Tale of the Outcast Warrior: The Pope's Hell.

"What the hell?"

The wing lifted and he sat up to see the Dragel was fully butchered, to the bone no less, and camp had been set up. He got up and saw his party all looking over the body as he looked at the dragon.

"Um, 1 explanation please."

Tempesta chuckled.

"You my boy, just killed a Lich King."

Tyler rubbed his head.

"That skeleton?"

"Was a resurrected undead of the Black One."

Tyler gulped.

"No fuckin way."

The dragon chuckled again.

"You were out maybe twelve hours. I could not assist you, as to enter YOUR mind was to enter the torture chamber. Your friends all relaxed when I told them you killed it, and were just tired from the battle. Though, I must admit, it's a little scary just how easily you threw it off. Once a Lich King dies, it latches onto the one that killed it and attempts to take full control. Yet, you killed it in under three hours of fighting. Then rested so deeply I thought it had shattered your mind for the further nine."

Tyler stretched and his back popped.

"So, the Lich Kings here are that kind of hardcore. Was a fun fight."

He then looked at the dragon.

"How'd the search go?"

"they found no less then three more Leashes."

"I myself will do a once over."

"I was going to ask you."

Tyler looked to the skeleton.

"We need to get a helluva lot stronger."

"Boy, I am forced to agree. You should NOT have won that fight. Period. A Lich King is one of the most feared creatures in this world. Not for it's physical form's attacks, but it's mental. Not even I am confident enough to say I can best such a willpower battle. Yet, YOU did. Now, are there other creatures like them? A scary amount. Are they rare? Extremely."

"We'll trip over them sooner or later. I'll go look the cave over, and go from there."

Tempesta nodded.

"Indeed. Once you've approved it clear, we need to discuss the next move."

"Agreed."

Tyler blew his whistle and the party came running. He hugged kaori and the girls as they got their shock out of their system.

"Okay, all of you on guard, as I triple check that cave. We may have found our next task after the wave."

They nodded and he kissed Kaori, just cause. Then he dove back into the cave.

"Okay bone man, the fuck you come from?"

The cave floor had even been swept with a broom, and he laughed.

"Sera came up with that one."

He then turned all his skills at detection and perception to the room. He walked over to the pile of bones and placed a hand on the stone he'd pinned it against. The wall was covered in deep gouges and rents from his attacks with his blades. He then noticed something.

"Fuckin hell."

There was a small hollow behind the slashed walls. He was now incensed as he called his team. They saw it and gasped. Vixen then sighed.

"An anti detection spell made to utterly neutralize any and all perceptive skills. Not even YOUR perception could see through it."

"Someone got a big hammer?"

Lily snorted.

"Ye can borrow me sledge."

"Love you Lily."

"Love you too."

Tyler took the ten pound hammer and gripped it.

"Rock smasher."

He hit the wall with everything he had, and it shattered like glass. The wall gave way to a small antechamber with a large circle in the center with a clear laboratory. Vixen started shaking.

"we found a Raiser's Workshop."

Tyler looked at her as he gave the hammer back.

"What's it for?"

"To raise the dead. And before you get the idea, they are revived as monsters."

"Vixen, and me only. Serafina too. Rest of you, on guard. Ashy, you're part black right?"

"Yup."

"You too. Just be careful. Sera, go give Tempesta the update."

She balked,

"Me?"

"You cute."

"Teehee! Kay!"

She took off running with Lily as volunteered escort, and the ploy was then obvious. Tyler stepped in first, as he was the strongest and toughest. The room had shelves lined with black books, beakers filled with various fluids, wands everywhere, some even on podiums as if in the middle of production, and licenses as well. Tyler just sighed.

"Vixen, the circle."

She nodded and burned it away. Tyler spotted a slab in the back of the room with a sheet.

"Shit. Sheet."

They nodded and surrounded it as Tyler neared it. Tyler looked at them.

"ready?"

They nodded and he threw it back. Underneath was one of the Broken restrained to the slab. Now that it's eyeless sockets beheld people, it began to strain to get at them. Tyler sighed.

"A labrat. Fuckin perfect. Holy smite."

The creature was then bathed in his power as it's shattered soul was soothed and purified before it turned to ash. The group then began a most pain staking search of the room, with Tyler not even being able to really touch the counters without getting burned.

"This is an evil place."

The black mage nodded.

"It is. For to revive and enslave the dead is the depths of evil."

Tyler sighed as Sera and Lily came down.

"What's the blue word?"

"He say's he's going to stay until this cave is sanctified by the dragonkin. He told me that once you're done with it the Sky Lords will destroy this place themselves."

Tyler nodded.

"Okay. You are NOT allowed past that hole."

They nodded as they worked.

"We'll look the cave over again."

"Lily, you got prospect, right?"

"I'll use it on the walls."

"That's my girl."

Kaori smirked as Lily blushed a little.

"Oh he's got you now."

The party finished looking over the room after two hours, and Tyler sighed.

"Alright. Let's show em what we got."

"We got a few veins of good ore here."

"Those first."

They laughed as he pulled his pickaxe.

"What you find?"

"A few veins of Watercite, a rather nice vein of redsteel, SkyCite, which I highly recommend we sell in Raylik, and a very thick vein of good old iron."

Tyler smiled as he extracted the ore.

"We should make it a habit to examine every cave we go into now with prospect."

Lily nodded sagely.

"It'll get me materials to practice me trade."

"Plus net us some good sales goods."

