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

by Shirtaloon

“…I didn’t even know you could do that with resonating cascade rods,” the frazzled engineer praised Belinda. “Improvisation is a specialty of hers,” Clive said. “If you ever need to take her prisoner, I’d just have a guard hit her on the head every time she regains consciousness. And sometimes when she hasn’t to make sure.” “Hey…” Belinda complained. “I once saw her take down a trap barrier from the inside with a broken wand and a device for checking the freshness of fish,” Clive continued.

“You know something I don’t?” “I know a lot of things you don’t, Vesper. Including morals, apparently.

“You don’t need to worry,” Jason assured her. “It’s me. What could possibly go wrong?” “You’re really going to tempt fate like that?” “Fate tempted me first. If I can fight the Builder, I can bloody well fight her.” “You realise there’s no actual god of fate, right? It’s just a metaphor.” “Good, because I'm pretty sure I couldn't take her.”

“You're a stealth specialist?” “A friend of mine told me that the powers you awaken reflect who you are.” “I've heard that. It's a common theory.” “Well, it's cowardice all the way for me, so, yeah, stealth powers.”

“I don’t suppose you found a line on those tiny umbrellas?” “Sorry.” “Did you even check?” “I did not, no.”

Jason reflected, far from the first time, how precious his familiars were. Their companionship as they nestled within his soul even more so than their powers. Jason had spent some of his darkest days alone but for the three lovable death machines he carried inside him.

“Alright, stranger; we'll shut off the blades. Just don't get us all killed, you hear?” The wings folded in, wrapping the adventurer in darkness, and he dropped out of sight. Then they felt a powerful aura sweep out that made Kerr feel like a trespasser in his own fort. “Sir, are you sure that wasn’t a monster?” “I don't care if it's the Goddess of Pain's firstborn daughter. Anyone who kills monsters and carries supplies will get a warm welcome from me. And from you. That's an order.” “I thought Pain was a god, sir.” “Y'all think so here,” Kerr said. “Where I come from, they know that Pain is a woman.”

“Since when do affliction specialists dive into the middle of monster hordes?” “I said he uses afflictions,” Kerr said. “I didn’t say he uses the good sense the gods gave a plate of candied fruit slices.

“Mr Asano, I don’t believe any of us have played a video game.” “Gordon gave it a go, bless him,” Jason said. “I had to buy Emi a new controller. Having beams of destructive force instead of hands isn’t super convenient.”

“Hey, Clive! I slept with your wife, bro!”

“It won’t be an issue to push back against the royal family?” “Political favour is for today, Mr Asano. Integrity is forever.

“I don’t like Asano. I don’t like his arrogance and I don’t like his disrespect. But when they made that man, they forgot the part that knows how to quit. We watched him in a fight he couldn’t win. A fight we set him up for, so they knew his powers and they were ready, but he never stopped struggling. Not for a single moment. It wasn't just blind stubbornness either. He looked for every edge, seized every advantage that would keep him alive for even a moment longer. I have to respect that kind of determination and resolve. If he fixed his attitude, he could be a fine adventurer.”

“Oops. Still, I need a few minutes before my portal is available again. I guess I’ll have to go check out the local cheeses.” “I am uncertain of who that statement is directed at, Mr Asano,” Shade’s voice came from Jason’s shadow. “You know that you are lying, I certainly don’t believe you and even if anyone else were paying attention, I very much doubt they would care.”

“Really, Mr Asano?” Shade asked, as several of his bodies discreetly moved off. “Anyone shady?” “I wasn’t trying to make a pun. If I was, I’d have done better.” “There is no better with puns, Mr Asano. There is only worse.”

He ran a hand over his face. “It wasn't meant to be like this,” he said. “It can't just be Earth all over again. Not here.” His voiced cracked, coming out as almost a sob.

The guild team was a well-oiled machine, and that machine was a meat grinder.

“Mr Asano,” Shade said, next to Jason in the undergrowth. “While I fear the answer is obvious, I am obligated to ask if this is truly the approach you wish to take. I know you wish to assess the effectiveness of your ability to influence objects related to the Builder. My concern is that, in another state of mind perhaps, you might come to regret using people—even these people—as subjects of weapon experimentation.” Jason turned his head to look at the shadow creature beside him, then back out at the enemy. “At this point, what’s one more regret?”

