They returned to their detachment to go over what to do next. With Praijya and Sol in one place, Kanae had the chance to rout two of the Harpy King's top brass. However, with Renya in enemy hands, they were at an even greater disadvantage than just a number difference.

Everyone had rested up by the time they got back. All there was left to do was to come up with a plan before nightfall. One hundred able-bodied soldiers, a Saint Priest, two Knights of Colors, and an antsy Rown Company employee…

"Red, what's our chances of Elirashj helping?" Kanae asked.

"Well, Breezy? You willing to give a hand?" Red knocked on her own noggin.

The scorching winds of Savir swelled just a bit.

"I do not appreciate that nickname, little pheasant." Elirashj, the elemental lord, took form behind the Knight of Red and picked up the sand at their feet.

"Breezy?" Kanae raised a brow.

"Haha! Elirashj is too hard to pronounce, so I call her Breezy. We yap back and forth a lot inside my head, and she sounds like a breeze in the wind. Breezy!" Red flashed a grin.

"You seek more of my aid beyond our original agreement, and yet I have received none of what I was promised. Facing the Harpy King and Uzazzsa's pathetic rabble is not my duty. Your job is to get me to them, that is all." She folded her arms.

Smoking from her pipe, Camilla exhaled a flavorful puff that was absorbed into the elemental lord's cloud-like lower body. Elirashj shuddered. She whirled around on the Saint Priest like a violent storm.

"C-Camilla!" Kanae whispered, motioning for her to put it out.

"Hm? Oh!" Camilla handed the pipe to the elemental lord.

Kanae slapped a hand to her face.

To their surprise, however, Elirashj accepted. Instead of taking a drag from the pipe, she emptied its contents and swept up the burning herbs into her body. Strong winds fed the embers, transforming her tornado body into a short-lived firestorm.

"From the dried petals of the Carsaic orchid flower. It has been centuries since I've tasted this. Magnificent. But not native to Savir. How did you acquire these herbs, beastman?" Elirashj demanded to know.

"I have my sources, and I can get you more provided that you help us," Camilla bargained. This content belongs to noveⅼfire.net

"Tsk. Very well. Your weapon, little pheasant. Present it to me," she said.

Red retrieved her ram skull maul resting against the side of the carriage. Elirashj breathed a whirlwind into it. The winds kicked all their hair up aflutter. Sands lifted into the air and battered them.

When the phenomenon subsided, the weapon looked no different. Red seemed unimpressed.

"Huh? What changed? It's like nothing—" Red swung into the open canyons and blasted a gale that ripped desert grass out from their roots. "Oh!"

Everyone's jaws hit the floor.

"What about me? I'm the one who made a deal with you!" Camilla pointed to herself.

"I can only affect my vessel. Even then, little pheasant, your weapon cannot withstand my storm. It may not last for much longer. You must obtain something stronger, and should you do, I will offer my breath to it as well," Elirashj explained before dissipating.

"Alright, we got an edge! I say we stomp right into Trombay and fight them right now," Red insisted, clearly eager to try her empowered weapon.

"Not so fast!" Kanae groaned. "We need a plan to fight them. We're outnumbered and possibly outmatched. If we can free Renya, the rest of the Rown who sided with Sol might switch sides again. That could add to our numbers. But we don't know where she's being held…"

Thedia emerged from the darkness and answered, "Not far inside the mines. I've just come back from meeting with my inside sources. They risk a lot by doing so. If you all can somehow draw the bulk of the Harpy King's forces, I'll sneak in to free my Lady Renya."

Then maybe the direct approach was their best option. The sun was beginning to set. Not much longer before they launched an attack on Trombay. While the others went to psyche themselves in their own way before a battle— Red scavenged for bones to eat, and Camilla brought out her special herbs to smoke— Kanae had a bit more planning to do on her own.

The tribe of large beastmen that Arenade had sent with them lounged about, waiting for the attack. They were strong and capable warriors, who wielded weapons just as big, brutish, and primitive as the Knight of Red's maul.

If there was one thing Kanae hadn't fully grasped the understanding of in this world yet, it was beastmen. Putting the many different species aside, there existed two types among them: the more human-centric and the more bestial-like. Races such as squirrelings and harpies shared many of the same features as humans and elves. Then there were those like minotaurs and lizardmen, whose faces were closer to their animalistic counterparts but walked on two legs.

For both, their offspring almost always took after one of the parents and not both in regards to physical appearance. Succubi and incubi notwithstanding, of course.

So, when Lilith explained that Arenade had volunteered Kanae to help with the beastmen tribe's dwindling population… that presented a rather awkward problem.

