Tale of the Outcast Warrior: Raylik is under attack...again.

They laughed as the two scouts rode out at a hard gallop as the alarm was sounded in the city and the walltops manned. Tyler was a step behind the elven ranger as they surged forward to the spot on the maps. They dismounted as they got close and went as silent as shadows towards the hollows. They cleared a small crest to a truly soul crushing sight: The army was on the march. Tyler sighed deeply.

"Wulf, we need time. I'll buy us some time here."

The elf looked at him horrified.

"You can't hold it alone!"

Tyler looked at him, and he had resignation in his gaze.

"I am the only one that can stall them. Get back, take Thunder, and I'll make them feel stupid until we get to the walls. Not up for debate, Wulf. GO!"

Tyler drew his dual broadswords and was gone as the elf shed tears and ran to get the defenses ready. Tyler was smiling as he moved like a Wraith through the trees and grass to get in front of the army.

"So, a suicide play?"

Sylvia and Sallie were riding his shoulders as usual. Tyler chuckled.

"Not even close. More, I'm playing rear guard. Plus, well, it comes to it, I got a backup ace."

The spirits laughed as they went.

"Right. You ALWAYS have a plan."

Tyler was smiling as he got a head count of the attacking army: 1000 Oricah, 200 stone Ogres, 30 giants with tan skin Tyler assumed were hill giants, and no sign of a leader as of yet. If it's a demon, easy enough to call Tempesta. If not, well, we got a hard one here. He took a spot in the army's path, and drew his power.

"WATERWALL!"

He'd upgraded it to cover a forty foot span now, and it stood 30 feet tall. The army stopped as a set of heavy steps were heard as a black Drakolisk appeared with a giant astride it. Tyler's eyes lit up at the sight of the thing.

"Okay. Once we kill them all, we are SOOOOOO searching those hollows."

This lisk was bigger then the other one, was jet black, and also had mere wing stumps. Guess that's a species thing. The giant on it's back was an odd duck, as it's skin was pale blue, hair was white, wore armor, and on it's back was a ten foot greatsword. The thing was easily 50 feet tall, and the lisk maybe 70. Tyler had his blades in the dirt as he tilted his head.

"What the hell is a frost giant doing all the way down here?"

The thing laughed then.

"An Outcast. Like you. Tyler the Outcast."

"Well, then you know you can't get passed me."

The thing smiled an unpleasant smile, and waved an arm.

"I have JUST the way to deal with you."

As it finished moving it's arm, a thirty foot tall demon with blood red wings and black skin appeared. Tyler tilted his head in the opposite direction.

"A Greater Demon of War?"

Tyler lifted his face to the sky.

"Tempesta. I got a doozy for you!"

The giant and demon laughed hard at this.

"You cannot bluff us."

"Indeed. The Sky king is NOT a mere dog!"

"We are in agreement there. Tempesta is NOT a mere anything."

There was a sudden series of extremely heavy wing beats. And the pair went pale.

"See, thing about the big blue? He REALLLYY hates your kind."

Tyler lifted his blades up.

"Ain't that right big blue?"

There was an almighty woosh as Tempesta came roaring onto the scene to take the now screaming War Demon in his fangs.

"Indeed I do! These being great food!"

Tyler laughed as he heard the crunch, and the six foot horn dropped to land in front of him.

"Thanks, Tempesta! I got the small fry!"

"I'll head for the city to give a head count, and give the reward for the meal!"

"Sure! Can I kill it next time? For the bragging rights?!"

"Ya get the credit for these!"

"Nice! Like a summon."

The blue dragon flew off, as the Frost giant was enraged by this turn of events. Tyler was laughing now.

"Got anything else?"

"KILLL THAT HUMAN!"

Tyler laughed.

"Divine retribution."

His invisible barrier went up as he drew in a breath.

"Ocean dragon Roar!"

HE sent a breath of Tempesta's flames into the first ten ranks of the army, incinerating a solid fifty creatures as the frost giant held the lisk back, since in it's mind, commanders lead from the back. Tyler was also firing arrows into the army enhanced with his best piercers, leaving multiple dead per shot. The enemy mages were launching spells, but they were getting absorbed by his Retribution spell, and as he chugged a mana potion, it was filled. HE then released his Waterwall.

"WATERFALL!"

The thirty foot wall of roiling water crushed several hundred creatures massing at the base, as they tried to force their way through it. Then, the horde behind the flattened things surged forward.

"DIVINE RETRIBUTION."

Only to be met with the over charged white beam of his most powerful offensive white spell. Another large mass of creatures died in the blast. The frost giant was enraged by the loss of so many to one, but when the smoke cleared, Tyler was gone from his perch atop a small hill. With a blatant arrow pointing out the way he'd gone. The giant, however, was no fool. HE had his army advance cautiously, for after all, the Outcast's wily nature was a well known tale. The frost was moving along with his lisk mount, greatsword out as well, for it knew the human was stalking them. In reality, however, Tyler had done, what he had set out to do: Buy time. Nothing more, nothing less. Tyler was now running along the plains, leaving small traps and nasty surprises here and there to slow the army's advance. He reached the wall after a half hour dead run. The wall roaring as he appeared from the bush, only to get confused as he stopped to rig a most peculiar trap: a pair of long branches pulled back with a well hidden trip vine. Kaori burst out laughing as she saw him make it before looking to Wulf.

"See? Suicide is NOT in his toolbox, Wulf. That bastard said buy time. We got five hours now."

Tempesta was sitting with his legs under him like a cat as he watched Tyler rig another set of simple, yet extremely effective traps designed to do nothing more than slow the headlong advance. Tyler came over to the lord of blue after the last trap, a nasty foothold that would trip an Oricah.

"Thanks again for killing that thing."

The dragon laughed as he set another twenty scales on the ground.

"I wondered if you would actually call me. Or just kill it yourself."

"In all honesty? It really depends on the moment. We find a demon chamber underground, calling a dragon of your size might not be the brightest idea."

The blue dragon chuckled.

"Indeed. That just seems like a great way to cause a quake."

Tyler chuckled as he added the scales to their collection.

"We can handle the small fry if you wanna watch. Though,"

Tyler looked at the wall.

"That lisk and frost are MINE!"

The wall laughed as Tempesta chuckled.

"Point out the biggest things on the field, and kill it."

Tyler smirked.

"To be fair, Tempesta, YOU'RE the biggest thing on the field. Might wanna consider a diet."

The wall went deathly quiet as Tyler cracked a fat joke to the dragon's face. Tempesta huffed.

"Oh that's REAL big talk coming from my left toe claw."

"ya know being overweight CAN lead to serious medical complications. Should fly more and eat less sharks."

Tempesta flicked him in the vest with a claw, launching him into a tree.

"You really ARE an infuriating jackass."

Tyler got up laughing as he split the tree.

"Nice to see you CAN still move."

"Keep talking and I'll have a word with that elf girl with the hammer."

"Understood."

Then they burst out laughing as Seline looked to Kaori incredulously.

"If I was not certain Tyler was a human, I'd say he was Tempesta's son from the way they're bantering."

Kaori just smiled.

"Tempesta and him are very similar. It's a little scary at times, but they really ARE good friends."

Tyler was laughing when he felt a tug. He looked down to see Sallie looking at him.

"IS he your father?"

Tempesta looked at Tyler closely now.

"I see you got the Divine Sight."

Tyler looked at him.

"I did. To fight Shades."

The lord of blue peered into his soul.

"I see. You are willing to destroy the very balance of this world, just to keep that blonde alive."

"Would you not do the same for Glacious?"

That made him blink, then sigh.

