The Demon's Princess: Riding to war.

THE KNIGHTS ARE PREPPING FOR WAR AGAIN.

DAY 54.

TUESDAY.

GOLD: 581,188.

BLOODOATH GOLD: 105,988,653.

Tyler woke to see he'd shoved his head full on into Seria's welcoming bust and she'd wrapped her arms around his head like a mother. He smiled at this comfy pillow and she smiled as well.

"I love you too, Tyler."

He kissed her lovingly.

"I love you too, Seria."

"Today is prepping for the trip?"

"Yup. It's a week trip into the mountains. And after we'll probably have to swing to somewhere else."

She nodded with a smile in her eyes.

"I know you'll come back to me. AND summon me a lot."

"So much it'll seem like we're going together."

She smiled at that and he kissed her lovingly.

"I'll be here."

He smiled and they cleaned up before she smiled.

"Your coat will be ready before tomorrow."

"I can't wait."

She smiled and he kissed her lovingly before the Berserker geared up and headed into the dining hall. There he chuckled at the army nursing sore and stiff limbs as he took his spot by Asuna.

"Ha. Mornin everyone!"

Asuna jabbed the fresh and chipper Berserker with a fork.

"don't be a dick. YOU did this to them."

Tyler chuckled before he switched gears. Belfast smiled as she passed him her update.

"I secured Lady Aiko's assistance with our supplies."

"Good. Be honest she really has no place on an active frontline and works better as a supply master. Order a the day is prepare. we have over a 100m gold. Let's put it to work."

He slid his Status Plate's list of abilites and spells to Belfast.

"EVERYONE gets a copy of my arsenal across the board where possible. The more duplicates we have, the more we stack effects. If the ENTIRE force casts Frozen Wastes at the same time, we can TURN the entire city into an icicle. Next. This morning you are ALL getting a crash course in horses. Plus your daily regiment."

He was met by MORE groans and he chuckled.

"So you TWO, gotchya."

The military leaders in the force chuckled at THAT classic move. Tyler nodded then.

"we ride north tomorrow morning. So for gods' sake don't forget your sword, Miho?"

"Hey!"

The chuckled at her offense at being singled out as her friends giggled at the same. Tyler smiled.

"Alright. You got your tasks for the day. Break."

The near 500 m an force headed out to their tasks. Tyler went with them to the arena for their horse training where they found Kouki gone. The attendant chuckled as Tyler looked at her.

"He got dragged away by the queen's breakers, Lord Berserker. They be working on him as we speak."

They shrugged and moved to the lessons.....which went surprisingly smoothly. Even Miho had the reins mastered in the space of a half hour's practice and her red arabian ADORED her, proving this by frequently nuzzling the happily hugging her new friend carrot top. Tyler then introduced Shadow to the army and a fair few whistled at the intimidating sight of the near 6 foot tall Morbol. tyler chuckled as he patted the massive horse.

"We're back in the mud, Shadow. hope you enjoyed your break."

The morbol merely tossed his head at the inane questio and Tyler nodded with a smile. Once the horsemenship lessons were wrapped up the army put their hard earned gold to work collecting new spells, abilities, arms and armor. Tyler picked his new armor up from his elven smith friend Helia and she smiled happily as he hugged her.

"Thanks Heilia."

"I had to TRY for once!"

"I'll remember that for next time."

She smiled as he donned the blood red chainmail under his battered black and blue tanktop while over it went his new scalemail drakolisk armor. On his hands his upgraded grapplem gauntlets were placed. The versitile weapons now a blood red ingrained along the veins with neon blue like Seria's hair while the cable was reinforced drakolisk scale, the hooks the same, and they now retracted with twice the speed and force. Tyler smiled as he headed out and went to see Sabrina the vampire spellseller. The Berserker walked in just in time to see Gasper buying a minicrossbow of his wrist from the taller busty vampire and the blonde ha;f vampire smile.

"Oh hey Tyler."

"What's up Gaspy? You're using a crossbow?"

The smaller guy chuckled as he attached it to his wristcuff.

"I had the idea seeing you with those grapples. Only this fires WITHOUT a trigger and is controled by my mind. I tipped the bolts with some Gaboo viper venom laced with amplicants. As a nasty surprise."

"dude that is scary. I LOVE it. You have a shatter shaft?"

"I got three variants and they're stackable."

"I like where this is going. Make em BLEED Gaspy."

"With VENOM."

Tyler patted the fierce blonde boy and he headed out chuckling. Then Sabrina smiled as he turned to her.

"He is a good boy."

"GAsper? Oh he's a badass. Are you aware?"

"I am. He seeks me out when he has questions on the fang. And I suspect he has a crush."

She licked her full ips seductively.

"And I'll admit to a little.....thirst....of my own."

"Ha. If he ever goes for it let me know."

"OOooh I will! Now. what can I do you sate YOUR excusite tastes?"

"HI RIAS!"

There was a squeak of shock from the door and a VERY red faced Rias walked in with a few of the other warriors including Tanya. The blonde girl chuckled as she looked at him.

"Okay. HOW did you do that? She had a CLOAKING spell on."

Tyler chuckled as he patted the outraged Rias patronizingly.

"Just simple anticipation, Tanya. Get good at it, and you can make people think you are a god. RIGHT Rias?"

"fuck. YOU."

He chuckled as Sabrina smiled with her own amusement.

"Cute."

"Stick it."

Tyler and the vampire smirked at the reference before the berserker looked at the vampire.

"So I'm looking for a weird one."

The black haired vampire spellseller chuckled.

"Amuse me."

