Hey there to everyone who's reading this! This will end up being my first fanfic so please don't be too harsh with your criticism if you'd be so kind. I want this to be friendly and just a nice enjoyment for you people reading. Anyway, as you can see this is a crossover story of For Honor and Monster Girl Encyclopedia. I love both of these series so I decided to write up a fic of them together. I've seen many fics out there with MGE but I have a special surprise planned for this one, which you'll just have to wait and see what that surprise is won't you? Anyway, please enjoy and leave a review and don't be afraid to criticize since it helps me learn and grow but please just don't be too harsh, keep it civil.

Anyway, without further ado, enjoy!

Also, I obviously don't own For Honor or Monster Girl Encyclopedia.

"Spell"

"Thinking"

"Different language"

"Speaking"

THE MYRE

A Valkyrie once said it was an apt name for such a terrible place, with the thick swamp and annoying insects, not to mention the various traps and poisonous plants scattered throughout the whole area. However, today it was not terrible for those things…it was terrible that a massive civil war between the Samurai of Horkos and those who resisted. Brothers and friends who once held each other high now clashed and murdered each other and called it an honor. Even worse we're those crystals that grew where blood had been spilt.

A hundred miles into the Myre was a strategic outpost for the Samurai. It once housed all these warriors to be a place of rest but now it was being sacked as catapults and ballista rained fire and death upon the battlements, killing men and taking them to the afterlife. The acting commander for this outpost was Michiko Sasaki, a kensei. Hefting her nodachi atop her shoulder, she stared down at the forces as they rammed against the gate.

Heavy rain began to fall and slid down her red lacquered armor and coat, drenching the cloth with water before she ducked as an arrow sailed past, landing deep within the outpost and several of her own bowmen came forward and retaliated in kind. "Ya o ame ni fura se, jihi o shimesanai"(Let the arrows fly and show no mercy) she yelled out across the battlements. The arrows let loose without hesitation as they cut down several of the traitors who would kill their own people.

Setting aside those thoughts for now she glared down at the traitors and turned her attention back to the gate as it crashed down with a mighty boom! The Horkos Samurai stormed inside and showed no hesitation as they began clashing with her outnumbered forces. Men and women who stood beside her cut down mercilessly.

Suddenly her spine tingled and she rolled forward as a katana slashed right where'd she'd been a mere second ago. Cutting off her momentum she stood back up and held her nodachi closely as the Orochi stared her down. There…was something incredibly unsettling here about him but for the life of her she could not tell what it was. Regardless she readily faced the enemy ahead of her like any other.

He approached with his katana held forward before he shot forward and slashed downwards to her perfectly, however just before it connected she pushed forward against him. Using his weight and leverage against him she pushed him forward and against the wall before she brought her nodachi back and sliced across his chest, blood spraying out as he seized up and dropped dead. Turning away she looked down to the courtyard and winced as she saw more and more of her soldiers being cut down.

She quickly turned to go down before she heard a small hiss and turned to see the Orochi stand once again, green shards covering his body as he glared at her, "Going somewhere?" The monstrosity before her asked as she held her nodachi and steeled her nerves, maybe she just didn't cut deep enough?

Seeing her try to figure it out left the Orochi chuckling before he charged forward, faster than before and kicked out against her leg, making her buckle from the sheer force as she braved herself and stood again, nodachi held forward.

"What is this new sorcery..?" She silently questioned as she charged forward and swung, blade clashed against blade in a shower of sparks as they attacked. Michiko attacked from overhead before quickly striking forward with the pommel of her blade, smacking against his face as she slashed across his shoulder only for him to turn and not even seem to be hurt.

Seeing as how she couldn't hurt the foe ahead of her stepped back and quickly reached for a spare smoke bomb from her side pouch, stroking the fuse along her sword before she tossed it down and escaped with the smoke. "Need to regroup with the rest…" She thought as she quickly descended, finding another Orochi on the stairs she kicked out, sending the man down the stairs before she came down and quickly ended his suffering.

Reaching the doors, she pushed and reached outside into the courtyard, finding several of her men dead right there. She had no time to mourn as she quickly rejoined her dwindling forces and began to cut down as many as she could. Twisting beneath a great kanabo she she sliced forward and cut the Shugoki's leg off, sending a splash of blood flying onto her armor as she stood and saw her forces were dwindling even more against the larger army of Horkos Samurai.

Michiko growled under her breath before calming down and deflecting a blade from her face, coming face to face with another kensei before she yelled in pain as an aroma embedded itself into her lower back. "It hurts but no vital areas…need to push through…" She thought quickly and began fighting the kensei once more. The sword saints dueling amidst the chaos as one of her fellow Shugoki, a man named Kaijin crushed a shinobi underfoot and began fighting off more of the attackers. Another blow came to her side as she stepped away and her sword cut cleanly through her opponents stomach, effectively disemboweling them. "Archers!" A man screamed, she wasn't sure who but regardless arrows rained down into the courtyard, felling her own and the Horkos as she ducked behind a wall to avoid being killed. Stepping out again it seemed all was lost as she barely had even enough soldiers to push the enemy back. Several of them being killed as she turned and cut down several foot soldiers who thought to attack her.

She eagerly took a breath and paid the price as a kunai pierced through her forearm, making her grunt in pain as she reached and pulled it out, the blood trickling down her arm. Turning she saw the Orochi from before descending into the courtyard as more and more of her soldiers pushed back and were killed in kind.

Struggling as the adrenaline in her blood began to wear out she held her nodachi up with shaking hands and began their deadly dance once again. The Orochi striking forward before feigning and kicking her shin and then delivered a quick cut to her stomach, more blood flowing through the cut in her armor as she struggled even more to stay up before eventually succumbing to her body's limits. The Orochi approached slowly and tilted her head up with his katana before sneering and calling out, "The great commander and yet she succumbs to herself…a sheep…" He glared down at her before she felt herself kicked in side and then dragged across the fort.

