Catching the direction of his eyes, the Barbarian woman blushed a deep red and then placed her hands on her stomach.
“Mother was happy. She wants a granddaughter. I… I don’t care what it is.”
Explains the weird looks Helen was giving me.
“Consider me jealous, dearest. I’m still waiting for my turn.”
“I’m glad, Kitten. Very glad. Sorry, Lady, we’ll have to try harder. Or more often. Or both,” Runner said with a grin.
Faye stepped up and then burned a hole in his forehead with her eyes, demanding his full attention.
“Alpha, flirting will need to wait. I’m not sure how much of the situation you’re aware of. I’m glad you’re here however. This is… it’s getting wildly out of hand.”
“Agreed, it’s definitely the reason I’m here. But, before we begin, I have to insist on one topic that needs to be discussed. Have you told them about everything I did, Sparky?”
“Yes, Alpha. They’re aware of everything up to this point.”
“Good. That makes it easy then. On a side note, Hanners accepted as well. She’s sleeping in your bed right now, Sparky.”
Runner targeted Thana and Katarina and tapped the marriage buttons respectively for them.
Before he’d finished reading the log messages that confirmed he’d sent the request, he got his answers back.
Katarina Saden has accepted your proposal.
Congratulations!
You are officially man and wife.
Thana Damalis has accepted your proposal.
Congratulations!
You are officially man and wife.
“Okay, uh, good.” Runner smiled at the two, whose last names had flipped over to his own surname.
Katarina smirked at him, one hand on her stomach. Thana quirked a brow as if expecting something further.
“Uhm, yeah. Okay. So, Rike has declared a holy war on top of everything. Everyone who is an actual worshiper of my pantheon should now appear as a blue dot on the map, and Rike’s are all red. I’m not really sure what that means beyond that though.”
Runner held up his hands in a frustrated gesture.
“That bitch goddess Rike has blocked me from speaking with the others. I can feel them pressing on the dome every now and then but can’t contact them.”
“Break it,” Katarina commanded.
“Haven’t really tried yet. No time and I’d have to open a portal to Eden to get the power for it I imagine.”
“A fair point, dearest. Perhaps we should take care of that now? I imagine your divine partners might have something to add. Or perhaps be able to explain the situation.”
“I agree with my pack sister,” Faye said, nodding her head severely.
“Right, then. Okay. One second.”
Runner closed his eyes and focused his mind on opening a portal to Eden.
It slid into existence quickly, and the light of dawn through the temple’s open doors spread throughout the tent.
Before he could do anything, Alexia and Milicent stepped through the portal. Trailing behind Milicent, Heilwig came as well, though she was clearly unsure of the situation.
She looked the same as he remembered her. She still looked Human but there was a difference he couldn’t quite determine.
Alexia and Milicent found Runner with their eyes and moved before him. Both of them fell to their knees and stared up at him.
Heilwig fell in behind them and prostrated herself, pressing her forehead to the grass.
“Behold,” Runner said to them, laying it on thick. “Our war with Rike comes to a close. On this day, we battle her armies. I shall be taking the field directly along with the rest of the pantheon. I have need of your services.
Alexia’s eyes shone with a determination that made Amelia look like a lovesick puppy.
“Command me,” Alexia pleaded.
“Pray, High Priestess. Your prayers are the greatest asset to me, more than anything else. Honest, earnest prayers.” Runner laid a hand to the top of Alexia’s head and blessed her.
To anyone else it would simply be a blessing, to her, it was a reinforcement of her faith.
“Your will, my god-emperor,” Alexia whispered. She got up and nearly tripped at her own eagerness, scuttling back through the portal and calling out to her flock.
Thana, Katarina, and Faye all looked shocked. Runner could imagine it was strange. To them, he was Runner; to many others, he was the god-emperor of Bastion.
“Heilwig, raise your head. I do not seek subservience,” Runner addressed the ex-champion, before turning his eyes to Milicent.
