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COMMENTS:
aaafirefly123[archiveofourown]: While I hope you do a centaur girl, I won't fuss at you if you don't. It is ultimately your story. I have an idea for your werewolf girl character if you want to follow my idea of anthro-werewolves. If you are interested in it let me know. Other than that, great chapter. Can't wait to read more.
Avip: Please tell me more about this werewolf girl in the comments.
Lumeria[questionablequesting]: I love Lindana's energy.
Avip: Hehe, happy you like her.
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[Image]
[Jason]
The fire crackles, flames dancing and casting elongated shadows on everyone's faces.
Lindana is nestled beside me, her fingers tracing invisible patterns on my arm. Zyss, sitting next to Lindana, fiddles with a small contraption, her eyes focused and serious. Artoria, ever vigilant, maintains an upright posture, her eyes fixed on George, who paces back and forth, his face a mask of frustration and disbelief. Valthora, on the other hand, is huddled beside me, her eyes downcast, her breathing short and fast nervously.
George suddenly stops, his eyes fixed on Valthora.
"All those hours, all the resources..." George begins, his voice heavy with disappointment. "I spent so much on you, Stonebreaker. And for what? To see you become... this monster!" The man says pointing at her.
Valthora shrinks, as if the words were physical blows. Lindana squeezes my arm, a silent gesture of support. Zyss pauses her work, her green eyes fixed on George, a spark of anger in them. Artoria tries to intervene.
"Captain, calm down. Valthora didn't choose this."
George snorts, dismissing Artoria's words with a wave.
"Didn't choose? She received the Chief God's blessing, she had everything to be a great hero. And now..." He shakes his head, his disgust evident. "Now, she's just another mamono."
Valthora raises her head, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"I... I'm so sorry, Captain."
George sighs, the anger draining away, leaving only a deep sorrow.
"I had so many hopes for you, Valthora. You were the best recruit... I chose you as my disciple." He pauses, looking at me. "And now you're a monster, degenerate freak."
"Hold on." I grumble, pissed off, standing up. "Why do I feel like you forgot the part where she transformed when she saved me in the dungeon?"
"I didn't forget." The captain says, glaring at me with disgust. "The biggest problem here is that a mere invalid was saved by her sacrifice."
The insult hits me like a punch to the gut, silencing me. The air gets stuck in my lungs, the pain of the words echoing louder than any physical blow. Valthora, beside me, jumps to her feet, her eyes shining with a mixture of anger and determination.
"I don't regret what I did and I would have done it again." Her voice trembles, but there's an underlying firmness, an unwavering conviction. "Jason is a civilian! He needed to be saved!"
Captain Cappadocia silences her with a shout, his face red with fury.
"Shut up, you foolish monster! You threw away everything you worked for, everything you fought for, because of a weakling!"
His words are like poison, filling the air with a palpable tension. But before he can continue, before another venomous syllable escapes his lips, my fist meets his mouth with a satisfying sound.
TWACK!
The impact throws him back, his large body collapsing to the ground with a dull thud.
The silence that follows is deafening.
All eyes are on me, a mixture of shock and admiration on the faces around. Valthora looks at me paralyzed, completely shocked by my action. Zyss is also paralyzed, but with a proud smile on her face. Artoria, makes a frustrated facepalm at my action.
And Lindana?
"Bravo! HURRAY!" the Cursed Sword trills, voice fizzing with manic delight. "Now rip that old man's mustache off with your bare hands."
Cappadocia wipes blood from his lip as he stands up, his eyes never leaving mine. There's an intensity in his gaze, a mixture of anger and curiosity. He studies me, as if trying to understand how the boy he rejected transformed into the man standing before him now.
"Now I remember you, worthless boy," he says, his voice low, almost a growl. "You were weak, you never improved, no matter how much I pushed you. You were an even greater waste of time than Stonebreaker."
His words don't affect me like before. Instead I feel satisfaction, a realization of how far I've come.
I give the old man a wide, genuine smile, and shrug.
"Well, Captain, things change. People change."
He narrows his eyes, impatience evident in every line of his body.
"How? How did you get so strong? You were useless, a weakling. And now..." He gestures vaguely in my direction, his hand trembling slightly.
My smile widens, and I take a step forward, closing the distance between us.