Her eyesight was bleary and constantly blacking out but she could see her comrades dead on the ground as she was dragged to the top at the port where an opening to the ocean was available. "Let her drown in the depths." The Orochi called putting before leaving to take command of the outpost. The two grunts holding her nodded and tossed her over along with her weapon, the nodachi landing on her chest with a thud as she hit the water hard and instantly her vision was cut,. "I'm sorry my little Emiko…I hope you can be strong without me…"

But her journey wouldn't end there…for she had a much larger destiny to fulfill.

ROYAL MAKAI

The Demon Lord herself panted heavily as she and her husband finally had a break from their intense passionate sex, building their energy for the days to come and enact their plan. Now they rested and embraced each other like any other loving woman and her husband. Suddenly, and it was felt across the whole world was an intense discharge of energy the likes many had never felt. While most denizens of the world chalked it up to the Chief God or the Demon Lord, both entities knew better as this energy was unique in nature to neither of them.

Most curiously is that the energy seemed to have originated near Lescatie…Lescatie…was that not that extreme religious kingdom that her loving daughter Druella was intent on conquering soon? Perhaps she'll have her daughter find the source of the energy for her.

After all…she was sure Druella herself would be interested in at as well.

NEAR LESCATIE

The land was fairly silent aside from the occasional animal or merchant but that was neither here nor there. Bursting free from the freshwater, Michiko greedily took in fresh air to fill her oxygen deprived lungs as she groaned in pain and gently waded forward till she hauled herself from the water, her blade falling in front of her as she collapsed again and laid there bleeding quite heavily…wait…her eyes cast down and found herself surprises as there blood but it was old already and there were no wounds upon her body or armor, what had done this?

Deciding to file it away for now she reached up and undid her helm, placing it aside and taking off her mask as she sat there and meditate on her failure…and, "Emiko…I'm sorry…" She sat there for half an hour, pouring her heart out in a rare moment of weakness before she grunted and looked up with a fire in her eyes. "I will find my way back…I promise Butterfly."

NEARBY

When Akio had been tasked with investigating the strange energy by Druella herself she was happy to do so. But what she didn't expect at all when the Kunoichi arrived was to find a woman kneeling in armor reminiscent of some in Zipangu. Listening in the woman spoke no language she knew of it all before standing, letting her get a better look. Her black hair was messy and in a bun, her features soft and she even had a scarred lip along with dark blue eyes. She wore a dark grey overcoat on top of red lacquered armor with a symbol of a castle and a cloth shirt and held down by a light red obi sash. She had lacquered plates on her shoulders with two odd symbols and more plates on her forearms and grey gloves. Baggy blue hakama linen pants with red swirls and shin guard armor over tabi shoes. The women breathed out before reaching down and putting an odd mask on, and then came the helmet which held a beautiful flower crest on the top. If the armor wasn't enough then the massive sword the woman had was considering it was nearly as tall as the woman yet she held it easily. The sword held a golden looking hilt and guard fixed with a beautifully crafted blade with what looked like flames dancing upon the back. The woman was most definitely a trained warrior, especially given the dark bloodstains on her…but from where? She didn't feel like a hero and her Spirit Energy wasn't much more than an average soldiers.

Humming the Kuniochi wondered if this woman was the source of the energy. Perhaps she could test that.

MICHIKO

Breathing out, she checked over herself once more before looking to the sky and determining which direction to head towards. Quickly she turned and her nodachi scraped against a regular looking katana before her opponent flipped away and stood across from her. Her opponent…was odd. Obviously some type of ninja but even their own shinobi wore enough clothing and armor to cover themselves. This woman barely wore anything aside from a black and pink robe over her artehr impressive bust and midriff but had nothing to protect her arms and legs aside from the odd armor piece here and there. Furthermore is her thighs and curves were out freely for all to see.

"Naze kōgeki suru nodesu ka?"(Why do you attack?" She asked the woman who didn't respond. Did she not speak Japanese? "Can you not speak Japanese?" She asked again and this time the Kunoichi did respond. "Oh! You can speak! I thought we'd have a problem there and then I'd never get to complete my mission." "Mission?" "Yep! I was sent to investigate an odd energy that appeared here earlier…and I found quite the beautiful woman!"

"I thank you but I've no interest in other women." "Oh..and here I thought you'd willingly have fun~" Her tone had taken a very seductive voice at that and made Michiko grip her hilt tighter before sighing. "While others may fall for such a voice…you'd be hard pressed to do so to a Kensei." "A Kensei? Never heard of such a thing…" "That's odd…perhaps she's just never seen one before..?" She thought to herself.

Meanwhile, Akio was planning to capture the women before deciding against it, best to relay what information she had. She left quickly and in a flash of leaves, deciding to instead report on the odd woman. How she'd come to regret that decision in the future.

Michiko glanced after where the woman has disappeared from before letting out a breath and glanced down the road. "Judging from the recent tracks…they headed this way." And so she began heading in the direction that the wheel tracks and horse tracks left behind, most likely from a merchant. Regardless she continued down the path, her shoes leaving prints in the old worn-down dirt road.

"Is this a kingdom of the Knights?" Michiko wondered to herself as she looked at the large stone walls that encircled the massive city, though not as large as Koto, the imperial city. "Hopefully they will help…" And with that thought she strode forward to the gate where several men and women seemed to be trying to get in. Many of them seemed to be dressed in regular cloth shirts and pants, much like the people of the Knights. Taking another breath she approached with nodachi on her shoulder as a man ahead handed the guards some money and a piece of paper before he entered. She cursed under her breath at the thought of money before filing it away as the guards finally noticed her and held their spears a little defensively, but also very sloppily. "These are the guards? They couldn't stop a foot soldier…" "Halt! State your business stranger." The one on the left demanded as she looked at him and nodded. "Greetings. I am a Kensei of the Myre and was hoping to find residence here as I try to regain my bearings."

