Chapter 20: Rin And Elaine's Raid

Early the next day.

___________________________

Yawning, "Brother? What are you doing?" Jennifer asked rubbing her tired eyes and looking at me in the kitchen.

"Holy water" I casually said back to her.

"Wait... What? How?" she asked confused?

"The water. . .I'm burning the hell out of it" I said with a straight face, n she looked to me wit a dead expression.

Meanwhile in the other room.

"whose that Pokilmon" "its pika-chu" mia yells "its pineapple on a stick" it announces "fuckkkkk!!!"

"To be continued- dun dun dahhh– " broadcasting.

"Fucking Pokilmon ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!–" Mia yelled.

Her and Jenny continued watching Pokilmon.

*___________________________* JK

After waking up next to the sleeping and happy Olivia, I got dressed, and headed out of the house to the rift that Elaine texted to me without the others waking up to me.

* * *He Fucking Walked For Like 4 Hours* * *

Getting to a white rift in the middle of the day called a Gate wearing my soul armor but keeping my soul cloak hidden, the area around us was in ruins, this city must have been abandoned ages ago? And it seems like it's ah place for old world things to be thrown out, ya know, like the stuff from back when the wars were frequent.

Now this place is abandoned, and isolated too.

Soon after arriving Elaine showed up also on foot and wearing nothing other than a casual tee shirt, it was a little loose, and a skirt, and she carried a sword on her waist being hooked by a dulled leather weapon belt.

What suprised me wasn't that she didn't have any armor on, but she had a new bandage on, and one more bruise on her face? For someone so strong like her, this doesn't feel right, something not right and I don't think it's luck?

I need to start investing into her soon.

I don't like how she keeps getting so injured.

Walking up to me, "What's the details here?" she asked.

"It states that from a local this Gate opened yesterday, there's no activity of any monsters leaving the portal so I'm doubting the spellcaster making this planned on ah real attack on ShadowFall, and since it's weak it must have been a low ranking monster spellcaster just tryin to test out it's new skills in magic, little to it's surprise did the end of its spell lead to here, it should be a quick run unless one of them find their way here or get strong by killing off its own inside of the gate, also since it's a white gate the association's leaving this in the hands of rouge adventures like us who need the experience" I had reported to her all of what I found out during my walk.

"Alright, I understand, let's head in there" she said walkin inside the gate and vanishin as soon as she stepped in.

Sighing, "There's no going back now. . .But I'm prepared for the worst, so hell, let's do this" I said going into it.

[ 11 AP To INT ]

[ INT: 30 ] -> [ INT: 41 ]

* * * * *

[ Extermination Mission Acquired ]

[ Target: Farel Shadow Demon Ezekiel: Boss ]

[ Reward: 5 Free Ap And 5 Blossom Peddles ]

[ Failure: No System Penalty: Death Maybe? ]

[ Half Step Companion Entering E Gate With Host ]

[ Companion Will Get 3x Experience ]

[ All EXP Will Be Shared As Long As The Host And Party Are Within Ah 160 Feet Radius. Host Can Only Get Half Experience, An Companion Will Get The Full Experience From The Host. Within Viable Reason To Keep Addition ]

So your makin them progress faster then me? I'm startin to wonder how much this system does this out of spite for me, because like really, damn, that's pretty cold bro.

[ Shut The Hell Up, You Fail Snail ]

Alright bitch.

[ Your Mom's A Better Warrior Than You ]

Oh fuck you!

Why the hell am I arguing with this magic machine, I'm losing it, hearing it curse me again, I tried ignoring it all.

And looking over to Elaine as we were bitching back and forth in my head because the system's so freakin petty.

"Elaine, these are demon's just like you? If ya want I can deliver the killing blows if you don't wanna do it, okay?" I said asking because most halflings have feelings an'or a connection to both their sides, so it's little harder to kill their own kin leading them to panic or even refuse to.

But then she openly said back to me.

"I could care less about some demon, even if they're my own kin, anyways, to me they're all just sum wild breasts with no brains needing to be no more than eradicated!"

She said with a slight anger while looking to the demon ruins carved into the cave structure which I found odd, not so much her, but why is this place so detailed???

Like it's only a mere white gate? Right? Hope its jus that.

And by the way the carvings are, with those crazy swirls and the core haze, it's obviously shadow engravings, but at the same time, what's with the other things up there?

Also with the lack of scars on the walls, the boss nears.