"I would. I understand you better now. And, approve."

"I thought you would. I got the feeling you understood as well."

The dragon tilted his head.

"Understood what exactly?"

Tyler sighed.

"Just how lonely life can be without someone beside you."

Tempesta nudged the Outcast with his snout in a clearly comforting manner.

"I do understand. It is an empty existence indeed, being alone."

Tyler smiled.

"Which is why I fight so gods damned hard for her."

He patted Sallie and Sylvia.

"Them too. I die, they're alone again. Same with the others."

That got an understanding chuckle.

"I see the origin of the Outcast name."

"For to BE an outcast, you need to understand what being lonely truly IS. I mean, look at Wulf. Loneliest guy I've ever met."

An arrow came and bounced off his chain mail.

"I heard that you sonuvabitch!"

"You were supposed to!"

Tempesta lifted a large claw, and Tyler bumped a fist of it.

"Nice to see we teaching this world SOMETHING useful!"

Kaori just groaned and held her head.

"He just bro-fisted a dragon."

Tyler looked at the wall.

"Okay, I need to get topside. Hey! Throw a ladder!"

Tempesta used two of his claws to pick him up and throw him up over the wall. Tyler blinked before he righted himself to land on the battlement in front of Kaori.

"Thanks Big Blue!"

Tempesta snorted and got comfortable to watch the battle. Tyler spotted a map on the battlement and went right to look at it.

"Okay, we got four hours at least until they get here. I reduced numbers from 1230 to maybe 950. They'll lose a good number more as the walk back is a literal minefield. Seline."

The fox lady came right to him.

"What do you need?"

"Do we have contact with the king?"

"We have this."

She placed a crystal and Ishtar was seen.

"Sera! Lillia!"

"Coming!"

The king was teary eyed as he saw his ready for war girls come running, wielding Lisk weapons.

"Tolic got us our new mail."

"I love it!"

Tyler nodded to the crystal. The girls looked and smiled.

"Father!"

"Daddy!"

Ishtar looked at Tyler, pride on his face.

"What's their role?"

"Long range sniping. Sera can nail a giant in the eye first shot fifty yards, and Lillia here can one shot a running hare in the eye at 30. As for blade work? Eh, still learning."

"Hey! I nearly beat Kaori!"

"Still an infuriating prick."

Ishtar gaped a moment at Sera's now foul mouth. Tyler just patted her hair.

"Atta girl."

She glowed as Ishtar sighed.

"I think you might be a bad influence on her."

"Nah, just the worst. She's learning fast though."

"Yup! I made 400 gold off a bounty I killed!"

HE just smiled with pride for his girls.

"Di they join your party, Warrior?"

"Indeed they did. And can now hold their own in my crew. They still go everywhere with at least two, but by the first wave, they won't NEED protection from ANYTHING. You got me word on dat."

The king smiled again.

"So. The army. What is your plan?"

"Enrage it into a death charge. The things just Oricah and a few hill giants. Main issue is the frost and Lisk, but more workout for me then threat. I'll see if I can't vanish at some point to work a rear assault. That frost and lisk fall, with ME pinning them between me and the wall? Dead to the last creature."

"I see. A most brilliant strategy. Your spot until then?"

"On a battlement in full view of both armies. Daring them to hit me, while showing them how it's done."

"A rallying charge."

"We DO NOT get on the ground for this, as then we lose the height advantage."

Ishtar rubbed his beard.

"My knights are useless to you, as most are still hand warmers."

"Is Nidhogg in the area?"

"Sadly, she's dealing with a sky pirate problem a days flight from there."

"Typical. Hmmm."

Tyler looked at the map.

"We have hidden barrels here, there, here, and wow, a few good spots."

Tyler looked at the field. The area was a mostly flat one with rocks, small bits of forest and dips as well. HE frowned.

"Those dips. I wonder."

HE looked to Seline.

"We have any high level oil?"

The fox flicked her tail.

"Maybe 300 barrels, why?"

He smiled wickedly and pointed to the numerous dips.

"I got an idea. Fill those dips with the oil, then camouflage them. When the army hits em, use a flame arrow."

She got it then, and a larger detachment got right to it. Ishtar was shaking his head.

"My boy, that is a truly evil surprise."

"You want evil? That dragon ride was AWESOME."

The king glared at him.

"I hate you. So much."

"See? Oh, and to put words to it? Think the Nidhogg on a warm day with the best of your friends beside you sailing into a battle you know will be both fun and worth it. Multiply it by a hundred and had scales. Dragon Rider."

Ishtar shivered.

"Boy, that is the stuff dreams are made of."

"Damn fuckin right. Okay, their march is going to be an absolute hell. Once they DO get here, the Frost will be impatient, and so will most likely order a full charge. The flank Tempesta is on is safe, as the cowards won't go NEAR the big Blue's jaws. Seline."

"Outcast?"

"How many we got?"

"300."

"All archers?"

"They can all use a bow."

"Okay, Let me think."

Tyler looked at the map and the field before him. Then he smiled.

"We got any acids in town?"

Seline and Ishtar blinked.

"We have a few, but they're mainly sold to black paths."

"Rig a few barrels to explode with the stuff inside and we'll make acid rain."

The two leaders shuddered as the nefarious trap was set up. Ishtar looked at him.

"You don't play war Fair."

"I don't FIGHT fair, Ishtar. I have no use for honor, chivalry, valor. To me? Those are just daggers you slit your own throat with. If you seek to do the ones I love harm, well, I'll use every nasty trick, tactic and evil I can to take. You. Down."

He was looking at the now visible dust cloud as it approached. Tyler smiled as he drew Gleipnir.

"I know you know what this is Ishtar."

The King sighed.

"And it is a very powerful insurance."

"Backup plan. And nothing more. Love the sword though."

The king laughed as Tyler took his spot on the battlement, stabbing the blade into the stone. He looked at the gathered fighters, and smiled.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Lily. Had to babysit a few people."

They chuckled as the elven girl snorted.

"Tch, you're too kind to them."

"See? She's fiercer an any of us."

She flipped her dagger.

"Damn straight."

Tyler looked at the approaching dust cloud.

"Well, looks like we got visitors."

HE looked at the army.

"They come to pillage. They come to torture. They come TO MY TOWN!"

HE was now glaring with his Demon glare.

"NO. IF THEY WANT TO GET TO MELLY AND THE OTHER CHILDREN."

He raised his sword for all to see.

"THEY HAVE TO STEP OVER US!"

"Uraaahhhh!"

Every voice roared as one for those simple words. Tyler lowered the blade to point down in the stone.

"Two rules. 1: Dead to the last creature. No survivors. No prisoners. 2: Watch each other's asses. Just don't stare at Seline's too much. Things dangerously fine."

That got a round of raucous laughter as Seline flicked him with her tails.

"You have NO idea."

"Later. If someone gets hit, get em to a healer. Oh, and three. For the love of Lily, don't shoot yourselves in the foot, okay?"

They all laughed as Lily sighed.

"Nice to see you finally get it."

Tyler pulled his bow and looked to the army on the ground. He smiled.

"Oh, they are going to SCREAM."

Sure enough, as soon as a hill giant took a step into a set of woodland, a series of snaps were heard as several dozen branches at a certain height snapped back to their previous positions, right at the height of the giants groins. Every man on the battlements winced in a shared pain as the creatures howled in agony as they dropped to the ground holding themselves, flattening a large number of other creatures as well. Tyler was on the ground laughing with tears in his eyes, as every few minutes there was a snap, followed by more screaming as another groin was slapped with a springy branch. The wall just looked at him as he nearly laughed himself to death. Wulf was heard then.

