{[Evil can never truly be destroyed. Some hearts desire it and only feel alive when they harm others… But for the souls that can be redeemed. You don't overcome their evil with more evil… You destroy their darkness, with your kindness.]}

“Are you okay?”

“No," Ashner admitted. "I'm far from okay… Alex. You told me you could tell when someone had sex, so how did you not know I was a virgin?"

“My power doesn't work that way. Every single creature gives off an aroma when they've mated. If more than a thousand days pass, they don't give out that specific scent. I just assumed you did… For instance." Alex glanced at Gio. "You had sex with Elana."

“YOU WHAT!" Lina's eyes widened. Gio just blushed and smiled.

“She’s a queen!” Lina stormed up towards Gio with a menacing glance. “Do you have any idea what that means?”

“I don’t… Is it bad?”

“Once a queen sleeps with a male, then she can never marry anyone of noble standing… Not that there’s any demi nobles left." Lina bit her fingernail. "Let me guess. She's been ignoring you?"

“How did you know?”

“My big sister will face any challenge head-on, except with matters involving her own heart… She's childish in that aspect… I still can't believe you slept with her…"

“At least someone got laid," Ashner commented, obviously jealous.

“Dude…” Jorge took a step back. “You had a few chances with girls at our school when we were younger… But you rejected them all for Iris. Why?”

“I wanted to follow my dad's example. He admitted to me that he had only fallen in love once and that when you care for a woman, you dedicate your whole self to her… I did that… And when she got pregnant, I wanted her to be my one and only… Then I went to jail, and I just lost that desire… All I wanted to do was drink my life away… Forget the past I couldn't change, and the present that hated me, and hopefully, death would take me while I was wasted."

“That’s a loser’s way out.” Wong’s eyes became daggers. “If you’re going to die, you go out swinging.”

“I don't think that way anymore… Gosh, I need a drink…" Ashner paced away with his head down. The group already had the foresight to guess what he would do. By the morning, Ashner would be so hungover he wouldn't speak to anyone.

“Ashner." Melissa tried to comfort him, but he wasn't having it. He took a glance at her then went up the circular staircase towards his room.

Wong tapped Jorge's shoulder. "There's something I'm curious about… Who's the baby's real father?"

Jorge shook his head. "That's something Iris kept from me. She used me to expand her company, but now that my percentage collapsed, she just sees me as a nuisance and a full-time babysitter."

Jorge's phone started ringing. He tapped his screen. "I need to go."

Wong grabbed his shoulder before he took his first step. “If you ever need help, come to us.”

Jorge nodded slowly. A part of him had forgotten that some people are willing to help others simply because they wanted to. Wong scribbled on a notepad and handed him his phone number. “Hang on to this, just in case.”

"Thank you." Jorge walked away from the group with the baby in his arms.

Gio sighed and tilted his head towards Ashner's room. "This is going to have some backlash."

“Not just him.” Wong paced back towards the couch. “Iris doesn’t seem like the kind of woman that’ll let things slide… I doubt that’s the last we’ve heard of her.”

“What about Ashner?” Alex was concerned.

“He’s a big boy.” Gio went back to his seat. “Just leave him alone and let him sort his emotions out.”

“Okay.” Alex glanced at the ground.

"Don't feel bad, little bro." Gio tapped Alex's chest. "Ashner's resilient, rash sometimes, and a bit of an alcoholic. But at the end of the day, if you want to make him happy, just have breakfast ready."

“Do I need to wear the apron again?”

“Yes, but with clothes underneath it.”

Alex nodded.

*******

The morning followed, and just as Gio predicted, Ashner emerged from his room reeking of alcohol. Even after his morning shower and brushing his teeth, the aroma followed him.

The girls didn't mention the prior night and instead stepped into the new world. They were armed with farming equipment, water, and more seeds.

Ashner greeted the queen and went off on his own towards the farms. He still hadn't finished his job. Gio and Wong proceeded to give away tools and started teaching the locals how to farm and how to use their equipment properly.

Risa kept her sights on Ashner. Even if she had kissed him, somehow, he was even further away from her, at least emotionally. She sighed as Melissa and Lina joined them. The girls had been helping Gio and Wong, and their legs were covered in fertilizer.

"I'm not a fool." Risa's voice was demanding. Both the girls studied her. "I know how you both feel about Ashner… You two need to understand something. I won't lose to either of you."

"You're declaring war?" Lina smirked and sized up Risa, almost like an older sister mocking her younger sibling. Her body was easily more desirable. And the elf fully weaponized that beauty, like a sharp knife. "Don't cry when things don't work out in your favor, little one."

Risa hissed, and her eyes dilated, just like a cat that's about to pounce.

Melissa stepped between the girls, breaking up their fight by hugging them both.

“Enough already.” The girls quickly stopped fighting. “Ashner has a lot on his mind. The last thing he needs to deal with is us arguing.”

Both the girls took a step back. They didn't say a word, but they acknowledged that Melissa was right.

"I'm sorry." Risa bowed, which made Lina take a step back. "I eavesdropped the night you kissed Ashner… Since then… I've been angry… I can't stand looking at you…"

“It’s not like you didn’t kiss him either.” Lina scoffed. “You’re acting like a child.”

"Enough!" Melissa forced the girls to bump shoulders. "Apologize, and let's get past this… Please… Do it for me?"

The neko’s tail wagged side to side, and Lina’s ear’s shot up then down until they both sighed and bowed to each other.

“That’s what I like to see.” Melissa smiled.

*******

“Are you sure you want to come along?” Ashner asked Melissa as she handed him a box of fifty caliber ammo.

"Did you forget I was also a soldier? I know the basics. If anything, just leave the rear guard to me."