The two guards looked confused before looking back at her. "What is a Kensei? And where is this Myre? I've never heard of a place, have you Richard?" "No sir" That struck her heart to hear they'd never heard of the Myre, where was she? "The Myre is home to the Samurai. A large swamp on the coast, east of Ashfeld." Neither of the guards knew of either of those places and told her as such, making her feel like her heart would break. She had miraculously survived and now she was in a foreign land, she would never see her little Butterfly again. "I see, I appear to be lost then." It was a façade, she knew how much she really wanted to break down and cry but she could not here.

"That so?" A rather pompous voice called out as a clergyman in robes approached and looked her up and down. "Perhaps the Order can help you miss..?" "Michiko Sasaki and I've never heard of this Order." "Never heard of the Order?!" The clergy man exclaimed as he looked at her as if she had just struck him before he looked at her with a sinister gleam in his eyes. "So you've never heard of the Chief God then?" "Chief God? No, my people pray to the kami."

"So you're a heretic then?" He said with a sneer and an ugly face. "I've known people from another land who said the same but grew to accept us eventually. There is no proof your God is any more fantastical than mine." The clergyman sneered and turned away with a huff. "If she wishes to enter we shall have her prove herself and her supposed gods." He said and looked to one of the guards, pulling him and whispering to him as the guard ran off into the city.

They waited there for half an hour, Michiko knelt at a small training yard right there near the entrance. Her head was bowed as her nodachi laid in front of her before her eyes opened and she stood, her nodachi held in her hand once more as she turned and looked to an approaching woman. The woman had silvery hair and kind blue eyes, she looked young but had a body many full women would be envious of as she held a longsword in her hand. Her attire consisted of a very noble looking blouse and frilly skirt with a bright red cape, the only reasonable thing for a warrior was her boots sadly. "You are to be my opponent then?" "It appears so. Just to warn you I am Wilmarina Noscrim, one of the best swordsman in all of Lescatie." She held a lofty and joyful smile while Michiko hardened her expression and tightened her hold on her nodachi. "But have you killed? Have you spilt blood? If not then do not sing praises of yourself." "Y..You've killed before? But why?" She shook her head at the youth. "To protect those I hold dear…to defend my people and bring honor to my name. I am Michiko Sasaki, I am a Kensei of the Dawn Empire. I am a sword-saint and you are my opponent."

After that declaration Wilmarina held her sword closer as Michiko held her nodachi high and bowed slowly as the clergyman watched with slight interest. "You may begin!" He called out and Wilmarina shot forward with enhanced speed, mana pumping through her legs as the kensei turned and sidestepped the slash aimed for her chest. Her knees bent as she extended and her sword with her, both acting as one as Wilmarina felt the force smash against her sword before she jumped away. Both sizing each other up once again while the clergyman looked on in slight shocked seeing this heretic not even use any mana in her attacks. What sort of place made such warriors?

Meanwhile with the duelists Wilmarina held her shaking sword arm, the pain dulling from the force behind the strike and that wasn't even imbued with mana. Michiko brought her nodachi up and held it in a neutral stance as she stepped closer before shifting forward and striking quickly, catching Wilmarina's arm as she stpped and shoulder bashed into the Kensei before backing away and preparing herself before shooting forward, sending three quick thrusts followed by a slash which caught on the nodachi and let her see that one of Michiko's sleeves was torn and bleeding but the woman didn't even acknowledge the cut before stepping forward and let Wilmarina fall forward before she headbutted her and slashed her thigh.

Wilmarina grunted in pain at the new cut before she pushed mana through her arms and let loose a regular energy beam towards the surprised kensei who rolled forward before slashing towards her opponent's feet. Wilmarina dodged and backed away before charging forward again and letting down a perfect downward slash and with nowhere to maneuver the woman was sure to lose but she did the unexpected and stepped toward the attack, deflecting it with her own sword before grabbing Wilmarina by the sleeve and bashing her against a wall as she twisted and lifted her sword up high the orange light of the sun making the sword look like it caught fire as she led the powerful downward slash. "Kore de shimai da!" and her sword stopped right next to the knight's shoulder. "It would appear I win…"

"Think again." Wilmarina said and Michiko looked down to find the Knight's sword pressed up against her midriff before she chuckled. "An honorable duel Noscrim-San. You are a good warrior but hold much hesitation in your blows. You wish to protect but hesitate to hurt, that could cost you." "I know…I just…I don't want to hurt needlessly since I'm meant to protect people." Michiko nodded and smiled under her mask. "I understand Noscrim-San. I protect my people as much as I can but I won't hesitate to hurt others to protect what I have." "I see….I'll think on your words then Michiko." Michiko nodded and looked to the clergyman who was red faced before relenting. "Very well. You may enter the city but I'll be keeping an eye on you heretic."

"That man is very rude for a priest." Michiko said out loud and Wilmarina sighed. "Still better than my father." She thought bitterly before turning to Michiko. "Clergyman Rhodes has always been a bit pigheaded at times…anyway what are you going to do in the city? Will you join the heroes? We could use someone like you." "I'm not quite sure…I have no idea of your currency nor do I know anyone here." They entered through into the city and Wilmarina spotted Elt as he came over. His hair was a bit baggy and his clothes barely noticeable compared to them, not to mention he was only a red shirt as far as everything went. He barely had a warrior's presence and had little muscle it seemed.

