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CHAPTER 23

It took us little less than an hour to reach a big ass mountain with a white ass castle on top. No cloud cover but pure moonlight illuminating the castle. Calling it something straight out of a horror film wasn't disrespectful.

However, it was tightly guarded. The moment we entered their air space, six giant birds rolled up on me. Like they were anything but snacks. I could coil around the mountain and still my tail and head had room to sag.

I half expected us to be attacked as I lifted up Alissa to the bird riders. Yet, they allowed us to fly to a large landing pad. I had to admit that the castle was far larger than the fort I came from. Just the plantations inside were enough to count as the eight palaces.

Shifting, I landed on my feet as a big guy stared me down with greed. Maybe, he thought he could slay me but he was just in the same realm as me. Tsk, I read many books, I knew how to disrespect without speaking words.

Put on a smile full of contempt, sweep them with a single look, before ignoring them. If this wasna wuxia, some lonely kid would be stomping and biting his lips, ready to throw down only to get beat down. But even though they had some fire in their hearts, they had discipline.

Alissa elbowed me after talking with the commander here. "Stop bullying those soldiers and let's go meet our teammates."

I frowned as I followed her, "I don't think we need help just to scout. I'll just fly around until we spot a good location. You can just bat demons aside. Job done in half an hour at most."

"That sounds like a good dream. Let me know when you return to reality."

"Okay, we still don't need burdens. With my speed, we could still cover a lot more ground, just us two."

"Why do I feel like you are hitting on me? Your master?"

"I mean, you do have a nice ass."

"Nice enough to let me fight you at full power?"

"Nice enough that I will allow you to attack first."

Alissa tilted her head as she stopped at a street vendor. She brought some kind of meat on a stick. "Oh, someone gotten very cocky since coming up with that 'blackwater armor.'"

I bought the rest of the stock, "I'm a genius. What can I say?" I flash my fangs as I tore into the greasy meat.

"Genius at turtling up? I guess."

"Sounds like you are salty after not being able to touch me after I came up with 'riding black rain.'"

Alissa rolled her eyes and pointed ahead at four men standing at attention with two women looking like back up strippers. "What do you think about our teammates? And no. We can't ditch them. His majesty orders."

"Three mages and three warriors. The mages will slow us down and I can see from the way they dress that they think this is a nice vacation to build up their credits."

"Mm, two duke's sons. One marquis daughter and the second is supposedly the real gem, daughter of a commoner General who showed much potential. The last is someone that the princess wishes to recruit."

Alissa dropped a hint as she went to talk to the commander.

It was very easy to pick out the most talented, for he was washing his sword. While the others were chatting and looking at me with silly faces. Sadly, just because the princess wanted to recruit him, didn't mean I had to cater to him.

Closing my eyes, I started playing with concepts within my spiritual world. Forming the fabric of the world off principles which will turn into laws when my luck is solid enough to stumble upon the truth of magic.

This isn't the same as forming a core but it is a step that opens to me as I drift past the unified body stage.

"Let's go." Alissa barked as she walked off towards a large black arched building.

Two steps and I was beside her. She gave me a serious smile.

"The portal will take us to a random location. So we might have to make a few random jumps. Protect the puppies." Alissa said as we all walked into a grand room with a large door that leaked enormous energy.

"Her majesty didn't tell me to play baby sitter."

"I'm telling you too."

"She didn't say you were in charge either."

"Oh, you think you are then?"

"Of course not. That would mean I would have to babysit them. Nice try."

Alissa cursed and threw open the large doors, showcasing a swirling mess of colors. It was unlike the portals or rifts I am used to.

"As the strongest.."

"But we both know I am naturally stronger or do you want to have a quick contest?"

"How about I buy you dinner for a month?"

"I have plenty of money."

"Fine!" Alissa growled as she turned to the burdens, "nobody is responsible for your loves but you. If you feel like you don't have the strength to follow us, then flee."

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Without that she walked into the portal and I was step off her heels. Instantly, my vision was pitched into darkness. I could not see anything but blackness. The kind that you see when walking into a warehouse without any windows.