"That guy is a truly evil bastard. Who the hell thinks of that?"

The snaps stopped, and the poor hill giants recovered, but now walked with a noticeable wobble with indignant anger in their beady eyes as the leader of the army on the walls laughed at their pain. Then the falling rocks laughter of Tempesta was heard.

"By the scales, that was downright EVIL!"

"Effective though!"

Then more howls of pain were heard as the Oricah were setting off similar traps. All the wall defenders would see was a tree move, and hear a howl.

"Arrrgh! Me gnads!"

"thwack!!!

"Yeeeowhhhh! Me neithers!"

The enemy army slowed even more, and were trying to clear the traps as the Lisk and Frost giant were seen next. Tyler waved at the thing with a middle finger up.

"Thanks for bringing dinner!"

The wall laughed as Tyler nudged Seline.

"I'll kill that thing, and see what's it's got fer meat. I'm sure we can work out a deal."

"The trove?"

"Sorry, that's my party's."

"Agreed. Same with the scales and other useful things?"

"Indeed. I was more thinking of the meat. We're still set on food, so we really CAN'T take that whole thing with us."

She smiled as she understood then.

"You'll get a share of the meat, but donate the rest to us."

"Yup. Give Melly and the other kids a tale to tell."

Ishtar was still on the crystal. Now he shook his head.

"You already have a plan for the thing BEFORE you kill it. And it revolves around giving the children a feast I myself am envious of."

Tyler smiled as then enemy army stopped to gather itself, unaware of the line of oil barrels waiting for a light in the center of the army.

"It's how we do things for this town, Ishtar. I have a few really good friends here."

The king nodded as Tyler fitted a set of shafts to his string. Along the wall, everyone followed suit. The frost giant bellowed a challenge, and Tyler threw out his defiance in the form of Glacious' multicolored flames. Which made Tempesta chuckle.

"Paying tribute to her in front of me. An interesting move."

Tyler then looked the frost inn the eye.

"Bring it frosty the ugly man!"

That made the wall chuckle as the hill giants picked up rocks to throw, only Tyler had anticipated that as well. Setting more traps off. Kaori looked at him.

"How the hell did you set so many?"

"I used the first stage."

"Ah. That one lasts?"

"20. With a 10."

"That'll do it."

Seline and Ishtar looked at them.

"Care to explain?"

"Sorry, party secret."

"Yup."

"Damned Warriors."

"Alright then, keep your secrets."

Tyler and Kaori looked at each other.

"Wow."

"Lord of the rings is multiworld."

"So aren't memes apparently."

Ishtar looked at them.

"Where did you learn that title?"

They looked at him.

"The Lord Of The Rings is a rather famous book series in our world. A rather legendary one as well."

"That title is also a fallen one, as a thousand years before the black one's dragon enslavement, a Red One forged rings to force the world to bend the knee."

"That was basically the story of the books as well. Only the main bad guy was a Dark Lord."

The king sighed.

"Even the stories in your world are dark."

"I'll tell ya one sometime after this mess."

"You win, you can expect a royal welcome upon a return to Term."

"Yeah, we won't set foot in that city until we absolutely have to, Ishtar. And DEFINEITLY not without a few members getting a LOT stronger."

He nodded sadly.

"I understand. It will be waiting here regardless."

"Hey, looks like the blueberry is ready to play."

The frost giant was indeed ready, as the rocks could not be trusted, and were thus smashed. Yet another thing Tyler had anticipated, and looked at Kaori.

"Volcano time."

She had gotten a necklace that boosted her mana pool, and so cast Lava Field as Tyler cast Waterwall around an area as the giant gave the attack order.

"Waterfall!"

The resulting explosion of ice cold water hitting molten magma literally sent creatures flying through the air as Tyler fired a flaming arrow into a Barrel now behind the Frost Giant on the Lisk. The thing blew, sending a small puddle of acid onto the leg of the giant, while a drop actually hit the left eye of the Drakolisk, ruining it as the Frost Giant roared in pain as it's leg boiled and popped. The battle was joined then, as the wall fired it's first volley while the orcs did as well. Thing was that the White paths had cast barrier spells to keep the arrows at bay. Enemy spells too. Tyler smiled as he saw the sheer confusion on the Oricah's faces as their arrows failed to reach them, and spells were absorbed. Tyler then gave an order.

"Aim for barrels!"

This resulting in a mass detonation of barrels of oil, acid, and lots of fire. Tyler smiled as he saw the time was ripe.

"Vixen!"

The black mage came running.

"Need me?"

"I'm going for the giant and Lisk. I need you to make an illusion of me still here."

She smiled and he sent an arrow to set off a barrel that made a smoke screen appear, halting the newest attempt at a head on charge. Tyler used his stealth skills to vanish like smoke as Vixen used her illusion spells to place his exact image atop the battlement, right down to his voice as he gave direction and fired acid arrows. Ishtar looked to the blonde that was shaking her head.

"I see he leads from the front."

Kaori smiled at the image of the king.

"Tyler leads from wherever the fighting is thickest. Watch, all we'll see from this end is the Frost Giant get pulled off the lisk's back."

Ishtar looked to see the Giant waving it's 20 foot long greatsword in anger as it's army was now caught in front of a fiery holocaust of death.

"My girls are safer with that boy then they could be in my throne room."

Seline laughed.

"He has a lot to fill you in on after Ishy."

Kaori sighed.

"A helluva lot."

HE nodded.

"So you know, we've been winning the war for power against the pope."

"Not now. We'll talk after."

"Understood."

HE looked back to see the Giant look down as if someone was trying to get it's attention, only to roar in shock and horror as it was literally PULLED off the rearing Lisk. Kaori laughed.

"He found him."

Tyler ghosted along the wall as he headed for his rear assault. HE gave Sera and Lilla a pat as he passed, getting a giggled as they knew his plan, stole a kiss off Malico as he went, making her purr, and poking Lily as he moved by. She looked over her shoulder as she aimed her bow, only to see no one there. She then looked at Serafina, as they'd paired up this time around.

"You see that?"

The Wraith fired her black path bow as she answered.

"See what Lily?"

The elven girl shrugged, and went back to shooting Oricah.

"I guess Sallie or Sylvia came to say hi."

Tyler was smiling as he found a decent spot for a rapid decent. Sallie and Sylvia on his shoulders as he jumped off the wall. HE landed unharmed, even though this side had fifty foot walls, Then he was off running like a spirit himself as he flanked the army. He drew Oblivion and Oathkeeper to deal with a few orcs and ogres he came across as he went. He left a good two dozen dead as he got to where he wanted to be: right behind the giant and lisk. He was smiling as he snuck up beside the pair, and knocked on the giant's leg. It looked down curiously, as if expecting an Oricah or something else to be there, only to look into the grinning eyes of the Outcast.

"Hi! I found you!"

It roared in shock and horror as Tyler grabbed it's foot and pulled it off the things back with a look of concentration as he did so. The lisk roared and drew a breath to breathe some kind of attack, only for Tyler to launch at it with Gleipnir and stab it in the chest to the hilt between two scales. Another weakness he'd found from the last he'd killed. HE pierced it's heart, and it died with a gurgle. Tyler pulled his blade free to block a swing from the giant's blade, and it broke over the Mythril Magicite weapon. The sound reverberated across the field like a loud ping, and the giant gaped at it's ruined weapon as Tyler cut the legs out from under it. Then he was on it's chest as it fell with an earthshaking thud. Tyler chuckled as he looked into it's terrified eyes.

"Where'd you come from?"