Despite this, Wilmarina didn't seem to mind as he came over to them. "Hello Elt. This here is Michiko Sasagi." "A pleasure young knight." Michiko greeted and Elt blushed a little realizing the badass hero next to his best friend was a woman. "Oh uhm hello. My name's Elt. It's nice to meet you."

"It is nice to meet you as well Elt-kun." She gave him a half bow of which both of them smiled awkwardly, not used to her Japanese ways. "W-well, I'm heading to training with Merse. It was nice to meet you." He called out and soon left. "He seemed rather nice." Michiko said off-handedly and Wilmarina felt a small spike of jealousy before calming down and looking down towards the slums. "You'll most likely have to stay there if you have no money." "Very well. It would not be my first time in the slums." And with that she left behind a knightess who wondered about this strange woman before walking to her own home as the sun came down, and no one spotted the angelic beauty up on a tower with stark white wings watching the two.

Druella's Camp

Akio walked through the camp, ignoring some of the moans that echoed through the air before she finally came to the largest tent in the camp. She opened the flap and stepped in before kneeling before another woman. An absolute beauty with silver hair and dark black horns, glowing red eyes and a rather revealing armor along her body and thighs with large white leathery wings and a tail. "Ah Akio. Tell me, did you finish your mission?" "Yes my lady. I found an odd woman in armor reminiscent of those in Zipangu and she hefted a rather long blade. She spoke in a weird tongue when I confronted her but the amazing thing was her reflexes! She turned immediately as I tried to attack and the force behind her attacks are nothing to laugh at."

Druella hummed as she processed this information before looking to the Kunoichi again. "And she wasn't blessed by that miserable Chief God?" "No my lady." "Interesting…if you would, spy on her and report what you learn. I wish for no surprises during our invasion." The Kunoichi nodded and left as Druella returned to planning the invasion of Lescatie. Not worried that much, it was only one human woman after all.

Lescatie

Slumping down on what could be barely called a bed was Michiko. Her armor was neatly folded away into the corner and she had kept her hakama on as she laid down on the would-be bed. She'd need to find a source of income if she wanted anything to eat. Maybe she could find something in the morning, for now though, she would sleep peacefully in her temporary home. Unaware of the two entities watching over her home.

Morning came rather quickly as Michiko burst awake and held up a tanto shed slept with just in case. Her body was caked in sweat and her bangs were even more messy now thanks to her horrible night terrors. All soldiers who see war always come out different. Many, like her had their minds tortured by their past deeds. Shrugging it off she slowly got up and worked to fixing her hair before she began putting her armor on once again. She came out of the back room of this hovel of a home before putting on her shoes by the door and stepping out as the sun's new golden rays came over the horizon.

She smiled at the beautiful sunset before she ventured through town. She had been walking down a road before she had this uncanny feeling she was being watched so she turned and looked and saw nothing but a single white feather on a roof, perhaps it was a bird then?

She continued forward before finding herself in the town square where several others were busy setting up their stands today or mingling by a board. She approached and got some not so subtle stares as she looked at the board which had many papers on it.

"Kidnapping, Theft, Breaking and entering, Mamono extermination?" She listed them off but was rather confused at that last one. The others sounded like normal crimes to be dealt with but monster extermination? Were bandits dressed as demons and terrorizing people?

Feeling someone come closer she glanced and found a rather odd sight in that it was a woman dressed like a thug in black clothing which again showed off her thighs, midriff, and cleavage. Who let them wear such armor? Her people had no problem with nudity or skimpy clothes but you don't wear them into battle!

She took a breath again and the woman looked up at her, one of her eyes partly covered by her light purple hair and more by the eye covering she had. She could understand silver hair but purple hair? That wasn't normal. "Hello?"

"So you're the woman who beat Wilmarina huh?" What? Is that all she was here for? "Yes, I am. What of it?" "Oh nothing. Just thought I'd meet the woman who scared Elt." What?! How did she scare him? "He was scared of me?" "Well, not really but I guess you could say he felt intimidated."

"I see. My name is Michiko Sasaki. What is yours?" "Just call me Merse. I'm in charge of training Elt you see and he wasn't focusing as much as he usually does." Oh. "My humblest apologies Merse-San." Merse just shook her head and chuckled. "Relax. I'm not mad at ya. He could use a little scare, might help him train better."

"I suppose. Oh, before I forget. What does this mean by monster extermination?" Afterwards, Merse looked at Michiko like she was crazy. "Monsters. The Mamono. The monster girls who steal and rape men." "Excuse me? That sounds insane." "Like I'm one to talk, I should be dead after all."

"Where have you been all your life to not know of the Monsters and their Demon Lord?" "My home…is very far from here." Merse didn't buy it all but just sighed. "Go visit the library then if you need some information but I wouldn't recommend you do that. Leave it to the Heroes." And there was that word again. Heroes. Just like Wilmarina had mentioned.

Seeing she would need that information. Michiko nodded and soon left after getting directions to the library. She soon arrived and entered before scouring through the shelves.

She sat down with several books and began reading into the first one. She was eternally happy that all the factions had agreed to have English be taught so she could actually read these.

Michiko sighed after putting down her third book. She had been here for nearly two hours now and had a general understanding of things. A long time ago the world did have regular monsters before a new Demon Lord was crowned, a succubus. She changed all the monsters in the world to be sex crazy monster girls, some of whom resembled her culture's monsters as there were the crow demon Tengu and even Oni.

Anyway, the Mamono as they were called began to take human males as husbands instead of food. It also made mention of monsterization and how when a human woman took in too much demonic energy she would become a monster, but curiously males only became incubus. There were explanations on Spirit energy and Demonic energy but everything that even involved the Mamono seemed to just be hateful words an actual helpful information. Shortly after the Order was formed under the Chief God who apparently was the main ruling deity in this land they persecuted all who went against them and even their own.

