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Story Codes: Fantasy, Gamelit, Magic, Violence

For a list of all the dungeon builder stories click here

Click here for the world map!

Comments are very welcome. I would like all criticism, positive and negative, so long as it’s
constructive, and feedback is very appreciated.

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Click here for Part 14.

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Note: Thanks to Alex for beta reading this!

Chapter Thirty-Six

Frustration boiled through me.

The ritual had failed and…

I stared at myself.

No, no, that wasn’t the current. me. This Leo wasn’t as muscular as me. He looked far more boyish. Hopeful. There was no burden of deaths on his back. Of fear and terror from battle after battle, from coming close to dying at the hands of builders, monster girls, dragons, and Saints.

“You’re me from the other world!” I gasped.

“Yeah,” said other-me. He blinked at me. “Shit, you’re jacked. I didn’t know I could get that shredded.”

“So, what the fuck is going on?” I asked, looking around the darkness that had engulfed us.

“Todlicht,” said other-me. “He had done something to Morana before you awakened her. Her soul had me make love to her unconscious body, and a trap triggered. Death seized me, and now I’m here. Then you were here a moment later.”

I nodded, remembering that cold hand. “Fucking Todlicht. That piece of shit! He tried to backstab me when he groveled at my feet for mercy. I held out a hand to him, and he went for the kill.”

“Yeah, he’s got a real hate-boner for you,” other-me said. “And that’s why he’s fucking with me. Shit, are we dead?”

I shook my head. “This is something else. Something we can get out of.”

“Okay.” Other-me looked around. “How?”

“No fucking idea.” I clenched my fists. “I’m missing something, too. Something that would let me end all this. It’s fucking frustrating.”

“There’s a problem in saving the Incarnation?” other-me asked. “You have all the swords and shrines. I mean, they’ve all awakened. What’s the hold up?”

I opened my mouth, the anger and frustration burning through me. Then it wilted from me. “I don’t know. It started to happen. The ritual was revving up, and then it stalled. Like an engine that sputtered out of gas. Before we could even figure it out, I ended up here.”

“So you’re missing something,” other-me said.

“Obviously,” I muttered.

“I have twelve shrines with twelve free goddesses from the twelve swords,” I said.

“Got it,” he said. “And there’s power from the gods, too, right?”

“The swords,” I said. “Those are from the gods.”

“Oh, sure,” he said. “But, like, the goddesses are in the room. That’s a lot of power. No gods.”

“I have no idea where the gods are. They invested power into the swords, into the twelve Saints, but I killed all of them.”

“You killed saints?” he asked, giving me a sharp look.

“They were insane,” I said. “One was Halia’s dad. The guy tried to kill her because he was corrupted. Turned into the Saint of Darkness. It was sick. The gods are fucked up. They bound the saints, bound the dragons.”

“There are dragons?” other-me asked. “That’s cool. And you killed them, too.”

“No, I tamed them.” I grinned, “They made some hot MILFs in their humanoid forms.”

Other-me blinked. “You… fucked them?”

“Yep.”

“So you have twelve dragons, too,” he said. “Maybe that’s what you need.”

“I don’t have twelve dragons,” I said. “I have five dragons—Water, Wind, Earth, Dark, and Thunder. Siwang has—”

“Who’s Siwang?”

I was surprised by that. “Your, er, versions of our women didn’t tell you?”

“Oh, yeah, Halia mentioned you had some allies. Siwang and a fool.”

I smiled. “Munjan’s not that bad. He’s got the Death dragon, while Siwang’s got Ice and Lightning. Fire just vanished before I could claim the sword, and I never had to fight Life, but she flew off a few days ago from where she was living for some reason.”

“That’s missing… Metal,” said other-me as he ticked off his fingers.

“Killed by Fuegin like forty or fifty years ago,” I said. “Damn, you did feel like you were on to something with that idea.”

“Do you need it to be one of those twelve?” he asked.

“They’re the ones the gods invested power into,” I said.

“Sure, sure,” he said. “So… they invested power into Metal. What happened to that power?’
My mouth opened wide, and I said. “No idea. She was killed near Parmia.” I shrugged. “I mean, we’re stuck here.”

“Yeah, thanks to you,” other-me said, and his face hardened with anger.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What does that mean?” fantasy-me asked. He stood there, strong and imposing. I swear he was somehow taller. And he had this… look in his eyes. I mean, he looked dangerous.

I could not believe this was a version of me.
“I’m not the one who tripped this trap,” he said.

“Because you killed this Todlicht prick, and he came to our world, and he’s turning people into zombies.” I shook with rage. “Like, our town was quiet. People are fleeing. Maya’s parents are missing. They could be dead. Zombies. No one was at the hospital. It’s like The Walking Dead now.”

“I didn’t send him to this world,” fantasy-me protested. “I’ve killed other builders. Why hasn’t Jindag or Mthunzi come after you? Or those twins, Led and Ziamili. Oh, and Tuerien. He was a huge fucking prick. He was rounding up women to father an army. And Sulanga… What a prick he was.”

