The Hero Became a Succubus, and the Only Way to Level is to… What?!

Without leadership, the Ortesian forces left behind at the sunken temple had been routed by the combined might of demons, succubi, Commonwealth, and Radevic. However, Kanae and her companions returned to a tense stand-off between two two factions— the Demon Three's alliance on one side, and those from Aidenhall on the other.

Queen-Mother succubi, following the end of the battle, needed to sate their hunger. The many defeated Ortesians lying about unconscious and captured were like a buffet to them. Lani, Eliza, Will, and Dalu fiercely guarded a group of injured high elves from ravenous succubi.

"You can't keep all of them from us!"

"Weren't you fighting them a few minutes ago?"

"Watch it," Dalu'luna Mello warned. "Radevic is in an alliance with the Commonwealth, not you."

One succubus tried the Knight of Ivory's threats. She tried to push past only for Dalu to put her in a headlock. The other succubi snarled and looked ready to pounce until Kanae descended between them.

"Oh, yeah! Keep fighting. I bet Ortesia doesn't want that!" Edina remarked sarcastically from the sky.

"You're a succubus, too! Why do you get to feed, and we can't?" an angry succubus asked.

"Maybe in the middle of a battle where it's no holds barred. We already have prisoners for you to feast on. My Sisters of Sin will take you to them." Kanae beckoned to Lilith and Zadris.

The two High Priestesses of the Eminence of Sin tried corralling the Queen-Mother succubi away, but none of them were budging.

"You heard the Demon Queen. Her Commonwealth, her rules. Unless you want to take it up with us?" Claudia landed beside Kanae and folded her arms, daring them to speak up.

They shrunk away until Labelle took to their side.

"Oooooh! It sounds like Claudia's whipped. Since when did you start holding back? This should've been a feeding frenzy!" Labelle exclaimed.

The Mistresses of Debauchery and Pain stared each other down, but it was Labelle who backed off.

"Labelle…" Claudia growled.

"Tsk. Fine, fine!" Labelle threw an arm around one of her succubus and coaxed the rest away, narrowly averting another fight after one had already ended.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, but no one was more relieved than the four who prevented starved succubi from their fresh meals.

"You made alliances with dangerous bedfellows." Dalu sighed and shook her head.

"Radevic gave me no choice, but it was worth it." Kanae shot a look to Arenade, whose stroll in parted everyone and drew gasps.

"Yes, it is I, Arenade Brightwind. Returned from the dead and more beautiful than ever. Let my angelic presence anoint you anew!" Arenade stretched her arms out to the side and waited for praise that never came.

Kanae and Edina rolled their eyes. Arenade was beginning to sweat bullets due to the sheer awkwardness that had ensued.

However, one person couldn't contain their joy. Wendy Ironspear pushed through the crowds and skidded to a halt. Pulling her winged helmet off revealed a face streaked in tears. The other high elven Lights came through to kneel.

"First… Captain?" Wendy, as if remembering her place, snapped down to one knee. "After what I did to you… what I robbed from you, I deserve nothing but your ire. I'll not shy away from any punishment." With her head still down, she drew her sword and offered it to Arenade. "Even if it is my death."

The last time these two saw each other was outside of Capillis City, when Wendy used the orb to try and destroy the dam. Arenade took the blast sinstead and died. Kanae had long forgiven Wendy. In Arenade's last moments, she did too. But what about now?

Everyone watched in silence as Arenade picked up the sword. Wendy screwed her eyes shut, waiting for the death blow. It never came. Instead, Arenade lowered the blade onto her shoulder.

"Your punishment is to return to my side as my vassals," Arenade said, causing Wendy to glance up in utter shock. "You, Andora, Vincient, and everyone in the Lights of Capillis."

"But—"

"No buts! Charron can go peg himself, and Sire Amerys will just have to put up a 'work wanted' sign. Your service with the Lights of Capillis has ended. From henceforth, your houses shall be reestablished in the Commonwealth, and you will serve as Lights of Ehmvier! Heh. I rather like the sound of that," she said, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

The squad of high elves, formerly members of the Lights of Capillis, huddled around Wendy in gleeful celebration.

"It's just like Arenade to get all grandiose right after coming back to life, huh?" Edina chuckled.

"Yeah. It's good to have her back." Kanae smiled.

"Your first order of business as Lights of Ehmvier," Arenade began in a strong and commanding voice, "is to aid me in rescuing my daughters, Suvee and Kanade, because a certain someone couldn't!"

