Olivia's dreamless sleep was abruptly interrupted by a hand pressing firmly over her mouth. Her eyes shot open in panic, her heart thudding wildly in her chest. The world around her was still shrouded in early-morning gloom, the dim light barely seeping through the trees. For a second, she thought it was still night. Her first instinct was to struggle, but then she recognized the face looming above her—Krista, her expression deadly serious, her finger pressed to her lips.
"Shh," Krista whispered. "Don't fucking scream."
Olivia blinked, her mind still groggy. She felt Krista slip something cold and heavy into her hands—the familiar shape of the Glock in one hand, the 1911 in the other. Olivia stared down at the guns, her confusion growing.
"What the hell is going on?" she whispered back, her voice trembling slightly. It was 7:14 AM according to her phone, but the forest still held the quiet stillness of dawn, where every shadow seemed alive, and every sound carried an ominous weight.
Krista glanced around warily, crouched low beside her sister, her voice hushed and tense. "I don't know yet, but I heard something. Rustling. Could be more demons."
At that, Olivia's stomach dropped. The memory of the last demon encounter was still fresh in her mind, the smell of sulfur, the blood... the sheer terror of it all. Her pulse quickened, and she tightened her grip on the guns.
"Stay here," Krista ordered, her voice barely audible but firm. "I'm going to check it out. You stay in this hollow tree, don't move unless I fucking say so."
Olivia opened her mouth to protest, but Krista was already moving, grabbing the Remington and another 1911, her movements swift and precise. She crouched low, using the creek on their left as cover as she silently crept away, leaving Olivia alone in the hollow tree, the darkness around them pressing in like a suffocating blanket.
The eerie silence was broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves, the soft gurgle of the creek, and Olivia's own shallow breathing. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts—fear, confusion, dread. She clutched the guns tighter, her knuckles white.
Meanwhile, Krista moved with the ease of someone who had spent years perfecting the art of staying hidden. Her eyes scanned the underbrush, her ears attuned to every small noise. Years of running, hiding, surviving had trained her for situations like this. Her mind was razor sharp, calculating every possible threat. Whatever—or whoever—was out there wasn't going to get the jump on her.
On the other side of the forest, Ava, Tertorrela, and Sliminac were moving cautiously, trying their best to close the distance without making too much noise. Hilda had taken up a hidden position in a nearby bush, watching their approach from a distance, her body tense and ready for anything. The forest was thick with shadows, and even though the sun was beginning to rise, it did little to cut through the gloom.
Ava signaled for them to stop, her eyes narrowing as she spotted movement up ahead. She crouched low behind a tree, her hand hovering over the hilt of her sword. Her breath was steady, but her mind was racing. They had found Krista's location, but this was the most dangerous part—making contact.
"I'll go first," Ava whispered to Tertorrela and Sliminac. "Stay back until I say otherwise."
Tertorrela gave a curt nod, eyes sharp and focused, while Sliminac prepared a spell under her breath, just in case things went south. Ava took a deep breath, adjusted her shield on her arm, and called out into the woods.
"Krista!" Ava's voice was calm but firm, carrying through the trees. "We're not demons. We come in peace. I just want to talk!"
A tense silence followed. Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she waited for a response, her senses heightened, ready for any sudden movement. She knew Krista was out there, probably watching her, probably armed.
A rustle from the right caught her attention, and then a voice rang out—sharp, hostile, and dripping with suspicion.
"Who the fuck are you?"
Ava's eyes flicked in the direction of the voice, and she spotted Krista hiding behind a tree, just out of sight. She couldn't see her fully, but the sound of a shotgun being loaded was unmistakable.
"My name's Ava," she called back, choosing her words carefully. "I'm the hero of Eulacyda, the last human kingdom. My friends and I aren't here to fight. We just want to talk, okay?"
From behind the tree, Krista let out a bitter laugh, her voice filled with sarcasm. "Yeah, I've fucking heard that before. Right before the FBI tried to jump me. So forgive me if I'm not too keen on chit-chat."
Ava blinked, momentarily confused. "F-B-what?"
Krista snorted. "Doesn't fucking matter. You're all the same. People with badges, people with swords—always trying to arrest me, kill me, whatever. Not falling for it this time."