They laughed as he strip mined the cave to his level of empty before they left for daylight. They found quite the sight awaiting them upon exiting the cave. For, Ignatia and Furiosa had joined Tempesta outside the cave entrance. Tyler blinked as he saw them.

"Um, hi."

They chuckled.

"Greetings indeed."

"So, you found another threat to my kind."

Tyler shrugged.

"I guess at this point, it's a hobby?"

The dragons laughed as Tempesta looked at him.

"What did you find?"

"right now we have no idea WHO'S lab that was. They left no hint of their identity. And, that damned thing was hidden from MY level of perception and detection. There was a circle in the room and a Broken on a slab. Vixen can do a better job explaining as she knows this better then I."

The black mage came forward and presented the ring of licenses they'd found.

"Lords and Lady of the sky, we have found a Raiser's Workshop. And a most advanced one at that."

The dragons drew in a sharp breath in shock.

"How advanced child?"

"Lady Furiosa. Advanced enough to raise another Lich King. With minimal effort."

Ignatia looked to the blue.

"we need to find this one Highscale."

"I agree. But, not even I can pick up a scent here."

Tyler was in thought as they spoke.

"I wonder if this is the bastard that helped summon the doppels."

Vixen blinked.

"With the evident power on display in that room, such a thing would be simple."

Tyler sighed.

"I hate these. Okay, those note books we found."

Kaori gulped.

"Ah-oh."

Tyler pulled a pair of gloves out as Tempesta looked to the blonde.

"What is he about to do?"

"He's going to read the notebooks to fuel his soul dissection trick. It's….NOT a pretty sight when he does it."

Wulf shuddered.

"I remember what he did to the councilmen."

Tyler looked at the dragons.

"I'll look these over, and depending on how thorough the bastard was in his notes, I should be able to build a profile of just WHAT we're dealing with here. Time frame? Maybe two hours."

The dragons settled in to wait as Tyler took the three books and sat against a rock. He took the first and started reading. Kaori sighed and poked a staring Ashy.

"Seriously?"

The dirty blonde just looked at her.

"but look! DRAGONS!"

The party laughed as they settled to wait.

Two hours later.

Tyler closed the last book and rubbed his eyes as he sighed.

"Oh we got a monster this time."

HE got up as the dragons looked at him. Tempesta was spokes dragon.

"How bad is it?"

"This bastard worships the Black One as a god, and is actively seeking to bring it back to life as a complete being."

The dragons rumbled in anger.

"Is that all?"

"we're looking for a highly intelligent, highly educated monster, Tempesta. He knows exactly what he is doing and why. From the way his notes were written, he, it is a man, is very neat, organized, and has a scarily scientific mindset. To him, bringing the black one back is just a mere puzzle, and he sees it as his life's mission to bring it back. He is a black/white mage, and as such is using both paths to achieve this goal. As for personality? Outside a very calm, kindly, straight up gentle soul. Inside? He is possessed of a rot the likes of which I understand far too well. He's got the soul of the Monster."

Kaori gasped and started shaking as Tyler said this. Tyler continued.

"The only difference between him and MY Monster, was he was BORN this way. As such, is the kind of evil that is born. Now, from what I gathered, he has broken the process down into terrifyingly easy to achieve steps. The first was to raise a Lich King of a similar power level to the Black one. That was a success. The next was to try and merge the Broken with the Lich King to create an enduring body. The next was to raise the soul from the depths of Death itself to create a spirit like the two girls. The last phase was to put the pieces together as a whole being."

Tempesta had a faraway look in his eyes now.

"This procedure."

Ignatia looked at him.

"Highscale, I see it too."

Furiosa spoke next.

"as do I."

Tyler looked at them.

"Is it that legend of that guy that brought the dead back?"

Tempesta looked at him.

"It is indeed. We were there for it, and were the ones that erased it from time."

Tyler sighed as he rubbed his eyes.

"Okay, let me ask this: Did you kill the one responsible?"

"We did."

"Are you sure?"

They blinked before Tempesta looked at him.

"I swear by Glacious we all used our flames to kill him ourselves."

Tyler nodded.

"Then you got the wrong guy. This bastard is OLD. Like really old."

The shock the dragons felt was so intense the entire hollow felt on edge. Tyler then looked att he books.

"Okay, my reasoning. The way he talks, it sounds like this version of Lectis was not the one he was born in. Easiest comparison, our old country and England."

The dragons nodded.

"we are familiar with your world's dialects."

"Okay. So that gave me the first clue. Second was how familiar he is with this kind of work. We have three books here, yet I got the impression this was a lifelong passion. And, he is also a Warrior. If the references and seemingly random quotes to Frankenstein were anything to go by."

Tempesta sighed.

"The pieces are fitting with a terrifying precision. Why did he resurface period?"

"I think, the fields were ripe. Look at the world right now. We just had a pope get kicked out for being power mad and his resulting schemes, most…of….which. Oh SHIT."

Tyler went white as something clicked. The dragons were now on edge.

"What just clicked?"

"The pope wasn't all that interested in me or my party for our open defiance and hostility. He was FAR more focused in pissing YOU off. The rigged meeting, the sky sharks, the insolent nature towards the dragons as a whole, either I'm going insane again or the Pope's got a dark friend."

The dragons were now shaking with some feeling and Tyler was now flipping to the last book. Tempesta growled in a fury most terrifying to behold.

"I see how you came to that point, and agree."