"I'm looking for a syphon spell and an imbue spell. Say I hit you with it, Sabrina, I drain a little of your say mana, and with the imbue, I add it to something of my choosing."

She chuckled.

"The spell you speak of belongs to the Magical Conductor Proficency. And it DOES NOT work on living beings. It more takes energy from AROUND you and REDIRECTS."

"An incoming enemy spell?"

"If your reflexes are fast enough, it IS thoretically possible to hijack mana like that. It is a COSTLY spell however. 300,000 for it."

He paid.

"The things I can make it do will MORE then make up for it."

Tanya frowned as she looked at him.

"Redirecting mana, Sir?"

"Okay. How can I explain this to you? Say someone fires an artillery shell at you, normally you're fucked. What I'm looking for, is a method to TURN that shell AROUND. And drop it on the one that fired it. I find the right PIECES, I have a counter that really CAN'T be defended against. Like my Dark Sacralant. It's an UNBLOCKABLE attack. More I got, the better."

She crossed her arms thoughtfully.

"I see where you're going with this. And since we're potentially fighting a DRAGON,"

"It's breath is our biggest worry. We're not strong enough to block it headon. So now the question is, HOW do we REDIRECT it AWAY from us? It is FAR easier to DEFLECT a bullet, then it is to STOP a bullet."

"Huh. The idiots in the Fatherland's R&D departmant could learn a thing or two from you. And on how to be a mad scientist."

"Ha. We're gonn a have some fun."

Tyler then looked at his remaining gold,

"I got 281,188. Hmm. You have any elemental spells stronger then the ones I have currently?"

Sabrina blew a long ring of smoke from her tube cigerate befre smiling.

"Dozens."

"Alright. A higher tier Firestorm."

"flaming Hurricane. A tier 4 spell. Costs three times as much mana to cast, and ALWAYS requires a chant until it settles into your soul, but it conjures a flaming hurricane. The hurricane lasts for 30 seconds."

Tyler smiled at the imagery.

"More fire is always a good thing. I'll take it."

"100,000."

Rias smirked.

"I am scared now."

"Ha. Oh. Oh there's an idea."

He looked at Sabrina.

"A poison fog high tier spell."

"YOU seek DEATHMIST. A black magic spell that conjures a grey fog that is UTTERLY impenetrable to see through and the fog is laced with the very last toxin you have touched. Lasts for 15 minutes and covers a 30 foot wide, 30 foot long, 30 feet deep cube."

"We can use it for a breather. In more ways an one."

"75,000."

Tyler paid and did an ability check.

"Okay. Spells. Deathmist, which sounds like a metal band, Flaming Hurriance, Magical Hijack, Magical Gift. firebolt, Firestorm, Thunderfield, Iced Wall, Hallowed Ground, Healing Tough, MAgical Rebuff, Snake Purge, Purify, Frozen Wastes, Divine Slicer, and Sunburn. Ghost cut, Dark Sacralant, Shatter Shaft, mighty Blow, Sense Presence, and Adamantium Skin, Diamond Cutter, Poisonfang, Hammershot. Alright."

He headed out as the rest got their own sets of spells and the Berserker smiled. I'll go see Seria. Tyler walked into the throne room to see the beautiful princess of blue sitting on her throne with a wrapped bundle in her lap. She smiled sweetly as he approached and had an excited squeak on her voice.

"It's ready!"

"You're amazing Seria."

She beamed as he took the bundle and Mylissia smirked.

"Well?"

Tyler chuckled as kissed his wife.

"Let's go see if it fits."

"Yay!"

"Oh okay you slippery bastard."

The queen and the court sighed in smiling disappointment at the setup. Seria was all bounce as they returned to their chamber and he set the bundle on his side of the bed while she watched form hers. Tyler smiled as he slung his new coat into place.

"I love it! Seria you have a talent and I love you! Damn. It even weighs MORE too."

His battered black leather jacket and outfit had been set aside for severe restoration while in it's place was a fresh coat of blood ready drakolisk leather show through with stripes of Seria's hair color. The new coat hunt to his ankles with the emblem of the Knights of the Bloodoath on the back. His pants were blood red with neon blue on the legs and so was his tanktop. A set of neon blue lines marked his scars out and the sleeves had a spiraling pattern of stripes Tyler liked. Seria smiled as he tied up his new red boots too.

"I know you like black and it looks good on you, but you make that look good too."

He wrapped her in his coat and she giggled at the hug.

"Warm!"

"Thank you, Seria. I love it."

"I love you. I;ll repair your old stuff since you KINDA only have like two sets a clothes."

"Ha. I spent more a my time on the road so,"

He shrugged and she wagged a finger in his face with a mock condecending feel.

"A PROPER HUSBAND looks GOOD for her WIFE, Tyler."

"Yes Seria."

"Good. How. Since you seem to have such a hard time with this, I have enlisted PROFESSIONAL help."

"Belfast?"

"Yup."

Tyler chuckled at this news as he kissed his smug wife.

"Okay, Seria. You want me to look good? I'll look good."

"Uh-oh."

"Haha."

She gulped! Tyler patte her and she smiled.

"All better! Now let's go show off."

"I wanted to do THAT, I'd walk around with a shirt on."

Her eyes lit up like lights at THAT offer!"

"Please do!"

"At HOME only then. I only flash my wife."

"YAy!"

They headed back down to the throne room...and every stopped as the new red Berserker walked in on thudding boots. Mylissia and a fair few of the ladies busted out fans as he smirked at them.

"Seria has a TALENT."

The queen groaned with a slight flush.

"oooh be calm my loins. And be still my heart."

