Husks?

The final day arrived at Brooke. Selena awoke, went out to go for a run, and saw a girl tied up with leather and latex, whoever this was, clearly had a good time last night. Selena heard gurgling sounds emanating from Name but ignored it in favor of continuing her run. She takes a deep breath, enjoying the crisp morning air, exhaling hot moisture that was visible. Selena's mind wanders about the upcoming day and a certain perverted Dragon. By the time she circled back, the bondaged girl disappeared. Selena could tell there was a ripped leather strap, not thinking too much on it. As she made her way through the lobby, people looked at her strangely but she was accustomed to it.

"I heard she was the one who tied up that girl this morning." Selena heard a pair of adventurers discuss an obvious rumor.

"I would never have guessed that Sona was like that."

As Selena entered Hajime's room, she was taken aback that they were dressed and ready to go rather than being sleep deprived, as per usual.

"Hey, Selena!" Shea exclaimed.

"I can't wait to leave this shit-hole." Hajime muttered under his breath. Yue nodded in agreement. 

As the group went down to the front desk, they met the Mother of Sona. apologizing profusely. 

"I'm so sorry about my daughter. Sometimes she can be a bit too much."

"Yeah, yeah." Hajime hand waved away, handing over the keys, the party heading out to the guild hall, hopefully the quest they receive will lead them to the town they want to go to. As they enter the guild hall, Catherine greets them.

"It's been so long since I've seen all of you together."

As they walked towards her, their group could hear murmurs.

"The duelists smashers are together today."

"It's the bondage queen."

"I still want Shea to be my slave!"

Hajime walked up to Catherine, ignoring all murmurs. Selena unleashed her bloodthirst, quieting the crowd. Shea clung harder to Hajime, her bashfulness increasing tenfold. The entire group could feel the men's jealousy arise, but they shrugged it off. 

"Is there a quest towards Fuhren?" Hajime asked Catherine.

Catherine proceeds to go through the requests. While going through the paperwork, Catherine speaks up.

"Things are gonna get really quiet once you're all gone."

Hajime blows a wet raspberry her way. 

"Please, I'm tired of hearing way too many perverts, people wanting Shea to be their slave, and my favorite part of the week is hearing my best friend is the Bondage queen."

Selena gives a slight shove on Hajime's shoulder.

"You're one to talk, "Duelist Smasher"

"Oh come on guys, it wasn't so bad. Everyone was really nice!" Shea said excitedly.

Catherine laughed at their interactions. 

"Here we are. There seems to be a bodyguard quest for a caravan. Multiple adventurers are needed, but only one spot is still left open.."

"That's fine," Hajime interjected. "I'll fill the position. The others can tag along and we'll take the same pay for one adventurer.

"I'm sure they'd be happy with that. Most adventurers have a porter and a slave. Multiple strong adventurers for the price of one, can't beat that deal"

She hands the paperwork to Hajime, who puts it in his quote. He starts walking out with the others following behind. 

"One more thing."

Catherine handed a letter to Selena, who was the farthest behind. 

"If you get into any trouble with any other guild members just hand this letter, it should help."

Hajime had to ask. "Catherine, who exactly are you?"

Catherine gave a hush.

"Now, now, a girl can't have all her secrets out in the open." Catherine winked at Hajime, who wondered how she was when she was a younger woman. Yue pinched him and Shea slapped his prosthetic arm. 

"You still haven't learned. All these beautiful women and yet you want to add another?"

Hajime started coughing awkwardly. Catherine called out to Yue and Shea. "If he ever breaks your hearts, bring him here and I'll thrash him for you and if not me, God will."

Hajime brushed it off. "I get it, you're still teaching us at this moment." He was exasperated as he still was getting treated like a child by Catherine.

"Catherine, who are you, really?" Shea asked. 

"Oh Shea," Catherine sighed. "You don't survive by taking every fight. It's just a series of choices you had to make in your life. I'm happy right where I am now." Her tone grew lighter from its original neutral state that had hints of melancholy. 

Selena noticed that Catherine initially aged in a split second from the memories that she dwelled on, but quickly came back to her original self that the others were still always seeing.