"We got a bigger issue then. From here, maybe, a week ago, the writing takes a drastic turn from mere observation and testing with some minor journal entries, to lamenting choosing such an incompetent 'pawn'. He never outright says WHO this pawn is, but it's pretty freakin obvious who he means."

Tempesta snarled, and it sounded like a thunderclap.

"Lay the books out, lad, we'll see for ourselves."

"Sure."

He placed the tomes side by side as the dragon's eyes glowed and the books glowed. Then the dragons were giving off waves of enraged heat. Tempesta then fixed Tyler with a blazing eye.

"I am aware of your eye reading skill."

"Put the pope in front of me. I'll have EVERYTHING out of him in ten minutes or I have no business next to her."

"Ignatia. Go."

"Highscale."

The red dragon tore off the ground with all the force of a hurricane as Tyler looked to Tempesta.

"we should warn Ishtar."

"Agreed."

The blue used his communication power to project the king onto the dirt.

"Tyler?"

"What is our passcode?"

"Oh by the gods. It is better to be feared then loved, if one cannot be both."

"Correct. We got a serious fuckin problem Ishtar. Ignatia is inbound to retrieve the pope for MY interrogation. There is a raiser in play looking to raise the Black One."

The king went white in the blue hologram.

"By the gods. There was just an explosion in the prison, and Ignatia flew off with the pope. What do I do to explain?"

"Tell the people the pope pissed off the wrong dragon."

They all laughed. Then Ishtar became serious.

"What about the raiser?"

"we found his lab. Right now, best we can do is let me interrogate the Pope."

There was a loud woosh as Ignatia returned with the Pope. The old man was then dropped in front of Tyler and the hologram. The old man looked up and gasped in horror as Tyler grabbed his skull and forced his eyes open.

"Look into my eyes, BITCH!"

Ashy snorted.

"Ghost rider? Seriously?"

Tyler gazed no longer then ten seconds before throwing him to the dirt with disgust.

"Okay, we overestimated his worth. He was indeed the Raiser's pawn, but just to keep the dragons occupied. Plus ruin the Warrior summons with repeated summons and bad crops. The puppeteer was just a puppet himself. He's never seen his face, nor stood before the man, as his communications were all via image crystals. The pope here was just a loud attention grabber, nothing more. He fully expected his gambit to fail, and from what I gathered, the ONLY wrench in the gears was ME. As everything I chose to do undermined the Raiser's carefully laid plans. So, since the pope's a corpse now, the Raiser will go to ground. Hard."

The dragons then looked to the cowering old man.

"How was he contacted?"

"That? The Pope was already on this path with his march plot, so all it really took was a single crystal and the aid of the demons. Yeah, he wasn't summoning them, the Raiser is in his experiment to raise a soul. Yalik was the Pope's doing hands down. But, the others, were all this new bastard."

The pope was looking at him in horror.

"How? How can you read the mind of a Holy One like me?"

"Plus, the Pope is utterly convinced of his own, what's the word? Piety?"

Ignatia chuckled.

"I think Saintliness is a better fit."

"Thank you! Shit, that fits way to damned well."

They all chuckled at this. The pope got to his knees and started to pray, only.

"Someone got a mana killer? Bastard's casting."

Tempesta up and spit on the man, and the party lost it laughing as the pope was now covered in dragon spit. Tyler was holding his ribs as he dropped to his knees laughing so damned hard as the pope's eyes were twitching from the utter ridiculousness of the situation. Tyler recovered and had to take a few deep breaths to regain his composure.

"Okay, nasty. But effective. Now here was I? Ah yeah. The banned spells were also the idea of the Raiser, as a means to destabilize the region. But, this plan fell through once I started flipping rocks. Now, something to make note of. I do not think he is in the country anymore. My guess is this is just ONE lab he has, so, going from that theory, we're looking at a world wide search."

Tempesta was nodding.

"I agree there. If he was still in the country, it would be far too easy."

"It would."

Furiosa then looked to Tyler.

"Will you assist us in this hunt?"

Tyler sighed.

"Look. I can only do so much. I also have to worry about the waves. I promise to do what I can, but please try to remember we're a small group and I'm only one man. The other Warriors except Kazuma will die, and then our workload will triple."

Tempesta sighed as well.

"Indeed. The waves are a more pressing issue at the moment. Okay, we need to make a decision. How do we handle this?"

Tyler thought for a moment.

"My suggestion?"

The dragons looked at him.

"Go ahead."

"My party is going to be free for the next three months after this wave. So, I propose have the dragons take wing to get a feel for how the air tastes in the neighboring nations. If one feels foul or disturbed, me and my party will swing in that direction. Since we ARE such a small group, we can get into the cracks others can't."

The three dragons looked at each other.

"This seems to be the most we can do for the time being."

"Infuriating as it may be, I agree."

"Oh. And, I feel like I should make this point."

The looked at him.

"What point?"

Tyler frowned.

"just something that was bothering me about the kill. Tempesta said you ALL used your flames to kill him, right?"

"I did."

"Okay, bare with me. How many dragons were present for the kill?"

Tempesta's eyes narrowed.

"I have been around you long enough to guess. You are thinking we have a traitor in our brethren."

"I do. It just fits way too damn well."

The other two dragons growled. Tyler sighed.

"And NO I do NOT think it's either of you two, NOR Glacious, as I've seen your eyes."

The dragons snorted.

"Why the hells do I feel better now?"

"Agreed. I too feel…oddly relieved to know I have his trust."

Tempesta laughed.

"I too feel relieved as well. Strange as it seems."

