He Who Fights with Monsters 10 (He Who Fights with Monsters, #10)

by Shirtaloon

They might be an annoying ally, but they would be a terrible enemy. They’re like you in that way.”

Arrogant, I know, but there’s only so many times you can save the world before you admit to yourself that you really are special.”

“You’re an odd man, Jason,” Allayeth told him. “You either dance around a point until the other person passes out from exhaustion, or dive on it like a shark on an unfortunate sailor.”

I’ve been working a lot on letting go of my anger and vengefulness.” “And how is that going?” “Calcifer Bynes came out of my portal on his feet. A year ago, he would have come out in a bucket.”

If you’re going to fight monsters, you have to be like them, at least a little. The temptation is to be like them a lot.

“He just threatened a god!” “And a year ago, he’d have been tearing through one of my churches by now. Do you consider threatening a god to be out of character for him?” “No,” Arabelle grudgingly acknowledged. “I suspect that it’s kind of his thing.”

When it comes to reputation, the story matters more than the details. However accurate they may or may not be, the stories around Asano are the stuff of legends.”

“You were right to be wary of showing us this. Of fearing we would kill you. If this is what’s inside you now, and we allow you to go grow stronger, you’ll be—” “Monstrous?” “No, unstoppable. Which makes it a problem if you choose to become monstrous.”

“My research suggests that, despite trafficking with the gods more than anyone who does not serve, you have an inherent distrust of deities.” “That’s fair to say,” Jason said. “I don’t trust religion, I don’t trust authority and I don’t trust anyone with more power than one person should have. Vast cosmic power falls quite thoroughly into that range.” “You have vast cosmic power,” Allayeth pointed out. “Yes,” Jason agreed.

Hey, who won the betting pool?” “What betting pool?” Belinda asked. “I know you make bets on me,” Jason said. “Who had me down for the first one to get an ability moving past the wall?” “That’s not really the kind of thing we bet on,” Belinda told him. “It’s more like what country will declare war on you personally.” “What god you’re going to offer a sandwich,” Clive said. “Which diamond-ranker you’re going to hit on,” Taika added. “When you’ll love up Humphrey’s mum,” Neil said. “Neil…” Humphrey growled.

And if I may say, Mr Asano, you were far less difficult to deal with than the rumours have suggested.” “I’m a perfectly reasonable man.” “We just had such a good meeting, Mr Asano. Let us not start lying now.”

Faith is the bane of intellect. We use that.” “Jason, the gods can hear you,” Carlos said. “You may want to clarify that you’re speaking within this specific context.” Jason thought it over for a moment. “No, I’ll stand by it.” “How is it that the gods haven’t struck you down yet?” Carlos asked. “My working theory is that I’m too sexy.”

“When I went back to my world, I was an unsheathed sword. My father told me something that I took far too long to internalise: That when I have all the power, and I’m choosing between life and death, it’s not the person that I’m killing or sparing that matters. I’m what matters. Do I be ruthless or merciful?”

Killing is necessary sometimes, but it doesn’t make anything better. At best, it stops something from getting worse.

He had been warned, in no uncertain terms, to never get in an outrageousness contest with Jason Asano. And when Danielle Geller gave out political advice, you listened.

“Firstly, always expect a surprise from Asano. On any given day. you might get a foolish buffoon, a hardened adventurer or an enigmatic figure dealing with cosmic forces. If you’re really unlucky, you’ll get an unstable head-case that can and will annihilate anyone or anything that wanders into view.

“Gods love to give hints instead of just telling you things outright. Except Knowledge. I’d take her as my patron deity if my entire life wasn’t built around violently destroying people and things.” “Regretting your life choices?” Jason asked him. “Absolutely not,” Marcus said. “Violence is the best.”

“You never studied any magical theory?” “I did meet a scholar who told me I was an expert in applied kinetics, whatever that is.” “You didn’t ask?” “I didn’t get a chance before I beat him to death with a fruit cart.” “How exactly did you wind up as a Continental Council executive?” “They like to have different people for different situations.

I’m an adventurer to do the job, not to show off.” Jason’s teammates shared a glance, even Clive dropping his attention from driving to crane his neck around. “What?” Jason asked. A coughing sound came from Jason’s shadow. “Is everything alright, Shade?” Jason asked. “Of course, Mr Asano. I just had something caught in my throat.” “Shade, you don’t have a throat.”

Even more ridiculously, her own powers were burning creatures that were themselves made of fire. “How does that make any sense?” Jason asked. “You made a rock bleed to death,” Farrah shot back. “I will not apologise for being awesome.” “What was that?” Farrah asked. “You were trying to explain how I’m the one doing ridiculous things, but I couldn’t hear it over the sound of you coming back from the dead over and over.” “Oh, like you’ve never come back to life.”

“I love stupid people,” Neil said happily as the golem fought clear of the throng to join the expedition. “No you don’t,” Belinda pointed out. “You’re right,” Neil said. “Let’s kill them all.”

“I’m just saying that if you’re going to use magic, the fundamental energy of the cosmos that is the most powerful and therefore dangerous thing there is, then maybe you should learn how it works before sticking your hand in it and wiggling about.”

“Yeah,” Neil said, “but your particular brand of authority is less ‘obey or die’ and more ‘to transgress against my will is a sin that shall render thee unto damnation.’

“You’re already on thin ice,” Jason’s voice came from Shade’s body. “You will treat Arabelle Remore with respect, whether she is present or not.” “You’re not exactly famous for treating people with respect yourself,” Boris pointed out. “You’re right. Do you know what I am famous for?” Boris froze for a moment before resuming his work. “Nothing but respect for Mrs Remore,” he said.

When you said that ‘death knows how to wait,’ were you making a metaphor about the concept of death or were you talking in the third person? On an unrelated note, being in a conversation where that’s a genuine question is one of the coolest things that’s ever happened to me. And I’m an interdimensional ninja warlock, so epic moments are kind of my thing.”

You think just anyone can call up a god to ask for a miracle?” “Isn’t that the whole point of prayer?” “Most people don’t get answers, Jason, let alone a personal visitation. We’ve been watching gods appear before you as if you were a priest to all of them. We’ve watched you talk to them as if they’re equals, which is one thing, but the way they talk back is very much another. People don’t think you’re a god, Jason, but we see you standing on the same stage as them. Shining with a power that is maybe closer to theirs than to ours.

“How can you be so casual about this?” “Nothing’s changed,” Jason said. “We were always going to fight. If you get worked up every time some diamond-rankers, gods or great astral beings take an interest in you, you’ll never get anything done.” “That does not feel even remotely correct.”