Host the grandest feast.

No celebratory banquet, no noble's ball, no holiday festival has come close to the majesty of what's now beheld within the tall, dark stone walls of Castle Phoenix atop the Pecho Peaks. Not only are all your allies present, but Captain Silver and her Silver Hunters have also come to party. Their ship, the Kunzite Kraken, remains docked on the eastern coast near Gobiidae, and the residents there swear to protect it. Vyzia has finally achieved her mission, so she can bask in the joy of those she's desired to protect. All the common folk who reside at Castle Phoenix of course are there, but even some traders who happen to be stopping by have been invited.

Though there have been larger feasts than that. What truly puts your party above all others is divinity. You, the Hero King, also known sometimes still as the Demon King, hosts for those who claim to be various ages of ancient. What a god or demigod may truly be is subjective, though what isn't up for debate is the sheer power of their presence. K'iina the Empress of Fire is a being of pure flame--the ruler of elemental fire itself, who has for some time now hidden away on an island deep at sea. Much the same, Aak'aba the Empress of Ice may be the most powerful elemental of the cold, but though she's made contracts with those like Xue as some beings of her status tend to do, she's been hidden as well.

Lepo and Feli, until more recently also hadn't stepped foot on mortal ground in ages. They once created the bunnyfolk and catfolk race, though over time, they left the world to their children. Messages were mixed, conflicts were born, and now to this day the two species often squabble. Both creator gods have now returned, however, all due to your coming (more like cumming). And in addition, the Lady of the Lake no longer slumbers. That's yet another ancient being awakened by your actions. She's long been a guardian of Crystal Lake. Perhaps in the past, it was far larger. While you don't know how she scales with other elementals of water, she seems to be near the level of the women of fire and ice.

This shall be the grandest feast on this side of Tivera.

While Summer may be the head chef, many people pitch in. There's too much work to be done for one person alone. It starts early and runs late. There's no schedule or any semblance of order. People eat what they see and drink as it comes.

You've got...

Niki of Clan Vakila. Eva Beela. Amara Tedrilui. Lady Nyllia Tesgella. Yin. Peony. Snow. Alice. Dephi. Vivilia (Vivi). Luna. Laira Holland. Jelly. Mistress Dajy. Klava. Raleza. Brizi. Vodrani. Thomas Whitham (Tom). Bekram Kholrann (Bek). Bill & Phil. Zazra. Summer. Taiga. Stax. Koblix. Mipa. Lynx. Vaerila (Chila). Hini (Chini). Chula. Patricia. Sen-nu. Meladarai Tlarthanil (Mela). Fava. Linzeri. Fang. Lalarin Relestel (Lala, Rabbit's Foot). Catherine (Cat). Shivra. Dixby (Dix). Malakae Vraelion. Anastasia Phairgem (Ana). Ariusia. Meti. Vyzia. Licorice. Melodie. Bass. Peep. Over a dozen or so additional commoners of Castle Phoenix.

K'iina the Empress of Fire. Aak'aba the Empress of Ice. The Lady of the Lake. Lepo. Feli. Captain Silver. Xiaoqing (Xue). Mole. Almost a dozen or so additional crew members of the Silver Hunters.

There's also the gnome and goblin who were found on Vyzia's island along with the others. You learn their names are Rildrix and Gruzmo respectively.

That makes around eighty party-goers!

The festival as a whole can't be contained within the Great Hall alone. It leaks out through the hall and to the area surrounding the front gates of the central castle. Though the weather may be chilly, sun rays pierce their way through the overcast, and people are having more than enough fun to work up a sweat regardless. Torches have been lit to illuminate the festival grounds further beyond the preexisting magical lanterns for when the sun does set, and a grand bonfire roars directly in the middle of it all.

It continues to build as evening comes. Now there are benches set up, and those who continue to hunger start roasting whatever they can find over the open flame. It seems like it isn't going to stop anytime soon.

You sit down upon a flat carved trunk of wood not far from the bonfire where others roast sausages, marshmallows, and more upon sticks they've gathered. Through them dances Peony, and in her wake grows tiny sprouts from the soil beneath her feet. You look around to see tiny vines crawl around the seat below your rump. Upon them bloom pink and blue flowers. You take a long, soothing draw of the honey mead in your wooden stein--one with your name carved along the side, and it isn't the first time you've refilled it tonight.