“I don’t want us fighting demi’s.”

“Then you better negotiate properly… Our fate is in your hands… No pressure.”

Ashner sighed, and Melissa giggled.

"I never thought I'd see the day where I drive an armored vehicle in another world." Gio stepped out of the Stryker. All the elves were murmuring around them. They were amazed by what had just come out of the white room.

"Why does that surprise you? If anything, you're the first human to ever sleep with a being from another world… That's a much more impressive feat."

“Keep that info on the down-low.”

"Everyone suspects it. Gio, you may not know this. But you're basically a giant teddy bear. Everyone, including children, love you. But you also tend to make bad choices… Like sleeping with the queen of the only sentient beings that we have befriended… Stop and think, had things gone sideways. We might've been murdered in our beds."

“But she’s so hot… And her proportions are spectacular.”

“Yes, I get it… You like them thick… Nothing wrong with that. But please, for the love of whatever anime girl you’re currently crushing on. Don’t jeopardize us again.”

Gio sighed and nodded. “I’m sorry.”

"I understand you would never do anything to harm us… But being too optimistic is dangerous. Don't forget the war. People we helped turned their guns on us. This world might do the same thing."

As they spoke, Elana marched towards them with three elven guards. Each with compound bows and geared up with elven armor. Even the queen wore armor, one that curved around her body, it wasn't practical for battle, but it did highlight her figure more.

Gio just about drooled.

Wong rolled his eyes.

The queen addressed Ashner. “My party is ready.”

"We're not done yet. This vehicle needs to be babied, so it runs smoothly." Ashner was busy loading up extra fuel on its rack. Along with tying down extra boxes of ammo. Sadly he didn't have any 105MM ammo for the main gun. He didn't have the connections to buy that type of ammo. So the fifty caliber and the 5.56 rounds would have to do.

“May I touch your mount?” The queen asked curiously.

"It's not alive. It's just a machine."

“Machine?” The queen dabbed her lip. “That word doesn’t make sense to me.”

Even if we speak the same language, I guess some words will never really translate.

“Consider it a carriage that doesn’t require a mount.”

The queen's eyes lit up. "That's delightful!" Her eyes shifted to her left as she studied the eight wheels. Standing next to one was Gio. She immediately stepped away.

Gio sighed.

So that’s how it is.

Once they loaded up, Risa, Alex, Wong, Melissa, Ashner, and three elven archer's loaded up into the armored vehicle. The queen had forbidden Lina from going after the stunt she pulled a few weeks back. Or so she implied, but in reality, she didn't want her venturing out, in case she died, the elves needed a queen.

Ashner sat on the main gunner's seat. The main gun was dry, but he had control of the M240 machine gun, which served as the gunner's secondary weapon.

Alex put on a headset and stood holding on to the fifty caliber machine gun. He was the only one exposed. Wong was the better choice, but Ashner was not going to risk his only medic. And out of all the slaves, Alex was the only one who had the knowledge to use firearms.

The group took their seats. Inside were nine seats for passengers. One for a driver and a passenger, one for the commander, and the other for the gunner. A total of thirteen seats, something Gio had obviously modified. It may have all its weaponry, but it lacked radios and other technology exclusive to the military.

Gio took the driver's seat, and Ashner urged the queen to take the passenger's side, which was just a small seat next to the driver. She complied.

The rest of the group buckled up, and the hatch was lifted up, mind-boggling the demi’s.

When the engine came to life, the elves reached for their arrows but were stopped by Wong, who simply held his hand up as he put on his headset. The elves calmed themselves.

"Final checks," Ashner announced. The only ones wearing headpieces were Alex, Gio, Wong, and himself.

"Weapons are locked and loaded, that includes Alex's, even if you're against the idea of me taking point. I will, on occasion, swap out with him."

“That’s fine. Gio?”

"Fuel is topped off, and I checked all the oils and all the boring crap… We're good to go."

"Alright, let's move out. Gio, don't flip us."

“I can drive this big girl. You can relax.”

Ashner sighed, and the armored vehicle moved forward. Across the ruined kingdom and slowly through the forest that inflected fear. Gio expertly chose the best route even if, on occasion, everyone inside panicked.

Once they cleared the forest Gio had the queen put her headset on. With it, they were able to talk privately.

"Elana… Which way towards the mountain?" Gio asked. Once his voice passed into her headset, she panicked, but Gio put his arm on her shoulder. She submitted and spoke.

"Head towards the mountain with snow on top of it. You'll find the remains of an old road. Follow it." She didn't regard Gio.

They moved forward. The queen kept glancing at Gio then away. Enough times for the soldier to tap a button on her headset. He did the same with his.

"Nobody can hear you but me… Why have you been avoiding me? Did I piss you off?"

“It’s not that.” The queen clasped her hands.

"Then what is it?" Gio kept his eyes on the road instead of her.

“Every time I see you… I just remember myself begging… And it… It excites me.”

Gio stepped on the brakes accidentally. It earned him a yell from Wong. Telling him to 'ease up on the brakes.'

“That’s it?” Gio smiled. “Why does that bother you?”

The queen pulled on her hair. “Because a queen never begs… But when I beg… My body can’t resist you…”

Gio's fears faded away. Deep down, he feared that he had ruined her reputation.

“Your sister knows about us.”

“That girl has no room to judge me. Considering her own taste in men isn’t that far off. Except she craves men who are quick to violence… I desire the opposite. Kind but strong… Patient and fun… I crave… You.”

Gio kept his focus on the road until she finished her sentence. Taking a quick glance at her purple eyes and her blushing face made his heart melt. Her blue hair and alluring figure made him want to take her right then and there.

