However, the more we fought, the larger the portal grew, and it looked like more enemy troops were coming. How many more would we have to kill before they were halted? Would they ever stop?

  I wasn’t sure if calling on Vaper was the right move, or even if I could. But without his help, I wasn’t sure we’d survive the day. Going to my spiritual place, I reached out to connect. All I found were the chaotic flows of energy surrounding the fight, more pulling at the portal. That’s how Void was doing it—she controlled this flow of energy with power from the spirit world.

  Then Vaper was there, as if all the worlds between us had vanished. He was standing at the base of a Japanese torii gate, turning to eye me.

  “Don’t sell yourself short,” Vaper said. “What you’ve managed is above what most would be capable of. The shit was bound to hit the fan, and there’s no shame in asking for help.”

  Relieved to hear that, I said, “This is me asking for it.”

  “Then this is me giving it.”

  He took a step toward me, and suddenly the torii gate was gone—all the rest of it, too. Another step, and he walked right out to join us, motioning me to step back. I was happy to give him room.

  All fighting seemed to stop as Void turned to see Vaper. But it wasn’t sight in the physical sense. They had entered the spiritual plane, and while the fighting was still likely ongoing, it moved at a different speed.

  “So you are alive,” Void said, stepping out to meet him. It was like all the ground around them vanished, leaving me floating in a void. Oh, shit, it started to make sense to me!

  Vaper waved his hands, white hair flailing out behind him, and we were back on the grounds of my new home—in the spirit realm, but apparently not letting her determine the place of their battle.

  I was still reeling from the knowledge that all this had been to find him. When she raised her skull and attacked, I wanted to shout out, as if this were Mommy and Daddy fighting, and I was some child who could do nothing but cry in the corner.

  Each shot out. She used powers that seemed to work from her staff with the skull, manipulating energy. His powers brought down the elements on her, sweeping her up at one moment, then throwing her into a whirlpool of water that swept up and threatened to crush her.

  She countered, hitting him with a force of power that streamed out of those crystal eyes; I sensed his energy draining. He stood his ground, redoubling his efforts, and their energy met in the middle.

  Their power exploded and I went flying, heading off toward space as if I’d float off forever. In my desperation, I channeled my core energy, connecting it to my surroundings, even to Vaper. He met my mental touch and pulled, giving me something to work with so that soon I was back on my feet, power surging through me.

  It hit me that I wasn’t powerless. Vaper himself had been training me, and it was time to do what I could to help. He had turned to throw a wall of ice up in defense and was running through the air, when he suddenly turned back and came straight at her in what struck me as a solar flare. Orange and yellow light and fire all around him, until he stopped, and it shot out at her. The strike sent her back, but her protective bubble rose, parts of her burning; the attack failed to do any further damage.

  At least, until I got involved. He had brought me here for a purpose, after all. Focusing on my connection to that place, I pushed against her, adding my own power to his strike. It was enough to break her bubble so she was sent flying back to slam into a tree and burst into flames.

  I cursed, the pain of the tree coursing through me. Then again, it was a reminder that I had my druid connection. Using that here, I had the tree hold her in place and shouted, “Attack, now!”

  Vaper charged forward, giving me a “nice work” glance over his shoulder, then he slammed into her with a barrage of ice spears from above. The flames went out and she was left shouting in pain, though she mended the holes in her flesh almost instantly.

  “You and I could have been something, boy,” she said, turning to attack me.

  The skull stared my way, and I felt it compelling me to turn on Vaper, to turn and join in her attack on him.

  “No, we couldn’t have,” I said, resisting the urge, focusing on my core energy from within. I let it rise, push out, then thrust it forward to strike her while pulling in with the druid powers so the trees hit her with all they had.

  At the same time, Vaper was on her with the elements, seemingly sucking the air away from her so she couldn’t breathe. Her hands reached out, dropping the staff, and her eyes met mine with desperation.

  “Now!” Vaper shouted, reaching to me. “The sun disk!”