Tyler winked at her and she full on BLUSHED like a wee girl! Seria laughed at this image as the court were VERY impressed by THAT brazen stunt and Tyler chuckled.

"I'll get back to it, Seria. See ya later. I love it."

She smiled.

"I love you too, Tyler."

He walked out...and BElfast was waiting for him with a smile.

"She told you?"

"Yup. I guess she wants to expand my wardrobe."

The silver haired beauty chuckled as they walked together.

"She raised a valid point. Having you living with the princess means you DO have a reputation to keep. And only ONE set of clothes is not sufficent."

"Yeeeah that's always been a problem a mine."

She looked at him as they walked to the arena.

"You do not like new clothes?"

"More I'm a big believer in if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

"Ah. A wise way to live. In moderation. Something you CLEARLY struggle with. So. What will you do?"

He smirked.

"Oh you see too? ha."

"Oh dear."

"I will show you after this campaign."

"Oh dear. I admit to excitement....AND WORRY."

"Yeah I have a certain LOOK I go for when I wanna make a point. Anyway. where are we at?"

The Quartermaster nodded.

"The new wagons were purchased and are fully supplied. ALL wagons fully stocked and equipment upgraded. We used the drakolisk to upgrade the elites' equipment as high as we could go. The cost at the moment is hovering at 25,000,000."

"Good. Are we on schedule?"

"We are AHEAD of schedle. we could leave RIGHT NOW."

"Check again and recheck."

"Aiko and her students are doing so as we speak. She is QUITE the...exciteable....lady Aiko is."

"Yeah she's.....interesting. Naive with a good heart and surprisingly UNYIELDING when it comes to her students."

Belfast smiled.

"As any good teacher should be."

"Yeeah she doesn't know when to back down though. A good thing, but I can VERY easily see her pissing off the wrong person."

"I will see to her."

"Thanks Belfast."

The silver haired lady smiled as the pair reached the coliseum that the Knights were using as a staging grounds. Asuna was looking over their wagons as he walked up and the redhead nodded.

"We got the wheels enchanted to not throw up dust. Same with the horse's shoes."

"Good. Sound too?"

"working on it now. It's a togglable too so that's a plus."

Tyler looked along the line of 8 wagons they'd use for supplies.

"Already thought of it. we got plenty of guards. AND Mylissia is erecting barrier over the arena when we're done with her OWN spells."

Tyler smiled.

"As much as I love Seria, Asuna? I want to get back out there."

She smiled.

"I completely get where you're coming from. I feel it too."

"A week out to the mountain. We'll push em out, and see how far we can chase em. Perfect outcome? We kill them all to the last man with NO SURVIVORS. OR messengars getting out. We did THAT, Fangorn would have no clue why they lost their expedition so easily or quickly."

Asuna sighed as she tightened a strap.

"This one's important."

Tyler nodded.

"Yup. We can rout bandits all day long. But if we can't rout the enemy we were SUMMONED to ROUT? We might as well kill ourselves then."

Asuna smiled.

"We'll be fine. We've done craizer things with NO warning."

"So true. Surrender is not an option."

"Absolutely. And I picked up on that."

He smiled at her as he leaned on a cart.

"The underworld."

She nodded.

"we needed to perserve their lives, Tyler."

"what you NEEDED to do was stay WHO YOU ARE, Asuna. And that is a FIERCER, warmhearted, FIRECRACKER. YOU'RE the Lightning Flash. NEVER surrender to an enemy. For ANY reason. Learn this well. But there ARE fates worse then death itself."

She shivered at that cold reminder.

"You're right. I....guess I was still inexperienced."

He patted her back reassuringly.

"You had yet to finish your training."

"Ha."

Tyler headed out and once the last warrior left the queen erected a Royal Dome barrier over the arena that could repell an archdemon. Tyler took his place at the leader's table and addressed his army.

"We're ready. In the morning we ride for Roof Mountain. we have a few goals up there this time. MY ultimate goal is dead to the last man with NO time for messages or runners. Second? Making sure they don't get that trove. OR return with their heroes. They have kill on sight orders everyone. No capture. No hesitation. NO MORE chances."

Rias smiled as he looked at her.

"He died that day on the road."

"I needed to hear it. PoH is HPT on this one. Brad is for ME to destroy. Eragor? ehhh. first come first serve. We'll saddle up in the morning after breakfast and we ride until we find a suitable site to camp. Overnight trips are NOT an option due to the breeds of creatures that come at that time. Most prowl the roads and we're not equipped for night fights. NOT because I don't care Levi."

The black haired man smirked.

"So WHy not?"

"The spells and skills are EXTREMELY rare. AND expensive."

He sighed at that valid reason and Erwin looked at him.

"Watches?"

" 1 man for every five or so feet around the camp. I value security as well. Why everyone has a battering of defensive spells. We all cast our perimeter spells and have rally whistles in the event of an issue."

He nodded and Tyler smiled.

"I hope you'd enjoyed the royal beds. Tomorrow you're sleepin on your bedrolls. I HOPE their good quality."

The veteran Knights chuckled with a few rubbing backs as they remembered. Then they fed well for their last night in the palace. Tyler went up to his chamber and found Seria waiting there with his restored AND upgraded black adventurer's gear.

"Surprise!"

He hugged her hard and she settled into his shape.

"I love you too, Seria."

"I love you, Tyler. Please. Be careful."

"I will."

She smiled.

"The black's for when your adventures. RED for ME/"

"Yes Dear."

"Good. OR LESS."

"Ha. Careful."

"I want it."

"I want you."

She shivered.

