“They are strong, yes,” Minos agreed before gesturing to the dirt doll. “Rare but strong. However the first was stronger. Much stronger indeed.”
“And what’s that one?” Scay asked pointing to the ninth figure. “It looks rather mean.”
“That’s not a succubus,” Mika said peering closer at the familiar. “It has wings but it’s not the same, it’s… wait… this monster… it looks like…”
“The shape of that one is rather reminiscent of a monster I’ve only read about in old books,” Hollia mentioned with a nervous frown. “Ones that never ended so well for those it encountered.”
“I’ve seen it molded into golden ornaments before,” Tabitha mentioned with growing unease. “I know what that is, but there’s no way one of those things is around here. No way… right?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Rulo said in disbelief. “These Ancients had one of them on their side too?”
Saffron and Scay looked to each other in confusion then around at the girls while waiting for an explanation.
“What is it?” Scay whined. “Tell me. I want to know.”
“Dragon,” Minos gravely spoke, with all eyes then focusing with trepidation on the figure that had taken form. It resembled a reptile girl, however had larger claws, giant wings behind it, and horns sticking out of its head. It was also much larger than those it accompanied, conveying quite well that these mighty reptilian flyers had great physical prowess to boast of.
“A dragon?” Forrus slowly repeated. “I’ve only heard tales of them spoken by my elders, but I never thought they were real.”
“The elite of the elite Darker Ones,” Tabitha grimly said. “I’ve heard many stories about them too, and not a single one with them being defeated by anyone in their entire history.”
“But didn’t they all die off centuries ago?” Hollia worried. “I haven’t heard of a dragon attack happening for as long as I can remember.”
“We have no idea if they died off or not,” Mika said shaking her head. “Only that they’re not found anymore. If they are out there I doubt anyone who meets them has gotten the chance to live and tell about it.”
“That sounds really bad,” Scay worried. “That’s a bad sounding monster. Oh no. And what about that last one in the middle? The blobby looking blob one?”
“The final Ancient we do not know more of,” Minos answered shaking her head slowly. “We only know that particular Ancient is their master, the one who brought them all back to life.”
“Brought them back to life?” Tabitha questioned. “Wait, you’re saying that centaur we saw earlier was undead?”
“No, they are not dead or undead. They are alive. They are reborn.”
“Reborn?” Forrus repeated. “That doesn’t sound any better. What exactly do you mean by that?”
“I mean they are reborn. Ancients are not many but few. Only these Ancients exist, no more, no less. There are manticore in Eden, but not like this one. There are bug women in Eden, but not like this one. These monsters are special.”
“We noticed,” Hollia had to agree with. “Cataclysm was stronger than any centaur in the history of Eden, and she had a leg made of steel. I mean… what sort of fucked up magic is behind that anyway?”
“Their master made them whole,” Minos solemnly told her. “Gifted them with full bodies and great power. We have fought with them from many ages ago, many times, just as minotaurs live to do. We fight to keep order in the world. We fight to keep balance. We fight to keep bad remnants forgotten. We fought these Ancients long ago and defeated them in glorious combat. All except for their master. Their master… we were not able to defeat.”
“So you’re saying these same monsters have appeared before?” Forrus asked. “Cataclysm has run across Eden before this?”
“Yes, that monster has walked this world ages ago,” Minos agreed, then showed a sly grin as she crushed the familiars into the ground with her hands. “But we killed her and her allies. And we took part of them away for good. You saw her leg, yes? You saw how she no longer has her old leg, yes?”
“She has a metal one now,” Tabitha said. “I couldn’t even scratch it with my sword. It looked freaky as hell too.”
“Haha!” Minos lightly laughed, which was still extremely loud to everyone. “That’s right. Their master may bring them back from passing, but cannot bring back what we take from them. That centaur lost her leg to my ancestors from ages past. Ancestors took leg away, burned it in ritual and purified ashes so she can never get it back. Her master can only gift her with a replacement. Old leg is gone for good.”
