Volcanic Vacation

Through the volcanic rock lies a perfect opening, carefully crafted by the master of this maze, or is master of this trap more apropos? To the group, it matters not as they continue forward, being led by the fury contained in the form of a half-giant.

"How far does this thing go?" A giant asks.

"If what Hilfa said is true, then she's probably had close to two decades to set all this up." Another giant answers.

There's a sudden quiet that takes over, making everyone worry that another silence spell has been cast, but luckily that isn't the case as one of the giants poses a question.

"So, do yous think that Hilfa really was the one who... y'know?"

"Seems like it. The bitch has gone full crazy, ain't much of a stretch to think that she was kinda batshit back then. It was a mixed species village after all. Hilfa's always been a giant purist." One of the giant replies.

Another giant weighs in. "Could be that she was just yanking her chain. Wouldn't be too far out of the realm of possibility. It could've just been another part of this trap she's leading us into."

Up ahead, Karray is sitting on the shoulder of Clarva who is still storming ahead. "So, what'd you think's gonna be at the end of this? Altar? Little arena with pillars? Oooh, maybe a hidden ziggurat underneath all the molten lava with threatening to bust through!"

"I don't care. I'm going to crush her fucking skull regardless."

Karray takes a moment before responding. "A little dark, but I'm liking the confidence." Karray then flies around, getting in front of Clarva whilst flying backwards. "In all honest though, you need to be smart about this, C. Hilfa was obviously pushing your buttons, and whatever the human's plan was didn't help either. I just need you to be careful."

"There's no time to be careful. If we weren't so careful before, Hilfa would've been drowning in that fucking lava."

"Again, love the confidence, C, but you're thinking with your heart, and that ain't good for anyone right now."

"And what am I supposed to do, Kay?! Am I supposed to just let it go after she admitted to killing my father?!" Clarva asks, getting more infuriated. "I thought you of all people would be more understanding considering what happened with-."

"We promised to not talk about that!" Karray almost barks back before calming herself down just in time. As Karray feels the anger leaving her body, she can see the intensity is only growing in her best friend, so she decides to go with a softer approach. "C, we don't know that. How many times has someone tried to get under your skin? This is just another one of those times."

Clarva doesn't respond, instead, she just picks up the pace, forcing Karray to land on Clarva's shoulder once again. "C... just be careful, please? We already got split apart once, and I don't fancy making that a permanent thing."

"I don't plan on us being apart ever again." Clarva says, her voice a lot less sharp than before. "Good thing we're going to be watching each others backs, right?"

Karray smiles. "Hells yeah. But it ain't just us dealing with this either."

Clarva turns her head for the first time, seeing the Queen, her giants, and John along with his group. Clarva's disdain for the Queen and the giants is incredibly obvious, but she has to admit that she's at least glad they can be there, even if they're just there to distract Hilfa.

John's group is a completely different story. Clarva didn't quite know what to make of them when they arrived, but she had a good feeling when Terra refused to back down for even a moment when it came to recruiting her. It may have seemed very unlikely to work, but considering where they are right now? They absolutely overshot all expectations. While Clarva hates to admit it, she owes it to those six for getting this opportunity to do something she and Karray have dreamed about for literal decades.

"Should we get them a fruit basket or something?" Karray asks, taking Clarva out of her thoughts.

"What?" The half-giant responds.

"The way you were looking at the human and his friends. I just figured you wanted to do something big to thank them for getting us here."

Clarva chuffs. "I'll think about it once we get out of here. No point planning any gifts to give as thanks if we're drowning in lava."

"True. So, let's make sure we don't go swimming."

A little further back, Musha is intently scanning the walls, eyes rapidly moving over every little bump and protrusion. Meanwhile, the Queen is confidently walking next to her, acting as if this hallway to hell is nothing but a walk to her bedroom.

"See anything, Musha?" The Queen asks.

"Apart from our walk to impending doom? Nothing that looks out of the ordinary. Unfortunately for us, I think strange would be more comforting."

"We are currently traversing through a hallway carved in a volcano, going to kill a mage that plans to overthrow a continent. Yes. That constitutes as normal." The Queen jokes, chuckling after finishing her words.

"I always enjoyed our normal." Musha replies, making herself and the Queen chuckle even more.

After the chuckling from the two dies down, a smile remains on the Queen's face. "While I wouldn't mind it becoming a little more tame than this, I'm glad I can share in this insanity with you, Musha."

Musha feels her face beginning to get warmer. "I feel the same, your majesty."

At the back of the line currently traversing through the volcanic hallway, the smallest group are huddled up, more than happy to let the bugger targets walk ahead.

"So, we've taken down a dangerous gang, an undead bitch witch and her army, now we're gonna fight a giant mage in the middle of a fucking supervolcano. What's next for Amilia's Adventurers?"

"Amilia's Adventurers?" Kyuala asks, confused at the name chosen by her feline bff.

"Oh c'mon, we need a name, why not Amilia's Adventures?"

