“Right one,” Kinara said, and leaped, using her wings to catch a drift and go up, so she could take out the drone on the right. I called on my sword and looked for options. While the ground was falling apart, trees aflame, many of the roots were still there, sticking out of the earth. I slid, allowed myself to fall, then caught hold. Once I had them, I gave the command and the roots flung me up and over. Shit, I hadn’t thought that through! Arms flailing, legs kicking out, I realized how screwed I’d be if I missed my mark. Luckily, the roots were accurate. The hunter turned in time to see me, but not in time to do much else. I landed with the sword in his neck, an action that gave me momentum to kick around and land on the other side of him, on the platform. In a swift movement, I let the sword go and recalled it, chopping off the hunter’s arm as it started to fall. My hand grasped his, body falling off and over. But I had the wrist device, sliding it off his bloody severed limb, then onto my own. Ichor floated over to my body, and I grinned—I was starting to love this whole upgrade-to-enhance myself thing.

  As with the other platform in my world, this one wasn’t hard to control. The two remaining drones went down into the opening, taking aim and firing on their own kind.

  “Nice work!” Kinara said, gliding over to land next to me on the platform. “Let’s get them out of there!”

  “Agreed,” I said and braced myself before sending the platform down into the opening. I came alongside a female hunter who hissed at the sight of me, turning to shoot. Before she could, I sent one of the drones to slam right into her face. It hit hard enough to knock her off balance, then I corrected the path of our platform so it went right past her and I was able to catch her with the corner—just enough force to knock her over and into the lava. It was just like watching Gollum fall into Mt. Doom, and even more realistic than the IMAX viewing I’d had when they re-released the movies. When more Ichor floated up, absorbing into me, I was walking on sunshine.

  “With us,” I said, swooping over to where Jalee and Fiare were fighting side by side, and as soon as they were on the platform, I turned it into a protective bubble and zoomed out of there. As we went, I caught a glimpse of Devasla disappearing into the lava. My heart sunk, eyes going wide, until I remembered that was where she was from. Sure enough, as we moved out of there, a spinning burst of lava shot up, consuming three more hunters along with their platforms and drones.

  A bright form appeared in front of us, right in our path. Two hands pressed out our way, the platform-turned-bubble exploded, and we went tumbling across the rocky ground. My head slammed into a rock and I felt blood, but not enough to cause any worry. Only stinging and a slight ringing in my ears.

  Pushing myself up, I saw the woman who had made us fall, and instantly wished we hadn’t come across her. This had to be that deity queen Void had mentioned. She floated above me in armor that somewhat resembled that of the hunters with its jaggedness, but the intense green glow, like jade, spoke differently. Her face was covered with in a smooth white, with a similar green glow vibrating up it. I knew that glow from somewhere, and when I turned to see Kinara, Jalee, and Fiare, I remembered where—their eyes were all glowing green, all starting to turn on me as if ready to attack.

  “You’re the puny one I hear so much about?” the woman said and laughed. “I wonder if we’ll discover anything interesting about you, once we have you torn open, and your insides spilled.”

  I gulped, really not liking my predicament. It was only the roar of Devasla as lava shot out that brought me back to my sanity, and I remembered that Basty was still with me.

  “Can we… distract her?” I whispered.

  “Good,” came his response.

  All I needed was enough time to get the others out of there, and Basty must’ve known that—enough time to break the connection, grab them, and run, while forming the portal. A massive robot was coming our way. No, wait, it was moving toward the other monsters—to collect them. Shit.

  I took a breath, felt Basty move, and pushed myself into a sprint at that exact moment. He was a flash of darkness, shooting up and filling her mind with the most terrifying thoughts Basty was capable of conveying, darting around in the sky as she shouted and struck out in every direction. Then, to my horror, she hit, and Basty was falling back toward me.

  It had been enough. I jumped, grabbed him, and fell to one knee with my hands connecting the sun disk in my satchel. As Jalee and Kinara, eyes no longer glowing, ushered other monsters over, Fiare and Devasla led an assault on the woman above.