“Why don’t we try dating?”

“What is dating?” She tilted her head.

Gio explained everything to her as the elves double-checked their arrows. Risa occasionally glared at Melissa. Even if they had a truce of sorts, she didn't want anyone getting in the way. Melissa found her adorable and sat next to her just to tease her.

“What is that?” Ashner aimed the turret into the sky.

"That's a wyvern!" Alex explained and quickly took cover inside. "We need to hide. We're in its territory!"

“Finally, something interesting!” Wong took his spot and used his binoculars to inspect the flying beast. “It’s really a flying lizard.”

The elves readied their bows and waited for their queen's orders. Before she gave any, she focused on Ashner, waiting for his guidance.

“It spotted us!” Wong grabbed the fifty cal and focused it on the dragon.

Above the group, the flying lizard rushed down towards them, with flames spewing from its mouth.

“Alex, how do we kill one of those?”

“With an army! We need to hide!”

“Gio, can we hide?” Ashner asked while he kept the 240B’s sight on the beast.

"We're out in the open. That's a big nope."

“Then we don’t have a choice. Wong, engage with the fifty.”

The rumble of lightning ripped across the sky, forcing all the elves and even the other demi’s to cover their ears.

Ashner engaged as well, aiming center mass.

"Halt fire," Ashner spoke, all weapon systems stopped.

Something heavy and large smashed near them.

"What happened?" Alex panicked. The elves were just as nervous. Barely able to stay in their seats.

"Drop the hatch." Wong stepped back and opened it. In the distance, the wyvern roared in pain.

Ashner focused his sight's reticle on its head and engaged.

XP:2900

The monster turned to black smoke, and it turned into a pile of gold.

Risa and Alex stepped out, with the elves and the queen behind them.

“You killed it… So easily…” Elana focused on the Stryker. “You humans are fearsome…”

Wong and Ashner carried empty duffle bags and started filling them with the gold coins, tossing aside the mythril and the even rarer platinum.

“Do you understand what you’ve done?” The queen was in awe. “You killed a wyvern… A king of the sky.”

"We wasted a good amount of rounds on it," Ashner admitted as he gathered the spoils. "It's scales were highly resilient to 7.62 rounds. But the fifty caliber ripped it to shreds. We should be more cautious. Are there any more wyvern's around this area? I wouldn't like to engage them, but the amount of gold it drops makes it tempting."

“NO!” Alex urged, a tear ran down his face. “Master… Please… Avoid them at all costs…”

"What's wrong?" Ashner stopped and walked up towards his friend. Alex was shaken, on occasion, he was a crybaby, but this time, he was shaking violently.

"Ashner…" Alex's eyes went to the sky. "I wasn't born a slave. I became one after a wyvern flock attacked my town."

“They can attack in groups?” That worried Ashner. They didn’t have the firepower to stop multiple targets at once.

"Yes, they destroyed my home. Burned it to ash… I ran, and I was eventually captured… I know you want gold… But avoid hunting these monsters… Even with your strength, they'll slaughter all of us…"

He's shaking. I never bothered asking him about his past… Alex is the kind of guy that's always happy, so I never imagined he went through something like that…

"Gather the gold, load it on the rack, and we keep moving." Ashner gave his orders, Risa and even the elves obeyed. They pocketed the rarer coins. Ashner didn't care as long as he got the gold. "We're gonna try to avoid those lizards… I'm curious… What other monsters are out there?"

"Giants." The queen spoke. "Further north, you can find them. They're massive, territorial, and violent. Their steps shake and change the environment around them… The sea is filled with krakens, megalodons, and jelly-monsters. Before the slave crest, humans and demi's fought against these monsters, and we were able to cross the ocean to other nations… And, of course, the most fearsome of all. The black and red dragons…"

The word made Ashner and Wong perk up.

"The fully grown ones are as large as mountains. When they flap their wings, the air changes enough to eradicate whole cities. When they breathe flame, the ground itself becomes magma and glass… Luckily for us, they're across the ocean… But suppose even one decides to make their nest and claim this territory as their own. In that case, it's a very real possibility it will kill everyone and everything… The only good thing about them is they kill monsters and collect their spoils. My ancestors, along with over a hundred thousand warriors of all races, attacked one… Only twelve warriors survived. One of them was an elf… My ancestor, after his victory, he was made a king."

“Over a hundred thousand… That’s ridiculous.”

Elana made her way back into the Stryker while the rest of the group collected the gold.

In the distance, hiding on a tree branch, was a woman. She studied the group then hid.

*******

The Stryker moved further into the unknown. Gio had found the old road and was following it. Wild grass had covered up a good portion of the way, but it was still there. No one had used it in years.

"Tell me about these demi-bats." Ashner gave his full attention to the queen. She was the only one with any information on them.

“The betrayers?” Alex raised his eyebrow.

“What?”

"Are we trying to find demi-bats?" Risa asked with a worried expression.

“Did I miss something?” Ashner glared at the queen. “Did you hide something from us?”

Elana pulled on her hair. "Yes." Her voice echoed across all the headsets. "I didn't tell you the whole truth."

"Withholding information can cost us lives," Wong commented.

“I’m aware.” The queen admitted.

"We don't need to argue mid-mission." Ashner raised his hand. "Elana, you're a very reasonable woman… So why keep this information hidden from us?"

“I wasn’t hiding it from you… I was hiding it from your slaves…”

Alex and Risa’s faces were petrified. Like they were walking to their deaths.

“Tell us everything now, or we turn around.”

"Does your world have a creation myth?"

“It has several… None are proven without a doubt.” Wong added, he was curious.