"When, Tyler?"

He smiled at her question.

"When it is ready."

Her blue eyes were full of nerves.

"HOW close IS it?"

"Well. The puzzle IS coming together."

She gasped as his conversations with her mother finally clicked.....and smiled widely.

"Sorry."

"I know. I wan fuck you too."

"Ugh. I get so WET when we suggle. UGGH it's pissing me off!"

He kissed his frustrated and longing fiance lovingly and they cleaned up in the pool. Then they laid together in the bed as Metalica popped out of his chest with a HEFTY sigh of relief.

"PHEW. Okay. Sword's done!"

"Thanks Metalica. You okay?"

She was flat on her back naked on his chest panting.

"Oh yeah. Just had to WORK FOR ONCE. Yui too."

The pixie came flying out of his chest like she was popped from a bottle. Metalica chuckled as she landed on Tyler's belly.

"She's still praciticing her power."

"Cute. She really is."

Yui smiled as she snuggled with Seria this time.

"we'll be back soon Seria!"

The princess smiled warmly.

"Of course you will, Little Fairy. You're with him."

Tyler smiled as he kissed his wife.

"Good night, Seria. I love you."

"Good night, Tyler. I love you too."

KNIGHTS OF THE BLOODOATH....MOVE OUT!

DAY 55

WEDNSDAY.

GOLD: 106,188.

BLOODOATH GOLD: 80,988,653.

Tyler woke to see he'd grabbed onto Seria and pulled her against him with a desperate feel and she had done the same to him. Yui was in her pixie form and was firmly entranched between them in a warm bowl while Metalica as asleep on to of the cute pixie. The Berserker smiled as he looked into Seria's sleeping face and kissed her awake.

"I will be waiting for you my hero. MY HUSBAND."

He smiled as they rose and he kissed her.

"I WILL come back to you, Seria. I promise."

She drapped his black coat over his shoulders.

"I know you will."

He smiled at how much better his black outfit felt and noted on the back of the jacket was the Knight's emblem. Seria smiled as she hung his red on a manniquin.

"Now YOU need these too!"

"Ha."

He took her hand as they went to the dining hall. She kissed him.

"I love you, Tyler."

"I love you too, Seria."

She went to the throne room as he went inside the dining hall and took his place at the head table. His force were were drinking their coffee and he noted a few had nerves on their faces. He smiled.

"Relax. Not like our future depends on the ride there."

Asuna sighed wih a smile.

"THAT was supposed to be encouragement?"

"Oh. You want encouragment, read a fortune cookie."

Miho giggled at that.

"Saori does it all the time!"

"MIRPORIN!"

"Wow, Saori. Cute."

"HEEEY!"

Tyler smiled as the nervous relaxed and a few were smiling. Then he drained his mug.

"Let's go to hell together."

The force gathered in the throne room where Mylissia faced them with a sigh.

"It is time you proved you were NOT summoned for nothing. Tyler. Leader of the Knights of the Bloodoath. LOrd Berserker, and-"

"Your FUTURE son in law?"

Seria giggled at the vut off and Mylissia just chuckled.

"We've known you for two months, now Tyler. And yet? I've seen ROCKS change more then you in that time. Go. Take your force and SWEEP these knife eared invaders from our home. PROVE the love your dear Seria has for you is NOT for naught. And REMIND them all, WNY you are called Berserker."

Tyler smiled.

"We WILL win this. And when I get back, the pieces had better be in place for one HELL of a party."

She smiled.

"Oh they will be. Knights of the Bloodoath...GO FORTH AND MAKE THE VERY GROUND YOU WALK TREMBLE! DIIISSMISS!"

"Hey that's mine!"

They laughed at TYLER'S voice of offense and Kirito was heard,

"THAT! THAT IS what that feels like!"

"Ugh. come on everyone."

The force chuckled as they headed to the arena. Tyler smiled as he swung up onto Shadow.

"We got work to do big guy."

The morbol tossed his head as the forces mounted up. Asuna came over on her unicorn with a smile.

"We're ready."

"Check the locks on the wagon wheels. Just...just cause."

She sighed and a last over was done....just to find one wheel had been left locked. A groan wwent up from the warriors and Tyler chuckled.

"why we double check Asuna."

"Hey i checked that wheel TWICE!"

"Wow."

"UGH."

He chuckled at her irritation before lookign to the gate out of the arena.

"Knights of the Bloodoath....MOVE OUT!"

Tyler led them out of the coliseum and he waved to Seria as she stood on the steps to the palace. She smiled as she waved a jet black kerchief and he patted the stripe of neon blue on his chest made from her literal HAIR over his heart. Then the force was moving away from the palace and he couldn't see her anymore. He sighed and Erwin looked at him understandingly.

"It never gets easier, does it?"

"Nope. And I HOPE it NEVER does."

The older man smiled.

"Your reason?"

Tyler smiled as he waved at the crowds gathered to see them off.

"If leaving her DIDN'T bother me? I truly didn't care."

Erwin smiled.

"I completely agree."

Rias chuckled from her spot in the leader's column.

"He's got a spell to summon her for a night every three nights...he uses it like clockwork too."

Tyler smiled as he made sure the spell AND the queen's orb was still in his arsenal and his coat.

"She is a REALLY warm."

Asuna smirked.

"NO details."

"Yes Asuna."

She wacked him with her scabbard.

"NO."

He laughed at her instant fury and Erwin whistled.

"This is going to be an interesting campaign."

Tyler chuckled at that one as they left the city gates and increased speed to trot. Strand came up beside him now.

"I marked a few areas on your map for our camps. Unless we wanted to cut them to shape and size that is."