"Cause it sounds like a bad tour for people on vacation." Virra answers, happy to insult Amilia's idea.

Amilia rolls her eyes. "Oh yeah? And what's your oh-so-clever name for us, huh?"

"I'd thought you'd never ask." Virra says before clears her throat. "I present to you, the Elven Elegance!"

The group are silent for a moment before Amilia begins to laugh, and John speaks. "Uhh, Virra? You realize that we're not all elves, right?"

"Of course I know that! But Terra and I make the majority, so it would obviously be named after us!"

"It sounds like a fucking brothel!" Amilia shouts out between howls of laughter.

Amilia's observation makes the others laugh, especially Terra who looks to her less-than-amused sister. "She does have a point, little sister."

"Well, I'd like to hear your suggestion then!"

Terra takes the challenge and thinks for a moment, trying to think of a name that doesn't sound obnoxious, nor like a brothel, a task which is harder than you'd think.

"What about... The Six Saviours?"

The group collectively think it over before unanimously disagreeing.

"We probably shouldn't have a number in case more people join our group. It'll look weird if we're called the Six, but we're travelling around with like ten people." Kyuala comments, giving some genuine criticism.

"Plus, what about Clarva and Karray? Shouldn't we add them as well?" Lani asks.

"D'you really think they're gonna stick around, Wings?" Amilia responds with a question of her own.

"I dunno." Lani says before getting a little quieter. "I'd like to think so at least."

John chuckles. "What about your feud with Karray? I thought I was gonna have to hold you back at one point."

"Just because I don't necessarily get along with Karray, doesn't mean I don't appreciate having someone to try and help me understand my... situation."

Terra decides to add throw in her opinion into the conversation. "I would also like Clarva and Karray to stay, but I don't think that's their thing. As harsh as it may sound, this was a partnership of circumstance after all. If those two wish to be done with us after this, we cannot **** them to come with us."

"What about Miss Purebred back there?" Virra asks, referring to Kira who is walking a fair bit behind, obviously trying to be separate from the rest.

"Another case like Clarva's. She definitely wants out of here, and she will definitely want to wipe any connection to this place, us potentially included. Although, I would welcome her company. She is quite the capable warrior after all."

John gets an idea after hearing Terra's words, and decides to step back a little, waiting for Kira to catch up.

"What are you doing, John?" Kira asks.

"I wanted to talk to you. We haven't had a chance to chat with everything happening literally one after the other."

Kira sighs. "It does seem like the ones above don't want us to have even the smallest of breaks."

"So, let's have a chin-wag before we walk into certain doom."

"A chin-wag? Are you an old timey wife?" Kira jokes.

John quickly fires back. "Are you sassin' me, missy?"

The centaur and human share a laugh, easing the little tension that was there.

After the laughter dies down, John looks over at Kira again. "So, after we deal with this bitch, what's your plan once you get out of here?"

"Go out and find my love. I've spent too many years away from her, and I'll be damned if I ever let her go again. I don't even care if she has another lover, I just want to be back in her life again." Kira responds without a moment of hesitation.

"She must've been someone really special."

Kira's face drops into one of sadness. "She really is. I just hope she remembers me."

"She will. We might have only met not that long ago, but you don't seem easy to forget."

The sudden compliment actually makes Kira slightly blush. "Trying to flirt with me with your woman just ahead? You must be incredibly bold or stupid, John."

John is now the flustered one. "W-w-wait! I didn't mean it like that!"

"Then how did you mean it?" Kira asks, grinning at this sudden advantage.

John feels the embarrassment almost burning his face. He probably should be used to the feeling with Amilia's usual flirting, and Kyuala literally claiming him in front of people, but the unexpected response from Kira threw him through a loop.

"I..." John stops, trying to carefully choose his words to avoid more embarrassment. "I was just talking about how I saw you kill a giant with just a spear. It's not exactly something you can block out."

"I know what you meant, John. Thank you for the compliment. I can definitely say that I won't be forgetting you either. It's going to be hard to forget meeting the second human."

"Well, aren't we a couple of unforgettables?" John jokes, getting another laugh out of Kira.

"I guess we are."

"Everyone! Get here now!" Clarva calls out from the front, causing the others to begin rushing towards the sound of half-giant's voice.

Kira and John travel down the remaining corridor before eventually passing through the exit. Immediately, they're in awe as they see what probably caused Clarva to shout for them to hurry up.

A throne sitting upon a perch high above, and on that throne is Hilfa, looking down the combined forces with a twisted grin on her face.

"I hope you enjoyed the respite I allowed, but I'm afraid that ends now."

The floor underneath the combined group breaks, and they fall down with a harsh thud upon impact. Groans leave each of their mouths as the pain quickly sets in.

"Why didn't we see that coming?" Virra asks, pain in every syllable.

"Because she made sure our attention was on her. She may be a bitch, but she's a clever one." The Queen answers as she begins to get to her feet.

Hilfa's throne crashes to the floor mere seconds later, scattering rock all over.