She reached up and pinched between her eyes as she compared them to the zealots of the Christian faith that came from the knights. She'd hate to imagine what would happen if the two forces ever meet. Probably kill each other with words first.

She cracked a smile at the thought before standing up and returning the books as she left and went back to the message board. It seemed there was a quiet job for a caravan guard to a nearby village. She could do that.

"Thanks a lot for coming with us miss. Not a lot of the heroes really help us out." She felt a bad taste in her mouth when he said that. "How can they be called heroes if they're unwilling to help their own people?" "Cause they got them fancy blessings from the Chief God. Truth is some of em are just as corrupt as the Order itself."

She shook her head in disdain at their words before she got that tingling feeling again and looked towards the trees, nodachi moving on her shoulder. The others soon began to take notice and looked over at her. "Something wrong miss?" "We're being watched." She announced and many of the others pooled together or grabbed weapons before several oddly looking and barely clothed women stepped out from the surrounding forest, along with several winged women flying above the trees.

One of the women was barely dressed and had dark skin and pointy ears as she moaned happily along with several others as they looked at their prey. "I'm upset we were found out so quickly but oh well. Now we get to have our fun even sooner~" The dark elf moaned out and gently rubbed her thighs together as the other laughed and giggled. Michiko frowned and held her nodachi confidently as she strode forward silently while the other with her looked at her like she was mad.

"Oh? Are you offering yourself up willingly? That's so-" "Leave." They all stopped and looked at the woman who looked to them with a hateful glare. "Excuse me?" "Leave. While you still have your lives." The dark elf frowned and shook her head as the other mamono prepared to pounce. "We can't just leave! Many of us still need husbands and their love!" "Then earn that love…do not take it…" She recalled a memory of her own late husband before refocusing on the task at hand.

The mamono said nothing now as there were some of their kind who did as such but they weren't like them. Instead one of the more impatient mamono, an werecat named Kishi growled a little and huffed. "She's not even a hero. Let's just do this already! I want that cute guy in the back~" Slowly, the dark elf nodded and they quickly attacked.

Kishi made to attack the kensei with a swipe of her claws only to find the woman had quickly dodged under her swipe and held her arm in a deadly grip as her blade touched her neck. Next thing she knew her head was gone from her body as the woman tripper her from behind and swiped down with the blade.

The other mamano gasped out horrified that someone actually killed one of their own, and in such a horrible way. The body fell down quickly as her head rolled away with a trail of blood. The entire area was silent as the kensei stood from her kneeling position and wiped her blade clan as she stared down the others. "Shall the rest of you try?"

The other mamano took a step back before they all charged with the intent to bring her down and she nodded. A blast of magic careened toward her as she dodged and slashed behind her to fend off a harpie. "Sixth sense can only work so well in groups. Need to work fast." She quickly thought as she dodged and retaliated by thrusting forward and impaling another werecat on her blade, kicking the corpse off as two more harpies attacked and she fended off their talons, although a few cuts did hit her armor or tear her sleeves.

Behind the other mamono the dark elf charged another spell as another elf drew an arrow and shot it. Michiko's head snapped up before she moved but not quick enough as the arrow nicked her arm, but it didn't bleed? She felt a little hotter but only as if air got slightly warmer.

She shrugged and continued the fight before she saw three harpies coming down so she spun quickly and her nodachi followed in tandem, striking out in a wide area and slicing talons and flesh and feathers as two harpies dropped dead and another fell and limped away quickly. Blood dripped from her sword and off her armor as she dodged another arrow and charged through the other mamano as she went for the ranged attackers first.

Her nodachi was lowered and she dodged another arrow before roaling to avoid the last uninjured harpy and found herself looking right towards another spell, "Subjugation!" and like that she was covered in a thick pink mist as she stumbled out and coughed as her body felt plenty times hotter. She hadn't felt this way ever since the time she spent with…her husband.

Another arrow pierced her thigh as a harpy scratched her. Her body felt unbearable heat before she felt rage, boiling inside her at these monsters and herself for failing before all of it burst out as she stood and yelled. Her arms held out as her body lit bright orange like flame and an aura surrounded her as the horrid heat melted under her own. The monsters stood still in fear before the elven archer found a nodachi come down at her face, killing her instantly as the Kensei made quick work of the rest. Such was the power of those in the land of Heathmoor, their ability to rise against odd and strike back just as powerful, such was their revenge.

Soon the carnage ended and not a single mamano was alive except for the dark elf who had lost a leg but not died yet. She had attempted to crawl away before a blade found itself through her stomach and her life faded.

The others in the caravan looked on terrified as blood dripped from her sword before she brought it up and wiped it clean with her glove. She took some deep breathes before hanging her head. "Once again I let emotions control me…even if I am thankful to be rid of what they did to me." She looked down to the dark elf and whispered softly, "Anata no tsugi no jinsei de heiwa o mitsukeru."

The caravan leader, a man named Michael, shakily approached the blood soaked woman and gulped, "Milady, are you alright?" "….Hmm?...oh…oh yes…just thinking…let us leave.." He nodded and set about calming everyone down as Michiko shook her head and left to rejoin them. All the while no one noticed a white feather float down to the ground nor a swirl of leaves falling nearby.

When they finally arrived back to Lescatie after a day, Michiko was glad. Her armor and sword had been cleaned and repaired by the blacksmith at the village and now she had some 200 gold for the job. She also received an extra 150 for dealing with the mamano who had been terrorizing the area.

Today she found a fairly quiet place near an old church, sitting under a lone tree as her nodachi laid before her once more along with her tanto. Her helm and mask laid next to her as she knelt there and offered prayer to the kami, hoping for guidance but it seemed she would find none.