Ava glanced back at Tertorrela and Sliminac, who were both exchanging bewildered looks. Sliminac shrugged, mouthing "What's FBI?" but Ava waved them off. No time for that now. She had to focus on Krista.
"We're not law enforcement, Krista," Ava called out, her tone more insistent now. "We're here because you and your sister were summoned by the goddess to help save this world from the demon lord Caligo."
Krista's voice came back sharp, like a blade cutting through the air. "Oh, this world, huh? Well, guess what? This isn't my world, not my fucking problem, and not my concern. All I know is, I don't trust anyone here. And if it's all the same to you, I'd rather go down fighting than surrendering to a bunch of sword-swinging assholes."
Ava's patience was wearing thin, but she remembered the warnings from High Priest Eobard. Krista wasn't just some lost soul—they were dealing with someone dangerous, someone unpredictable. The priest had been clear: Krista was an organ harvester and a serial killer. Convincing her wasn't going to be easy.
Ava pressed on, trying to keep her voice steady. "Is that really how you want to end up? Running away from whatever 'law enforcement' you had back in your world? Hunted down by something called—what was it—the 'L-A-P-D SUV'?"
There was a moment of silence, and then Krista's voice came back, this time with a bitter edge of amusement. "Well, shit. Looks like someone's been doing their homework. Too bad you missed the part where a curious fucking cat usually ends up a dead cat. Just a heads-up."
Tertorrela, listening from behind her tree, couldn't help but snicker. "She's not wrong," she muttered, though Sliminac shot her a look that said not helping.
Ava, undeterred, raised her voice again. "Trust me, I'm not exactly thrilled to be out here trying to convince an organ harvester and killer to help us save the world. If it were up to me, I'd much rather have one of those 'stereotypical good guy' champions the goddess used to summon. But here we are, and for whatever reason, the goddess seems to think you're the one who can turn the tide of this war."
Krista's bitter laugh echoed through the trees. "Yeah, I bet she does. A fucking deity thinking two random, non-magical chicks from Earth are gonna save the day? Get the fuck outta here. I've been making fun of isekai shit my whole life, and now look at me—dropped into the middle of one. If this isn't cosmic karma kicking me in the ass, I don't know what is."
Ava frowned, the unfamiliar word catching her off guard. "Ise—what? What the hell are you talking about?"
"Isekai!" Krista snapped, clearly exasperated. "It's a fucking genre of stories where some poor schmuck gets yanked into another world and suddenly they're the big fucking hero. It's bullshit, okay? Bullshit I never signed up for."
Ava shook her head, trying to keep up with Krista's rapid-fire rant. She had no idea what half of what Krista was saying meant, but she pressed on. "Listen, whatever your world was like, this is where we are now. I promise, we're not here to hurt you. We just need to talk."
Krista's voice was colder now, more dangerous. "Yeah, I don't fucking buy it. Why the hell would you listen to some 'goddess,' anyway? Sounds like a lot of bullshit to me."
Ava gritted her teeth, feeling her frustration boiling over. "Because her word is absolute. Do you think I like being here? Do you think I wanted to be born into this mess? I hate this just as much as you do. Hell, I hate the fact that my parents fucked, and now I'm stuck with this 'holy' sword and this damn hero mantle."
There was a pause, and then, to Ava's surprise, she heard a low chuckle. Krista—actually laughing.
"You hate your parents too?" Krista asked, clearly amused. "You know, I think that's the first fucking thing I've heard today that I can relate to."
Ava couldn't help but smirk, though the tension between them was still thick. "Yeah, well, here we are. Now how about we stop dicking around and just talk?"
Krista's voice came back, lighter this time, though still laced with suspicion. "You think talking's gonna solve shit?"
Ava sheathed her sword with a loud clank, raising her shield. "I'm coming out. Shield up. Don't shoot. We can argue for hours, but that's not getting us anywhere."
Krista stayed hidden, her heart racing. Her mind screamed not to trust them, but her instincts—usually her best ally—weren't sounding the same alarms they normally did when something was about to go south. She exhaled, bumping the back of her head against the tree in frustration.
"Fine," she growled, loud enough for Ava to hear. "You can come out. But try anything funny, and I swear to God, I'll blow your fucking head off."
