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An Artist Among Monsters	By : ClanCrusher Category: +M to R > Ranma ½ Views: 21243 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fan-based work of fanfiction. Ranma 1/2 and Monster Girl Quest are owned by Rumiko Takahashi and Torotoro Resistance respectively.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
There was nothing quite like the threat of live steel to help chase away lingering fantasies and pleasant dreams. While Harpy Village had been plenty accommodating for Ranma, it’d been far from restful even after she'd barricaded her room. The barricade worked in keeping out the harpies, but it hadn't stopped Granberia's desire for a morning spar. Unlike her old man though, Granberia woke him up with a face full of warm water.
One quick trip to the outskirts of the village later and the air was soon filled with the sound of ringing steel and grunts of exertion.
“You're distracted,” observed Granberia.
“I'm thinking,” retorted Ranma. “I've been trying to figure out these element things. You use them, Lucretia used them, and I'm pretty sure Alice is using something like them, too.”
“All monsters use them,” said Granberia, not breaking her pace as her sword blurred through the air, keeping Ranma on the defensive. “Some monster families are better attuned to particular elements than others.”
Ranma ducked under a series of quick jabs, weaved around a horizontal slash, and came up inside Granberia's guard. “And what about humans?” he asked, landing two quick punches on her chest before he slipped away.
“I thought you were a spirit-using human when we first fought,” confessed Granberia, stumbling slightly from the blows before returning with her own offensive. “Your ability to maintain a serene state of mind is impressive.” The memory of that fight seemed to excite her, as the next few blows came far faster than before and severed some unfortunate branches in her way. “The only human that mastered the power of the spirits passed from this world five hundred years ago.”
Ranma frowned, taking the increased pace of the fight in stride. Granberia clearly had some energy to burn after sitting on the sidelines of the Happiness Village conflict. Waiting for the perfect jab, Ranma suddenly clapped his hands together and caught her sword mid-thrust. “What do you mean by spirits?”
Granberia gave him a curious look. “The spirits are the ones who govern the elements in this world. Earth, fire, wind, and water. It’s through their will that the power can be used. Such as when I call upon the spirit of fire...”
The blade in-between Ranma’s palms started to tingle and he felt the energy there, as if it were coming from the outside and being drawn in, but he couldn't feel its source. His eyes widened when he realized what was going to happen, taking his hands away before the sword ignited with an ethereal flame.
“How do you call upon them? Is there like a ritual or something?” he asked while blowing on his fingers.
“You call upon them by going to where they live and asking for their help.”
Alice sneaking up on him had become so commonplace by now that Ranma didn't even flinch as the disguised monster lord made her appearance. Granberia's surprise was evident though, her sword winking out, and her stance quickly shifting to one of attention rather than combat.
“They have homes?” asked Ranma, confused. “It's not some sort of thing on a higher plane of existence?”
“How would they control the elements if they weren't even around them?” replied Alice with a scoff. “No, the fire spirit is in the Gold Volcano on the Sentora continent. Been there for the last five hundred years.”
“And...you can just go...visit them?”
“If you can survive the heat of a volcano, yes. If you're thinking about making contracts though, forget it. You'd need to have a noble goal or quest you're trying to achieve for them to even consider it.”
Yeah, can't really argue with that. Nothing all that noble about, 'I got lost and I'm trying to find my way back home.'
“My lord, was there something you desired?” asked Granberia after a moment.
“Yes, I'm here to join your morning practice.”
“You...you are?” Granberia didn't even attempt to hide her surprise.
“Just because I don't go looking for fights doesn't mean I don't practice.” Alice stepped in between them, her arms crossed beneath her breasts as she looked to the both of them. “Well? We'll need to go soon. Don't keep me waiting.”
Not having any of Granberia's reservations, Ranma obliged and quickly jumped into the fray. He was curious how well Alice could fight in her humanoid body. The first barrage of punches he sent out was met with a flurry of her own. Even disguised, Ranma could feel her aura of power blunting his strikes, but it was less potent than it was before.
Spurred by his action, Granberia soon joined alongside him, though her blows were more hesitant...at least until Alice punished that hesitance with a palm strike to the forehead hard enough to make her helmet ring.
While no one had spoken of any rules, it didn't take long for Ranma and Granberia to focus their attention primarily on Alice, each one taking turns at testing her defenses. Alice lacked neither speed nor strength as she repeatedly turned away sword and fist, staying mostly in one place. The only crack in her defenses seemed to be a lack of refinement in her technique which, Ranma reasoned, made sense given that her normal body had a tail instead of legs.