"I thought about how I should do this. At first, I wanted to create an army out of rock, but animating them was redundant considering you would have just broken them in seconds. I then thought about just a spike trap or just dropping you in the glorious lake of fire beneath us, but it just wasn't satisfying enough for me."

Hilfa lands in front of her broken throne, that sinister smile still on her face. Her eyes glow mischievous, and her magic glows even brighter.

"Throughout my life, I was always the scrawny one. I couldn't break through walls with my head, I couldn't eat concrete with a smile on my face, and I certainly couldn't rip someone's spine out like all of you regular giants. However, once I found this power, I knew exactly what I had to do... I need to crush you all by myself."

"Oh shit. It's the classic powerless, nerd anime villain. First zombies, and now this? I'm starting to sense a pattern." John thinks to himself as he puts his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Hilfa. I am giving you one last chance to stand down. If you do, I'll see to it that you have a peaceful exile." The Queen offers.

"A peaceful exile?! It's too late for that! Now, I'm going to exile your soul from your body!"

Hilfa's arms burns with magic as she punches through the floor. A few seconds later, Hilfa pulls her arm back up, now covered with sharp molten rock, still dripping with lava.

"Well, it looks like she's serious" Kira comments.

"Were you expecting her to be joking?!" Musha angrily asks, but the worry is just as prevalent in her voice.

"Focus!" The Queen roars as she draws her sword. "Ready yourselves! It's time we put an end to this!"

Everyone begins to arm themselves, pulling out their swords, clubs, axes, any piece of sharp metal on their person.

The Queen looks around, seeing everyone behind her with their weapons readied. If it were just her facing Hilfa by herself, she is almost certain that her fate would be sealed, but with thus combined ****? They have a solid chance.

The Queen's gaze moves back towards Hilfa, and her expression steels. "EVERYONE! CHARGE!"

There's a large combined roar coming from the group as they begin to charge forth towards a grinning Hilfa who just raises her arm as she begins to walk towards the oncoming group.

The Queen's sword is swung, cutting through the air before being stopped in its tracks by Hilfa's stone covered arm.

"You'd thought it'd be so simple?!" Hilfa angrily asks before using her new power to push the Queen back before a few giants run up to try and remove Hilfa's head from her shoulders.

Hilfa backhands one giant, immediately breaking a few of the giant's teeth as they fall to a knee. A second giant runs toward Hilfa with a raised club, but Hilfa quickly shoves the spike of her stone covered arm through the giant's chest before twisting it.

The giant falls to the ground a few seconds later, eyes missing the life that was there moments prior. The giant with broken teeth sees her fallen friend, and her blood boils with fury.

The giant swings their club, crashing it against Hilfa's new arm over and over, not letting Hilfa even get a chance to try and counter. Unfortunately, Hilfa's smarter than to just let herself get beat. Hilfa uses her magic to transfer the spike at the edge of her stone arm to the side and lunges forward, piercing the lung of the furious giant.

The Queen sees the giant fall to the ground, spluttering crimson from their mouth as they begin to **** to **** on that same blood.

"Huh. I thought that you would be smarter than to just charge me head on. It seems I have overestimated your intelligence in battle."

Hilfa's new smug expression lasts for only a moment before a large purple fist smacks the side of her head, sending Hilfa a few feet to her left.

"Shit! I didn't get enough momentum into the swing." Karray says as she rotates her arm, seething a little as she does.

"I've shown you how to throw a proper punch multiple times!" Clarva says just before she begins to charge forward.

Hilfa turns to face the rapidly approaching Clarva, but as Clarva currently doesn't have a weapon, Hilfa thinks this skirmish will be quick. Just as Clarva is about to reach Hilfa, the mage swings her stone arm down, ready to crush the half-giant, but Clarva is quick on the draw with her summoning.

Clarva's right arm is now firmly in the handle of her right shield, completely negating Hilfa's attack, causing the mage's face to drop as she realizes just how strong Clarva's shield is. Hilfa tries to push her arm down, but the shield doesn't even budge an inch.

Clarva sees Hilfa's shocked expression, and while it fills her with some joy to see Hilfa looking so stunned, but her hatred for Hilfa is overwhelming everything that would allow Clarva to show any sort of pride at the feat.

Clarva's hatred does have its uses however. It keeps her mind on track as she goes on to enact the second part of her plan.

Clarva summons her left shield as the corresponding hand is thrust towards Hilfa. The shield appears just in time for it to crash into Hilfa's stomach, sending the mage even further back as she begins to cough and wheeze after the air was **** from her lungs.

Hilfa's nearly takes to a knee in pain before looking back up at Clarva, seeing the half-giant move into a more defensive stance behind her shields as the rest of the non-giant group great behind her. To Clarva's right, the Queen gets into formation with her remaining giants, all adorned with looks that could kill.

"After all that you've done, I was still prepared to offer you a peaceful exile, but now? I want your fucking head!" The Queen roars before the two groups charge at the mage in unison.