My sword came out as a flash of white cut through something that felt like biting dry beef. Frowning, I found more than ten of these creatures coming out of nowhere. My sword intent domain barely caught them as they sped over.

My feet found perfect perches in this rocky terrain as white lightning burst into life like the greatest hope but vanishing quicker than a child smiling upon hearing his mother saying no.

Alissa might not have been able to see any better than I could but she had Excellent control over the wind element. To the point, she could pick out the tiniest disturbance. Sadly, she was stumbling just as much as she was fighting back.

Whatever we were was dark and musty like an open cellar. There wasn't a drop of wind blowing and after such an effort, I was finding it hard to breathe.

With a sudden tug, I found myself back in the grand hall looking at the portal.

Alissa shot me a glance as she touched a wound on her side. "That was awkward."

I pointed at the four lives left, "you lost two."

They were sporting wounds and looking like they were being strangled. I never saw someone gasp for breath as hungrily as they were right now. I had very little doubt that they were ready for round two. Definitely the two mages, I don't remember seeing any kind of fire or light.

Alissa shrugged after seeing that the one that her majesty wanted was still alive.

"Round two!"

I sighed as I followed her but this time, we definitely had light but we appeared on a thin cliff that stood above lava. Behind us was an almost smoothed surface. Just the heat alone had my skin feeling pretty hungry for some moisturizer. The silver guys looked like they were sweating out buckets of water.

Alissa turned around and began scaling the wall. Her fingers digging into the tough stone. How did I know it was tough? The four groupies were not having any good luck. To the point that the male mage fell. I watched him scream as he free fell into the lava below. That splash was almost fake as it devoured him.

Shaking my head, I dug my claws into the stone.

"Use the holes we create." My only free reminder, which was mostly to enlighten the possible recruit.

I made sure to crush the rock to powder in my grip, creating a perfect handhold. Yet, halfway up to the next cliff, the last male mage fell. Two warriors left but I could see that their arms were trembling.

Sighing as Alissa was well ahead of me. I created a quick alcove and waited for the two burdens to make it up as I tied two ropes together. When the first hand reached the lip, I pulled him straight up and sat him down. Tying the rope around his waist before repeating the same to the girl.

I ignored their thanks as it was worth nothing. Instead, I grew out my tail and wings and flew out the alcove, dragging the burdens along with me.

I waved at Alissa as I passed her and landed on the lip of a small mountain. There were hundreds of others with glowing lips. Below was a moving valley of lava and creatures that left me thinking that this wasn't really well thought out.

Alissa pulled herself over the lip with her black hair almost white with dust. She took one look as she lightly breathed through a slit in her lips.

"Talk about a waste of time."

Second time we appeared back in the hall and I noticed that the commander was looking at us as he leaned against a column.

I untied the rope from the burdens as they thanked me many more times.

"I thought you weren't going to babysit them?" Alissa snapped.

Shrugging, "I just wanted her gratitude. I haven't been laid in a month."

Alissa rolled her eyes, "there were more than four brothels on the Frontline. Why didn't you use them?"

"I didn't have time." I led this time into the portal.

My luck was worse than hers as we immediately appeared in a nest of creatures that half resembled monkeys and fire demons. With the moisture in the air being nonexistent, I focus on using pure skill.

My blade dances, cutting and slicing through the necks of these fire spitters. I can only be happy that they are not throwing fire shit. That would be a poor day.

Not only did I protect the two burdens but Alissa stuck close. Yet, I think it had more to do with the fact that between us both, we were unintentionally protecting each other back. The protection of the baggage just happened as a side effect.

We at first, were trying to clear out the cave but the sound and vibration of the monkeys made me realize that more was coming. So we reversed our logic and aimed to flee.

Which led me to thinking that we both had some dog shit luck. Finding more than several dead ends with even stronger prey inside. By the twentieth dead-end, even I was sporting broken scales and minor cuts. Let alone Alissa who wore light armor because she focused on speed.

The baggage? Mm, they weren't even worth mentioning. They look like they would collapse any second now. Which was quite the problem, for them as this didn't look like the last dead-end.

My tail flicked an elite mob into the crowd as Alissa punched a hole through the stone wall. With me protecting the rear, she was making us an exit, Hopefully.