What terrible luck, why's the boss so damn close to us?

I was so hoping to be walking around this place too?

Traveling deeper into the gate with Elaine, it was quiet so I decided to just make some basic conversation wit her to break the looming atmosphere around us in here.

"Hey, Elaine what made ya want to join the magic crafts/ magical engineering," I asked tryin to break the awkward silence in here's but looking over I saw her smiling too?

"It started when I was younger, my mother was always so energetic since she moved away from the damn city of Altira back in the demon territory to this human's city"

Demon territory, I thought they were over seas on some other continent, looks like I'm wrong, I think so at least?

"She always introduced me to the most random things, these devices and junk she would just find interesting"

Depending on the device, even the junk has some use?

"When she. . .Passed, I had nothin left of her, so I trained on my own so that unlike her I'd never fall to anyone and or anything, while her passion I shared died; faded off"

That's depressing, also kinda sad too, wow...

"But then one day, these two kids in my class one day, I think one of them was one of those Beast Kins and one was a human who shared the class with me, shared one of their inventions, some replica of a hologram that had used Mana to activate it, but it was made form just sum junk they found around their home, so jus old hardware"

"It was spectacular, until the boy tired to turn it on and when he used his mana to activate it, the machine went wild and it blew up in his face, makin the human boy cry while the beast kin girl comforted him outside of class"

"But to me it was the funniest thing I've ever seen, and I, I guess that day those two brought me to understand da beautiful nature of creation and how much enjoyment it brings others. . .Even if it's a failure like their project~"

She said, but something didn't sound right about it?...

Wait? There's something familiar about this story?...

Oh no... No! No! No!... God damn it! That was me and Olivia's first prototype, and she was there?? I think I'm gonna cry if I continue remembering that moment...

And sweating balls, I looked to the back of her head.

"Uh... Do you remember anything else those two did?"

Crap, I had no clue she was in our class? Oh my gods!

"Yeah, they had a few more but it all ended up with there creations blowing up in the boys face, hahaha!" she said giggling, "Though I wonder what they're doing right now? I hope they're pursuing their dreams... But I can already guess he's creating something right now as we speak, and she's probably watching it blow up, hahahah!" she laughed thinking about the good old days about me. . .

!SUFFERING!

That second walking behind her, a single tear fell down my face as I released in all the failed prototypes I made.

And she continued laughing until we heard footsteps, I hope she falls sometime today though, but as she was laughing and I was bitter waking behind her, in the next moment we were surrounded by 20 unarmed shadows.

Looking around we saw shadow soldiers all unarmed.

Pulling out her sword, she turned around, "We have–" but as she looked at me I was in a fighting stance, an she was looking at me with her eyes just wide open?

"What?"

"Where's your weapon?!"

"Didn't bring one"

"What?!"

She said surprised but she didn't have time to scold me as 18 of the unarmed shadow soldiers came at her, well all of them except for 2 of them, who stayed behind.

And so as she was surrounded by 18 unarmed shadow soldiers, *she remembered he knew magic, so with that in her head, she focused on the battle ahead of her* she readied herself for a fight turning away from behind her.

And as they charged at her, without a care for me, she hacked at them, cutting them apart with every slash, an it was amazing as she killed them with a single slash.

(OP side character has entered the building haha forget doomguy, we got the dark swordswoman muhahaha)

But watchin from the side as they saw me as worthless compared to her, I was going to jump in when I sensed danger, an looking to my side, two of them came at me.

Two of them lunged at me, and jumping to the side, and rolling on my shoulder, I flicked my hand out forming ah small dark claw from darkness around both my hands.

They weren't that big so they were hidden well from her sight, it'll just look like I'm using some sort of magic to her and that's all I need, so seeing them, I kicked to em.

Going in for a pinch and hitting a shadow soldier, he had flew yards away, tis is my chance, while the others open.

[ Inspect ]

[Shadow shoulder: Unarmed ]

< HP 344/500 >

< MP 100/100

And inspecting the one I hit, so this is the strength of ah 45 point difference huh? Noice. I guess that means I'm super strong now, "hahahaha" I laughed with high pride.

"Stop laughing and fight them damn it" Elaine yelled out.

"I am!" I said as she ruined the mood for me.

And seeing the shadow from over where she was fly back chopped in half, and then she hacked another one, the other thought about fighting her when I came at it an in a chopping motion, I slashed my claws at the second shadow soldier, but he saw me coming and dodged.