"I fucked, Captain. I fucked a lot of monsters girls and I will keep fucking even more."
Cappadocia's eyes widen, shock evident on his face. Behind me, I hear Lindana's soft giggle, the melodious sound breaking the tension. Zyss lets out a laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Even Artoria has a small smile on her lips.
Cappadocia, however, finds no humor in it. His face turns red, anger taking over his features.
"You… motherless bastard." The captain complains. "You think you are cute?"
"Bitch!" I replay with a sadistic smile. "I'm adorable."
The captain charges in my direction, his eyes gleaming with rage. His fist comes straight for my face, fast and precise.
But I'm ready.
I raise my guard, my forearm meeting his fist with a dull thud. The impact reverberates through my bones, but I don't flinch.
'This bastard has stones for fists?' I think to myself.
I hold my ground, my eyes fixed on his.
"Is that all you've got, Captain?" I taunt him, a mocking smile on my lips.
He growls, the sound guttural and full of frustration. He lunges again, this time aiming for my stomach. I dodge at the last second, his fist passing inches from my body. I take advantage of the opening, landing a quick punch to his ribs.
He grunts, but doesn't stop.
Behind me, I hear the commotion. Artoria and Lindana try to move forward, their voices full of concern. But Zyss stops them, her voice firm and commanding.
"This is Jason's fight." Declares Zyss.
"Why?" Questions lindanda.
"He needs to prove… to himself how strong he became."
Zyss's words fill me with determination and pride.
"She's right." I mutter.
This fight isn't just about proving something to the captain; it's about proving to myself. To show that I'm no longer the weak, useless boy he rejected.
Furiously the captain attacks again, a series of quick, precise punches. Every blow he delivers is a test, I block and dodge proofing that I've changed, that I've grown.
He tries a kick, aiming for my legs. I jump back, narrowly avoiding the blow. Before he can regain his balance, I advance, landing a uppercut to his chin. His head snaps back, his body stumbling. But he doesn't fall. Instead, he smiles, a fierce smile full of respect.
"You've improved, boy," he says, his voice hoarse. "And you are truly strong. Your strength is beyond that of great knights, I dare say on the level of a hero."
He lunges again, this time with more speed. His blows are a blur, hard to follow. But I stand firm, blocking and dodging, always looking for an opening.
And then, I see it. A small space, a fraction of a second of hesitation. I seize the opportunity, landing a strong punch to his stomach. He doubles over, the air leaving his lungs in a whoosh.
The old captain falls to his knee.
Looking down he questions me in a bitter tone:
"You're young, stronger and faster than me." The captain laments. "Why don't you take my life?"
Blinking my eyes in confusion, I reply:
"I don't want your damn life, you crazy old bastard. I just want to live my life with my harem of hot mamonos."
To my surprise he laughs, the sound echoing through the forest. With difficulty he stands up, his eyes shining with a mixture of surprise and respect.
"I truly am a 'crazy old bastard' for underestimating you." he says, his voice hoarse. "You're strong in body and noble in spirit, despite having a weird taste in women-."
"HEY!" All the girls behind me shout annoyed.
He ignores while studying me in silence for a few seconds, his eyes assessing.
"You don't look corrupted by mamono mana… and you could be a great hero, Jason. Why don't you join the Order? With your power, you could make a difference."
The proposal catches me by surprise, stunning me for a second.
"It's a great opportunity, one that isn't given to every-." The captain tries to say.
"Are you senile?" I reply, my voice cold as I knit my brows, anger bubbling inside me. "You insulted Valthora. You called her a freak monster, an aberration. And now you want me to join you?"
The captain sighs, impatience evident on his face.
"I was angry, boy. I didn't truly mean it. Valthora was my best recruit, my disciple. I just... I just wanted the best for her."
I shake my head, the anger not diminishing.
"No, Captain. You went too far with your bullshit. And now, you're going to get beaten more than a son of a bitch on father's day until you apologize."
Anger and pride gleam in the captain's eyes for a second, but he decides to calm down, taking a deep breath. His broad chest rises and falls, and he closes his eyes for a moment, as if searching for the right words. When he opens them again, there's a softness in his gaze I hadn't seen before.
