Rebirth of a Hero? Ch. 03

Nataly aimed for the beast belly and poured mana into the rifle and once it hummed slightly she fired the grass between her and the rasque blew down the leaves flew up and formed a tunnel then followed the bullet when it passed, the impacts shear power knocked Val off the rasque and pushed the rasque back a few feet as a ten inch hole blasted through the elder rasque and blew up a tree behind it.

Val moved away from it and towards Nataly, "Are you ok?" Val asked as she looked at her bleeding leg and blew ice breath on it to stop it's bleeding.

"Ya just some scratches and bruises from the fight and fall," Nataly said as she held her gun downwards and stared at the Rasque on the ground, "Are you sure these things are rare?" Nataly asked Val.

"Yes they are usually," Val said as she looked at the elder rasque then shook her head, "If you were not here I might not have been able to beat this one it knew how to deal with dragons," Val said as she rubbed the lashes near the center of her throat.

"I saw that, it seemed to focus you and stop you from doing certain things," Nataly said as she walked to the dead creature and looked into it's eye, Nataly gasped as she saw it look at her.

Nataly quickly turned and ran as it's head snapped forward and barely missed her skirt, Val lunged forward and pinned it's head but before she could pin it's legs the elder rasque used both legs and kicked Val in the side cracking her ribs and snapping her wing, Nataly dove to the ground as Val sailed over head and into some trees.

Nataly looked behind her as the Rasque rose up blood seeping from it's wound and onto the ground, she changed her gun into a tommy gun and poured mana into it as she fired into the Rasques face and as the bullets hit it's face it closed it's eyes and growled as it turned it's head and spun trying to whip her.

Nataly ducked under it and ran into the woods away from Val, the Rasque followed Nataly snapping at her whenever it got close and just before it could catch her Nataly tumbled into a small ditch and the elder rasque raised it's head and just before it bit Nataly it was pulled backwards hard.

The elder rasque turned it's head and bit into Vals shoulder Val roared in pain as she used her claws to slash it's face and caught one of it's eyes making it release her and step back then it faced her and unleashed a flame breath causing Val to use her wings to block it.

Nataly stood up and turned her gun into a JDJ rifle and held it with her superhuman strength and poured her mana into it until it started to hum, the elder rasque noticed the hum and turned to run away from Nataly to avoid being shot.

Val reached out with her head and bit onto the elders rasque tail and pulled causing it to trip and once it did so Nataly fired aiming at it's throat, when the shot hit the bottom half of it's throat was blown away causing it to choke and flail as it slowly bled and suffocated to death.

After twenty minutes the elder rasque stopped moving, it didn't move even when Nataly shot it's good eye, "Think we can store it in the freezer? Is it even edible?" Nataly asked as she walked around it studying it.

"Yes but I wouldn't recommend it since it tastes horrid, also it's body could be used to gain a massive fortune and or create tonnes of powerful equipment," Val responded as she breath onto her shoulder and layed down, "Give me some time to heal before we go, also can we go to my room within your home directly?" Val asked.

"Yes," Nataly responded as she walked up to the body and pressed her hand to it then focused, "into the freezer to be preserved," Nataly mumbled and after a moment the rasque body dropped into a storage room within Natalys home, she then walked over the Val and gently put her hand onto her chest and very carefully pushed mana into her, "Here heal up please," Nataly asked as she still held the connection open.

Val smiled and focused using Natalys deep reservoir of mana to heal her injuries and then transforming back to her human form including the himation, "Thank you mate," Val said as she stretched out her human form, "I hope that is the only problem we encounter for now," Val sighed.

"Why did you jinx it?" Nataly asked as she changed her gun from the JDJ to the simple handgun that fit into the holster.

"Jinx it?" Val asked as they started to walk looking for the path.

"It means something like 'cursing yourself to misfortune'," Nataly said as she pointed out a road in the distance.

"I see and once we get to this road would you like to test out your third skill since I didn't want you to enslave my whole nest," Val giggled as she remembers the first test which cause all the dragons within view of Nataly to become aroused, "Thankfully we managed to get into the house to avoid the huge orgy that followed," Val muttered.