At the cost of it's arm as it wasn't fast enough.

And turning to punch me, I blocked putting up both my arms, but it was a heavy bit that broke my block in an instant, they might be slow, but damn it their strong!

[ HP -33 ]

With my defense broke, and I was calling back, I turned it into a summersault kick, hitting it in the head, landing back to my feet in the next instant but the kicking dirt, I straightened my hand and then stabbed it into its body.

Black mist leaked from where I stabbed it an it coughed a mouthful of black haze being dramatic before it just disappeared, which confused me as it was one strike???

[ Shadow Soilder killed: 40 EXP Gained ]

It's friend stunned behind me didn't expect that at all from me, and it came up, snaking up on me and it had grabbed me from behind wrapping it's hands around my throat, choking me, which was it's greatest mistake.

Because unlike the use of mana, which uses things like concentration, and focus, my darkness is more fluent an I can use it as will, like it's apart of me as an extra limb.

[ The Host's Currently Being Strangled, If This Continues The Host Will Lose 5 To 10 Health Points Per Seconds ]

Hearing that, a spike shot out from my back, piercing da creature right behind me, and a dark mist spat out of its mouth before it exploded in a haze and a crystal fell.

An when the shadow died, I retracted all my darkness.

[ Shadow Soilder Killed: 60 EXP Gained ]

That was intense, I was surprised by being strangled.

Now watching as Elaine finished her last one, she went to look over to me who was hunched over amd looking at my hands that I formed to shape a claws hand sign.

I think I liked tearing into it's flesh a little too much?

Though that's another thing to ever think about, right?

[ 18x: Shadow Soldier Killed: 190 EXP Gained ]

Runnin over to me, "Hey, you okay Rin?" she said as she came over to check on me, but comin over she saw two core crystals on the floor, 'Did he have trouble fighting them?' she wondered before asking, "You feeling ok?"

And looking over to her and standing up straight, "Yup," I answered back with a smile, but I don't think I'm alright, when killing those things my body filled with bloodlust for a moment, I felt it boiling inside me, and I liked it?

Now I'm hesitating on eating the core crystals here?

'Is he low on Mana from the fight we had yesterday?'

"Rin, here" she said taking out this little pen, and "It's one of those transformin items, click it to form a sword" she said handing it over to me, which confused me now?

But, "Thanks," I accepted without hesitation, "I'll give it back to you when we're finished, okay" I promised her.

"Gotchya, just don't loose it, okay"

"I promise"

"Good, let's get going then"

Picking up the monster core crystals and putting it into a single special pouch she had, we continued deeper in to the Gate to finish this quest, and hunt the boss here.

. . . . .

After a while of walking around and going deeper into the gate, we found dozens of shadow soldiers, all still unarmed, yet I felt useless as I barley did anything doe.

So before she could get to them, I circulated my mana and focused it around my body to enhance my speed an power, charging directly into a group of shadows alone.

Slashing my new sword, it felt like I was tearing into clay cause of how dense they felt, but it also felt soon good.

And after a short while and defeating the group of those shadows, after the forth group, they were all defeated by me, I wanted to pull my wait, so I kept charging at them.

And finishing the next batch, we were close to the boss.

[ Shadow Soldier Killed: 20 Exp Gained ]

[ Shadow Soldier Killed: 17 EXP Gained ]

[ Shadow Soldier Killed: 23 EXP Gained ]

[ Shadow Soldier Killed: 10 EXP Gained ]

Meanwhile, despite my hardship, Elaine easily cut all the way through some of the shows like they were butter, an with the use of some phantom step technique, she was fast, I couldn't even follow how fast she was moving?

But we kept going and I kept fighting with her as her partner and not some porter or observer, I kept trying to pull my weight and get the enemy way before her too.

[ 8x: Shadow Soldier Killed: 80 EXP Gained ]

Killing another group of shadows, we followed a path, but this time the black soil under us started becoming more colorful, like there was something else in here.

But this could have meant the boss and not another type of monster rather than shadows, I hope it's another monster instead, I kinda wanna fight sum more, for like, uh, experience, yeah, battle experience and a work out!

Yeah, perfect excuse, I mean, perfect ideally, huh?!

More battle experience, keep up the grind!

. . . . .

Walking down this new tunnel hall, "The Boss's room is probably near," she said as I was puttin the last shadow core crystal inside of her pouch, "It is?" I said knowing...

