163 WHO'S NEXT...

Closing her eyes, "Mmhm, okay... I'll keep that in mind the next time I try and seduce you," she jested to me.

"So there's a next time? When is it" I said back. And she jolted, looks like she was sweating too? "Let me think some more about it, that's okay, right?" 'Cute~'

"Okay... Also" leaning in whispering into her ear.

"From now, only refer to me in sugary names"

Jerkin up and looking at me, "HUH?!" she didn't seem to get it. Plus I want to see how far I can mess with her for the fun of it, "I prefer Hun, but Dear works too"

And hearing me say these so casually, her face lit up in the brightest of pinks, and she looked away, "So it sounds like a plan right? Unless you don't want to?"

"I-..."

"You don't have to?"

"No... I... I want to..."

"You do?"

Darting her head ever so fastly, "You know I do!!!"

And laughing as she looked so flushed, "Then do it..."

"Maybe I will!"

"Okay"

"Okay!"

She turned her head back the other way, an chuckling I said, "You forgot to say it back?" I said teasingly. And she knows exactly what I mean, she even shook a bit.

Tapping her fut, she softly said, "Okay, Hun," she said to me and she sounded so shy, I found it ever so cute.

Laughing, I leaned back and grabbed her head, and with a small pull to my shoulders, she fell in with it.

"What are two doing over there?" I heard Mari as she was sitting in front of us, now opening her eyes. And then Grace who sat next to her, leaned next to her.

Growling, "And why are you so close to him!"

And Rika seemed to be feeling startled by them as they started asking questions, but grabbing her head and keeping her laying on me like this, I said back.

"Is this not normal for you humans to do this?" I said casually as I knew the answer but I was asking like I had no idea, because. . . I'm like extremely bored.

"No! Only lovers cuddle!" Grace blurted out.

"No, I was only asking," Mari casually said back.

"Lovers?!" Rika uttered but I continued holding her.

And not thinking too much, I felt like this was not a big deal. So I decided to let go an press forward, gettin on my knees from sitting, an taking a hand step to them.

"Why, do you wanna sit with me too?" I asked them.

"No..." Mari answered me back.

And, "Yes!" Grace answered me back?

Sitting back and grabbing Rika's head once again, I the pulled it back to me because she's my headrest, I then patted next to me,"Then come, you can rest on me too," I said despite the master and servant vibes.

And just like that she came to my side, and with her scarf being put in my lap, she just layed her head on my lap, laying there with a big smile on her face.

Looking over at me, I looked to Mari, "Wanna join?"

I asked her as she was just looking directly at me?

"No... "

"You sure?"

"Are you enjoying this"

Is she going to scold me?

I really hope she doesn't.

"Kinda"

"Good"

"Hm?"

Leaning back against the wagon, she relaxed.

"You look better when you're smiling, boy"

Turning her head, she looked past the curtain to the lady driving the wagon, it was Avery of course, but I'm wondering what she's thinking right now, "Thanks...?"

. . . . .Hours Later, 2 Hours Left Till Night. . . . .

In The Desert Of Sarudain, Miles From Lock Town.

After a while and the rest of the crew napping, I found a way out of the little huddle and noticing me get up, I saw Mari staring at me, and seeing her, I put my finger over my mouth telling her to stay quiet as I pointed...

Pointing up front to where Avery was, she got up and it seems as we both moved up front, and seeing her she was just looking into the desert as she drove.

"Mind if we join you?" I asked.

And looking over, she saw us.

"No, of course" she said back.

Joining her on the driver's seats, we climbed over the seats to get to there, and as soon as we had, "What're those?" Mari said asking as she looked to the pullers.

"They're Bosh'kiday, domesticated desert lizards that are commonly used for traveling carriages, and most of the time, the most level basic travel in these lands"

And looking at them they were a reddish green color, they looked amazing and they were huge, with black leash collars on them, yet they were still free beasts.

But while looking at them I noticed Greg was running in front of them, so that's where he had been all this time? I thought he just stayed behind? I guess not?

"Don't worry, they're not chasing him"

"Oh... I was fine if they were~"

"I heard that!" He yelled from over there.

And chuckling without a care, I said back.

"Then run faster!"

"Say that again and I'll kick your butt, Aster!"

"Go ahead and try it! Now run faster boy!"

Hearing him growl at me I laughed my ass off.

"You shouldn't antagonize him, Aster" Mari said.

But looking over, "Why? Because he's stronger?"

"Yes" she said back Honestly, though why should I?

And hearing her I chuckled, "But, that's why I do it"

But she didn't get that as she tilted her head, and not even Avery got it as she was looking over at me too.