"we MIGHT have to in certain areas. But thanks Strand."

"I got in contact with the Station up there and used Master Codes to test them. You're right. The Rangers up there are fakes. So we'll have to retake that too."

"I figured. Anyother Stations in the region?"

"Yes but none that can send aid or assist in any meaningful way."

He nodded as they rode along the rather flat grassland heading for the mountains.

"I've not put any thought into AFTER this campaign yet. I think it might be a good idea to do a border tour/ combat pass. Visit every stronghold and city along the borders in force in case we find a surprise assault."

Tanya appeared beside him now on her own black arabian horse.

"Plan 343 from my war, Sir?"

"Pretty much. I've been recycling a lot of strategies from my world for this war and so far none have failed."

"I see. You mentioned Sparta's defense at Theromplyae a few times. Would not such a strategy be viable in the mountains as well?"

"Normally yes. IF the city was their only objective. A phanalanx defense only works with a funnel. If the water spills AROUND the funnel, the force is lost."

"I see. And given the fact they scaled a three mile high cliff to assault the city shows the WOULD go that far."

Tyler nodded as he kept watch on the road.

"There's a few heavy campaigns from your world I'm keepin reserve, Tanya. Mainly on how useful they'd be and utterly out of NOWHERE as wel."

"Their names?"

"Operations Lockpick, Revolving Door, and that one time with the V-1s."

Tanya frowned.

"How would you achieve that last one in a fantasy world?"

"Hajime has an airship in his trove. That NO ONE knows about."

The boy in black in question smirked as he rode a jet black wolf the size of Shadow.

"AND no one knows what I can MAKE here either."

"No they do not. I KNOW they SAID there are rules, but....well."

"Oh I completely agree."

Hestia sighed from her white unicorn.

"They're GUIDELINES you two....mainly for HIM."

Tyler laughed at the singling out.

"Since WHEN do I play be a rulebook Hestia?"

"Ugh. FINE. Go crazy. NO NUKES."

"Agreed."

"OR that gas you know how to make."

"You sure? It's not THAT hard to figure out how to make."

"Strand?"

The Ranger smiled as she took the negotiations now.

"This gas. WHAT does it do?"

Tyler smirked.

"It makes you BLEED to death while still alive.....and uses natural plants to do it. way it works is a mass of blood thinning and pressure increasing herbs mixed with a few more ingreidents. filled a can with it and you got a gas grenade. Throw it into the palace when it's packed and not a soul will walk out alive. No cure. NO antidote, NO ESCAPE. Your blood LITERALLY turns to teh same consistancy as water and leave the body through every opening on it. Pores, eyes, asses, slits, dick holes, ears, mouths, noses, every hole in the body GUSHES. You die from bleeding to death with NO external injuries."

Strand shuddered and so did a fair few at the image.

"THAT is an EVIL tool Tyler."

"Oh absolutely. Kicker?"

"Go on."

"Get it wet, and it's useless."

She blinked and so didn't Hestia.

"It has a flaw?"

"A BLARING flaw. If it touches water like say in a river or a sink, it bubbles and smells of lavender. That's it. No other effects. Well. You WILL feel like REEEEEALLLLY freakin good for a few hours. Stll lucid an all, but like SUUUUUPER GOOD MOOD. dunno why it does that."

Strand smiled.

"As a strict weapon of war? it would be allowed. Annnnd I am curious about this side effect."

"I'll gather the plants and whip up a batch."

"Please do so. A SMALL. AMOUNT. ONE vial."

"Sure. I was gonna make some for my Deathmist spell."

She smirked.

"You had a plan all along. Very well."

The force made easy going of the level ground on their way to the mountains and Tyler smiled as he felt the wind on his face again.

"MUCH better."

Asuna chuckled at that.

"I get it."

"Yeah that city got small one day in."

The Berserker kept a eye on the sky as they went and frowned as he noted the heavy feeling in the warm sunny day and the stiffness of the breeze.

"Strand, we're getting a storm tonight."

The Ranger looked at the signs herself before nodding.

"A big one too."

"We'll get to use the storm equipment for once."

Erwin frowned as he came over.

"Can you tell the severity?"

Tyler smiled.

"If we wake up to a hurricane or regular bolts of lighting we're not going anywhere. Sorry. NOT risking the entire force over a storm."

The blonde man looked at Asuna and she smiled.

"He does not take chances with nature. And look at much metal we have. You tried to ride in a storm we are just ASKING for someone to get hit."

Mina smiled from her spot.

"Tyler stresses caution."

"Ah. That I agree with."

Tyler looked ahead as they went.

The force reached the banks of a wide river inside a thick forest and Tyler smiled as he spotted a large clearing off to the right.

"That one'll do."

Strand chuckled as they found another section of stone burned into shape by dragonfire.

"It will, indeed."

The site was 300 meters across with a soft covering of moss and edged by a small ring of stone. It also had easy access to the river and plenty of space for their tents. Tyler smiled as he noted the moss.

"We'll clear a spot for the bonfire out. Alright Knights set it up."

The more experienced wariros fell to making their camp with a smile as Tyler got to work with his spells clearing the firepits out. Erwin remarked to Levi as the two men aided in taking down a tree for the fire.

"This force is a well-oiled machine. I admit even I am a little jealous."

Levi snorted as he saw Tyler building the bonfire base with a few of his friends.

"Sir, we're led by a KID. And he's an idiot."

"Yet. LOOK. They respect him. IMMENSELY."

"Have you noticed they're all beautiful women, Erwin?"

