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[Valthora Stonebreaker]
After what felt like hours of fighting, something happened that I kind of hoped for but didn't expect to happen.
"Did I destroy all the skeletons and zombies?" I say in surprise.
Like, I know that was my goal, but I am kind of surprised that I achieved it and still have mana to spare.
"Probably the only threat was their great number." I grumble, walking through the battlefield.
The Goddess's blessing increased my physical abilities in several aspects, so my physical resilience, which was already above average, became even greater. Add to that the miracle of power… looks like I'm able to fight armies by myself.
I remember when, before receiving the hero's blessing, I could maintain a fast march for four hours wearing armor, when most recruits would faint before reaching two hours in regular uniform. After going through the ritual, I've marched for two whole days without getting tired, and I'm still not sure of the limit of my stamina.
While lost in my thoughts, I notice a strange crack in a weird rock formation.
"What is that?" I whisper curiously to myself.
I approach cautiously, each step echoing on the cold stone. The crack widens, revealing a hidden passage. The darkness beyond the opening is dense, but a faint, almost imperceptible glow comes from within.
"It looks like a large room, maybe a secret chamber." I rumble aloud. "Maybe if I break something important there, the dead will be able to rest in peace and not raise anymore."
With curiosity propelling me forward I swing my hammer making the passage my size.
Faint light intensifies as I advance, illuminating the rough walls and uneven floor. The air is heavy, laden with moisture and an ancient smell, as if no one has set foot here in centuries.
Walking through the place, my attention is stolen by a powerful voice that explodes in a roar, echoing off the walls of the secret chamber.
"Intruder!"
I spin around quickly, hammer already raised. A red flash cuts through the darkness, and by instinct only, I am capable of blocking the attack. The impact reverberates through my arms, but I hold firm. Before me, a giant canine woman glowing with a supernatural red flame.
"You're not one of the undead?" I question, keeping my guard up. "Who are you?"
"I have no name, human bitch." the furious monster woman roars. "But I will kill you and use your body to buy my freedom."
The creature's voice is a guttural snarl, each word laden with hatred and despair. Her single red eye glows with an intensity that makes my heart race. She is an imposing figure of brute strength and wild agility.
I take a deep breath, centering myself, only to then face the monster saying:
"Hello you nail." I say with a bubbly smile.
The wolf in front of me raises a confused eyebrow at my statement, but I don't give her time to retort.
"Miracle of Power." I shout, invoking my powers. "Strength - Vitality - Agility!"
Empowered with the energy of the spell combo I casted, I shoot forward like a bright silver missile, hitting the wolf in the face.
SMASH!
The impact is devastating, and she flies against an ancient thick door, smashing it into a thousand pieces. The wood splinters, revealing a hidden passage beyond the door.
The wolf collapses down the stairs, rolling down the stone steps with a deafening crash. Dust and rock fragments fly through the air, and the echo of the impact resonates through the chamber. I advance cautiously, hammer raised, ready for any surprise.
As I approach the shattered door, my eyes notice a stone table at the bottom of the stairs dimly lighted. The table is surrounded by black crystal pillars, which glow with a dark and pulsating light. On the stone table is a chained thin and haggard man, he stares at me with a semblance of confusion and recognition on his face.
"Val?"
[Zyss]
I hand the small repeating crossbow to the young human, his eyes wide with admiration. The metal gleams, reflecting the sunlight coming through the window. He takes the weapon carefully, as if holding a treasure.
"At the shooting range, there are women who already know how to use this. Don't worry, you'll learn quickly."
He nods, a shy smile forming on his lips.
"Thank you." the boy says, carrying the weapon carefully.
He leaves quickly, the crossbow pressed against his chest. I watch as he disappears through the door, determination clear in every step. I turn back to the workbench, where metal parts and tools are scattered.
"Some men are already regaining consciousness." I murmur, trying to cheer myself up. "With a few more days, we'll be able to leave and look for Jason."
"And might I know how you plan to find him?" A familiar female voice questions in an irritated tone.
I turn around, and there is Tyss, entering my makeshift workshop in Clarabella's house. She crosses her arms, leaning against the door.
"How do you plan to do that, Zyss?" my older sister insisted. "Jason has been gone for weeks. We don't have a single clue."