Yue says thanks to Catherine as the group heads out from the guild hall and to the gate to rendezvous with the others who took the request. As they saw a caravan it was filled with people wearing halberds, chainmail, leather, and other various equipment. They heard whispers about them.

"Didn't tell me the smashers were coming."

"Wow, Shea looks so beautiful."

"My hand can't stop shaking about them coming with us."

Another adventurer came up to him.

"Nah, that's just your withdrawal, I haven't had a good drink yet!"

Hajime went to the leader of the circle, checking with the leader of the caravan.

"I'm here to take the request of the escort mission. Who do I check with?"

With a business-like smile, he pointed Hajime at a man who was near the head carriage who was giving out orders to packers who were loading up carriages. Shea grimaced seeing beastfolk performing manual labor. Yue squeezed her hand in comfort, and Hajime walked straight to the leader of the caravan.

"I'm Hajime, I'm here reporting in."

"You must be the last adventurer!" He jumps off the box and reaches out with his right hand and Hajime returns the favor, shaking his hand.

"My name is More Nos, the leader of the caravan."

"Nos? Like the energy drink?" Hajime was stumped on his name.

"My caravan doesn't carry whatever that is." Nos laughs joyfully before he spots Shea. "I see a slave accompanies you. Would you be interested in selling her off to me?"

He gazed at Shea, not with lust, but as one would eye a useful piece of merchandise.

"You're a smart man, so you should know the answer." Hajime said as Shea hides behind him.

"You take good care of her!" Worry not, I promise to handle her well."

"The answer is still no." Hajime bluntly answered.

More's voice became more manic. 

"Come now, you must understand her profit value! If not me, others in other cities would be eyeing her as well, you must understand-"

Hajime drowned More in bloodlust, causing the other man to finally back off. 

"I don't care if God himself wants Shea, I'll slaughter him instead."

His bloodlust flared further when he uttered the word God. He was keeping his bloodlust just on More until he mentioned God, now everyone in the vicinity felt it.

More simply shook off Hajime's threat.

"I see, not to worry. If you have anything else to offer to us such as any incredible discoveries from your adventures, please let me know, I would dislike losing business with a potential partner."

"You're a breath of fresh air, I'll give you that." Hajime responded, glad that he only had to deal with a sleazy merchant.

"I'm glad my attitude didn't disturb you, I'll see you later. We have a few days before we get there, why not talk to the other adventurers in the meantime." More made his way back on top of his box where he continued giving orders to his subordinates. 

"You! Take those boxes of apples. You! Shove those potatoes over there…"

More continued giving his orders with Hajime and his group tuning him out. As they headed back to the adventurers, they approach the group.

"I can see where you get the title of Smashers now." One said. 

"You definitely won't let anyone touch your girls." The other said. 

"When you said you wanted to kill God, that sent shivers down my spine!" a Female adventurer said this with seduction dripping down her voice. Hajime walked past them, not caring for their words. He went to the leader of the Caravan.

"I want all of you covering my rear, your strength and notoriety is perfect for that role." said the caravan leader. Selena couldn't help but giggle. Hajime nodded, heading to the back of the caravan. Shea joined in with Selena at the laughter, with Yue finally taking Hajimes hand. 

Days pass quickly. Nothing too eventful, just monster attacks on the occasion. The adventurers' team coordination was impeccable, allowing Hajime to observe instead of being active. At nights when they would break to eat they would notice the adventurers and merchants split off two different groups. Initially Hajime didn't care for it, seeing the two groups eating hard tacks. Hajime takes out cooking materials from his ring, taking out meat and hot water. As they began cooking, which wasn't the best, the adventurers saw Hajime's ring, desiring something like that. On the next day, adventurers began asking for the fresh cooked meat, which Shea did not have the heart to say no and gave them some. 

Selena constantly was somehow ruining the soup she was handed whenever she was given that dish. From constantly spilling it to even a bird flying straight into the soup. Selena was finally fed up and merely took out the meat and any other vegetables from the broth and just chowed down that way. The final night before they reached the city they were all around an open fire with Shea and Selena cooking in the middle. Many adventurers were enjoying their meal, commenting on their enjoyment. 

