked and Ranger snickered.
"Get this: they're going on a treasure hunt with the hunters." He said.
"What? With our daughter with them?!" Fighter asked and Ranger looked around with Life Sight to see they were alone.
"The Sword Maiden is looking after her." Ranger said and Fighter calmed down.
"Supernatural baby-sitters...gotta love em..." Warrior said and got a deadpan look from both parents. "What?"
"Nevermind..." Ranger said dryly.
"Anyway...one pack of goons down...now let's see what the real fighters can do, if you can even call them that." Fighter said.
"Huh?" Ranger asked.
"We saw some big guys throwing down about an hour ago, and...holy shit they sucked..." Warrior said.
"For this crime boss' sake, he better have an ace up his sleeve, actually...he better have a whole deck up his sleeve; he's going to need it." Ranger said.
"You're not getting involved are you?" Fighter asked.
"Not unless I need to." Ranger said honestly.
"Right...like my new outfit?" Fighter asked.
"You look just as radiant as you did when we met." Ranger said with a smile.
"If you saw that answer coming, raise my hand..." Warrior said.
"Oh shut it." Fighter said as Warrior snickered.
"Hey! Look who's back in town." Amazon Warrior said as GS and company appeared.
"We heard you were on a treasure hunt?" GS asked.
"Now how could you have heard that?" Rhea Hunter asked knowingly.
"You told us." GS said simply.
"Good grief..." Rhea Hunter groaned.
"See what we have to deal with?" Wizard's brother asked.
"Anyway...shall we set sail?" A.W. asked.
"Yeah!" Cow Girl said as they all got on-board, and left port and traveled along the coast.
"Nice toy." Rhea Hunter said as Cow Girl took out her new rifle.
"This? I just got it from the elves." She said.
"No shit. That things practically reeks of alchemy." Rhea Hunter said.
"Do you think it'll help against monsters?" Cow Girl asked.
"Oh yes...if you hit the right places." Rhea Hunter said.
"Such as?" Cow Girl asked.
"The eyes, the gills, sometimes, the tentacles...the tongue." Rhea Hunter said.
"What?" Cow Girl asked with a weird look in he face.
"The tongue is more sensitive than you think...if you kissed anyone, you'd know exactly what I mean." Rhea Hunter said and Cow Girl hummed in acknowledgement. "You kissed that guy in the black armor did you?"
"And then some..." Cow Girl said and Rhea Hunter laughed a bit.
"Lucky him..." She said as Cow Girl looked at her funny. "Hey, anyone with eyes is going to envy you; I almost wish I had a body like yours...almost."
"Still...there's noticing, then there's focusing." Cow Girl said.
"Even that's a chore honey." Rhea Hunter said.
"Hey, give the girl a break will you?" A.W. snapped.
"Right...sorry boss." Rhea Hunter said as she walked away.
"Sorry, she tends to be...pretty focused on physical appeal, if you get my drift." A.W. said.
"I don't mind that being talked about, but...it's been talked about so frequently, it's making me uncomfortable." Cow Girl said.
"Well, I'm sure some monster-killing will make you feel better, if we even run into any." A.W. said.
"Maybe...do you know where we're going?" Cow Girl asked.
"There's a small group of islands, just through a passage through a pair of cliffs, which happens to have an island just in front of it." A.W. said.
"Huh?" Cow Girl asked.
"You'll know, when we see it." A.W. said before walking away and joining Samurai on the ship's bridge.
"You look different." Rhea Hunter said as she joined Priestess.
"The Sword Maiden used to look like this." She said.
"Ah...so you heard too didn't you?" Rhea Hunter asked somberly.
"Yes...she was the closest thing I had to a mother, and she even taught me some things she knew. I even got some new powers thanks to her; she may not have given them to me directly, but she is the reason I got them." Priestess said.
"May I ask?" Rhea Hunter asked.
"Restoration, and Resurrection. I can only use the former once a day, and the latter...well, that's a bit more complicated." Priestess said.
"Well, hopefully we won't need either." Rhea Hunter said.
"That's what Ranger said on our first quest..." Priestess said.
"I'd ask but-" Priestess cuts Rhea Hunter off.
"Please don't." She said.
"Alright alright...but for the record...it's quite noble that you're honoring Her Grace like this." Rhea Hunter said seriously and got a smile from Priestess.
"I think so too." She said.
"I take it the sword is also tribute?" Rhea Hunter asked as Priestess drew it.
"It very much is; my teammates actually gave me insight in how to use one properly." She said.
"Dwarven-made too...good luck finding a superior one." Rhea Hunter said with a smirk before walking away.
About half an hour later, their ship reached an island in front of a passage between two cliffs as established...with an unpleasant bonus.
"Pirates..." Amazon Warrior said as she noticed the four ships around the island, which had docks and even a headquarter on the island.
"I take it you're familiar with them?" GS asked.
"Familiar? I know people who were captured by pirates, and got the shit kicked out of them...if they were lucky." A.W. said.
"Sounds like the goblins to me..." GS said.
"Eh, that's debatable; not all pirates are twisted bast-" A cannon shot cut A.W. off, and the side of the ship was grazed. "But these guys apparently are...batten down the hatches! Ready all weapons, and be ready to engage!" The crew then armed all the cannons, ballistas...and even a couples of ballistas that launches metal balls.
"That's new..." Wizard said.
"Catapult-ballista hybrid that shoots exploding balls. We only have a few shots, but eh...emergencies happen." Rhea Hunter said as Wizard's brother used Repair on the graze.
"Are you ready for this?" GS asked as Cow Girl pulled her rifle.
"About as ready as I can be." She said as she looked through her scope.
"Can you hit their captains?" GS asked as Cow Girl sucked in a breath.
"I think so..." She said softly.
"Do it..." GS said simply then Cow Girl steeled herself, and fired at one of the ships.
"Got one." Cow Girl said.
"Where did you hit him?" GS asked.
"The lower chest..." Cow Girl breathed out.
"His pain won't last long." GS said.