"Valthora," he begins, his voice firm but gentle. "I... I'm sorry. I was wrong. You are not an aberration. You are a true warrior, and on your own way a great hero. And I should have seen that from the beginning."
Valthora looks at him, her eyes wide with surprise. She blinks, as if trying to process the words.
"You... you really think that?" She asks, her voice trembling.
The captain nods, a sad smile on his lips.
"Yes, I do. And I'm sorry it took me so long to see it."
Valthora lets out a trembling sigh, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She looks at me, a soft smile on her lips.
"Thank you, Captain," she says, her voice full of emotion. "That means a lot to me."
The captain nods again, his gaze returning to me. There's a glimmer of respect in his eyes, an acceptance I never thought I'd see.
"And as for you, Jason," he says, his voice firm. "Are you sure you don't want to join-."
"Didn't ask for it, don't need it, stick it up your ass and go fuck yourself." I reply, cutting him off in an irritated tone as I flip the bird to him.
Once again, a tense silence settles in our camp. The captain stares at me, his mouth agape in shock. Behind me, Artoria lets out a frustrated sigh, while Zyss chuckles softly, clearly amused by the situation. Lindana, on the other hand, falls to the ground, laughing exaggeratedly.
[Captain George Cappadocia]
Sitting around the campfire, I observe Jason and his mamono. The boy has been through a lot in the last few weeks, that's clear. But, if half of what these mamono said is true:
"You transformed Jason and Valthora's village into a fortress city?" I ask, genuine curiosity in my voice. "How on earth did you manage that?"
The blue armored woman is the first to answer:
"It was thanks to Zyss's plans. She's the mastermind behind everything."
The petite Zyss, trying to be humble, interjects:
"It was thanks to everyone's help. We couldn't have done it without the joint effort."
The woman with black hair and insane red eyes adds:
"If it weren't for your brilliant gremlin mind, that city could have been overrun by a group of bandits, other mamono, or other vile enemies. But now it's truly safe."
I frown, concerned.
"Was the village that bad?"
Swallowing hard, Zyss looks at me with her serious face.
"The Order's draft had already taken most of the strong men who could defend the village. But after the orc horde attack..." She pauses, her gaze distant. "It broke many of the remaining men."
"Do they have a chance of recovery?" I ask cautiously.
"Most of them do," the gremlin replies in a melancholic tone. "But others…"
The revelation hits me hard. The Order, in its quest to protect humanity, often leaves small communities unprotected. And now, a group of mamono, led by a gremlin, achieved what the Order could not.
Protection for an entire community of defenseless people.
Taking a deep breath, I turn to Valthora.
"Valthora Stonebreaker, I was wrong. I judged you without knowing the truth." My voice is firm, but laden with regret. "But now, I need a favor from you."
Valthora looks at me, curiosity shining in her eyes. Beside me, Jason's face darkens, distrust stamped on every line of his face. I ignore the boy's reaction and continue:
"I was training you to be an autonomous agent"
Valthora blinks, confusion replacing curiosity.
"Autonomous agent?" She repeats, her brow furrowed.
Jason, with his arms crossed, interjects:
"What does that mean, exactly?"
I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully, the young man still doesn't trust me... not that I've done anything to prove otherwise.
"It means that Valthora would be a hero capable of acting independently of the Order. Responding to dangers quickly, without being delayed by bureaucracy."
Valthora's eyes light up at the proposal, a spark of enthusiasm igniting in them. But Jason, suspicious of me, keeps his brow furrowed.
"But I doubt she'll be well-received as an Order agent now that she's become a mamono." Jason says, looking at me seriously. "I doubt any member of the Order will greet her with anything other than a sword slash or an arrow to the heart."
I let out a deep sigh, the weight of Jason's words pressing on my chest.
'He's right.' I think in silence.
Disappointment sours my mouth, but I cannot allow myself to be consumed by it. Not now.
"You're right, Jason," I admit, my voice laden with resignation. "The Order wouldn't accept Stonebreaker as she is now."
Valthora's eyes glimmer with unshed tears, but she maintains her firm posture, chin held high. Jason, beside her, remains impassive, but I can see the concern in his eyes. He cares about her, more than he's willing to admit.
"But I have a different proposal," I continue, my tone gaining new vigor. "I've noticed that you, Jason, are the leader of a very competent group. A group that accepts mamono and has proven to be extremely effective when dealing in high risk high reward missions."
