Rancell didn't know where they were going, and they didn't tell him anyway

The carriage drove itself, and he was just there for the ride

He had to say, he still didn't know Medusa, Lilith or Selene well at all

It was hard to, because they behaved in a very alien way, not knowing that they were talking to each other mentally

However, he was able to get on their good side, as they never complained about his work, nor showed any dissatisfaction with anything they ordered him to do

After bypassing and staying in a few towns, they were on the road, in another forest and staying the night again

When they stayed in the inn, they stayed together in the best room, while they rented him decent rooms each time. 

He recalled them bringing something.. or somebody, but he or she or it seemed to be shrouded by mist and he couldn't get a clear view

But it was better not to ask, and they did this in every inn they stayed in

He was sure that it was someone else, and the way they treated him or her, it was the boss!

Now in the forest, the 3 had left to get dinner again

Rancell was practicing his sword again, ignoring his urge to look in the carriage. 

They were camped by a lake again, as it seemed Medusa liked the water nearby

While practicing, he split the water again

However, this time he was shocked to see a large multiheaded serpent under the water

It was a hydra! And it was about to ambush him!

The hydra screamed as one of it's heads was split in two at the exact place he struck

But the split head started regenerating, becoming two separate heads instead!

Suddenly, one of the heads shot a purple fluid at him and he jumped out of the way, rolling as he landed

The land that he stood on turned black

"Poison!" he gasped

He had known the stories of Hercules from Earth, and assumed that he knew about the poison

As the sword saint, he has fought giant snakes, spiders and scorpions

But this was on a scale he has ever imagined!

The hydra turned one of his heads and shot the poison at the carriage!

"No!" he yelled slashing at the hydra, severing another head, only for it to regrow back, doubling in number

But he saw the carriage disintegrate in rancid smoke, presumably killing anyone inside

Suddenly, out of the smoke stood a naked man! He had golden bands around his ankles and wrists, chained by golden chains, and he had nipple rings and his eyes and mouth was shut with golden seals. He looked at his penis and was shocked as it was missing like his, and there appeared to be a spike up is ass or something

However, he stood in place unsteadily, walking towards the hydra as if he was drunk!

The hydra fired more poison at him, but again it seemed to be ineffective, vanishing as soon as it nearly touched him

Rancell didn't know who this was, but he looked very powerful, negating all the hydra's attacks!

This must be the boss! Rancell felt pride coming from his chest, proud that the boss of his bosses was so powerful

Suddenly, the hydra attacked with it's tail

*Boom* the hydra smashed the man, who went flying into the trees, blood splattering everywhere

"Ashley!" a voice sounded as the 3 women appeared out of nowhere

Were they in a battle too? They looked injured, something he's never thought possible

But within seconds, there was a glow coming from where the man landed, and the women seemed to be rejuvenated, attacking the hydra

*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*

Each of their blows blasted off one head and they cast a spell on the neck stumps so it could not regrow a head

Within moments, the hydra was defeated as all 14 heads were cut off

"Dinner time" Medusa said, pulling the hydra to shore

Selene and Lilith flew over, carrying the strange man

"I... I apologize. I couldn't save the carriage" Rancell said, bowing and preparing to be punished

"The carriage is nothing. Ashley here is more important" Medusa said, conjuring another carriage

"It's time to kill him. He's seen Ashley" Lilith said

"N..no! I'll keep the secret to the grave! I'll hide boss Ashley's secret!" he screamed in fear

"Boss.. Ashley? That's good. Alright. You'll live, for now. It's easier if you knew about Ashley's existance" Selene said as she brought Ashley into the carriage

Rancell wiped his brow and started cooking the hydra

Surprisingly, it was delicious!

Since then, they no longer kept Ashley a secret

In every inn they stayed, he was in charge of carrying him to the room, even though he was covered in mist

And in the open forest, Ashley was brought out to sit with them by the fire

But Ashley never said a thing, and was limp like a rag doll

It reminded him of the movie he watched on Earth called Weekend At Bernies

--

As Rancell lay on the bed in his room, he wondered what the women were doing with Ashley's body in their room

He certainly couldn't have sex! 

He stopped himself, realizing he was touching his groin where his penis was 

Suddenly, there was a loud horn alarming the small town!

Rancell knew this horn from years ago

As the sword saint, he was first in battle!