"I was hired by the Warriors to force into the city."

"Payment?"

"I had the Lisk's trove, so they added an extra 6000 gold, four hundred gems, and gave promise for captives from the city."

"The trove is?"

"Behind a large rock they cannot lift. In the larger hollow."

"Nifty."

He stabbed it in the heart and hopped off to face the now scared survivors of the army.

"Yeah, yer not getting away."

Tyler drew Fafner, and unleashed Glacious' breath into the army as he surged forward. On the wall, a rousing cheer broke out as the arrows kept flying as Tyler became a whirling hurricane of death breathing flames as he went. Within twenty minutes, the army was dead to the last creature as Tyler used his short swords to climb up the wall to vault onto the battlement to pat his image on the shoulder as it vanished. HE then raised his blades high.

"We have victory!"

The wall roared in approval as he looked to the crystal.

"We need to talk, Ishtar. But, this army was hired by the Warriors to force open the city for them."

The king just sighed.

"Are they really THAT entitled? Rather than actually WORK themselves, they'd rather pay monsters to do it for them?"

"This point? My party and Kazuma will be the only survivors of the first wave. So just start preparing for that."

"Indeed. You say we need to discuss something?"

"We'll clean the mess, and I'll have Seline use that spell."

"Very well."

"And I'll bring the girls as well."

"Thank you. IS there anything you need for the moment?"

Tyler looked around,

"Not really. We got this one."

"I'll give the good word you won this battle."

"Hol up. Seline. Injuries?"

She smiled.

"A few broken bones, cuts, and a nasty slash as an arrow passed by, but Maxus' healers are already done."

"So another bloodless victory?"

"Indeed."

Tyler looked at the king.

"Tell em I won without losing a single man. TWICE."

"Will do."

The king left the crystal to address the waiting army.

"We're not done yet. Search the dead. You are looking for anything useful, coin, potions the works. Of note. MY crew will butcher the lisk. Also of note is they will have banned blacks on them, so, follow the instructions I laid out the last time I was hear. Outcasts rally on me."

They came running.

"We're headed for the hollows, both for a once over and to claim that thing's trove."

HE looked to the army as his friends went to ready their horses.

"Any questions?"

"No sir!"

"Good girls! Break!"

Tyler looked to Seline.

"You know the drill."

She smiled.

"I'll keep it nice and chaotic."

"I knew I wanted you for a reason."

She laughed as he headed for his horse. Five minutes later he and the Outcasts were riding along to the hollows to both search it for the trove, and clear it of another nasty surprises. Tyler had Sera and Lillia beside him to check in.

"You two okay?"

Sera giggled.

"I got forty this time!"

Lillia sighed.

"I got 39."

"Well done you to. Only hole you have left is sword play. And I mean weapons, since I can feel Wulf glaring at me."

"You really need to watch how you say somethings."

"Hey, Lily! How'd you do?"

The elven girl sighed.

"I only got 38. Everyone I tried to get after got stolen!"

"Yeesh, that's rough. Not bad though."

She smiled.

"Like you said, practice."

"You three still need more, but that battle DID us all a favor, easy kills and exp, and I probably got a new title out of it as well. We'll still leave in the morning, as we need a change of scenery."

They all nodded as a shadow came overhead.

"That was a fine battle m'boy."

Tempesta was gliding overhead as they went.

"Thanks big guy. Hey, I got a question for you."

"Oh? Well, I'll see these hollows then."

"Thanks, just something I've curious about."

Wulf looked at him and gulped.

"Oh for the love of the gods, Tempesta, Lord, I pray we get the right answer."

The group laughed as they rode to the edge of the hollow. Though as soon as Tempesta sniffed the air, he growled hard.

"I smell a demon here."

"Understood."

The group were on the immediate defensive as Tyler looked around the two hundred foot wide hollow. The thing was thirty feet deep, surrounded by rocks, trees and had only one way in or out. HE sighed.

"Ten gold say it's a bound thing."

Tempesta looked at him.

"Bound to what?"

"The trove to guard it. I'm getting a hollow feeling by that large slab. Outcasts, I'll throw it, and see what we're dealing with, if it's nasty, big guy gets it. If easy,"

HE looked at him.

"Mind if WE show you how we fight the fell beasts?"

The dragon bared his fangs in a grin.

"Indeed. I got one today, if it is small fry as you put it, then it is only fair."

Tyler drew Gliepnir.

"Lily, Sera, Lilia, center of the group. It goes south hug the edge of the crater and move along it."

They nodded as they entered the hollow and approached the 30 foot tall slab. Tyler took a steadying breath, as he grasped the rock, and tossed it aside with a grunt. A woosh of air was felt, as a set of glowing red eyes were seen. Tyler and his party backed away as it entered the light. It reared to a ten foot height and roared. Tyler smiled darkly.

"A Pride Balor. WE got this one."

Tempesta chuckled.

"Indeed."

The party fanned out to use long range attacks as Tyler would enrage it.

"Hey, horn boy. Must suck to be humanities bitch."

The thing laughed, and looked at him.

"How's it feel knowing you couldn't save those two spirits beside you?"

"Wow, a demon with actual eyes? I'll pop em in a sec. Well, I sincerely hope you can give me a light workout, although to be honest? Your brother the rage demon is the better fight here."

It chuckled again, and Sallie and Sylvia were heard screaming as flames engulfed them. THAT was it.

"DEMON'S WRATH HATRED!"

The thing blinked as Tyler just vanished, and the next thing the Balor knew, it was getting craved alive as Tyler's rage at hearing the two girls scream exploded. Wulf and the ladies were right beside the now sighing with relief spirits.

"That was weird!"

"The flames hurt like I was getting stung by bees! Soon as it stopped I felt weirdly stronger."

Tempesta was watching Tyler straight up skin the thing alive as he released his rage.

"It would seem HE is the true demon."

The dragon the looked to the spirits.

"You feel stronger because his willpower just grew again. That, and it is the way of spirits in Death's world. They cannot be killed again, as such, if they feel pain, they get that much stronger so next time they won't feel a thing."

"There will NOT be a next time."

Tyler had the black heart of the Balor in his hand, and as he looked the dragon in the eye, crushed it to dust. All the was left was a nine foot long horn, as Tempesta nodded approvingly.

"Well done. A Balor demon is a demon king."

Tyler looked to his friends.

"THAT was Demon's Wrath's alternate stage: Hatred. Yeah. It's dangerous. If I use it more than ONCE A WEEK, the sheer strain WILL kill me, as it is a cursed thing."

HE sighed as he drank a potion,

"Basically, I can go Monster again."

Kaori shuddered.

"Is that thing back?"

Tyler sighed.

"No. This one is a by-product of my rage fuel for the Roar."

Tempesta sighed now as well.

"I can sense the power in it. Is it a means to fight us?"

"I had more planned it in case of evil dragon. Or last resort."

The dragon nodded.

"I see. Your other saying is if it becomes necessary."

"Then I will do it."

Tyler sighed again.

"In all honesty? I hate the hatred mode. Seriously, it hurts using it."

HE looked to Sallie and Sylvia.

"You two felt it."

They nodded, sad looks on their faces.

"It felt like we got stabbed in the heart."

"It hurt. A lot."

Tyler sighed yet again.

"Scary thing? Its power is directly linked to my anger."

Kaori walked over and hugged him.

"Is there anything you can do to get rid of the ability?"

"I'd need to release the Roar. All the rage would go with it. And I WANT to. But, I'll wait until the wave."

She looked at him, nearly crying.

"Why so long?"

HE smiled ruefully.