  Shit, I really didn’t want to give it up. But if he thought it necessary, I had to assume it was. As he swept around over to me, I tossed him the two pieces. He had them, slammed into Void, and the two were hit with another massive solar flare that propelled them into the portal. As they went, I struck out at the other hunters, using trees and spirit power, anything I could. This could be our last chance. Many of them were thrown through as Void and Vaper disappeared into the other side, and the portal started to close behind them with vibrating energy that surged as if about to explode.

  “Get back!” I said, my speed returning to normal as all the fighting commenced again. None heard me, so I reached in and connected with Suiko, shouting it this time while hitting everyone there with a nightmare version of the portal exploding from Basty. “GET BACK!”

  This time, they all threw themselves away from the portal with such fervor, some went crashing into the walls of the house. We’d have to fix that when the fighting was over.

  As the portal closed at last and sent out an energy wave that struck me to the ground, I kept enough focus to use the moment, burying alive any last remaining enemy. Amabie seemed to have the same idea, as she hit those closest to her with a wave that pulled them back into the water and under, never to return.

  The portal was closed, the robots and enemy monsters either dead or pulled back into their own world, and the fighting was done.

  But a scream tore through the compound, and Lizzy was there, Randi cradling her, blood everywhere. At first, I didn’t see what was happening, but another step closer and I was able to see an arm on the ground.

  Lizzy’s.

  22

  “Oh, God,” I said, running and scooping Lizzy up, helping Randi get her back to the house. “Chirop, help!”

  Kinara ran over, hands to her mouth, but she shook her head. “You know she’s not a monster. My ability won’t do any good.”

  I blinked, looking around, and realized there was too much blood. She was injured, and if we couldn’t do something, she might die.

  “You have to do it,” Randi said. “The mask.”

  “How does that help?”

  Randi shook her head, but said, “Trust me.”

  I pulled out the mask, about to put it on, when she shook her head. “Not on you, on her.”

  That was risky, but considering the situation, I went for it. First, however, I realized I needed to make sure this wasn’t me acting rashly, via a quick check-in with Kinara, the others, and a mental check with Suiko.

  “Do it,” Milrae said. “If it backfires, we’re here for you.”

  So I placed the mask on Lizzy’s face and stepped back. Both of us were instantly swept up in the darkness, but this time Akame appeared between us, spinning, giggling. All others faded, leaving just us three and blurry outlines of the others.

  “What’s this?” Akame asked, going to Lizzy, and taking her by the stump of the arm that remained. Instead of blood, darkness flowed. Akame turned back to me and frowned. “You’d give her control, for what, to save her life?”

  “Just do it.”

  Akame grinned, doing a sensual dance, and laughed. “Sure, sure… why not. But I can’t just make a new arm, it has to be...” She drifted around the others, then knelt at a robot. Pulling off one of the robotic arms, she came over and held it out. “Liz, girl, do you accept?”

  “I can’t… reattach the old one?” Lizzy asked.

  One look at the old arm showed us that wasn’t possible—it was in tatters. Lizzy looked nauseous, weak on her feet, but nodded to Akame.

  “Do it already,” I said.

  Akame glanced over her shoulder at me, shook her ass playfully, then attached the arm with a giggle before vanishing. Darkness converged on the spot that held the stump and new metal arm in place, and it was done. The arm was part of Lizzy, and the others were moving normally again.

  “Get her inside,” I said to Randi, but waved for Yuki to keep an eye on her. Randi was helping, but I wasn’t sure how much I trusted her after she’d gone off in the monsterverse to do her own thing. As she went, I noticed the mask fade again—into Lizzy’s face, or just gone? I shook my head, confused and very unsure what to make of the mask. Now, it was doing more good than bad, however, so I left the topic alone.

  When I turned to the others, I saw that Fiare stood next to Jalee, and they and all the other monsters coming over to stare at me. They were waiting for my command.

  Making eye contact with Jalee, I was relieved to see in her eyes the hope and trust she placed in me.

