The western horizon fills with friendly combatants. A single woman approaches dressed in tarnished heavy armor. She steps off an abnormally large hoaram pulling two blades from her sides. One giving off a deadly chill and the other burning with rage, they spark as she clanks them together.

  “If it is war you want, then it is war you shall have.”

  The woman moves through her enemies like a ghost phasing through corporeal beings. Her swords cut through flesh like scythes harvesting grain leaving frozen and charred flesh in their wake. Every movement is fluid like the rushing of a river into an ocean of death.

  Large wings on her back rise and fold propelling her like a missile into her enemies. The reverse curve of her blades makes them almost sickle like as they freeze and burn through their harvest of corpses.

  Limbs litter the streets of Heroldin as the woman carves her way through them. Mateo takes a deep breath and leans up as the heavily armored female stares down at him. She sheaths her blades removing her helmet to reveal the scarred face of a female… harpy?

  Her hair is brilliant feathers, and her face warped into a bird like shape still retaining a human figure as much as it can. Golden eyes stare into Mateo’s her form strong and impending.

  “Thanks for the help but, who are you?” Mateo asks.

  “I am Queen Hera, Widow of the West,” she replies.

  “Your feathers are pretty, and your chest is very voluptuous, I mean, I’d bang you if I was single, hold on, that’s not what I meant to say,” Mateo cries.

  “What part didn’t you mean to say?” Hera asks.

  “You’ve got fat titties, and I’d bang you?” Mateo replies.

  “So, you do think my feathers are pretty?”

  “Beautiful, not that I’m short on beauty, but your colors are extravagant, otherworldly even.”

  “Honesty, a trait few men have, I could use a king if you’re willing to compete for the spot.”

  Mateo rubs his head as he snaps out of the spell cast on him by the woman’s glistening golden eyes. A true harpy can seduce her prey in many ways, from a melody to a seductive glimpse into their eyes.

  “I appreciate your offer, but Serenity would kill me if I ran off with some ridiculously attractive queen.”

  The earth quakes as another Hellbent titan rises. This creature resembles a fawn with its curled horns and goat legs. Scaled red skin covers the four-armed mass as it beckons a roar into the sky.

  “Mateo quit flirting and get back to the battle!” Serenity yells. “He’s such a skirt chaser sometimes,” she whispers under her breath.

  “Next time then,” Hera says with a smile pulling her helmet over her brilliant feathers.

  She shoots into the sky her wings glistening in the glow of the evening star. Arrows dart through the atmosphere chasing her through the clouds like June bugs chasing a mate. None capture her and she dives toward the ground unsheathing her blades as she cuts trenches of blood down the front of her titan adversary. Veins rupture as blood sprays like rain over the streets of Heroldin.

  Without their apostle the hellbent morale breaks. Covered in a crimson mist the defenders of Heroldin push back the hellbent sending them fleeing south back into the marshes. Serenity comes to Mateo’s side as he pulls his dagger from the gut of a hellbent soldier. Hera approaches them.

  “Ah, I see why you didn’t take me up on the offer,” Hera says looking Serenity over.

  “Lady Hera, you came, I told my sister you would,” Rick yells intruding on their introduction.

  “Richard, it’s been some time, how is your sister?” Hera asks.

  “Rude and perverse as usual,” he replies bowing.

  “Exactly how I like her, men, push back the stragglers and secure Heroldin,” Hera says signaling to her army.

  The hellbent retreat at the mercy of Hera, the Widow of the West’s army and Heroldin’s defenders.

  “My apologies lady Everbold, I didn’t mean to press myself on your mate, it’s an instinctual habit,” Hera says turning her golden gaze toward Serenity.

  “Press yourself, I’m assuming you meant to charm him, and how did that work out for you?”

  “He complimented my feathers and said I had a most voluptuous bosom,” Hera replies.

  “He said she had fat titties,” Natalia says appearing on Mateo’s shoulder.

  “Really Natalia?” Mateo scoffs.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Serenity grabs Mateo’s wrist pulling him to her side forcefully.

  “My apologies lady Hera, I’ll have to punish him with some rough sex later.”

  Natalia: You’re welcome.

  Mateo: Who the hell is this chick?

  Natalia: That’s Queen Hera, Widow of the West. The kingdom was divided when king Vetruvius took a harpy as his wife, they soon found her more likable than him.

  “Lady Vetruvius, I’m sorry for your loss,” Rick says with a bow.

  “Please, call me Hera, and don’t be, I’m not, we are born and then we die, what we do between those two things defines us, my late husband was a scoundrel he did nothing but drink and fuck whores and now he’s dead leaving not but a trail of disappointed women in his wake.”

  “My apologies for the discrepancy,” Rick replies with a gentlemanly bow.

  Hera steps toward him reaching out a clawed hand running her talons over his cheek as she peers into his brown eyes.

  “My late husband Haisha Vetruvius was a mountain of fucking disappointment, perhaps a strong virile young man such as yourself would be a worthy replacement,” Hera says her golden eyes seductive and inviting.

  Rick grips her hand placing it infront of his face and kisses it. He looks up from her talons with a half smile.

  “My apologies Hera, but me and my sister are realm walkers, I cannot provide you with the offspring you may desire.”