"Because when I do, there will be a crater a good ten miles wide at this point. I can't fire it off just anywhere anymore."

She sighed and hugged him again.

"And once it's gone? What will you use to fuel it?"

"Something FAR more potent."

She gulped as she looked into his brown eyes.

"What?"

He kissed her.

"My love for you, Sallie, Sylvia, Sera, everyone. Once that rage, pain, regret is consumed, I'll let it go. Really why I've been holding onto it."

Sallie was glowing as Sylvia sighed as she rubbed her blue eyes.

"Nothing wasted. Seriously dude, give it a rest."

"Love you too, Sylvia."

"Yeah yeah."

Tempesta chuckled as he placed another pile of scales on the ground.

"It seems you have it under control."

"Now I have two questions."

The dragon blinked.

"This should be good."

Tyler lifted a scale.

"How fast do these grow back? You've kinda been giving us a lot."

The dragon burst out laughing as Wulf sighed.

"Yet again asking a question no other human would even consider."

Tempesta had a tear fall as he got his mirth under control. HE held out a claw, and another scale appeared and fell off.

"I can make them grow and fall at will."

"Neat trick."

HE snorted as Tyler placed the thing on the pile.

"And the second question?"

"This is a doozy. How familiar are you with our old world?"

HE was then fixed with a large eye.

"Rather well. Why?"

"So, you are familiar with our guns?"

"I have not faced them myself, but yes."

"Okay, this world has all the pieces I need to make fully functional weaponry from my world here. And I have enough know-how to do it myself. Yet, my question is if it would violate the rules of this world."

Tempesta reared as he considered the concept. Then he looked down again.

"Indeed. We may have the pieces here in Lectis, but, to use such dangerous knowledge from another world in this would indeed violate the rules. Especially for such things as the guns from your world. The traps and rigged barrels are one thing, as they are very similar to those used in the past. Only nastier. May I ask the reason for the question?"

"Caution. I had suspected it, and the other Warriors are dumb enough to try it themselves sooner or later. I just wanted a straight answer. What happens if the rules are violated?"

"A god of balance steps in to remove offending thing from the scales."

"What about me? I'm getting a little overpowered, don't you think?"

HE chuckled.

"No. Your strength is perfectly fine, as it all came from following the rules. You built it with nothing but the tools of this world, and the know-how of the previous. It's just things that break the balance that are banned."

"Swords are more fun anyway. That was all I had."

Tempesta flew off.

"Farewell Outcast."

"See you next time!"

Tyler looked to his friends.

"Oh, and the reason Hatred is such a strain? No exhaustion after. Though I WILL be hungry as all hell later."

They laughed as Tyler walked to the now safe cave. Tyler led the way with Oblivion and Oathkeeper out as Wulf held up a Lantern. Serafina the Wraith beside him as she could see in the dark, and Tyler using his detection skills to explore ahead.

"Heads up. Got another hollow feeling."

Vixen came up now, as tombs were her thing. The Party rounded a corner, and found a glittering pile four feet high waiting for them. Tyler and his team did NOT relax.

"That slab to your left Vixen, don't touch it."

They all fanned around it as Tyler grasped the side. HE tore it off to reveal another sarcophagus. Tyler looked to his party.

"Me, Sera, Wulf, Vixen, and…..Lily."

The two girls squeaked, as Lucy tilted her head.

"Are they ready for a blind attack?"

"We need to step up our training of them, Lucy. Plus I have faith in them. I'd have Lillia join us, but then it gets cramped. Rest of you on watch."

Sera and Lily pulled their blades and followed as the kill party went in. Tyler grasped the lid as Wulf read the writing.

"Okay, looks like another human ruler, this time a queen."

Tyler looked to the nervous girls.

"I throw the lid, Vixen tells us how to kill it, and you two listen. We're here, so trust yourselves. I know I do."

The girls nodded and drew their bows and took up opposite spots as Wulf stood behind Tyler, leaving Vixen a clean view.

"Ready?"

"Give the word."

"I got it."

"Same."

"Let's say hi."

Tyler tore the lid off the thing and throw it aside and jumped back avoiding the initial shot.

"Vixen?"

"Elder Lich! Smash the skull!"

"Piercing shots!"

The archers enhanced their arrows accordingly, as the thing rose. It was a rotting female corpse with a bow on her back. Tyler had Gliepnir out and swung it to pin it against the lid of it's stone coffin.

"I got it! Do it!"

Wulf fired his ChainShot, Iron Piercer, and Power Shaft into the thing's eyes, as Vixen used an acid spell, Lily fired a Blazing Piercer, as Sera used her Iron Piercer, Silver shaft(the Silver version of Piercing Teardrop), and ChainShot. Her arrows splitting the things head clean in half. It howled before collapsing in a heap fo rotting flesh. Tyler smiled widely.

"Good kill Sera!"

She gasped in happy surprise.

"I got it? Truly?"

Lily came running over to hug her friend.

"You got it! Well done Sera!"

They all came into both hug and congratulate her on a good kill. Sera was smiling so hard it hurt a little as Tyler pulled the corpse out of the thing to loot the coffin. HE lifted the slivery bow.

"Hey, Wulf. This thing any good?"

HE took it and looked it over as the others watched.

"Well, it's a Silver Bow. When wielded by a Silver pather, it's got the same strength of say your bow Tyler."

Tyler took it with a smile and presented it to Sera.

"For you, my Queen."

She giggled as he knelt to present it like a knight to a Queen. She took it and patted his bowed head like a dog.

"Good boy! You may rise now!"

"At once milady!"

The princess was laughing hard as he stood to rigid attention, and so was the rest of the group. She slung the new bow over her shoulder.

"Okay, I've had my fun. Anything else in there?"

Tyler smiled as they looked. They walked out of the tomb 500 gold, 300 silver, 450 copper coins richer. A new bow for Sera, and a black path short sword. Tyler and his kill team returned to the rest of the anxious group. Kaori noted their happy smiles as she asked the question.

"How'd they do?"

"Sera has an elder Lich to her Kills. As far as teamwork? Flawless. We walked out with her new Silver bow, Serafina gets a black short sword, we got 500 gold, 300 silver and 450 copper."

The party all went and gave Sera a warm hug and congratulations. Then then looked around the chamber.

"Alright. Not a single copper is left behind. Okay?"

Malico held up a large yellow pouch.

"I found a grand coin pouch. Holds 25000 coins of each kind."

"That's my sexy kittycat. We'll get to it. Break!"

The industrious party went to their work with a will.

"Hey, found another gem pouch!"

"What it hold?"

"10000 gems of each."

"Nice eyes Thistle. We'll condense after."

"Hey, I got a Magicite dagger set."

"Let's give one to Melly!"

"aww, it'll light up for her!"

"Got a weird shield here."

Tyler had been holding the pouch open as the coins were dumped in when Sera came over with a shiny buckler shield 4 feet across. The thing was brightly polished, had a clear edge around it, with thick round studs around the outer ring. Tyler tilted his head as he looked at it.

"That is weird, Sera. Anyone got a clue?"

Wulf came over from putting gems in the pouch. He took it and looked it over.

"I think it's just a normal shield. Weird that it's down here."

"Hey, I'll try Appraisal."

"Oh yeah. Good call."

Tyler's eyes glowed a moment and he tilted his head.

"Says it's made of a metal called Additite."

"Additite?"

Wulf looked at the thing with a new awe. Tyler was confused.

"That a special metal?"

The elf chuckled.

"It's an unbreakable shield. The metal is even more rare then Mythril. It's a relic of a by gone era, and every piece cannot be reworked by anything. Not even a dragon flame can even singe it."