"Hey I did say sorry and I do regret it," Nataly said guilty as she turned up her attraction to 15 percent.

As they walked down the road Val grabbed Nataly and held her still as the surrounding forest went quiet, "Val whats wrong?" Nataly asked noticing the quiet.

"Something powerful is coming," Val said as she turned in place ears twitching eyes fully contracted, "This creature is old and powerful but where is it?" Val said as she searched for it.

Nataly increased her power to thirty percent and waited, after a few moments a truly massive millipede monster whose was color yellow with purple zig zag lines across it's body came from the underbrush and raised it's front portion to a ten foot height, Val carefully moved beside Nataly watching the creature in front of it, "Nataly that's a diapede and judging by it's color it's a wind based one close to unlocking it's secondary element and by the looks of it it's lighting lighting," Val explained as she slowly stood her full height and said out loud, "Hello old one, do you wish us harm?" Val asked it.

The diapede lowered it's head and used it's large front feelers that moved with surprising dexterity and started to rub along Natalys body, "I think it likes me, let's try something," Nataly said as she slowly put her hand forward and closed her eyes.

The diapede twitched backwards and watched as Nataly held out her hand, it then rubbed and touched her hand and arm and after a few seconds it layed it's body down and started to encircle them.

Val growled like a dragon and the diapede stopped and started to rub and feel out Val and her wings and tail, it backed up and watched them while slowly encircling them, after it finished it layed it's head beside Nataly and use it's feelers to hold her close then a smaller second set of fellers felt her legs and hips out and after a few minutes of rubbing the diapede moved away and from it's head two thin but long pedipalps emerged to rub the feelers down and bring it back to the mouth.

Upon seeing this Nataly further increased the attraction up to seventy five percent and the diapede stopped and slowly turned it head sideways as two large mandibles slid out forming a circle with the points touching and started to click rapidly chittering to Nataly as Val started to giggle with the air filling up with a sweet scent, "Dear divines it thinks your a mate!" Val said as she started to laugh.

"What!?" Nataly said as she turned to Val then back to the diapede and watched as it started to dance from side to side, "What do I even do and can it even have sex?" Nataly asked with a slightly hysterical voice.

"Yes it can, diapedes are hermaphrodites by nature they can lay eggs either fertilized or not and diapedes have the unique nature of being able to breed with any species and have been known to find races man and use them as either incubators or donators and from what I recall it's pleasant and harmless," Val said remembering her teachers lessons, "Sometimes they breed with dragons and the offspring can be very interesting if it mixes but most times the offspring are diapedes with odd features such as hair or eyes that aren't insectoid," Val explained watching the diapede in front of them dance for Nataly, "If you don't want to breed with her you don't have to diapedes don't force themselves on anyone and are very intelligent," Val said as she sat back and watched them interact.

Nataly watched in fear as it danced but relaxed after Vals explanation, Nataly sighed and walked forward towards the diapede and it stopped dancing and lowered it's head as Nataly reached up and places her hand on it, Nataly closed her eyes and slowly pushed her conscious into it hoping to enter it's soul ocean.

The diapede froze in place and started to vibrate as it let Nataly in, Nataly entered it's soul ocean and stared in amazement at the massive pond and looked around the plain that had few trees but a lot of small brush until she spotted the Diapede curled up in a ball then slowly walked to Nataly with it's legs doing a smooth hypnotic wave motion and as it neared Nataly it rose face to face with her and unleashed it's emotions on her, Nataly felt a powerful attraction and urge to smile and hug the diapede but stopped herself she then sent her own feelings of friendship and companionship to the diapede as well as the english language in hopes of talking to it within the soul ocean.

The diapede flinched backwards and started to shake then it stopped and started to chitter and click it's mandibles and after a few moments it stopped and froze then it said in a deep slightly femine voice directly to Nataly's mind, "Please share your essence with me I want to create powerful offspring."

"I'm sorry but I'm not comfortable with the idea of being bred by you in that form, but I could learn to one day if you chose to be my friend and partner," Nataly responded as she held out her hand towards the diapede, "Also, what is your name?" Nataly asked it.