Eventually her peace was disturbed by three sets of footsteps as they approached before suddenly stopping. Behind her stood Elt, a nun named Sasha, and a half elf name Primera. She slowly opened her eyes and let out a breath. "You may approach if you like."

Elt of course did and the other two reluctantly came over as well, either sitting or kneeling in their own way. "M-miss Sasaki?" Elt nervously asked. "Yes Elt-kun?" "What exactly are you doing here?" She turned to look at them, finally seeing Sasha in her nun outfit and Primera in her armor.

"I came here to pray…to the kami…to Ameterasu." She said and nodded her head to the massive sun on the horizon. "You don't pray to the Chief God?" He asked with some distaste. "No. And I was civil enough to not make you leave so please be respectful of my religion."

He didn't necessarily like it but the thing that caught the Kensei's attention was how the nun wasn't the one praising the Chief God, did she see the truth of this theocracy?

Regardless it wasn't her business to meddle and she continued with her silent prayer to Ameterasu before listening to them speak again. "So Sasha, how is the orphanage?" Elt asked and both him and the half-elf looked to her as she blushed a little. "It is going alright. But we're running short on food again." "How much?" They all turned to see Michiko looking back at them, "W-what?" Sasha asked. "How much would be enough to feed them?" "O-oh about 50 b-but I couldn't ask that of anyone!" "Then don't ask, I will gladly donate." She reached into her back pouch and slowly pulled out a small sack with roughly 50 gold coins inside, give or take a few and held them out for the nun.

"Why?" They looked to Elt as he looked at her. "You're basically a stranger but would gladly give up money for her orphanage, why?" She sighed sadly and looked him in the eyes. "I know how it feels to grow in an orphanage low on money and food. And I've always had a soft spot for children."

He teared up a little and smiled as Sasha took the money slowly and offered her thanks and before long they all left.

Druella's Camp

Akio panted as she ran through the cam before she eventually collapsed to her knees right as she got inside of Druella's tent, where Druella and several of her closest followers were further planning out their invasion of Lescatie. They all turned toward her and Druella sexily strutted over before picking up Akio's chin. "What is wrong Akio? We're all quite busy right now." She nodded and caught her breath, "I have more to report on the Kensei!"

The others talked among themselves quietly before Druella spoke, silencing them all, "Tell us." "The woman left with a caravan out of Lescatie two days ago and on their way to a village were ambushed by mamano. She somehow sensed they were there and when they attacked she easily killed a werecat by cutting her head off with no hesitation!" There were some shocked and angry gasps, one particular dragon angry one of their own had been killed. Druella poured over this news before nodding as Akio continued, "She was struck by an arrow but did not fall, she was even caught in a Subjugation spell and several attacks but as she was nearly fallen with lust she burst into flames and slaughtered them all like a beast! And when it ended all of the demonic energy in her had disappeared!" Chatter broke out among the others, especially among those with a larger lean towards magic. One in particular was a small little child-like goat like demon known as a Baphomet, who despite their tastes, happened to be some of the strongest mamano and served as generals in the army.

She slowly floated over and scratched her chin a little in curiosity, "And absolutely no demonic energy was left? Like it was purged from her system?" The Kunoichi nodded her head quickly. "What are you thinking Mari?" Druella asked in curiosity to one of her closest advisors. "I'm thinking this woman has some sort of blessing, obviously not of the Chief God but from where?"

Akio thought back and tried to recall anything else. "She tends to pray in the morning in the sun…could it be a god related to the sun?" "Possibly…that type of power isn't natural…and could present a problem in the invasion." Druella nodded, knowing what the Baphomet was thinking. "We know nothing of this power other than what Akio has told us. If she can activate it anytime we would be hard pressed to take her down peacefully."

The mood in the tent had taken a small dip as they didn't expect such an obstacle. They didn't want anyone hurt on either sides of this battle but it seemed it would be inevitable. Druella frowned and looked back at Akio. "Does she have any weaknesses you've found?" "She wasn't doing well when she was grouped up on. And she's very protective of that tanto she has under her coat."

Druella nodded thankfully and turned back to her advisors as they began to plan out their invasion in more detail. Lescatie would fall. And all there would be happy and rejoice.

""There it is. Right down that road." Michiko nodded thankfully to the kind woman who pointed her in the direction of the bathhouse. She opened the door and walked inside, making the server there a bit nervous. "Welcome Miss. Have you come for a bath?" "Yes actually…if it's not too much can I have my clothes cleaned as well?"

The woman nodded and accepted the few gold pieces for the service before leading Michiko to the changing room. She bowed respectfully before placing her sword and tanto aside with respect and began to disrobe completely till all she had left were her breast wrappings and panties. She folded her clothes, minus the armor and put them in the hamper.

"I needed this." She smiled and removed all of her clothes without a blush as she descended into the hot water. The water washed over her tightly strung muscles and relaxed until she heard another enter. She cracked open an eye and looked to see Merse once again.

"Hello again." "Hey." And that concluded their greeting as Merse slipped out of her own undergarments and got in the water as well. "Heard about your first job from some of those people you were with. Said you looked like a blood soaked demon. Well…Old Demon Lord time demon." She sighed and shook her head. "I've heard the same from old friends who have witnessed what I do when my emotions control me."

"Damn. What happened to piss you off so much?" "I felt like I would fail to protect…" She said remorefully and unconsciously hugged herself before shaking it off. "Enough about me. Why don't you tell me more about yourself?"

"Well as I've told you I train Elt, guy needs it I'm sad to say but he's got potential." She said with a slight dusting on her cheeks. D..did she have a crush on him? It's not her business to meddle anyway.

"He's lacking first and foremost in muscle." Michiko added from what she had seen of the boy and Merse nodded a little but had a small frown on her face. "He's got a good heart though." Merse defended him and Michiko looked at her oddly. "Since when does a good heart help you battle?" She asked with a coldness she hadn't meant to have.