Ava stepped out from behind the tree, shield raised, her posture cautious but unthreatening. She waited, watching Krista's shadow shift as she prepared to reveal herself.
This wasn't going to be easy. But at least they were talking.
Krista flicked the safety back on her Remington with a soft click and emerged from behind the tree. She kept her left hand raised, signaling her non-aggression, while her right hand still gripped the shotgun, its barrel pointed down but ready.
Her eyes scanned the forest, locking onto each of the intruders in turn. "Alright, I'm out. Now show yourselves," she ordered, her voice low but commanding. She tilted her head slightly, smirking in the direction of a bush where Hilda had been poorly concealed. "Yeah, that includes you. You wanna sneak up on someone, you might wanna ditch the perfume next time."
There was a brief, awkward rustle before Hilda finally rose from behind the bush, her face tinged with embarrassment. The soft clinking of the rings on her staff accompanied her steps as she sheepishly joined her companions.
Krista chuckled, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "As much as I like the smell of jasmine, perfume and stealth missions? Not exactly a winning combo, sweetheart."
Hilda's face flushed, but she said nothing, choosing instead to focus on maintaining her composure.
Satisfied for the moment, Krista glanced over her shoulder, calling out to her sister. "Olivia, you can come out now. Just your head, though. Things are… alright for now."
Olivia cautiously peeked her head out from the hollow tree, her eyes darting nervously between the armored strangers. "Are they… friendly?" she asked, her voice filled with doubt. She couldn't help but notice the glinting weapons strapped to their bodies—swords, shields, bows—far too many instruments of war for comfort.
Krista nodded curtly, her expression still guarded. "For the moment, yeah. Let's hope it stays that way."
With that, Krista walked back to where Olivia was hiding, bending down and effortlessly scooping her sister up, settling her on her back like she always did. Olivia wrapped her arms around Krista's shoulders, clinging to her, though her eyes never left the group of women who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
As they watched Krista carry Olivia, Tertorrela leaned toward Ava and Sliminac, whispering under her breath, "So the goddess wasn't kidding when she said Krista's kin can't walk on her own…"
Without missing a beat, Krista shot them a sharp look, her tone biting. "I fucking heard that. And sorry if, unlike you lot, some of us had the misfortune of being raised by shitty, irresponsible parents who caused accidents so bad they left someone unable to walk."
Tertorrela winced slightly but didn't respond, the jab landing harder than expected.
Ava, sensing the tension, quickly stepped forward, trying to regain control of the situation. She cleared her throat and introduced herself again. "I'm Ava," she said, gesturing to her companions. "The mage is Sliminac, the rogue is Tertorrela, the ranger is Orva, and the cleric you made fun of is Hilda. We're a hero party from the Kingdom of Eulacyda."
Krista raised an eyebrow, her expression halfway between amusement and disbelief. "Let me get this straight," she began, her voice oozing with sarcasm. "You've got the most normal, almost old-European name out of all of you, the mage has a name that rhymes with slime and almanac but with an 'I' instead of an 'A,' the ranger's name sounds like a typo of 'orca' since the V and C keys are right next to each other on a keyboard, the rogue has some Italian-sounding bullshit despite the fact that your world probably doesn't even have Italy, and the cleric? She's just fucking German."
She paused for a second, shuffling Olivia slightly on her back before continuing. "You all have these fantasy-ass names, but then there's Hilda—good ol' Hilda—smelling like jasmine, a flower that also exists on Earth. Am I missing something here? Do you guys have Europe on this godforsaken planet too?"
The party exchanged confused glances, none of them understanding the full extent of what Krista had just said. Still, Ava gestured subtly to her friends to just nod along, knowing that trying to untangle Krista's earth-based references would only derail things further.
Krista sighed. "Yeah, sure, whatever." She fixed her gaze on Ava, curious despite herself. "So, what's this Eulacyda place you keep talking about?"
Ava rubbed the back of her neck, thinking for a moment before answering. "Eulacyda is… well, it's the last human kingdom still standing. The war with the demons has been raging for millennia—thousands of years. Caligo, the 17th demon lord, is the most dangerous of them all. He's already turned four-fifths of the world into a wasteland—just ruins and hellscapes where nothing can survive. Eulacyda, on the northernmost coast of the continent, is one of the few places left that hasn't fallen to him."