Rias looked up with a smirk,

"Thanks and you have no shot."

BOTH men blinked at that as Asia giggled.

"He's TOO short!"

Belfast merely smiled.

"Do NOT make such insinuations about me again little man."

Erwin just looked down to his task in the face of the smirking women as Levi just sighed.

"Greeeeat. Their hearing is not normal."

"Hey jackass. Not ONE of em's human."

Tyler's mildly amused tone made him sigh.

"And the leader is too."

Tyler chuckled at that defeat as he looked at the camp. And the fact it was already set.

"Wow. Record time. Even WITH 300 extra hands. Aight. Strand and Dryft get em tree trained....eh well you know the drill."

The Berserker set up his tet's area by the river and Rias smirked as she pitched HER tent beside his.

"Forgetting something?"

He smiled.

"Not at all. More spoiling the primary."

"Don;t forget the other now."

"Ha."

Tyler smiled as she sat beside him.

"I got the board."

"GOOD. Shiro an I are still at war."

"Ha."

Once his area was situated he took his rod to the river and had the line in. Tyler smirked as the thing dropped after a mere thirty seconds.

"C'mere you FISH."

Then the rod was nearly yanked out of his hands! Tyler blinked at this and was on his feet as the watr exploded...and a 45 foot long creature came charging at him. Tyler jumped aside and pulled his greatsword the same instant as the creature roared at him. it resembling a mix between a T-rex and a crocodile on four legs. Tyler smirked as the beast lunged at him again and the Berserker slid aside to stab it in the side of the neck. The beast dropped and Tyler tore his sword free with a grunt.

"Okay. what the fuck are you?"

Strand came over with a chuckle.

"THAT is a River Tyrant. Uncommon predators that live in very healthy rivers. THIS one is a young buck too."

"Can we eat it?"

She sighed dreamily.

"Oh yes. The flesh is extremely tender while the skin makes for VERY sturdy leather. The entire animal is useful for something."

"Alright. We got dinner. Knives out people."

Erwin just sighed.

"So we can go fishing and get attacked by THAT. This world is very dangerous."

The camp split between the learning rookies and the experienced veterans as the skinned the immense beast and Tyler smiled as he pried one of the near 8 inch long teeth out and tossed t into his pack. Levi saw this and lifted an eyebrow.

"what grand use does that have?"

"Trophy of something I haven't killed yet. I got a collection of teeth and stuff from everything I've ever killed."

He just rubbed his eyes tiredly at this before the animal was reduced to bones and even a few of them were taken by the camp artisans. Once the work was done, Tyler had his line back in the river and Rias chuckled.

"Nearly gets chomped by a dinosaur thing and STILL doesn't care."

Levi just walked away with a sigh.

"His arrogance is going to get us killed."

Asuna smirked.

"If you think you can take him, Levi try it. TAKE the dare."

He just walked away and Mina chuckled.

"This is gonna be fun to watch when he gets serious."

Miho appeared now and Tyler smiled as the blood soaked girl sat beside him with a look of strain on her face.

"Hey Miho."

"I feel icky."

"Ha. There's an alcove over there."

She deflated from relief and he patted her.

"Hey!"

"Just go in force, Miho. No one bathes alone due to the risk of just disappearing."

She nodded and looked at the water.

"I've killed people Tyler."

He patted her again with a sympathetic smile.

"You're okay."

she sniffed and rested her head on his arm as he handled the rod.

"Am I? I killed maybe 30 people in the arena during that berserk rush you put us in. And yet it doesn't bother me. Like I feel PROUD I got more kills then Gasper. Since he's one a the Elites. Does that make a monster or a murderer?"

He smiled at the gentlehearted girl.

"No, Miho it makes you a warrior."

She looked up at him with glistening hazel eyes.

"What's the difference?"

"A murderer kills at will, and goes after everyone. Even those that did nothing wrong. A WARRIOR kills to defend those that can't defend themselves."

Miho looked out at the water as he pulled a good sized pike from the depths.

"Gotchya."

She smiled at the catch before sighing.

"It bothers me. That I can feel nothing when killing someone."

"That's fine. It shows you still have a heart."

"A heart?"

"Hm-hm. YOU still care about people. That's a good thing."

She smiled at that as they relaxed.

"I guess. Akyama said to just think of them as monsters pretending to be people. It helps."

"She's got the right idea. If you want a better person to talk to bout this, ask Yoshkia. She was a lot like you when she first started out."

"But she's so strong! HOW could she be like me?"

He smiled.

"Yoshkia once refused to use a gun in her world. And they were at war too. She once thought war was wrong and wanted no part of it. Well. She got drafted due to her immense power. A few months in and she is LEADING the formation. Ask her why she let it go."

Miho smiled.

"I will. She's cute."

"She's FIERCE too."

"Oh VERY fierce!"

Tyler smiled as he patted the orange haired girl fondly.

"You'll be fine Miho."

She smiled at that reassurance and headed to see the tugh strike witch. Belfast sat beside him once she left.

"Her friends are also contemplating the blood on their hands."

"Should we be worried?"

Belfast smiled.

"UNicorn has them."

"And we lost em."

"Indeed. They ADORE her."

"Ha. Sora had an idea."

"Oh?"

"A cute off. The girls get their doll on and the cutest is named camp cutie."

Belfast smiled at that idea.

"Adorable. And something I think we should arrange."

"I can hear the ego trips now."

That made her chuckled....then she smiled and he gulped.

"Ummmm."

"I have a suggestion."

"Oh shit."

"A beauty contest. Winner is named camp beauty."

"THAT just seems like a good way to start a riot. we have to do it."