Tyler looked at the cowering pope.

"I think…..we're still missing pieces here. Something's just not adding up."

Tempesta looked at him.

"Can you elaborate?"

"I can try. It's just more feeling here then certainty. Why is he going to these lengths? I got from the books he worships the Black One. Yet, the whole time the worship was NOT that of a god-being or icon. It was more….personal."

Tempesta gasped.

"I got the same feeling from them as you did!"

Tyler blinked.

"A child?"

Tempesta nodded.

"I think so. If that is the case, and he was a Warrior, which the black one was as well, then we have a descendent."

"Not necessarily."

The dragon looked at him quizzically.

"explain."

"Okay. In our world, Kaori's mother disappeared ten years ago. Her name is Erica. The two are spitting images of each other. Ishtar here, you traveled with her for how long?"

The king laughed.

"Was starting to worry I was forgotten. We traveled together for two hundred years."

Tyler looked to Kaori.

"She's only fifteen years. So, time here moves faster in relation to our own."

Tempesta blew smoke from his snout.

"I see your reasoning. If they were father and son in their old world and came here separately, it would account for the vast time between them."

"Exactly. And, is we're talking family issues, then the motive is simple enough to figure out. Idolizing son arrives in Lectis to find the one person he loved is dead and is now spending his life to bring him back sorta thing."

the Blue lord sighed.

"So, we now have a reason why. Not sure why that really matters."

"It matters because if we have the reason WHY he is doing this, we can determine just how FAR he is WILLING to go to achieve his goal."

That got the dragon's attention.

"I realize I was mistaken."

"Not mistaken per se, this is just a kind of work more specialized for someone like me."

Kaori snorted.

"It's called psychological profiling. It's a method used in our world to catch criminals. Take the pieces of what you know of the target, and try to build an image of that person in your mind. Tyler here is just scary good at it."

The dragons laughed.

"Scary lad indeed."

"Okay we have our task."

Tyler nodded as Tempesta looked at the pope.

"Him?"

Tyler looked at the Pope. And smiled.

"Him? He's MINE."

Tyler looked to Vixen.

"So, shall we?"

He pulled his Sgian Dao and Malico passed the now grinning Black mage the ring of banned spells. The dragons and the king were horrified.

"You intend to use those on him?"

"Just deserts."

Tyler was now smiling with a wicked light in his eyes that made Wulf spring into action.

"Get Sera, Lillica, Lily and the spirits out of here! This is going to be BAD."

The girls planted their feet.

"We wanna watch!"

"That bastard raped me! I am going to hear HIM scream now!"

"Momma didn't raise no weakling!"

Tyler was now tearing the man's robes open as Vixen hummed as she flipped through the ring. Ishtar then burst out laughing.

"I, King Ishtar Vernillion, do hereby pass sentencing upon the Vile Skyr. He is to receive the Outcast's Punishment."

The dragons all looked at each other, and nodded.

"As Dragon king, I Tempesta Of the Storm, condemn this wretched human to the Outcast's Punishment."

Tyler was not hearing them as he proceeded to cut as Vixen cast Willing Torment.

For the next four hours, the pope screamed in agony as the one called Outcast delivered on his promise to make him scream until he grew bored, as he would heal the man when he was about to pass out or die, only to keep going. Tyler was laughing as he did so.

"I told you I would kill you, Skyr."

Tyler was truly enjoying himself as he made the bastard scream and plead like no doubt hundreds of others did to him. Then, at the six hour mark, Tyler sighed.

"Hey, Lillica. Want a turn?"

The princess smiled sweetly and came over to take the knife.

"You bored?"

"Kinda."

She placed his hand on the handle with hers.

"Well, so am I!"

"Atta girl!"

The pope was still screaming as Vixen had cast a Wailing Agony, which made him feel old wounds, as Tyler and Lillica stabbed him in the heart with his dagger together. The pope died then and Lillica hugged Tyler tightly.

"Thank you. I have longed to hear him scream like that."

Tyler chuckled as he stroked her hair.

"Like I said, Lillica. We'll hold the spike. Together."

The king was also grateful.

"Boy, I was there with you vicariously. Thank you for this. Expect a hero's welcome when you return to term."

"We won't be back until the Ball, Ishtar. City isn't safe yet."

The king chuckled fondly.

"I understand. Nor will I relax."

"For now, keep pulling weeds as we prep for the main mess."

The dragons all lowered their heads.

"We owe you Outcast a great debt for your actions here today."

Tyler smiled as he faced them.

"Well, I look out for my friends."

Tempesta chuckled now himself.

"Well said. Though, now I'm kinda scared as to just WHAT you'll ask in return."

Tyler became thoughtful.

"Our current deal is just fine. Hmm, Ignatia, Furiosa, do YOU have any creatures in particular you hate?"

The green dragon bared her fangs.

"Goblins."

"I think we can make a deal, as I myself have sworn to hunt them to genocide for what they did to Sallie."

Furiosa rumbled.

"I am aware of your deal with Tempesta. So, these will be mine. Scales for every camp eradicated."

"Done! So, do I call to you when I light the pile up?"

"I would prefer to do it myself."

"That works too."

Ignatia tilted his massive head.

"I do not think you have encountered the things, but I have a particular distain for Draugs."

"Those undead dragonkin that the demonkind keep as pets?"

He looked at him.

"I see you HAVE encountered them."

"Just the one. The doppelganger that replaced Lymir thought that a single Draug was enough to do me in."

That got a laugh. Ignatia blew smoke.