"Jeez. Who hurt you?" Merse asked with a slight sneer before turning away and Michiko nodded and turned as she continued to bathe.

Later on the two of them left in silence and now out of the water Merse could see the scars that decorated the Japanese woman. Most noticeably were the deep rugged marks across her back before it was covered by a now completely clean hakama. Merse turned away and couldn't help but think about those scars, and thinking on her own. While some regret pooled in her stomach due to her question earlier.

Michiko on the other hand distracted herself by putting on her armor now. She tightened the straps on her shins and shoulders before tying her obi sash once again and sliding her tanto under the sash at her back before picking up her mask and staring at it. Her thumb gently wiped over a small dark spot on the otherwise milky white mask before putting it on along with her helmet. She hefted her nodachi up onto her shoulder once more before turning to see Merse rubbing her eye, not hat she noticed.

She sighed and gently strode behind her before placing a hand on the halberdier's shoulder. "Whoever did that cannot hurt you again. Worrying over scars only reminds us of their evil and those associated with them. Wear them proudly as a sign you survived and those against you failed."

Merse teared up a little before wiping the tears and nodding, but she still held a lot of doubt. Not to say that Michiko ever believed her own advice.

20 Years Ago, The Myre

"Accckk!" A little girl cried out as she fell forward and felt blood trickled down her back before a whip cracked out again loudly.

Present

Michiko shook her head before striding out the door once more, walking down the road before she came across a rather run down building. Atop the building was Elt and a smaller boy, probably around 10 as they set about repairing the roof. "If you want the nail to stick, use your elbow as well, not just your wrist!" She called out and the two looked down at her in surprise before following through with her advice and found them hammering the boards better as the door opened and Sasha came outside.

"Oh! Miss Sasaki! Welcome! What are you doing here?" Michiko chuckled and pointed to the two boys with her nodachi. "Figured I could stop bye and help those two properly hammer a nail." She laughed softly and Sasha let out a small giggle before some of the other children came out and crowded around the kensei.

"Woah! You look cool!" One of the boys said.

"Are you a hero?" Another of the girls asked eagerly.

"Are you a noble?" Another girl asked without a thought.

"James, Sarah, Lilian. Please don't annoy our guest." Sasha pleade while Michiko burst out laughing and shook her free hand bfore bending down to the children's level. "I have no problem with them Fullmoon-San. They're just curious children after all."

She chuckled and hefted her nodachi back up as the children looked at her sword in awe. The children were happy to see her and she smiled and hadn't noticed as she began to unconsciously tear up as they made her think of her daughter.

Sasha watched in slight concern before the warrior finally noticed and wiped her tears. She continued to play with the children before the sun eventually began to dip below the horizon and Sasha walked up to the children. "Come on now. We need to get dinner started" All the children whined and pouted before Sasha smiled and pat Sarah's head, "Would you like to join us for dinner Miss Sasaki?" "Hmm? Oh yes. I would be honored."

They slowly walked inside and Michiko laid her nodachi aside respectfully on another table along with her helmet and mask before she began to help them along with dinner. "I must say Fullmoon-San, you are quite the great caretaker." "O-oh, thank you very much Miss Sasaki." They continued on as the children giggled and played while the older ones helped in the kitchen.

"So Miss Sasaki, do you have a family?" She asked the question innocently, she knew that but it still hurt. "I…I did….m-my husband was unfortunately…gone and my daughter….I have no clue what became of her now.." Sasha teared up a little and they heard someone else crying, turning to see Elt tearing up as well. "I'm sooo sorry to hear that Miss Sasaki!" Michiko nodded and wiped her tears again. "I have faith I'll see my daughter again one day."

They continued on to make dinner but the mood was unfortunately ruined and so the older ones in the room made dinner as the younger ones stayed ignorant and played, all till eventually dinner was made and Sasha called everyone to the table.

They all smiled and got in their seats before bowing in a small prayer while Michiko offered her own and they eventually began eating. The younger ones helped themselves immediately as the older ones took their time before digging in. The younger ones exchanging jokes and laughing as the mood livened up once again.

An hour later and they had finished their meal, the kids all went off to bed as Elt and Michiko helped Sasha with the dishes. Elt eventually left and said he'd hope to see them again. Michiko was soon about to leave before she felt Sasha tug on her sleeve. "M-miss Sasaki? If I may, can I ask a favor?" She considered it a short while before nodding, "What do you need?" "I have some friends who come to the city every so often but they weren't allowed inside this time. I often give them a letter but I can't tonight." "And you want me to do it?"

Sasha nodded with a blush of embarrassment before Michiko sighed. "Alright, I'll do it." "Oh thank you Michiko!" Sasha seemed to not notice she used her first name finally but she shrugged it off. "Here you go." Sasha handed her the letter and smiled. "Thank you, really." "It's no problem."

Michiko bid her farewell before she walked through the town and out the entrance, she had been walking for a while before she finally came upon a trio of girls in a clearing. "Shouldn't she be here already?" "She may be behind schedule. The Order have been increasing patrols a lot."

She raised an eyebrow before she strode through the brambles and into the clearing, the three instantly noticing her and getting defensive as she held up her hand to calm them down. "Easy. Sasha sent me since she couldn't leave today."

"Really?" The one in the front asked as she rose an eyebrow and had some hidden feeling behind her eyes.

"Yes. I've got your letter right here." She reached back and brought out the envelope before holding it out. One of them came closer and accepted it before handing it to her superior. "Unopened. Most people would look." "I've always respected other's privacy."

She nodded and opened the envelope and read a little before nodding and putting it away. "Thank you so much for doing so. Perhaps we could reward you~" Michiko raised an eyebrow and looked at them oddly.

