Sekai crouched in the dim shrine cavern, his mind racing as he plotted the demise of the Sloggath, a writhing black slime-like monster that pulsed with malice. Princess Clau and her teammates, trapped and vulnerable, depended on his quick thinking to escape the beast's clutches. With resolve hardening in his chest, he knew saving them was his top priority before striking the final blow.
Sekai gripped his controller tightly and pressed start, instantly pausing time and freezing the ladies in their precarious poses. He carefully escorted their half-naked bodies out of the shrine cavern, arranging them in a neat line ordered by boob size, from biggest to smallest. Satisfied with his efficient rescue, he stepped back to admire his handiwork in the frozen moment.
Sekai hit the button again to resume time, and Clau blinked in confusion as she realized she and her team were safely out of danger. He flashed a grin and told her that was really close, explaining he did what he had to in order to save her. Relief washed over the group, though Clau's cheeks flushed at their exposed state.
One of Sekai's teammates shook her head and chided him, calling him the Enemy of Women with a smirk. Sekai laughed it off and said, "Hey, this is the thanks I get for saving them?" His tone was light and joking, not a hint of frustration in his voice.
Clau tilted her head, asking how they had gotten out of the cavern when it was blocked by rocks no human could move. Sekai shrugged casually and answered, "Gankichi, my summon, moved them." The small golem lumbered into view, confirming his words with a low rumble.
Clau recalled their first meeting, when she had been dismissive, rude, a total bitch toward Sekai. Yet now, watching him banter and protect them, she wondered if there was more to him than met the eye. A spark of curiosity flickered in her mind, softening her earlier judgments.
"Allow me to express my gratitude," Clau said, bowing her head to Sekai with newfound respect. "Hero Sekai, you saved us from the jaws of death; I don't know how you did it, but you have my thanks." She straightened, her voice warm as she added, "Milord is a true hero—you not only saved me, but my subordinates as well."
Clau's female teammates dropped to one knee in perfect unison before Sekai, their armor glinting in the cavern's faint light. He waved a hand, grinning wide. "Whoa, no need to thank me—I got all the thanks I need to enjoy this," he mused silently, replaying the memory of fondling their frozen forms like a private victory reel.
Sekai cleared his throat and changed the subject. "Anywho, Clau, that black slime-monster—what was it?" She met his gaze and answered firmly, "It's a darkling that drove the world to the brink of destruction, called the Dark Shoggath."
Sekai's brow furrowed as he wondered if the darklings were tied to the King of Darkness. Clau nodded before he could ask. "They're like subordinates—lesser shadows serving a greater void."
Sekai's pulse quickened as he thought, *My main quest is here; this is like a miniboss!* Excitement flickered behind his casual mask. Clau tilted her head, catching the spark in his eyes. "You sound thrilled?"
Clau continued, "Anyhow, as the result of the war that befell hundreds of years ago, the monster should've been sealed." Sekai's mind raced, piecing together the lore. He figured there had to be a method they used—something that could've sealed it fully, yet left it alive and restless beneath the shrine.
Fury, one of Sekai's teammates, crossed her arms and declared, "Sword nor black magic will harm this entity." Her voice carried the weight of grim experience. Sekai's eyes narrowed, already calculating the next move.
Clau stepped forward and told Sekai that centuries ago, a powerful cleric had used white magic to bind the beast. Sekai hit pause on his controller, freezing the world in a hush. He dashed back to the village, rounding up every cleric he could find—pausing only to peek up each girl's skirt at their panties with a mischievous grin.
Sekai resumed time, and Ninya clapped in awe, congratulating him on instantly gathering hundreds of people. He opened his mouth to explain it wasn't instant, but Ninya was already chattering away, deaf to his protests. The clerics blinked in confusion, suddenly surrounded by unfamiliar faces.
One cleric stammered, wondering where they were, and Clau raised her voice with royal authority. "I am Clau, Princess of BellTree; I need you all to gather the strongest healing magic you have and cast it into the cave!" The clerics exchanged glances, then nodded, forming a glowing circle of white-robed figures.
All the clerics pooled their mana, hands shimmering as they unleashed their strongest attacks in a blinding cascade of light. The beams struck the cavern mouth, drawing the Shoggath's attention like a swarm of angry hornets. The beast roared and surged outward, a tide of black slime and fury.
The clerics screamed and turned to flee, but Sekai tracked their trajectory and casually stepped in front with Clau, making it look like a heroic teleport. Clau planted herself firmly, ushering them to turn around and attack once more. Each cleric steeled their nerves and gave it their all, beams of pure white magic lancing into the monster's core.
The Shoggath writhed and weakened, nowhere near dying but clearly irritated, its surface bubbling with rage.
Yet suddenly, a jagged cut tore open the Shoggath's belly, and out burst Leafa, the swordsmaster, dripping with black ichor. "Don't tell me you thought you could have your way with me, you monster!" she snarled, smirking at the puddle that had once been the Shoggath. With the creature weakening, she'd seized her chance to escape, but never expected her naked form to be seen by the gathered villagers.
"What the hell!" Leafa shouted, arms crossing over her chest as eyes widened around her. Clau stepped forward with a congratulatory speech, praising Leafa's valor and the salvation of BellTree. Yet Leafa's glare locked on Sekai, sword half-raised; "You again? Shall I put you to the sword!" she snapped, convinced his time-freezing trick had stripped her bare.
Sekai raised both hands, innocent this time. "Fury," he called, "is the monster dead?" Fury nodded grimly and confirmed it was, while thinking to herself, Sekai is dead too.