Chapter 21

  All Hell Breaks Loose, Literally

  Part 1

  “More fighting, less flirting! Never thought I'd be the one saying that!”-Ricardo

  “When the shameless skirt chaser says that, the situation's serious!”-Suzie

  “Okay, Okay! I get it! Geez!”-Alura

  “Guys. Every time we kill one of these things, the portal gets a bit bigger.”-Iluna

  “Not like we have a choice. If we try to flee now, they'll just follow us and they'll be even harder to kill then.”

  “Ice seems to be most effective! For now, at least!” Alura says before she uses [Disintegrate] on one of the frozen snakes.

  Python Viper Blueprint acquired. Overflow MP gained. MP 1200/3000

  Another snake is quickly dispatched and Jade uses [Analysis] on it to get its species name and materials.

  Chameleon Constrictor Blueprint acquired: Upgrade found. Upgrade Alura's leather armor to Chameleon armor? Y/N?

  “Yes”

  “Jade?! What's happening?! Oh. You cheeky rascal, you!”

  Alura's armor gets upgraded piece by piece during the fight from standard leather to the snake-scaled leather acquired from the Chameleon Constrictor's blueprint.

  System Notice: Alura's leather armor upgraded to Chameleon Armor.

  Chameleon Armor Blueprint Status:

  Leather-type armor, Assassin exclusive.

  +50% boost to stealth skills

  +5 bonus to sneak attacks, double damage to successful hits. (Stacks with back-stab bonuses)

  Automatic success in grappling attacks to opponents of similar or smaller size to the wearer, increased effectiveness in grappling larger foes.

  Dagger type weapons can now be used as retractable wrist-mounted weapons +5 to base damage if done so.

  “Holy cow! That's awesome, Jade!” Alura states as she proceeds to wrestle another of the chameleon serpents to the ground and then behead it with her knife. “This is a hell of an upgrade!”

  “Can I get my leathers upgraded too?”-Suzie

  “Sorry, it's assassin only gear and you're not an assassin by [Profession].”

  “What about me?!”-Ricardo

  “While you do have an assassin sub-class, I'm getting a weird error message that your patron deity won't let you wear it due to the monster it's made of...”

  “And if you try to force it, I'll be hit with a penalty and you'd draw my patron's ire?”-Ricardo

  “Exactly.”

  “Oh well. Not your fault then. Thanks for not asking... Oh look. Their forces have upgraded again!”-Ricardo

  “I see a bunch of troops in heavy metal armor, but what's that carriage in the back? And how is it moving without a yoked beast?”-Suzie

  “Everyone! Scatter!”

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  A moment later, the “carriage” proves itself a tank as it fires a round from its main weapon, the howitzer, leaving a crater on the part of the roof where the party once stood.

  “And how in the name of the gods are we supposed to deal with THAT?!”-Iluna

  “YOU won't. Alura, you're with me. Iluna, Suzie, and Ricardo, you guys are going to deal with those armored lizards while Alura and I deal with that tank!”

  “Oh glorious leader, and how are we supposed to do that?”-Alura

  “We don't have that many options, Alura, dear. We can try to use the dynamite blueprint we looted from the mine earlier to bomb it to scrap metal. Or we can try and cripple it by blowing off the tracks it's using to crawl along the ground. Or, and I'd prefer this option, killing/destroying whatever is controlling the tank and take it for ourselves.”

  As Alura continues flying around, using evasive maneuvers to try and avoid being hit by the tank's projectiles, she protests “and how do you expect me to do that?!”

  “You see those slits under that big gun there?” Alura nods in acknowledgment. “If you can throw a stick of dynamite in there, that should do the trick.”

  “Boy. You don't hold back on the challenges either!”-Alura

  “It's okay! I'll handle the small projectiles, you just focus on dodging that big one and getting the dynamite into the driver's seat!”

  “Understood!”-Alura

  As she dodges too close for the cannon to track her properly, the tank starts firing with its support weapon, a sub-machine gun of some kind.

  Bullet casing blueprint acquired.

  “Why are these alien invaders using technology from my old world?”

  Alura manages to swoop in, throw a stick of dynamite through the window, and fly off again before the primary gun can turn around to smack her in the face.

  A few seconds later, the dynamite explodes and the tank goes still.

  “Man, I'm beat!!” Alura states as she lands atop the tank where the guns can't reach.

  Automated Tank MK II Blueprint acquired. Alien metal required for manufacture, begin research into alien metal? Y/N

  “Yes”

  Research underway. ETA 5 minutes.

  “Hey! I could have used a breather on that mount!”-Alura

  “No, you couldn't. Look up.”

  The portal has finished opening and a Black Mamba the size of a building slithers through, its head directly over Alura and Jade.

  “This is Chhtxhkrsss! All units come to my side at once!” blasts into the heads of everyone present. The serpent and lizard-man troops head to the portal and bow before the great serpent. Iluna, Ricardo, and Suzie cautiously head to Alura's side.

  (Whispering) “What do we do now, Boss?”-Suzie.

  “Stay very quiet and try not to draw its attention while I try to figure out what it wants and if we can beat that creature.”

  Of course, Jade's plan to go unnoticed fails almost immediately as the gigantic snake turns its eyes in the party's direction.

  “Ah. So here are the lowly insects that dare get in our way. You, of Black Serpent, our contract is complete. You may leave this world!”

  Numerous members of the gang Black Serpent go through the portal, leaving the planet behind, without a word. Once they've passed through, the gigantic snake once again turns its attention to Jade's party.

  “What's this? Why are an Erinyes and a Shinigami here?”

  One of the winged serpents flies up and whispers something in the mamba's ear.

  “Oh? You two broke the ancient pact and attacked those with whom I had a contract?”

  “You mean those Black Serpents? They attacked me first. I even gave them multiple chances to stand down, but they refused.”-Suzie

  “And you, Shinigami?”

  “I was jumped while crossing the street, without warning. They didn't even identify themselves. I was left no choice but to fight back and kill them in self-defense.”-Ricardo

  The mamba looks at the winged serpent who nods in acknowledgment.

  “I see. In that event, I wish to avoid further antagonizing your respective sponsors and allow you safe passage to leave this place.”

  “What about our party?”-Suzie

  “They can not leave, especially that Paladin there.”

  “But that...”

  “Ricardo, Suzie. Take this opportunity and go. You are not abandoning us. You have your own tasks you need to complete.”

  A copy of the ledger is given to Ricardo. “Go. Perform a preliminary investigation of the members of Holy Kingdom listed in that ledger. See if the missing Furcadians are there. Suzie, you need to investigate the Kingdom of Sydonia, try to find the poor saps Deokk's army supposedly took with them.”

  The two of them leave in their respective directions while the mamba's troops remain at attention, letting them pass, but alert.

  “While we're waiting for them to leave the area, is it alright if we have a little chat, Your Scaliness? May I call you, Your Scaliness?”

  “I don't normally speak with my food, but I suppose it would be amusing to do it just this once as a change of pace.”