The three mercenaries sitting across from Tymon and Bihse stared at each other in complete silence. Adeline let out a yawn as she stared at them, while Melora remained calm and collected. An older man with brown hair and a scar on the side of his cheek cleared his throat.

  “You can call me Zen. Like Vincent, we seek to offer our services. We are willing to fight in your wars for a price, of course,” Zen decided to get straight to the point.

  “Hmm, you all look weak as shit though,” Adeline instantly dismissed them.

  “We are simply deal brokers representing the Mercenary Guild,” Zen answered.

  “Do you have any sword masters or knights among your ranks, and if so, how many?” Melora asked.

  “We have five unregistered sword masters and seven hundred knights avaible, and many skilled soldiers,” Zen answered.

  “What are the prices that you offer?” Melora decided to indulge the thought.

  “If you want a sword master, you will have to pay 15,000 gold coins, then it is 500 per knight and 100 per soldier,” Zen answered. Adeline had no idea how expensive that was, so she remained quiet.

  “I fear that is too expensive. We do not have the funds for it,” Melora spoke.

  “We can always negotiate.”

  “What if we don’t accept?” Adeline asked.

  “Then we simply leave, no harm done,” Zen answered.

  “Did I ever tell you about the mercenary who was caught kidnapping elves in the forest? I wonder how many others have done the same,” Melora stared at Zen.

  “We cannot fully control what others do. If the price is right, mercenaries will do what they have been asked of,” Zen answered.

  “I demand absolute loyalty, and I know it can’t be bought; therefore, we decline this business,” Adeline spoke as Zen nodded and stood up and headed towards the door.

  “I don’t remember permitting you to leave,” Adeline’s cold voice could be heard as they froze in pce.

  “Is there anything more that you wish for?” Zen slowly turned and saw Adeline right in his face, holding the red moon. The mercenaries next to him quickly reached for their concealed swords. Adeline raised her sword as she cut their arms off, which flew in the air. The two mercenaries fell to their knees while holding their shoulders, blood sprayed everywhere, most of it covering Adeline. Zen did not dare move as he locked eyes with her. Her two-handed sword started to glow red as it pulled blood covering Adeline as if it was feeding. She turned and stared at the rge wolf.

  “Melora, have we named her yet? Do you want to do the honors?” Adeline spoke in a cheery voice.

  “I was thinking Lo,” Melora spoke as purple and red mana covered the wolf. Lo stood up, now having purple fur with red markings on its face and tail. Her sharp teeth and cws were more pronounced, and she was rger. She let out a powerful howl which reverberated throughout the entire hall.

  “She is so cute! That’s my Lo,” Adeline praised as Lo started to wag her huge tail as she moved closer to Melora and started to lick her face.

  “Good girl,” Melora praised as she hugged her.

  “Lo, come here,” Adeline called as the rge wolf jumped on the table and sprinted at full speed towards her, barely stopping in time.

  “Did you eat today? Are you hungry?” Adeline spoke while her free hand was petting her chest. Lo answered with a loud bark as she looked down at the mercenaries. Zen slowly backed towards the door, sensing what was about to happen.

  “Okay, we need to put some rules. Don’t eat clothes and bad things, okay?”

  “Woof!” Lo barked as she walked towards the mercenaries with her mouth open. She then pounced on them as she started to tear them apart. Screams filled the hall as Adeline kept watch. Lo took several bites as the two mercenaries' bodies seemingly disappeared, leaving behind torn armor and a puddle of blood mixed with guts. Zen was now left alone as he quietly cowered, waiting for his death. Lo approached him. She pressed her snout on his body while letting out a low growl. His heart started to beat fast as he closed his eyes.

  “Your boss should have come here personally, but he probably knew what would happen, so he sent you. My question is, do you want to die for him?” Adeline spoke as she brushed her hand against Lo.

  “I am just a middle man. Please, I have nothing to do with any of this,” Zen pleaded as he felt Lo’s breath.

  “What to do?” Adeline started to think. It was then the doors swung open, making Zen fall to the ground. Adeline stared at the old butler who was accompanied by the barbarian.

  “Oh, Croman, was it?” Adeline spoke while wielding the red moon. Croman stared at Adeline, then the rge wolf, and finally Zen, who was on the floor and had pissed his pants unknowingly.

  “Yes, your highness, I am the leader of barbarians, Croman,” Croman answered as he bowed.

  “Were you able to do what I asked for?” Adeline approached Croman.

  “Yes, your highness, I have come together with my entire cn to swear loyalty to you. They are currently outside the castle,” Croman spoke as Adeline started to cp wildly.

  “I knew you could do it! You are a man of action and therefore earned a seat at my table. Old butler, get his uniform prepared; you get two rubies,” Adeline spoke with a smile.

