Chapter 36: Banter – Part 2

Chapter 36: Banter – Part 2

We spend a long while waiting. When lunch time comes we share lights snacks to keep the hunger away but not slow us down with a full belly.

I see water mages orderly cast [Filling Waters] into buckets, then every mage passes by and takes a drink. Since this spell is free extra mana regeneration then there's no reason not to use it.

A few wind and fire elementals appear around the other towers and the wall, our tower is certainly filled with elementals in comparison. I see small ethereal beings once in a while, the [(Element) Spirit] spells are seemingly rarer than elementals.

Thankfully Horvath's and Silvane's group had their own Blessing mage cast spells on them so I only had to apply the buffs to the girls.

Slowly a huge wooden platform comes towards the south gate. On top of it we can see multiple structures: four domes at each corner, possibly where the magic tools that keep it afloat are located; at the center is a house-like structure where multiple people can be seen coming and leaving it, the command center; in front of it a the border there's the biggest ballista that I have ever seen, the Dragon's Bane.

It's made entirely out of glossy brown metal, darksteel, an alloy of steel with emellanat that allows it to hold enchantments. Golden lines run through it and I see the glint of multiple, head-sized magic crystals at the base. It floats perfectly still while a man effortlessly spins it around and tests all the mechanisms. Bolts as thick as a person and as long as a bus are organized horizontally in a wooden belt.

"There's grandpa," Lyle says. He points to the 5 people standing beside the ballista. Lord Alaraste, his wife Giana, Haaran, Vanea, and finally Werner Rizek.

While it's impressive that Lord Alaraste is level 102, Werner has some impressive stats.

Soul InfoName:Werner RizekRace:HumanLevel:140MP26,240Magic Power10,011

I see the 4 members of Great Destiny appear out of the central structure of the platform, they stand behind the Lord.

The huge platform passes us and hovers over the south gate, to the happiness of the guards posted below it. No arrows will reach them while the platform is there.

A few minutes later Alissa narrows her eyes while looking at the forest.

"They have arrived," she says.

Captain Entoli hears Alissa and stirs up the bored soldiers. Slowly the entire battlefield seems to get ready.

Suddenly the sky is darkened by hundreds and hundreds of arrows that are lobbed towards us.

"ATTACK! GET TO COVER!" Bellows Captain Entoli.

We run towards our static cover and unfold the wooden boards, they are slanted and give us enough cover to sustain a frontal attack or one from the skies.

The arrows fall on the wood and a few crude bone tips pierce through the planks. The thuds of the arrows continue for a few long seconds until they pepper and finally stop.

Complete silence on the battlefield as we tentatively peek out from our cover.

"Seems clear!" A soldier yells.

"That was a taunt!" The Captain yells.

"KIII KIK BAKAWK!" Comes a chant out of the forest. "KII KIK BWKAWK"

The harpies chant their war cry a few more times then grow silent.

"Lord Alaraste!" Booms a male voice deep from the forest, the tell-tale signs of vocal magical enhancement are present. "I have come for your head!" The voice is strained and seems about to crack at any moment.

"You have said that the last time!" Alaraste answers, amused. His voice is also magically enhanced.

"This time I bring a surprise!"

"Is it babies?" Alarastes asks in an aloof tone.

"What!?" The Cooka-bleh voice's cracks.

"Babies, baby harpies. There is a new dish called 'hot wings' spreading through Rabanara," he says and pulls a bucket of Buffalo wings from his [Item Box], "The main ingredient is baby harpies, their wings and thighs specifically, but there's not enough baby harpies in town, we are in dire need of more of your babies," Alaraste says and takes a bite out of a thigh.

The harpy war cry starts to grow in volume again as they become more agitated.

"You, filthy, cannibals! Don't you have shame to eat a being so similar to you!?" Cooka-meh yells in an increasingly higher pitched tone.

"You are a monster, we eat monsters," Alaraste answers flatly.

"You dare eat MY CHILDREN!?" The voice booms so loud my ears hurt. The chanting grows louder.

"Oh please, Cookachickadoodoolee," Alaraste says the tongue-twister with ease and throws the bucket away, "we all know how limp you are, the harpies are your minions, not your lovers."

"My, name, is, KOTICK O'DOLEE!" The voice cracks again. "Your own grandfather named me this way. Show some respect!"