"I have no name but if you want to give me one I would agree to it and yes I would like to be your partner if you'll let me," the Diapede said as she started to circle Nataly and rub her feelers on her legs.

"I don't mind if you join us since i'm looking for as many friends as possible but a name," Nataly said as she started to think and then she looked down and said, "What about Lily?" Nataly asked as she noticed the bright purple on the shell.

"Lily..." the diapede whispered as it stopped moving and lifted it front part up to Natalys eye level and said, "I like it, I would be glad to be called Lily," Lily said as she started to move and dance happily.

Nataly laughed and then stepped back, "I'll leave first ok," Nataly said as she pulled herself out of Lily's soul ocean.

When Nataly opened her eyes she saw that Lily had flattened out and was now beside them, "I need to go somewhere would you like to join me?" Lily asked Nataly and Val mentally.

"Seen as we have no true destination I see no harm in it," Val said as she recovered from the shock of hearing lily speak for the first time.

"Same here and may I ask where it is where going?" Nataly said as she hopped onto Lily's back.

"We are going to a small human village called Blostreak, I have an old friend there that helps with my shedding and also being the mother of my offspring," Lily said as she moved at an incredible pace forcing Nataly to duck near her shell and Val to tuck her wings in and lean forward.

"Wow, I can't wait to see it," Nataly said as all three rocketed forward.

As the trio moved forward Nataly asked Lily some questions, "Lily may I ask what you can do ability wise?"

Lily responded while she maneuvered around trees and bushes, "Well I can use three air based abilities, One lets me create a barrier or wall that blocks things that are thrown or shot at me and my second one is a line that knocks small creatures over and can slow larger creatures but my final ability is the most dangerous, I create a curved line like my holders or mandibles as you call them and it cuts everything in it's path and the largest thing I've ever cut was the neck of a fire boar as it is called by the people of Blostreak," Lily responded as she climbed out of a shallow gully and into the view of a large village with oddly shaped walls.

Nataly sat up and smiled, "Let's go I'm excited and can't wait to see this place."

"Remember to be careful and not let people know that your not from this world ok. Once it gets out that you're a hero every nation will fight to have you as their symbol of power," Val said as they moved toward the villages, once they got closer Nataly realised that the oddly shaped walls where actually Lilys old exoskeleton.

When the guards noticed Lily they waved and Lily let loose a large squeal and when they reached the doors all the villagers were lining up along the streets to wave and cheer Lily's arrival, "Lily why are they so happy to see you?" Nataly asked as they quickly moved through the village to a large building where Lily entered and stopped within a large space that had no windows and magical runes carved along it.

"Because my shell is the hardest thing in the world making it the best defense from outside attacks, I've fought those elder beast twice in my life and have taken their fire multiple times. It still hurts from the heat but the attack bounces off," Lily said as she curled up and started to look around.

The small double door opened and an old woman stepped out with a young woman beside her and once they got closer Lily leaned down and started to rub them both down and then pressed her forehead to each of them, after the greeting the old woman spoke, "Hello my old friend I'm afraid this is the last time we get to meet."

"Then let me say farewell my old friend," Lily said as she used her pedipalps and Feelers to hold the woman close.

The old woman looked surprised and then laughed heartily, "Finally after so many years I finally hear your voice then feel it."

Nataly and Val backed up and walked towards the younger women, Nataly stopped and stared in disbelief at the person in front of her.

Instead of two arms the woman had six three on each side and all of them were thin and insect like while instead of fingers they looked like feelers. She had four legs that ended in points and not feet and her body was human shaped but with an exoskeleton that was coloured with an orange like fire color with swirls of blue yellow and brown.

The woman cleared her throat causing Nataly to look up and flinch slightly at the human shaped head but instead of a normal jaw she had mandibles that looked nearly identical to human mouth and when she spoke they opened slightly, "You two are new and since you came with dad follow me," she said while signalling for them to follow her.

As they walked to the door Nataly looked back and watched as Lily cradled the women while singing a song using long chirps and squeals the song started to make Val and Nataly tear up until the door closed behind them, "You said dad? So I would be right in guessing that your a mixed child which from what I understand is really rare?" Nataly asked the woman in front of them.