But I kinda just wanted to mess with her for fun, "Yeah, in a low ranking gate like this one's they're not that big" she said trying to explain it to me, nice way to put it.

I would have said, high the run the bigger the Feild, but I like hers better, I understand it better then how I could've explained it, yup yup, okay now let's keep going an stuff!

Continuing down this merky dirt path, we walked into a room large and open, and as we came in there were like black torches illuminating a little light, but we could see.

And looking in front of us, we saw a large shadow here.

"Gee... Why's it so big? Is it like a mutant or something?" Yet ignoring my comment, "Rin, distract it while I charge up my attack!" she said saying she already had a plan.

And hearing her and feeling mana circulating around her I listened well enough not to get in her way for whatever she was going to be doing, because it looked big doe.

So rushing the boss as she steadily followed from some distance, her sword started glowing purple and running at the shadow, I came sliding past it's large legs cutting it's ankle with the sword, an hittin deep enough to where it clearly didn't like me anymore, because it got big mad.

Swinging it's arm, it tried to hit me but I jumped over and landed on it's hand, and seeing this perfect opportunity I jumped at it, kicking it in the face but not doing much.

It kind of just took it like it had no real affect to the boss.

But landin back on the ground and looking to the sword in my, I should have stabbed it in the eye, that could've worked more then me fucking kicking it in the face?

But then Elaine finished and it was as soon as I landed back on the ground, because hearing a noise, an getting out of the way, I looked over an she was gone; vanished.

But hearing another noice I darted my head and black mist spurted out from the waist of the giant shadow, an it freaked me out because I thought this was sum else?

Like some shadow skill and not her cutting it in half!

And then popping up behind it, "Gentle winds sword skill, flash strike," she said like a badass as she sheathed her sword in her scabbard an grabbed the fallin core crystal.

Which was more radiant and bigger an pact with mana.

And astonished by her one hit wonder type move, she'd pocketed it and then turned around instantly going over to me, and flinching as she had a cold look in her eyes.

She grabbed my hand, "Let's go," she said, "Huh?" I didn't get it, but then in the next instant she ran an dragged me with her without an explanation all the way to the exit.

But popping out of the portal, in the next instant it had started to fade away and now I realized why she was getting me out of there fast... Holy crap that scary!

And getting out there she turned back around after we were safe and she smiled, "That was fun," and dragging my feet as that was about to be a heart attack destined to come, "Yeah... Here's your sword back," I gave it back.

"If you ever feel up to it. I mean, like, we can always go on another one, I'd be happy to go out with you for another raid, Rin" Elaine said looking away.

And moving her hair to the side out of her face.

And with a gentle smile, "Sure, but the next time, I'll be the one doing all the killing, alright," I said laughing and she looked back to be with a soft expression, "Okay"

But then going next to me and bumping into me, "So, what's next tough guy, wanna do anything else today?" she asked, and rubbing my cheek, "I... can't think of any"

I said honestly and she puffed her cheek, "You sure, we could... No wait, actually we have to report back to the association, anyways, take half and let's go back"

But hearing her she said half... Wait? Brain time to go to work. . . . . . . . .There should be about 32 low core mana crystals and one low boss intermediate crystal, and if I killed only like, 10-12, and she killed the rest, plus boss?

"Wait, Elaine I only killed like, a quarter of them?" I said to her confused on why she told me to take half of em?

But looking back at me giving a little pout, "I know what I said," and it was. . .Cute. . .So I leaned against her and gave her a little "tease" kissing her on the cheek, then saying, "Thanks for today, I had fun with you Elaine"

Which had her blushing, and I heard the bitch system.

[ You Can Now Go On Raids With Elaine For Frequently ]

. . . . .

Gettin to the association by train, and finishing our little report in no time just to report if any anomalies happen.

I asked, "Are you sure you wanna give me these?"

"Yes"

"Why,"

sighing, "Just? keep them, and expect a favor for me on the near future" she said which I could actually live with.

"Okay"

Heading to the counter, I cashed in 8 low based Mana crystals and kept the rest of them for my cultivation.

"Sir, here is 8 silver, may you continue hunting and keep the peace in our fine city with the other hunters" the girl at the front desk said as that was kinda their mado.

And turning to Elaine, "You gonna cash any in?" I asked as this was a really good way to actually make money, that was kind of the only reason in a hunter too; coin.

