𝑇𝐻𝐼𝑆 𝐼𝑆 𝐵𝑂𝑅𝐼𝑁𝐺. Thinks the Goblin King. As he sits upon a makeshift throne of broken gear from adventures, and the broken bodies of those same adventures as they rot and decay. His recent toy having just died on him has left him unsatisfied. So he tosses her broken body to some of his underlings for them to do with as they pleased. He could just get a new one; he is the Goblin King. All he had to do after all was walk over to any number of toys screaming about and begin again. 𝐵𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡 a 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑛 𝑖𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑡𝑜𝑦𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑜𝑛. 𝑂𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡. As the Goblin King sits there mulling over his opinions something new and different screams out.
"RAMPAGE!!!"
This causes the Goblin King to stand up. A sick twisted smile crosses his face.
𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑐𝑡. 𝐴 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑡𝑜𝑦 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑠ℎ… 𝐻𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑠𝑛'𝑡 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡. 𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑠?
While he ponders what happened to the guards, the goblins closest to the intruder grab their weapons and attack. Each one wanted to have her first. They jump at her, knives, spears, clubs and hatchets in hand.
Kino's five senses are in overdrive; she registers everything in slow motion. Every muscle in her body tightens like springs ready for release. And just before the weapons strike flesh she's gone. Causing the goblins to crash into the floor.
"Close Combat: Meteor Strike Pinball." Kino uses the wall and the goblin champions to pinball around the room.
"GA?!" Five of the champions are grabbing at their throats not aware that their tracheas have been crushed. They drop to their knees trying to breathe. They die a slow painful death.
"Close Combat: Armament Dragon Strikes!" Kino is back in front of the first set of goblins. Each goblin has their face caved in by Kino's punches.
She's gone again before their bodies hit the floor. The onslaught goes on.
"Hmm. How interesting. "
"Oh, has she piqued your interest Corin?" Asked Fiora as she and her companions stand in the shadows watching Kino fight.
"Not really. No."
"You're a big fat liar Corin."
"How am I a liar Poppy?"
"Cause you've never taken interest in a human before." Responds Silver.
"Pay attention you three." Scolds Fiora.
Yes ma'am all three answer in unison.
"Ma'am, where is Holly?" Asked Corin.
"I sent her to protect the remaining humans who are still alive."
"Um, somethings wrong with the human." Silver points out.
Kino has hit a wall. (Not literally) she simply ran out of stamina. As of right now her time limit in rampage mode is nine seconds. And that limit is up. One of the goblin champions sees his chance and moves in for the kill. Raising his club up he brings it down connecting with nothing but the ground.
"Gruuu?"
"Wow you're slow, aren't you big guy?" Taunts Silver.
"Corin, keep her safe."
"Of course."
"...How…did…?"
"I save you?" Fiora finishes Kino's sentence for her as she places Kino on the ground. "Silver here is a faerie known for his quick and agile magic. He granted me some of that magic to boost my speed. Now you need to rest. I'll handle the rest of them."
"Save…the…boss…for…me."
"No promises. Poppy, let's go." With that Fiora walks away, Poppy flying beside her.
"Who…are…you…guys?" Kino asks while trying to get her breathing under control.
"My name is Corin. I specialize in combat and tactics."
Corin is the same height and slender build as Fiora. He has long jet black hair with sharp blue eyes. He's dressed in a white dress shirt, a pair of black pants and boots. His wings are a mix of blue and white. He wields a double-chain and kama that can materialize when he needs it.
"You can call…Hey don't go to sleep when someone's talking to you. It's rude, you know." Remarks Sliver.
"I'm not sleeping. I'm meditating, closing my eyes helps me to relax and focus on my breathing."
"Med-i-tating? Oh is that the same as masturbating?"
Kino opens her eyes and sits up looking at Silver hovering just in front her. Kino holds out her hand allowing Silver to land in her palm. He's the size of Kino's hand from the tip of her middle finger down to her wrist, has short frosty spiked hair, and his eyes are a pearl sage green. He's wearing a silver vest that's open in the front and silver and black checkered pants. Even his wings are silver.
"No it's not."
"Are you sure? I've heard human men say that masturbating helps them to relax. So I figured meditating was the human female version of that." Explained Silver.
"Yes I'm sure and in this case meditating restores my stamina."
"Oh, ok. My name is Silver. It's nice to meet you."
"I'm Kino, and it's nice to meet you as well."
"Hey Kino, Why didn't you use your enchanted shoes to kill all the goblins?"
"If I always relied on my enchanted gear I would become complacent. And if I suddenly lost my gear I'd be screwed. So I train without them."
"How do you know the master's son? Asked Corin.
"He's a party member and a friend."
"I see."
"Why do you call Fiora master? Are you her summons?"
"Because she is older than us, we call her master out of respect. And we are not her summons, we have the freedom to come and go as we please."
"Yeah, all four of us like traveling with her. So we stick around." Adds Silver.
"That one is Poppy…who is naked. Why is she naked?" Kino asked.
"Yes that is Poppy. As to why she's naked it's just how she is. Does it bother you?" Asked Corin.
𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑡𝑦? Thinks Kino before responding. "Nope, not at all. Who's the fourth?"
"Holly is…" Corin trails off. An angry look crosses his face.
"Corin go check on Holly now!" Shouts Fiora as she nimbly dodges a fireball.
"Go! I'm fine here." Kino assures him. Corin doesn't hesitate and darts back down the way they came.
"Are you guys linked by magic?" Asked Kino.
"Yes, and right now something big is trying to smash through Holly's barrier magic." Responds Silver.
"Alright breaktime is over. Time I got back in the fight." Kino gets up off the ground and is ready to go.
"Hold on. Master is getting ready to end this."
Kino does as she's told this time. Mostly out of curiosity of what's about to happen.
"Dance of the Lotus Blossom."
*
"That's a big ass troll." Said Luna.
"Well shit. Now what?" Asked Abby.
"We have to kill it. Otherwise those people will die. What's the best way to do that?" Asked Kiyo.
"Fire or acid should work." Replies a voice from behind them.
"Who are you?" Kiyo asked, eyeing the newcomer.
"Corin, it's been awhile."
"Hello Corym."
"Is he a friend of yours Corym?" Asked Leo.
"A friend of my mother. So Corin, where is she?" Inquires Corym.
"Fighting the goblins."
"Was a girl named Kino with her?" Asked Kiyo.
"Yes, however she exhausted her stamina, and is currently resting."
"That sounds like something she'd do."
"I can take you to her after we deal with this troll." Offers Corin.
"Thank you."
Everyone looks at the troll who has yet to notice them. His focus has been on smashing some invisible wall that's keeping him from his food. He swings his massive fists over and over determined to get what he wants. And that's to kill this little girl, eat her, and then eat the others. With each strike the child flinches but stands her ground nonetheless.
"Who's the kid?" Asks Alice.
"That's Holly. She's a faerie who specializes in defensive and protection magic. She's one of my friends."
Holly looks like a seven year old who's playing dress up in a shrine maiden outfit.
"Hey Luna, come over here for a second."
"What's up Kiyo?"
Kiyo whispers his plan to her.
"You got it. I'll get it set up."
"Corin, you're skilled in combat aren't you?"
"I am."
"Think you can piss the troll off enough to chase after you?"
"Of course." Corin responds. Then heads towards the troll. Materializing his double-chain kamas as he goes. After a few minutes have passed.
"Luna, you ready?"
"All set. Bring it over."
Kiyo gets Corin's attention, then points to Luna. Corin nods his head in acknowledgement and breaks away from the troll after a few more slashes. The troll doesn't give chase. Instead he's back to striking at the invisible wall.
"Fire Magic: Fireball!" Luna launches and hits the back of the troll's head. He turns around and gets blasted in the face with another fireball. Now he's pissed off and charges towards Luna who's getting ready with a third fireball. She cancels her spell and retreats down the tunnel behind her. Just as the troll draws near.
"Trap Magic: Pitfall." Luna casts her spell and the troll disappears down the hole. The troll lets out a howl of pain, having been impaled on the wooden spikes at the bottom of the pit. "And now Poison Magic: Poison Mist." Luna begins filling the hole with poison. Once the poison mist has filled up most of the hole Luna waves Holly over who had joined the others after watching the troll drop into the pit.
"Holly, can you put a barrier over the opening to keep the poison in?"
"Sure."
"Kiyo was suffocating the troll with poison, your plan from the start?"
"No it wasn't Leo. I only asked Luna to make a pitfall trap."
"I came up with the idea of using poison and Holly's barrier to contain it."
"Will that kill the troll? Asked Alice.
"I'll return with master and the other's later to check on it."
"Thanks Corin."
"You are welcome, Kiyo. And now I'll take you to Kino."
"You guys go on ahead." Alice tells them. "I want to do what I can to help those who are injured"
"I'll stay with her." Said Abby.
"Me too." Proclaimed Luna.
"As will I." Said Holly. "I want to keep that barrier in place a little longer."
"Alright once everyone is able to move, let's meet outside." Kiyo tells them.
Everyone agrees. Corin leads the remaining group back to where Kino is.
"Is everything alright Corin? Asks Fiora upon seeing him return.
"Yes. A troll appeared but it's been dealt with. Maybe?"
"Give me the details later."
"Of course. And I see you kept the Goblin King alive like Kino asked of you."
"More like she got in my way to insure I didn't kill it." Fiora responds.
"...Damn it…this toy…is." Grumbled the Goblin King while trying to catch his breath.
"Did you just call me a toy?"
"You can understand me."
"Yes I can understand you just fine."
The Goblin King doesn't waste any time. "Please spare my life, I beg you." He's down on his hands and knees. His forehead pressed to the ground as he begs for his life. 𝑂𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑚𝑒 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑓𝑢𝑛 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑝𝑠𝑒. Thinks the Goblin King.
"Raise your head."
Hearing these words, the Goblin King begins to raise his head. 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑝𝑖𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑦. 𝐴𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑖𝑒. Now fully upright while on his knees he still towers over Kino a bit. It doesn't stop her from hitting him with a Bolley Kick splattering his thoughts all over the place.