"Yes," She responded as she led them to a meeting room where she sat down and gestured to the couch opposite of her, once Nataly and Val sat down she leant forward and offered her hand, " Welcome to Blostreak, I am Navia daughter of the town leader and Guild master of adventurer's guild, may I know your names and why you came here with dad?"

"My name is Nataly and this is Val, I come from a northern village on the other side of the mountains, Val is the only beast fold I know and she convinced me to leave the Village and explore the world and so far the lack of snow and ice is nice," Nataly lied as she recalled the story that her and Val came up with.

"I see and how did you two run into my father?" Navia asked.

"Randomly in the woods," Nataly said.

"I see and now I would like to know what you plan to do after leaving here," Navia asked while leaning back and giving them a curious look.

"See the world explore and maybe try to make something of myself and see where we go," Nataly responded truthfully.

"Well I only got one untruth from the spell on the couch and that was the first question so tell me the truth," Navia said as the heat in the room increased.

"Okay," Nataly said as she leaned back then looked at Val and Val nodded, "We come from the Northern dragon nest and where lovers," Nataly said and hoped whatever spell was being used wasn't searching for details.

"I can tell your hiding something but most people do so I'll let you go for now and if you have picked up any monster corpses or plants bring them upstairs and they'll pay for the material," Navia said as she stood up and waved them to the door.

Nataly stood and asked, "We did get something but it's very large is their anywhere we can go to have it looked at?"

"Yes let me summon the local merchants and meet us in the hall, you two just go down the hall and turn right you'll see the plack," Navia said as she walked out and held the door for them.

Nataly and Val walked out and followed Navias directions until they entered a large area, Nataly took a few steps forward then held out her hand and said, "My home return the body of the elder rasque to me," as Nataly opened her eyes the elder rasque dropped from an invisible door and landed in front of Nataly shaking the building with it's dead weight.

After half an hour of waiting a large burly man with a short red beard and bald head walked in with Navia beside him, they both stopped and stared at the frost covered body of the elder rasque and gaped, "HOW DID YOU KILL THAT!?" Navia screamed as she ran up to the corpse and look it over and stop and studied the gaping wound in the neck, "That's how," Navia whispered and then looked to Nataly and Val, "Please tell me what happened."

Nataly looked to Val as Val thought then nodded back, "It ambushed us as we were traveling, after a fierce battle including Val using her most powerful spell and me using my unique magic did we kill it," Nataly explained.

Navia eyes narrowed and focused on us for a few seconds then she let out a deep sigh, "If that is true then both of you have the makings a hero or at least a supreme rank adventurer. Your talents will attract all kinds of people, good and bad and to avoid that would you consider joining the adventurers guild?" Navia asked us as the red bearded man walked around the corpse.

"Before you two go I'll give you six platinums for this whole corpse," the man said as she slapped the back.

"Could you instead make us armour and weapons?" Nataly asked.

"Easily and they will be the best in the human territory, I'll also drop the money to four platinums," the man said as he walked over to Nataly, Val and Navia.

Nataly held out her hand and smiled "Sounds like a deal," The man laughed and shook her hand.

"By the way my name is Hugo I run the smithy and butchers, you ever get a good monster like this one and I'll give you a deal on it," Hugo said as he walked out and yelled, "GATHER THE BUTCHERS AND GET ALL THE CARTS OVER TO THE GUILD," as he finished four people ran down the hall and out the building.

"Leave this here and follow me, I'll help you sign up if you want to join," Navia said leading the way.

"Think we should join the guild?" Nataly asked Val as they walked.

"Yes but be careful about revealing your true powers," Val whisper as they entered the reception area that had a number of races all dressed in various fashions and equipped with various weapons and staffs, Navia smiled and nodded to some as she continued to the side door that read 'main office'.

As Navia held the door open for Nataly and Val they walked up with every pair of eyes following them, once the door closed Nataly finally started to breath again, "I hate crowds," Nataly muttered as they walked up to a large arc made of glowing blue stone.