"Don't waste your sympathy." A.W. said coldly as more cannonballs hit the water, and Wizard's brother repaired the bow, which took a few hits, as Priestess drank some holy water.
"Protection!" She yelled as a barrier was erected around the ship, as more cannonballs slammed into it. Some smaller ships appeared, then GS threw a bomb at one, which hits a stockpile of gunpowder, and the whole ship went up in smoke. Some of the hunters shot into a few more ship with the ballistas, which punch holes in them which makes them take in water, and other hunters picked off the crew with bows, crossbows, some rifles, and Rhea Hunter uses an auto-crossbow like Warrior's.
"Firestorm!" Wizard yelled as a barrage of blue fireballs spewed out of her glaive and several more ships were blown apart. He then summoned a flock of bird familiars that fly to the larger ships to distract them...then a burst of lightning hits them all, which surprised the whole crew.
"They have a mage with them...a strong one..." Samurai said as a ship the lightning came from vanished, then reappeared next to their ship...and their fears were confirmed, as a pirate showed up with a quarterstaff with a jewel on it. He then unleashed lightning on the Protection barrier until it dropped, then some pirates grappled over to their ship, and all hell broke loose.
"Empower!" Priestess yelled as the hunters, and her teammates all went from having a hard time against the pirates...to completely wastelanding them. Wizard's brother then summoned more birds that attacked the mage with energy bolts, which made the mage retreat and several pirates opened fire on the hunters with guns, and wounded several of them, including Rhea Hunters, who collapsed from a gut shot, and a knee shot, which Priestess healed when she got out of cover. Cow Girl then shot at the pirates, hitting several in the head, and even shot two pirates with one bullet as it pierced one and hit the one behind him. GS even shot down three pirates with a hail of shot from his gun as they were grappling to their ship.
"Another ship, port side!" A hunter yelled, and Rhea Fighter got on a cannon, aimed it at the bow, and fired, hitting the side, but still pierced the middle. Wizard's brother then finished the job with an empowered/charged-up fireball, which blew the ship to pieces. The last two ships sailed for the hunters' ship...that a series of tentacles grabbed one of the ships, and the other went to help out...only to be latched onto itself but two sets of tentacles.
"Krakens!" A hunter yelled as they all looked over the sides...only to be yanked back by A.W.
"Get away from the sides! Do you want to get yanked off the ship?" She yelled.
"I can keep an eye out!" Wizard's brother said as he used Life Sight.
"So can I." Rhea Fighter said as she opened her chakras.
"Anything?" GS asked as he prepared his shotgun.
"Yes...including the two we saw just now...there are five of them, each as big as this ship." Rhea Fighter said grimly as Cow Girl groaned.
"Dear Supreme, and Merciful Earth Mother..." Priestess whispered, before Wizard summoned some water elementals, and her brother summoned some shark familiars that all dived into the water, and Rhea Fighter started meditating.
"Good news...those summons are giving one of those krakens a hard time." Rhea Fighter said.
"Well, that's good news for us." Rhea Hunter said.
"Wait-!" Rhea Fighter exclaimed as some tentacles ensnared their ship, and some hunters were bashed by the tentacles, and most were just knocked down, but some had broken limbs, which Priestess had to heal. Wizard's brother then bashed some tentacles with his mace, but it did almost nothing so he used the spearhead instead, then his sister had to slice them at his side as the other hunters shot and hacked away at the tentacles, especially Samurai...who swung his sword with speed, power, and precision that rivaled Ranger's.
A.W. actually picked up a cannon, and shot a tentacle at it's base, and Cow Girl screamed as a tentacles picked her up and started squeezing her, before GS freed her by shooting the tentacles, then Cow Girl grabbed her rifle then looked over the edge, then fired into the kraken's eye, which finally made it let go. The Wizard siblings then unleashed firestorms into the pirates ships which were still being attacked by a pair of krakens, and both the ships, and monsters were blown apart.
"Alright! Three down-" Rhea Fighter cuts A.W. off.
"Four actually. The summons just took out the two below us...and the last one is retreating." She said.
"In that case, let's get our shit together and keep setting sail." A.W. said as the hunters got to work re-organizing their supplies, the wizard siblings repaired the ship, gave potions around, and Priestess kept healing people.
"Ah, Ranger. Welcome back." Master Fighter said as he, Fighter, and Warrior walked in, and saw the competitors training.
"Are we too late?" Ranger asked.
"Not at all, we await, only our other host to arrive to begin." Master Fighter said.
"Well, good luck you two, not that you'll need it." Warrior said as he stayed by the entrance.
"You're not getting involved?" Fighter asked.
"Heh, this is more your thing, than mine. Besides...I can back you up like I did before if things go too far south." Warrior.
"Right..." Fighter said.
"Wait, it's not too late for me to join is it?" Ranger asked.
"As long as you promise to do this fairly." Master Fighter said.
"Of course." Ranger said while handing over his belt.
"I take it this belt is what you use to fight with, and there's more to it than meets the eye?" Master Fighter asked.
"Master...you don't know the half of it." Fighter said.
"May I ask?" Master Fighter asked.
"Sorry, but with all due respect, this isn't the time or place to tell my secrets." Ranger said.
"Understandable." Master Fighter said.
"Hey, who who made her triumphant return..." Brawler said as he entered the ring.
"And those guys who came after us actually tried to kill us, and got their asses kicked." Fighter said.
"You planning the same thing for me?" Brawler asked.
"As long as you don't ambush us outside the ring." Fighter said.
"No need for that." Brawler said as Ranger shook his head. "Hey, wiseguy, you have an issue?"
"Not directly no." Ranger said.
"And indirectly?" Brawler asked.
"Indirectly...I don't get why someone would try intentionally fighting someone they don't know when there's no excuse." Ranger said.
"Oh really? Would you care to tell me then?" Brawler asked and Ranger looked at Fighter, who shrugged.
"A better question is...how do you think my dear wife crushed no less than eight men while bare-handed?" Ranger asked and Brawler stood them puzzled.
"All that means is that she spent a good chunk of her energy, and shouldn't even be here." He said simply.