Tyler became thoughtful.

"An unbreakable shield. Huh."

He looked at his party.

"We don't actually HAVE anyone that can use a shield. We'll keep it and see what we can do with it with a proper think tank."

Wulf shouldered it himself as they got back to it.

"Nice find Sera. Not sure how we'll use it, but a good shield is always a good thing."

She giggled and got back to it. They stripped the cave bare. Coming away 12133 gold, 15054 silver, 19933 copper coins richer, with nearly 10000 gems, a few new weapons, the shield, and a new bow. Tyler looked around the cave again with the party.

"Once over again, that was how we found Vernillionia."

"WHAT?"

Serafina jumped in shock at that one. Everyone blinked at her.

"Oh yeah, I forgot."

Tyler walked over to fill in the shy Wraith.

"We found Vernillionia in a cave like this. We have his last will, ring, and crown. Gleipnir was his sword, Fenrir."

She just smiled.

"Can I ask why you haven't down anything with such power?"

"All I want, is just go adventuring with my friends. If push comes to shove, we set up Kazuma, Kaori's brother as high king."

She was nodding along like a schoolgirl looking for brownie points with a teacher.

"A secret! Okay!"

"That ability? Demon's wrath? An even greater secret, Serafina."

She smiled again,

"I understand. I won't tell a soul."

"Well, alright."

The party went over everything with a fine tooth comb. They found 100 extra coppers, and another Magicite dagger set behind a rock. Then the cave was Tyler-approved empty.

"let's go butcher that lisk now."

"Yaaay! Foood!"

That group laughed at Sera's simple joys. Tyler had the coin pouches under his Mythril vest as they rode out of the hollow. Tyler looking to Malico.

"Hey, we have three coin pouches now. Do they come in a bigger size? Having three is a little….risky for my likes."

She thought for a moment.

"I think they go to 50000 coins, but we'd have to get one from the bank."

"We need to convert coins anyway. We'll ask at least."

The catgirl smiled.

"Melly is going to lose it when we place the dagger in her hand and it glows yellow."

"Let's give her two, cause ya know, matching pair."

The group laughed as they returned to the fallen lisk. Seline was looking at it herself as Tyler and his team returned. The foxlady smiled as they came over.

"A good haul?"

"Really good. Sera has an elder Lich to her name now."

Seline hugged the small girl proudly.

"Your father will be so proud of you!"

Tyler looked at the Lisk.

"Well, let's get to it. Wulf, Malico, Kaori and Myself will direct traffic, as we've done this before. To the bones everyone."

Seline came to stand beside him as Kaori tossed him a pry knife for the scales.

"Can I help?"

"Sure. Get a knife of Kaori and follow her direction."

She smiled as Tyler Pulled the pouch of lisk scales out and started prying off the black ones.

"You sure have a way with ladies."

"Eh, only the real beauties."

That got a laugh as the work progressed rapidly. Tyler was standing on its back cutting the flesh from under a larger scale when he heard his name.

"Tyler! Down here!"

He looked to see Melly, Mia, and Elirch standing on the ground. He smiled as he got the scale off.

"Hiya! Gimme a sec."

HE put the shield size scale in the pouch and dropped down to greet them.

"Came to see a lisk yourself Melly?"

She giggled as Malico came over.

"Hey, we found these in the thing's trove."

Tyler smiled as he handed the light grey daggers to the curious Melly. She held them, and then they glowed yellow with her path, getting a happy squeal. She looked up at the smiling Warrior and catgirl.

"For me?"

Her voice a shocked whisper.

They both hugged the sweet girl.

"Yup. Just for you."

She hugged them tightly as Mia and Elirch smiled proudly.

"Our girl's got a pair of Magicite daggers now. We'll teach her how to take for them."

"More make sure she don't cut herself."

"Aye, lad. That too."

Tyler pulled a pair of small sheaths they'd found and placed them in the small girl's belt. She had tears in her eyes as she placed her new treasures in them.

"Thank you! So much!"

That just got her another hug.

"Sure thing, Melly."

"We love our favorite inn girl."

She giggled as she hugged her heroes.

"So, that's a lisk?"

They laughed as Tyler pointed to a small grove between scales he'd killed it through.

"Yup. I killed it by stabbing it here."

Her eyes went wide as he led her to the fearsome thing.

"You killed it?"

"Alone. I also killed that Giant over there at the same time."

She had seen the dead frost giant, and it's toe had been bigger then she. Tyler had her place her hand on the scaled thing and she gasped again.

"it feels like steel!"

Tyler patted her head.

"Wanna help us butcher it?"

She looked at her parents, and they laughed.

"They can help too."

The family got knives and directions and away they went. Within the hour, the lisk was stripped to the bone of meat and goods. Then Tyler was looking over the bones looking for useful things and potential uses. Seline and Mia watched as he pulled the bones from the arms out to add to the craft pouch.

"Why is he taking the bones too? They have a use?"

Kaori was walking by when she heard the question. She smiled as she came to stand with the ladies.

"To him? More question of if it DON'T have a use. Last lisk we had, he made very strong arrows out of the bones. Tipped with its teeth. So, now that he knows that's a working idea, he'll do it again."

Mia shook her head as Tyler hefted a long rib like a bow.

"That lad scares me sometimes with his schemes."

"He should. Seriously? The scariest thing that guy can say is he has an idea."

"Hey, Kaori. I got an Idea."

There was a collective gulp.

"Oh shit here we go. What ya got this time?"

"I think we can use the bones to reinforce our tent in case of storm."

She came over then as Seline and Mia looked at each other.

"Where the hell did he think of that?"

"I know quite a few adventurers with FAR more experience than that boy that would never of thought of that in his shoes."

Tyler had a set of long thin bones taken from the beasts arms and back. Kaori tilted her head.

"Ya know, I just realized something."

"That we don't have ANY storm weathering gear? I noticed it too this morning."

She shook her head.

"Wow. Thank the gods we didn't encounter a storm."

"I'm amazed we BOTH missed this one. But, at least we know now."

"Yup. Okay, these would make stronger tent frames."

"Good, I thought they would. We also need cloaks, and extra lanterns."

"Maybe head covers for the horses in a storm."

"Yer the expert. We're also adding a tanning kit to the toolbox."

She crossed her arms as she looked at the skeleton anew.

"Okay, I see the reasoning there. We'll need a frame though."

Tyler looked at a set of four bones 5 inches thick in the tail.

"Would those work?"

Kaori walked over and tapped a knuckle on one.

"Maybe. I'd need to see a stress test."

"Sure."

Tyler lifted it and used his strength to apply pressure. Kaori paying close attention.

"What's the pressure?"

"About…what it took to hold that cannon. It weighed 600 pounds."

"Okay, those will work fine then. Just need decent rope or cable."

Tyler took the four things and added them to the pile.

"We'll visit the general store after. For now though, anything else?"

She looked at a pair of tall ribs.

"These for mounting a buck or moose for easier cleaning?"

"Hmmm, I see the reasons, only thing is sometimes we don't have dirt to use."

She looked at the ends.

"Okay, what about a lean-to for the horses? Like in a storm we set it up to shield them from the wind."

Tyler came over then.

"That could work. Only questions would be cloth and tie strength."

"Let's take em."

"Yes ma'am."

Tyler added two of the ten foot tall bones to the pile. The group looking over the body until they ran out of ideas. The skull would be mounted over the city gates as a memento of the battle. Tyler and the rest of the army piled to corpses into the pile and he set it alight as a reminder to all. Then they went inside to find a small pile of coin and an even taller one of Licenses. Tyler looked to Seline.