“Those are…?” I swallowed.

“Dungeon builders I had to fight,” growled fantasy-me. “That I had to kill. Mthunzi… God, I didn’t even know what the fuck I was doing when he invaded my dungeon. When it was just Lana Fulmine, the will o’ wisps, and me. Barely survived that one, and Jindag kidnapped girls from the village so he could…” He shook. “All of those were more powerful than Todlicht. I hardly broke a sweat invading his dungeon and killing him.”

“You invaded his dungeon?” I whispered. “You attacked him.”

“Because he was a monster preying on the local elves.” This dark look crossed fantasy-me’s face. “He deserved to die!”

“And he’s causing so many problems in my world.” I threw up my hands. “Fuck, I don’t know if I should hate you or not for piling all this mess on me!”

“You got the women,” I said. “All twelve of them, right. They’re yours. I know that. When Lucas summoned his wife and… others to be his monster girls, I learned that you have a harem going.”

“Yeah, I do have that, but…” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m still dealing with this shit. I was happy, you know. After the lightning strike, I had the courage to ask out Maya. We were dating. I thought it was going to be me and her.”

Fantasy-me smiled. “That’s good. I’m…” He trailed off. “Oh, shit.”

“What?” I asked, not liking the fear crossing his face.

“My monster girls are dying,” he groaned. “My hellhounds. Rock elementals. Goblins. Now two pixies. Shit, shit, shit, I’m stuck in here, and they’re dying. No, no, no, this is bad. How are we going to win if I’m stuck in here?”

I swallowed at the despair on my counterpart’s face. “Shit, the same thing’s probably happening to my women. They have to get my ass back to the house, and they’re probably being attacked. Halia’s probably going to fight.”

“How do we get out of here?” fantasy-me demanded.

I had no idea. This was his department, and he looked so helpless now.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bellia knelt over the slumbering Lord Leo. She prayed even as Garnet was shouting that the enemy was coming.

Bellia put that out of her mind.

She had to concentrate on reaching him. She prayed to Lady Ianna as she leaned over her lord. Tears fell from her eyes. This was a nightmare. She didn’t know what to do for her Lord, but pray for him.

Please, please, please, Lady Ianna, awaken life in him, she prayed. Banish death from his body! Free him from the curse of Lord Nergal. Please!

She closed her eyes, her hands clasped tight, while the alarm rang through the dungeon. Monster girls screamed in her thoughts. The battle was met, and their Lord was lying helpless. It was not fair to come so close and to be cut low.

Save him, Lady Ianna!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Halia bent over Lord Leo as he rested on his mother’s bed.

The evil approached. She could feel it. They would need Lord Leo. She felt that in her breast. Her heart beat with the certainty that if he were to awake, his light would shine so bright. They would prevail against Todlicht.

We need a miracle, Lady Sherida, Halia prayed. Let your brilliance banish Nergal’s curse. Shine through his soul and banish the foul night that has engulfed him. Let your light be a guidance to lead him back to us. Nothing can stop your radiance from shining, Lady Sherida.

Nothing!

The darkness came closer and closer with every beat of Halia’s heart.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Todlicht smiled. It was the right moment. He could feel it through his connection with Lord Nergal. Laughing, he sent his forces, the hundreds and hundreds he had killed and twisted into his army. They stumbled forward into the night toward Leo’s house.

He would get revenge on Leo. Leo was helpless in both worlds and would die in both.

He would fail in both worlds. Todlicht laughed as his minions surged forward.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

The alarms blared through Siwang’s dungeon.

Leo was unconscious, and Siwang was being attacked. This was no coincidence. Their enemies had coordinated spectacularly. There was no denying that. He had to get his wife to safety and defend his dungeon. It had already begun.

He burst into the living quarters. Anji was in the middle, her arms hugging herself. She was naked. That wouldn’t do. He grabbed one of her dresses and pressed it against her. His wife stared at him, her eyes wide with fear.

And faith.

“Go down the tunnels to Leo’s dungeon,” Siwang said. “Go to where the villagers are. To your parents. Wait there. It is safe.”

She shook her head. “I want to be with you.”

Belo, Senka, and Crna were dead. The three lemures in the entrance to Siwang’s dungeon. “And I need you to be safe. Be with your parents.”

Sjaj, Kandzi, and Rajot died. That was all his lemures, the first monster girls he summoned after his mother, Xiongbu.

“I won’t reach them in time,” Anji said, lifting her chin. “I can stay in here. If they get past you, it’s over anyway.”

Anhel, Pera, Neba, Pisnya, Svitinnya, Litay, and Kryla died. The choirs were gone. They were tearing through his Level 1 monster girls, their shouts echoing in his mind before they were killed, screaming about the enemy monster girls.

He focused on Anji, though. Siwang knew his death would not kill her. She was sworn to Leo, so she could survive his dungeon’s collapse. Yet Leo was unconscious to him. What happened to him? What was going on? Unique monster girls and dragons were tearing through his monster girls.