"Actually, that's the name of the adventurer whom you first met, he didn't give you a name so grandfather called you 'Kotick's monster' or 'O'Dolee's monster'. I'm sorry, but you don't really have a name, until I named you, that is."

An awkward silence lingers in the air for a few seconds.

"What?" the Cooka-thing asks in a faint voice.

"I thought you knew that. Did you seriously not know the name of the adventurer that found you? The one you loved so much?"

"I wasn't... I couldn't, I couldn't understand! I wasn't aware of the world during that time!" Cooka-ugh's voice breaks down and he seems to be crying.

"Please, keep your mental breakdown to yourself," Alaraste says on a tired tone. "Now, you said you had a surprise for us, so, is it babies?"

"Filthy, HUMANOOOOIDS!"

Oh the humanity.

The harpies chant again, louder and louder. Arrows fly again.

"TAKE COVER!" The Captain bellows.

This barrage only lasts a second.

"INCOMING!" A soldier warns.

I look out from behind my cover and now see a dark cloud of harpies approaching, fast.

"Gih." Gify pops out of existence, he's not necessary so he's just going to rest. See ya later.

Currently the cover boards can cover 3 people comfortably, so we spread like this: me, Alissa, and Nononya on a board to the left; Roxanne, Hana, and Aoi to the right; Ciel, Lina, and Lyle to the middle and behind; Horvath and a knight to the back-left; Helena and a knight to the back-right.

My MP increased by 320 (now 1170) and my "Magic Power" increased by 145 (now 440). [Increased Growth] could be actually helpful.

Alissa's MP increased by 230 (now 575) and her "Magic Power" increased by 155 (now 270).

Roxanne's MP increased by 640 (now 1910) and her "Magic Power" increased by 390 (now 690). She really didn't slack on her mana training this time.

Hana's MP increased by 190 (now 515) and her "Magic Power" increased by 100 (now 205). A few points in [Mana Overuse Resistance] helped a lot on Hana's training.

Ciel's MP increased by 295 (now 1180) and her "Magic Power" increased by 130 (now 400). Me and Ciel are now matched in power, though I have a bigger spell repertoire right now.

Lina's MP increased by 230 (now 670) and her "Magic Power" increased by 110 (now 275). I gave [Throw] to Lina with 4 points, now she can finally use the javelins we bought.

My skills and the girls are like this:

SpoilerInfoName:Wolf RyderAge:16Race:HumanHP:100MP:1170Magic Power:440Level:22Experience:7146/7500 StatsStrength:11Endurance:12Dexterity:11Speed:12Intelligence:21Wisdom:16Willpower:17Charisma:12Piety:14Perception:16Sanity:8+4 OtherStatus Effects:NONETitles:"Good Luck"Nickname, Blessing from the Goddess of KnowledgeAffiliations:Helios (Fellowship), Alissa (Blood Slave, Fiancee), Hanafuria (Blood Slave, Fiancee), Roxanne Succubus (Fiancee), Lina (Slave), Ciel (Fiancee)Companions:Alissa, Hanafuria, Roxanne Succubus, Ciel, LinaCrimes:NONEWolf Ryder Skill ReportPhysicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSword Use12+9Dodge5+5Parry5+5Block2+8Shield Bash0+1Battlefield Perception1+1Muscle Explosio1+1 MagicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSense Mana3+6Mana Control0+13Mana Recovery12+0Mana Efficiency5+5Reduced Mana Cost8+5Mana Overuse Resistance0+3Fire Magic0+4Earth Magic0+3Water Magic0+1Wind Magic0+1Electric Magic9+14Light Magic4+7Space Magic11+22Summoning Magic13+17Blessing Magic4+21Nature Magic0+16Conjuring Magic0+1Illusion Magic0+2Golemancy0+4Redirect Mana (creator)3Sense Soul (creator)3 MiscellaneousSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelCooking0+4Andraste Language4+6Dismantling0+4Massage0+1Enhanced Semen Recharge0+7OBS: Level means (free point)+(trained point)InfoName:AlissaAge:16Race:Fox-Type WereanimalHP:100MP:575Magic Power:270Level:30Experience:2034/8500 StatsStrength:12Endurance:18Dexterity:22Speed:20Intelligence:12Wisdom:13Willpower:16Charisma:13Piety:15Perception:17Sanity:15 OtherStatus Effects:NONETitles:Blessing from the Goddess of Love, Blinding ArrowsAffiliations:Wolf Ryder (fiance), Blood Slave (Owner: Wolf Ryder), Helios (Fellowship)Companions:Wolf Ryder, Roxanne Succubus, Hanafuria, Ciel, LinaCrimes:NONEAlissa Skill ReportPhysicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSword Use9Bow Use26Parry4Dodge2Sense Presence6Hide Presence4Enhanced Olfact5Enhanced Hearing3Hawk Eyes3Muscle Explosion2Quiet Steps4Quiet Action2Enhanced Stamina1Tracking2 MagicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSense Mana1Mana Control3Fire Magic1Light Magic1Space Magic1Conjuring Magic1Illusion Magic5Fox Transformation (innate)5 MiscellaneousSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelHousework3Cooking4Cleaning2Washing5Riding2Oral Technique4Pain Resistance2Hand Technique2OBS: Level means (free point)+(trained point)InfoName:Roxanne SuccubusAge:21Race:Succubus-Type DemonHP:100MP:1910Magic Power:690Level:33Experience:8910/10000 StatsStrength:9Endurance:9Dexterity:12Speed:9Intelligence:18Wisdom:18Willpower:14Charisma:15Piety:10Perception:11Sanity:12 OtherStatus Effects:NONETitles:NONEAffiliations:Wolf Ryder (fiance), Helios (fellowship)Companions:Wolf Ryder, Alissa, Hanafuria, Ciel, LinaCrimes:NONERoxanne Succubus Skill ReportPhysicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelDagger Use2 MagicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSense Mana3Mana Control25Reduced Mana Cost3Mana Efficiency9Mana Overuse Resistance1Fire Magic22Water Magic23Light Magic1Space Magic8Conjuring Magic5Alchemy3Potion Bewing11Poison Brewing2Redirect Mana1 MiscellaneousSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelHousework1Cooking1Cleaning1Washing1Riding1OBS: Level means (free point)+(trained point)InfoName:HanafuriaAge:24Race:Fire-Type DragonkinHP:150MP:515Magic Power:205Level:37Experience:10040/14000 StatsStrength:19Endurance:24Dexterity:10Speed:13Intelligence:11Wisdom:11Willpower:19Charisma:16Piety:11Perception:10Sanity:17 OtherStatus Effects:NONETitles:NONEAffiliations:Wolf Ryder (fiance), Blood Slave (Owner: Wolf Ryder), Helios (Fellowship)Companions:Wolf Ryder, Alissa, Roxanne Succubus, Ciel, LinaCrimes:NONEHanafuria Skill ReportPhysicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSword Use20Spear Use14Bow Use9Two-Handed Sword Use9Pole Arm Use6Dagger Use4Shield Bash6Block8Parry6Dodge4Tatesomu Style4Muscle Explosion4Battlefield Perception2Taunt3Intimidate2Enhanced Reflexes2Enhanced Stamina4Enhanced Strength2Enhanced Endurance4 MagicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSense Mana1Mana Control1Fire Magic1Earth Magic1Light Magic1Space Magic1Conjuring Magic1Illusion Magic1 MiscellaneousSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelHousework2Cooking1Cleaning1Washing1Riding3Massage1Pain Conversion1Dismantling4Oral Technique1Fire Breath (innate)5Summon Wings (innate)2OBS: Level means (free point)+(trained point)InfoName:CielAge:21Race:HumanHP:100MP:1180Magic Power:400Level:32Experience:2950/9000 StatsStrength:14Endurance:13Dexterity:17Speed:18Intelligence:15Wisdom:19Willpower:14Charisma:17Piety:21Perception:13Sanity:19 OtherStatus Effects:NONETitles:NONEAffiliations:Wolf Ryder (fiance), Helios (Fellowship), Templar Knights (Honorary Member), Temple Priestess (Former Member)Companions:Wolf Ryder, Alissa, Hanafuria, Roxanne Succubus, LinaCrimes:NONECiel Skill ReportPhysicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelGlaive Use15Sword Use5Parry8Dodge6Block4Imperial Spear Style2Muscle Explosion2Battlefield Perception1 MagicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSense Mana2Mana Control6Reduced Mana Cost1Mana Efficiency4Wind Magic17Fire Magic1Light Magic25Space Magic3Conjuring Magic1Diagnosis7Redirect Mana1 MiscellaneousSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelFirst-Aid3Housework3Cooking2Cleaning2Washing1Riding1OBS: Level means (free point)+(trained point)InfoName:LinaAge:15Race:DwarfHP:100MP:680Magic Power:275Level:22Experience:6540/7000 StatsStrength:8Endurance:8Dexterity:13Speed:12Intelligence:16Wisdom:13Willpower:17Charisma:10Piety:12Perception:14Sanity:11 OtherStatus Effects:NONETitles:NONEAffiliations:Wolf Ryder (master), Helios (Fellowship)Companions:Wolf Ryder, Alissa, Hanafuria, Roxanne Succubus, CielCrimes:NONELina Skill ReportPhysicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelHammer Use10Axe Use4Throw4+0Parry5Dodge4Block6Muscle Explosion2Shield Bash1Battlefield Perception2Dwarven Pride Style2Enhanced Speed2+0 MagicalSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSense Mana1Mana Control4Mana Efficiency1Fire Magic1Earth Magic5Ligth Magic1Space Magic1Conjuring Magic1General Enchanting9Magic Tool Carving1 MiscellaneousSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelSkill NameLevelGeneral Blacksmithing4Sweing4Housework1Cleaning2Washing1Math4Riding1Stonebody (innate)3OBS: Level means (free point)+(trained point)[collapse]

