My (Monster?) Hero Life

Kace was sprawled on the ground rolling in the dirt to extinguish the flames that Phillip had covered him in to buy himself the time needed to save Tyler's life. His heat vision had clearly shown him the shape of the cold hand forming through the fog, making it an easy target for him.

"Get out of there, you moron!" He shouted, hoping that Tyler had enough sense to listen. He was at a complete disadvantage as long as he stayed within that area.

Meanwhile, a fast and vicious catfight was underway on the other side of the cave. Sophia was completely dominating Sarah in terms of speed. Leaving her with no room to retaliate. Every time she attempted to gain some distance, Sophia would be close her heels. The vampiress inflicted only superficial wounds upon her victim. Driving her into a corner.

Sarah lunged with her shortswords after another failed escape attempt. The blow predictably failed to connect as the silver hair danced around her vision. Sarah found her back pressing against Sophia's larger chest. Her long nails caressed her cheek in a caring manner.

Sarah yelped as Sophia dug her nail in and drew a droplet of blood. Jumping away from her clutches, she could only watch as Sophia's grey eyes turned crimson as she playfully licked the blood from her nail. After a quick taste, she spat the tiny amount of blood back out and grimaced.

"Disgusting!" Sophia stated as she glared at Sarah.

Sarah had no idea why but the harmless comment wounded her pride somewhat. She was growing sick and tired of the cat and mouse game the vampiress was playing with her. It was time for a do or die move. Her brows furrowed as she concentrated on summoning her mana.

Grugda had his hands full in holding off the superior numbers of the heroes. The crew of the 'Freedom' had run out of projectiles, and their magic pistols were completely spent. Forcing them to engage in close combat with the few remaining weapons they still had to hand.

Despite Grugda's best efforts, their numbers were slowly dwindling. If they were wiped out, the heroes would focus on swarming him. Glancing around at the overall situation, Grugda felt a sinking feeling in his gut. He could tell that even though they had all put forth their best efforts, they were slowly but surely losing the overall battle.

He grimaced as due to his momentary distraction a hero had taken the chance to bite into his flesh with her axe. It sunk deep into the muscle before being stopped in its tracks by his bone. The pain was excruciating, with a savage roar, he opened the ground up beneath her and buried her alive. Her precious axe was still lodged in his arm.

The walls that he had been keeping up the whole time crumbled as his mind became distracted. With a groan, he realised that it was the signal for the beginning of the end for their group.

Realising the dire situation that Grugda and the crew were in Raven and Sophia could no longer indulge their opponents. They disengaged from their duels and flitted to his side in time to prevent him from being cut down by the human wave of heroes.

Phillip rammed the toes of his boot into Kace's stomach. Causing him to wheeze in agony. His lungs were already scorched from the heat, nevermind forcefully expelling the air from them. He could only attempt to roll out of the way of another well-placed kick.

"What can you do? Without an army and without your tricks, you're nothing special!" Phillip sneered at his cornered enemy. Venting his past frustrations on him now that he had him firmly within reach. He still remembered the other spells that Kace had used before and decided it was better to end him now before he got the chance to reconsider using them.

He summoned his mana into his hand, forming it into a blade made of blue flames. He was going to make sure that he melted the monster's heart down to nothing. If he even had one. Before he could land the blow, a mass of mana swiftly gathered next to him. Forcing him to retreat in fear of it being a surprise attack from one of the others.

"Is that you're doing?" Raven asked Sophia and Grugda at the same time while gesturing towards the mana mass.

Both of them looked as surprised as he was. Which provided him with the answer he was searching for. 'Who the fuck is it then?' Raven wondered as he watched it begin to form into a large circular gate.

Sophia and Grugda felt the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. Only because they recognised the mana signature that was emanating from the other side of the spatial crack that had formed.

A large fist swiftly struck out from beyond the gate. Crashing into Phillip's body and sending him sprawling along the ground like a bowling ball. Feliks cursed as stepped through the spatial crack that he had created. Causing the heroes eyes to go wide with fear. They had never expected reinforcements to arrive for their enemies!

"You guys could have kept it down, you know! I was trying to rest to recover!" Feliks grinding voice called out to Sophia in irritation as he gestured at his wounds.

He spotted Kace's battered form sprawled on the ground. With a heavy sigh, he swept him up in one of his palms as easily waded through the heroes ranks to find himself beside the others.

"If you lot are in here then you must have passed the trial by the blood that the Queen left behind?" Feliks asked them, even though the answer was already crystal clear. "In that case, I'm duty-bound to grant you access to the gate. Buy me a few minutes until I activate it."

Tyler's face went pale as he heard the Cyclops say this. Combined with a massive amount of mana it was beginning to channel, he was afraid for what it would mean if the gate was activated now.

"KILL THEM!" Tyler roared, urgency filled every word.