Gyika, Madara, Merlaga, Pirosi, Benita, Karom, and Kialtas died. All the cockatrices, each one crying out as they futilely fought against the enemy.

“Please,” Anji whispered, her eyes full of liquid emotion.

Siwang sighed, “Fine.”

Then his ghosts started to die. Tisa first, with Smirta and Stalko next. Siwang made a split-second decision and sent the last two, “Pogrebi, Ogledalo, melt into the walls and let me know what we’re against.”

“Yes, Lord Siwang,” they sent.

Siwang rushed to his throne room to join his companions and claimed companions, Anji rushing after him. The orcs were now dying. Krutisi, Zals, Cirvis, Skepsi, and Terauda. His Level 2 monster girls fared no better.

As he arrived in the throne room, Pogrebi reported, “Lord Siwang, we have observed a carbuncle, a simurgh, two ice sprites, an erinys, a devil, an asura, a lich, a lightning sprite, a baku, an angel, a shade, a tennyo, a gorgon, a succubus, an adlet, a hysminai, two fairies, a shesha, a sylph, a rakshasa, a redcap, two nues, a selkie, and three dragons of Fire, Life, and Light.”

Siwang’s blood ran cold at the number of unique monster girls and dragons assaulting his dungeon. His unique monster girls were all looking stunned. He stared at the map, looking down at it. He had neglected his defenses, trusting on Leo to keep him safe. That was a flaw.

Mother put a cool and comforting hand on his shoulder. His monster girls were here for him. He studied the map and pointed at a second of his dungeon, identifying the throne room as the place to defend. With all his companions here and with his magic, they could hold out.

“We’ll make our stand in the throne room,” Siwang said. He shifted his concentration to send his thoughts throughout his dungeon, “Level 3 monster girls, engage and slow them down.”

“I’m being invaded,” Munjan sent on the heels of that message.

Siwang was not surprised.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“As am I,” Siwang sent back to Munjan. “Leo is unconscious. His dungeon is also breached.”

“We’re so fucked,” Munjan grunted as she looked around at his monster girls. His cheerleaders.

“We can fight back!” Macka hissed, her two tails swishing behind her and crackling with lightning.

“That’s right!” Andea cheered, the angel’s halo growing bright. “We’re Team Munjan!”

“We kick fucking ass!” Jaje squealed, the dryad’s leafy-green hair swaying about her shoulders.

“Woot!” Dijamanta did a high kick, the troglodyte smiling from ear to ear.

Senka stamped her goat hoofs and thrust her arm in the air, shouting, “I just got here! We’re not going to lose my first game!”

Munjan nodded, considering his dungeon map. He didn’t have a large one with a basic layout. He just had rooms with his monster girls divided by elements. There were no real traps. Since his dungeon lay beneath the halfling city of Sharithin, an ally of Leo, he was supposed to pass unnoticed. Leo was the one who attracted all the attention.

All the attacks.

Fucking lazy, thought Munjan. He was paying for it as his monster girls started dying. Blakytnyy, the choir first quickly followed Korychnevyy and Zhovtyy.

“Level 4 Monster Girls!” Malenkyy the aos si sent.

“We’re being invaded by Level 4 monster girls,” Munjan said. “How many?”

“Multiple seraphim, jotnar, houri, and ka—” Malenkyy sending cut off. She died.

“And Kappas!” added Pidbadoryuvaty, another aos si.

More of his Light monster girls were dead. Rozhevyy, Chervonyy, and Siryy of the choirs had died along with two unicorns, Usmiska and Lyzaty.

“We have no time to plan,” Munjan said, staring at his cheerleaders and claimed companions. At his Death dragon. “They’ll be spreading through the dungeon. Let’s split you up into…” He thought for a moment, doing some quick division. “Five groups of three or four. You know how to pair up. Once the enemy is past the Light monster girls, they’ll be spreading out. You intercept them and fight them.”

“Right!” his cheerleaders squealed together.

His other claimed monster girls nod.

“TEAM MUNJAN!”

Munjan gripped his hands behind his back. Already, his monster girls were moving into groups. They had made plans before. They knew how to divide up. They were grouping up, save for Senka, who looked around in confusion.

She was new. He had summoned her before the fight with the Saints, so she didn’t know where to go.

“Join Vina’s team,” Munjan said to Senka.

She nodded, flashing him a smile.

Macka led Group 1, made up of Sjanja, Noca, and Tira.

Vina led Group 2, made up of Ordaziti, Kitty Delight, and now Senka.

Andea led Mirisi and Chisanu as Group 3.

Group 4 was led by Plamena, with Dijamanta and Pogisa following.

Last, Talasa led Jaje and the Death dragon Gemekubnamus in Group 5.

Melin would stay with Munjan, the pair of them the last line of defense. As the five groups formed, the deaths kept happening. The last choir, Zelenyy, perished along with two more unicorns: Preshyy, Shchaslyvyy.