“Three God’s created our world. The First God created mankind, a creature with limitless ambitions… A race with no limitations to magical affinities… They inhabited the world and filled it with castles and cities. But they were full of hate and murdered each other… So the First God spoke to his best friend. The Innovative God. She fell in love with his creation. Every animal was at her disposal, the beauty that she both envied and loved.”

The queen smiled, recalling and repeating the bedtime stories her parents had told her.

"With his permission, she created not one, but three thousand demi's. Each with different traits of the animals she loved. And other's completely new… Like us, the wood elves." She played with her ears. "Creating so many limited what she could give us, in terms of her magic. So every race was limited to specific magical affinities. But she didn't stop there. She created a series of sub-classes that only the rarest of demi's were blessed with… Alex has one of those affinities. A demi-dog with the blessing of an incubus."

Alex blushed and rubbed his head.

"Life began anew. At first, humans were fascinated with the demi's and went out of their way to treat them as friends and family… And for a while, the hatred humans had for each other faded… Then the third God ventured into our world… One filled with hate and envy… With an unquenchable desire to destroy all sentient beings… He believed intellect should be a gift only shared among divinity… He knew if he faced the two Gods head-on, he would be destroyed… So he secretly burrowed his soul, wrath, and violence in the darkest and deepest caves. Where it manifested into monsters…"

The truck bounced, and the elves held on to their seats. The road was bumpy, but they were used to it by now.

"Then a new age came one of fear and death. Demi and humanity faced a new threat… Monsters… Billions perished, entire races of demi's faded away… They entered the Forever Forest with no children to create new life… All demi's that lived in the sea were eradicated. Demi-mermaids, demi-sirens, even the demi-water nymphs… But once all the armies of our world united, used the strength and skills of all our races, we fought back… And we started winning… Taking back our towns, our cities, and our continents… We pushed the Dead God's ambitions to the brink, destroying every monster he created. The war was all but won… That's around the time I was born… We called it the era of victory…"

The elves closed their eyes, some were almost as old as the queen, so they recalled the past.

"Humanity grew thin, so human kings refused to participate in battles against the Dead God… That infuriated the demi's which led to conflicts and ultimately slavery… Lina was born around that time… The lack of fighting didn't bring peace. We just found a new enemy… Our weapons turned to the creation of the First God."

“Until one race decided to destroy everything our ancestors fought for… The demi-bats…”

Wong leaned closer to the queen. Alex and Risa glance away. Ashner was paying attention, but he kept his eyes on his monitor, scanning the ground and the sky.

"Not all demi's are guaranteed to have an affinity for magic, but all humans have at least one… The Dead God found the king of the demi-bats and offered him power beyond his imagination… Of course, it came at a price… They were offered dark affinities for their entire race, and some got the blessing called Stalker… In exchange for a new spell, one that would shift the war… A war the Dead God was on the verge of losing… No one really knows what the demi-bat king was thinking. Maybe he didn't care much about the war since the Dead God's influence was all but gone… So he accepted… And upon their left shoulder's all demi-bats have a mark since birth… That mark is a word written in the God's language… It said… Hellbound… And the spell that came to our world… A spell that binds one into slavery… The Dead God never promised to give that spell to the demi-bats. Instead, it was given to a human, who perfected it and started enslaving demi's forcing them to fight and kill one another… In order to save his friends and family from the demi's overwhelming might… Truthfully, I don't blame that human. He had every right to take back what he lost… But that didn't stop the other demi's from hating the demi-bats… Because humanity not only took back their freedom, they started enslaving our kind… And the Dead God's power started returning to him…"

"Why are you going after those demi's?" Risa tilted her head towards the queen. "They're responsible for all the suffering every demi has endured."

"Because demi-bats were gifted with stealth and flight… If we want to seek out survivors, we need them to help us… Don't be so quick to spread hatred, warrior of the black neku tribe." The queen sighed. "Slavery was common, long before the magical seal was created… Our ancestors brought about our fate… Now it's up to us to try to fix it… Ashner… Are slaves common in your world?"

"No," Alex answered. But he was wrong.

"They were, in our past… Every race was captured and forced into submission at one time or another… Even now, some of my people are living a life they can't escape from, under the whip of someone else."

“I see… So there is no hope.” Elana’s voice faltered.

"No." Ashner corrected. "My world isn't perfect, but slavery is a practice that most people loathe… I don't have the answers. But I do know… If we stand back and do nothing… Then all our suffering will continue… Everyone here is free, and you can choose to be better than humanity… Better than your ancestors… But only if demi's decide to stop harming one another, and instead unite for a better cause…"

“It’s impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible… Because you’re talking to a human, one who considers you a friend.”

The queen smiled. “Ashner, The Broken… My father would’ve loved you…”

The truck stopped. Gio broke the mood. “We’re at the foot of the mountain.”

"Already?" Elana took a glance at the monitor, and sure enough, they arrived. "On horseback, it takes at least a few days… We got here in one day… Amazing."

“If these demi-bats are still here. How do we enter the mountain?”

The queen perked up. “I used to visit this mountain a long time ago… I doubt my friends are still alive… Since elves are all eternal…”

Ashner readied his M4-Carbine and tapped Gio’s back as he turned off the Stryker. Wong was on the machine gun, scanning for any threats.

The hatch was lowered, and Ashner rushed out first, with his assault rifle at the ready. Alex and Risa followed behind.

"We're clear!" Ashner waited for the elves to rush out, surprisingly they mimicked Ashner, sloppily but they readied their arrows and pulled their drawstrings. "Clear means it's safe."

The elves glanced at each other than at him.

If we’re going to have demi’s with us, we need to train them properly.

The queen led the way, passing through a passageway leading deeper into the mountain.