“What have you decided, Paladin Commander? Is she worthy of serving?” Runner fixed Milicent with his gaze.
The big eyed Half-Ogress gazed back at him in a manner similar to Alexia’s.
“She will serve. She now knows of your glory.”
“Please, God-Emperor. Let me serve. I knew nothing. Your champion was glory incarnate. I was but a brute. A thug. Please. Let me serve,” Heilwig begged.
“So be it. Milly, I will send you to my armory now. Please collect gear for her based on your personal opinions of her needs. You will have ten minutes or so. In addition, there’s a set of plate mail on a shelf by itself. Please collect that for the lady Katarina,” Runner said, looking back to the big woman who made Thana look like a child.
Runner held out a hand and pressed it to Milicent’s cheek. Triggering his GMHub ability, he focused on the workshop.
/GMHub 7
Teleporting…
/GMHubReturn
Teleporting…
“Now. Let’s get rid of that dome,” Runner said as he returned.
Opening himself to the waves of power flowing through the portal, he gathered up the entirety of his divine pool. Even as he felt the pool empty, it refilled, again, and again, and again.
When it got to the point that Runner couldn’t see anything through the glow of his holy power, he decided it was time.
Then he struck a single piercing blow against the dome of Rike’s power, expending everything in one moment.
It shattered like a piece of glass forced too far. Rike’s shriek could be heard throughout the land the dome had covered and scratched at the inside of Runner’s mind.
Trailing that shriek like a wolf on the hunt, Runner launched a second jab at Rike with whatever power Alexia had summoned up in those two seconds.
Wailing in agony, Rike fled the continent of Tirtius entirely. Runner felt her leave back to the mainland.
Then he felt his pantheon as they returned.
To him they felt wane, tired, a little underfed. Sickly.
They’d tried to break the dome from their side, though they’d had few worshipers to work with.
Worried, he enveloped his divine partners and brought them into the power of Alexia’s devotions. He force-fed them on those heavy prayers, pushing his own power back through them over and over until it felt like they might individually burst.
Then fed them more to make sure.
Amelia popped into existence, looking drunk and flushed.
“No more, lovey. Please. No more of your own power. Fuck me. Now I know how your wives feel.” Amelia grabbed onto a table to steady herself.
“Sorry, you three looked sickly. What about Brighteyes? Or Angel?” Runner asked, looking to Amelia.
“They’re more fucked up than I am. I got a taste of this last time you destroyed me, so it isn’t as bad for me. They’re trying to recover. I think I want to throw up. Too much, Runner,” Amelia said in a shaking voice.
“Sorry. Got a little nervous. Was worried,” Runner admitted sheepishly.
“Love you, too. Thanks for worrying. Not so much next time.” Amelia fell to her knees beside the table and rested her cheek on the wood.
“Holy war. It means that only one pantheon is leaving. She has a massive navy outside of Dover that will be attacking in a few hours. The army outside will do its best to prevent you from getting thr
ough to relieve the defenders,” Amelia explained.
“Got it. Anything else we need to know?”
“No. Call us when it’s time or when you know where you want the champions. We can act more freely in a holy war. Going now,” Amelia said and then winked out like a snuffed candle.
Runner let out a quick exhalation.
“Right, then. Don’t think it’s been ten minutes, but let me check on Milly. Then we can talk about plans.”
Before activating his ability, he began to close the portal to Eden. Alexia would get the picture. She was a smart cookie. They’d rest and wait for the portal to reopen.
/GMHub 7
Teleporting…
“You ready, Milly?” Runner called out as he looked around.
“Yes, my god. I took the liberty of picking up a few things for my own use,” called the Paladin. She stepped out from behind a rack of weapons and walked over to him.
“That’s fine. Every time you get a new Paladin you’ll be coming back here anyways. Might as well make sure you’re aware of what’s here. Let’s go then.”