The first wave of harpies falls to our fusillade. Every ballista, every mage, every archer, and a good amount of warriors are all firing at the exposed harpies. Only a few manage to reach the wall before being disrupted by the wind elementals, turning into easy targets.

Ervin Krampus, the demon race mage from Great Destiny, has his [Fire Spirit] throw fast [Fire Arrows] like it's a machine-gun with tracer rounds.

Another volley of arrows and before the arrows hit the second wave is already approaching. The harpy archers are trying to catch us exposed while we deal with the suicidal wave of harpies.

A harpy approaches our tower and gets an arrow to the eye by Alissa.

"'Blinding Arrows' indeed, hahah," Nononya laughs nervously.

"She's just getting started," I say with a grin and tap her shoulder.

Nononya is wearing some really fine scale armor, likely gifted by Silvane. She uses a short spear and a small kite shield, her martial skills are just enough to qualify her as a shield for Alissa but nothing more. She knows enough [Wind Magic] to keep harpies busy while me and Alissa finish them off.

I cast [Heal] on Nono and then on myself.

"Eh? Chantless?" Nononya asks, she looks at me with confused eyes and a face full of harpy blood.

"That's the first thing you say?" I snort at her.

"S-sorry, erm, thank you!" She bows lightly.

"Focus," I say and give her a hand chop on the head. Ah, she's so fluffy.

I move out and keep another harpy away while Alissa fires at her.

A harpy impales herself in Hana's spear. The harpy desperately tries to claw Hana but she kicks the harpy away and reverts her [Extend], easily pulling the spear off from the Harpy. Hana follows up with a stab on the throat, she forces the harpy on the ground and stomps on her until the harpy passes out.

A pillars of fire comes out of the forest, something exploded over there. Suddenly I see 3 huge balls of something on fire being lobbed at us from the forest. One veers off course and falls on the empty grassland, the ball breaks apart and burning oil spreads out starting a small fire. The second ball falls right outside the wall on the heads of unlucky soldiers, screams of pain arise and magical water jets immediately start to extinguish the fire. The third ball is slowed by the wind elementals and other mages when it crosses town but eventually it breaks apart and some burning oil falls in the slums, the rest is extinguished while floating in the air.

"Your 'surprise' wasn't really a surprise, Cookachickadoodoolee, pathetic," Alaraste says in a disdainful tone, his voice sweeps the battlefield.

"BAKAWWK! BAKBAK BAKAWWK!" The Cooka-(...) bellows and my ears ring in pain.

Another harpy comes and gets grounded by a wind elemental. Lina's javelin pierces her on the flank and while she's struggling to get up I step on her naked chest and stab her face until she dies.

Lyle stuns a harpy for Lina and she opens another skull with her hammer. Her armor is peppered by spatters of blood, brain, bone chips, and feathers. As a first it seems Hana is the one the least bloodied of the front line.

Out of the forest comes a huge black mass. A human face full of wrinkles, a very long and conical nose, triangular pointy and sharp teeth, a long feathered neck, a fat and brown huge chicken body. It's flight path is erratic, it's wings flap wildly and without coordination, it's a wonder it's still airborne. This is the Cooka-bitch.