Krista's expression shifted slightly as she processed the information. "So, let me get this straight. You're telling me the kingdom you're from is at the northernmost part of the world, which means getting there is probably long as hell and filled with all kinds of demon shit?"
Sliminac stepped in, nodding. "Yes, it would be. But the goddess gave us a pearl, imbued with space magic. It can take us directly to the capital—Cleonic—in an instant."
Ava added, "Sliminac's the only one who can chant the spell to activate it, though. It's complicated, long, and—if she gets interrupted—we could end up… anywhere. Or nowhere."
"Great," Krista muttered, rolling her eyes. "So we're relying on a single-use, 40-second spell, and one hiccup sends us God-knows-fucking-where. Sounds like a flawless plan."
Ava pressed on. "The High Priest Eobard and the royal family are already expecting you and Olivia. The longer we wait, the more demons Caligo will create for a siege. We need to leave—now."
No sooner had Ava finished her sentence than a distant, bone-chilling howl echoed through the woods. The unmistakable sound of demons, growing louder with every passing second, sent a chill down everyone's spine. Sliminac and Hilda both tensed, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise.
Krista shot Ava a withering look. "Great. Thanks for jinxing us, o'valiant hero girl lady thingy."
Ava sighed, frustration creeping into her voice. "I didn't—"
Krista quickly lowered Olivia to the ground, her voice sharp as she addressed Ava and her party. "Alright, are you girls up for a fight, or are you just here to talk all day?"
Ava unsheathed her sword, her face grim. "We've fought demons right after breakfast. We're used to it."
Krista nodded, unfazed. "Good. Magicunt, start chanting that teleportation spell now. Beadsworker, you're on babysitting duty—keep my sister safe or I'll fucking skin you alive and bathe you in lemon water, got it?"
Hilda turned to Sliminac, her face riddled in offence. "Was that an insult she just threw at us?"
Sliminac shrugged, her eyes looked at Krista in displeasure. "I don't know, but I don't like the sound of that one bit. Magicunt? A little please would be appreciated from a champion of the goddess."
Krista stepped back and raised her arms, closing her eyes. Sliminac began noticing a strange energy that seemed to ripple through the air around Krista.
Ava narrowed her eyes, watching closely as Krista seemed to focus, her expression intense. Despite Krista's lack of magic, there was something about her presence—something ancient, primal.
Sliminac whispered to Ava, her eyes wide. "I can feel it… something like ancient magic. She has no magic herself, but there's something there…"
Suddenly, with a soft shimmer, several strange contraptions materialized in front of Krista—shotgun speed loaders. She handed them to Olivia and Hilda. "Here. Load these with the shells from the ammo box I summoned yesterday. We're going to need them."
Olivia nodded, immediately setting to work with Hilda's help, fumbling slightly with the unfamiliar loaders. "W-What do I do with these?"
Olivia opened the ammo box and started inserting one shell after another into the syringer tube. Hilda slowly began copying Olivia's movement, taking the red shells from the box in front of her and sliding it into the strange tool in her hand.
Krista turned back to Ava and Tertorrela. "You two take the demons head-on. I'll hang back with treehugger over here and take potshots. Slimy Babe," she called, glancing at the mage, "don't stop chanting, no matter what happens."
Sliminac shot a nervous glance at Ava, silently asking why Krista was calling the shots, but Ava held up a hand, signaling her to stay quiet. Ava had to admit, Krista's leadership had a certain cold, calculated precision. And given that she was the final champion, it made sense to follow her lead—at least for now.
Before Ava could say anything, she pulled out one of her daggers and handed it to Krista. "In case you get cornered."
Krista looked at the dagger for a moment before smirking and pulling out two short, curved, single-bladed swords from her hoodie—wakizashis. "I'm good," she said. "Like any good big girl, I brought my own toys to the party."
Tertorrela laughed, unable to resist a joke. "Do you even know how to swing those things?"
Krista shot her a withering look. "I kill people, cut them open, and sell their organs for a living. Think you can put two and two together, genius?"
Ava chuckled, shaking her head. "This is gonna be fun."