“There are more level fours entering, Master!” sent Podaty, an aos si.

Munjan felt their deaths. Smoktaty, the last unicorn. Dzuzhyna, an aos si. That left only Podaty.

“There are monster girls of all twelve elements,” Podaty sent with her love. “Good luck, my Lord,”

She died.

“MOVE!” Munjan shouted.

His monster groups rushed into action.

Melin suckled in a breath, his face pale. “Should we call in Lucas?”

Munjan hesitated. Lucas’s only way to help was to go through Munjan’s dungeon. The entrance to Lucas’s dungeon was protected by Castle Death, a fort Munjan made. Lucas didn’t have much power, but he did have ten companions.

Unique monster girls that could be of help.

“What if he gets attacked?” Munjan asked. “He needs to defend himself.”

Melin nodded.

Munjan reached out to Lucas, sending, “Lucas, all our dungeons are under attack, and Leo is incapacitated. Have you been attacked?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fear spiked through Lucas. Attacked? Everyone is under attack? Leo was incapacitated. What did that even mean?

He had been waiting in his throne room for the good news. Leo was supposed to save the Incarnation. He had his monster girls all around them. They all sensed the fear sweeping through him. The Saints’ attack had been… terrifying.

“No,” Lucas answered.

Bella grabbed his arm, concern in his eyes. She pulled him close to her as he trembled with fear. What should he do? Was he going to be attacked? His other monster girls moved in around him. Maya and Crystal joined the hug, the others quivering on the outside.

“What is it?” Bella asked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Siwang breathed slowly. He had lost all his vampires, sphinxes, sirens, salamanders, yetis, and basilisks. Fighting his thunderbirds and quetzalcoatl. They were dying so fast. Uniques and three dragons—two that were missing, plus the Life dragon that had never been located—were assaulting his dungeon.

Are the gods aiding a dungeon builder? Why was Fuegin working with the Gods?

Jinzi, twirling her gold chains, hissed, “I hate this.”

Lei nodded. The cyclops passed, clad in her silver armor, her hammer in her hand, ready to be used.

Mother’s hand rested on his shoulder, her black mist spilling down her body. She was ready to comfort him. So was Aunt Tao as she stood on Siwang’s other side, the branches rising from the top of her head rustling despite the lack of wind.

“I just want to fight them,” Jinu said, stamping her hoofs. The Nightmare shot him an impatient look.

“Yes,” Mei said, a claimed companion. The shesha slithered on the floor. “Let’s attack them. Drive them from the dungeon. If we don’t…”

They could be revived and sent back in. Siwang knew that. It worried him.

“Where did these dragons come from?” asked Hynderi. The pooka paced on her hoofed feet. “There are three of them!”

Lucy turned, her body reflecting light. A prism, she had a fiery gleam in her core. “They have to be the missing Fire and Life dragon.”

“And the Light dragon that we never had to find,” said Siwang. Halia came with the Blessed Blade of Light, the one Leo never had to hunt down.

“And why would they go to serve a dungeon builder?” demanded Yinfu.

Lucy nodded, her body sparkling.

“The Life dragon went south,” Siwang said. “I had already suspected that the new builder in the south who killed Wai was suspicious, and now I am certain of it.”

“And this new builder is working with Fuegin?” Muyang asked. The Hong Kong actress held a sword of ice low and ready. “We know Fuegin is behind the elves’ attack on our allies. Maybe it’s just Fuegin. He has a huge force.”

Siwang wanted it to just be Fuegin, but… His head shook.”The Life and Fire dragons flew south and east, respectively. Neither flew toward Fuegin, but in the direction of this new builder.”

“Two builders,” whispered Shandian. The golden-skinned deva glanced at the map, her wings folded about her body like a cloak. “They’re getting closer.”

Siwang nodded. More monster girls died as they spoke. His oreads, arachne, phoenixes, animated armors, aos sithe, and werebears were all wiped out. Not much of his forces were left in the dungeon. He glanced at the map, at the dots moving about.

They were black dots. Enemy monster girls.

“Twenty-six monster girls and three dragons versus twenty-five monster girls and two dragons,” said Baoshi, the carbuncle’s garnet glittering in her forehead.

“We have the advantage,” declared Girinamusak, his Lightning dragon. Her golden scales sparkled. She had given herself willingly to Siwang.

Baoshi shook her head. “Twenty-nine to twenty-seven. That’s at best even odds.”

Girinamusak grinned. “But we have a builder. No builder has entered.”

“True,” Siwang said. It was just monster girls so far.

More deaths. The enemy penetrated deeper. He had lost his harpies, yuki-onna, unicorns, werewolves, leprechauns, and kelpies dead. Only the hippocampi were left, aquatic monster girls who died fast.

Siwang wished he had Ultimate Magic, but he didn’t. Just as he lacked Level 4 monster girls. He didn’t have enough mana veins. So he cast the spells that he could have access to, starting with the first spell he ever cast.