"Greetings, succubus! Are you here to fulfill your end of the arrangement?" a beefy rhinocerine beastman asked.

Before Kanae realized it, she had wandered up to the tribe.

"Yes— I mean, no! Getting pregnant during a war isn't exactly good timing! Unless you're a drakeling, I guess… To be honest, I still need to figure out how to help without making more succubus children. But for now, maybe you're willing to settle on a precursory reward?" Kanae stripped herself naked before them and felt their scalding hot stares.

Two dozen beastly cocks grew erect behind their loincloths. For the next two hours, Kanae let them do as they pleased with her. They fucked her pussy, ass, tail, and mouth. They painted her body in their seed. They marked her with their masculine scent.

The rhinocerine man, who had spoken to Kanae first, hooked a finger in her mouth and pistoned into her from behind. His powerful thrusts created ripples on her plump ass. Sex with them was so incredible, she felt like a bitch in heat existing only to serve their sexual appetite.

"Oh, my god… Yes! Don't stop fucking me! Your big cocks are driving me crazy… I just want more!" Kanae cried.

"Quit hogging her. The rest of us wants to go for another round," someone said.

"She clearly likes me best. But fine." The rhino beastman blew his load into her and let go.

Kanae fell to the ground, only to have another wave his fat dick in her face. She licked ravenously and nuzzled the long, throbbing veins. When she opened her mouth wide, the beastman pushed his dick down her throat. He massaged her neck with one hand, using his thumb to rub where it bulged.

"Mm… shllrrpp… mmm~" Kanae swallowed his incredible load and reached down to squeeze his balls for the rest.

As the sun set, their lust started winding down. The last among them, an equine beastman, had Kanae pinned to the ground, giving her the mating press when someone came looking for her.

"Amethyst! It's nightfall. Time to— Eugh. What smells like fish left out in the sun?" Red pinched her nose shut and asked.

"I'm… over here…" Kanae flailed a hand from underneath the mountain of beastman muscle still pounding her pussy.

"Alright, you. Get off my colleague." The harpy woman grabbed his shoulder and pushed him backwards.

In doing so, his shapely equine manhood popped right out and sent Kanae spiraling into another orgasm.

"Damn, Amethyst. You're an animal! Is getting fucked before a battle just a succubus thing to do?" Red asked.

"I had my reasons… Whew." Kanae jumped to her feet, cleaned herself with Prestidigitation, and got dressed. "It's too bad none of them are crowned. I didn't get a single skill from them! Ugh."

The sun had set. Stars claimed the night sky, and soon the symphony of battle would be its ambience. Without the blazing sun to slow them down, Kanae marshaled her soldiers to march onto Trombay.

Harpy scouts saw them coming and flew back to the mining settlement, but having their presence known didn't matter anymore. Kanae and Red flew at the head of the army, and they motioned for them to halt just over a hundred meters from the town.

Elusis' own army awaited them within the village. A thousand strong, composed of harpy soldiers, lesser elementals without vessels, and Rown henchmen. Kanae nodded to Red, who stepped forward. Someone from Trombay fired an arrow. It plunged into the earth just a few feet away from her.

"Praijya! Don't pretend you don't recognize me! I'm here to grind you into dust and break your wings!" the Knight of Red boomed.

"Sivvy Brenhallow?" Praijya landed across the way from them, her dark brown plumes ruffled and on edge.

Praijya took the bait! That harpy had always been a hot head. Without Nasiri around to rein her in, she was just a loose cannon.

"And the succubus, Kanae, too. I heard from reports that you two escaped Buhar. I didn't believe it. Nasiri couldn't possibly lose to you two, but here we are. Our supply lines have slowed down, too. Let me guess: that was your doing?" Praijya asked.

"Hardly. Maybe everyone back home is just tired living under a tyrant. Your Harpy King only cares about conquering Savir to be its Grand Sultan. What kind of sultan ignores the needs of their people? Especially when half of them are going to drown in a flood?" Kanae chided.

The harpy laughed. She laughed so hard that it was uncharacteristic of the savage and bloodthirsty countenance she carried about herself.

"That just means less mouths to feed. And when Elusis turns into a lake, the desert around Shamsir ridge will be a verdant paradise," Praijya said thoughtfully.

"You're a monster… Ujit would never have wanted that!" Kanae cried.

"Well, maybe the ones living on the surface should try being born with wings in the next life." She sneered.

"You guys talked enough. Praijya, you and me. Harpy versus harpy. Fight me, unless you're chicken!" Red roared.

Praijya's eyes glistened with bloodlust. She walked forward, stepping into the moonlight. Its silver glow illuminated her brutish clawed gauntlets and a larger scythe affixed to the end of her long braid. They emitted the soft crimson hue of felmetal.

