The large army continued their trek towards Fort Bone. With over a hundred people, no bandits or adventurers approached them.
The sound of the singing, a rare occasion in this wasteland, caught the attention of one woman though. She was dressed in rough leathers, and had a beat up crossbow.
‘That song is about Atlas! I’ve found them.‘
She rushed towards the sound of the singing. Finally her goal of finding Atlas and her missing coven was going to be achieved. She didn’t know why hot pink armor was mentioned though.
***
Sporadic monsters spawned near the army. Including one herd of unfortunate mutant deer. The deer rushed out of their way in panic. They were brought down by a barrage of crossbow bolts before they could get very far.
“This is going to be great for dinner!” Alexander said with a grin in his face.
As they finally neared Fort Bone, the gates swung open slowly, revealing the bustling community within. Shouts of joy echoed through the air as the citizens caught sight of their returning heroes. Women, and men, alike ran to the gate, eager to greet the bandit crushers.
Alexander, always one for a grand entrance, strode forward and threw his arms wide, grinning from ear to ear. “Ladies and gents,” he called out, “your champions have returned! And we brought dinner!”
Cheers erupted from the crowd, and Alexander soaked it in, loving every second of it. Wang Bo, ever the playful one, gave a mock bow, twirling his staff as if performing for a royal court. “The eternal emperor is back!”
"Yeehaw! Now ‘that‘ was one for the books!" Alexander shouted, giving his sword a dramatic twirl. ‘Almost makes me wish we had a few more bandits to knock around. Almost.‘
Atlas smiled, shaking his head. ‘The show never ends with these guys.‘
As the group passed through the gates, Isabella turned to Atlas, her face still flush with excitement. “We did it,” she said, her voice softer now that they were back within the safety of Fort Bone.
“Yeah,” Atlas replied, looking around at the cheering faces. “We really did.”
He watched as the army began distributing the loot. Tools and weapons were handed out, clothes and supplies divided among the refugees, each item met with wide-eyed gratitude. The blacksmiths and engineers immediately began inspecting the haul, their faces lighting up at the potential the new materials offered.
Roy, the mechanic, was already eyeing a pile of parts, mumbling to himself about what he could make with them. “With this,” he said, holding up a salvaged engine component, “we can get the fort’s defenses stronger than ever.”
Nia and Caleb, standing by the medic tent, were already organizing the medical supplies, their faces filled with relief at the sight of fresh bandages and antibiotics.
Sophia, her hands still covered in paint from working on the fort's mural earlier in the day, stood off to the side, watching with a thoughtful expression. "Looks like everyone’s bringing a little bit of life back," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.
Atlas let out a long breath, his shoulders finally relaxing. It felt good to be back home, even if he knew this peace was only temporary. The wasteland never stayed calm for long.
"Looks like we’ll be eating well tonight," Wang Bo said, dropping the deer carcasses onto the ground with a satisfied grin. "Dragon-Smashing Eternal Heavens approves of this loot."
Atlas chuckled. "Oh we will be eating and drinking like emperors tonight! The bandits had enough mana coins in their haul to pay for it.”
The wounded all headed to the MediPod, the quick trip back had saved the lives of the noobies. Memwipe potions were also handed out. The imprisonment had left some mental scars on a few of the noobies. Memwipe could definitely help with that.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
As the sun fully dipped below the horizon, the mood in the fort shifted from victory to full on celebration. A bonfire was lit in the center of the courtyard, casting flickering light over the gathered Portal Crushers and citizens alike. The smell of roasting meat and bread filled the air, and laughter rang out as stories of the raid were shared over mugs of ale.
Atlas watched the scene unfold, his eyes scanning the faces of his people. For now, there was peace. For now, they could laugh and drink and pretend the dangers of the wasteland were a distant memory.
He knew it wouldn’t last forever. But tonight, they had earned their moment of triumph.
And as the Fort Bone anthem began to rise again from the gathered crowd, Atlas allowed himself a rare smile. This time it was a real anthem.
‘We are citizens of Fort Bone...‘
‘‘‘‘
Later that night The witches of the Coven Clique were gathered in their secretive chamber beneath Fort Bone, the air thick with incense and the flickering glow of candlelight casting long shadows on the stone walls. They sat in a circle, their low murmurs blending with the crackling fire at the center of the room, each woman deep in thought about the latest arrivals—the actresses who had recently been saved by Atlas.