Jason frowns, distrust stamped on his face.
"Where are you trying to get to?"
"I want you to act as a group of hired 'mercenary heroes'. Not working for the Order, but for me."
Valthora's eyes widen, hope blossoming in her gaze. She turns to Jason, her hands clasped in supplication.
"Jason, please." Valthora pleads. "I know I'm no longer an Order hero, but I want to keep doing good, I... I want to help people, please."
Jason crosses his arms, his expression closed off.
"I think it's commendable that you want to help others, Val…" Jason begins in a serious tone. "But I don't trust this old man, much less the Order. I don't want to put you at risk in exchange for helping whoever old George deems important to save."
I sigh, understanding his reluctance. Determined to recruit him, I decide to use my last card on my sleeve, an attempt to break Jason's resistance.
"I can guarantee a good reward for your services. The Order has enough resources to make it worthwhile."
Jason stares at me, arms still crossed, his expression impassive.
"Money helps, but..." He murmurs, turning to the small gremlin. "Zyss, would you be able to write down the plans of what you did to reform our hometown?"
The small mamono, with a proud smile, answers without hesitation.
"Actually, I already have everything written in my journal."
Jason nods, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Would you mind sharing your ideas?"
Zyss shakes her head, her smile widening.
"Of course not."
Jason turns to me, his expression serious.
"If you use your influence to help develop the infrastructure of small villages, and my girls want to do it too… I'm in to act as your group of 'Avengers'." The young man concludes, with the mamono around him showing interest in the proposal.
My eyes widened in surprise at the proposal.
"That's an unusual proposal." I mention it with a raised eyebrow. "I didn't expect you to refuse money in exchange for something so altruistic."
Jason stares at me, an ironic smile on his lips.
"Fuck that, I'm broke, I'll take the money too."
I can't help but let out a laugh.
"Fair enough." I add between laughs.
I stand up, the weight of the responsibility for what I'm about to put these young people through pressing on my shoulders. From inside my worn leather pouch, I pull out a peculiar object. A crystal branch, its facets reflecting the campfire light in a dance of colors. I extend the object to Jason, his eyes widening in confusion as he gazes at the unexpected gift.
"What is this?" He asks, his brow furrowed as he takes the crystal branch, turning it over and over, examining every detail.
"This…" I begin, my voice firm, "is a messenger perch. A rare item, no other member of the Order has one like it. It's used for long-distance communication."
Jason raises an eyebrow, skepticism stamped on his face.
"How does it work?" He asks, curiosity replacing his initial distrust.
"It's simple," I explain, pointing to a small slit in the crystal. "You write your message on a piece of paper, insert it here, and a translucent bird forms, carrying the message to the other messenger perch I possess."
Jason's eyes light up with understanding, a smile forming at the corners of his mouth.
"So, that way, you'll have direct communication with me." He concludes, his tone laden with satisfaction.
I nod, a smile spreading across my face.
"Exactly. And, since we're talking about communication, I think it's time to officially name your group." I pause, looking at each of them, determination shining in their eyes. "The name you used before, 'Avengers'. I think it fits perfectly with what you represent."
"Hold on, don't pick the name without-." Jason begins only to be interrupted by Valthora, who stands up, shouting happily.
"Yes." The four-armed monster girl says. "Together we can avenge the wrong of all villains." Valthora continues dramatically. "The Avengers."
Jason lets out an awkward laugh and agrees, but then he turns to his other companions.
"And you guys want to be a part of this?" Jason asks.
"My place is by your side, my Lord." The blue armored woman says. "And in a noble endeavor like this? I am filled with pride."
"Not even if you went to hell could you get rid of me, Darling." The mamono with black hair and insane eyes says.
The small red-haired gremlin just jumps up and hugs the boy.
"You're not from Disney but you got your Avengers, old man."
...
"Huh?" I question, confused. "What's a Disney?"
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E ai gurizada…
[#] I hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you are interested, my Ko-Fi[avipbr] subscriber has access up to 5 chapters ahead:
Chapter 26 - Harem Master Citadel
Chapter 27 - Tyss silence
Chapter 28 - Crazy woods
Chapter 29 - Hope Food
Chapter 30 - 2 New Species
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