"We already got paid. Use the coin for your city. I'll torch the Licenses. Malico."

The cat came over.

"Yeah?"

"We're unloading those on this."

"Right."

She emptied their near two full rings and Seline watched as he set them alight with Tempesta's flames. Then Tyler, Seline, Sera, Wulf, Kaori, Lillia, Malico, and Lily went to the spear as the rest of the party relaxed after a hard fought battle. Once the Spear was secure, Seline used the spell to contact Ishtar. The King's face appearing in a cloud form again. After the tests for false play were finished, Tyler sighed.

"The church is selling banned spells to the Warriors and creatures of the land."

Ishtar blinked a few times.

"Are you certain?"

"I interrogated a goblin before killing it. Thing had no lie in its eyes. Plus we have the word of the Warrior Selena Hernadaz who was also found to be carrying the spells as well."

"I see. Her reasoning?"

"The pope unbanned them for the Warriors saying they had every right to use any means to fight the waves."

HE rubbed his head.

"May the gods have mercy on my soul. What else?"

"The pope was planning to use the Sky Lords Meeting to try an enslave a few like that one guy."

Ishtar just held his head.

"It explains why he was so angry after Ignatia's warning went up."

"The sky sharks mess was also his plan to discredit you for not keeping the dragons appeased and seize the crown. He enslaved the ships himself and gave the crews to Warriors to do the deeds."

"Hence you're calling for all ships to be grounded except for a trusted few."

"That and the attitudes of the captain of a ship I encountered."

"Explain."

"He said the dragons need to SHARE that sky, that we have just as much right to it as they do."

"My soul hurts. What happened next?"

"He tried to force a takeoff without MY clearing it, as was the purpose of even going there period. I shot it down myself."

"Good. I agree that arrogance of that kind is a dangerous weed. It takes root it can devastate an entire orchard."

"Nice flower pun."

The king laughed, as Sera chuckled.

"Daddy has a good one once in a while."

HE looked at Tyler again.

"Any other news?"

"Seline was nearly assassinated earlier today."

He looked at the fox.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh just fine, ishy. He saved my life."

"While bedding her at the same damn time."

The king burst out laughing again as Seline's tails twitched.

"I AM looking to next time."

"As are we, my sexy fox. As, Are, We."

Ishtar had to wipe a tear away.

"Now THAT'S a Warrior! Okay, did you get anything from them?"

"They were hired by the Warriors to kill her and force open the gates."

The king just slumped.

"Okay. If they are going to use MY freely given coin to hurt MY friends now, no. JUST NO."

"My suggestion?"

HE looked at him tiredly.

"You do seem to have the best ideas."

"Go insane and you'll get a few good ones. Kick them out of Term. And impose a lazy tax. Actually do the tax first. Every day they do nothing of worth, they pay….say 1 gold. If they can't they spend that day in a cell. If they refuse, they get stripped of their gear to a mere sword and clothing and thrown out the gates to live as me and Kaori did. A sword, a bow, a single quiver, 5 gold coins, our horses and basic camping gear. That's it."

Ishtar was nodding.

"Okay, that is MORE then a fair deal. What would qualify as doing SOMETHING?"

"kill ten goblins, helping people, clearing bandits, actual WORK."

"Again, fair. What you have been doing."

"Myself, Kaori and Kazuma are exempt from this tax, as we been busting our asses since day one."

"Fair and just. I saw the battle, to place such a thing upon you, even if it was your idea, would be a great disservice. Very well, I find this a just idea. I was about to just throw them out the front gate."

"Oh, before I forget again."

"Got another one?"

"Their banned spells. Institute a Warrior wide search. Us four exempt as well."

"Kazuma has been collecting them as well, as he does not have the means to properly dispose of them himself, he is awaiting a viable method."

"Tell him to hold them until we see him again and my dragon flames are enough."

"I will do that. So for the others?"

"Two choices: fork em over or the cells. They fight, well, refer to the tax refusal."

"It seems we coddled them too much."

"An easy to fix problem."

Ishtar had a thought.

"The network is up and running, yet you haven't used it as of yet. Why not?"

"Long ass list of shit to get through. Just realized this morning we don't have any heavy storm gear. Plus, we haven't really spent a lot of time in the country. So that too."

Ishtar nodded in understanding.

"Too many rods in the fire."

"Too little time to hit them all. Another thing to be aware of."

"Go ahead."

"the pope placed spy crystals in all the elven border towns. He even had that rage demon summoned to attack the town of TopLeaf."

"Are you certain?"

"I am. We got attacked by church bounty hunters as well. I have a 1000 gold on my head. Kaori has 2000 for a delivery to him. Again, I interrogated the last survivor myself."

Ishtar rubbed his eyes.

"I see. Well, a illegal bounty is an easy one to clear. Main cause for concern was the crystals. How did you handle it?"

"I hold Eilisef's bow. It's kinda a big deal for the elves. Once I found out about them, I had the then Queen Tatiana call muster under the table in case of a surprise attack."

"I see. I know Willow myself. Must say, well played that one. Your reasoning for her calling her banners?"

"Better having an army ready for an attack that never comes then a war come for an unready army."

Ishtar understood then.

"You're playing this as if you expect the pope to get the crown."

"Indeed I am. Like I told you last time, sooner or later the pope is going to kill you and take the crown. Least this way we have a means to halt his march."

"A very wise move and mindset. Okay, I understand your next stop is Yalik?"

"It seems to be a main import of banned items. Lymir asked us to work our chaos in her city. We'll plug that hole and set up for a while there to get some last minute leveling down if the area is fertile enough."

Ishtar rubbed his beard.

"Okay, I am curious what your plans are after the first wave."

"At this point? We don't have one. We'll get our gold and loot and get the fuck out of town, that much is assured, but after? Cross that bridge when we get there."

"A fair reply. I have work to do here. How are the girls?"

"Sera."

the happy girl got up to show her bow.

"I killed an elder lich today! Look I got it's bow!"

Ishtar beamed proudly at his girl.

"That's my girl! Keep at it and you'll give your mother a run for her gold!"

"Pff, I'm gonna be BETTER then mommy!"

"Atta girl!"

The king looked at Tyler.

"How'd she do it?"

"We found that black lisk's trove, and it had the tomb inside. I threw the lid, our black mage identified the thing and now to kill it, Wulf and Lily had arrows ready with Sera on three sides. I pinned it's head against it's coffin as they all did their thing. Sera's shots spilt the thing's skull."

"Well done, Sera. I am so proud."

Sera smiled as she shuffled her feet happily.

"I love you, Daddy! I'm still learning though."

"You'll get there."

She giggled as Lillia came over.

"I killed 39 creatures in the battle."

Tyler patted her back.

"We didn't have room in the tomb for her to join sadly, but we're stepping up their training."

Ishtar smiled at her.

"I'm proud of just how far you've come Lillia. I am so proud of you."

She smiled as Tyler patted her back again.

"She's a very good shot with that bow. Plus her plant skills are a great help in the field."

She smiled as she sat down. Tyler then had a thought.

"Hey, I just thought of something Ishtar.

"Good ahead."

"Okay, for the tax. If we throw them in a cell if they can't pay, we get a circle of redundancy. They can't pay and get no means to try."

He tilted his head.

"your right. I missed that too. Solution?"

"If they can't pay, throw them out the gate. They don't lose anything, but are barred from entering the city until they can."

"I like that idea better. Forces them to get out and earn their keep."

"And build strength. Are you aware that their so-called strongest Warrior's best day is five giants at once?"

HE jumped at that.

"That's IT?"