  “Thank you, your highness,” Croman bowed once more.

  “Your first trial is deciding this man’s fate. Should he end up as Lo’s breakfast or go back as a warning?” Adeline raised her sword towards Zen’s throat, who was still on the ground.

  “What crime has he committed?” Croman asked carefully.

  “Waking me up early in the morning for a meeting regarding mercenaries, and he is just a mouthpiece to boot. We had the leader of the adventurers earlier, but he was amusing, so I let him go, but him, hmmm,” Adeline expined as Croman stared at the terrified Zen. He took a peek inside the room and saw Melora on the throne talking to Tymon and Bihse, uninterested in what was happening. Croman didn’t really care for Zen or other humans for that matter, but he was conscious of the repercussions. The mercenaries bolstered an impressive army that could be a threat in the future.

  “We should let him go. I think he understands the message you are trying to convey,” Croman spoke as Zen let out a small sigh.

  “Are you afraid of their little army? I want them to come so I could kill them all together with their masters,” Adeline slightly pressed her sword, drawing blood.

  “You will, but there is no need to make things harder with the empire and other kingdoms bearing down on us,” Croman expined. Adeline retracted her sword and pced it on her shoulder. She turned and made her way back inside.

  “What are you waiting for? Fuck off already,” Adeline spoke as Zen scrambled and ran away.

  “You inside, introduce yourself,” Adeline commanded as Lo walked beside her. Croman picked up the pace and closed the door behind him. Adeline made her way to the throne as she sat down with a sigh, but Melora rewarded her with a kiss to the cheek.

  “I heard you broke your first bed,” Bihse spoke with a smirk.

  “It was a reinforced bed,” Adeline gloated with a smirk of her own.

  “We are the reason why Azazel had to create a new reinforcement spell,” Bihse spoke as her hand found its way to Tymon’s crotch as she lightly squeezed.

  “Then it shows how much better we were since we broke it while that spell was active,” Adeline shot back as she held Melora’s p.

  “Tymon might look all composed, but he’s an animal in bed,” Bihse gripped his dick, making him jerk forward. Adeline and Bihse stared at each other as they were caught in a deadlock. Croman simply stood in front of them and remained quiet; he had no say in how the strong acted. It was then Melora cleared her throat.

  “You must be the leader of the barbarians. We are happy to have you,” Melora spoke as the two turned to Croman.

  “Thank you. If I may ask, are you the Queen’s wife?” Croman asked as Melora started to blush, confusing him.

  “No, I am the Queen of the Kingdom of Credoa. Our two kingdoms have formed a coalition against the empire,” Melora corrected.

  “So you two are not partners?” Croman was now completely confused.

  “We are indeed partners, but we are not married,” Melora spoke with a blush as Croman simply accepted the expnation.

  “My people are waiting outside to swear loyalty and perform the ceremony,” Croman spoke as the group got up. Croman felt something in the corner of the room as a maid revealed herself. His eyes widened as he stared at her. He could not sense her at all; it was as if she had become part of the very castle. The group walked out with the huge wolf towering over them from behind. Once the butler opened the main doors outside, they were greeted with thousands of people who were waiting for them. Adeline and Melora, together with the wolf, stood together, while the rest of the group stood to the side.

  “Kneel before your Queens, Adeline Arbegon and Melora Stormville,” the old butler announced. Croman was the first to get down on his knees, pnting his head to the ground while facing them as the rest followed suit. The two rulers stared at the people with a sense of pride; this was their Kingdom. Melora slightly nodded.

  “You may rise,” the old butler spoke as everyone got up.

  “I am sure this is very new to everyone, and you may have doubt, but have faith in your rulers. Together we will bring the empire to the ground and end the misery. This will be a new age, our age,” Melora spoke as the crowd started to cheer loudly.

  “Now that we have new leaders, it is time to start our ceremony,” Croman announced.

  “What ceremony?” Adeline asked.

  “A spar, of course. We need to witness your strength,” Croman spoke. The crowd slowly shuffled as they made a circle in the middle. Adeline stared at Melora as they both smiled. Melora stretched her hand as Valerie handed her sword, while Adeline was already wielding hers. They made their way to the middle as the crowd cheered loudly. They both instructed them to make the circle wider so no one would get hurt, and soon they had the entire street to themselves. This ruckus drew the gaze of the surrounding residents as they all came together to watch. The sight of trolls carrying humans and dwarves mixed with trolls was a very rare sight. Some of the barbarians climbed the buildings and cheered from the roofs. Adeline and Melora faced each other as she released her red mist, which combusted into purple fmes, forming a ring of fire around them.

  “This should be fun,” they both spoke simultaneously.