Chapter 26

  Okay, resorting to some prepubescent teen shit talk wasn’t really a high point for me. But to be fair, they were the ones who attacked me. They were the ones who didn’t take no for an answer. And well, they needed to learn a very valuable lesson. No, means no.

  “You need to do something Em,” Aaron hissed as his Gem Beetle, now defeated, faded away.

  "Oh right, because this is all on me?” She shot him a glare as a second of her crystals lit up. So apparently, the rules of the world would allow her to summon a second one, to keep the fight as fair as possible. At least, until she didn’t have two to pull from.

  I didn’t really care. Now that I had my momentum, there was no way I was giving it up. Cogberus was too much of a game changer. And his speed and raw power was allowing me to essentially one-shot at least a single Mun each turn. The valiant sacrifice of my Gearow, using it to stack defense debuffs before it was defeated, had been the right plan. And now that Aaron’s unknown Muns were out of the way, well, I knew how to deal with Calfers.

  “What’s that?” I half-asked, half simple stated, as Ember’s next Mun came into view. It was a bird, but larger than my Gearow. It had gleaming, metallic eyes, and a similar gear system within its chest cavity. However, it’s entire body was covered in raven-black feathers, which shone with a slightly metallic sheen. More machine than bird, this one. Above its head, was its name. Graven.

  “It’s a Graven,” Ember answered, trying her best to sound high and mighty… a difficult task when you were essentially staring down the barrel of a gun. Well, if a gun was a three headed, compact car, dog machine thing. “It’s the evolution of a Gearow.”

  “Oh, what level does it evolve?” I asked, more curious about the possibility of having a new Mun in my possession soon than what it could actually do. While it looked badass, and I definitely wanted it in my team, for all intents and purposes, battle wise, I wasn’t worried. I knew what a Gearow could do. I wasn’t worried about its evolution causing me problems. Especially since I knew a certain Mun of mine had a… special affinity when it came to attacking birds.

  “Level 18,” she said with a huff, “though mine is actually closer to level 30.”

  “And yet,” I grinned as I spoke, waiting for her to make her move. The Graven was faster than my Cogberus. Which didn’t really surprise me, since Gearow’s were fast little buggers. “Right now it’s only level 20.”

  She scowled at that. “How were we supposed to know you weren’t even Tier 1.” She said with a sigh, “if you had been, this would have been over in an instant.”

  I rose an eyebrow at that, knowing she was just wasting time. There was no way they’d come back from this. I was down two Mun’s, with my Calfer doing quite well, and I had zero worry about Cogberus going down. Compared to her Calfer, which I would finish in a turn or two, a Graven, and one last Mun, it was clear who’d win this battle.

  “If I’d had a Tier 1 Gauntlet, how would this have been over?” I asked.

  She laughed, “you really don’t know anything, do you.” She finally selected a move. The Graven flew up high into the air, and let its wings flap, sending metallic feathers flying rapidly down towards my Cogberus. Like darts they stuck into its fur, hitting his metallic plating underneath with a dull thud. Four of the seven feathers that flew towards him stuck. Each feather, did two damage. I couldn’t help but grin at that, before I returned my attention to the battle. It was time to get rid of the Calfer.

  “Does that mean,” I asked as I selected the tried and true bite method, “if all of our Gauntlets were the same Tier, that our levels would actually be what they are supposed to be?”

  “Yes, and then you wouldn’t have your inflated HP giving you help here. You’re essentially getting a huge help right now, all because you’re weak.” Oh yeah, she was totally not taking losing well.

  My Cogberus triple snapped its tasty veal treat, and the defense debuffed Calfer turned into light, disappearing, leaving not even the bits of Calfer meat on my Cogberus’s teeth that had been there mere seconds before.

  “I’m going to remind you; you were the ones who ambushed me.” I said as she summoned her final Mun. The shape was a somewhat familiar one, and I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. Oh really, hypocrites.

  It was a Cog Dog. The level 20 evolution of a Gear Pup. The Mayor had thrown shade about me training up three Gear Pups at the same time, and yet here Ember was, a former resident of Cogni, with an evolved Gear Pup. Guess I wasn’t the only monster making puppies battle… though… I suppose she could have had it just soaking in experience while her calfer and graven fought… and not actively making three Gear Pups battle like an adorable little pack of puppies…

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  “We’re just doing what is asked of us by our High Lady,” Ember said, “in the end, everyone will either become a Disciple of Nox, or fall.”

  “Well, I told you, I wasn’t feeling the want to join a cult today,” I answered, my Calfer already sending a burst of flames skyward. I wasn’t really worried about the Graven, but the fact it could fly annoyed me. The flames hit one of its wings, and a sixth of its life was eaten away. Not as squishy as a Gearow, but still, squishy.

