Chapter 103

The Harpy Queen was a beautiful creature, that was undeniable.

Even in this dark shadowy version of herself the clean swooping curves of her body showed through, her form as though designed by some salacious sculpture, hair spilling down her naked back, her overly large chest pushed up by her crossed wings, broad powerful legs spread wide as she stared Rain down.

It wasn’t until her eyes met his that the unnatural nature of the shadowy thing really hit home. A constellation of malignant red stars shone from within those eyes, a terrible Queenly will, an Imperial authority.

The Orcs shifted uncomfortably as they stood around the naked Harpy Queen, fists white-knuckled around weapons, unsure exactly what it was they were dealing with.

“It’s an actual Harpy, obviously,” said one.

“A Harpy made of that evil dark shit? No way, it’s a fake, has to be.”

The Queen narrowed her eyes at the Orc that had spoken, clearly wondering what he was talking about.

“You are supposed to do as I say, you understand that right?” said Rain.

The Queen turned back to him practically spitting acid. “I will never do as some murderous brute such as you wishes, ripping out your eyes and laying eggs in the sockets would be less than you deserve.”

Rain raised an eyebrow and shifted tact.

“You realise where we are? We are two monsters alone surrounded by levelers who want to kill us.”

“Hah! Not I, I can fly, and I shall fly away the moment I have dealt with you!”

She flapped her wings a few times as though to demonstrate that she did in fact have wings and that she could in fact fly.

“You think they won’t shoot you down with bows? Look.”

Rain pointed at the surrounding stands where the now mostly recovered Orcs were starting to step down onto the sand. Amongst them were the hunters who had originally found Rain in the forest, quivers slung across backs bows held in hand.

The Harpy glanced in their direction and sneered.

“Bows and arrows ... Bows and arrows won’t stop me from ending you wolf.”

She took a step, massive scalpel-sharp talons raking the sands, clear killing intent in every motion. she advanced on Rain, one step, two.

But then Rain raised a paw. She stopped, struggling immensely, unable to come any closer, her legs trembling as she tried to force them forward.

“What is ... this? My body won’t... move.”

Rain tried to push his will further into the dark that made up her body but he could already sense his limits, it seemed like stopping her from moving was the best he could hope for. At least he didn’t need to worry about her flying away into the sky with his dark material and leaving him without now.

He considered telling her what was really happening for a moment, but then decided against it, best to keep her in the dark so to speak.

“You’re afraid of me. That’s why you cannot approach.” he gravelled, deathly serious in his lie.

“BIRDSHIT! I am not- how dare you even suggest such a thing!” she took a step back and Rain allowed it. She eyed him more carefully now, despite her words she clearly seemed to be unsure of herself.

“Hey hey hey, how are we supposed to get anything out of this if all those other fuckers are attacking too? This is the same problem from before the brawl, everyone fighting over one monster benefits no one,” said one of the Orcs.

“So we just kill it first, easy.”

“And the Harpy?

“It’s the same as the teeth and freaky centipedes, just hit it hard enough and it’ll puff away.”

“You will all stop talking this utter nonsense about me at once you insidious little cave worms!” snapped the Harpy, losing her temper once again.

The Orc to her side took the opportunity as she turned and darted in, lashing out in a quick chop. The sword slammed down on the Queen’s shoulder, the THUNK of metal cutting into dark dramatically loud, the edge sinking down a good half inch.

The Queen froze up, her head very slowly turning to see the blade embedded in her shoulder, eyes slowly widening in outrage like ice creeping across a winter pond.

Rain had to wonder if she didn’t see the dark that she was made out of then just what was she seeing? Did she see real flesh and blood being cut? Whatever the case this dark Harpy Queen was clearly significantly hardier than anything that he had summoned so far barring his dark paws.

The Queen glared back at the Orc and then in a flash of motion she twisted, the blade ripping free. The Orc panicked and raised his heavy wooden shield in a desperate defence.

Her leg whipped out in a vicious kick, a pair of huge razor talons collided with the wooden shield, the curved needle like points sinking into the wood with a shuuunk, the tips poking out the other side. A horrified Orc looked at the inches and inches of dark protruding free from his side of the wood.

“You tried to attack me? ME?!” she screamed.

The talons began to close and with a groan the thick oak started to break and then in a rush it shattered, the wood becoming so much splinters as it tumbled to the sand. A very surprised looking Orc awkwardly holding a metal shield handle and no shield was left behind.

Rain was vividly reminded that the Queen was a shockingly strong monster, he had very nearly been physically overpowered by her when she was alive, and that was when she was injured.

The Orc barely had time to open his mouth in a surprised O shape before the Queen spun in a savage roundhouse kick, her talons ripping through the air, razor blades that slashed across the Orc’s front in an instant.

He cried out and his stomach flopped open, his insides pouring out like a waterfall. Organs, blood, flesh, all, his intestines slithered across the ground like someone had upended a basket of snakes.

The Queen paused as she noticed that the Orc’s guts were wiggling away, trying to flee her.

Puzzled she poked at one with a talon. It flinched and jerked away from her touch.

“ ... What is wrong with this leveler’s body?”

There wasn’t time to ponder however, the Orcs from the stands were sprinting toward them now, weapons raised high, roaring their frenzied desire to kill kill kill, a desperate mindless race to slaughter Rain before too many attacked him.