"Oh, you are so screwed..." Warrior groaned.
"I could not have said that better myself..." Ranger said as he sat down, and Fighter cracked her knuckles.
"Just the fact that I can take down eight men with almost no help, is a feat of skill, not a waste of energy. In fact...I can't remember the last time I felt this fired up." She said with a smirk.
"So what, you want to step in the ring so I can snuff that fire out?" Brawler asked.
"What do you think boss?" Fighter asked.
"Come on, he's not even in your league." Ranger said.
"What's wrong? Don't want your wife to mess up her hair or something? Or do you want to fight me yourself?" Brawled taunted and Ranger scoffed.
"I...honestly don't know which of us is better suited for this job..." Ranger said.
"Well quite dicking around, and let's do this." Brawler snapped, then Ranger sighed, side-glanced at Fighter, who winked at him, got up and joined Brawler in the ring. Brawler then put his fists up, then Ranger took a stance that was a combination between Fighter's, and Brawler's, who then beat his fists together a few times, before running at Ranger, who side-stepped a heavy swing, then spin-stepped to the middle of the ring. The two then looked each other over while moving around, then Brawler threw a kick, which Ranger deflected with his shin, then ducked a punch, then side-stepped an uppercut. Brawler then threw a barrage of punches at Ranger, all of which were dodged, blocked, deflected or, in one case...countered with a quick punch which was hard enough to stagger Brawler.
He then shook off the hit, glared at Ranger who dived at Ranger's legs...only to get jumped over, then Brawler tried to trip him, and Ranger cartwheeled away, then glanced at Fighter and Master Fighter who were smirking and staring in anticipation respectively. He then looked back at Brawler who grabbed Ranger's mid-section, lifted him up, then Ranger jammed the tip of his elbow into Brawler's back over and over, then knees him in the gut...just in time for Brawler to slam Ranger into the ground. Brawler then pinned Ranger down and brought down both fists on his shoulders, which were caught by Ranger, who then twisted Brawler's wrists, then punched Brawler's diaphragm, then punched him off, and got up.
"This fight is over." Master Fighter said as Ranger straightened himself out and cracked a few bones.
"Yeah...this fight is over, but next time...I'll get you." Brawler said as he staggered away, and Warrior approached Ranger who sat back down.
"Boss...you smoked him like a pipe." Warrior said and Ranger stared at him.
"Did you not hear that cracking sound as I stood up? Bones aren't supposed to sound like that Warrior." He said seriously as Fighter removed his shirt, somehow ignored his looks, and ran her fingers along his pressure points as Ranger instantly relaxed.
"I thought you were tougher than a normal man?" Master Fighter asked.
"My armor is where my power comes from; my body is no greater than what you can expect." Ranger said.
"Well, I can't find any broken bones, but you've still taken a serious beating." Fighter said.
"Where's a life potion when you need one...?" Warrior asked.
"I have some healing and stamina potions for moments like this." Master Fighter said as he led Warrior to a small cabinet.
"Even when beaten and tired like this, you're still incredibly sexy..." Fighter whispered before Ranger smirked and got a quick but deep kiss from her.
"You, my love and life, are at your sexiest when you kick demon ass, or thug ass in this case..." Ranger whispered as Fighter giggled.
"There will be plenty more where that came from." Fighter said as Master Fighter came back and gave a potion to Ranger who downed it.
"I still recommend you take it easy from this point for now; let your wife handle the rest." Master Fighter said.
"I cannot say "no" to that master." Ranger said simply.
"Wise decision. Also...I couldn't help but notice that you were wearing your opponent down before making any serious moves. That is a wise tactic...although your opponent is clearly no amateur." Master Fighter said.
"Right, although I rarely fight opponents I am not trying to kill, or ones that I have nothing against. That Brawler clearly has no such qualms." Ranger said seriously.
"Were you holding back?" Master Fighter asked.
"I could tell my opponent wasn't that's for sure. But to answer you: I was very much holding back, if I wasn't, I wouldn't have been injured." Ranger said.
"It's true. We've seen him fight over a year; this man did about as much damage as the rest of us combined on our first quest." Warrior said and Ranger smirked.
"Ah...good times." He said sarcastically.
"To be fair boss, you were pretty awesome." Warrior said.
"You're not still torn up are you?" Fighter asked softly under her breath as Ranger shook his head.
"Should I know something?" Master Fighter asked seriously.
"Sorry master, but it's a bit of a sore subject, even now." Ranger said.
"I see...well, in any case, you should both be ready for the tournamen-" Master Fighter shut up the moment a tall, bald, muscular man walked in and crossed his arms.
"You know what I'm here for." The man said.
"The tournament has yet to begin Heavy Fighter." Master Fighter said seriously.
"Oh? So I guess I'm just imagining the dozen or so of my henchmen, who were all disposed of by one girl?! By my reckoning...this tournament is nearly complete. So where is the little bitch in question?" Heavy Fighter said and Ranger tensed up but Fighter beat him to the punch.
"That "little bitch" is the same one who's going to save this place." She said firmly.
"Ohhh, my next challenger is a cute one." Heavy Fighter said before looking at the other two. "Your two boyfriends can play too-" Ranger cuts him off.
"I'm her husband, and he's a brother figure to her, and speaking of "playing too"...she beat those henchmen of yours alone. Do you seriously want all three of us fighting you?" He asked.
"Don't mistake me for those meatheads you played tag with either; I could probably crush all four of you if the boss wanted me to." Heavy Fighter said.
"Good luck with that." Warrior said as Heavy Fighter uncrossed his arms.
"I mean it. Some fighters us brute force, others use skills...I use both of those things." Heavy Fighter. said.
"And we don't?" Warrior asked.
"Not enough boy. Now, enough of the piggy-back bullshit. Give up the dojo now, or things will get nasty." Heavy Fighter asked.
"Things already got nasty." Master Fighter said.
"I mean...there won't be a dojo to save." Heavy Fighter said simply as Fighter tensed up.
