《Monsters and Maidens》Chapter 225 [Kajou]
Advertisement
Kajou had been sure this was the right decision.
She could not let herself think otherwise.
After Pan’s death, her sister’s words kept assaulting her. Traitor. She’d bonded Barry almost by accident, she hadn’t even considered how easy it would be, an agreement with his words that had come from within the depths of her heart and…
And now she stood in the forest, waiting for the knights of the kingdom to come. Because she couldn’t stand the thought that she’d betrayed Pan. Their cause was the thing that mattered the most to them, even if they hadn’t seen eye to eye on many things, but the one thing that mattered the most was helping the Coven.
It had been the purpose for them crossing the Craggy peaks. To solve the problem of the failing collars, to prevent the curse of ferality to fall upon their sisters. They’d hoped the Court had an answer and now…
And now Pan was dead. And Kajou was bonded to the potential solution to their problems: Barry. An otherworlder, a human with a capacity to form such strong bonds it was only comparable to the stories of old. Of the Kings that had raised their blades after the Great War, using armies of maidens bonded to them to conquer the wilderness and bring civilization back.
A story of equals, of the army splitting to find partners amongst the many humans that were saved and protected.
Now Kajou crouched in a bush, looking upon the carriages that were approaching, and her mind desperately clinging to that story. There were humans there, special ones. If she could capture one, then she could take them with her to the Coven. Barry might stay with the Court, and a part of her might desperately wish to remain here with him, but… but she had come here with a mission and she could not ignore it.
The days might not be counted for a solution to be found, but the future was bleak until one could be brought forth.
She had to do this. She had to prove Pan hadn’t died in vain.
“It’s a trap. They’re trying to pretend they have their guards down.”
Advertisement
The words came from the leader of the Court. The Dark Lady in armor, the strongest maiden in the forest. Her gaze looked upon the carriage, the maidens flying overhead, and she spoke the words that made Kajou’s chest tighten.
“There is no alternative.” She declared, hissing.
Pan’s sword feels heavy in her grip. Kajou can feel her sister’s memory within it.
She would rather be gone, away, on her way back to the Coven with her mission fulfilled. Not here, not with… her. Not with the woman that a part of her hated almost as much as she hated herself. But there was no other way to solve this, to accomplish their mission, to do right by her sister.
“We cannot win this fight.”
Kajou’s lips thinned. This was the woman that had so cruelly crushed them to prove a point to the human they were both bonded to?
“Then make it worth the loss.”
She’d lost Pan already. She couldn’t back down, she’d charge the carriages herself if she knew she’d be able to get something out of it. She needed just one human. Just one. Pan’s sword was practically vibrating within her grip, her eyes locked on the visor of the maiden she should be trying to kill by all accounts.
Slowly, the large maiden glanced at the others. Embla’s intentions were impenetrable through the helmet, her body was not even tense, no, she was relaxed. She was considering facing off over a dozen knights and she was calm.
“Stay hidden, wait for my signal. Prioritize taking the humans, kill them if you cannot. Do not fight the knights unless they are attacking one of ours. Do not bother to shoot at them until it’s time.”
That was as far as her orders went.
Kajou could barely believe what she was hearing. Was the intent to fight the knights on her own to buy the others an opportunity to fulfill their mission? Watching the Dark Lady grab her gigantic ax and raise it, everyone else had moved to hide.
Lady Embla did not roar or shout, she merely tensed and took aim.
Advertisement
And in a single surge of strength, threw the ax at the carriage in the front. The centaur that had been pulling it screaming as she got yanked along. The massive weapon flew with the power to knock it over to the side of the road and roll further off. Embla had followed after it, even as the knights surged into formation.
Embla was a Dark Lady, a maiden whose power specialized in neutralizing the abilities of other maidens. In doing so, the large armored woman had prevented the more dangerous kinds of retaliation from the knights. Her powers had surged over them and destroyed both spells and abilities that had been about to be used.
A split second that was all she’d needed to pick up her massive ax and strike the first of the knights. The maiden had raised her shield. The very same shield that dented by the sheer force of the impact, the maiden not just getting knocked back but being sent flying towards the centaur that had seemed ready to pull her own carriage out of the area.
And even as the knights tried to take formation, Embla would move in to avoid it. Her strikes were dangerous, but she was clearly keeping them from being able to box her in or block her out. It was forcing more of the knights away from their carriages and into the battle.
Even out of formation, the knights tried to fight her off. Swords and lances thrusting and spinning. But the maidens were never quite able to get close enough to make a blow decisive enough to pierce through the armor.
The dance continued, Embla pushed her way forward to the other carriages. Her ax sought the centaurs, and the knights would only barely be able to stop her. Every time they tried to use their powers to reinforce their shields or attack, Embla’s own powers would lash out and turn their attempt into emptiness. An ability that couldn’t so much target a group of individuals but an area.
Kajou was left in stunned silence and begrudging respect for the Court’s leader powers.
The second carriage was knocked over. Then the third. Kajou heard faint muffled screams within each one. Her heart thundered within her chest and Pan’s blade tightened in her grip. She eyed the carriages, two of four had been knocked over, the centaurs pulling on them were prioritizing their protection since any attempt to get them out of the combat zone was being met with extreme violence.
And yet, even as the knights were being battered and tossed around like rag dolls, something felt off.
They weren’t panicking. There were knights in the periphery, focused on everything that was not Embla. And Kajou could spot the ones overhead flying in circles, waiting. She grimaced, this was what it meant to face off against a trained and coordinated force.
