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

by Shirtaloon

People who attack me or my allies within my area of influence—within my aura—are literally burdened with sin.”

“Then how am I the guy with the evil powers?” “She’s prettier than you.”

“but it doesn’t matter whose mother she is, or how prettily her dark chocolate hair tumbles down over her shoulders; that is a classic evil power right there.”

“For every one of your servants I find down here,” Amos threatened, “I will find one of your hidden temples. I will raze them to the ground or bury them in whatever hole they’re concealed in.”

“Asano said it: nothing’s changed. We go down and we figure it out on the spot.”

I wanted to remind you of certain facts, starting with that I am the goddess of knowledge, not him. He does not see all and he does not know all. Especially not what has transpired on other planets.”

“Oh, oblique advice on solving a problem instead of just telling me. At least it’s not an ambiguously worded prophecy, I guess.”

“Just remember my words, Jason. How you saved your world. You will need to push for it in this world, triggering it yourself. But you have the power, I promise you that, but I cannot promise you will wield it effectively. That falls to you.”

I’m not the goddess of very confident guesses.”

“You are trouble to work with, Jason, but I’m determined to get some use out of you yet. Just try not to die too often.” “I’ll do my best, but you know how it is.” “Yes,” she said. “I do.”

“I love working with people who are quick on the uptake,” Jason said with a grin. “No offence, Neil.”

“Just ignore him, he’s a priest,” Jason told her. “They get so touchy when you assume the role of a god, even if it’s just a little bit. It’s not a big deal, Neil.”

While everyone around them steeled themselves for battle, he gave off a sense of being exactly where he was meant to be.

“Don’t worry,” he assured her. “Fighting armies from another dimension is kind of my thing.”

But I’m not the operations commander for a reason. This whole situation is a series of choices I’d rather not make. You were put in charge because you’re the one who has been through madness that most of us wouldn’t think possible, let alone be willing to confront. You know how to crest that wave.”

This is getting that full-blown, save-the-day, god-level-enemy feel. Like the One Day War in the Storm Kingdom or some of the stuff on Earth.”

“You have lost much in letting yourself become a monstrosity,” Asano’s icy voice said. “Your senses are too weak.”

I still don’t like it, but if life were easy, we wouldn’t need adventurers. If Knowledge thinks it’s the way to go, I’m inclined to trust her on it.”

In this instance, I’m going to pick the side that doesn’t have an explicit reason to kill me personally. That I’m aware of.”

A society without children was a society without hope.

“I’m just so sick of it,” Clive complained as he ran his hands over his face. “Why is everyone so stupid?” “That’s a little hurtful,” Jason said. “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.”

But sometimes you have to do something ugly to prevent something worse.”

Letting them live isn’t the same as setting them free.”

“Or maybe the tree didn’t think of it,” Jason said. “Trees aren’t known for their developed problem-solving skills.”

“If all you’re going to do is stand there and agree that everything you want to do is impossible, then what are we doing here?” “The impossible, obviously,” Clive said.

“Once you’ve saved the world a few times, you start to wonder what’s next. Saving whole species makes sense.”

“If we’re choosing between no chance of survival and betting everything on a stranger, that’s not a choice at all.”

“We work with what we have, not what we want.”

“Since I started working with you, Asano, it’s felt like I’m swimming over very deep water. I’m not used to that as a gold-ranker.” Jason burst out laughing. “Try dealing with great astral beings at iron or bronze.”

“I think we will, yeah. If I didn’t, I’d be hatching some insane scheme to get us out of here. My real concern is how many people that victory is going to cost us. Fighting our way to the tree is going to bleed us.” “Good thing I’m staying behind, then. Nice and relaxing for me.”

“I might be optimistic, you don’t know,” Neil said. “Maybe what’s waiting for us at the end is snacks.” “There’s an undead army coming,” Belinda pointed out. “We are the snacks.”

“Nothing wrong with a little hope,” Jason said as he approached through the air, his cloak spread out like wings. “It takes hope to find the light in the dark. Give up and you’ll miss it.”

“Sometimes crazy is the only plan that will work,” Gary said. “That’s when you need Jason.”

“I know it’s hard seeing your own people come at you like monsters, trying to take away what little you have left. Just remember that they aren’t the ones we’re fighting; they’re the ones we’re avenging. They are not our enemies but the victims of our enemies. Save your rage for the ones who turned them into weapons and sent them against you. Stay strong and remember that you’re also fighting for the people you’ve lost, not just the living.”

And I’m an interdimensional ninja warlock, so epic moments are kind of my thing.”

“I know this is a very serious situation, and this whole thing is a tragedy for the brighthearts where we’re trying to salvage what little remains of their people. But some days you have to stop and recognise your life is awesome. I’m negotiating an immortality pact with the goddess of death so I can fight that undead army over there. And the reason I’m doing that is so my friend can use a wizard spell so I can fight over a magic tree inside a warped pocket of reality. This is a top-seven moment for me.

“I will take your resurrections. Those you have, those you could ever have and those you could bestow upon others. You will agree that whatever your power, whatever your need, you will never bring anyone back from the dead.”

“You may use your power to arrest the condition of someone on the border of death, even beyond, if you can. You may keep them until you find someone else that can restore them, so long as you do not do so yourself.”

“I do understand. I’ve never denied being a fool, but I’m not a blind fool. I can’t deny all the gods have done for me at this point.” “Then perhaps you would have the decency to demonstrate more respect in the future.”

“Jason, you may want to re-examine the way you approach life if you’re injuring your soul enough to build up a tolerance for it.”

“I’ll say ‘less hard,’ then. Freedom is good, and while I know that’s a principle you hold, no one seems to have told your aura.”

You stepped forward and charted our course when what we needed was a strong hand at the tiller. Leadership isn’t just about giving commands, Jason. People have to rely on you. An aura that feels like a sanctuary in dangerous times is something people will follow.”

Everything we’ve been told about power from when we were children tells us that what you have is something to be followed. And we will follow, believe me. I don’t think you get a choice in that.”

You don’t get be ‘just’ anything anymore. Look at what we’re here to do. We’re trying to rewrite reality and turn you into what? Some kind of messenger demigod? You’re limping along because you just called up the goddess of death to cut a deal.”

Somewhere in your mind is the idea that you’re still that lost kid I met six years ago. That you’re a normal person in extraordinary circumstances. You’re not. You are the extraordinary circumstances, and you’re happening to people. Sooner or later, we all need you to take responsibility for that. That’s why I’m spending all this time talking about your aura, about how it feels to be around you. That’s why I’m talking about leadership.”

“Wisdom comes from knowledge, not ignorance.

“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.”

“A god is relying on you and you’re feeling that pressure. But I’ll say it again: nothing’s changed. Put it out of your mind and do what you were already going to do.”

“I understand. I see people on their darkest days, which is when they are shining brightest.”

“Aren’t these the days you live for? The heroic last stands? The blaze of glory that will live in song for a thousand years?” “Yes,” Hero admitted. “These are the days I live for.”