"Take me to your boss; you and I will fight in front of him. One-on-one; no one else involved. I win, he leaves this place alone." She said as the three men with her looked at her.
"But if I win?" Heavy Fighter asked.
"I join his syndicate." Fighter said.
"Are you nuts?" Warrior asked in awe.
"Absolutely not." Master Fighter said.
"Love..." Ranger said softly and Fighter simply smirked.
"On my boss' behalf, I accept those terms. Meet us at the fort down the eastern road at sundown...and don't make us wait..." Heavy Fighter said as he left.
"Don't tell me you trust them? These are criminals we're talking about, and they clearly want blood." Warrior said.
"So do I..." Fighter said.
"We never should've had that one guy send a message..." Ranger said.
"If you hadn't, then we would not have the means to put an end to this as quickly as possible. Now...form a plan to get this resolved as well as you can." Master Fighter.
"I have a plan. Boss, you and I follow her at a distance, and if we find any funny business...then we jump them." Warrior said.
"No...I will do this like we agreed." Fighter said.
"Not a chance. We are not throwing you into a dragon's nest without a back-up plan." Ranger said sternly.
"Ranger...my love and life...our daughter in the only thing I value more-" Ranger cuts Fighter off with his words and by gripping her hands.
"Then think of her! If you go into that place...she might grow up without you. Remember how we mentioned that before?" He asked with fear in his voice.
"Right..." Fighter whispered.
"Well, we have hours before sundown, so we can quibble about what we actually do." Master Fighter said.
"Right...now, I should get as ready as I can, while I can. And...I'd like to be alone while I do so." Fighter said as she walked out as Ranger stayed put and sighed.
"Do you not respect her choice to do this herself?" Master Fighter asked.
"Of course I do, but..." Ranger trailed.
"I can imagine how you feel about her, but she needs to be allowed to follow her own path at some point. You cannot be with her forever." Master Fighter said.
"Don't you think I know that?! Not even a month ago, I left on a mission to the north, and just being away from her for a couple of days was torture; I felt every second I was away from her, and I know she felt the same way." Ranger said firmly before getting up and walked around trying to get a grip.
"Then have faith in her..." Master Fighter said.
"My faith in her is absolute...but not headless..." Ranger said as he left, with Warrior following..then they shared a glance.
Back at the frontier, Summoner went around town in Limbo looking for demonic leftovers, and found none, so he re-entered the real world, and went to the temple.
"Brother?" Summoner asked as he entered the back room, and Storm Mage's ghost appeared.
"I'm here. I'm here. Welcome to the living" He said.
"I should be the one telling you that." Summoner quipped.
"Very funny. I can't stay here for long, so make it snappy." Storm Mage said.
"What? Got some loving to give to the Sword Maiden bottled up? Well, to be fair, good on both of you." Summoner said and Storm Mage stared at him.
"That's how I thought you'd end that sentence. She might be dead, but she's still the one and only Sword Maiden, and deserves my love, and nothing else." Storm Mage said seriously.
"I get it, and speaking of which...what's it like being a ghost?" Summoner asked.
"Are you seriously asking me that?" Storm Mage asked.
"Yes. I have no intention of leaving this world any time soon, and thick chance of me becoming a Nephilim like Her Grace. So...spill. What's it like being a ghost?" Summoner asked.
"Well...imagine never feeling thirst, hungry, fatigue, itches, the need to use a toilet...you name it, but keeping everything else, and don't get me started on what other limits are removed. In Heaven, the water doesn't stick to your body, unless you want it to, don't ask me how I figured that out." Storm Mage said.
"Let me guess: you and Sword Maiden bathed together?" Summoner asked seriously.
"As a matter of fact, we never did so a single time since we died, but I bathed myself. But...we don't just belong together personally; I never felt so physically attached to anyone as I do with her, even before we first connected." Storm Mage said seriously.
"I can imagine brother." Summoner said as Storm Mage sighed.
"When the Cambion impaled me...my last thoughts were of her holding me after I put the goblins who attacked us down." He said.
"She held you?" Summoner asked and Storm Mage used a recaller to show that Sword Maiden was hugging Storm Mage as tightly as she could with tears running down her cheeks as the main chamber of he Temple of Law was full of dead goblins, including a champion, and Storm Mage was on his knees with his arms around her. "She was a mess wasn't she?"
"Yes...and now, I have eternity to clean that mess up, and we will start by taking back the ten years the goblins robbed her of." Storm Mage said with no small amount of affection in his voice.
"Wow...she choose wisely having you as a protector." Summoner said in awe.
"Thank you. Now, as for your case...?" Storm Mage trailed off and Summoner sighed.
"Well, I do like having both Guild Girl, and Inspector in my bed- or should I say, I like being in their bed." He said.
"And as such, you get to sleep with two adorable women whenever you please. My past self would be envious." Storm Mage said.
"I'll bet...but as for marriage? Well, I can see myself with Guild Girl more, since her case is more personal, far more personal." Summoner said.
"Still, if they both want to be with you, and you want to be with them, I'm sure the Love Goddess will understand." Storm Mage said before vanishing with a smile. Summoner then went to the tavern...and found it empty...almost.
"Summoner! Any finds?" Guild Girl asked.
"Nope." Summoner said.
"Then enjoy your meal sweetheart." Guild Girl said as Summoner went to get some food...then Inspector ambushed him from behind a wall, then he turned his head at the last moment, stopped her cold, then she planted a quick, but sweet kiss on his lips, then Guild Girl did the same before Summoner got some stew and cider.
For the better part of an hour before sundown, Fighter doing a kata that blended slow, and tense movements...and she went between extremes sometimes with noticeable transition, and sometimes without. She did that to get used to how radically different physical shifts can get in the middle of combat. Even with her considerable experience, you're never trained enough in the grand scheme of things. Fighter then ceased her kata, then stretched herself in various ways. From bending backwards until she touched the tree behind her, to cracking her neck, and other joints to limber up some more, to raising her leg up 180 degrees and holding it there against the tree, then doing the same with her other leg. She felt her tendons recover thanks to her enchanted pendant, and knew she was in peak condition without question, she also removed her pendant and reminisced about the beach she got it from; the way her dear husband put it on her, how he passionately informed her that purple was her color...and even recalled the love he made to her in the hut which both endeared and aroused her.