“I believe we all assumed her leg was a twisted abomination of life,” Hollia mentioned.
“They are all abominations,” Minos declared. “The unnatural power used to give them life is something too dangerous to exist. Upsets balance of world. Their very existence defies all reason and only brings suffering to the world. That is why minotaurs fight to stop them. Why I must put an end to them.”
“You did a piss poor job stopping that centaur when she kicked your ass,” Rulo sharply pointed out. “Seems like you minotaurs can’t stop these things no matter how many times you try.”
“SILENCE, PIGGY WOMAN!” Minos roared. “WE TRY HARD TO KILL THEM! IT’S NOT EASY!”
“Shut up!” Tabitha yelled back. “We can hear you just fine without the shouting!”
“Can I buy those from you?” Mika tiredly asked Saffron, the ant girl merely shaking her head as she lowered her earmuffs and continued to listen to the minotaur’s story.
“It sounds like you just need to find their master and kill that one first,” Hollia told Minos. “You said it yourself that their master is resurrecting these fiends every time you kill them. You need to focus on killing the leader and not the pawns otherwise this game will never end for you.”
“We try,” Minos insisted. “But we can’t find the leader. We see only Ancients that have fallen in combat, never the final one we have yet to see. We don’t know what the master looks like or where the master could be.”
“This is rather troubling to hear,” Forrus cursed. “It sounds like even if these Ancients are killed, this unknown master of theirs will just bring them back. Which means monsters like Cataclysm will forever be allowed to run free in this world.”
“Not to mention whatever parts of them are taken away will be replaced with unholy steel,” Hollia added. “My word, they could very well come back more monstrous than ever if that’s the case.”
“Oh this night just keeps getting better and better,” Rulo muttered with a face palm.
“So why bother chasing Cataclysm at all?” Tabitha asked the minotaur. “You know as soon as you kill her she’ll just come back to life again, right? What’s the point in attacking her?”
“She cannot be brought back to life right away,” Minos countered shaking her head. “The shortest we have seen the revival of an Ancient is one hundred years after their passing. That means one hundred years of lives being untouched by her evil. That alone is worth fighting her for.”
“Alright,” Mika said stepping closer to Minos. “So these Ancients are eldritch deathdealers and you minotaurs are the ones fighting to keep them from destroying Eden. Is that correct?”
Minos nodded with a proud smile to that.
“And there are ten of them,” Mika continued, with Minos again nodding to that. “If that’s the case, where are the others? If one of the nine warriors was here fighting us, where are the other eight?”
“We know of at least three coming into this part of the world,” Minos answered. “Our seers search day and night to find them when they return to Eden. We saw three Ancients traveling into this region not long ago, so we came to hunt them. We hope to find their master with them so we can finally put them all to rest for good.”
“Which three are in Koskaysil?” Hollia inquired.
“Horse woman. Bird woman. Fish woman.”
“You mean a centaur, harpy, and ni
xie,” Mika reasoned. “So there are three of these monsters in our land? Three just like Cataclysm are out there right now?”
“I think so. If there are others here, we have not seen them yet. They are hard to find, very sneaky and clever. They only reveal themselves when they cause trouble. But if they are hiding in this land we will find them. Two of my sisters are searching for them as we speak. They shall not get away from us.”
“One last question,” Mika proposed. “How exactly do these Ancients plan on ruling the world? Even if there are ten of them and they’re abnormally strong, how do they plan on destroying all life on Eden and taking over by themselves?”
“They may be super strong but they’re not that strong,” Rulo snorted. “They can still have their bones broken and their lives snuffed out. So what exactly are these bitches planning to do anyway? How do they expect to become the rulers of the world when they keep dying from minotaurs every time they come back?”
“The Source,” Minos gravely answered. “They seek to control the source of all life on Eden. They seek to become gods. They wish to make this world their own with power beyond understanding.”
“The Source?” Forrus repeated. “What’s The Source?”
“Source of all life. I already tell you.”