A small creature ran right by Wong.

Wong focused on a lizard with two tongues and two tails. He knelt down to study it. The lizard skittered away into a hole, both of its tails detached from its body and wiggled, even after being detached from its body.

“Interesting.” Wong grabbed one of the tails that kept wiggling.

“Can you do that later?” Gio lectured.

“My mistake.” Wong turned his weapon back and kept guard for the rear.

Ashner led the group with the elves and Elana in the center of the group.

"There it is." Elana pointed towards a crack in the mountain. It was a scar that led into a hollow world.

"NODs on." Ashner reached for his own and brought them down, turning it on as they entered the cavern. "We're here to negotiate, don't engage unless we have absolutely no options left. But if this place turned into a dungeon, we fight our way out and."

“Understood.” Gio took the left flank.

Wong rushed forward and took the right flank, making Alex and Melissa take the rear guard.

The inside of the mountain glittered, the walls were made of granite, and the passageway shifted into a narrow path, with lit torches to guide them.

“Elana, does this look familiar?”

“It’s familiar, but… No one has come to greet us…”

Ashner and the group moved forward, expecting to face a barrage of monsters until something flew down from above.

Ashner, Wong, and Gio aimed their weapon straight ahead at the creature.

“Humans… You are not welcome here.”

More creatures landed. That's when Ashner rationalized something. These were demi-bats… He aimed his sights up into the roof. Hundreds of creatures gawked at them, each with glowing red eyes.

The demi's landed around them like hard rain. Some held bows, others swords, but most of them had daggers. Every part of them was human, except for black fur on their wrists and ankles and, of course, large bat wings on their back.

A single demi-bat stepped forward. She was about as tall as Risa with red eyes and black hair that curled down her left and right side.

“They’re the ones I’ve been following. They’ve been living inside the forest of fear… And what really impressed me… They killed a wyvern.”

How the hell does she know that? She’s been stalking us… Actually, that’s impressive…

She readied her daggers and smiled deviously… “Humans… No human has ever stepped in our mountain and lived!”

Ashner, Wong, Gio, and Melissa readied their weapons.

The demi-bat jumped back.

Does she know what these guns can do?

"ENOUGH!" Elana roared. She stepped forward, ahead of the group. "I am queen Elana, the last royal of the wood elves! I request an audience with your king!"

The demi-bat laughed. “You’re working with the humans? Are you a slave?”

Elana removed her chest-piece and undid the top buttons of her shirt. Showing off a good portion of her cleavage. “Do I have the seal?”

The demi-bats glanced at each other then they lowered their weapons.

“Don’t let them fool you!” The girl screamed. “The neku and dog-man are both slaves… Their master is among them! Kill them! KILL ALL THE HUMANS!”

Risa and Alex grabbed Ashner and pushed forward, ending up side by side with the queen.

Alex’s eyes glowed red. Most of the aggressors dropped their weapons, screamed, and rushed deeper into the kingdom.

He used fear.

Alex's eyes burned, and he tumbled. Gio grabbed him before he collapsed.

“I’m sorry.” Alex exhaled. “Using my power against so many drains my mana too quickly.”

"Don't apologize." Ashner focused on the demi’s around them. A few still held their ground. Ready to fight. "You gave us the opening we needed."

"THESE HUMANS ARE OUR ALLIES!" The queen roared. "IF YOU HARM ANY OF THEM, THE WOOD ELVES WILL SHOW YOU NO MERCY! YOUR MOUNTAIN WILL BURN!"

Damn, we’re here to negotiate. Not start a war.

Ashner raised his weapon up, ensuring nobody was in his sights, then he fired. The rumbling of the bullet made a few demi's tumble backward. A bullet in a condensed area was no different than thunder rumbling across the sky.

Ashner focused his weapon on the demi-bat, who was encouraging her people to fight them. "You… What's your name?"

The demi-bat’s body shook. “Caitlin.” She hissed.

The rest of Ashner's group created a circle, with the queen in the center. More demi-bats landed around them. Even if Ashner didn't have eyes on his group, he grasped that some of them were going to start panicking.

“How long have you been following us for?”

She stayed quiet. Ashner focused on the demi’s around him. Now that he had fired a bullet, they were petrified.

"You're aware of what a 5.56 does to a body." He aimed at her leg. "Talk, or I'm shooting your leg."

Come on. Someone take the bait.

"Stop!'' A voice boomed. It was deep and echoed.

Thank God.

Ashner’s nods gave him a better view of his environment. One demi-bat. Easily six feet tall. With a torn wing walked towards the group.

"Caitlin… What did you bring into our kingdom?" The bat-girl tilted her head. "Foolish cousin of mine… You were warned. The outside is forbidden to all our kin."

The large demi-bat focused on Elana. “I’m the king of the demi-bats. King Wilson… Not that a title means anything anymore.”

“You house gave us a violent greeting.” The queen scoffed. “There was a time when our two kingdoms were as close as family.”

“Don’t mock me.” Wilson shook his head. “That time is long gone… Ever since…”

"Ever since your forefather destroyed all the efforts of the demi's," Elana spoke for him. She wasn't happy and had zero tolerance for violence against her or her allies. "I see the blessing of darkness is still given to all your kin… As an elf with no blessings of my own, I'm jealous."

“What do you want?” The king crossed his arms. “You even brought humans here.”

"These humans are my allies and friends I trust dearly." Elana pulled on the tip of her hair. "Despite our welcome… I am delighted to see your race hasn't been eradicated or enslaved."

"Don't lie to me, elf." The king studied Alex, Risa, and the other demi's eyes. They were filled with hate. "You're no different from the others… Your hatred for us is unquenchable."