"My deal is a trade. Their coin pouch for scales."

"Would you be willing to let me have any opals they have? I collect them for some odd reason."

The dragons looked at each other and then back to him.

"Opals? You collect, opals?"

Tyler shrugged ruefully.

"They're fun to look at?"

Tempesta sighed.

"Opals in this world are considered true treasures by the dragonkin. The bigger they are, the more sough after they become. As such, they are not usually seen by human eyes."

Tyler blinked.

"Wow. We got like what? 30?"

Lillica sighed.

"Dammit, I liked that one!"

The dragons laughed. Then Ignatia looked at them.

"Agreed, Outcast. The opals are yours."

Tyler smiled as Tempesta's eyes flashed with idea.

"I am willing to make a deal with you, Outcast."

"oh shit here we go."

"Hey! That's MY line when YOU say that!"

"And HOW often have we found we think alike?"

The blue dragon blinked now himself.

"Oh shit your right."

Furiosa and ignatia looked at each other in alarm.

"You don't think?"

"I heard the tales, but seeing it first hand? I'm scared now."

Tyler looked at them.

"Am I missing something?"

Tempesta was on the same wavelength.

"What he said?"

Furiosa groaned and covered her eyes with a clawed foot.

"We think he's your reality double, Tempesta."

Tyler and Tempesta looked at each other.

"Umm, why the hell does that fit so freakin well?"

"And WHY am I suddenly so damned-"

"SCARED?"

"RIGHT?"

They were now talking in unison and the watchers all took a collective gulp. Tyler shrugged,

"They were also saying I was your son for SOME freakin reason."

Tempesta lifted his head in shock.

"What the hell?"

"I know right? Kinda cool though."

"I must admit I do like the prospect."

"Wanna just run with it?"

"It'd save our heads."

"Nifty. So, your deal?"

Tempesta bared his fangs.

"In exchange for opals, Mythril."

Tyler frowned as the other dragons gaped at him.

"To be honest? The opal thing just kinda happened. Lillica has one that calms her down when she looks in it, and the one I have was from the first lisk trove me, kaori and Malico ever claimed. So, beyond those two,"

"I want one!"

"Three."

"Yay!"

"Love you too Sera!"

"Teehee!"

The dragons chuckled fondly themselves now.

"So, beyond those three, we really don't have a use for them. If they're that kinda precious to dragons you can have em."

The three dragons laughed.

"Tempesta can get a little….overzealous with things."

"Plus Opals are Glacious' favorite snack."

"Ya don't say."

They looked to see the gears now CLEARLY turning in is mind. Tyler smiled then.

"Explains her scale color."

Tempesta looked at their gear.

"I see you have not used her gifts."

"Not yet, no."

"May I ask your plan?"

He crossed his arms.

"Her scales are very high grade, don't get me wrong, but we just have better materials to work with. We were planning on using them for arrows, as we have high dragon scales and balor horns for materials."

Tempesta looked at Sera.

"Her horn and scales?"

"Used for her and Lily. Since they killed the thing. Lily doesn't really NEED an upgrade as she's got the Additite vest and Shield."

The dragons were shocked.

"We're going to need to see them with our own eyes please."

Lily came up and held her shield up. The dragon's eyes lit up and they blew smoke in shock.

"By the scales, Additite."

Tyler patted Lily's hair as she walked by. Tempesta just shook his head.

"So, you have a truly precious treasure, and yet it is nearly useless to you."

"Not entirely useless. More, hard to use to it's best."

"I understand. Arrows seems a waste."

"Oh, it's a waste alright. I'd…..hold up. I wonder."

Tyler took a scale out and was now looking at it intensely. Kaori sighed.

"Now we say it."

"Love you too kaori!"

Tyler turned the scale this way and that.

"Hay, Kaori? Should we bother with horse armor?"

She jumped.

"Made from dragon scales?"

"If not that, then I can see if Tolic can use these to reinforce our current gear. Or you know, greaves and bracers."

Tempesta sighed.

"The things that boy's mind will come up with on the fly is simply terrifying."

The other dragons were in wholehearted agreement. Tyler sighed.

"We could always use these for infusions."

"That would be the best course, as Glacious' scales do make for beautiful armor."

"We have an option. Okay, the pope is dead, we got a new idiot in the shadows, the dragel is dead, I'm hungry, and I need to look at that skeleton. Is there anything else?"

Ishtar rubbed his beard.

"The church has lost all it's power and influence in my kingdom. And Kazuma is now a hailed hero."

"And he knows exactly who set him up as a hero."

"He does. And he asked me to pass along a few words."

"Oh tis oughta be good."

"You sneaky bastard. I see you're still as wily as ever. I'll play you're game so long as you look after kaori. She better be smiling when we meet up, or I'll start using that nickname again."

"Kaori, if you play that prank, you're sleeping outside."

"Hey! I wasn't gonna!"

"Riiigght."

She stomped her foot in fury.

"I wasn't going to!"

Tyler smiled as Ishtar looked at Lillica.

"He passed along a message to you too, Lillica."

She became rather…flustered.

"Oh, he did, father? What'd he say about me?"

"He said he's looking forward to seeing you at the Ball."

Lillica got a happy smile, and Tyler looked at Kaori.

"I think you need to have a wee chat with the lady."

"And YOU need to have a wee chat with the boy."

"So we're in agreement?"

"We are."

Lillica looked at them with a pleading expression.

"Please don't ruin it for me!"

They patted her affectionately.