"I'm afraid my interests don't go that way." She cut them off and looked at them before glancing around, uneasy of the whole situation. "Respectfully, let me go on my way and you may go on yours." They seemed pretty disappointed she wasn't accepting their offer given the pouts.

"But we just want to make you feel good. You'll love it." She could feel a slight warmth…similar to when she was struck by that arrow. "That's why I feel uneasy…you're all monsters aren't you?"

"Hmph! What's the fun in having a disguise if you get found out." One of the others pouted as their forms shifted and now resembled the monsters she read about. The leader floated and had a ghastly appearance while the other two were an elf and a lizardman.

"I wouldn't have found out if you hadn't tried the stunt with your demonic energy. It felt too similar to other monsters." Michiko declared and held her nodachi to her side as the monsters looked at her blade and the elf looked horrified. "H-Himiko! She's the one they said to avoid!" The ghost, Himiko looked at Michiko once again before nodding and turning, "Come. Let us leave quickly."

Michiko would've stopped them but they were gone fast so she turned and looked towards Lescatie. "Sasha."

The door to the orphanage opened up and Michiko stealthily walked along the hallways before finding Sasha's room. She opened it only to turn around and hold her sword against Sasha's neck before pulling it down. "You have impressive skills Fullmoon-San. I didn't notice you till you got too close. Now, talk." She demanded in a cold voice that made Sasha flinch.

Sasha nodded and walked down the hall, Michiko following as she rose an eyebrow. "Where are we going?" "To a place we can talk."

They had arrived out in the forest through a secret passage and came across an old and battered looking building as Michiko once again had even more questions before Sasha walked faster and slipped inside.

She heard a noise inside and pushed inside as well only to see something she didn't expect.

Mamano children were scattered around as Sasha gently calmed one down after they bumped into a chair. "Fullmoon-San? What is this?" She asked and Sasha hung her head as she looked back with a reassuring smile. "This is my biggest secret…I take in mamano children who have lost their parents and take care of them here."

Michiko looked down at some of them as they hid and looked at her fearfully before she slowly nodded. "I suppose I can understand the sentiment but what was with the three I met being mamano as well?" "That…I..I-I've been giving information to the Demon Lord's Army and in exchange I get to keep my orphanage and raise the children."

Michiko raised an eyebrow. "But what of the other children? What about you? Will you be monsterized?" "M…most likely." Michiko hung her head and turned away as her arm rested against the wall before she turned again. "Did they say how long till the invasion?" "N-no. Just that it will be sometime this week."

"Damn…" She sighed and took in a deep breath before looking out a busted window towards Lescatie. "I've checked the walls and defenses and they will barely last. I don't have any time to warn them nor would they believe me and I can't fix the defense myself." Michiko mumbled to herself.

"Miss Sasaki?" Michiko turned to look at her from the corner of her eye. "A-are you angry at me?" She sighed and turned to look at the nun. "No…I can understand…the corruption in the city is easy to see and they promised to not do anything to the children right?" Sasha nodded quickly.

"I…I'm gonna head back and get some sleep. Don't take too long." And with that she walked out the door and back to Lescatie.

Today was a new day and Michiko was still going over what she had learned fro Sasha just last night as she walked down to the board again. It seemed they needed some help with border patrol so she took the job.

As she walked down the streets she kept thinking of the people here, the children. She'd be powerless to protect anyone again and it caused her heart no small amount of hurt to think of such things. Her spine tingled again and she caught sight of a flash of white on the rooftops before it disappeared. Was she being spied on?

It would certainly explain why her sixth sense was acting haywire sometimes. She kept a suspicous eye on the rooftops as she walked out the front gate and met with the men and women on patrol right now.

The captain, Liam happily shook her hand and lead the way as they continued onward. The other three were casually talking, the one on the left of her was Ronald, the woman behind her was Sierra and the man beside Liam was Joseph. They continued on until she felt a tingling again and looked to see another flash of white disappear behind the clouds and she tightened her hold on her sword before Ronald spoke up. "So Michiko, where are you from?" She breathed out and smiled under her mask, "A land known only as The Myre. It's a vast swamp filled with poisonous tress and plants everywhere as well as annoying bugs. It is not my people's true home but we make it home now."

They all wondered how any people could live in such a danger ridden land but decided to not think on it too hard. And they continued on as leaves fell behind them.

Michiko wandered down to the slums again after she had purchased a meal and now she was walking back to her home. As she walked, she went back over what she now knew and sighed again. "It's always complcated isn't it Enji?" She asked softly and continued onward, eventually getting to her house that night and easily falling asleep all things considered.

Meanwhile, a few miles away Sasha checked over the mamano kids once more and sighed to herself as well. Things could never be easy on her could they?

The next morning found Michiko awake earlier than normal as she set about getting herself ready for the day, strapping on her armor once more as she tightened the straps and headed outside.

For once, she had a rather uneventful day and smiled to herself about such but couldn't shake the feeling something bad would happen soon, a shame she never acted on that feeling.

Several Hours Later, Nighttime

Michiko strode up along to her usual meditation spot and knelt upon the ground. Placing her sword down in respect she closed her eyes and bowed her head before she came out of it as she heard screams from the city. Screams of pleasure and terror. The invasion had already begun!

And that is where we will end it off for this chapter.

10,000 words for my first chapter. I don't know why but except other chapters to have at least a little less than this and as I've said before. Feel free to criticise my work but keep it civil.

Obviously I rushed it a bit with having the invasion starting here at the end of the first chapter but I've got it all planned out.

I wasn't sure if I captured the character's personality well but I did try my best but feel free to tell what to work on for next time.

I will most likely be doing a few other stories before I update this but other than that I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next time everyone!

Goldenspark begone!