"Beast horde!" someone yelled

He rushed out of his room and saw the townsfolk ready their torches and pitchforks

There were a few mercenaries getting ready too, but there was too few of them

One of the townfolk got out of the house, carrying a battle axe with his left hand

His right arm was missing

"I'll be back soon, Natalia" the man said, kissing his pregnant wife

"Please, take care dear. I can't afford to lose you" she said

Rancell turned to the wall. Having a child during a beast horde is an omen for bad luck

Climbing on the wall, he looked out to see a huge number of monsters

"Fuck" the one handed man said besides him

The men got ready, holding their weapons as the beasts got closer and closer

"Aaaaaaagh" the one armed man screamed and jumped off the wall, running towards the beasts

"Crazy fucker.... wait.. he's a berserker?" Rancell suddenly said

Remembering his best friend Toby who was also a berserker, he jumped off the wall and ran after the berserker, slicing the air and killing multiple beasts with each strike

"Well met! I haven't seen such a great strike since... the sword saint" the man said

"You know the sword saint?" Rancell asked while talking

"Yeah! She was my teammate" he said

"You were?" Rancell asked

"Yeah. They called me the Hero of the Warhammer until... you know" he said, gesturing to the stump on his shoulder where his arm was

"What's your name?" Rancell asked

"Not that it matters anymore, but I'm Archie" the man said with a mad grin on his face

"I'm Rancell" he replied

The enemies were endless and the two grew tired after a while. Many of the guards were already dead, as were the mercenaries

"Pleasure to die with you, friend Rancell" Archie said, with cuts all over his arm and face

"You too Archie" Rancell said, finally out of energy

"Funny, you remind me of Tiffany" Archie said

Suddenly, the air shimmered and there was a powerful shockwave shooting outwards of the town walls, knocking all the beasts down

Rancell and Archie rested, back to back and watched in surprise because the shockwave didn't affect them at all

As second wave shot out and passed them, the beasts all turned into ice!

A third wave shot out and they all shattered

"Masters" Rancell yelled, seeing 3 women floating in the air

"Masters?" Archie asked, looking at the beautiful women

Suddenly, his eyes panicked as he recognized them

Medusa suddenly appeared in front of them, picking Archie into the air

Selene appeared next to Rancell, covering his mouth

"Don't say anything. Medusa knows what she's doing" Selene said

He looked at Lilith to plea with her for his friend, but he stopped, seeing how angry she was

--

Archie fell to the floor, being thrown by Medusa

"You are lucky he says he remembers you as a friend!" Medusa said

"What are you doing here?" Lilith said, her anger raging as was Medusa's as they both held back

Rancell stood silently as Selene hugged him from behind playfully, as he watched her toy with that long piece of flesh in her mouth 

"I...I retired here with my wife! I... you can see, I'm no longer a hero" he said

"What? Damn! Where are the rest?" Lilith said, half talking to herself

"Rest? I don't know. Since the invasion of Dorumbold in Petra, many of us were killed! I barely survived, so I quit with my wife to live a quiet life" Archie said

"Who was killed? Who survived?" Medusa asked

"You... I am talking to Ashley, aren't I?" Archie asked

Medusa and Lilith stared at him and Selene got serious too

"I'm not here to pry. But I would get to the point and not waste your time. I'm sorry Ashley. Tiffany... was killed" he said

Suddenly, the room felt like it got dark and was closing in

Rancell and Archie crumbled to the floor in fear 

The air cleared again just as suddenly

"Now you are awake, huh? About time" Medusa said out loud, seemingly to herself

"It's always about her. Otherwise, you'll sleep forever?" Lilith talked to thin air

Archie watched the women in amazement. Were they talking to Ashley's ghost?

"Shit. My turn? Ok. How did she die?" Selene asked, not in the least bothered about the answer as she has never met Tiffany

"The.. the.. we were.." Archie started

"Wait... he wants to hear this himself" Selene said and suddenly disappeared

"Himself?" Archie asked

Suddenly, Selene appeared with a naked man, with golden bands with chains around his wrists and ankles, nipple rings with chains on his nipples, and painful torture devices on his eyes, mouth, and genitals. 

"Ashley!" Archie yelled, running to him

Selene pushed him back as he flew to the wall

He slowly got up, groaning in pain

"Now, tell me. What happened" Medusa said

"We were protecting Dorumbold from the lich of Morgold. Hundreds of undead attacked. We three... the S Ranks managed to break through the ranks and approached the lich

I got injured when a bone dragon appeared, ripping off my strong arm. William took over to fight it. 

It was then, the lich... he cast a death cloud. I... I fled with my life

The last time I saw William and Tiffany was when the lich held up their bodies in victory, and our morale crumbled

After that, it was every man for himself as Dorumbold fell. Our classmates.. there wasn't very many of us left

I grabbed Natalie with my good hand, sacrificing my axe to flee" he said

Ashley looked like he was sighing 

To Rancell's surprise, the three powerful women were tearing up

"Stop it Ashley! You're affecting us!" Lilith said

But Ashley stood emotionless like a puppet while the three women cried for him. They were trying to stop, but they couldn't

It was weird seeing them angry but their eyes seemed to be leaking tears

"This wouldn't have happened if perhaps Melissa was alive" Archie added

"What?" Lilith said, uncertain if she or Ashley was asking