Captain Silver stumbles her way over. Froth drips over the edge of her mug and down to her fingertips, though she doesn't seem bothered. Her blouse is completely unbuttoned down the front. The curtains sway to and fro, though against all odds the garment remains clung to her figure, perhaps by previously spilled drink. She sits down right beside you and chuckles aloud. "You enjoying yourself, Captain?" she says with a toothy grin.

"Definitely," you reply. "I just had to rest my legs for a bit. I've been walking around, dancing, eating, drinking, chatting, and laughing for hours. But it feels good."

"I'll drink to that."

The two of you clink drinks together and take a few gulps in tandem.

"This is kinda crazier than before either previous time we defeated a Demon King," you add. "Though our numbers have just kept growing."

"You say that so casually! Defeating Demon Kings and all that. But yeah. I reckon so. Now you've got guests here stopping in from Heaven or wherever. Insanity. Hey, do you think I've got a chance with any of them? I heard you survived all of them. To be honest, if I die from fucking a god, then that's a great way to go."

"Only one way to find out I guess."

With half-lidded eyes, Lalarin steps over with a mug in-hand. She trips, it falls, but she swiftly raises a foot to catch it perfectly a moment before hitting the ground. With a flick of her toes, she returns it to her hand as if nothing had happened. She stares down at it and mutters, "Oh it's empty anyway. It wouldn't have spilled." Then she looks to Captain Silver. "Uhm. I think it's probably sacrilegious or something to be so crude towards the creator of my kin."

"Sweetie. Where are your pants?" asks the captain.

She looks down. All she wears is a long, white t-shirt, but nothing else it seems. It takes her a moment to comprehend the question. Then with pink across her face, she opened her lips wide and gasps. "Where are my pants?"

"Lala. What even happened to your entire outfit? Whose shirt even is that?" you ask. "It's big on you."

She turns around to look herself over, nearly falling over as she does so. The short reaches her thighs, and you can see a little bump from her tail on the back. "I don't know..."

"And then I was like pow! Take that!" shouts Bekram. He thrust his fits in various directions. Then as he cackles wildly, he falls right into the pyre of burning sticks. He jumps to his feet, sobering up in an instant, as his hair ignites. "Ooh, owch owch!"

With a single flick of her wrist, K'iina forces the fire away. "Wow. And he only had a dozen or so refills. It doesn't take much for mortals, huh?"

Niki laughs. "I like this girl!" With a firm smack, she grabs the Empress of Fire's shoulder. Clearly she's been draining your supply of drinks as well this evening. "She can really hold her own. This whole video game thing though? I still don't get it. Oh yeah... Kyle, I sorta cracked one of the controllers in half. We might need your magic."

K'iina looks over, surprised. "You can touch me?"

"Huh? Of course I can." She's currently dressed in her more Earthen attire of a hoodie and jeans. "If a little fire hurt me that much, I'd be a pretty crummy tank. So like, can godfolk not get drunk or something?"

"I figure we have a much higher tolerance at least--" She looks over. With a vacant stare, she looks to Aak'aba who is currently face-down in the grass--area around her frosted over. "Actually, I don't really know how it works."

Then Vyzia the naked red dragon approaches, though her manner of garb, or lack thereof, stands out less amongst such a rowdy crowd. Various garments have been tossed or torn, as everybody learns to relax, even some of the more serious guests. She looms over you--two hefty mountains blotting out the sky to wave goodbye to a setting sun. "I would like to speak with you," she says as bluntly as always.

You look back to her. She still has the eyepatch given to her by Lynx, and the various small, stretchy green accessories she wears survived the battle. "All right," you answer as you stand. "I wanted to talk to you too."