"ALARASTEEE! BAKAWWK!" It bellows again.

"BAKAWK!" The harpies answer.

Suddenly the Dragon's Bane starts silently firing the huge bolts without anyone touching it. The Cooka-rooster has to jerk its entire body to dodge. The fat jiggles with every movement.

Suddenly a bolt enters the flabby belly of the ugly-ass-Cooka and it's sent back into the forest.

"I HATE YOOOoou~..." The Cooka-fat yells one last time and disappears in the Sea of Trees, for now.

"BAKAWK!" The harpies yell again and make one last suicide charge.

"[Discharge]!" Werner yells.

"[Discharge]!" Horvath yells.

"[Discharge]!" Lyle yells.

"[Discharge]!" I yell.

"[Firestorm]!" Roxanne yells.

"[Firestorm]!" Silvane yells.

"[Wind Storm]!" Ciel yells.

The sky is filled with the light of spells as no mage holds back their mana. The harpies lump together and get stunned, falling like rocks. Down on the ground the battle turns into slaughter.

"AHAHAHAH, OHOHOH, HAHAHAH!" Lyle laughs maniacally in the same tone as his parents. "AHAhah... Ooof~..." He slumps over as his mana runs dry and Lina catches him before he falls on the ground.

I jump over to their side and slash at a writhing harpy. I cautiously look around, searching for any harpy that could endanger Lyle.

The sky clears and a considerable amount of harpies retreat back into the Sea.

Their coordination was rather impressive, for monsters. They aren't even the breeder kind, the Little Cooka is only a leader-type.

Down below there's a few sources of fire being contained, adventurers and soldiers running around hunting for harpies and wounded, and priests working around their fortifications, healing the ones in most danger. Outside the wall the fire is already contained and the troops slowly reorganize, focusing on transporting the wounded to the healer's bunkers.

"Recover the wounded and finish your duties, soldiers! Then, celebrate! You deserve it, the town is safe again and we have achieved victory!" Alareste encourages us, his voice has a new reverb to it that brings a smile to my lips.

Our tower had a few wounded but no losses.

Horvath signals to us and we gather, the other noble house and Captain Entoli joins us and removes his helmet.

"No casualties, a perfect battle," the Captain says with a smile, "The elementals were a great help, the harpies were being constantly disrupted."

"Your boy has some talent for [Discharge], Horvath," says a male wereowl noble.

"Both my children do, Sir Rooter," Horvath says with large grin.

"Anyway," Helena says with an eye roll, "this year's fight was certainly a breeze. I would like to thank Helios and Nononya for their help with the elementals."

Silvane casts [Clean] on the blood spatters on Nono's face. She turns to us and says, "I can say that Haaran Anara also sends his appreciation for the help". She smiles at us and continues, "But now I must go down and join the healers."

"Should we go too?" I ask, looking at Ciel and Silvane.

"The temple is prepared to deal with this," Ciel answers.

"You are not prepared to deal with emergency healing, it could cause problems," Silvane says and bows lightly, "but thank you for the offer."

"The battle is done, you are all dismissed," Captain Entoli says to us and his subordinates.

"T-thanks for protecting me, Mr. Ryder," Nononya says and bows deeply, she's blushing lightly.

"My pleasure," I say with a smile.

"It has been a pleasure to fight alongside Helios, until then," Horvath says and turns his Emergency Ring green, a [Gate] opens and he leaves through it.

"Until tomorrow, Wolf," Lyle says and we share a handshake, "It was good fighting with you."

"Likewise," I say.

The wereowl noble silently observes us and then leaves.

Nononya is escorted out of the slums by two guards and Silvane goes to the south gate escorted by another two.

I turn to the girls and ask, "Right, no problems? No wounds?"

They shake their heads and Alissa pulls out a gnomic [Clean] tool to remove all the harpy blood from my body, then Ciel and Lina get a [Clean] too.

We wait for Aoi to finish eating a harpy's heart and we go home.

Announcement

Hall of Fame of Patrons.

The patrons who support Rupegia shall have their names sung by the bards for they deserve the glory and honor. Their names are:

Oracle Maximillian Hübner.

Lord Andrew Meyers.

Lord SenilePenile.

Lord Hope.

Lord Samuel Lim.