"Anytime now." I yelled over the dying screams of a fire monkey.

"You want to do this? Fuck!" Alissa half grunted out as she continued carving through the stone and dirt.

"Of course, these bastards have thousands of lives. I would be perfectly happy digging in safety instead."

"Don't you have help?"

"Don't you have help?" I mocked as my tail cut down a flying monkey. I remembered when my ma used to say, when pigs and monkeys fly, that's when I get what I want. Well ma, look at this, eh?

"Don't be a smartass!"

"Don't be a smartass!" I continue mocking with a hint of tiredness creeping into my throat.

"I'm going to tell the princess that you need more personalized training." The last bit came out a little too quickly as she squealed in victory.

I didn't need her to say anything as I felt wind slapping my back and moisture coming in off that. The sweet smell of salty fish in the air made me squeal like a pig.

"Flooding a city? Drowning people in great big blue? Why not?" I giggled as I felt the nearby ocean swell and rushed towards me.

Turning, I grabbed the two burdens in my arms and flew towards the exit as a wonderful sight and sound of water rampaging towards us.

"Oh, fuck!" Alissa's fingers drugged into my tail and I shot that bktch a stare. Just as the mighty river swept around me.

Shooting out of the depths, for all I could see was a tiny island and a great swath of ocean. There was a speck in the distance but that was a long swim north. We had not but hard Rock below us and ample sparkly sky above us.

"This could be our base. Let me down a beacon." Alissa dropped down and I landed, dropping my payload who just laid out on their backs.

"Yeah, the rocks look amazing and the perfect view of the sea? Ten out of ten."

"You are being sarcastic but nobles will fall head over heels for the plot of land."

"I am sure they will, right before a wave of wrathful monkeys storm the base from underneath."

"What does that have to do with us?" Alissa giggled as we returned to the grand hall. This time with the second princess waiting on us.

"Did you secure a beacon?"

The first thing the princess asked was did we do our jobs. Not how are we? Not if we needed anything like rest or food but to question our ability to do our jobs!

How dare she doubt the talent she groomed!

Alissa held up an orb with clips of the fire monkeys and the island of rocks. No doubt that the Princess' first response was to frown but upon hearing and seeing the description of the other locations, she relented.

"Get some rest. We will handle the rest." Yet, again being dismissed. I am really glad I didn't join the military before. I might have been kicked out for having an attitude.

***

I jog down to the dining hall after a decent nap and bath. It wasn't all that surprising that Alissa was sitting at a table eating and reading. What was interesting was the subject of the book, how to pick up a girl.

I pack four plates full of food and dropped down in front of her.

"You know, I can teach you a thing or two."

"You mean, someone who hasn't fuck since we met, can teach me how to pick up a wife?" Alissa lowered her book while giving me a doubtful face.

"Exactly!" I drag sauce all over my ribs. Something I whip up while talking. "I can definitely teach you how to do what I ain't doing right now."

"Okay, teach me." She dropped the book as she leaned forward on her forearms. Directly staring into my eyes like a lover would.

I nodded and grabbed a girl's arm as she passed by. "I got this stack for you to marry me. Two less months for you to continue staying with me." I dropped four black coins onto the table.

The girl's eyes widened as she pulled up a chair. "I agree!"

Alissa gave me a rather shocked look as she tried the same thing but was rejected.

"What the hell?"

Laughing, I said nothing. The girl I picked was the commoner warrior from our scouting mission. She already saw me in a favorable light before I even opened my mouth.

"Wait, so you were joking?" The poor girl asked.

I snatched up my coins and offer her one. "Yep but we can sleep together. Maybe I will find you very lovable and wish to pursue it further."

That only got my coin snatched and a snort but not a rejection.

"Wait, she has that baggage from earlier, right? This is cheating." Alissa picked up her book with her neck turning a nice shade of red.

"So what? I just put in a little more effort earlier. If you do the same, then you could be just like me." I didn't mention that it had to do with looks.

Not only do I look like a man but I sound like one. She didn't even look like a pretty lady. At least the princess had that going for her. Alissa was just a man deep down.. well.. not that deep as it was all surface level, LOL!