“They’ve been through hell,” Rhea said softly, twirling a lock of her dark hair as she stared into the flames. “Bandits. Can you imagine? Those men are animals.”
“It's disgusting,” Luna agreed, her silver eyes narrowing. “They shouldn’t have been out there in the first place, but now that they’re here... we need to do something for them.”
“Of course,” murmured Mave, the leader of the Coven, her tone as cool and commanding as ever. “They’re women, sisters in spirit, and we do not abandon our own. Fort Bone may be harsh, but we can provide them with sanctuary.”
“There’s more to this, though, isn’t there?” Lavender, the owner of the brothel, leaned forward, her voice filled with curiosity. “I mean, they’re not just any women—they’re ‘actresses‘. People who lived in a different world, one with fame, wealth, and beauty. How are they going to adapt to life here, in ‘our‘ world?”
Mave’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “That is a question they will have to answer for themselves. But they’re women. They’ll adapt. Women always do.”
“And if they don’t?” Luna asked, her voice sharp. “What if they fall apart? What if they become a burden?”
Rhea shot her a look. “We take care of each other, Luna. That’s the whole point of the Coven. We can’t just let them fall to pieces.”
“They’ll need healing,” Mave said, her voice firm. “And that’s where we come in. The wasteland may not be kind to those who show weakness, but here, in our circle, they’ll find strength again. If they’re willing.”
“And if they’re not?” Luna pressed.
“Then they’ll leave,” Mave replied with a shrug. “Or they’ll crumble. But we will offer them our support, our spirit, and our protection. If they choose not to take it, that’s on them.”
“There’s always Memwipe.” Luna said.
The Memwipe was available for all the actresses for free, but some of them would probably skip taking it. Mentioning the Memwipe, the coven clique couldn’t help but sing the catchy jingo. Honestly it felt like a scene from Grease, with all the witches singing along.
‘‘‘‘
[Verse]
Sweet dreams take them away
Memories gone clean slate today
Aliens messing with your mind
Memwipe comes easy you'll find
[Verse 2]
Pesky thoughts clouding your view
Memwipe clears them brand new
Plans don't need a bump no more
Strawberry scent you'll adore
[Chorus]
Memwipe Memwipe
Create a brand new start
Memwipe Memwipe
Wipe troubles from your heart
[Verse 3]
You can wipe one or all in queue
Memwipe fresh just like dew
No need for painful recall
Here's the answer to it all
[Bridge]
One hundred thoughts in disarray
Just one wipe clears the fray
Tomorrow's bright no delay
With Memwipe save the day
[Chorus]
Memwipe Memwipe
Smooth like a melody
Memwipe Memwipe
Drama-free you'll be
https://suno.com/song/6be51571-94ab-47b8-a2c3-9d616e29c592
‘‘‘
Selena’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Do you think any of them will join us? I mean, they must be pretty shaken after what they’ve been through. They might be looking for... comfort.”
Mave’s smile widened, her gaze sweeping the circle. “Perhaps. If they’re open to it, we’ll welcome them with open arms. They could find peace here, strength, even... pleasure.”
Rhea laughed softly, her eyes gleaming in the firelight. “It wouldn’t be the first time a lost woman found herself in our company.”
“And it won’t be the last,” Mave added, her tone rich with certainty.
Luna crossed her arms, her expression softening. “I just want to make sure they’re ok. They’ve been through enough.”
“We’ll make sure of that,” Mave said, her voice a quiet promise. “We’ll give them what they need—a chance to heal, to grow stronger. If they choose to stay, we’ll guide them. And if they choose to go, we’ll let them. But no one will harm them here.”
The witches nodded in agreement, the flickering flames casting their faces in shadow. They were protective of their own, and though the actresses had come from a different world, they were women nonetheless. Here, in the Coven Clique, they would find refuge. Whether they stayed to become part of the circle or left to walk their own path, the witches would ensure they had the strength to do so.
After all, Fort Bone might belong to Atlas and his warriors, but this sanctuary—the Coven Clique—was a place where women ruled, and here, they would always look after each other.