This was what it meant to fight the kingdom. Even with Embla occupying the majority of their force, it would be a tough fight.
The signal came in the form of a roar. The maiden that had quietly attacked the knights with a deathly silence had unleashed a shout that made the knights hesitate for a split second. And in that split second, the Court’s fighters and Kajou surged from both sides of the road. Arrows shot into the air and forced the flying maidens to dodge and stay out of the way, some of the maidens unleashed their powers unto the knights, others like Kajou ran forward with their blades.
The Amazoness felt the desire to fight, to cross blades, to meet the knights, test herself.
But she had a goal. She sprinted past the knights and to the nearest carriage, intent on opening the door and pulling off the first human she could reach.
The door was opened for her.
Two knights stepped out of every carriage. And suddenly their numerical advantage was not as great as they’d thought it had been.
Gritting her teeth, Kajou gripped Pan’s sword, feeling the memory of her sister that remained within the blade empowered her. She could not back down any more than the knights.
She had to win.
Advertisement
Of Men and Dragons, Book 2
Jack, S'haar, and all their family are back. After crashing his ship on an underdeveloped world, Jack found friends and family among the terrifying cat-lizard natives of the world, but now mere survival is no longer enough. They must carve out a new home for themselves in the landscape of the now rapidly changing world. Raiders, politics, and even nature threaten their happiness and their lives while they struggle to deal with the nightmares and traumas of yesterday. They'll need to depend on each other more than ever if they hope for their new home to have any kind of future. In case you missed it, here's book one. ATTENTION: This is soft sci-fi rather than hard sci-fi, hence why I chose that tag. For those of you unfamiliar with the distinction, here's what Wikipedia had to say. 1. It explores the "soft" sciences, and especially the social sciences (for example, anthropology, sociology, or psychology), rather than engineering or the "hard" sciences (for example, physics, astronomy, or chemistry). 2. It is not scientifically accurate or plausible; the opposite of hard science fiction. Soft science fiction of either type is often more concerned with character and speculative societies, rather than speculative science or engineering. The term first appeared in the late 1970s and is attributed to Australian literary scholar Peter Nicholls.
8 226Master of Ceremonies
A world with crazy Goddesses, a continent where dangers are always around. "What am I gonna do now?" Christopher, the author of Auburn War, asked himself. He reincarnated in a body of a drunkard and death always follows him. How can he survive in this crazy world that he created? How can he protect the family that he swore to protect? Watch Christopher as he changed every scenario that he himself created. "Ah, how ironic, I'm begging in front of the character that I made..." Advance ten chapters on Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/EAcYxbG36Y
8 74Born with an Innate Technique in Jujutsu Kaisen
An ordinary college student dies in an unfortunate accident and wakes up as a baby. In the first year, he realized he was not in a normal world, but one where monsters that nobody can see except himself roamed about. In the fifth year, something awakened inside him, a power that may give him an edge over these monsters and turn him into something extraordinary. In the tenth year, he discovered he was in Jujutsu Kaisen, and in the fifteenth, somebody took him to Tokyo Jujutsu High. Let's watch, this fortunately (to the readers) unfortunate man's road to power, full of action and adventure. --------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: I don't own the cover nor do I own Jujutsu Kaisen, I only own my SI and OCs. This is my first work and my first language isn't English so, be ruthless and gentle, find your inner peace and after that comment and make reviews. My main posting site is Webnovel, so the chapters are posted there earlier.
8 265After Life
Gerald Smith, a man met with more criticism than praise, was one of the seven heroes who sacrificed their life to slay Genesis the Demon King. Expecting to never wake up again, Gerald realized he was reincarnated as a baby named Matthew to a supportive noble family. Believing he was given a chance to live a better life, he embraced the opportunity with open arms. However life is never so lenient with sinful men... ------------------ First story and I'm just looking to improve my craft with this.
8 53Just a Spark
The world is changing, two years ago strange weather, various anomalies and strange creatures started appearing from nowhere all over the world. Some creatures were completely alien and others were familiar looking as if they'd stepped from myth and legend. What many of these creatures had in common however was their aggressive nature and predatory instinct. Things that go bump in the night, that shifting shadow in the dark alley way, the cracking branch right behind you. Nightmarish creatures now stalk the land. Monsters. That isn't the only change in a new world however, humans have also changed. Some unknown phenomenon has granted humanity access to incredible power. The very elements themselves can now be wielded by those willing to risk the dangers. Earth, wind, fire, water, suddenly magic has become possible in a modern world and there are many who are eager to develop and embrace their newfound power and help protect their fellow man from monsters. There are also many who are willing to make a profit from newfound opportunities this changing world provides. Unfortunately for our MC Jack, embracing newfound power and going out to valiantly battle monsters isn't quite as simple as most other people have it. He possesses the rare and not so sought after lightning element, considered the weakest element for certain reasons, pitied and looked down upon Jack is determined to become a successful monster hunter in a more and more dangerous world.
8 141YOUR EYES TELL || Taekook ||
Jeon Jungkook is a fresher university student.He neither has any friends nor does he talk to any people.His behaviours and mysterious personality made others believe that he is an introvert with a cold aura.On the other hand, Kim Taehyung is a final year student, a really popular one among the students and professors.Relationships were never his thing but the moment his eyes caught Jungkook's, some things changed.Now he is determined to know the younger boy like no-one ever did........Top TaehyungBottom Jungkook
8 102