She turns quickly. Her red scaled tail narrowly misses cracking your hip. As she walks, you follow behind the sway of her bare behind, but she doesn't take you far away from the festivities. Instead, she stops still within view of the rest, and turns. It's a little quieter here at least. Then she looks you straight in the eyes--serious and intense. She places a hand upon her breast, takes a knee, and bows her head down before you. She then holds her other hand to the side, and from the distance comes the swoosh of her spear straight into her hand. She thuds the blunt end into the soil, and then once again she turns her one eye upward to look back into yours.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see others nearby who cautious approach. The first is Peep, one Thunderbeard's previous captives found trapped on Vyzia's island. Coming next are Melodie and Bass, the two catfolk. Gruzmo and Rildrix approach, hand-in-hand--goblin and gnome. There's also Licorice, though the black slime is nearly invisible at first, looming in the darkness of evening.

Vyzia notices them as well, but her eye flickers only briefly before focusing entirely on you. "You've done more for me than any other has, Kyle Warren. I and the others thank you. More than we can repay. To repay my debt, you'll have me whenever you'll need me. Simply call, and you'll have the mighty of a red dragon at your disposal."

Rildrix speaks up next. "The rest of us aren't great warriors like some others here, but we'll happily provide whatever aid we can. I'd like to think I'm quite the craftsman, and Gruzmo here is talented with a bow."

The goblin chuckles. "I usually hit my mark anyway."

You offer a hand down to Vyzia. She takes it, and as she rises, you lift her up beyond where you stand. Your eyes first stare straight forward to mighty cleavage, though you follow up to her face. "There's no need to swear fealty. You're our friend now. As long as you protect us, we'll protect you."

She smiles. "I won't be far," she says. "There's a place in the mountains. One fit for a dragon's lair. As for the others, they'll be free to leave whenever they wish."

Lynx suddenly peaks in behind you. With a wide grin, she nudges her cheek against your shoulder as she waves the half-filled mug in her hand left and right. "First if people even considered messing with this place, they'd have to content with the fact that Kyle Warren lives here. Then on top of that, Castle Phoenix became a recognized city by the Empire. And now once rumour gets out that a red dragon lives in a cave nearby, nobody is ever going to attack this place ever again, huh?"

You feel a wave of warmth on your other side. Turning your eyes, you immediately see the flash of fire. K'iina peaks forward in a similar manner to the other. "So what did they say?" she asks.

Lynx looks over. "Oops. I already forgot to ask. Got a little distracted."

"If your drunk it won't be a fair fight!"

"Oh please. I'm not drunk. I've just had a lot to drink."

Your eyes dart back and forth. "Did you come to ask something?"

"Yeah!" Lynx shouts. "We got the uh... SNES? What was it called?"

"The SNES, yeah. Super Nintendo."

"We got it working! It looks so much cooler than the GameBoy. K'iina showed me this crazy game. Mortal Kombat II? There's a guy with sword-arms, Kyle. Is he based on a real guy? Oh, Vyzia! You come too. The four of us can take turns, like a tournament or something."

"I... don't really understand--" Vyzia mutters.

"Ooh, we can be like a team," says K'iina. "I'm fire, you breathe fire. You breathe me."

"Are you sure you're not drunk?" you ask.

"There are no teams in the game," Lynx says. "I think."

Albeit looking nervous for a moment, Vyzia glances around herself before finally taking a deep breath to respond. "I will try."

"Yeah!" Lynx cheers, spilling some of her drink. "You'll love the song that plays at the starts. It's like... Moortttaaall Kombbaaattt, dun dun dun dun dundun. But like, it's saying it in a different language. I think it's one Kyle knows. But if he's there, he can totally translate things for us."

"How did you even get it working already?" you ask.

"I guess inspiration hit Fava like an arrow to the heart. He grabbed help from some others, and before Aak'aba passed out, her and K'iina explained how it was working before."

"Probably safer during a party that she keeps her hands busy with something like that than having her hands on others. I remember the wheel. One drink, and she might make a sex labyrinth."

"A what?"

K'iina yanks on your cape. "Come on already. What's taking so long?"

Lynx does the same. "But you gotta dress more casual, man. I know you're the Hero King, but you don't need to stand out with everyone sauced up and silly. And you're not even as fun to snuggle up to."

"I don't know. I like a good uniform," says K'iina. "Looks... regal and professional. You know?"

"Sorry. We'll have to settle this in Kombat."