The queen glanced back and glared at her subjects, who quickly submitted. Even Risa and Alex stopped.

“We’re the demi’s that joined the Dead God, the ones who allowed the slave crest to exist in our world… I’ve accepted the hatred that our world harbors for us, and for me, the king of the betrayers.”

He shouldn’t be blamed for the sins of his forefathers… He didn’t do anything wrong.

“So I’ll ask again… What do you want? Queen Elana, of the wood elves?”

"An alliance, we're currently living in a place where humans steer clear of. We have a kingdom, farms, and weapons." She grabbed her compound bow and tossed it to Wilson. He took a few seconds to study it. "The only thing we lack is manpower. I'm looking to create a kingdom of demi’s just like the era of victory… The world needs your kingdom's skills and power."

Wilson tossed her back the compound bow. “The world hates us… They’ll never accept our help… Now leave with your lives, or would you prefer to die here?”

“Wilson! Please hear us out!” The queen stepped forward.

"NO!" Wilson's voice boomed across the mountain. "For my people, humans and demi's are our enemies… We've survived in our kingdom for hundreds of years… Because we don't show our faces. And because of that our kind has survived, and now you're threatening our survival… GET OUT!"

Elana gritted her teeth. She had nothing more to offer.

Ashner stepped forward. "This isn't a kingdom. This is just your way to escape."

In Ashner's mind, he recalled the days he was ridiculed in jail for the crime he didn’t commit, and when he isolated himself. It wasn't much, but he managed to escape… This king was just living a false illusion.

"Staying here and doing nothing makes you worse than your ancestor… Not stepping up and helping the world is just as bad as condemning it."

The king's eyes widened, and his voice became violent. "You've got the courage to speak to me like that."

"If you died here, the world wouldn't care, nor would it know."

The king’s composure shifted, but he recovered before he made a fool of himself. “I changed my mind… A battle to the death… Then and only then, I’ll hear you out.”

"You won't hear me out if you're dead." Ashner slung his weapon behind him. "How about we change the rules. The first man on the ground loses?"

The king raised his eyebrow. “You’re an interesting human, but I won’t change my conditions. Caitlin!”

The demi-girl flew forward towards Ashner. She was more than delighted to kill him.

“Prove to me that you’re different.” The king clapped his hands.

Caitlin readied her daggers.

Ashner pouted at the king, who had sent his cousin to fight on his behalf. She was a feisty little thing, but the idea of killing her was stupid.

“Fight to the death.”

This only benefits you, regardless of who dies… Coward…

Ashner readied his combat dagger.

“Begin!”

Caitlin's eyes lit up. She rushed in violently and slashed wildly.

Before her dagger's reached him, Ashner ducked down, avoiding the blades, then swung upwards, striking her stomach with his fist. The blow lifted the girl up a few feet. She gasped for air and tumbled to the ground, dropping both daggers.

"That's it?" Ashner kicked her weapons aside and glared at the king. He still wore his night-vision goggles, and even with his body armor, he was fast.

"You want me to prove that I'm different from other humans… Right?" Ashner paced towards the king with his combat knife. From his peripheral vision, he caught demi's readying their arrows and following him along the darkest parts of the cave. Ashner returned his knife to its sheath. Behind him, the girl kept groaning.

"I won't kill her… As the leader of your group… If someone needs to fight to the death, then it has to be you… Lead by example…"

“You’re threatening me? The king of the demi-bat race?”

"Yes, only a coward sends someone else to fight on their behalf… In a time where we need more warriors to stand together, you want me to kill one of your own? I'm not an idiot. You did it because she doesn't obey, and she roams the world outside this mountain. Instead, I'll give you a choice."

“And what choice is that?”

"Live… Not in the darkness away from the world's problems, but out in the light… Among other demi's… I understand why you chose to hide away, living with a shame you can never wash away… You took the easy way out. You hid away like a coward."

Ashner recalled his drunken nights, the days he glanced at his cellphone. Wong's phone number was there, and on occasion, Wong messaged him, but Ashner never once replied. Instead, he drank his problems away.

Wong's eyes widened, and he readied his assault rifle. If he lived through this, he was going to clock Ashner in the face. The elves were ready to engage the demi-bats. Gio held Elana tightly with one arm and held his SAW in the other.

“You know nothing of etiquette. I am a king!”

Ashner relived the day he helped his neighbor carry a package of water into her home. She thanked him, but her father whispered in her ear. Then in a second, her eyes became terrified, she slammed the door in Ashner's face. Leaving him there alone, he didn't have any ill intentions… But the sting of her hate cut him like a red hot dagger against his skin.

Then his memories took him to the key and the door. Then his friends… He was confident that none of them would be in his life had he not faced his problems…

"YOU ARE A COWARD!" Ashner roared at the king, then pointed at the demi-bat who had faced him and lost. She was still trying to recover. "THAT GIRL WAS SCORNED FOR VENTURING INTO THE WORLD THAT YOU'RE SO TERRIFIED OF! HER COURAGE IS THE BEST PART OF YOUR KINGDOM!"

"What do you know… Human?" The king clenched his fist and shook with his rage. "Do you know what it's like to be hated for something you didn't do! TO ENDURE THE WHOLE WORLD'S HATRED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S BEHALF!"

We’re the same…

“I do…”

The king's eyes softened. Ashner's eyes were eerily similar to his. Wilson took a step back.

"At least you were able to hide…" The king studied Ashner's eyes and sensed a depression so deep and dark it emitted from his very soul. It was overwhelming… He was broken… "I'm not from your world. In mine everybody hates me… And unlike you, I can never redeem myself… I can never make things right."

Melissa's head came down. Her heart ached with guilt.

