Chapter 16

We marched down the tunnel, the surviving wildhound sisters sniffing ahead. Everyone was on alert. Usiku, Halia, and Slepkavi marched with their weapons drawn. The hum of Halia’s blessed blade filled the corridor. My ball of conjured light bobbed over our heads, floating with us. The tunnel was lined with disabled traps.

And soon we came to branching choices. The wildhounds sniffed around. “They went this way last,” Hela reported, pointing to one of the three choices. “Their scent’s the strongest.”

“Go!”

They led the way. My monster girls followed. Garnet had a shadowy whip in her hand. Maya’s form rippled with her every step. Hagane had turned her right arm into a blade, the light gleaming off her chrome body. Mrs. Lucina fluttered her angel wings. This would be her first time doing something dangerous.

What could be down here? It had to be a fire trap. Something they missed. Something that wasn’t a traditional trap. That had to be it. My fingers flexed. I wished we had more information to it than just fire.

Du had died before she even knew what hit her. Nos had died a moment later. They were Level 1 monster girls, but they had been trained to fight. Practiced. Grown better than their innate talent. That was something I had done. I wouldn’t abandon any monster girl I had created. I wouldn’t retire them to eternal sleep.

I wouldn’t murder them just to have more powerful monster girls.

We took another left and then came to a set of bronze doors that had been forced open by the wildhounds. Beyond, was a large room. My skin tingled. There was something about this room that prickled my senses.

“Hold up,” I whispered. “Let’s do some preparations.” I had Ice magic, but none of it was useful in warding me against flames. But there were other spells I could cast if there was trouble in there.

“Strong and unyielding, let the granite of Lady Ki enhance.”

Strength of the Mountain fell on my limbs, increasing my physical strength. I felt it flowing through me. I would be better at fighting with the lightning spear I had brought.

“Hard and enduring, let the rocks of Lady Ki defend.”

My flesh turned into stone. A layer of protection. Granite Flesh was a useful defensive spell. I nodded and then whispered, “Go.”

The wildhounds surged into the room, sniffing around. They spread out as they looked. My other monster girls followed after. We marched into a large room. The ceiling rose high above, vaulted bands of supports rising from buttresses along the wall. The far ends of the room were lost to the gloom. It was immense.

And smelled strange. I stopped with Garnet, Maya, Mrs. Lucina, and Hagane around me. Halia stood before us, the other monster girls fanning out. I glanced back and saw Fara was lurking in the doorway.

The currents in the air changed. A wind blew over me, ruffling my hair. The monster girls I could see all froze. Halia raised her sword in warning. The darkness erupted with flames. A great gout of fire belched down and slammed over Daant, my werebear, and Prekrasnyy, my yuki-onna. If they screamed, the roar of the fire drowned them out.

Then they were dead. The flames vanished.

“Dragon!” Paanee hissed, slithering away from the flames that had belched down.

Garnet gasped. “Dragon? Really?”

Another belch of flame burst out. I spotted Havas fleeing on her hooves, her gray hair flying behind her. The flames chased her and engulfed her. My hands tightened on my spear. I could see a reptilian head in the flames. Scarlet scales gleaming with fire. Something swept in the dark. Another blast of wind surged around us.