Clyde gave Seth a stern warning about protecting his prophet . He organized the party into manageable positions . The loli wouldn't get off his back, so he had no choice but to make adjustments to account for the right hand . Matsume wasn't officially Team Stone, but as her princess's bodyguard, she made the cut . Neko was…well, Neko .

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[Vanguard: Natalia (right hand), Alice, Toru, Chika . ]

[Mid-guard: Ruri, Matsume, Neko (observer), Tear . ]

[Special: Melody]

[Rear-guard: Seth, Ming, Yusuke (not on board) . ]

[Snipers/back-guard: Kitome, Yuki, Harumi (main healer) . ]

Off the party went, following Ruri's nose . Despite being a.s.signed the mid-guard, she'd start at the front to lead the way . The h.e.l.lhound princess took them through block after block, then eventually outside of the city—nearly a half-hour's run! Clyde thanked his stats or Natalia would've been ditched . No way in h.e.l.l he'd run that long with a brat on his back .

"He really ran this far," Alice said .

"Your brother is not cute," Chika snapped at Kitome . "You'd better do something about his att.i.tude before I do . "

Kitome glared at her .

"When I find a way to stop men from making bone-headed decisions, I'll be sure to let you know . "

They both shared a laugh .

"Women," Toru said . "Think they know it all . Am I right or am I right?"

"d.a.m.ned right dude," Seth said .

"Nya, if I recall, it was a man that decided to charge to his death against a bunch of super-deadly samurais," Neko said .

"He's a knucklehead, but he's doing it to save a girl," Seth said . "That's a man's pride, cat-dudette . You would never understand . "

"Nya, how stupid," Neko said . "Humans are strange . "

"At least there's one thing we agree on, cat," Alice said .

"Nyaaa," Neko laughed .

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"Heads up, we've got company," Melody said as they approached a forest . "I can sense their approach . "

"Already?" Yuki said . "We're at least five miles from the rift . "

"Maybe the boss like to keep his guard scattered out," Clyde said .

"They're not samurai," Ming said .

"You sure?" Melody said . "I'm sensing hostiles . "

"I think they're stray demons," Ming said . "They were headed in the direction we were, but I guess upon sensing us, decided a snack was more important . "

"I'd like a snack," Natalia said, soliciting everyone's blank stares . Even Alice's, though Clyde wouldn't doubt his life mate secretly agreed . The loli shrugged .

"Focus," Tear said . "I'm already in quite the p.r.i.c.kly mood . I have work to get done . "

"Succubus stuff?" Seth said, gaining her glare .

"Do not make such silly accusations," Tear snapped . "I…can't remember the last time I absorbed spirit energy . My heart only belongs to one . "

Alice gaped at her .

"Tear, you really shouldn't—"

"There they are," Harumi interrupted .

A group of nine f.u.c.king skeletons approached them, dressed in rusty leather armor, and carrying old blades . The skeletons… Annoying in every video game, they finally showed up . They were a variety of heights from tall to average and at least one short . Clyde took notice of a tenth enemy—someone who was not quite a skeleton . At least not the traditional bones . A monster girl .

She was of average height, wearing half a mask made of bone on the left side of her face . Her eyes were red, but the left eye glowed . Long silver hair draped down her back . Her…arms and legs were just bone . Everything else was as naked pale human flesh as any other living being . Besides the scantily clad bone armor .

Of course, anime would make something like this look…what's that word, "Moe," Clyde thought . He was just glad to not be on Earth to see the equivalent if it existed .

He a.n.a.lyzed one skeleton and the monster girl .

Generic skeleton

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Level: 57

Type: Monster

Work under: the ring leader of the Skulls .

Special: varies on the abilities implanted in them upon creation .

Weakness: earth, ice, taint .

Resistances: dark, evil, necro .

Secret: no memories detected…Just bones .

Skeleton girl- Lola, ring leader of the Skulls .

Level: 100

Type: Monster

Work under: N/A

Special: Lewd bind (If a man is caught in this, he will be unable to move until released . You should already know what will happen next . All HP and MP will be halved . He will be inflicted with exhaustion . )

Weakness: none .

Resistances: dark, evil, necro .

Secret: memories of past life are very fuzzy . Sp.a.w.ned her skeleton servants out of loneliness .

Everyone unsheathed their weapons, if they utilized any, and faced down the approaching enemies .

"Battle formation five," Clyde said . "Everyone, maintain your positions and mow them down . Matsume, get your level one hundred a.s.s on that skeleton girl . Natalia, get off me . "

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"No-can-do," she said .

"You know I can't fight like this," he said .

"Nii—ugh," Natalia grunted .

Alice tossed her to the ground, eyes cold . "No messing around in battle . Lives are at stake . "

Natalia sighed .

"Fine, fine . " She raised her golden staff . "Watch this . "

"Let's go before takes all the kills," Matsume said, eyes full of excitement . She howled and hooted in excitement . Ruri blushed, seemingly embarra.s.sed . Facepalming, she looked at Clyde expectedly .

"Attack!" Clyde ordered . He was glad that he activated all of his mediation skills before getting this far . Toru unleashed a brawl shout, buffing the party . Unsurprisingly, the skeleton girl ignored Matsume and charged right for him . Toru's monster girl spirit energy, never failing .

"Dammit Toru, even boney mutants?" Seth said . "Tsk tsk . "

[Your party has entered combat!]

Clyde rushed into the fray, secretly glad to be back in the mist of battle . Maybe this feeling was an old human instinct that not even modern-day earthlings could escape? He dropped the thought as he engaged the first skeleton, parrying its sword with Ludacris and hacking off its head . He only briefly glimpsed the others seemingly enjoying themselves . There weren't enough skeletons for him to go back into battle .

"I'm a little disappointed," Clyde said . "One-hit K-O from a level fifty-seven . Oh wait, I'm level seventy-one . "

The skeletal remains burst into the purple flame of desp.a.w.ning . Soon, the entire area was lit up like a poisonous bonfire .

He turned and was happy to see Matsume fighting Lola, not Toru getting raped .

"Wrap it up, Matsume," Clyde said . "We've got to go . "

[Lola activated a Hidden Skill: Multi-lewd bind . ]

Seemingly hundreds of ghostly tendrils of magic shot out in all directions .

[Melody activated Magic burner . ]

With an outstretched delicate hand, the trickster ejected a wave of blue and white flames, which engulfed the skeleton girl . Her magic vanished .

"Nice!" Clyde said .

"Toru, you're still in the clear," Seth said .

"Oh shut it, toad-boy," Toru said .

[Enemy HP has dropped to 35%]

Clyde closed the combat log and watched Matsume dash forward to finish the job . An aurinfused punch and a kick later, the skeleton was dead, its purple flames whisking out of existence .

[Battle completed . Victory! Reward: 21000 EXP and $1000 . ]

"Come on, we've lost enough time," Kitome barked . Everyone double-timed .

From above, literally midair, He watched, red cloak fluttering in the wind .

"d.a.m.n, I'd really like to stay for the samurai fight . b.l.o.o.d.y, Stone Maidens . Sometimes I regret taking the oath to serve . They're nothing but a bunch of pouting women . "

He gave the Stone a mocking salute, fist to chest, before making the Jump midair .

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