"This was so amazing! Hey Jay, how come you can't cook like this?"

"As if I'd be carrying around all that!" She gestured to Hajime's ring of holding. Some of the more bold male adventurers began hitting on Shea and Selena, desiring them. 

"Say, want to hang out together once we're at the city?"

"Sorry," Shea responded. "But I already have Hajime."

"How about you, Selena? Wanna hang out with me?!"

"Only in your dreams could that happen."

On the last day, while making the last leg of the journey Shea shouts.

"Hey, I hear enemies swarming at us!"

"How many?!"

"I think Hundreds!"

"Damn those guards, shouldn't they keep the monster populations down?!"

The guild leaders are shouting at the adventurers to take several actions, such as taking formations and diverting resources to appropriate places. 

"They're starting to split!" Shea shouted, everyone in surprise since Monsters attacked in swarms, never using tactics. 

The lead adventurer split the group in half.

"Damn! I've never seen one of these before!"

Yue's spell finished constructing itself, sending it to attack. Hajime got a good view on these creatures, a glowing corpse that roamed the wastes with hideous claws for hands. They had a dull and pale skin tone with blue mana coursing just under their skins visible to the naked eye.

"Illuminate the darkness with blinding crimson. Shatter the fetters of my eternal prison and break through all in thine path. We who would be the strongest call this power, and together we rend the heavens- draconic thunder!!" The clouds that had gathered entirely of lighting descending from the opening resembled a serpent as it snake down to the earth. Unfortunately, only the close-by adventurers could only awe at it, the others had already broken off to defend their locations. 

Selena and Hajime nodded to each other before leaping and taking action. Hajime landed on the second wagon, with Selena leaping off that wagon moments after.

"Oh no!" Shea shouted. "Where do I go!"

Shea was dumbfounded seeing her two teammates jump into action whilst leaving her behind. Selena barely heard Shea's exclamation while barely hearing whatever advice Yue said to the poor bunny girl.

Selena could only call Shea a silly bunny as she continued her task at home. 

As the "Husks" drew closer, Selena could only hear the haunting wailing of the incoming force. The noise was deafening, eclipsing even the thunder that raged across the sky. Her mind sharpened as she weaved hand signs with practiced precision, taking in a deep breath. The air around her crackled with tension as she prepared for her next move.

In a display of raw power, she summoned an Ice Dragon—an equivalent to Yue's Thunder Dragon, but cold and unforgiving. The dragon surged to life, a majestic force of crystalline ice that roared as it surged forward, its chilling presence sweeping across the battlefield. The attack began in all directions, sweeping the area with a violent blast of cold and power.

The sound of cracking ice and the force of the blows echoed across the field, mixing with the wails of the Husks. But in the midst of the chaos, Selena noted their movements with cold precision. The Husks, though relentless, were not mindless—they were cunning. She could see them attempting to dodge her strikes, their jerky movements betraying an instinct to survive.

Most were unsuccessful. The Ice Dragon's icy breath consumed them, freezing them in place before they could make it past its massive form. But there were a few who managed to slip through the cracks, their bodies narrowly avoiding the cold death that surrounded them. As they closed the gap, Selena's eyes narrowed with renewed determination.

Drawing her sword, she unleashed a flurry of Gale Claws at those few that had managed to evade the dragon's onslaught. The gusts of wind tore through the air, ripping into the Husks with brutal force. As the wind surged forward, everything in its path was frozen solid before it—crystals of ice sprouting up like jagged sculptures, forming new weapons in her hands.

The remaining Husks, momentarily stalled by her defenses, stopped advancing toward her. Instead, they began leaping onto her Ice Dragon with a terrifying synchronized force. Selena watched as the ground shook with each impact. They tore into the creature with an almost frenzied desperation, claws and jagged limbs hacking at its ice body. Despite its strength, the dragon was vulnerable, and the Husks succeeded in shattering it into a thousand jagged pieces.