"How many times do you want me to apologize?!" she fired back.

With little time to waste, they had to quickly devise their next move. The Ortesians were obviously in full retreat. Their forces, previously scattered throughout the Commonwealth, had converged to three major areas: the Queen-Mother's domain, Highgreen, and east of Ehmvier which only recently pulled back. They were most assuredly headed to Windy Bog where DeSalle's fleet was waiting. However, moving armies numbering in thousands of troops took time. Shard Coast's dangerous coral reefs meant they only had one method of boarding— Viviren portals.

"We'll need to be fast. I wager Gold and Admiral DeSalle will flee the second they board their ship without the rest of their army," Eliza explained.

"Ugh. DeSalle. What a sleazy house." Arenade made a face like she saw something disgusting.

"What kind of people are they? Other than being naval officers?" Kanae asked.

"For one, DeSalles got a gross habit of picking their future spouses young and wait until they become of marriageable age. Like, on the dot. Gretchen likely got the same treatment. It probably isn't why he kidnapped Suvee and Kanade for though. Those DeSalles, unless they've changed, are actually big cowards hiding behind big boats. He has to be answering to someone else," she explained before falling into thought. "I wonder…"

As in someone else was pulling Admiral DeSalle and Lord-Major Stormcloud's strings? From what Kanae understood of high elves, they seemed to hold family, status, and perception from peer in extremely high regard. Gretchen Redbaron and Runald Aespir acted under familial pressure to impress the empire. Sure, the Empire of Ortesia wanted this invasion. But if they knew Saint Rue belonged to a sex cult, they wouldn't have come. So, who was really the mastermind of this war?

Kanae shook the thoughts away to focus on the matters at hand. "Oh, they won't be escaping too soon."

"How can you be so sure? Our babies might be on a one-way trip to Ortesia, you know?" Arenade yelled.

"I know! But I planted an infiltrator to sabotage them. Lynn Alton. I recently transformed her into a succubus. Before leaving the city, I sent her on a mission west to rejoin the Ortesian encampment at Windy Bog. Vesh and his brothers also went through the portal with DeSalle and Gold. All that's left for us to do is catch up. Eliza, can we use the Arcen again?"

"My precious tower is falling apart at the seams, and you still want to use it? Yes, it will function. We'll need to load up on magic crystals again," Eliza explained.

As they were getting ready to leave, Kanae sought out Claudia. She was by the lake, staring at the sunken temple.

"Thanks for sticking up against Labelle for me," Kanae said.

"You suceeded in bringing your concubine back to life. Shouldn't you be spending time with her?" Claudia asked with her back still turned.

"There's going to be time for that, and Arenade knows it's coming whether she likes it or not. Is something about the temple bothering you?"

"I showed Labelle what was inside. She seemed nonchalant. You and I heard the whispers when we first went in. It's got me thinking… Remember what Gold told us about Alicia? Alicia was meeting with high elves. We learned this Saint Rue, who's a high elf, was a member of the Cult of Lust and Depravity, meaning there are others like him. Is it possible Alicia was meeting with them? If so, why?" she asked under her breath.

Kanae wanted to put a hand on Claudia's shoulder because she looked so forlorn. The chance was gone when Esta came to tell them that everyone was ready to leave.

"We'll come back to it later, Claudia. I promise we're going to figure out what happened to your sister," Kanae promised.

"Coming from you, I believe it! When I asked my mother and Amby to help me look into it, they told me to move on. You were the only person to find me answers. I'm going to see this war to the end and help rescue your kids in return!" Claudia grinned.

Their armies returned to Ehmvier, and although Arenade's homecoming should have been a momentous occasion, she was in no celebratory mood. The angry queen-regent lost her marbles at the ruined city. Its people were hard at work rebuilding. Prisoners of war captured in battle were charmed once the anti-magic succubus potions wore off and put to work.

"Who did this?" Arenade bellowed in front of the castle, gaping at the destruction around the towers and walls. "Was it those bastards we fought earlier? Someone tell me the baths are still working?!"

"Uh… I'm sorry to tell you this, but the battle cracked the pool. All the water escaped into the soil," Kanae explained.

"You've got to be kidding me! I'll rip them a new one after tearing the first open for kidnapping my kids!" she vowed wrathfully.

While Arenade was going around checking the castle, goblin miners loaded a ton of magic crystal into the tower to power the Arcen. Takumi and Ingrid met with Kanae in front of the sorceress' tower.