Runner reached out and laid a hand on Milly’s forearm.
/GMHubReturn
Teleporting…
Targeting Heilwig as he popped back up, he took two steps over to her and laid a hand on her head.
Milicent moved over to Katarina and started handing her the plate mail Runner had asked her to pick up.
“Rejoice, Buttercup, you’ve been chosen. Serve me,” Runner demanded of her.
“Yes, God-Emperor,” Heilwig said. Her eyes were as wide as possible as she looked up at him.
Runner activated Confer Class Paladin. Heilwig looked like she’d been struck in the back of her head as her chin fell forward, the class change happening immediately.
“Milly, hand me her weapon?” Runner asked, looking to Milicent. He held out his hand to her. Two wicked looking hand axes were dropped into his open hand. It would seem Milicent had decided his Paladin order would wield axes.
Runner channeled his holy power into the weapons until the divine bar was empty. The axes flared brilliant as they were infused with holy power.
“Buttercup, here are your weapons. Serve me well and adhere to your commander’s orders,” Runner said, resting the axe heads beside Heilwig’s knee, their handles settling against her thighs. “Out of curiosity, what race are you?”
“A Were, God-Emperor. Milicent said you didn’t discriminate and Weres are powerful creatures,” she admitted, a little nervous sounding. Her hands reached over to grip her new weapons. Runner gave her a nod of his head at the statement.
“She’s right. I don’t care about whatever you are, but only who you are. Now”—Runner looked to Faye, Thana, and Katarina—“let’s get that plan put together.”
Faye shrugged her shoulders at that. “Already done, Alpha. I’ve arranged the troops in such a deployment to limit the damage those wagons might do. We got a taste of them in a skirmish. Shields up front, cannons to tear out their middle and aim for the wagons.”
Faye turned to gesture at the table where all the pieces were laid out. “We believe the wagons might be utilized in a similar function as the cannons. Our line could be longer but I had to limit how many shield bearers were in each row to provide protection.”
She adjusted one of the black pieces of the map that was a smidgen out of line.
“I have most of my mages near the middle and back to protect and attack. I have confidence we’ll triumph. I don’t believe we’ll win before Dover falls,” Faye admitted, straightening back up and meeting his gaze.
“Hence Lady Death and Kitten being here,” Runner said, controlling a sigh from escaping.
“Right, then. Proceed as you see fit. I’ll take the field outside of your plans with Milly and Buttercup. We’ll try to target their back line. Healers, casters, wagons.” Runner paused and swallowed, knowing he had to give another order.
One that could possibly get people he loved killed.
“I need Dover held. Kitten, Lady, can you hold it?” Runner asked, looking to the two women.
Both looked thoughtful and concerned at the same time.
“For a day. Maybe,” Katarina murmured.
“If that. I can’t promise it, dear heart.”
“What if all three of Tirtius’ champions joined you?” Runner offered.
“More likely. No guarantee. Is only another three fighters, even if they are stronger,” Katarina modified her original statement.
Runner took a slow steady breath and then pulled the trigger.
“Hold Dover. One day is all we need. Do you need anything?”
“No, dear heart. Faye immediately refilled our supplies the moment we arrived. We’ll depart after this.”
“I’ll go with you,” Hannah said from the entrance. She looked tired, and worn, though a little better.
“Thank you, Hanners. I’d appreciate that,” Runner said around the lump in his throat. He was sending three women he wanted nowhere near Dover straight into it.
Where the fighting would be the ugliest.
“Brighteyes, I’d like to request the three champions to Dover, as well as two of your number. The third will be with me on the field with the Paladins.”
“Consider it done. Amelia will join you,” Brunhild responded immediately.
“Right, then.” Looking to Thana, Katarina, Hannah, and Faye, Runner bowed his head. “Forgive me. I wish I had more time to dedicate to each one of you but we have a bitch goddess to ruin. My Paladins and I will take our place and wait for the attack.”