“Okay. And just what is the source of all life?” Tabitha asked. “Where is this fabled source located in Eden?”
“Cannot tell you,” Minos stubbornly replied. “Only minotaurs know that. Only minotaurs may know that. You may not.”
“So you’re allowed to tell us about Ancients and what they are, but not what it is they are seeking in this world?” Hollia questioned.
“That’s right.”
“I see,” Mika slowly said before she turned to the girls in question. “So, these Ancients are looking for the source of all life in Eden in order to control it and make the world theirs. I know I’m sort of new to this whole ‘unimaginable power of ancient times buried beneath our feet’ thing, but is what she’s saying making any sense with you girls?”
“Not really, no,” Hollia said shaking her head.
“My lord has never mentioned anything about such things before,” Forrus agreed shaking her head.
“We’re out here looking for artifacts from ancient times, but nothing like what she’s talking about,” Rulo added.
“I’ve never heard of such a legend before,” Tabitha said shaking her head. “If I had I would be looking for it myself. Sounds like a girl could become richer than god if she had the source of all life in her hands.”
“Even now you’re only focusing on gold,” Forrus growled. “You’re unbelievable.”
“Can you tell us anything else about the Ancients?” Hollia asked Minos. “Any weaknesses they may have or abilities of theirs we should know about. If these monsters are out there we should be prepared for what we may be facing again. We certainly were not prepared for Cataclysm when she first arrived.”
Opening her mouth to speak Minos quickly halted with a whine, a deep blush forming on her cheeks as she stared with wide glowing eyes at something behind the girls. Turning around everyone saw Daemon walking down the hill towards them, the shirtless cambion having his boots and pants on while in his arms was a fully nude Sasha. The reptile girl appeared to be unconscious with ragged breathing, a flushed look on her face as she rested her head against the man’s shoulder. All the girls fell quiet in astonishment as they saw the man walking towards them with a solemn look once again on his face and a reptile girl in his arms who appeared to be completely drained of strength.
“Sire,” Mika breathed out.
“Holy… shit,” Rulo stuttered as she saw Sasha.
“Goddammit,” Tabitha whined looking away. “I hate this night.”
“My knight,” Hollia spoke up, her voice wavering before she quickly stepped forward with a nervous smile. “How, um… how was… and she… and you… and… and… uhhhhh…”
“Hollia?” Daemon asked with a raised eyebrow. The centaur merely stammered something as she stared at his chest with awkward giggling, with the cambion glancing to the other girls and seeing similar reactions from them. Rulo was trembling with excitement just as much as her excitement was running down along her thighs. Forrus was shaking slightly with lustful growls while her tail was swiftly wagging behind her. Saffron was staring at him with the most immoral leer he had ever seen her convey while she was already beginning to slide down her panties. Mika was trying to keep a composed look as she struggled to avert her eye from his chest. Minos was again hiding behind her hands as she ducked low on the grass and attempted, very poorly, to hide herself. And Scay was twitching with strained murmurs and twitching eyes, but that at least seemed typical for her.
“What are you girls doing here?” he asked.
“Waiting for our turn,” Rulo oinked with a drooling smile. She quickly slapped herself and laughed nervously as Daemon just stared at her. “I mean, waiting for you to take me too. No! I meant to say I was waiting for you to fuck me with her. That’s not what I meant, haha! I just… and you… um… you… so… I… um… can we, master? Please?”
“I just want to go on record here,” Hollia quickly said raising her hand. “That while I’m completely fine with you choosing whoever you wish to mate with and fully support your desires, I’m perfectly okay with the prospect of bearing your children right now and my rear doesn’t smell like a dead pig’s as does Rulo’s.”
“Shut your fucking mouth, bitch!” Rulo screamed with a hard shove against the centaur.
“While they kill each other may I be next, my lord?” Forrus begged as Hollia and Rulo began slapping and pushing each other. “I mean only if it would please you. I’m more than ready to receive your blessing and will happily bear your children who won’t smell like a pigpen or horse manure.”