Fighter then removed her Gold tag from her pocket, looked it over, then put it away again, then went to the dojo, and noticed some ruckus going on, then peeked inside...and saw the same thugs she worked over hours ago. They must've got a healing potion or something; the injuries she gave them were no joke. She even saw Heavy Fighter with them.
"Take everything that's not nailed down...then take the nailed stuff too." He said and the thugs laughed while picking up items from around the dojo and stuffed some in bags, while others were just grabbed.
"Hey!" Fighter yelled as the thugs stopped, and Heavy Fighter took a more assertive stance.
"You're supposed to head to that fort little girl." He said.
"And you're not supposed to be in here, going back on your word in the most serious way possible." Fighter snapped.
"You going to put us all on our asses again with the big guy here to back us up? Give me a break..." a thug said.
"Hey, at least we can pay her back this time. I for one would like to see what goods she's packing..." Another said while looking her over, then Fighter tightened her fists, then closed her eyes.
"Meditate as much as you want...you're going to need it. Boys?" Heavy Fighter said as the thugs all approached her from different angles, then severla pinned her to the wall...but got no response, then one tried to grab her chest...and she snapped her hand up to stop him just in time, then twisted his wrist, opened her now-cyan-colored eyes, which alarmed the thugs, then she mauled every one of them like a bear. She snapped a neck, caved in anothers skull with one punch, kneed one in the gut hard enough to make him vomit all over another one, before he got kicked in the chest hard enough to cave it in, then Fighter broke the neck of the one she kneed with the point of her elbow, then slammed his corpse into the last thug who was close to her before stomping his nose into his brain.
The rest of the dozen thugs were stunned how the fact that no less than four of their friends were dead in a few seconds, and that Fighter's movements weren't even human, let alone that she looked serene the whole time, and was still full of energy. They then looked at each other, at their dead friends, and the sexy but scary girl who put them down.
"That's why you don't drop your guard, and work together instead of by yourself one by one." Heavy Fighter said and the thugs all rushed Fighter, and a pair to threw heavy swings at her face, then then they each took a punch to the diaphragm at the same time, then shoved them backwards, then she jumped and punch at one thug at one side, and a kick at the other side. She then jumped forward and the thugs in front of her ducked just in time to avoid a flurry of kicks, then one actually landed a punch in her side, then another punched her in the face hard enough to make her spin, then Heavy Fighter kicked her in the gut hard enough to make her slouch over. A thug then tripped her, then they all kicked the shit out of her from all sides as she was on the ground helpless.
"Alright, that should do...that should do." Heavy Fighter said as the thugs back up, and Fighter tried to get up, only for Heavy Fighter kicked her in the side hard enough to flip her on her back, and looked over her bruised and dusty form, before crouching down to her level. "Well...look at the heroine. I don't know how you pulled off the little burst of strength earlier, but it's not worth much now is it?" He then snapped his fingers and a pair of thugs brought in Master Fighter who was also beaten and bleeding, then Heavy Fighter walked over to him. "You know what weakness you diehard martial artist types all have in common? Even when you lose, hideously...you think you still win; you think there's something to win. Look at those guys the little girl behind me took out. You're going to tell me that they served a cause greater themselves? Please...it looks like they lost to me."
"They...served a cause...weaker than themselves, as are you..." Master Fighter said.
"For once, I agree with you, but I'm not doing this for the boss. At this rate, I might become the boss myself." Heavy Fighter said with pride.
"I'm glad you have a good deal of ambition." Fighter said as Heavy Fighter turned to her.
"As for you..." He said before grabbing her by the throat and picking her up with one hand as she struggled to breathe. "I hope for your sake you don't plan on adventuring; the monsters of this world would tear you to shreds." Fighter then grinned.
"It's quite the other way around..." She whispered harshly as her chakras opened again, then wrapped her legs around his arm, and dislocating it before prying his fingers off her throat with enough force to dislocate them, and he staggered away.
"Kill this bitch!" Heavy Fighter yelled at the thugs engaged her again, then she adapted to their moves, by blocking hits from multiple directions at once, then thrashed one with a barrage of punches all over his torso, knife-handed another in the throat after blocking a kick, then quickly knife-handed another in the throat, before slamming their heads together with enough force to cave in their skulls, spun around and threw their corpses into three other thugs. The last few then ran out of the dojo.
Heavy Fighter relocated his arm and fingers meanwhile, and watched his back-up flee in terror, and he engaged Fighter again then the two threw a flurry of punches and kicks at each other. Fighter then noted that despite being larger than Brawler, Heavy Fighter's skill was nearly equal to hers...but his strength was superior to hers, and her edge in speed was only slight, so her best bet was to hit his pressure points, which did do it's job...the first few times. He wisened up and stuck to his medium range game, so she couldn't get too much of an edge, especially since the hits to one his side that happened on-repeat took their toll, and he had the bruise to prove it. Fighter then slid under him, and tried to topple him with a leg grapple...big mistake; Heavy Fighter dropped down on her, knee-first, and hurt her shoulder blade when he landed, making her scream in pain, then he picked her up and threw her across the room.
Fighter then stood up, leaned against the wall, and massaged her shoulder-blade when she got up. Her vision was a bit blurry, but she was just quick enough to dodge a kick from Heavy Fighter who charged at her to finish her off. He swatted her arm away when she tried to give a haymaker punch into his diaphragm, and he backed up when she tried a jumping uppercut. Heavy Fighter grabbed her, and bear-hugged her as she tried getting free, but he was too strong. Fighter then headbashed Heavy Fighter in the collarbone over and over, but that just made him angry, and slam her into the ground. She then kicked him in the nuts as he was about to stomp on her head, which staggered him, then she wrapped her legs around one of his, and twisted her while body, which brought him down, and she rolled back to get some breathing room. She then saw Heavy Fighter was still reeling from the pain she caused him, then she held her pendant as she caught her breath.