She looked in a daze but then snapped out of it when I started talking to her, "Uh, yeah," and talking out her pouch went over to trade in a quarter of her cores.

Though she got it transfered into her Virtual Bank, which I never saw any real use for but was glad to see at least she did because I know I never will, I just don't trust it?..

But as I was thinking to myself I felt her tough on my shirt and looking over to her, "Yes?" I said questioning, and she handed me her pouch, "I can't be seen with this at home, you mind holding onto it for me, my folk don't know in a hunter so I'd–" but she didn't need to finish.

"Of course, I understand" and I pocketed it for her.

And turning to her, "Now, do you want me to walk you home? Or is there something else you had in mind of doing with me today, we can change our plans then?"

I asked, and rubbing her cheek, "No, let's go home for today, in already a little big iffy from fighting, so I don't wanna take too much of your time dealing with me"

She said, but grabbing her face and turning her head, as she looked all down and depressed after saying that, I went ahead and pulling her head, just went and kissed her, causing her eyes to light up and open up so wide.

Breaking away, I said, "You're never a bother, and I like hanging out with you, so don't say that again, please..."

I said to her, and she was blushing so hard while wide eyed, and seeing that I pinched her cheek, "Your cute" but then realized what I'm saying and got embarrassed as well, uh, that's so cheesy, why am I doing dis stuff!

And hearing her giggle, "Thanks, you too..."

And snapping my head, I growled, "I'm not cute!"

But she just laughed as she heard me pout.

But then after puffing my cheeks, I grabbed her by the hand and said, "Actually I take that back, I'm going to be kidnapping you for a little, were going shopping okay"

"Huh?! Wait what!"

Looking back at her, "Your mine till the evening, okay" I said back to her, like she didn't have a choice, because she essentially doesn't, cause I don't wanna go alone.

***

After leaving the association building we headed to the local market area to stockpile on supplies, we at least I was, she more or less came because I didn't give her a choice, but she ended up enjoying it as she dragged me around a little whenever she got interested or wanted to show me something randomly that she saw, plus she seemed bored and said she just wanted to see what I was doing, that was her excuse for sticking with me.

*And he fell for it. . . She was actually happy he dragged her out here, she just wanted to spend time with him an this was the greatest excuse since it was all his idea*

After shipping, I bought a duffle bag filled with things an we walked back to her home, and getting there, as she was looking to door, "Bye, see you later," I just said to her bidding her farewell, but then she grabbed me.

Kissing me on the mouth, "Thanks for today," she said.

An getting me to blush as that's a dirty surprise attack!

I couldn't help smiling as that damn move worked...

"No problem, I had fun too" I said waving bye.

*He was too Nieve and just waved goodbye as he was really confused and clueless as a fool too, cause she's kinda likin him yet he has no clue despite obvious hints*

*Then again, he's an incubus, intimacy is normal to em*

* * * * *

Walking back home, I heard Mia and Jennifer arguing to eachother about who's the better started Pokilnon, Snivy or Tempig, to which I just ignored by going to my room.

Entering my room, I was immediately pounced on by ah Olivia who for some reason never went home and was still in my room, "Hey cutie... You smell like a demon?"

Grabbing me by my hands, she smacked her lips against mine and grabbed the bottom of my shift, breaking only to strip me down my underwear which was so quick?

And grabbing me by my hand pulled me into my bed.

An feeling a rush as my heart sped up, I was excited.

My transformation broke an my tail wiggled out free, as I was being dragged to my bed an then she laid with me under the covers getting right on top of me hungrily.

Grabbing my hands and pushing them back, she licked her lips an her tail grabbed my tail, an as we made out, she sat up, lifting up her shirt and braw, stripping.

"I've been waiting all morning for you, Rin" she panted.

"And now you come back, all sweaty and smelling like you've heen fightin. Ya wanna know something, that's turning me on even more knowing you killed some"

"Because I smell dimensional energy all over you"

"Meaning you've been busy this morning"

Looking at me with eyes full of lust, she let go of my hands an rubbed her hands up from my lower stomach, and as she did, "Well, you're not wrong," I said back.

And looking up at me, I threw out the peace sighed. . .

And then passed out. . .

Who knew being under so much stress and walking for hours would drain your stamina this much. . . Well clearly not me at least because I didn't know till jus now.

*See him pass out she pouted as she wasn't able to get her way, and seeing as he actually passed out, she got even more wet, then saying, "You owe me," she pouted even more then then cuddled on top of him there* .