  More lava rolled down the hill and shot up from other spots in the ground, and I noticed a crack in the woman’s white helmet, the green glow no longer coming smoothly. Instead, it was like static, shooting out then vanishing, before trying again.

  We weren’t about to stay to learn more, though.

  “Go!” I called up to those above.

  Gesturing the others through, I watched with worry as they went, the lava growing closer, the trappers too. The last of them were in, one robot almost on us. As Devasla and Fiare threw themselves straight for the portal, one robot swept its net down. I had no choice—we had to go through. My decision was confirmed when the robot below leaped for us.

  “Go!” I shouted, shoving Kinara through, then pulling Jalee and her sister with me.

  Fiare hesitated, so I did the only thing I could think to try—freaking her out with Basty. It worked a moment later, and she was through.

  While the centaurs unleashed on the monster and trappers, one was crushed, exploding with a spray of blood. The other one screamed and leaped, landing next to us with its back legs broken. I shoved the sisters through, then latched onto the centaur and pulled it through with me.

  The robot lunged at us as we entered the portal; even when I landed in the lake of the monster estate on the other side, it followed us through! I was plunged into the water with a struggling centaur, sinking as the killer robot sunk overhead. Focusing on my water-moving power, I pushed through, searching for Jalee. Other monsters struggled to get out, trying to swim to the surface. Many were simply sinking. Panic took hold, but I managed to mentally reach out to Suiko, calling for help.

  She was there in a flash, taking in the scene, then vanishing again. My vision went blurry, lungs heavy as if the robot was already on me. My power wasn’t lasting long, not in my exhausted state.

  Then I saw Jalee. She was limp, sinking, already near the bottom. I dove, pushing with all I had left, finally reaching her, and pulling her tight. With a shot of energy, we rose to the surface and I handed her to Kinara, saying, “Do something!”

  “I…” she started, but I was already back in the water, diving, feeling no strength, no power, but refusing to give up on the others who were sinking. I had saved at least two more, maybe three, before I realized I’d blacked out and someone was pulling me from the water. Hands with claws, those claws digging into my flesh.

  “What have you done?” a voice asked, then I was out again.

  21

  I came to with a claw almost at my eye, an unfocused face beyond it, and people shouting. My head was pounding, body shivering with cold. As my vision cleared, another hand yanked the claw away, and I saw that it belonged to Fiare, and she was shouting about wanting to end me for what I did.

  “Sorry?” I pushed myself up, woozy.

  We were in the living room; I was drenched and on the couch, still very much nude. The room was packed full of monsters, along with Arturo, and Yuki at his side with the baby, rocking it softly.

  Amabie held me close, Suiko hovering over me, while Jalee held her sister at bay. Jalee was safe, and I threw myself to her, arms taking her a relieved embrace.

  “I’m okay,” Jalee said, kissing my neck then pulling back to look into my eyes. “Maybe it was something you did, or Kinara jamming her tongue down my throat, I don’t know, and… I’m weak but going to be okay.”

  Fiare grabbed me, pulling me away from her sister and shoving me so hard that I went flying back into the chair I’d woken up in.

  “He fucking killed them!” Fiare growled. “For all I know, it was on purpose. This fucking murderer deserves to have his balls stuffed down his throat, and if you’re too much of a coward to do so—”

  “Nobody’s touching his balls!” Kinara countered, shoving the dragon woman back so Fiare stumbled and collided with Devasla.

  The latter held her in place, growling, “He’s ours. Back off.”

  Fiare tried to pull herself free, while Jalee held a hand to her mouth, whispering to me about how it wasn’t my fault, but to let her sister go.

  “I… what happened?” I asked, sitting up now, taking a throw pillow to cover my goods.

  Fiare growled, trying to pull herself free from Devasla’s grasp, but without success. “The queen showed herself! That was our chance!”

  “You truly believe that?” Void scoffed. “In truth, you’re lucky you made it through. Any of you.”

  Fiare didn’t argue, only glaring at her. That’s when I realized how much danger we might have really been in.

  All went silent, turning to her as she stepped into the middle of the room. I couldn’t help but notice the way Arturo was grinning, clearly loving all this nudity.