"Thank you...Ranger..." Fighter whispered before she kissed the pendant as sweetly as she kisses him, then put it back on as she focused on the life enchantment it had, and noticed her pain was vanishing, and her stamina were returning, just like it was before. She then got up and walked over to Heavy Fighter who tried getting up himself, then she kicked him in his injured side, making him yell in pain.
"How...? You should be more winded than I am!" He asked and Fighter tapped her pendant.
"This has a life enchantment on it; it doesn't keep me from dying, but it doesn't have to." She said simply.
"So...you look down on me...for being "dishonorable", yet you fight me with that?" Heavy Fighter spat.
"I don't agree with dishonoring my art, but my husband is right about one thing I can agree with before everything: the playing field needs to stay even. In other words: if you can have a game shark...so can I, right?" Fighter asked and Heavy Fighter huffed. She then turned to Master Fighter who was slouched by the wall the whole time, then walked over to give him her pendant, and he eased up right away, before giving her belt back. She then took the pendant back when it served it's purpose, then went back to Heavy Fighter. "Now...is your boss still at his fort?"
"He should be, but you're not going to get to him; his guard is at it's strongest at night-" Fighter jammed a morphed blade into Heavy Fighter's chest before he could finish.
"Do you think I'm worried about that?" She asked as the rest of her armor morphed.
"You...had tha-" Fighter cuts him off.
"No. The master gave it back to me. I was going to do this at least somewhat fairly..but you forced my hand, and now your boss is doomed." She then removed the blade, then walked out as her last victim breathed his last breath.
The hunters sailed through the cliff passage after torching and looting the pirate camp of it's food, coin, weapons, and other things, which include clothing of various types that they ladies each tried on. Eventually...they got to a river and sailed through a forest, and took in the scenery.
"You alright sis?" Wizard asked as she joined Priestess who was looking at the forest.
"I'm a bit concerned about the others...but I also believe they can handle themselves, and I know that's contradictory, but-" Wizard cuts her off with a hug.
"I feel the same believe it or not, but once we get that treasure, we'll use that portal gem the boss gave you to get back, o.k.?" She asked as Priestess returned the embrace.
"O.k..." Priestess said softly.
"Heads up people!" Amazon Warrior yelled as the hunters ran up to the bow, and they saw and heard commotion in the distance.
"What's going on down there?" GS asked before Cow Girl looked through her scope.
"A pair of werewolves...and they're tearing a heap of goblins apart!" She said as the hunters all clamored among themselves.
"Shut it!" A.W. yelled, before Cow Girl fired.
"What did you do that for?" Rhea Fighter asked.
"There was a goblin champion getting ready to bash them with a club, so I shot it in the face." Cow Girl said seriously.
"Nice shot." GS said then Cow Girl smiled at him.
"Wait, you said they were werewolves? There's only two werewolves we know of..." Wizard said.
"You don't think...?" Priestess asked in awe.
"Maybe it's those demon hunters who worked with Summoner." GS said.
"We haven't seen them in a while." Priestess said.
"O.k. so you have a history with them, so are they friendly?" A.W. asked.
"Friendly? Yes. Pleasant? Eh, that's debatable." Wizard said.
"Lovely..." Rhea Hunter said.
"Those goblins are getting an edge..." Cow Girl said grimly before she kept shooting, and the moment the group got to shore, GS, Rhea Fighter, and a pack of wolf familiars and ice elementals charged into the rear of the goblin army, and slaughtered every goblin they could get their hands on. heads were severed, crushed, or both, guts were ripped out, throats were bitten by the wolves, goblins were straight-up torn in half, or torn apart, others took spikes of ice through their hearts, brains, or both, others were given severe frostbite, others were even shredded by clouds of frost and ice shards.
The pair then looked at the two werewolves who were dealing with a goblin paladin, who was keeping them at bay with a pair of axes. GS and Rhea Fighter looked at each other and watched the summoned creatures engage the paladin, but one by one...they are all chopped down. Even the ice elementals' attacks bounced off the paladin's armor. The two werewolves, actually snuck up on it in the chaos, and sank their canines into it's calves, then Rhea Fighter charged him, jumped up, kicked him down with both feet, tossed her sword to GS, who jammed it into the paladin's face before giving the sword back as one of the werewolves turned into Assassin, who apparently didn't care she was completely nude.
"Long time, no see Goblin Slayer. Nice armor." She said with her usual sensual tone of voice as Rhea Fighter kept her eyes averted, but GS gave no fucks.
"How long were you fighting this horde?" He asked before she chuckled.
"About five minutes I guess, but we've been feasting on goblins around here for more than a day. They may have a disgusting way to reproduce...but they're good eating." Assassin said.
"Lady, do you have any decency?" Rhea Fighter asked.
"Oh, cry me a river bite-sized. We werewolves are made to hunt, and goblins are easy prey." Assassin said as the rest of the hunters show up.
"These the demon hunters you mentioned?" Rhea Hunter asked.
"Yep...just as subtle as ever." Wizard said sarcastically.
"And before you ask: you do not want them in your crew...trust me." Priestess said seriously.
"Why Priestess...you're hurting my feelings." Assassin said with a sickeningly sweet tone which was anything but genuine.
"Wow...subtle..." Rhea Hunter said.
"Where's the treasure?" GS asked.
"You mean that?" Assassin asked as she pointed to a dug-up chest with a small sword inside it, and Priestess went to look it over. "It's made of silver. Hell of a thing to use against demons."
"Why not use it yourselves?" Cow Girl asked.
"We're not demon hunters anymore,at least...not for now." Assassin said.
"For now?" Rhea Fighter asked as Assassin held her lower belly, and it sunk in right away.
"You're pregnant?" Wizard asked.
"Yep, even more pups are on their way." Assassin said.
"More? You were pregnant before?" Rhea Fighter asked.
"We live in this forest, and our home is a cave not far from here, and these goblins made good meat for our pups." Assassin said with a smile.