And shaking my head, they'll get it one day. Hopefully.

Actually, I should teach Grace it, she should learn it.

Anyways, relaxing as I sat there, I enjoyed the ride.

And feeling the desert sand being rode on, it was very much comforting? I can fall asleep to these sounds.

And sitting there, waiting for anything to show, there was nothing, the desert was empty and the day was hot, but I guess the ride is relaxing, so I enjoy that.

. . . . .

But then as we were going over a hill made from the sand, we heard a loud cacophony. And hearing it but not startling the Bosh'Kiday, we heard this loud crash, startling us and forcing us to stand up on guard.

"What the heck was that?!" I asked looking around.

"The hell are you looking for?!" Mari suddenly yelled.

"Can't you hear it, it's coming from in front of us!" Mari said shooting up pointing past the desert mount in our path, but hearing her and even acknowledging that.

I couldn't wrap my head around it, but it sounded like the noise is coming from everywhere? All around??

"Are you sure? But it sounds like!-" yet I was cut off.

"There's no time! Go after it, I'll protect the cargo!"

And hearing her out and seeing that Greg was already going up the sand mount carrying that heavy great– sword, I hit my tongue and followed her orders.

"Yes ma'am!" I said forcing myself to.

"Miss! Hide in the wagon, don't leave it!" Mari orders.

"You don't have to tell me twice!" and she hopped in.

And seeing Mari as she took charge quickly, I ran off the wagon, jumping off the end of the seats and over to the edge of the mount, yards away from the cargo.

Harnessing my shadow magic, I melded the soft sand into sandy earth. And with a swift leap, soared into the air covering dozens of feet. Now covering half of the mount, I repeated the process like my own dance.

And catching air, at the peek of the mount.

I saw people...

Men wearing black robes were fighting this gigantic Maniac Scorpion, and seeing as Greg wasn't even at the top of the mount, I decided to act before he could.

Falling back down to the sand, I came at an angle and began scaling the sands quickly, leaping a big quarter of the way down, hardening the sand once more and propelling myself straight at the desert's beast.

I don't want it dead, I need this thing dead.

In two more leaps, I pulled back my hand and balled it up, going in with a heavy punch not holding any of my strength back, I'm using it all for this son of a bitch.

"Out Of The Way!!!"

Punching this thing's hard shell, *Boom* and like the clashing of two boulders, it's shell cracked as it was knocked back with a single painful punch from me.

But still, it's tail came swinging at me to sting when it finally got a glimpse of my presence, but as it had and I was in the air, a black tentacle shot from the ground.

Zooming like it was going to stab me, I crunched up my knees and kicked off the tentacle as it froze in its place; not daring to attack me for even a second.

Meanwhile, that stinger came straight for me.

Shifting my body in time, I grabbed the stinger by it's venomous point, and bitting the side of my lip, fire had set its stinger ablaze from the touch of my hands.

And with my hands shaking as it kept trying to sting me. Growling, I screamed as the point came to my chest, but I pushed it back with an "Ahh!" And hitting my elbow the other direction, directed it another way.

Now with one more dark tentacle bursting out the ground next to us. I quickly moved and jumped over while still holding the stinger. I kicked off of it and then slammed it straight into it's own damn side. Breaking the scorpions hard shell, using its own tail against it.

But it wasn't over, this wouldn't kill the damn beast.

So ripping the stinger out and stabbing my hands into the mercury flesh of the giant scorpion, "Hell Shot!" I injected large amounts of demonic fire straight into it.

Burnings its insides and cracking more of it's hard shell in the process. It's own shadow began to betray it as merky thick tedrills began so spread out through the ground and rose up from the ground grabbing it.

Binding It as the viny little shadows creeped around.

And as it did, I pulled my hand out and jumped on its back. With people still below watching, I went on my knees and punched it's shell with my bare knuckles.

Cracking its shell and then breaking it in five painfully heavy hits, bleeding my knuckles.

And seeing it's exposed flesh, I buried my hands into it, and using my claws for an instant before blowing its back out with my hell fire, turning it a FUCKING mess!

Destroying the beast in mere moments to the people being attacked by it. It crashed against the ground in a thunderous roar, while scorpion chuncs rained down.

. . . . .

Standing there, Greg finally made it atop that mount.

And looking at them this unwavering feeling overcame me, *His nightmare eyes intensely glowing in a reddish hue releasing an ominous aura* I pointed one of my palms at them and said, "Now… Who's next. . ."

Releasing a blanket of hellfire around my hand.

Sending shivers through them as they tensed up.