  “What’re… what’re you doing here?” Fiare asked, and finally, she wrenched herself free of Devasla. Instead of attacking anyone, she went to her knees, head bowed to Void. “I didn’t realize it was you.”

  “It’s quite all right,” Void said, dismissively. “But if you want to survive, you’ll stop your bickering. We have trouble.”

  I finally pushed myself to stand. “Trouble?”

  She nodded, but simply lifted a hand toward the door as she said, “See for yourself.”

  A sense of dread filled me as I moved in the door’s direction, but I needed Kinara to help me make it. There, I saw what she meant. The robot, which I’d assumed had been destroyed by the water, was there and fully functioning. It wasn’t attacking—it was instead holding open the portal, expanding it even.

  Already a new line of hunters was there, along with their platforms, and they were bringing robotic animals through with them.

  “Fuck me,” I said.

  I knew how bad it was when none of my team followed through with a joke on the statement. Instead, Koharu leaned over and said, “Dude, you royally messed up.”

  “I saved everyone,” I countered.

  “Well, with help,” Amabie reminded me. “This… this…”

  “This sucks,” Kinara finished for her. “But he did save me, and many of us. Everyone lay off him.”

  “Throw him to their mercy,” Fiare said. “Maybe they’ll take it as a sacrifice and go back.”

  “Are you fucking serious?” Kinara turned on Jalee’s sister, but it was Jalee who had to step in.

  “Right now, we need to work together,” Jalee said. “And sis—don’t fucking touch my man.”

  Fiare backed down, but Milrae clapped her on the shoulder. “Girl, don’t let the fire die—turn it on them.”

  Other monsters were arrayed, ready, and while I felt very confused and still hungover from nearly drowning, I took charge and stepped forward, sword appearing in my hand.

  “Arturo, get those unable to fight inside,” I said.

  “On it,” he replied, adding, “Bro, you’re naked.”

  “I know.” Stepping forward, I called out, “Greg, any chance you have any cool toys to take these things down?”

  “Um, no,” he replied from the doorway, stepping off to the side as the others went in.

  “Fine. Then take the baby so that Yuki can help us.”

  The head huntress hovered on her platform, floating toward me as drones emerged. They moved into attack position, the others behind her forming a line.

  “What is this world?” she asked. “Please, tell me it’s the legendary Earth we’ve heard so much about.”

  “It is,” I replied.

  “Beautiful.” She gave us all one look, pulled her helmet on, and flew off, vanishing from sight.

  “I don’t understand what just happened,” I said. Her little army was still there, and as they advanced, the portal started flickering, expanding further.

  “A guess here,” Bloodsong said, and I turned to see that even Ahlaksiz was back up and with us, but she looked unsteady on her feet. “It would seem we’ve let a dangerous hunter into our world, which could mean all kinds of trouble.”

  Ahlaksiz coughed, then added, “And that portal seems like it’s about to explode, or worse, expand until the monster world and ours are one.”

  “Can’t we ever deal with one problem at a time?” I asked, finally tossing the throw pillow aside. With a sigh, I continued, “Can we go after the hunter? Catch her or something?”

  “Not likely,” Void replied, hovering over us. “But I have no doubt her path will cross ours in time.”

  “And this portal issue?”

  “See, I think of that as less of a problem.” Floating closer to it, she lifted her skull staff and it glowed, light flowing from it to the portal. “For one, it’s bound to get his attention.”

  “His?” I glanced around, confused, trying not to lose focus on the hunters or their robots that were spreading out, clearly about to attack.

  “You mentioned a void traveler. A man by the name of Vaper. See, I’ve been trying to track him across worlds until I heard he was dead. When you said he would be here, I figured this would be the best way to find out, and possibly bring him to me.” She turned, lowering herself to stand in front of the hunters, her eyes glowing green. Suddenly, green light shot out from the portal, hitting the hunters and robots, even some of the monsters closest to her. All moved to her side, eyes glowing with the same green light as hers.

  I had a sinking feeling that we’d just been betrayed.