"Appropriate. They've been preying on us, now you prey on them." GS said as Priestess brought the silver sword to Wizard, who used Transmute to merge the silver sword with her dwarven sword and made a sword that not only looked better as far as Priestess was concerned, but also had more substance.
"This will do nicely..." She said with a smile.
"Is that all the treasure?" A.W. asked.
"Unfortunately." Priestess said.
"Oh well, we have a pirate base's loot to show for it." A.W. said.
"Well, we have some people to get back to, so...Priestess? Would you do the honors?" Wizard asked and Priestess opened a portal back to their apartment in the oceanic city.
"Boss? We're back!" Rhea Fighter called out...and Sword Maiden was seen nursing the baby she was entrusted with...with a small blanket covering the action of course.
"He's not here..." She said.
"Where is he then?" Priestess asked.
Fighter went outside the walls, and morphed her armor so she could rush down the road, ignoring all the farms she went past, until she saw the fort, and rushed down to it, until she was just withing view, morphed her old outfit, then approached the stairs and saw two guards with crossbows.
"Weapons?" A guard asked.
"I don't have any." Fighter said...which was only half-true.
"Search her." The guard said to his friend who approached her, and looked her over.
"Careful where you put your hands..." Fighter said.
"You're not good enough to touch sweetheart." The guard snapped.
"Don't take any chances." The first guard said, then the second sighed and gripped her ankles, her sides, even her sleeves.
"She's fine..." The second guard said, then they walked her inside, and eventually, they went downstairs to reached a massive chamber with windows on the sides, and rows of chairs at different heights under them for an audience. In the center was a dark blonde man with a beard and ponytail, wearing a red robe, and two women, both buxom and barely-clothed were caressing him as he nursed a glass of wine while watching the fountains spurt water in various ways.
"Boss? She's here." The first guard said as the women turned his chair to see Fighter.
"Ah...so this is the tigress who preyed on those louts who wanted in on my organization. It serves them right for getting in over their heads." The boss said as Fighter remained silent. "So...are you here to fight? You should be." Fighter remained silent, much to the boss' amusement. "Shall I take that as a yes?"
"Your thugs tried to rob the dojo, and did a considerable amount of damage." Fighter said sharply.
"That foolish old man should have known better than to trifle with a power greater than his." The boss said simply.
"They also tried to kill me, and my brother figure, just to try and join you." Fighter said.
"Same goes for them as well. Also...last I checked, we were supposed to settle this mess with an actual tournament, but you had to-" Fighter cuts the boss off.
"I only did what I had to; the tournament got called off, because those thugs who...somehow, thought it was wise to follow a corrupt man, didn't want to take responsibility for their own actions, and apparently, neither do you." She said as the boss simply stared at her.
"Well...I can see you have no interest in joining me, so I have no choice but to oblige your deathwish. Guards, leave us." The boss said as he got up, and removed his robe, revealing that he was as built as Heavy Fighter, but not as tell. The two ladies held his robe as he stepped into the arena. He then did a false lunge at Fighter who flinched, but not a second time when the boss did it again. The boss then jabbed at her, was blocked, then they jabbed at each other several times and neither landed a hit. Fighter then backed up a bit and tried to get a grip. The boss was as tough as Heavy Fighter...but also faster than her; this wasn't going to be easy.
The two then circled each other with the boss being completely calm, and Fighter doing her best to remain calm, lest her base chakra become too blocked. The boss then threw a kick at her, which she swatted back down, then he did several kicks at her with the other foot, then threw a spin-kick at her with the first foot, which she narrowly dodged, then side-stepped a front kicked, then a backfist, and blocked several elbow strikes as they got close to each other. She then tried hitting his kidney-area...but missed; he actually flinched to avoid the hit. He then twisted her arm to make her bend down, and she blocked a knee to the face with both hands, then twisted out of his grip, kicked his knee, then he backfliped away from her. The two women watching where clearly enjoying the show as Fighter noticed them both breathing harder, and even blushing.
The boss then skipped forward to make Fighter flinch, but it didn't work aside from reminding Fighter to keep her guard up. The boss then threw a fake kick at her...only to be counter by a real one, which landed in his gut, which barely staggered him. He then spin-stepped from side to side, then Fighter slid under a kick and tripped the boss, who landed on his back, then got up without an issue and cracked his neck. Fighter then came up behind him, locked one of his arms, and started choking him out, but the boss elbowed her in the side, and the face, making her flinch, and break out of her grip, then side-kicked her to the ground, making her reel.
"Not a smart move..." The boss said simply as he circled her. She then rolled back, got her bearings, and the boss tried to tackle her, but she leap-frogged over him, he sunk to the ground, and jammed both feet into her back...and she could feel her hips crack from the force, then fell down groaning in pain, before her pendant healed her bone fractures, and gave her a quick second wind. She then slowly got up, and the boss tripped her, followed her to the ground, and pinned her with his arm around her neck, restricting her breath, and her blood supply to her brain. She could feel her consciousness slipping away, but she still kept her neck tightened...then she recalled her fight with the archdemon, opened her chakras, then pried herself out of his grip, rolled off of him, gripped his foot, yanked him towards her, and whirled him around before throwing him across the floor...but her chakra boost wore her body out; she already used her chakras against those thugs earlier, so she was reaching her limit, and without her armor, which she told herself she wouldn't use, she was out of luck now.
"Impressive...but I can tell you're running out of steam. You know what will happen when you do: it's over." The boss said seriously, as he rolled over and looked at her before getting up slowly, then collapsing back down. "This is taking a greater toll on me than I thought...but even if it didn't, I can see now that this is taking a larger toll on you. So I say we need this before it ceases to be entertaining. Guards? Please put an end to this."
"Yes boss." A guard said as they aimed their crossbows at Fighter...then two gunshots were heard as a window shattered and the guards fell down with bullet wounds in their heads as Ranger jumped in through the window and pointed one gun at the ladies, and one at the boss.
"What the-?! Who are you?" The boss asked with fear in his voice.
"The Ranger. Slayer of the vampire queen, friend of the Goblin Slayer, and husband to the woman I watched you beat to her knees." Ranger said seriously.