"You want to die one by one? Be my guest. I'm ready for you whenever, Sivvy!" Praijya howled.

The Knight of Red soared into battle. Praijya sidestepped her maul as it cratered the ground. She retaliated with an upward slash, leaving behind a deep and bloody gash. They dashed back from each other. Praijya smirked up until Red offered a bigger smile. One swing of the maul wiped her opponent's smile away with a battering gust.

Everyone behind Praijya was blown away. The harpy unfurled her wings to catch flight. Meanwhile, Red rode the wind right up to her and brought down the maul on her head. She hit the ground hard.

"You're… infused with an elemental?" Praijya gasped, pushing herself up.

"Elemental lord. Breezy wanted me to make sure you knew that. Well, bitch? How do you like me now?" Red descended on her like a meteor. "Enchant Weapon: Burning!"

The maul ignited. Fed by the winds of an elemental lord, it grew into an inferno.

"Nullification!" Praijya's signature Spellbreaker skill cancelled Red's spell effect, reverting it back to a maul empowered only by winds.

Their weapons clashed. But the Knight of Red's ram-head maul was beginning to show signs of wear. Cracks and fissures formed all over the skull each time she used Elirashj's power of wind.

Kanae chewed on her thumb. What was taking Thedia so long? She was supposed to sneak in during all this and find Renya. Something must have gone wrong. Sol wasn't even here.

"Shit!" Red cursed as Praijya assaulted her with a flurry of swipes.

"Is this all you've got? If Radevic is just full of pathetic fighters like yourself, then the Harpy King should have no problem conquering the rest of the continent next!" Praijya cackled as she reached a battle high.

Something electrified the air. Static surged across the fabric of Kanae's regalia. Her skin tingled. Everyone behind her felt something was off, too.

"Globe of Protection!" Red desperately conjured a defensive dome barrier around herself. But the spell fizzled out. She tried to cast it again, only to wince in pain. "What… happened to me?"

"Mana Burn happened. Everytime I land a blow on you, it saps the mana from your body. You're out, Sivvy. I win again!" Praijya lifted her left arm to the sky and called down a bolt of lightning, electrifying the claw in her other hand.

Red raised her ram-head maul up to parry the attack just in time— but the skull shattered. An incredible burst of wind knocked both of them away. Praijya skidded back to her army, while a defeated Red rolled across the ground weaponless.

"An elemental lord." Praijya tried to stifle her laughter but erupted anyway. "Puhahaha! I believe it. You just weren't strong enough to wield that power. But I am. Time to die."

Kanae was about to step in until a lighter gust of wind passed by her.

Praijya got as far as a single step before Camilla appeared behind the harpy, rapier leveled at the back of her head. Even the Left Talon of the Harpy King was stunned.

"When did you get behind me?" Praijya growled.

"You just insulted Radevic." Camilla shifted her pipe from one corner of her lips to the other. "Called its people 'pathetic fighters'. Personally, I can take a lot of insults. Delayn scolds me all the time for being lazy and smoking too much. But I won't stand for you calling those better than me pathetic fighters. I am one of eight Saint Priests, the best Radevic has to offer. I've trained under the best duelists the Empire of Ortesia has to offer. I also love a good smoke! My name is Camilla Rudeux, crowned Fencer! En garde!"

Snarling, Praijya spun around and slashed high. Camilla ducked the first swipe and jumped over the second that came low.

"You can't dodge everything!" Praijya launched into another flurry that had tired Red out.

"Perfect Parry!" Camilla's rapier moved so fast it was a blur and parried every single attack.

"Nullification!" The harpy tried to nullify the effects of the Saint Priest's defensive ability but failed. "What?!"

"Martial Skills aren't spells, silly! Now you've left yourself open here, and here, oh and here! Here, too!" Her rapier stabbed Praijya so quickly, puncture wounds seemed to appear out of nowhere in an instant.

Kanae watched in disbelief. So, this was a Saint Priest when they didn't need to hold back anymore.

"Amethyst, quit dawdling and get Red!" Camilla shouted.

"Right!" Kanae rushed in to pick up the sulking harpy and cast Restore Mana. "Feeling better?"

"I lost… I can't beat her…" Red muttered.

"Grrr. Attack! All of you, overwhelm them with sheer numbers! Kill them all except Queen Kanae Toyomi!" Praijya ordered in desperation.

An army of one thousand charged across the battlefield, threatening to trample over the Commonwealth's much smaller force.

"Archers, fire at will! Footsoldiers, form up! Beastmen tribe, Bond!" Kanae empowered ten of the largest and strongest ones she had sex with earlier, bulking their muscles up several times.

It was do or die now.