“Pain retreats, let the chill of Lady Ereshkigal sustain!”

Endure Pain. It was dangerous to use because he could be severely injured and not realize it, but it also meant such wounds would not distract him.

“Strong and unyielding, let the granite of Lady Ki enhance!”

Strength of Mountains empowered his limbs with more prowess. He could easily lift any of his monster girls with a single arm now.

“Hard and enduring, let the rocks of Lady Ki defend!”

Granite Flesh turned his skin into stone, hardening it against attacks.

“Steel wards with unyielding strength, let the defense of Lady Nisaba protect!”

Metalcoat summoned a magical suit of armor to clad him.

“Life energizes and enervates, let the grace of Lady Ianna empower!”

Revitalize would keep his body empowered with stamina.

“Lightning crackle and hiss, gird me in the love of Lady Uttu!”

Static Aura crackled around him, waiting to trigger if anything, a monster girl or spell, touched him.

“Incarnation of flames, let the passion of Lady Lamashtu embrace!”

Flamebody turned his body beneath the stone into fire. That made him even harder to kill, but the flames could be extinguished.

“Air preserves, let the love of Lady Tiamat sustain!”

Deep Breath allowed him to go longer without having to breathe. It didn’t make him immune to suffocation, but it extended how long it would take before he passed out.

“Positive energy flows, let the passion of Lady Ianna spread!”

Healing Aura spread out from him. It would mend not just his wounds, but those around him.

He glanced down at his map. “Anji.”

“I know,” she said and fled his throne room.

The enemy had arrived.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lana Fulmine found herself surprised as she stood in the living room of the Baldwin residence, her hands clapping together. She was taking charge of them and coordinating these women. It felt so right because…

She had been Leo’s first claimed companion in the other world. She wasn’t just an actress using drugs to hide her misery for how she had sold herself for fame and wealth. She wasn’t empty any longer. She had love in her.
Leo’s love.

“They are coming for this house,” Lana said with confidence as she surveyed the others. “We need the backyard of this house covered and the street out front covered. And we’ll need a scout to know when they’re close.

“Ooh, ooh, ooh,” Alizee squealed. She jumped and floated off the ground, her blonde hair whipping around her face. “See, see, I can fly! I’ll get up there and watch.”

“That’s great,” said Ms. Trueno, “but I miss being able to send telepathic messages.”

“Group text,” Maya said, whipping out her phone. “Let’s get everyone’s number.”

The others nodded, and numbers were traded. Maya worked fast and sent out a group text. Lana Fulmine’s phone vibrated as the word, “Test!” appeared in her notification. She opened up the group chat as others were typing, “Received!” or “Got it!” or just flashed thumbs-up emojis.

“I’ll take the backyard,” Terra said, hands on her hips. “I can feel vibrations through the ground. It’s nice having powers again.”

“Yeah!” Garnet said, grinning.

“I’ll watch the entrance to the street from my house,” said Mrs. Lucina. “I can see in the dark. I’ll be able to see anyone who comes down, and I have a good view of the main street.”

“I’ll join her,” Morana said. “I can feel death in the air. I think they’re coming. Death is approaching us from all sides.”

Lana Fulmine’s arms prickled. The others rubbed at their arms, except Hagane, who just absorbed the information.

“I’ll be in the backyard with Terra,” Crystal said.

“I expect them to hit us from all sides,” Hagane said. “Not just the backyard or down the street.”

“But this is a cul-de-sac,” Garnet said. “Only one way in.”

“Fences,” the Japanese girl stated. “They can climb over them. They could come through another house on the block. Say one at the end of the cul-de-sac to hit us from that direction.”

“My house is at the end of the street,” Maya said. She trembled, worry on her face. “I think my parents left. I mean, it seems like everyone on this street has fled.”

Or they’re all dead, Lana Fulmine thought, but she didn’t want to add to Maya’s stress.

“I’ll join you,” Garnet said.

Lana Fulmine nodded and surveyed the remaining women—Mrs. Baldwin, Ms. Trueno, Nina Naughty, and Hagane. “Then the five of us will stay here in the house with Halia.” She frowned. “Um, where is Halia?”

“Upstairs praying,” Mrs. Baldwin said.

“Agreed,” Hagane said. “We shall be reinforcements and hold the stronghold.

“So we fall back to the house when things get bad,” Nina Naughty said. “We hold this floor before retreating upstairs if we’re forced to it. There’s a narrow hallway. Make them pay to get to Leo.”

Fear clenched about Lana Fulmine’s heart. She nodded, fighting off the fear. Everyone rushed toward their positions. Maya and Garnet went with Mrs. Lucina and Morana out the front door. Crystal and Terra headed out the backdoor.

The other five spread out through the living room and kitchen, ready to support either side.

Now we wait and pray, Lana Fulmine thought. This was no action movie. No script. No set. No stuntwoman to do the dangerous tasks. No movie magic to make it appear dangerous when it was actually quite safe.