I sigh, dropping the tool I was holding. The metal clinks as it hits the table.
"I know, Tyss. But we can't just stand here. Jason might be hurt, needing us."
Tyss rolls her eyes, but there is a touch of sadness in her expression. She uncrosses her arms, approaching the table.
"And what if Jason returns while you're gone? You told me Jason can use his power to call you, why hasn't he done that yet? And what about the orcs? Are you going to take them with you or will you leave them behind?"
I bite my lower lip, thoughtfully. The idea of leaving the orcs behind bothers me. They might return to their old habits, and all of Jason's efforts would have been in vain. But taking them with us is also risky. We don't know what we'll encounter on the way, and they might be more of a problem than a help.
"I... I don't know, Tyss." I admit feeling trapped.
Tyss sighs wearily and reaches me for a tender hug, her chin resting on my head. The sensation is comforting, but not enough to calm the storm within me.
"I'm only asking these questions so you don't do anything rash, Zyss."
I let out a shaky sigh, pulling away from the hug. My eyes are watery, and I feel a pang of shame.
"I thought I had grown, that I had become stronger." I murmured sadly. "But here I am, the same crybaby as always."
Tyss laughs, a soft and genuine sound that takes me by surprise. I raise my eyes, staring confused at my sister.
"Do you think the old Zyss, that crybaby goblin, would be capable of turning a village of hillbilly humans into a fortress? Let alone arm and train them with the help of two crazy violent mamonos capable of defeating armies single-handedly?"
I open my mouth to answer, but the words get stuck in my throat.
She is right. The old Zyss, the one who hid behind her sisters' skirts, would never have been able to achieve such a feat. But that Zyss no longer exists. I have changed, I have grown. And, despite all the uncertainty and fear I still feel, I know I am capable of much more than I imagined.
"You're right, Tyss." I admit with a firm voice. "I have changed. And I will continue to change, to grow.."
Tyss smiles, a gleam of pride in her eyes. She nods, satisfied with my answer. But she places her hands on my shoulders, her gaze serious.
"You need to stay focused on what you can do now. Continue training the humans, strengthening the village's defenses. An opportunity will arise, and when it does, you need to be prepared."
I huff, frustrated.
"Opportunity? Tyss, opportunities don't just appear out of nowhere-." I cut myself off at something strange that appears in front of me.
My abrupt silence catches my sister's attention.
"Zyss... are you alright?"
Tyss is unable to understand what silenced me; after all, she doesn't see the strange floating window in front of me.
The Harem Master is summoning you
[Accept] [Decline]
"What was that, girl?" Tyss asks, frustrated.
"An opportunity has arisen." I reply, smiling.
[Jason]
"Val?" My voice comes out hoarse, almost unrecognizable.
Jaw dropped, I stare at the figure at the top of the stairs, a familiar but transformed figure.
Valthora Stonebreaker, my childhood friend, that crybaby girl who always followed me around, is now before me, wearing a heavy full plate of armor, wielding a war hammer that looks capable of crushing boulder. A silver aura circulates her body, pulsating with an energy I don't remember her having imagined she could possess.
"By the chief goddess… Jason!" She says in shock, but her voice is without the familiar shyness I expected of her. "What did they do to you?"
She takes a fearful step towards the stairs, stunned by my condition.
Beside me, Nazare recovers from the shock and invokes a strange gem orb with a thin iris in the middle.
"FOCUS, VAL!" I shout with all the strength I have left. "THAT DWARF IS DANGEROUS!"
Val's face hardens, her expression toughens. In an instant, she shoots down the stairs, the war hammer raised, ready for impact. Nazare, realizing the threat, tries to finish her spell quickly. The dark green orb in her hand glows intensely, the iris in the middle pulsating with a sinister energy.
But Val is too fast for her. With a war cry, she collides with hammer pound on Nazare's spell.
BOOM!
An explosion of green and purple energy erupts in the air from the clash, illuminating the dark chamber with a blinding light. The impact is so intense making the ground shakes, and pieces of stone fall from the ceiling.
The force of the collision throws Nazare backward, her spell completely interrupted as the weird gem sphere faal to the floor next to the table.
CLINK!