  The next turn started, and the Graven launched more feathers at my Cogberus. Five of seven feathers this time, another 10 HP. At this rate, they were finally getting it close to 100HP. Which, would be admirable, if not for the fact they were on their last two Muns, and I had four total. It was kind of pathetic, now. Their defeat wasn’t even a question now, it was an inevitability.

  I grinned, knowing I could be reckless now. Instead of ordering my Cogberus to use a damaging attack, I activated its fourth skill. Gear Shift. It’s body buzzed and hummed as armor plating shifted about, gears overclocked, and steam began to leak from the gaps between the metal. It’s three sets of eyes blazed with light, and smoke tendrils wrapped around its teeth and fled its nostrils. The move took a turn, sure, but it was so going to be worth it.

  “What are you doing?” Ember asked, curiosity actually mixed in with her accusations, “what move is that?”

  “Oh, you want me to tell you my moves? When neither of you have told me jack shit this whole battle?” I laughed. In response, her Cog Dog dashed forward and slammed into my Cogberus. The smaller dog, about the size of a Malinois, smashed its thin frame into my Cogberus with all its force. It would have had more effect had it slammed into a wall. Still, 10 more points of HP dropped off the Cogberus.

  “I’ll do you one better,” I continued, as my Calfer shot flames once more. The Graven was at half its HP now, and it, unexcitingly, spammed its feather blast. One hit for a critical this time, though only three feathers hit my Cogberus’s this time, for another 8 total. It was down to 102 HP. They were almost there. “I’ll show you.”

  The turn rotation now complete, my Cogberus’s muscles flexed. It crouched low, turned all six eyes to the Calfer, and let out a low growl. I selected Body Slam, and watched the show. Gear Shift, greatly increased the speed, and critical rate, of my Cogberus. It took a turn to charge up, and lasted for three. After that third turn, it spent another turn unable to attack. I’d learned this just yesterday, having finally taken the time to test it out across a few battles, not worried about my extremely powerful Mun fainting against something like a level 14 Pride Cub.

  No longer akin to a car crash, the collision was like a train barreling through a car on the tracks. The Cog Dog was sent rocketing off its feet, flying a good twenty feet or so to smash into the wall of the Coliseum. The creature let out a slight whimper, that made my heart pang, before it crumpled to the ground, broken and bleeding oil, gear parts and fur stuck in the wall. It’s health blinked dangerously, and I couldn’t even see a health sliver left, yet there was apparently one there.

  I put it out of its misery with a flame burst from my Calfer, turning the battle into a two versus one. Tears of frustration, fear, and maybe actual concern or hurt for her Cog Dog in her eyes, Ember wordlessly gave her Graven it’s last command.

  “Oh look at you,” I said, dripping sarcasm as the feathers hit my Cogberus, “you managed to get him under a hundred HP. Good job.” A second later, the Graven was ripped from the air, my Cogberus leaping with impossible agility to grab its body with the center head, and then each wing with the others. The Graven was torn asunder, turning instantly back into its crystal, leaving only my Muns remaining on the battlefield.

  “I hope this taught you both a lesson,” I said cooly, fighting the adrenaline that was threatening to overwhelm me. Sure, I’d not wanted to battle anyone today. But I’d be lying if, now that it was over, it hadn’t been exhilarating. The fact they’d blundered into accidently putting themselves into a battle they couldn’t win, made it all the better.

  Ember glowered at me. Aaron, held up his palms outwards, as if trying to calm me down.

  “Look,” he said softly, “we got off on the wrong foot. Let’s, just finish this off, and then we can talk? I really would like you to join the Disciples with us. And you’d obviously be a great addition to our ranks.”

  I only half listened as my eyes noticed the new prompt in front of my vision.

  Winner- Taylor

  Defeat Punishment?

  Y/N

  Mentally I selected yes. A new prompt appeared.

  Defeat Punishment. Choose below

  Time

  Return loser to the last Mun Crystal visited

  Money

  Gain a percentage of wealth from the losers

  My lips curled in a cruel sneer. Oh, this was good. “I already told you once, pretty boy,” I said, not needing another moment to decide what I was going to do, “I’m not in the mood for kool-aid this morning.” I selected Time, and immediately a flash of light enveloped the two.

  “You bitch—” was all I heard Ember say before the two simply, disappeared. A second later, white light enveloped me, blinding my vision, as a sensation of warmth and tingling and movement crawled all over my body. I blinked, and found myself in front of Guy’s tent once more, the merchant standing beside me, a massive grin on his face, Cogberus and my Calfer on either side of me, and the cultists, thankfully, missing.

  “Well done, Taylor,” Guy said, slapping me on the back with a chuckle, “I want you to know, I never doubted you for an instant.”