"We won't ruin it."

"More make a few things clear to Kazuma. Oh, and give him a warning to NOT make my OTHER sister cry."

She gasped, before hugging them both.

"Love you too, brother and sister."

Tyler smiled as he and Kaori hugged the princess. Ishtar had a happy tear in his eye. Sera sighed.

"I'm here TOO ya know!"

Tyler looked at her indignantly.

"Oi! I play with you all the damn time. Let Lillica get a hug every now and then too!"

Lily sighed.

"Sera's the jealous type."

"Hey!"

Lillica smiled.

"Greedy too."

"Heeey! Mean!"

her indignant whine making even the dragons chuckle. Tempesta looked to the other dragons.

"we have work to do."

They nodded. Then Tempesta looked at Tyler.

"I have a new title for you, Outcast."

"Oh?"

"It is Dragon Heart."

Wulf jumped in shock. Tyler looked at him.

"You okay?"

The elven ranger was a little pale.

"Someone with Dragon heart is basically the most trusted ally to the dragons. Unless I am mistaken, it is the single highest honor a dragon can bestow."

Tyler blinked and looked at Tempesta.

"Thank you, and we will do what we can."

All three dragons bestowed the title upon the party, including the spirits. Then Ishtar looked to Tempesta.

"Lord Blue. A request."

"Speak, king of Humans."

"My humble request is if you could grant the Outcast the power to use this communication image you yourself are using."

"I see. Very well."

Tyler blinked as Tempesta placed a translucent scale the size of a gold coin in Tyler's hand. Ishtar also was given one on his end. Tyler looked at the blue coin.

"We're gonna have to watch we don't mistake this for a real coin."

They laughed as Tempesta looked at them.

"To activate it, simply state the name of the one you wish to contact. It works both ways."

Tyler placed it in Malico's hand for her secret pouch. Then Tempesta placed an extra four sets on top of a pile of 50 scales, which the other two dragons also placed on the ground. Tyler smiled.

"Thank you. We'll put them to the best use we can."

They added the comms coi8ns and scales to pouches as the dragons readied to take off.

"We shall get to our search."

"we'll go get our reward off the guild."

The dragons flew off as Tyler placed the comms coin on the ground and called Ishtar's name. The king appeared and he sighed.

"We went from a known enemy to a shadow."

Tyler rubbed his eyes.

"well, at least the pope is dead. That's a victory."

Ishtar smiled.

"Indeed it is. I wish to bestow a title myself."

"Okay."

"it's Champion of the People. Boosts strength and stamina."

"We'll keep at it."

Ishtar smiled as he added more beard hairs to their HUD's.

"Still ew."

"She's still learning."

"My poor soul."

Tyler smiled as he then remembered something.

"Oh, hey, Ishtar I got a question for ya."

"Oh this oughta be good."

"Okay, me and my party are planning to purchase a house in Raylik. Now, we don't need anything special from the King for this do we?"

Ishtar just blinked as what he just said processed.

"Are you seeking a base?"

"Yup. Plus, since we roam so much, the plan was to have a haven in the places we go to the most."

"I see. Well, it really depends on the city itself. Though, as far as the crown is concerned? Long as you pay your taxes, we have really no part to play there."

"Okay. Just needed the info. We'll go finish up with the job and get paid."

"I'll go give word that the pope is dead."

The king vanished and Tyler flipped the coin to Malico.

"Let's get this done."

They walked to their camp and were tearing it down when Tempesta came in to slam in front of the cave.

"Now that you're out of the way."

The blue lord threw his head back as he drew in a massive breath of air before sending his raging breath into the cave. The heat was so extreme Tyler and his party were sweating a good hundred yards away. The dragon breathed his flames for a solid fifteen minutes before leaping to the side and Furiosa took her turn pouring heat and flame into the melting rock cave. She went for the next fifteen, and then Ignatia was last. Tyler and his team watched as the three dragons worked in tandem for fifteen minute intervals for two hours straight. Then Tempesta looked at the party.

"Brace for the cold!"

The dragons flew of laughing as the heat died as suddenly as it began. And even though they were standing in direct sunlight in summer, with the exception of Tyler and Lucy, everyone started shivering. Tyler chuckled as he saw the cave was now just molten rock a hundred feet deep.

"So, that's their flame."

Sera was shaking as she looked at a still fine Tyler.

"How the hell are you not cold?"

"I'm from a colder region. Plus, I've never really FELT the cold."

Kaori was shivering.

"he was a freak like that. There'd be a blizzard outside and he'd run around like that."

Ashy was in agreement.

"Whereas everyone else would be bundled up, he'd just come waltzing in wearing maybe a thicker shirt."

Tyler shrugged as they finished tearing down the camp.

"You don't feel the cold if your disciplined."

Lucy burst out laughing.

"That was exactly the line me father gave me in the tundra."

The rest of the party were glaring at them as they moved to the Dragel skeleton. Tyler took one look and smiled.

"Wow. I see nothing we can use. Well done everyone."

They smiled as they then mounted up.

"What was the haul?"

The girls smiled.

"2500 gold, 3500 silver, 4300 copper. Kaori placed them in the pouch while you were out."

"Gems?"

"Another across the board mass. Plus a few daggers and the vest."

"Not a bad haul."

They rode back to town and found the pile of banned goods was now close to thirty feet. Wallace and Vollock greeted them as they returned.

"Bit off more an you could chew?"

Tyler sighed.

"More we found something worse. And, we can't say anything more about it."