  “Fuck…” I looked over to Kinara on one side, Jalee on my other, really wanting to just have a moment to relax with them, maybe share a hot meal. I found myself imagining a day when I could walk into the kitchen, wearing clothes, and share a beer with Arturo and Greg. Well, that would never happen if this traitorous witch had her way.

  “Call him,” she said, and her green light started spreading; soon two more monsters were under her spell.

  “I don’t know how,” I protested, but lifted my sword. “What I do know, is that if you don’t stop, I’ll be forced to remove your head.”

  “Ah, such confidence. Ill placed, considering that I’ve seen what you’re capable of. Guess what—I wasn’t impressed.”

  She stepped forward, wind blowing strong around us, whipping her hair about, and her army advanced a step, crouching, taking on attack positions.

  “Last chance, boy,” she said. “Bring me this man you call Vaper, or you and all of your little pets here die today.”

  “Fuck you,” I said, feeling betrayal wash over me. “What is it about this man?”

  “He’s the key.”

  I had no idea what that meant, but Suiko had given me a signal. Basty was there too, all ready to move. So I lunged, trying to clear my head as Suiko exploded out in attack. Amabie moved for the water, and it was already bubbling up, ready to help her. Devasla roared, growing as she charged.

  “Just no volcanoes,” I said.

  More monsters charged out, and with Kinara and Jalee with me, Milrae catching up, we felt we might have a chance. Void laughed, pulling back, and sending her forces to fight us.

  I was swinging my sword, cleaving through metal. Jalee sent blasts of electricity, and her sister flew next to her, catching two enemy monsters with a burst of flames from her mouth.

  A shot rang out, grazing Void’s shoulder before she held up her staff and an energy bubble spread out around her. She shot a blast up toward the roof of the mansion, and I spun to see Greg ducking out of the way, sniper rifle in hand.

  “Who’s watching the baby?” Yuki screamed, doing her part in the fight. So many of the monsters we’d rescued were there, but Fiare was right, there were many more who were not. Maybe they were at the bottom of the lake, thanks to me.

  “Arturo’s a great babysitter,” I told her, having no idea if that was the case but knowing she needed to get her mind focused. He was a good guy, so… I certainly hoped he was watching the baby.

  A shot hit my energy shield and I staggered; another burned air in front of my face as it went past. I rolled back, bringing up my sword into a hunter’s gut, but it vanished as the hunter shot into the air. A barrage of bullets rained down, striking one of the monsters at my side, nearly hitting my foot as well. I ducked under the monster as it fell; since it was dead anyway, I pulled it along as cover. Something hit above with a clang, and one of the drones struck the ground in front of me. Another clang sounded, and I moved aside to see two more explode a second later.

  Jalee and her sister were flying about, making quick work of the drones. I wanted to shout out and cheer for them, then I saw Amabie dragging a hunter into the lake, Devasla pounding another. All around, my team was kicking ass. It was the new monsters I had to worry about. They were getting pushed back, hurt, and in more than one case, killed.

  They needed confidence.

  I ran, then, leaping to throw myself at the closest tree, bringing others to life. Our grounds had enough trees to make my druid skills incredibly valuable. Tree limbs swatted at the enemy, knocking one off his platform so that he went spiraling into the water, where Amabie took him, and other newcomers that were water types helped tear him apart. Other trees reached up with roots and held enemy robots in place so we could use them as batting practice. Milrae was there, slamming them into pieces with her powerful punches, then Devasla, tearing into them. I thought Koharu’s staff would break when she hit one hard enough to make its head fly, but the staff stayed intact. Damn powerful, that thing.

  “They’re not some gods,” I shouted out, holding my sword up and grinning. “These guys are nothing but some fucking bullies. Show them that we aren’t going to put up with their shit!”

  Roars sounded along with cheers, and the monsters made a new surge in the attack. I was witnessing the most insane battle I’d ever been part of. Monsters with assault weapons, enemy hunters and robots trying to hold their own, and what looked like two polar-bear monsters pummeling a hunter until blood splattered all over their white fur.