“Good. Be safe, Alpha.”
Katarina grunted.
“Until next time, dear heart.”
Turning on his heel, Runner moved to exit the tent. He stepped up next to Hannah and gave her a small smile.
“I promise we’ll have that talk you wanted when this is over,” Runner said quietly to her.
Hannah watched his face as he spoke and then gave a tiny nod of her head.
“Don’t die. I don’t want to be a fucking widow so soon.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Runner left the tent before his courage could flee him.
Behind him he heard Milicent and Heilwig fall in on each side of him.
“Paladins, I plan on calling attention to us. I plan on challenging anyone willing to step up. The more focus we can draw to us, the less that will be spent on our comrades.”
Runner angled his march for the far side of what would more than likely become the battlefield.
“Sparky will make them pay for every single person they send our way. If we can keep those wagons busy, or even take them out, all the better. Questions?”
“None, God-Emperor.”
“No, my god.”
“Good.” Runner said nothing more as they left the camp.
8:01 am Sovereign Earth time
5/25/44
“They always start so early,” Runner murmured, watching both sides of the conflict line up.
To his left, Heilwig stood silent, on his right, Milicent.
Heilwig shifted her holy axes from one hand to another, as if trying to decide which one to carry with which hand.
“Calm yourself, Buttercup,” Runner said with a grin, looking over at the woman.
“Sorry. First chance to prove myself, God-Emperor.”
“Hm. Minxy, care to join us soon?” Runner sighed and went through a final check of his equipment.
Amelia materialized at his feet, her back pressed to his shins. Her head swiveled a little as she watched the forming armies.
“What do you want me to do? I’m not really good at this… pitched battle thing,” Amelia said. “Would die for you though.”
The broken goddess tilted her head back to stare up at him.
“I know, Minxy. Honestly, what I want from you is to get in there and assassinate targets of importance. As many as you can,” Runner answered, looking down at her.
With a singl
e finger he poked her between her eyes.
“I can do that, lovey. Wouldn’t last long. It drains me to be here. Not everyone is a god among gods you know.”
Runner nodded his head and then reached down with both hands and started to waggle her eyebrows for her with his index fingers.
“Yeah, I know. Going to hook you up to my power source. I stole your pool for my own, but mine is still separate.”
“Oh. I’m yours to do with as you please. I’m getting used to being roughed up by you, but I really wish you’d treat me more gently. I’m a lady after all.”
Squishing her eyebrows together with his thumbs, Runner reached out with his divine senses and began probing at Amelia.
“What are you… are you trying to… kinda feels like…” Amelia frowned up at him.
“Trying to figure out where to hook into you. Should get you set up before this kicks off. Maybe regulate the flow so you don’t get sick again. Need you out there collecting skulls.”
In response to his statement, Amelia’s divine core unfolded itself completely and drew him in.
“Well that was strangely intimate,” Runner muttered. Drawing her eyebrows up into an arch, he smiled at her. “One second, Minxy.”
Glancing to the side, he eyed the portal he had opened earlier.
“Alexia, please begin,” Runner said loudly for the benefit of his high priestess.
Immediately he felt a torrent of power flowing into him, then spilling out of his full pool to disappear into nothing.
Concentrating on Amelia’s core, he opened her up and began forcing power into her through the link they’d made. He started with a small amount.
“Mmph. That’s already enough to keep me from running out. Maybe just a teeny bit more?” Amelia said, shuddering against his legs.
Opening the flow a little more, he watched Amelia for any type of indicator that he’d hit the limit.
“Okay, enough. Gonna pop me if you go more than that.”
Runner eased it off a fraction but left the power pump stuck in her.
“Have fun with that. Let me know if I need to amp it up if you do something particularly draining.” Runner pressed his palms to her cheeks, stretching her face out.
Otherlife Awakening: The Selfless Hero Trilogy Page 37