Wallace tilted his head towards the pile.

"It have to do with that?"

"Worse, Wallace. FAR worse."

The two sailors nodded.

"We understand lad. Take care out there."

"Aye, Cap'n."

They laughed as they returned to the guild hall. They walked in and the rowdy bunch hailed them.

"Made ya work for it, didn't it?"

"Not really. Lily killed it."

They went silent, and the lady they'd talked to before saw her bestiary.

"Confirmed. Lily killed the dragel."

Tyler sighed as the lady looked to him.

"Sir, we request you present your bestiary."

"we'll do it in Raylik."

She nodded.

"Very well. But, may we at least ask what the strongest thing you've killed is?"

"A Lich King."

The room went so silent you coulda heard a mouse fart. Tyler brought u-p his HUD and showed the kill.

"By the gods. Confirmed. Tyler the Outcast has killed a Lich King singlehandedly."

Tyler shrugged.

"It had a bone to pick with me."

Not a sound was heard from his joke as the other adventurers just looked at him. Tyler looked to his crew.

"It wasn't THAT bad."

The lady gulped.

"Sir, the joke was funny, but so you are aware, you are only the SECOND to kill a Lich King and live to tell the tale. Period. In all of recorded history, only ONE other being has killed a Lich king and lived."

"oh, really?"

"Yes. As such, look at your titles."

Tyler did and he tilted his head.

"Lich's Bane?"

She nodded.

"This the SECOND time that title has appeared in Lectis. It boosts willpower, mental fortitude, perception, and strength by 250. As only one of the most extreme will can conquer such a fell creature. How long did you take to kill it's mental attack?"

"All of three hours. I was out for a further nine."

She started shaking now.

"Sir, please that's just not possible."

"I got Tempesta as a witness."

The name drop made the room go even more quiet before he pulled up his HUD and went to his other stats.

"Plus. I am NOTHING'S puppet."

She looked at his stats.

"Perception: 900? Mental fortitude 2500? Willpower….5000?"

She looked at him in awe and with more then a little intimidation.

"I see. So that's why."

Tyler chuckled.

"Enter MY mind and you will never come out."

She gulped.

"Okay, it's undeniable. He killed a Lich King singlehandedly."

Tyler smiled.

"So, Lily's gold?"

She smiled and gave the reward. Then the party got the Guild Avenger title. Tyler smiled now.

"Okay, let's regroup at the mansion and go from there."

He bought a news crystal and off they went. Soon as they left, the lady looked to the hall.

"That's a party of gods and goddesses."

Tyler and his party walked in to Lymir's mansion and headed to the dining hall to plan their next move. As they sat down, Lymir herself came in wearing a mere slip to join the table. She smiled as she joined them.

"I take it your midnight adventure had a little more then you bargained for?"

"Tyler had to kill a Lich King, Lymir. Alone."

She went white with shock.

"What?"

She then got his bestiary shown to her, and looked at him with awe.

"Lich's Bane."

"We found something in that Hollow Lymir. And it was dark."

She gulped.

"How bad?"

"The puppeteer was a puppet himself."

She had to hold the table as she understood.

"By the gods."

Tyler looked at Malico.

"I need a question answered, Malico."

She nodded and she took the scroll out. The first line read.

"Can she be trusted?"

"With the spirits."

"Very well. What is your question?"

"Is it possible to return the dead to life as that Raiser is plotting?"

The scroll went blank for a moment before asking a question.

"Why do you seek this answer?"

"To see if we are on a time limit. If it can be done, then we're racing to kill him BEFORE he can complete his goal."

"A most astute question then. It is NOT possible. It was only done the once, and Death itself plugged the hole."

"Is there ANOTHER hole?"

The scroll went blank again.

"We see your reasoning. Death has been informed and is searching as we speak. If such a hole has appeared, he will find it soon."

"I'd ask to look for, 'thinner' areas as well."

"Death is most thorough. He will do this as well."

Tyler crossed his arms as Lymir was brought up to speed by Kaori.

"Did you enjoy the show?"

The scroll scrunched up into a happy grin.

"ALL the deities did. We thank you for that."

"Even though we found an even worse problem behind it."

"That is the way of the world Mortal."

"True. As exhausting as it is, trouble never stops coming."

The scroll was seen to pantomime a sigh.

"Indeed. And for what it's worth, you have our sympathies."

Tyler smiled.

"Appreciated. But, at least it keeps life more interesting."

"That it does mortal. That it does."

Tyler was rubbing his face when he felt a familiar unsettling presence in the room.

"Death has arrived."

He got up and faced the specter with the scythe, standing between it and the group.

"Was there a hole?"

It spoke in it's bone rattling voice.

"There was. No more. And the 'thinner' areas in your words shorn up."

Tyler sighed with relief.

"Okay, we have time."

Death chuckled.

"This is twice you have looked Death in the face, mortal. Most impressive. Now, I owe you a debt for finding this plot to spit in Death's face."

"I see."

Tyler felt the presences of the two spirits behind him, and he sensed Death look at them.

"I sense Spirit Shell. MY own ability. Your boon, will be their gift maximized."

Tyler tilted his head.

"If I recall, then they get to run in the flesh and only need to swap out for five minutes once a day, right?"

"Yes, Mortal. You are indeed correct. Plus, all the trappings of a mortal bond."

"Very well, Death, I thank you for this boon."

"Step forward spirits."

The two girls stepped to stand before Death, and it waved it's arm. They glowed and as it vanished they looked at their HUDs.

