He Who Fights With Monsters 7 (He Who Fights with Monsters, #7)

by Shirtaloon

“And where is home, Shade? I don’t think I know anymore.” “It’s the same place it’s always been, Mr Asano. The place where people are waiting for you.”

“That’s a princess? This day’s turning out pretty sweet.” “Taika! You’re making Humphrey look bad.” “Sorry, Neil. Sorry, Princess, bro. It’s nice to meet you all.”

Jason… it’s good to hear your voice, Jason. That’s nice of you to say, but please don’t call me Hump.”

Trenchant was still a little unnerved by Asano’s cloud house. It reminded him of a still lake with a monster slumbering somewhere in the depths.

There are two kinds of adventurers, Commander Moore. You are the first type: reliable, efficient and supremely capable. You advanced because of the way you conduct yourself. You are the kind of adventurer that everyone wants to work with. Asano is the other kind. Wild, erratic, improvisational. These are not the people you want to work with, but they are the ones who become legends. Usually by repeatedly surviving the kind of challenges that adventurers like you are smart enough to avoid.”

“I apologise for the lack of decorum on the part of my team members,” he said. “They’re mostly thieves and hooligans.”

There is something inherently intimidating about absolute commitment. It’s part of what makes zealots such troubling enemies.” “And politicians always leave room for compromise. They always leave a way out.”

But trouble clings to you like cat fur to a coat. You can’t deny that.”

“What is this?” “Just a way to keep in touch.” “I don't like it.” “It’s fine. It definitely won’t hurt.” “Yeah, because no man ever said that to me before.”

“I am not going to take a fighting pose.” “You’re not imagining yourself on the poster of an action movie, then.” “Absolutely not.” “Or a limited-series premium television show with a fight choreographer from Hong Kong?” “Can you please stop? I’m trying to fight evil here.” “With your powers of blood and plague and your black sword?”

The Builder cult’s floating city was actually a city-sized kraken construct.

“I call back to the origin of infinity. From the fires of creation were you born in the days before days, and from the fire shall you come again. The birth of all things marks the beginning of the end, for in creation is the promise of annihilation. In the place, the end has come, so bring forth the flames of beginning and let them mark the end.”