Still, Lana Fulmine would rather be here than on the set of any movie.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Garnet crouched in the Illusion Room at the entrance of the dungeon, sending to her forces, “Squad Dark Hotties, get ready!”

The wildhounds crouched low. The arachnes clung to the ceiling. Leprechauns lurked, ready to spin out their illusions to add to the chaos. The demons readied their shadowy weapons, whips and ribbons. Garnet fashioned her own flail.

Suddenly, new walls appeared. They were generated by the leprechauns. They would shift and move about to isolate the enemy monster girls so Squad Dark Hotties could pick off the enemy one by one. Garnet could see through them, but the enemy would be blind.

A cherfu led the way, her body made of volcanic stone with glowing fissures as if she were made of lava with her sexy exterior cooled enough to be solid. Garnet recognized her. Fuegin’s wife, Amante. Anger surged through her.

“Fuegin’s monster girls confirmed,” Garnet sent to everyone.

Next came a maenad with white hair, an insane looking hottie ready to tear with her claws. An animated statue who gleamed and wielded armblades, a simurgh with dog-like ears, an exotic djinn with curvy hips, a lamia slithering forward, a crackling raiju in the shape of a wolf, a rakshasa licking her jowls, an angel with a glowing halo, and a deva crackling with beauty.

They entered the maze of illusions, not realizing what was happening. Garnet grinned, rubbing her hands fiendishly as she watched them start to spread out, separating them. They filtered down corridors, the leprechauns moving the walls to cut them off. The little succubus wanted to giggle, but she kept quiet.

She waited, ready to fight to protect her big brother’s dungeon.

“Go arachne!” she commanded, swishing her flail down before her.

From the ceiling, the webbing shot down. They hit the maenad, the animated statue, the djinn, the rakshasa, and the devil. They were all stuck in place. Their reaction was surprise and shock as they fought to break free.

The wildhounds leaped through the illusory walls. The demons attacked with their shadowy weaponry. The enemy monster girls thrashed as they were assaulted. The wildhounds bit and tore. The shadowy weapons struck and hurt.

“Stute!” Garnet sent next. “Now!”

The nightmare slipped out of the shadows behind the dog-eared simurgh. The enemy fell to the ground, asleep. Garnet grinned from ear to ear. It was going perfectly. She scanned the battlefield, eager for the results.

The rakshasa roared before she burst into sparks, her throat torn out by Du. A crack echoed as Deamhana’s whip snapped the maenad’s neck. Garnet grinned until she noticed the animated statue’s armblade ripped nearly took off Gwyllt’s head, but the wildhound bounded away toward Ci.

The animated statue pursued only to have her head ripped off by Mhora’s whip.

A roar of wind snapped Garnet’s head to the right. She groaned as the djinn became a whirlwind that swept up two of the wildhounds. Motes danced through the raging tornado, Ci and Gwyllt dead. Olca slammed into the whirlwind without fear.

Garnet gasped for the demon, expecting her to die.

The winds faltered a moment later, torn webbing fluttering to the ground. Olca landed in the midst of it, one of her wings twisted and broken. She straightened, the djinn’s motes dancing around her. Garnet grinned.

Lightning crackled. The deva fired blasts of lightning at Marwo killing the wildhound in a moment. Stora pivoted and slashed her whip through the illusions and seized the deva by the neck. Trapped by the webbing, she couldn’t move.

Her neck snapped.

The arachne were moving. Garnet nodded as they shot webbing at the angel and the lamia, pinning them. When the silk struck Amante, Fuegin’s wife flared with molten brilliance. The webbing flashed into ash. Lava burst from her mouth and sprayed the ceiling. Nimhe tried to scuttle clear, but the arachne screamed and fell.

The enemy was moving. They could communicate silently. The raiju dodged the attack and leaped up through the illusions. They knew that the walls were fake. Garnet cursed. The raiju blasted Damhanalla, killing the arachne.

Light flashed from the trapped angel’s halo. It flashed up into the air, cutting through two of Sreaga’s legs. The arachne screamed and fell to the floor, landing before the deva. The halo cut off Sreaga’s head.

No, no, no, Garnet thought. Her arachne were dying. The enemy was regrouping.

Then, more monster girls poured into the dungeon, led by a prism, her body reflecting light. Behind her, a gleaming mermaid that walked, a fomorian with a sword of darkness, a tennyo flying through the air, a devil with a flaming pitchfork, a blue-skinned nixie fashioning a blade from her own blood, a gleaming ice sprite, a fairy flying on glistening wings, and a cyclops armored in silver.

Light burst from the prism and dispelled the leprechaun’s walls. They vanished in a moment. Garnet flinched at the brilliance of the light, raising up an armor to ward herself. She fluttered her wings as her entire plan failed.

“Kill the prism!” Garnet shouted.

“On it,” Stute sent back.

Stute leaped out of the shadows and crashed into the prism from behind, cracking her crystalline structure. The force of the nightmare’s leap drove the prism to the ground, where she fractured even worse, light spilling out of the cracks.