“Stick it up your ass,” the guild team leader, Korinne, yelled. “Asano might be an overbearing asshole that takes himself way too seriously, but he's our asshole, and we don't turn on our own assholes.”

“Okay,” Korinne said. “Who was that guy and what happened to the other guy?” “Same guy,” Vesper said happily as she set off after Jason. “He just put the mask back on.”

“Gary,” Jason said reverently. “It’s like finding a part of myself I didn’t know was missing.” “You brought Farrah back to us,” Gary said. “That part I did know was missing.”

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

“Is that it?” Soramir asked. “That’s the whole message?” “It is. You may kill me now, for my task is done.” “Why bother? Go back and tell your master he could have just sent a note.”

“Leaving vampires unchecked will cause grave problems down the line.” “Oh, I’m aware. My friends from home brought word that as soon as I left, the vampires started a war.” “Why would they wait until you leave?” “Because people from my world have learned what it is to be my enemy.” “This is not your world, Mr Asano.” “I know. But my enemies here will learn too.”

“Let’s see if we can change that,” he said, eyes locked on the giant as the sigils set into his black blade turned from red to blue. “Mr Asano, you’re talking to yourself again.” “Do you mind?” “I just worry you might be getting ready to take a dramatic fighting pose.” “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?” Gordon was floating between Jason and the giant, shooting down spears or deflecting them with shields. Jason spotted his orbs strobing, which was the dimensional being’s equivalent of laughter. “You’re all mean,” Jason said. “All I wanted to do was look a little bit cool and you’ve ruined it. At least Colin gets me.” Colin, who looked like a blood clone of Jason, struck a fighting pose. “Oh, that’s not helping,” Jason lamented. “You look like a Power Ranger.”

“This does not mean the task ahead of us is easy,” Soramir said. “Only that it is possible at all. Make no mistake: many of us will fall today. The price we pay for our kingdom’s safety—for its very survival—will be high. But we will pay it, because that is our duty. Throughout the history of this kingdom, we have always stood at the top. Now the time has come for us to stand at the front.”

“Bro, at least you got to do something,” Taika said. “All I could do was sit here.” “You’re doing something,” Jason assured him. “I am?” “Damn right you are.” “What am I doing?” “Looking good. You’re a big, sexy chocolate drop.” “Thanks, bro,” Taika said brightly. “That’s nice of you to say.”

Rufus was a monster, smoothly dashing around with his golden sword. Everywhere he went, a construct fell apart, its neatly cut halves glowing with heat. Gary didn't have the skill to match some of the guild adventurers around him, but his specialty tools more than made up the difference. He had long ago crafted weapons specialised in fighting cult creations and his hammer was practically ordnance as it smashed apart constructs, sending waves of force behind the shattered enemies to batter its fellows. His shield grew and shrank as he used it to protect Farrah, the way he had failed to do years ago when she died. He let out all his pent-up rage, his leonid roars blasting enemies overboard.

More adventurers attempted to help, from telekinetic powers to just braving Soramir's storm to fly up to the falling city and push. Others dropped down, recognising that even if the fortress city missed the island, it would create a massive tsunami. Rimaros had no shortage of water essence users and they moved down to the island to prepare for what was about to come. Two figures rose up from Livaros below, flying into the air. Both were garbed in the robes of clergy and their auras soared as they were filled with the power bestowed on them by their gods to protect the city. The Archbishop of Wind raised her arms and a great, focused and continual blast of wind started pushing on the falling city. Gold-rankers attempting to help were blasted away, but it didn’t matter as the divine power shifted the trajectory of descent. Seeing the power at hand, the diamond-rank cultist fled, which many of the cult’s airships were already doing. The other clergywoman, the Archbishop of Ocean, became the vessel for her god’s power and directed the sea to rise up. So vast was the quantity of water forming a rising column under the descending city that the sea level visibly dropped. The city struck the column, triggering an explosion of water that immediately sent rain falling over Livaros. The watery pillar slowed the descent of the plummeting city, turning a plunge into a drop. When it reached sea level, the city was still a massive falling object, displacing vast amounts of water to trigg...

“If it’s between letting people die and working with people who suck, that isn’t a choice.” “Yes, Jason, it is. It’s just an unpleasant one.

Left alone with Farrah, Jason staggered, as if a cord that had been pulled tight within him had suddenly loosened. Farrah flashed him a grin and grabbed him up in a hug. Tears Jason's magical body shouldn't have been able to shed welled in his eyes.