"That looks important." Valthora mutters aloud from the side of the stone talbe. "I think I'll break it!" the redhead declares, raising her hammer.
On the floor, Nazare's eyes widen, and she shouts towards Val.
"No!" Val stops and stares at the necromancer, curious about what she was going to say. "The elder Baphomet's eye is my most powerful relic of mamono mana."
Looking at Nazare, Val gives a big, malicious smile while raising her hammer.
"Now I'm really going to break this thing!" the armored redhead says, bringing her hammer down.
"NO!" Nazare roars desperately.
Valthora was already very strong before she went to train with the order; the redhead was able to keep up with her own father breaking rocks all day long. Now, in addition to being stronger because of military training, she also had a magical aura around her.
'That palantir never stood a chance.' I thought as the hammer found its target.
KRAKA!-BOOOOOOOM!
The magical explosion is ten times larger than the previous one, and the impact throws Valthora against the wall with enormous force. I just don't fly away like her because my chains, once unbreakable, now crack and groan. The black crystal pillars fall around me, shattering into a thousand fragments.
"Val!" I shout, trying to get up, but the chains still hold me.
Stones fall on top of Valthora, the ceiling begins to shake and give way.
"Shit! I need to break this damn thing!" I yell, thrashing against the chains. The sound of grinding metal echoes through the chamber. "Val needs help."
Suddenly, a notification flashes in my vision:
<>
Master Breaker: Ignore resistance of constructs and objects and deals double damage against them.
<>
"Fuck yeah!" I celebrate aloud. "My powers are back."
Without hesitation, I flex my muscles as a wave of power surge through my body. The cracked chains snap like dry twigs. Pieces of metal fly in all directions, falling with a metallic clang on the stone floor.
"Val!" I shout, running towards her.
I quickly kneel and begin to remove the stones from Val. Her face is pale, but I think she is breathing.
"So Jason is your name." Nazare's voice echoes through the chamber, drawing my attention as she rises to her feet.
I raise my head, my eyes fixed on the necromancer. She is floating two palms off the ground, her body trembling with rage. Her yellow eyes gleam with a terrifying intensity, and a cruel smile forms on her lips.
"You've caused too much damage, foolish boy." Nazare snarls, raising her hands, accumulating purple energy while the Wolf beside her also rises, smiling sadistically in my direction."I won't be kind anymore when I put you back in chains."
The air around her begins to vibrate, and a dark energy gathers in her palms. I feel the pressure increase, Nazare's power manifesting in a sinister aura that envelops the chamber.
I am tired, naked, and my whole body aches. But I still refuse cower as I stare at Nazare and the Wolf, who look at me in surprise. The Wolf, beside her, lets out a low growl as she licks her lips, staring at my body.
""Even in this deplorable state he refuses to surrender?" Comments the wolf. "In another life, you would be a good partner to have cubs with."
"Shut up, filthy beast!" Nazare exclaims, frustrated. "What are your last words?"
Feeling bold, I give a big smile at the witch's choice of words and begin whispering.
"Avengeeers…"
Harem Master Summons [Everyone]
Three points of light appear around me, bright as stars in a night sky. The intense glow blinds my adversaries for an instant, revealing three familiar figures.
Zyss, small and shy, but with a gleam of determination in her green eyes. She holds her repeating crossbow, ready for battle. Artoria, tall and imposing, her semi-transparent blue armor gleaming with an aura of protection. Her long hair, tied in a ponytail, flutters in the magical wind that forms around her. And Lindana, the former heroine, now a Cursed Sword, with her long black hair and bright red eyes. She wields the cursed sword, the blade pulsing with a sinister energy.
"ASSEMBLE!"
Without thinking twice, Zyss shots her heavy repeating crossbow at the floating mamono. The metallic sound of the trigger being pulled echoes through the chamber, and a burst of metal bolts is fired towards Nazare. The necromancer, caught by surprise, recoils, raising a magical barrier to protect herself. The bolts collide against the barrier, creating sparks and cracks in the defense.
"Damn insects!" Nazare snarls, trying to maintain the barrier while retreating.
Beside me, Artoria and Lindana advance in sync.
Artoria charges at the Wolf, tanking the monster's claws. Lindana, with the Cursed Sword in hand, attacks the Hellhound from the left, forcing it to retreat.