She laughed as Tyler tore a trout from the river this time and Strand smirked.

"Tyler."

"I'm done."

"Good."

The Quartermaster took his offerings of fish back to the wagons and tyler walked over to the walls of stone at the rear and placed his hand on the stone.

"Prospect.....huh."

He looked over to Strand.

"I got a hit. Some gold ore."

The elf blinked a tthis as she walked over.

"do you really?"

"Yup. About 250 pounds."

"That is impressive. And you did it with a hunch."

"Pretty much."

He took his pickaxe out and Erwin blinked in surprise at this new development.

"He mines rock too?"

Akeno chuckled as she walked by and the sounds of Tyler's efforts echoed.

"Yeah. Guy's got a scary loot sense."

Tyler dug the valuable ore from the wall and as he looked the golden materal over....

"no freakin way. Yo there are DIAMONDS in thre."

Dryft whistled as she saw the glittering gems in the rock.

"Okay. YOU have a scary loot sense. And you have a plan."

Tyler smiled.

"I'll take some a this and a few diamonds....for a project."

"She's a lucky lady."

Tyler smiled at that one as he dug the last of the ore from the wall....

"Of course. Sack up we got another tomb!"

The camp was on alert at THOSE onimous words. Strand came over with the leaders as Tyler tore a man sized hole in the stone to reveal another stone coffin in a wide chamber. Erwin frowned as he did not take his eyes off it.

"what are we dealing with, Tyler?"

The Berserker smirked.

"A payday that's what. Undead tombs contain troves and are ALWAYS worth the risk. There could be ANYTHING inside that coffin. Alright. Akeno, Xenovia, Hestia, Yoshkia...annnnd Hana. Sack up. we're killing it."

The tall, elegant friend to Miho gasped and started shaking.

"Are you sure sir? You want....ME?"

He patted the scared girl fondly.

"You're a priestess, Hana. Your ability is perfect for this. Come on. YOU got this."

She smiled in the face of THAT faith. Hestia walked up with her staff and a smirk.

"Since I'm a goddess my power is extremely potent against thse creatures."

"And you're very PRESENCE weakens em. Everyone else just adds to it."

They went in to the tomb and Tyler cracked his neck.

"Hallowed GROUND. Stack anti undead spells and ready the bi8g ones. Hana stay with Hestia and lob spells over our heads. Rest a you, assume the position."

They smiled as Tyler walked up to the coffin with his blood red drakolisk greatsword ready....when a magical barrier rose up over the exit and the lid exploded. A screaming, cloak covered entity rose up without a face and Tyler reated.

"HIGH LICH! HEART AND SMASH THE SKULL! DIVINE SLICER!"

His greatsword glowed gold as he slammed it into the undead mage and Xenoiva was there with her shot.

"DIVINE SPLITTER!"

Akeno giggled.

"UNHOLY LIGHTNING!"

Yoshkia smiled.

"ROYAL SUNBURN!"

Hanna was shaking in fright at the rotting thing in mouldering rags as she hefted her spear tipped staff to stab at it.

"Um, Sacred Shaft."

Her spear pierced the thing's heart and it screamed in agony. Then Tyler appeared above it with his glowing sword.

"HITEN MYSTRUGI STYLE HOLY RYUTSUITSAN!"

He slammed his sword into the thing's head and SPLIT it like a log. The creature shattered into black dust as the barrier also shattered like glass. Tyler landed the leap and smiled.

"Good kill everyone. Asuna! These things raise barriers."

"We'll look it over. See if it's a rune or somethin."

Tyler nodded as he hung his sword on his back.

"Hestia if ya please?"

The busty goddess chuckled as she tapped her staff on the floor.

"Divine Purify."

Hana was shaking violently at the horror she'd seen and Tyler smiled at her.

"Nicely done, Hana. That spear is potent."

She smiled around her fright and Yoshkia hugged her.

"See? I TOLD you you were TOUGH! YOU just held your own with HIM!"

Hana stopped shaking as the friends all congratulated her on the win as Tyler looked into the 10 foot long coffin....and whistled at the feeling coming off it.

"Yeesh. Yeah there's something cursed in there. we got another false bottom."

Asuna came in with Asia and the blonde healer hugged Hana too. The redheaded second in command went to Tyler's side as he pulled a long bladed dagger.

"Curse?"

"Or demon summoning material. Whatever it is it's evil."

He poped the slab on the bottom out and chuckled as he got a look at it.

"Nice slab of obsidian here. We'll sell it or something."

He passed the 1,000 pound slab to Kirito as the Black Swordsman walked in and he carried it out without effort. Tyler then looked the new loot over.

"Yut. we got another trove. About THREE times the size a the other one. We'll need to get it into the open....oh. OH."

Tyler noted a book's edge in the gold coins and the feeling of evil intent increased.

"So YOU'RE the smug little bastard making me nervous? Ha. Rias."

The busty redhead came in.

"Here."

"You're immune to curses. what are we dealing with?"

She took the book and whistled.

"wow. This here is a demon grimore. A MEAN one too. Allows the summoning of a minor demon of hate to the plane."

"It worth us summoning it just to kill it?"

She shook her head as she looked the process over.

"I would not recommend it. This a Perfect Spellbook. which means, if someone of POWER uses it, the level of demon gets kicked STRAIGHT to high balor OR lesser archbalor. THOSE are level 80s and up. MINIMUM. It's better off destroyed."

"Thanks Rias."

She smiled and Erwin spoke up now.

"How do we destroy it, Tyler?"

