He Who Fights with Monsters 2 (He Who Fights with Monsters, #2)

by Shirtaloon

Next thing you know, I’ll be building a weather machine in a mountain fortress carved into the shape of my own head.”

“I also won’t forget the iron-ranker that walked into my office to put his foot on my neck when I was down.”

That was only after she already stabbed him in the back & tried to force choke him.

“Why would you provoke him like that?” Vincent asked. “He was coming after me either way; he said it himself. I’d rather he do something angry than something smart.” “You play dangerous games, Jason,” Rufus warned. “Someday you're going to pay for that.” “I know.”

He gave them an odd smile, weary and a little sad, but with an underlying satisfaction. “I wake up every morning, proud of who I am,” he told them. “I go out into the world, never regretting that I didn’t at least try and be the person I want to be. I face dangers and make mistakes. Sometimes I get beat, and sometimes I win. I stand up for what I believe in, whatever it costs me. When you give everything, you have to be who you want to be, that’s freedom, whatever your circumstances.”

Sophie was like an alley cat that had been kicked so many times it didn’t trust you when you tried to feed it.

“Turning to the church of Purity is a good choice,”

“I’ll probably get bumped back down to two stars,” Jason said. “I always suspected that moving up to three stars so quickly was part of Arella’s games, and I daresay this inquiry will agree.”

Most likely 1

“I’ve been teaching them what Farrah taught me about meditation, and aura manipulation. The mental exercises. Are you sure I’m ready to teach anyone?” “Farrah was always impressed by you,” Rufus said. “We all saw the potential in you. You’re her legacy now.” Jason looked stricken. “Don’t say that,” he said. “I can’t live up to it.” “None of us live up to the expectations we put on ourselves,”

quality over quantity approach to personal relationships,”

“If your goddess is willing to hand over such information, then by what moral stricture does she not? Instead, she looks to ransom a man’s principles. You just tried to turn me on my friend, a man who saved my life, and you have the gall to lay there looking surprised? If you want to help me, then help me. Bring your self-serving ways to me again and you’ll get worse than you got today.”

“You should always welcome being proven wrong,” Jason said. “It means your understanding of the world just got a little bit better.” “Says the guy who gets downright obnoxious about being right,” Humphrey said. “I'm not saying I always welcome being wrong in the moment,” Jason acknowledged. “The important thing is to reflect on it and accept it going forward.”

the archbishop of the church of Purity,

When the archbishop entered, Jonah's eyes went wide and he strained to yank his arm free of Ernest's grasp.

I don't trust any of the Purity clergy...

“Money and power are great,” Jason said. “Anything you want to get, they can give you. Anything you want to do, they can let you. But you have to want things worth having and want to do things worth doing. Money and power have to be a means, not an end, or you'll lead a joyless life.”

You can do almost anything if you're willing to do what it takes. People mostly fail at things because they balk at what they have to do. It's not that the path isn't there but that they aren't willing to walk it. There's a price they aren't willing to pay, be it literal, political, social, whatever. But if you're willing to commit, impossible is just a word for people convincing themselves not to try.”

“This ability has so much potential,” Emir said. “How many people can you include at a time?” “Myself plus nine more,”

That might increase at certain rank levels.

“It doesn't work on very high-rank items,”

This probably adjusts at certain rank/level as well.

“They are likely to occupy key leadership positions.”

Like the Archbishop of the church of purity? Or the entire church clegy?

“Are they artificial creatures themselves, or living things?” Jason asked. “From my understanding of the Builder’s world,” Clive contributed, “that isn’t a strict delineation.”

Like a cyborg or AI

soul that has been pushed, by whatever means, from the astral and into a physical reality.

What if Jason originally was from another world, but for some reason world phoenix resurrected him onto Earth? Then WF interrupted the cannibal's ritual to send Jason?

Only ruins filled with the dead remain.”

Then how did Sophie's dad know about their martial arts?

“It might seem unusual for the two of you to just up and do it in the middle of a village square,” Humphrey said, “but it’s something the villagers will be eager to see.” “It won’t take long,” Jason said. “Clive can just slip it into you out here and we can head off.” “He’s right; it won’t take long,” Clive assured her. “Even in less comfortable conditions, I’m very quick to finish.” “Alright,” Sophie said. “It’s not like it’s my first time.” “You heard the lady, Clive,” Jason said. “Whip it out.”

Jason’s most powerful and horrifying familiar,

Not difficult when it's his only familiar.

“I was supposed to protect her.” “You were supposed to lead her, and you did.”

Jason’s full team,

Thought it was Humphrey's team?

despite the archbishop's objections. He had warned them that their daughter had been affected by the star seed the longest and may not survive its extraction.

Does removing the star seed really save them though or are they still under mind control/compulsion?

“The only means we have to identify them would be the presence of a star seed.”

Who says there aren't cultists that don't have a star seed?

The adventures will be the stories we tell, but the friendship is the thing we’ll miss. To Farrah. Our friend.”

it was well known she was close to joining their ranks herself. Once she did, she would stand at the pinnacle of the adventuring world.

Until she becomes a diamond

we could have won him over. He’s wasted in this backwater.”

I'm confused, is he still talking about Jason or did he switch back to Clive?

Rimaros

“It’s an ability,” Jason said. “Can’t sell it.”

Even when if it wasn't an ability, he wouldn't sell it anyway.

with Rufus sitting with his parents on an outdoor terrace

“I have been a familiar many times, across many worlds. I know much.” “You must be handy to have around,” Jason said. “And you’ve done a lot of familiaring, you say? I don’t suppose you’re looking for a new gig?” “My time here ends when all the trials are passed. Pass the trials, gain the right essence ability and we’ll see.” “Oh, nice,” Jason said. “What kind of awakening stone would that take?” “All who survive this stage of the trials shall receive an awakening stone available nowhere else,” Shade said.

I was wondering about what would happen to Shade.

You make connections when someone’s already a big deal and they just become someone you know. Make the connection when they’re a nobody and they become a friend.”

Clive chose an awakening stone of karma, the same as his confluence essence, although he would not be able to use it.

For Belinda?

“So, it ultimately strengthened your aura?” Clive asked as the team walked through the cloud palace, in the direction of a ritual room. “I think so,” Jason said. “I’ve been wondering if that was their intention or if I’m just so weak it never occurred to them.”

while the rest of us were selling loot,”

Why didn't they take Emir's advice to wait?