"No amount of wealth or good deeds can make the people in my world hate me any less… Stop hiding. Stop pretending things will get better while you hide away in this mountain… There are people out in the world desperate to survive… You have the power to find and help them…" The king lifted his hand towards his archers. They all lowered their bows. He finally resolved himself to listen. "You can redeem the bullshit your forefathers did by standing with us! We're going to find as many demi's as we can… We're going to give them a home, food, and protection! Help us… Or stay hidden… And die with a shame you don't deserve!"

Wong and Gio always understood Ashner was in pain, but right now. They became aware of how deep his suffering went. Melissa sensed it worse than anyone else. Blaming herself.

“And what if I fail?” The king asked. “What if we do help you… And the world still hates us?”

“They won’t… Not if you save them… Become the hope this world desperately needs… Help us find the lost souls shivering in fear… Bring them to a safe haven… Your power isn’t a curse… It’s a gift we can use against the Dead God’s ambitions!”

The king studied the man before him… Then glanced at his people… This time he truly studied them… They wore rags, most were malnourished, and they lacked ambition. Instead, they only feared the outside… Just like their king.

“Would you forgive me?” The king asked the elves, Alex and Risa. “Or would you hate me and my kin regardless?”

Risa stepped up. "Your majesty. I am the last of the black neku tribe. I don't have royal blood, and I believe that my race will die out with me… Upon their lives, I swear. All my hate towards your kind will fade away if you help us. I vow it."

The elves and Alex around her nodded.

Wilson tilted his head towards Ashner. "What is your name, human?"

“Ashner.”

“I won’t forget it… I never in my life thought a human could shake my core…” The king stepped forward and addressed his people. “As of today, we will leave this mountain… We’ll create a new life for us… One under the sunlight!”

No one replied. His words were surreal. Until a single voice cheered, then another, and another, and soon his entire kingdom roared in happiness.

“No.” Caitlin pushed herself off the ground. “Humans… They should all die.” She whispered to herself.

The demi-bat spread her wings, pulled a hidden dagger wrapped around her ankle, and lunged towards Ashner.

A sword clashed against her blade. Risa had stepped in and repelled the attack.

Caitlin tumbled and rolled. Covering herself in dirt.

“HE’S A HUMAN! WE CAN’T TRUST THEM!” The girl readied her dagger again.

“That’s enough!” Wilson roared. “As your king, I am ordering you to drop your weapon… Isn’t it shameful enough that he defeated you so easily!”

"NO! ALL HUMANS MUST DIE!" The girl lunged forward, only for Risa to swing the blunt end of her blade, knocking her down. She tumbled and rolled towards Ashner. Blood ran down her neck. "I'll kill you… I'll kill every last one of you..."

"Ashner." The king glared at his cousin then bowed towards the soldier. "Forgive her insolence. I failed to see her hate towards you… If you may… Please make her your slave as an apology."

“What?”

Elana walked towards Ashner and grabbed his shoulder. She whispered in his ear. "Accept his offer. That girl will try to kill you and our friends again… If she's your slave, then it'll serve as one less enemy and a mediator with the demi-bats… Plus, it's unwise to refuse an offer from a king."

"I don't know how to make her a slave," Ashner admitted.

“She’s defeated.” Risa pinned Caitlin’s arms against her back. “Touch her and enslave her.”

She just about ordered me to do that.

Ashner walked towards the girl, who hissed as soon as he manhandled her arms.

"Become my slave." A crest burned into her chest, and his menu popped up. Showing her stats.

“No…” The demi-bat started crying. Her tears ran down her face. “I won’t submit. I won’t let you touch me, human! One day… I will kill you…”

Ashner stood up. “With my authority as your master, I forbid you from harming any human. Unless they’re a threat to you. Then you have every right to slaughter them.”

Caitlin’s eyebrow raised up.

"And you don't have to worry about me sleeping with you…" Ashner studied her. She was slim, petite, but also flat. "You're not my type."

Caitlin's eyes widened, and she hissed.

The king walked towards his cousin and whispered in her ear. Her anger faded, and she nodded.

I see he's using her as a means to keep tabs on us… Smart move.

Wilson paced back towards the group. “I would offer you food, but my kingdom lacks it currently. We’re willing to follow you, Queen Elana…” The king bowed.

"Speak to my friend." She tugged Ashner's shoulder. "He's smart enough to make use of your kingdom's abilities."

"Sir, Ashner." The king addressed him awkwardly. "What is your plan?"

“Ashner is fine. I don’t have a title.” That comment made the king’s eyebrow raise. “I’m curious, how did your cousin follow us if we used an armored vehicle to get here? She was also aware of how powerful my assault rifle was. How much does she know?”

Caitlin glared viciously.

“Tell him.” The king ordered.

The petite girl sighed. “My wings are faster than your odd horse.”

Armored vehicle. Can no one pronounce that right?

"You mentioned we were hidden in the forest of fear. How did you find us?" This question perked up Gio and Wong.

"It's not hard for us to find demi’s… With my affinity to magic and my blessing called Stalker." Ashner studied her. She was wearing elven pants, so she had even stolen clothes. "I can sense where large groups of people gather. I can't tell if they're human or demi. So I explored and found you."

“Have you found any other demi’s?”

“… Yes.” She admitted, Wilson jerked back. He was also unaware of that fact.

“Who?” The queen asked.

"Dwarfs are hidden away in the Mines of Echo. Demi-bunnies are living in the ruins of a labyrinth where the air starts to become cold. And High Elves, in the burned forest."

Elana's eyes widened, and a single tear ran down her face.

“What’s wrong?” Ashner asked.