"You...were watching me? How long?" Fighter asked.
"Since you trained for the tournament this worm ruined before it started." Ranger said honestly.
"Only because you all had to be so noble!" The boss yelled.
"Like my wife said, you are responsible for your own actions, as those two dogs learned the hard way." Ranger said before putting his guns away, and Fighter stood up. "Sorry, I couldn't stay out of this..."
"I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I'm glad you didn't." Fighter said with mixed feelings in her voice.
"Hey! We still have a fight to finish." The boss snapped before Ranger approached.
"Then fight me." He said.
"No...I fought her, I finish with her-" Ranger cut the boss off by pulling a gun on him.
"You can either fight me like you fought her, or you can stand there and be shot dead like your guards were. What's it going to be?" He asked and the boss huffed.
"Very well..." He breathed out as Ranger de-morphed his armor and guns, and gave his belt to Fighter, who held his hand.
"This pendant helped me...more than once." She whispered before Ranger softly caressed her cheek with the back of his fingers
"I can imagine." Ranger whispered before letting go, steeling himself and getting in the ring after removing his shirt. The boss came back after downing a potion Ranger recognized as a life potion, which wasn't unfair, since Ranger was in peak condition himself. The boss then tried flinching Ranger...but it didn't work; Ranger watched the boss' fight with his wife; Ranger knew the boss' style...and it's weaknesses. The boss then skipped forward, and Ranger leaned to the side, and knife-handed him in the hip, and pulled his hand back. The hit made the boss cringe and back up; the strike hit a nerve point which took away the feeling in the boss' front thigh. Ranger then paced back and forth like a lion, then the boss recovered, and charged at him, which made Ranger crouch, spin, and sweep his leg out which made the boss jump over him, then throw a spin-kick in mid-air, which knocked Ranger down, then the boss let him get up.
The boss then skipped forward to kick Ranger back down, he got his leg grabbed, Ranger then tried to yank his leg upward, then the boss backflipped...but Ranger was prepared for that. The moment the boss hit the ground, Ranger simply shoved him down, grabbed his ankle, dislocated it, and stomped on the boss' gut.
"This fight is over..." Ranger said as he took his belt back. Then the boss crawled over to the dead guards, grabbed their crossbows, one in each hand, and Ranger morphed a greatsword just in time to deflected them, which made the ladies scream, and the boss' eyes pop as Ranger made a slit in the tip of his sword, dashed towards him, and jammed the greatsword's slit into the boss' neck, picked him up and held him against the wall, looking the terrified crime boss in the face...then he reached into his pocket and showed his Platinum tag.
"You know what this is? It shows that I'm Platinum Ranked, and only ten people got their hands on them before I did. How do you think I got them in the first place? First off, I have more than a fair share of boons of different calibers, and I've made more than a few friends in high and low places; I've even been in high and low places myself. And that in-turn is because of my bottomless love for this world, and my boiling hatred for those that try to make it not worth living in...and guess what? You qualify." The boss then groaned and breathed rapidly from the fear. "Frankly...the only reason I'm telling you this, is because I think death is too easy for you. Extortion, attempted murder...defilement of sacred ground!"
"Sacred ground?" Fighter asked and Ranger gave her a knowing look...he meant the dojo.
"Anyway...I would look into what else you've done, especially with those women behind me, but I don't want to lose what little patience with you I have left-" The boss cuts Ranger off.
"Nothing! They're just there to keep me company, I never did anything with them. I swear it!" He said as Ranger turned his head in curiosity.
"I fail to see why someone like you would have that kind of decency, but in hindsight...that is excellent news for you. But then, not so excellent; I still think death is too easy for you, so your assets...are now mine. This fort, the possessions you keep within, all of it belongs to myself, and my friends to do with as we please. The authorities in the oceanic city can have you, and don't even think about contacting anyone to cause trouble because if you do...I will hunt you down, and finish what I started." Ranger said as he freed the boss, watched him drop to his knees, then they heard yelling, swords clanging, and felt rumbling outside.
"Well...apparently there won't be anyone to send after us; the cavalry has arrived." Fighter said and Ranger hummed in acknowledgement before crouching down to the boss' level.
"You want to know a secret? I have...alot to be angry around, but I've learned that anger is a weapon that tears into anything around it, including a person's intellect, but if it's controlled...no weapon is deadlier. Think about it: the intense desire and precise ability to use as much power as you can, and then put that power where you want it, which happens to be in the same place as your opponent's weakness...how can you compete with it?" Ranger asked as the boss just sat there, before footsteps were heard, and Warrior showed up with the rest of the team.
"Good news everyone. We got ourselves a new home." Fighter said.
Meanwhile, Abbot was in the monastery, praying over the relic he was given, then out of nowhere...it floated into the air, spun like a wheel...and opened a portal to a place that made him catch his breath.
"Could that...be Heaven?" Abbot whispered.
O.k...raise your hands, who predicted that the relic would do that? Anyway, Assassin and Werewolf are parents now...can't say that should be a surprise. Also, Fighter got a damn good tribute in this part methinks, and...if you ask me, the crime boss getting his assets seized is a pretty fitting punishment. Supreme knows Ranger and company can put it to better use, not to mention they need a foothold in as many places as possible, for obvious reasons. For those of you that got Pirates of the Caribbean vibes from that sea fight...that's a coincidence I swear. And FYI, I was legitimately going to have a tournament happen, but...criminals aren't known for playing fair, and Fighter is absolutely right; these guys are responsible for their own actions, and...Gold Ranks aren't given to amateurs, and Platinum Ranks are DEFINITELY not given to amateurs. I mean, come on...Ranger killed someone even the Hero couldn't beat, granted that's not exactly a fair comparison, but still. Anyway...how the hell is a way to Heaven going to be explored? Well, you'll have to Rate, Review, and Share while you wait, so...stay tuned?
P.S. awfully sweet to see that Storm Mage's last thoughts before he shrugged off this mortal coil were of his lady embracing him after his greatest victory eh?