Nazare mutters, her yellow eyes gleaming with frustration.
"We need to escape." She says through clenched teeth, her voice laden with hatred.
The Wolf, beside her, growls, her burning red eyes fixed on me.
"I can face them, witch!" she exclaims, her guttural voice echoing through the chamber. "Let me finish them off!"
Nazare casts a sharp glance at the Wolf, silencing her instantly.
"Shut up, stupid beast!" she retorts, her voice cold as ice. "I lost the elder Baphomet's eye and I refuse to use more of this filthy mana."
The Wolf lowers her head, a low growl still reverberating in her chest. Nazare turns to me, her yellow eyes gleaming with a terrifying intensity.
"This is not over, human." She hisses, her voice laden with dark promises. "You will pay for everything you've done."
With a brusque gesture, Nazare invokes a teleportation portal. Dark energy envelops the chamber, and the air around her begins to vibrate. The portal opens with a crackle, revealing a vortex of darkness.
The Wolf casts one last glance in my direction, her burning red eyes filled with hatred and something else, something I can't identify. Without another word, Nazare and the Wolf disappear into the portal, leaving only the echo of their voices and the dark energy slowly dissipating.
As soon as the portal closes, I feel my body relax as I grumble.
"Those two are like… a more annoying and dangerous Team Rocket."
Zyss runs towards me, her green eyes shining with unshed tears. Before I can react, she throws herself at me, knocking me to the ground with a soft impact. Her small body trembles against mine, and I feel her warm tears wetting my skin.
"Jason," she sobs, her voice choked. "I was so worried. I thought I'd never see you again."
I try to move, but every muscle in my body aches. Zyss notices my difficulty and pulls back a little, her eyes examining my bruised body. Her expression changes from relief to sadness in an instant.
"What did they do to you?" she murmurs, her voice trembling. "You're so thin and weak."
I feel a pang of pain in my chest, but it's not physical. It's the pain of seeing Zyss so shaken, so worried about me. I try to raise my hand to touch her face, but the effort is too much. Zyss notices and takes my hand, squeezing it gently.
"It's okay," I whisper, trying to reassure her. "I'm here now… just need to have a big lunch."
Before I can stroke Zyss's head to comfort her, a shout echoes through the chamber.
"Darling!"
Lindana body collides with mine, knocking Zyss and me to the ground with a soft impact. I feel Lindana's weight on me, her warm and trembling body pressed against mine.
"Lindana, careful!" I try to warn, but my voice comes out weak, muffled by her body on top of mine.
Zyss, caught by surprise, lets out a little yelp and tries to get up, but Lindana pushes her back down, her body covering mine and Zyss's. I feel Lindana's heart beating fast against my chest, her panting breath close to my ear.
"Darling, are you alright?" Lindana murmurs, her voice laden with worry. "I was so worried. I thought I'd never see you again."
I try to move, but the weight of Lindana and Zyss on top of me makes any movement difficult. Lindana notices my difficulty and pulls back a little, her red eyes examining my bruised body.
I feel the weight of Lindana and Zyss being lifted from me. Artoria, with a tired sigh, lifts us from the ground with surprising ease. Her face, normally serious and professional, now displays a mixture of relief and exhaustion.
"I am relieved to see that you are well, my Lord." Her voice, always formal, carries a tone of genuine concern. "But we need to get out of here as soon as possible. This place is not safe-." Artoria is cut off mid-sentence by a strange roar.
"Rrrrrrrrrrr."
The growl echoes through the chamber, a guttural and menacing sound that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My eyes turn instantly to the pile of rubble where Val is still buried.
A red-furred hand emerges from the debris, followed by three more. The sound of falling stones echoes through the environment as the figure slowly rises.
The figure that emerges from the rubble is not the Valthora I know, or even the warrior fighting until a few minutes ago.
In place of the warrior in shining armor stands a woman wearing a bikini armor made of turtle shell, with red fur on her arms and legs. But the most bizarre thing is that she now has four arms.
"You've changed, Val." My voice comes out firm, despite the internal turmoil. "But that doesn't mean-."
"DIIIIIIIIIICK!"
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E ai gurizada.
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