Garnet’s wings flapped as she surged to aid Stute.

The prism burst into motes, slain. Stute turned to jump into the shadows, but a flaming pitchfork ripped into her back. She pitched forward and joined the glittering energy of the enemy monster girl. They were both gone.

Garnet ground her teeth and threw a net of shadows over the ifrit, tangling her up. The wildhounds bounded. Leprechauns threw out shadowy attacks. Webbing shot from the surviving arachne, Gaiste.

A blast of light struck Garnet in the side.

The succubus screamed and spun through the air. She hit the ground and bounced. From the entrance, a third group of monster girls rushed into the room. A werefox, lithe and small, led a carbuncle and a dahu.

A shadow fell on Garnet.

Through the pain, she glanced up to see the cyclops’s hammer slamming down at her head.

The void engulfed Garnet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Smerta ground her teeth together as she watched the fight. Garnet’s gold dot winked out. So did Gaiste’s blue dot. There went the last of the arachne. The others were fighting, but the number of black dots in the entrance room was staggering. So many of them, and they were all unique.

Fuck a bear, thought Smerta.

The adventurers paced around her as Du, Nos, and Cysgo’s dots winked out. With them vanished Mona the leprechaun and Olca the demon. The black dots moved fast now, swarming the surviving blue dots.

Ceatha the leprechaun vanished.

Then Stora the demon.

All that was left was Deamhana, and she vanished a heartbeat later.

Smerta exhaled slowly before sending, “The enemy is through the guard room, no survivors. Some casualties inflicted, but I expect them to be revived and sent back into our dungeon. They came in three waves.”

Smerta realized she might never see Garnet or Stute again. With Leo unconscious, he couldn’t revive them even if they did manage to survive this battle. Smerta didn’t see how. They needed a dungeon builder to take the fight to Fuegin.

They needed Siwang or Munjan, and they were both under assault.

The black dots were moving through the Illusion Room. They were waiting. Smerta growled as new dots replaced them. The revived monster girls. It was hard to count them, but there seemed to be about thirty of them.

“I count thirty,” Vern said.

“Yep,” Hagza said.

“Thirty,” said Ashiliozia. The elven rogue had keen eyes.

“Thirty companions,” Smerta sent to the entire dungeon. Thirty unique monster girls. Companions were the deadliest. She cocked her head as the black dots moved into the Initial Labyrinth. There were multiple branches and… “They have split up into three groups of ten.”

“They did come in three waves,” said Ashiliozia.

“Makes sense,” Vern said. He was in command of the adventurers.

The black dot leading the middle group winked out. A trap kill.

A second black dot vanished from the left group. Both held up and waited as, yes, in moments, two fresh black dots entered the dungeon, raced through the Illusion Room, and quickly caught up with their groups before they pressed on.

“They’re smart,” muttered Sarkz, the dwarven warrior, stroking his beard.

Smerta nodded. That was the problem.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

“They’re approaching your room, Lana Fulmine,” Smerta sent to Lana Fulmine. “One squad.”

“We’re ready,” the movie starlet answered, her wings of lightning crackling as much as the pillar she stood against.

That was where she was stationed. The Lightning Pillar Room. To escape the Initial Labyrinth, you had to pass through this room. The enemy was moving slowly. Traps were killing monster girls, but they were replaced at once. Leo had used that tactic. It was a powerful one when your dungeon was secure, but…

Even if Leo was conscious, he couldn’t revive Garnet, Stute, and the rest of Squad Dark Hotties.

“Just ten,” Lana sent to her monster girls. She had Sefebe the succubus, the will o’ wisps, quetzalcoatl, thunderbirds, and cherubim. The latter three groups were all clinging to the lightning pillars, trying to blend in while the will o’ wisps were in the back.

Sefebe held a whip in her hand with casual ease. She had been a prostitute before Bosegogare made her into a succubus. She smiled at Lana Fulmine and pressed herself behind a pillar, ready to act.

The pillars crackled as their charge built, sensing the enemies about to enter the room. Lana Fulmine drew in a deep breath, ready to discharge her own lightning. She flexed her fingers, eager to fight to the death for her number one fan.

The prism entered first, her body reflecting the blast of lightning in the movement before it struck her. She shattered from the heat and blown back, vanishing into smoke. A graceful monster girl with purple hair dove forward to dodge the lightning. She failed, two different pillars striking her and killing the mermaid.

There was a pause, the other monster girls clearly reassessing the situation. Lana Fulmine smiled. They had to get through this room to proceed. The longer they hesitated, the better chance that Leo would wake up.

Then a lich stepped boldly through the doorway, skin blue and hair white. She wasn’t afraid. The lightning struck her body. She staggered, smoke rising from the blasts, but energy surged through her, healing her.

“Hit her phylactery!” Lana Fulmine cried and built her charge.

From behind the lich, using her as a shield, a fomorian drove forward. Her black hair streamed behind her. She slashed her shadow sword, cutting through the nearest Lightning Pillar. It shattered, reducing the number from twenty to nineteen.