  “Let’s move it,” I said. “Everyone inside, and we’ll get you situated. Rooms, food… Someone will show you how we use bathrooms in this world, and all about showers and whatnot. We don’t go outside of this compound when we don’t have to, but I’ll see about giving you all the tour.”

  Some muttered their thanks, others simply went in silence. I had no idea what to expect from them, but this was the next move.

  I paused to look back at where the portal had been, wondering if that was the last we’d see of Vaper or Void. Not likely, I figured. And for me, I figured it was about time I had that beer.

  With a glance down, I laughed. First, pants.

  Those first few moments after the fight were overwhelming. All the monsters demanded to know what the hell was going on, where we were, all that. But my ladies did a great job delegating tasks and getting everyone situated. We had multiple houses to put them in, and Randi had experience at running the place.

  “The old monsters, some are still out there,” she pointed out, in the family room. “If they return…?”

  “Case by case,” Ahlaksiz said. “Now, can we let Ferris here get some time to recover?”

  “What about you?” I asked.

  She waved my question off. “I’m good. Just want to make sure you’re ready because we never know what’s coming next.”

  I considered, then nodded. “Can someone get me some clothes?”

  “On it,” Koharu said and disappeared around the corner.

  Arturo entered then, carrying three beers. He shook his head at all of us there, nude, but didn’t say anything.

  “You read my mind,” I said, gesturing him over. “And don’t worry, Koharu’s grabbing me clothes.”

  He handed me a beer, setting the other on the table next to the recliner, where he sat. “Dude, you’ve changed.”

  “It grew a bit, but I don’t know how you—”

  “I didn’t even mean that.” He laughed, taking a long chug of his beer as the ladies excused themselves, then laughed again. “Remember when you were the nerdy virgin guy who lived next door?”

  “Technically, I was the super cool guy who just hadn’t grown into myself yet.” I winked and took a sip. Hot damn, that tasted good.

  “Right, right.” His eyes went to the door, where Koharu entered, followed by Greg.

  Koharu leaned over, kissed me, and placed nicely folded clothes on my lap. “Enjoy, boys,” she said, turning to walk out of there.

  I couldn’t help but notice the way Arturo and Greg both followed her with their eyes, the former needing to adjust his crotch.

  “Yup,” I said, and laughed. “I’m thinking I’ll have to ask them to wear clothes, too, huh?”

  “Do you have to?” Arturo asked.

  “I mean, it’s kinda weird watching you ogle my ladies.”

  “As much as I can’t deny enjoying the view,” Greg said, “I’m pretty sure Yuki’s going to bite my head off if she catches me looking. And it’s damn hard not to look, you know?”

  “Lame,” Arturo shook his head, indicating the third beer. “Maybe I shouldn’t let you have that.”

  Greg laughed, but took the beer and cheered us. “To fun times ahead.”

  “Indeed.” I eyed Arturo. “What’d we miss while we were gone, anyway?”

  Arturo scoffed. “Nada, man. Watched some Bonanza in the next house over, followed by a weird Japanese game show.”

  “Like where the machine slaps you?” I asked, having enjoyed those in the past. Along with the slapping machine, there were pies to the face, a boot that would kick you in the rear, and all kinds of fun punishments for wrong answers.

  “No, man, get this,” he said, eyes lighting up. “A bunch of girls are on one side of the wall, with men’s dicks hanging through holes. The women are the wives and have to guess which dick is their husband’s.”

  “Bullshit,” Greg said. “I never saw that. Plus, how would a woman not know?”

  “If they never really looked closely, or saw in the light?” Arthur shrugged. “Anyway, they do silly things like touch them, jack them off, even suck on them to try and guess. Like ‘does the size feel right,’ and all that. I can’t imagine.”

  “Dude, was this so-called Japanese game show on your phone, and on some sort of porn app or website?”

  Arturo winked, took a drink of beer, then laughed. “Maybe it was.”

  “You’re a little horndog, aren’t you?”