"Dunno. Rias'll see to it. She's our resident demon expert. I'm just the best at killing em. Oh. Hey. Fun fact. RIAS is the princess of hell. Like for real."

Rias' wings came out and a fair few gulped at that. She chuckled.

"This one just gets drowned."

"Seriously?"

"Pretty much. The book hates water."

"Ugh."

"Yeah."

Tyler shrugged and looked at the coffin again.

"Anyway. MY count there is 50,342,576 gold in there. We're a force of 475. THIS'LL be a doozy. Alright. Let;s get it out."

The friends got to work strip mining the tomb as Rias drowned the screaming book in a bucket of water before it exploded into dust. The pile of gold was 4 feet high and Tyler sat on a wagon overlooking everyone as they gathered.

"Alright. We got another trove. Weapons and the like the raiders get first crack as we killed it. Gold we split among the army. any questions?"

HE got crickets.

"Good answer. Alright. 50,342,576-"

"We found four more gold!"

Asia came bopping up and Tyler chuckled as the four were added.

"That freakin girl. 50,342,580. That by 2 is 25,171,290. That by 475 is 52,992 with 90 coins left over. Those we'll add to Bloodoath."

The shares were taken and next was the gems.

"Again half to party."

The mass was divided in half and split. Tyler looked the gems over curiously when a rather large jet got his eye and he took it curiously. the thing the size of his head and a long, slow smile spread across his face.

"I'll take this one. I got an idea."

Rias smiled.

"He now has gold, diamonds, and jet. didn;t he but a ring like that, Belfast?"

"He did indeed."

"Oh! PERFECT! That sapphire is the PERFECT color!"

He took a basketball sized sapphire and retreated to the wagon with his materials. Asuna hopped up beside him with a smile.

"Is that THE last piece?"

"Almost. NOW I just need to get it MADE."

Metalica appeared on his shoulder with a smile.

"Gotchya covered buddy. I saw the design in your head and just need the materials."

He passed them to the iron sprite and she vanished into his soul. Yui appeared with a giggle.

"She is going to be MINDBROKEN Tyler!"

He patted the tiny pixie fondly.

"I hope so, Little Fairy."

"eep!"

Asuna smiled.

"Little Fairy? I like it!"

"EEP! Mommy no! It's SUPER embarassing!"

"NO it's CUTE! Little Fairy!"

"UNCA BERSERKER! YOU did this to me!"

"I did nothing. You can't prove it."

She had a VERY cute angry face and Tyler laughed as she started leaking steam. The gems were gone over and passed out before the weapons and armor were laid out. Tyler pointed out the set of staffs.

"That one is a staff of Ice. Allows the casting of Frozen hell without the needed card. It's flaming ice. Literally. That un there is a Thunder Staff. Casts Lightning Field without the card. That does the same as thunderfield but not as explosive and more electric. And that last one is a Resister Staff. It has the spell Snake Purge built into it. An antidote spell."

He looked the offerings over and shrugged.

"eh. Nothin's jumping at me. Go on."

And last were the spells Of which there were only three. Tyler looked at them and shrugged.

"Eh. duplicates."

The trove split the army went to put their spoils away as Tyler sealed the tomb back up with a boulder. Then he had the raiders take a deep cleaning bath in the river to get the tomb's touch off their skin. Once clean he returned to his tent and did up his own coin.

"Alright. I have 159,180."

Tyler looked at the sky and noted the sun was going down when Yoshkia came over.

"What's up Yoshkia?"

She smiled.....and tapped a wooden spoon on her hand ina VERY worrying manner.

"YOU'RE on cooking duty tonight."

"Yes ma'am"

"Wow. I see why they like it so much."

He patted her and she smiled as they went over to the line of tables that served as the camp kitchens and Saori smiled as he walked in.

"Oh YOU cook too?"

"I got a few tricks, Saori."

He cracked his knuckles and got to work mincing up a mass of patties for the army as Hana looked over curiously.

"Burgers in a fantasy world?"

"Yup. we have all the needed ingridents for pizza....and I can make it over a fire. BUT I'm kinda saving that."

The cooks chuckled at that one as Erwin walked by...and gulped as he saw Tyler among them.

"Oh my. NOW I have nightmare fuel."

The food was ready an hour later and Tyler chuckled at the mass of gulps as they saw him passing out loaded burgers to everyone.

"Gee. Appreicate the faith."

Once they were dished out his friends dove RIGHT in with gusto and Miho took the first bite....

"WOAH. So THESE are American Burgers? I love em!"

Like magic the hearty meal vanished and Tyler chuckled as he premade another mass for another time.

"I told you I got some tricks."

Once the food was gone and the mess cleaned it was time for the nights' watches and Tyler was on first. So he took his spot by the road and struck his statue of armor pose with his hood up. His watch passed uneventfully and Levi was his relief. The man was approaching with both swords out and a VERY unsure expression on hus face as the black shadow didn't move.

"Hey Levi."

Tyler looked at him and the man whistled.

"Okay. I'll admit. YOU are a SCARY night watchmen. NOTHING in their right mind would dare approach such an UNSETTLING figure in the distance."

"Ha. I work at it."

The Berserker walked away whistling a tune and went to his tent. Only to smile as he saw Rias curled up inside it. The busty redhead smiled as he laid beside her.

"Surprise!"

"I love you too, Rias."

She smiled as he kissed her lovingly.

"I love you too, Tyler. I'm still here."

"I know."

They settled and she smiled.

"NO Seria for once?"

"I was GOING to, but, well, it's been a while."

"Lucky me."

"Ha. Good night, Rias."

"Good night, Tyler. I love you."

"I love you too."