A dozen or more landed upon the fractured dragon in a single horrific attack, reducing it to a pile of shattered ice. The destruction was devastating, but the Husks were too focused on their mission to acknowledge the toll it had taken on their own ranks. Even the ones that had no arms or legs still crawled towards her, attempting to join with the attack. The shattered ice had taken out several of their own companions, yet they continued to press forward with mindless determination.

As the last of the ice settled to the ground, Selena could hear screams of agony echoing in the distance, but her focus remained on the new wave of Husks that surged toward her. Her breath caught as more of them crawled from the wreckage, unfazed by the destruction they had caused.

Selena sighed in frustration. She had hoped for a moment of respite, but it was clear that the relentless onslaught would not cease. She gripped her sword tighter, her gaze hardening as more Husks emerged from the chaos. The battlefield had only grown more dangerous, and she was far from finished.

She activated her Sharingan. As the world began to lose color and devolve into black and white, looking for a mana core. Rather than a Mana core, she saw intertwining veins in each of the Husks, all pulsing. She could only click her tongue as exasperation settled in. Merchants began screaming in horror, as Selena stabbed a blade at the ground, weaving a new ninjutsu that she has yet to use. Selena whispered, "Kōri no mori." [Ice Forest]

In the wake of the shattered remains of her Ice Dragon, something remarkable happened. Where the ice had broken apart, the shards began to move, slowly at first, as if responding to Selena's command. The fragments of frozen crystal rose from the ground, coalescing into deadly, jagged trees of ice. The shards grew taller and sharper, their cruel branches stretching outward, forming a labyrinth of cold, spiked death.

The newly formed trees pierced through the advancing Husks, their icy limbs impaling the horde with brutal precision. The unnatural cold froze everything it touched, and in an instant, entire waves of enemies were halted in their tracks. The trees remained firmly rooted in place, standing tall against the relentless force of the Horde, as the Husks' wails echoed in the air—louder now, but somehow hollow and devoid of emotion.

Selena was not satisfied, she knew something more formidable was coming. The few Husks that were on the edge of the ice forest began to run to the sides. Selena turned to the Caravan, who were in shock and awe of her display of power. 

"Is everyone alright?"

A few adventurers who did not participate in the battle were gobsmacked. More seems to have collected himself the fastest amongst the group and thanked her.

"I've never seen the terrain change at such speeds!" More looked over Selena a bit, gazing at the path that transformed into the ice forest.

"Can you change that back?" Was More's only question to the young woman. 

"Sure I can. Can you kill all the remaining ones?" The other adventurers gulped, seeing several of the remaining Husks attempting to get away to no avail, thanks to being impaled.

"We're not gonna die, are we?" One adventurer asked. 

"Sure, no problem." Another said. "Is she an ice queen? "Another muttered.

The last adventurer walking away said "Is she the bondage queen?" Hearing Selena's harsh cough they quickly ran away.

"I'm gonna check on the others while the adventurers take down the Husks." She said to More. 

While walking away, she noticed that More was silent. He probably wanted to say something but Selena wasn't going to give him the time for it. Selena saw on one side exploded Husks, only their arms and legs were strewn about. The adventurers seem to be downing potions. As Selena got closer she overheard their talks.

"I've never fought monsters like that. Cut them down and they just keep on going!" One Adventurer cried out.

"Right? Thankfully, the Smashers were with us!"

Selena noticed that Hajime was still on the carriage, eyeing both sides. She did a small jump, getting on top of the carriage and seeing the other side filled with craters, also seeing a winded Shea. Other adventurers surrounded her, handing her towels and waters.

"I'm so sorry, Shea-san! We were so useless to you! Need more water, Shea-san!"

Selena heard several adventurers trying their best to make a move on the bunny girl. Hajime looked merely annoyed.

"How'd you do with your enemies?" He asked.

"I'm not so sure," She responded. "I've never dealt with an enemy that was undead before."

"Yeah, had to put two rounds in each one just to put them down." Hajime continued. "Had to use the shotgun for the blast radius." 

"Did anyone get hurt?" Selena asked. 