"We heard about Suvee and Kanade. I hope you get them back. I'll be having a kid of my own soon, and I can't imagine ever losing a child," Takumi said.

"I'm still surprised you two even got together. Let alone having a baby!" It only took Kanae one look to know Ingrid was maybe a month or two away.

"Well, when ya have a husband like Takumi showerin' you with compliments everyday… I ain't ever been treated right the way he does me." Ingrid scratched the side of her cheek and blushed.

As much as Kanae wanted to tease her old friend and the former Outrider's relationship, Eliza signalled from upstairs that they were good to go.

"Give 'em hell, Kanae." Takumi fist-bumped her and left left with Ingrid to get the miners back to work.

"Amethyst!" Dalu rode up to her on a languisteed with Lanil Hammerthorn sitting behind. "As much as we want to pay them back right away for attacking Aidenhall a second time, Lord William, Lani, and I will be late."

"Where are you three going?" Kanae asked.

"According to Ivory, Aidenhall sent an army to Port Kandis. Madam Bedlam gave us one of her last teleportation pellets so we can return and join them. If all goes well, we'll intercept their fleet with Rown Company's help and pinch them in," Lani explained.

Kanae shuddered from goosebumps. Hearing Aidenhall grow a pair and actually retaliate against Ortesia for once was, for the briefest of moments, better than sex.

"I would have liked to have your firepower with us, but I kept you here long enough." Kanae frowned.

"Against my will, I should remind you!" Lani corrected.

"Excuse me?" Ivory stared hard at them.

"Er, Lani's joking! Wh-Where is Will anyway? Did he go ahead of you?" Kanae switched the conversation up to avoid answering her question.

"Ah. A hobgoblin woman whisked him away. I thought Lord William was in danger until he told me they were acquainted. Are they?" she asked.

Hobgoblin woman… That had to be Aisha, and if it's Aisha, then that could only mean one thing.

"Well…"

"I-I'm back! Sorry for the wait, Ivory… Can we go slow? My hips are really sore." Will winced. "Hey, Kanae. Did she already fill you in?"

"Yep. I think you filled someone else in plenty, too." Kanae caught sight of Aisha from afar, and she was positively glowing.

"Go slow? I'm glad to be rid of that oaf, Vander, but you're proving to be just as troublesome. Get your head in the game, future Knight of Azure!" Dalu slapped Will on the back and made him jump several feet into the air.

They wished each other luck on the battle ahead, then activated the pellet to teleport away.

"Thank goodness Grand Eye Analise and King Turren are sending an army. Hmm… I should be glad, but why am I getting a bad feeling about this?" Kanae muttered to herself.

"Kanae!" Lapis, dressed in the Sisters of Sin regalia, came running up to her. "I'm coming to help fight. My anti-magic core will definitely be useful."

"I thought you gave up fighting for a life of pacifism?"

"The other Sisters, Lilith, and Zadris are all pitching in. I have a gift, that being what's inside me and the life you gave me here. I'm going to return the favor and help you. We'll show those Ortesians the power of a dwarven sex golem!" she exclaimed passionately.

Kanae welcomed Lapis aboard and entered the tower. Claudia, Arenade, Edina, Esta, and Wendy and her Lights were already in the Arcen floor. So was Feraline… The energetic drakeling was bouncing off walls and eager to fight again.

"Is it really okay to leave Minestra and Labelle behind in your city?" Eliza asked.

"They can't leave their armies here. Manabe and Talon will march the Commonwealth army with them. Minestra plans to regroup with the main Artaggon force, and Labelle with Hilde's. This final push is going to be our multi-pronged payback on the Ortesians. We'll pincer them in and end this war!" Kanae clenched a fist.

Everyone followed suit with the same gesture, pumping their fists into the air. While Eliza made the finishing touches on the Arcen, the others made themselves comfortable in the tower. Kanae and Esta introduced their baby to Arenade, who seemed more amused than anything.

"I see the resemblance, but… she's got the temperament of a rabid gnoll. Are we sure Kanae didn't just bang a dragon?" Arenade picked Feraline up by her shoulders.

"I did, and I actually do have two blue dragons. Feraline really is mine and Esta's child though! Isn't she cute?" Kanae insisted as Esta nodded in agreement.

Feraline suddenly hiccuped and blew flames into Arenade's face, charring her to a crisp. The drakeling girl flashed a fanged smile.

"Welcome to the family…" Arenade coughed up a puff of smoke.