"Piece of fucking shit." Comments Kino. She spits on the corpse and walks away.
"You ready to go sis?"
"Yeah, let's go." Kino's answer is cold. Her once happy, cheerful energy is gone.
*
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes, Commander Rien."
Even though they're inside a tent Rien keeps the hood of her assassins long vest up.
"How many stand with us this night Captain Brodi?"
"Two thousand members of the Templars who stand with us as True Believers."
"Wonderful. That will only add to the confusion. Including my two hundred, this city will fall in no time."
"Sir. Ma'am. Everyone is in place and ready to start the massacre." A True Believer informs them.
"You're having a massacre party and didn't invite me, that's awfully rude you know. I think I might cry."
Standing before them is a demon. His skin is dark red with white markings covering his arms and chest.
He's tall with a slim build. He wears an X leather harness on his torso, black canvas shorts, and black laced leather boots.
"How…" The man covers his mouth with his hands trying to stop the bleeding.
"Shh. Insignificant humans should be seen and not heard." Said the demon holding the True Believers tongue in his hand. The demon holds out his hand offering to give the True Believer his tongue back. Hesitantly the young man reaches out, his hand covered in blood. The demon makes a fist crushing the tongue, and the young man falls apart like a human meat puzzle.
"Bastard!" Yells the Captain only to have his head twisted around. It now faces his killer Rein. His body crumbles to the ground.
"Hello Beelzebub. Been awhile. How are you?"
"Hello Rien. How is my favorite little psychopath?"
"Did you kill the rest of the True Believers?" Rien asks instead of answering Beelzebub.
"No. I was ordered not to."
"How do you explain these two then?"
"One. I only killed one."
Rein removes her hood and shakes her head allowing her pink hair to flow free. Her green eyes looking straight at Beelzebub. She reaches up to tuck a few strands of hair behind her pointy ear. Then with that same hand she pulls on the bottom of her right eyelid and sticks out her tongue at him. "Tell me why you're here, Beelzebub?"
"I bring a message from Her Majesty."
"Oh, And what does Her Majesty wish of me?"
"She wishes to see the fighting skills of Abaddon's party."
"Please inform Her Majesty I will do my best. But I need a favor from you in return, Beelzebub?"
"Oh, what might that be?"
"Use your gluttony skill and transform into Captain Brodi to kick off this massacre for me."
"Sure why not."
*
"Is everyone accounted for?" Kiyo asks now that they're back outside in the cool night air.
"Silver and I are here." Replies Poppy.
Poppy is the same size as Silver. Dark skinned with platinum hair and green eyes. She specializes in earth and nature magic.
"Master, Corin, and Holly will meet us at the Adventurers Guild once they have confirmed the troll is dead.
"Looks like we're all here Kiyo." Said Leo.
"Pardon me, but may I have a moment of your time?" Asks a newcomer having suddenly popped up beside Kiyo.
Kiyo goes to draw Onyx when he's stopped by Abby.
"Wait, I know him."
"Please forgive me. It was not my intention to startle you." Apologized the stranger. "However you really should work on your detection ability."
"Why are you here Asmodeus?" Demanded Abby.
"Your presence has been requested this evening."
"And if I refuse."
"My apologies young mistress. But the request is for your friends."
"Do we have a choice?" Kino asked.
"You do. However, I highly recommend you accept it."
"Very well. Please lead the way." Answered Kiyo.
"Right this way everyone." With a sweeping motion of his hand a door appears. "Watch your step." Said Asmodeus as he opened the door.
One by one they walk through or for those that have wings they fly through the door.
"Um, isn't this Jay's office?" Asks Alice.
"It is. But I asked him to step out so we could talk."
All heads turn and stare in disbelief at the speaker.
"Introducing the ruler of The Netherlands Queen La-Tif!" Announces Asmodeus.
Standing there dressed in a stunning sleeveless silver rose gown made from rich black velvet while the front is made of silver taffeta. The central portion of the dress is decorated with silver roses set against a series of intersecting lines. Without her black boots on she stands at two hundred forty-three centimeters. Her long purple hair goes halfway down her back. Her eyes are blood red.
"You're so big." The comment slips out before Kino realizes she said it.
"Are you referring to my height or my breasts?"
"..."
"Relax everyone. Let's drop the formalities, it's only us here. Come have a seat." Said The Queen. "But not you Abaddon. I want you to stand beside me."
"Yes your Majesty."
"Abby, what's going on?" Asked Luna.
"Abaddon sweetie you haven't told them yet?"
"No your Majesty. I haven't told them."
"Why not? Are they not your friends?"
"Because I don't want things to change between us."
"Abby, did you forget I know who you are." Corym asked her.
"No…I remember. But the others."
"Oh just tell us already." Said Kino.
"…"
"Go ahead dear, we're waiting." Said The Queen.
"I'm the third princess of The Netherlands. My full name is Abaddon La-Tif. And this is my mother Queen Cesmak La-Tif.