  “Unlike you two, I’m available,” Arturo said, eyes scanning our surroundings.

  “You know, with all the new arrivals…”

  “Bro, I’m way ahead of you.” Arturo leaned forward, finishing the last of his beer. “You see that lady with the six arms?”

  “No.”

  “With the super muscular abs?” Greg nodded. “Nice.”

  “Checking her out, and she smiled my way,” Arturo said. “I mean, I’ve never thought of myself as a woman with six arms kinda guy, but imagine the fun there.”

  “Right now, all I can imagine is sitting back and taking a nap,” I said, setting the clothes aside and putting a leg up on the coffee table.

  “Whoa,” Greg said. Apparently, I’d given him a view he didn’t need.

  “Ah, my bad.” I set the beer aside and quickly dressed; good timing, too, because Yuki entered with the baby in her arms.

  “The steaks are marinated,” she said and nodded my way. “Greg, want to get the guys out there and the grill going?”

  “You all got steaks?” I asked. “And a grill set up?”

  Greg grinned. “Yeah, man. The next house over has one of those badass backyard grills. And the minute everything calmed down, I ran out to get food. Figured people would be hungry. Shall we?”

  “We have any more beers?”

  “Hell yes, we do,” Arturo said, and he stood, heading for the door. “I’ll get a cooler down there.”

  “Great.” I stood as well and nodded to Yuki. “It’s good to see you two again. I’ll check on the others, then meet you outside.”

  “Same to you,” she said, and turned, talking to the baby as she led the way, Greg following.

  For a moment I stood there taking in the room. It had a large, flat-screen television on one wall, along with framed posters of Indiana Jones, Terminator, and Star Wars. This was the kind of place I could get used to. After a moment, I jogged out to the hall and saw Greg halfway down the stairs.

  “Either of you have a phone I could borrow?”

  “I got you,” Greg said and tossed one up. It had Japanese letters on the numbers but must’ve been unlocked for international use, because when I called my mom, it connected.

  I started back to my room as she answered, then plopped down on the bed, asking her about everyone and telling her how much I missed them all.

  “You’ll come by for my birthday?” she asked. “I’m planning to make your favorite—smorgasbord.”

  “I can’t say no to that.”

  We said goodbye and I set the phone aside, about to get up and help with the barbecue when the door opened and Jalee came in, her sister in tow.

  “Oh, here you are,” Jalee said, and hesitated. Maybe she’d been looking for me, but the look of unease on her sister’s face showed that this was going to be awkward.

  “Hey,” I said, pushing myself up. “We’re going to barbecue outside.”

  “Great.” Jalee beamed, then eyed her sister and nodded my way.

  “I…” Fiare started, then turned as if to go.

  Jalee grabbed her arm, spinning her around. “Come on, you promised.”

  Fiare glared at her, but bowed in my direction. When she straightened again, she said, “I wanted to thank you. And apologize for being a Snitgel.”

  “A what?” I asked.

  “Slang from where we come from,” Jalee explained. “Describes a loose flap of pussy skin. Very inappropriate.”

  Fiare shrugged. “Anyway, I wasn’t very nice, and my sister explained how great you’ve been to her, how she feels about you.”

  “Oh?” I grinned.

  “You can skip that part,” Jalee told her.

  I mock-pouted but stood and returned the bow. “You can tell your sister that I care for her quite a lot, too. And as for your behavior, hell, you weren’t out of line. A lot of shit went down.”

  Fiare nodded, eyes going to the ground. “I have to believe we’ll make a change, you know? Too many from my world are enslaved, fed upon, or abused in other ways.”

  “With Ferris, we’re going to make a difference,” Jalee assured her.

  I adjusted my weight from one foot to the other. That was a lot of pressure. “To be fair, I think it was clear today that I’m not perfect. But I want to work with you all, do what I can to help. It’s a team, and if we work together, get these other monsters to cooperate, too… maybe we really can make that difference you’re talking about.”