  “That won’t be a problem,” she says pulling her hand away slowly, “propositions aside, I have come with my army to defend the realm of Gottes, but mine alone will not be able to drive back the Cult of the Immortal Father.” She turns her gaze toward Serenity once more. “We will need the help of the elf king Calladen.”

  The people of Heroldin emerge once again clearing their streets of carnage. This time they are assisted by Queen Hera’s forces. A varying force of humans, beastmen, and orcen. Mateo returns to Chrissima’s emporium of the Serpent to find that Chrissima has been gravely injured. Okami stands at Mateo’s presence.

  “A small contingent of Hellbent snuck around our flank seeking to catch us from the rear, what they found were women and children, but they didn’t care,” Okami points to a small child resting on a cot as another child holds his hand.

  The child has a spear protruding from his gut and his legs are severed below the knee. A young girl clutches his hand tightly as she cries, her tears puddling in the floor.

  “Chrissima held them back until I arrived, but she too was injured.”

  Okami runs his furry claw across the cheek of a badly injured and unconscious Chrissima.

  “Rest my scaled goddess and know that your Okami is here to protect you,” he says kissing her forehead.

  “We are to travel to the land of the elves and request their assistance,” Mateo says placing his hand on Okami’s shoulder, “if you wish to stay here then I understand.”

  “I do, Chrissima needs me, contact me via rune tablet if you are in need of my guidance,” he says brushing Chrissima’s long crimson hair gently with his claw.

  “She is best left in your care, please contact me as soon as she recovers,” Mateo says removing his hand from Okami’s shoulder.

  Juliana enters holding her side but standing firm. Her aura still radiates with the power of Heroldin giving her a slight glow.

  “We should rest, the villagers have salvaged what they can of the bath house and are offering their good graces for your assistance,” Juliana says before stepping away still clutching her side.

  Death fills the air giving it an uneasy heft as Mateo steps through the blood-soaked streets of Heroldin. His ankles splashed with gore he enters the bath to wash off. Half of the building was destroyed in the battle so men and women must share the facilities.

  After removing his clothes and wrapping a towel around himself Mateo enters the bath. Jade rests on a small stool covering herself as Terror scrubs her clean. Serenity and Stitches stand naked under rushing water as they clean themselves. Mateo is reluctant to remove his towel. Juliana and Hera enter the bath both draped in large towels. Juliana has a scar on her side where her wound from the battle with the titan was healed.

  “You know I used to peep on the boys when they bathed, it wasn’t hard since I could fly,” Hera giggles.

  “I never figured you to be so mischievous lady Hera,” Juliana replies.

  Mateo waves at them awkwardly still clutching his towel. They both drop theirs joining Serenity and Stitches under the shower fall. Hera glances over at Serenity.

  “What’s wrong with your boyfriend, doesn’t he know it’s rude not to assist his woman in the bath?” Hera asks.

  “He’s probably got an erection, and he’s embarrassed,” Serenity replies.

  “I’d be a bit insulted if he didn’t, well with all these naked wet female bodies infront of him,” Hera says using her talons to brush water through her brilliant feathers.

  “If you’re looking for a piece of Mateo then get in line,” Stitches says squinting at her.

  “Now now kitten, I’ve my eyes on another prize, Ranger Rick Danger, just the title ruffles my feathers, been after him for a while but that sister of his is so protective, and there was the having a husband thing,” Hera says lathering soap over her large breasts.

  “Rick, what would you want with Rick, he’s a realm walker so you wouldn’t be able to have children,” Stitches says also lathering her, or rather Barbara’s, breasts with soap.

  Serenity turns away from the two seeming distraught. Mateo’s towel makes a thud against the floor as he pulls her into an embrace. She wraps her arms around him her expression changing from distress to lust.

  Serenity: You’re holding me awfully close.

  Mateo: Yeah, I’m sure you’ve noticed I have an erection.

  Natalia: Pervert!

  Mateo: Hey, this is a private conversation.

  Natalia: Of which your private is the topic.

  Mateo: Can we have a minute?

  Natalia: If that’s all it takes.

  Mateo: Damnit Natalia!

  Serenity: You need to say something out loud, so the others don’t know we are in chat.

  Serenity runs her hand between Mateo’s legs gripping him firmly with a soap lathered hand.

  “Need to make sure you’re nice and clean for later,” she says as Mateo squirms.

  “Ah yes, need to keep up the hygiene,” Mateo squeals in embarrassment.

  Stitches moves around behind him pressing her wet naked body against him.

  Mateo: Stitches, what are you doing?

  Stitches: Asserting dominance, that stick weaving cunt won’t dare try to seduce you if she knows you belong to a more proficient predator.

  Mateo: I don’t want to belong to a predator at all, can’t I just bathe in peace?

  Stitches: The realm is in turmoil, there is no peace, we must assert dominance to protect the ones we love.

  Natalia: Stitches is right, we should off the Queen and usurp the throne.

  Serenity: Nat, are you feeling ok?

  Stitches: Damn Nat, that’s savage.

  Mateo: We are not offing the queen.

  Natalia: Fine then enjoy your new quest.

  Main quest activated: King of the Pointy Ears. Venture to the continent of Aramas and meet king Calladen in the Twilight Everglades. Enlist his aid to quell the onslaught of the Cult of the Immortal Father.

  Mateo, sandwiched between Serenity and Stitches smiles awkwardly at Hera as Natalia floats in the air above him.

  “He does have an erection,” Hera says.