"We ALL reacted the same. Yeah, and it seems that most can't even SCRATCH a giant."

Ishtar just placed his head in his hands.

"I see why you're stepping up the training. Five giants at once is his best."

"How strong is Kazuma?"

"He can hold his own. I'd say maybe, 15 at once."

Tyler tilted his head side to side.

"Not bad, not GOOD, but not bad. It's something. I think he just gets a little TOO wrapped up in helping hand."

The king chuckled fondly.

"Aye, he is at that. I'll see if I can't get him to do some training."

"Tell him his sister can beat his ass. With her arms tied behind her back."

"Ha. I'll tell him. I trust you'll look after him in the wave?"

"Yup. Guy's a friend of mine. So, kinda have to, ya know? Though, I feel I should warn you."

"Go ahead."

Tyler sighed.

"That first wave is going to be an absolute massacre. My party will be the only ones left alive by the end, so, be prepared to go from 88 Warriors, to 3."

HE sighed heavily.

"Indeed. If five giants is that brats absolute best, and he's their strongest, then so be it. If it is as bad as it could be, we'll make do as best we can."

"Same here. Though to be completely honest? I kinda figured it'd be me that had to clean up their mess."

That got a laugh. Kaori was chuckling.

"I thought so as well. Probably thought he'd have to babysit ME as well."

"Now THAT is more fun than a pain in the ass."

She smiled as he looked to Ishtar.

"I think that covers it."

The king nodded.

"I told the generals you won without losing a man. TWICE."

"How they react?"

"They were PISSED. Like they feel absolutely worthless now."

"To be fair, they are."

"Indeed they are."

"Oh, before I forget again. In that news article, you said you and your friends had an idea on who I was. Care to explain?"

The king chuckled.

"We just have a hunch your old Gruven's son from his old world."

The rest of the room was shocked, while Tyler merely tilted his head.

"Really? Huh. What makes you think that?"

The king chuckled again.

"You look like him, your personalities are terrifyingly similar, you wield his blade, and that blonde there looks exactly like his own lady friend."

Tyler's smile died.

"Her name?"

Ishtar noticed his now serious tone.

"Erica."

Kaori jumped hard and came to stand before the king.

"Please, are you sure?"

Her voice was trembling, and Tyler held her as the king sighed.

"We traveled together for 200 years. I am, miss."

"She disappeared 10 years ago in our world. Okay, Ishtar, does she still live?"

He smiled inspite of the situation.

"She does, know that fearsome wildcat. She was the only one of us that did NOT lay her blade down. As such, she's been roaming around like my wife these past few decades."

Kaori looked at Tyler, and he smiled.

"We'll run into her SOONER or later."

She smiled happily and hugged him

"Thank you. And of course we will."

HE stroked her blonde hair as he looked to Ishtar.

"You wouldn't happen to have a way to reach her, would you?"

HE sighed deeply.

"Sadly I do not. When we laid our blades down, she went off on us for being old men. It got ugly, and she left the capital, where or even what direction no one knew."

"Typical. It was that easy, well, the hell would be the point?"

The king and Kaori laughed, and she kissed him.

"If she lives we'll see her again eventually."

"Yup. Odds are she's already heard of us."

That got a laugh from Ishtar.

"Knowing her? Probably. My wife and I have a spell we use to keep in touch. And SHE'S heard of you, all the way in Ternillia. Clear across the sea off Yalik."

"Nice to see me bad name's reaching folk."

Sera gulped.

"Is Mommy proud?"

"Oh you have no idea, Sera. She's busy dealing with a rogue faction over there or she'd be here by now."

Lillia sighed.

"Me?"

"When I told her, she wept, swore an oath of torturous vengeance, and pledged to bed that Warrior hero there in the same breath."

"HUH?"

Every person in the room burst out laughing at the look of horror, surprise, mind blown, more shock, and the clearly mind blown expression on his face. Sera recovering first.

"She's still beautiful!"

"Okaaaaaaay."

Ishtar laughed as he showed a photo. The lady in question was tall as Seline, had black hair, smooth skin, dark blue eyes, a large rack, and pale skin. Tyler tilted his head.

"Hey, wait a sec. she's hot and I feel better, but she kinda looks like Vixen."

Kaori looked as well now. She gasped.

"You're right!"

The rest of the group came to look more closely now, as Ishtar tilted his head himself now.

"Vixen?"

"Our black mage. Ya know what? Easy solution."

Tyler pulled his whistle and blew a note to Vixen's signal. They waited as the black mage came up the lift. She came striding in wearing her buckled robe and sauntering stride as Tyler smiled at her.

"That's Vixen, our hot black mage fox."

The mage smiled as she bowed to the king.

"A pleasure to meet you, Ishtar."

The king was surprised. Tyler sighed as he looked at her.

"Just need a question answered, here have a look."

Curious, Vixen looked at the photo. She blinked now herself, surprised, before looking at Tyler.

"I could pass for her younger twin sister!"

"You sure you're NOT?"

She nodded.

"I am, my mentor was my mother, and was a flaming red headed lady. My father, according to her, a man named Gruven that passed through the town a good hundred and fifty years ago. Story goes they met at a tavern, had some ale and spirits, with a few good herbs my mother loved, and they woke up in bed the next morning. She said her goodbyes to her one night lover, and I popped out nine months later. She never found the man again, but our village was a very kind and loving place that understood that sometimes these things happen, and helped in both my raising and training to become a black mage. Her name, as I know you'll ask, was Vulpine."

"Another name for a fox. Seeing a family quirk I kinda like."

Ishtar just chuckled.

"I see Gruven was still a lady lure even AFTER he laid his blade down."

Vixen laughed as well.

"Indeed he was. And I don't blame or resent the man. Things happen, just the way it works."

Tyler smiled as he patted her back.

"well, we got you, Vixen, so, we won that one."

She smiled fondly.

"Thanks for that."

Tyler smiled as he tilted his head.

"She ever say what he talked about when high as a kite?"

Vixen blinked,

"She did say he rambled about a son he'd left behind in his old world."

"That runt of a name?"

"Max?"

Tyler and Kaori looked at each other.

"Ya know, least it's not ME."

"True, but still kinda surprising."

Ishtar looked at the pale lady.

"Are you sure about his name being Max?"

"As sure as I can be. From what my mother told me, Gruven also regretted how his other son, who he'd adopted since the resemblance was so similar to his own, had to be raised by his then girlfriend."

Tyler sighed.

"Of course."

Vixen shrugged.

"She also said that Max was to be raised by his mother, but he lamented the other boy more."

"he have a name?"

"My mother wasn't able to get it out of him before the bedroom."

Tyler shrugged.

"I mean, it's not a big deal really. I'm here too, so, Kaori wins."

She laughed and kissed him for that one. Then Tyler looked to Ishtar.

"People seem to think TEMPESTA is my father. For SOME odd reason."

Ishtar burst out laughing.

"It fits too well too! The way you two interact is more father and son then dragon and human!"

"I'mma just run with that one."

"I would too."

"Well, I got nuthin."

The king nodded.

"neither do I."

"Well, we'll get back to it. Make those spoiled children cry."

The king was laughing as the spell ended. HE looked at the photo again.

"So, Vulpine had a girl by Gruven. And he never knew."

Ishtar laughed as he got out of his chair.

"To think Erica's sister had her own girl, raised her as a mage, and is now in Tyler's party. We have another princess in his party that has NO idea of her heritage."

Ishtar smiled as he saw their adventurer photo in the throne room.

"And Gruven's Erica's daughter has come to Lectis as well, with her own Gruven. Strange how this world works."