Even so, what blows did get through didn't do much, and Granberia's sword couldn't even pierce Alice’s clothing let alone her skin. Each engagement ended with a decisive, powerful strike from her that staggered Ranma and Granberia in turn. Still, as the fight went on, the downtime between Ranma and Granberia's attacks were growing shorter. The two of them were adapting their technique and fighting together more and more without getting in each other's way. Soon, Alice was fully on the defensive, with more strikes getting through, and finally pushing her back.
Or was she? A moment too late, Ranma noticed the trap, the stance shifting slightly right before her leg swept out and caught Granberia in the side with enough force to lift her off her feet. Having used only her arms to that point, the sudden shift in style caught the swordswoman off guard.
This time she didn't wait for Ranma to engage. Instead she leaped towards him, leg extended. Ranma was ready...or at least he thought he was. The air shimmered around her in mid-jump and suddenly Ranma was on his back, buried beneath a pile of coils.
“That's enough for now,” said Alice sweetly. “We have some traveling to do and if we stay much longer, Lucretia might want to come and watch.”
Ranma groaned inwardly as he noticed the harpies up in the trees. Well, that secret was out of the bag.
The air over Happiness Village was one Ranma was quite familiar with. Cold, menacing, and ready to break into violence at a moment’s notice. It’d been a common occurrence back in Nerima when more than two of his suitors gathered in the same place, but this was clearly village-wide.
Granberia gave voice to his thoughts. “It feels like a fight is about to break out.”
Part of that tension was almost definitely coming from the harpies in the field, now working alongside the villagers. While they weren't quite as adept at manipulating farm tools, they were good at carrying loads to and from the fields.
Alice, once again in human form, nodded. “It won't be a smooth transition. It's admirable it only took one day to reach an agreement.”
“Welcome to Happiness Village, home of the famous Happiness Honey.”
Ranma paused, looking at the male who had greeted them while standing stoically in place. “What are you doing?”
The young man sighed. “I'm the village greeter. This was my job before I got kidnapped.”
“How many people do you actually greet like this?” asked Alice.
The man shrugged. “Not many. Getting kidnapped was the most interesting thing to happen to me in months.”
“Why don’t you find a new job?” suggested Ranma.
“Well, being a harpy house husband was better, but that's not an option anymore.
Granberia fixed him with a cold glare. “Your potential 'wives' are in the fields working for their keep, you can do the same.”
The town greeter balked at her look. “I um...I think I see someone that needs greeting over there.”
Granberia watched him run out of sight and let out a huff. “If these women don't start demanding better from their men, everyone is going to suffer. Why did we come back here?”
“For our reward, naturally,” said Alice, as the village elder emerged from the town hall with her husband. There was a very obvious and painful tension between the two, but Alice was far more focused on the bright golden jar of honey in the elder's hands.
“Brave martial artist, thank you for coming to the aid of our village,” said the chieftess.
“Yes, thank you so much for bringing an end to my life of comfort,” continued the chief. “Now instead of a quiet retirement I get to spend more time with this shrew of a-ow!”
“Pay my husband no mind,” said the elder as she removed the tip of her staff from his foot, “and please accept this honey on our behalf. It's some of our finest stock, guaranteed to enhance the flavor of anything, and even boost sexual performance.”
Ranma swore he saw Alice lick her lips from the corner of his eye. “Like you need help with that.” With a nod, he accepted the reward from the chief and stowed it in his pack.
Alice let out a hmph. “If you waste that you'll be paying me personally.”
“I'd be worried if I'd ever seen you refuse a meal.”
“Brave martial artist, where do you plan on heading next?” interrupted the elder.
“North to Ilias Port, then to Sentora, hopefully.”
“Ah, that warms my heart to hear. Clearly one such as you would be more than capable of sorting out their problems as well.”
Ranma's eyes narrowed. “Problems?”
Lady Sutherland positively beamed at Ranma's inquiry. “Thank you so much for agreeing to help us! I knew you were a true hero! I have a sense for these sorts of things.”
“That's my darling,” said Alice playfully as she enjoyed the tea and cakes that had been laid out for them. “Always getting suckered into solving other people's problems.”
“I never said I was going to...ugh, never mind. Please, tell me what's going on this time.”
“Well, it's a bit difficult to say. For the past few years, getting a ship to Sentora has been almost impossible. At first, it was only a few ships being sunk every year, but lately, any ship that even tries to leave the harbor gets swept up in a storm and comes back with its mast cut and sails torn. It's made getting supplies from overseas impossible.”
“What kinds of supplies?”
“Oh nothing vital, but I've had to cut back my menu quite a bit. My inn used to serve all manner of delicacies from all over the world.”