“Fuck you!” Hollia and Rulo yelled before tackling the lycan to the ground. While they wrestled, kicked, punched, clawed, and bit one another, Saffron stepped forward and squeaked loudly with a big smile on her face and her clothing now removed entirely. The bickering girls quickly stopped and watched in horror as Saffron flaunted her figure for Daemon, squeezing her breasts and slapping her rear, before she turned around and bent over, seeming to be inviting the man to have his way with her right then and there in front of everyone.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Rulo cried out.
“How dare you expose yourself like a filthy whore to my beloved knight!” Hollia raged.
“When did she even take her clothes off?” Forrus demanded.
“None of you noticed her stripping this entire time?” Mika dryly asked.
Saffron wiggled her rear and squeaked at Daemon with a hungry leer before she was quickly yanked into the brawling scuffle with Hollia, Rulo, and Forrus. As the four girls yelled, squeaked, oinked, and barked at one another Daemon merely shook his head slowly at the sight before glancing to Mika, the sorceress watching him with a timid eye as she kept her head lowered with a noticeable blush on her cheeks.
“Care to explain?” Daemon asked.
“Them?” Mika said pointing to the quarreling girls. “They’re horny.”
“I gathered that. I meant what are you girls doing here, why does Tabitha look like she’s about to cry, and why is that minotaur hiding behind her hands in plain sight?”
“Did you two have sex?” Scay asked, with Daemon and Mika turning to her while the other girls slowly finished giving each other lumps on their heads. “Tabitha said you did. Is it true? Did you really have sex with Sasha?”
“Obviously he mated with her, Scay,” Mika mentioned with a glance at the reptile girl. “She’s clearly been ravaged by him. I can see the semen overflowing out of her from here.”
“But it was really you having sex with her?” Scay worried as she slithered closer to the man. “It wasn’t someone else who looked just like you? Please tell me the truth. Did you really do it with her?”
“Yes, I mated with
Sasha,” Daemon told her, with the other girls finally getting back onto their feet and staring at Sasha in wonder while Tabitha hung her head low from hearing that.
“You really did her,” Rulo said with a growing smile.
“I can smell his scent on her,” Forrus added. “There’s no doubt about it.”
“I can see the look on her face,” Hollia mentioned. “Of course there’s no doubt about it.”
Saffron licked her lips with a sultry smile, her eyes moving from Sasha back to Daemon as she became fired up all over again.
“You did?” Scay frowned. “Oh no. It’s true then.”
“Why does that upset you?” Daemon asked.
“Sire,” Mika spoke up, hesitating at first before stepping closer. “While I’m happy that you and Sasha were able to share a… special moment with each other, and I’m sure the other girls are very excited now for similar reasons, we have a few problems that you need to hear about.”
“Problems?” Tabitha shouted at her. “Problems? This isn’t a problem. It’s a fucking mess, that’s what it is!”
“Tabitha, calm down,” Scay implored. “It’ll be okay. We’ll fix this.”
“Fix it? How can we fix it? He’s not a virgin anymore!” Tabitha cried out. “There’s no fixing this, Scay! It’s all ruined! It’s nothing but a horrid catastrophe now!”
“Would someone mind telling me what she’s talking about?” Daemon requested.
“Tabitha wasn’t just hired to help on your quest,” Forrus spoke up. “The alpha witch who sent her is interested in you, my lord. This neko was sent with orders to make sure you remain a virgin for her.”
“That witch wanted to impress you by supporting your noble quest,” Hollia added as the girls turned their harsh glances onto Tabitha again. “She employed Tabitha to act as her helper all in hopes you would allow the witch to mate with you in thanks for her assistance with finding what you seek.”
“As well as to prohibit you from having sex with anyone else,” Mika added. “Her mission was to keep you pure for the alpha witch. Since she failed we can only imagine that witch is going to be upset when she hears of this.”
Chronicles of Eden - Season II - Act I Page 35