"It means we can rebuild our lives… We need to find these demi’s… Will you help me, Ashner?"

“Of course…”

"Every demi has a unique skill to them. Dwarfs can rebuild the kingdom and the homes that are rotting away… They can also forge us metal and weapons… Demi-bunnies are known far and wide for their ability to reproduce quickly. They're incredibly talented with growing vegetables and fruits… And then we have the High Elves. Our cousin race… They're renowned for their incredible magic manipulation, enchantments, and magical prowess… Ashner… Choose, who should we go after first?"

Me? This is a group choice.

"We'll decide that later… Right now, let's focus on the task in front of us." Ashner glanced at the king. "Can your people fly to our kingdom?"

He shook his head. "Our oldest and youngest can't handle the trip. We have about one thousand six hundred demi-bats. One hundred and fifty of them can't make that journey."

"We can transport them with our Stryker," Ashner suggested.

"At a price, of course." Elana interrupted. "A hundred gold pieces per person."

The king tapped his chin. “That seems reasonable, but wouldn’t you prefer being paid in mythril or platinum?”

“No.” The queen shook her head. “Ashner wasn’t lying when he said he was from another world. Pay him in gold for his services.”

Maybe she's going a little too far, and these demi's don't look like they have anything to offer us.

Or so he envisioned. Wilson led the group to the kingdom's treasure room. It was littered with gold, platinum, and mythril coins that piled higher than their Stryker.

“That’s a lot.” Gio’s eyes twinkled. “But how?”

"This mountain isn't much of a kingdom. It was once a dungeon my ancestors conquered. We gathered all the coins and staged them here. And over the years, we've killed roaming monsters. Some even ventured into the mountain. We ended up with wealth we can't spend."

"Then we'll give you a way to spend it," Wong explained. "We're trying to build a society with a thriving economy. With this portion, we can bring items from our world into yours…"

“What items do you sell?” The king asked curiously.

“Oh, let me start with basic essentials.” Wong and Wilson stepped away from Ashner.

The queen paced towards him with a smile. “You did it.”

“We did it.”

"No." Elana shook her head. "I failed in my own negotiations. I didn't know how to connect with him… In truth, had I come here alone, an alliance would've never bloomed… You have a knack with this…"

"Not really. I just understood him a little."

“What’s more, we have not just a direction, but a choice to make. Ashner, which demi’s should we go after next?”

*******

“Enter.” Mike nonchalantly spoke as he typed on his computer.

Iris entered with a smile on her face. "Hey, Mike."

“What can I help you with?”

"Well." She sat down on the seat in front of him. Her outfit revealed a good portion of her upper chest. Mike took a quick glance, and she smirked. "I'm here to talk about our common enemy."

“Taxes?”

"No, your son-in-law… The man who currently has access to sixty percent of your company."

“Ashner doesn’t own any percentage, well, not as of now.”

“I assumed he did.”

Mike jerked his head aside. "Ashner is a threat, but he doesn't have the balls to make a move against me. If anything, we made a deal to stay away from each other… So far, he's kept his side of the bargain, so I'll keep mine."

"Mike." She licked her finger. "He's still a threat. Have you lost your touch? You always crushed your enemies."

"What happened between us stays in the past… I'm a married man."

"To that coke head? You didn't think about her last time we were together…" She pressed her arms against her chest. Once she did, the red lace of her bra became visible. "Or the first time… Remember… On Ashner's bed."

Mike’s face grew red. “You lied to me… I didn’t know your true age back then…”

“Yet you were so… eager…” She leaned forward and pushed Mike’s laptop aside. “And the last time… We fucked right here on this desk.”

“I paid you a reasonable amount to keep that night a secret… And I’m ensuring our child is provided for… But I don’t get your sense of humor, convincing Ashner that it was his… You’re a bit of a sadist…”

“That was just for fun… I was also hoping I could get some money out of him… After all, you’re the father… And my daddy…” She winked, Mike sighed heavily.

"As fun as our nights are… You're aware we can't keep it up… If word got out that I'm sleeping with a woman half my age while I'm married, it'd ruin my reputation."

Iris pushed her chair aside and got on top of the table, Mike glanced away, but she pressed on until she straddled him.

"Daddy… Please…" Mike's face burned red. Her hand unzipped his pants, and she started stroking. "I missed this… It's been three months… You never call… You don't even text me back… Yet here I am…"

She slid down and started licking him. Mike moaned and smiled. Iris slid his cock inside her mouth, as far down as it went, and held it. Mike's head came back on his chair.

“This has to stop…”

She pulled back and gasped for air.

“Why?” She stopped and pulled her panties off from under her skirt. “Since you’re so hard for me.”

“Every time we fuck… You want something…”

“And every time you give it to me.” She grabbed his dick and straddled him. “But this time, we both want the same thing… The destruction of a common enemy… Ashner needs to lose it all…”

"He's untouchable… With his gold mine, he can destroy me… Plus, he has five companies heavily invested in him… If I try to start a war with them, they'll crush me…" She slid inside him and moaned happily. "That's your problem, Mike."

She embraced his face with her breasts. "You're fighting head-on… And that works if you hold most of the cards… But when you don't… You need to improvise." Iris started shaking her hips, making Mike moan.

"Don't make an enemy of his investors… Instead, put your own cards in his deck…" She kissed him. "Do you know where Aqua corp is storing his gold…"

“I can find out.”

Iris smiled. Revenge and sex create the best ecstasy.

“And if it were to get stolen… What would a reasonable company do?”

“They would hire protection.”

She started going faster. Ashner had embarrassed her, degraded her, and made her tremble with fear. She wanted revenge, and the deck was almost ready to be played.

“Have you ever heard of the company called White Water?”