A tennyo flew over the lich, rushing at another Lightning Pillar. The will o’ wisps blasted her, taking her out, but more enemies were diving in. A devil threw a pitchfork, taking Vaivory the quetzalcoatl in the throat. She screamed and burst into motes.

Lana Fulmine aimed at the lich’s phylactery. Her wings crackled.

Lightning shot out and slammed into the lich, throwing her down. The lich covered her phylactery as more blasts of electricity shot down from the quetzalcoatls. Annoyance shot through the lightning sprite as the lich rose to keep being a shelter.

“I got her,” Sefebe sent and stepped out from behind her pillar and swung her whip.

Her shadowy lash struck the lich around the leg. Sefebe yanked, pulling her off her feet. The lich slammed down on the ground and was hauled across the floor. The lich’s arms flailed, exposing her phylactery between her breasts.

Lightning exploded from Lana Fulmine and struck the gemstone, destroying it.

The lich screamed and flashed into glitter.

In that moment, though, a cyclops shattered a pillar, and a blast of light shot from a fairy’s wand to destroy another. It was chaos. An enemy nixie screamed as the will o’ wisps blasted her down. A flashing shard from an ice sprite, taking Sparnas the quetzalcoatl. Then the cherubim took down the ice sprite. The cyclops moved fast, smashing another pillar while the fomorian hewed through her second.

Blasts of lightning took them down.

Lana Fulmine blasted the fairy. Glittering wings spun through the air. She struck the floor and exploded into motes. Lana Fulmine ducked behind her pillar, dodging a flaming pitchfork. She went to kill the devil, but she was already dead.

In fact, they were all dead. The battle was over.

Lana Fulmine relaxed.

“Both groups are rushing to back them up,” Smerta sent. “And the first group is already re-entering the dungeon.”

Lana nodded. Of course. There was not going to be a reprieve. She was here to buy as much time as possible.

A deva strode boldly into the Lightning Pillar room, wings spread wide. Her golden body glittered as the blasts of lightning hit her from above and below. She was Lightning, though, so the electricity did nothing to her.

Sefebe’s whip lashed out and struck the Deva, yanking her off her feet. As the deva gasped and fell, a raiju in wolf from jumped into the room, soaring over the falling Deva. The lightning striking the crackling monster girl did nothing.

Smart, thought Lana Fulmine.

The raiju slammed into Sefebe, ripping out her throat. The succubus fell back, screaming. The thunderbirds dove down on the raiju as Sefebe burst into motes. The thunderbirds slashed with their claws, tearing into the raiju. The wolf snarled, turning to fight, but they hit her from all sides.

The raiju died.

But other monster girls leaped into the fight, grabbing the thunderbirds. A maenad and rakshasa ripped Erelisa and Griausti out of the sky, tearing into their flesh. A blast of light from the halo ripped off Dangu’s head.

Behind the rakshasa, an animated statute rushed in, armblades raised. A lamia spat ice over her heard followed by blasts of light from the halo. Lightning pillars shattered. The amount of electricity arching through the room dwindled.

Lana Fulmine flapped her wings, dodging a halo. Her wings crackled and hit the rakshasa. The cherubim struck down the maenad while fire exploded from a cherfu, rippling over the room. The animated statue rushed through the room, armblades hacking through the will o’ wisps.

The lightning sprite flapped her wings, struggling to follow everything. So much was happening. The enemy boiled through the room. Lightning shot through the room. Lana Fulmine aimed at the animated statue, her charge building.

Pain exploded in her back.

Lana Fulmine died.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Smerta shook her head as Group 3 reached the Lightning Pillar room.

One by one, the pillars went out. It cost the enemy. By the end, only Lobisa the cherub was still standing in the room, all the pillars destroyed. The enemy monster girls regrouped in the Illusion Room, entering the dungeon one after the other.

It slowed them down.

Smerta fought against the fear, taking heart that the environmental damage was weakening them. This was a fight of attrition, but thirty uniques were a powerful concentration of monster girls. Smerta wondered if they were using the right tactic.

If we combined our forces, would we just obliterate them?

But no room was large enough to hold all of Leo’s forces. There were only a few guaranteed choke points in the dungeon. And with the thirty monster girls being able to come back, they would grind through them eventually.

All Smerta could do was make them bleed for every inch.

But we’re the ones bleeding, she thought. They replace their losses.

An idea popped into Smerta’s head. Could she send infiltrates into Fuegin’s dungeon?

No, no, they would have a reserve force outside the dungeon. It would not accomplish anything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Therodin smiled as he watched the monster girls streaming in. The same thirty unique companions would rush from Fuegin’s dungeon exit into Leo’s entrance. They were making progress, but they had to be vigilant of the enemy sneaking out some monster girl.

Therodin, the Company, and their guard of Level 4 monster girls would stop them.

With his lover at his side, Therodin waited for the end. It would not be much longer now.

To be continued…

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