"Yes and no." Hajime replied. 

He explained they tried helping Shea, but then gestured to craters. Selena could only imagine Shea's wild hammer swings sending friend and foe flying. 

Yue floated towards them while they talked. 

"Hey Yue, how'd it go for you?"

"Total victory." Was her reply. 

Shea leaped in the middle of the group.

"Hey! Don't leave me out! So, Hajime, did you see how cool I was!" Shea exclaimed in glee.

Hajime looked at Yue and asked her "Can you get Selena's mess out of the way?" He gestured at Selena's forest.

"It looks so pretty but so pointy!" Shea said. 

"Leave it to me and I'll clean up this mess!" Yue poked fun at Selena. 

Selena shouted "I could do it!" Yue glared at her. "It'll only take a while." Selena looked away in defeat. 

Yue started to say random words, but Selena decided to ignore her. She knew that Yue was just messing with her and tuned her out. Yue's mastery over magic quickly turned the forest into water that she instantly dispersed into a slight shower. 

After some time and everyone seemingly healed, everyone headed to the main carriage. More explained with deep worry. 

"I've never encountered such creatures. We must report this to the guild at once!"

The others nodded in hasty agreement. "I want to thank Hajime-san and his party. If not for them I don't believe we could have escaped with our lives. I'll make sure to add a small bonus in your payment, if you stay with us we could always pay top dollar!"

"No thanks," Hajime replied. "We plan on taking you to the city and be on our way."

They made their way to the city of Fuhren, the trading hub of the entire world. As they were waiting in line, all the adventurers were in the front while Hajime and his group were in the back. As More approached the group he said,

"I must thank you once more. We could not have escaped with our lives without you!"

"It's no problem at all," Hajime replied bluntly. "We were hired to do a job and we completed it to the best of our ability." 

More nodded. "I did not simply come to thank you. I was wondering if I could purchase some of your artifacts?" More's eyes wandered at Hajime's pistols, staring at the ring of holding. 

"Not interested in selling any of my artifacts." Hajime answered.

"How about Shea?" More pressed on. "I'm still interested in purchasing her."

"I'm not gonna sell Shea to you. I'd kill a God if they took her away."

Selena heard a squeal, ignoring it as the events played on. 

"How about your artifact?" More looked at Selena. 

"When pigs fly!" Was her answer. 

"You guys don't get it!" More began to be manic. " There are others who would just try to kill you! Even Shea-san, there would be slave traders just trying to get her."

Hajime's bloodlust focused entirely on More. The sound of the revolver's click ringed through his ears.

"Wanna die?"

More gulped at Hajime's response.

"No… I just… maybe you should… be more cautious!... is all…"

"I see, We'll leave it at that." Hajime holstered his weapon, his bloodlust vanishing. More slumped to the ground, defeated.

"I am sorry for that, your artifacts were so alluring that my good senses left me."

Selena stepped in. "It's alright, I just hope you learned something from this."

Hajime didn't seem too perturbed from Selena jumping in mid conversation. 

"I apologize," More continued. "I let my greed blind me, only a fool would kick a dragon's arse, after all."

"That's alright," Selena chuckled condescendingly. "Just try and be nice, next time."

"Just a bit of warning," More replied. "About that ice dragon, the Holy Church does not look fondly at Dragonmen. I suppose it looked more like a snake than a dragon, so you should be fine." More had finally recovered enough to get up and pat himself off. Hajime jumped back in.

"You've got a lot of nerve talking to us like that after I directed my bloodlust at you."

More turned to Hajime again. "If you need any potions or items please feel free to look at my store."

Hajime chuckled. "I like you, sticking to your guns even at the end."

"Thank you Hajime-san. If you want to broker any other deal please come to Nos' trade company. You are no ordinary adventurer, I can tell that. We'd love to have either one of your business, especially for any artifacts." He looked towards the whole group. 

"Ha some balls of steel." Hajime scoffed.

"I'll be taking my leave," More left to head back to the front of the caravan. He seemed to be talking about our group to other merchants. 

Soon enough our whole convoy was allowed to come into the city.