"We only need to stay spirits for five minutes total once a day!"

Tyler waited until they were back behind him before addressing Death.

"Fair warning, but I fear there my be more attempts at a hole in the future before we find this bastard."

It chuckled.

"I am aware. You have alerted Death to a challenge to it's absoluteness, now it is answering this insult."

"We will do what we can on this end."

"I have done what I set out to do. Farewell Mortal, May I never find you beneath my blade."

Death left and he sighed with relief.

"That guy is intense."

Tyler then looked to see Sallie and Sylvia sitting in their Shell forms with Sera and Lily. Wulf was smiling as tyler sat back down by the scroll.

"They're going to love their adventure."

"Oh hell yeah."

Tyler looked back at the scroll.

"Okay, Death plugged the hole."

"we are aware, Mortal. Death is now on alert. Well done."

"We do what we can."

"And that is all we ask. Now, Death granted his boon. Now, We of the Scale will as well."

"We all thank you."

"As a reward for your outstanding feats to defend this world, we bestow the title of Scale Balancer upon the party. This title signifies you as a friend to the Scale and Justness deities as a whole. It boosts willpower, Mental fortitude and Perception."

Their HUDs all glowed and the title was seen. Tyler smiled.

"We offer our thank, Goddess."

"This simply a balancing of the Scale. I also name YOU Tyler the Outcast My champion. As such, the title Champion of Minus is added to your list. It bestows the ability to contact me, you patron Goddess at any temple dedicated to the Scale. Or a bank."

Tyler smiled.

"That fits more then it should. We can still use the scroll, though right?"

"Indeed. It's just easier to talk in a temple."

"I will do what I can."

"Farewell, Mortal. Until the next crisis."

"Or the next batshit question."

"I freely admit I look forward to those."

"Nice to see I'm entertaining at least."

The scroll rolled up and Tyler gave it to Malico. Then he sighed.

"If the bastard is on the other side of the world, we can't reach him."

Wulf sighed as well.

"Not necessarily."

Tyler looked at him.

"The waves?"

"After the first, the next wave's staging ground moves. So, we'd have three months to get there and set up."

Tyler sighed again.

"Of course it does."

He then looked to a pale faced Lymir.

"You good?"

The mermaid blinked.

"Just a little shocked I looked Death in the face and lived."

"I'd say you get used to it, but then the next deity shows up."

They chuckled as Tyler rubbed his eyes.

"Where are we with the search?"

"They have maybe ten buildings left."

"Let's get this done first."

The party nodded. Tyler looked to Sallie and Sylvia.

"You two go spirit. Until we're either in camp with the spells up or in Raylik you're not safe."

They nodded.

"Kay!"

"I'll keep watch when you 'occupied' as well."

That got a chuckled as the two girls glowed and turned into spirits. Tyler smiled as tey walked out.

"We need to schedule a trip to Cragspire Wulf."

The ranger nodded.

"We do. Warlund and Marlene will lose it."

The party returned to town and joined the search. Tyler putting on gloves to prevent burns, and together they cleared the last ten buildings in2 hours. As Tyler threw the last wand onto the pile, Vollock came up.

"We're searching the ships now."

"That shouldn't take too long, no one knows these vessels better then those that sail em."

That got a smile.

"Aye lad."

The he looked at the now fifty foot pile.

"These?"

"A bonfire. A BIG bonfire."

The sea captain sighed.

"We found so much it's scary."

Tyler chuckled.

"Least it's getting done right."

The man nodded as Tyler joined a crew searching a ship. We went from the pan to the fire here. Now we have to hunt down a Shadow Lord. One I have not seen the once. Fuckin perfect. Tyler then pushed the worry out of his mind to better focus on the task at hand. There were maybe three dozen ships of varying sizes in the harbor, but, the industrious sailors that walked their decks for weeks on end along with the Outcasts cleared then all in a mere three hours. Then the once over was given, and the double check and triple. By late afternoon the town was declared clear. Lymir came to watch the match get thrown, and she was actually clothed for once. Her outfit being a light gown and sandals. She came and stood beside Tyler and looked at the pile. It stood 55 feet tall, and was a good 15 feet across. Tyler chuckled.

"We ready to light it up?"

The people got back as Tyler took in a breath.

"Ocean dragon Roarrrr!"

He breathed Tempesta's blue flames and started at the base. HE walked in a slow circle around the base of the pile, pouring his flames into the pile as he went. The flames caught, but he kept pouring the fire on until he was satisfied it was good and set. He drank a mana potion and looked at his handiwork. The flames were a deep blue, and bathed the blue hued town in it's light. Tyler walked to where Lymir was standing with Kaori and sighed.

"It'll burn for a good while."

The mermaid nodded.

"We'll keep adding flames until it's destroyed."

Tyler kissed Kaori just because he wanted to, and chuckled.

"I think I'll go power down for a bit. Wanna join me?"

The blonde beauty smiled.

"We'll commandeer her bed again."

The mermaid laughed.

"This point it's your bed too."

The duo returned to the mansion And went right for her room. Tyler removed his gear and flopped into her soft bed as Sallie and Sylvia sat on it to keep watch. Tyler had a thought and cast his three spells.

"Wanna join us girls?"

They squealed as used their Shells as Kaori smiled as well. Tyler had Kaori resting her head on his Shoulder and the two spirits between them. He snuggled the two girls into Kaori's welcoming body as they wrapped them up tightly.

"This feels nice."

The girls smiled as he drifted off.