“This is a terrible problem that should be addressed immediately,” said Alice suddenly. “What's your plan, Ranma?”
Ranma nearly choked on his tea. “How should I know? I can't punch a storm!”
“Right, you only create them. My mistake.”
“There might be a solution,” interjected Lady Sutherland. “In fact, I think I have an old notice laying around somewhere. Give me a minute you two.”
As the proprietress walked off, Ranma watched as Alice's expression turned from amusement to annoyance. “What's really going on? Another monster queen?”
“Exactly that,” said Alice. “On orders from Tamamo most likely.”
“Someone else is ordering the queens? I thought you were the monster lord.”
“I didn't officially take the throne until a few years ago,” admitted Alice. “Until that time, Tamamo acted as reagent. She was probably the one to order this continent isolated.”
Ranma frowned. “Why? Was the food here just too tempting for you?”
The jab didn't even prompt a reaction. Alice had clearly flipped over from gourmet to ruler. “It was to make sure no 'heroes' tried to kill me before I took the throne. I imagine the task was entrusted to Leviathan at first, but now it seems like Alma Elma has taken over.”
Making a mental note to ask about the names later, Ranma put forward the obvious solution. “Tell her to stop then? You're the monster lord now.” Already he could see she wasn't thrilled with the plan. “Okay, what's wrong with that?”
“Tamamo usually has a good reason for what she does,” admitted Alice. “I'd like to confer with her first. It's possible that she's protecting the weaker monsters from adventurers, too.”
“Like monsters need protecting,” scoffed Ranma.
“Would either of you like a refill?”
It took Ranma a moment to place the voice, but even with her new headdress and maid skirt, the young lamia Teeny was immediately recognizable. “Sure, I'll take one. How are you four getting along?”
Teeny beamed as she refilled his cup. “Great! We've got a new hideout in the city big enough for all of us. You should visit some time!”
“Soon. Maybe,” said Ranma noncommittally. “Tell the others I said hi and to keep up with their training.”
With a happy nod, Teeny refilled Alice's cup before slithering to the next table. Across from him, Alice raised a brow.
“Okay, some monsters need protecting,” agreed Ranma. “But would Alma really attack a boat you're riding on? Wouldn't that be like...treason or something?”
“I'm trying to keep a low profile,” reminded Alice. “You could always drive her off yourself.”
“Not if she just destroys the boat under me.”
“Found it!” The conversation was halted as Lady Sutherland excitedly rushed back to their table, a scroll in hand. “Well go on, give it a read.”
Cautiously, Ranma unrolled the aged parchment. “Hear ye hear ye. Are there adventurers brave enough to uncover the hoard of the great pirate Selene? Passed from this world fifty years ago, her treasure has remained hidden...until now.”
“One of the rumored treasures she possessed was the legendary Poseidon's Bell. It's said that any ship bearing it will never sink no matter how harsh the waves or winds become.”
“Why would she hide a thing like that?” wondered Alice aloud. “Shouldn't she have kept it with her ship?”
“A pirate like Selene? She’d have laughed at the very idea of using some trinket to face down storms. Sadly, no one on this continent has her skill or bravery, so that bell might have to do,” said Lady Sutherland with a wistful sigh. “Still, even if the bell isn't there, a cave full of treasure would be a boon for any adventurer, right? I'll leave the scroll with you, just in case.”
“Yeah, thanks. We'll look into it,” said Ranma as she walked away. “Wouldn't be a bad idea to get some money. Exchanging favors for everything is annoying.”
Turning the scroll over, Ranma frowned as he saw some smaller text on the back. “Recommended skills include thievery, perception, and...dungeoneering? What the heck is that?”
“It's the practice of delving into dungeons and exploring them. Is that not a thing in your world either?”
“Nope. Everyone I know puts their money in banks.”
“Hmph. Your world sounds boring.”
“Compared to this place? Yeah, it kinda is.”
“What did you do back in your world?”
The question surprised Ranma, prompting him to think a moment. “I went to school, trained, and got into fights with my rivals. A lot. Kinda wonder what they're doing right now, honestly. I know at least a handful of 'em will be happy I'm gone.”
“Their loss. You're useful to have around.”
Ranma cocked his head. “Was that a compliment?”
Alice shrugged. “You can take it as one. Come on, we shouldn't keep Granberia waiting too long. When she gets bored, she gets into fights.”
Granberia had clearly gotten into a few fights while they were gone. Two monsters had been laid out and knocked unconscious, one a strange looking plant-girl and another with menacing purple tentacles. Ranma made sure to give that one a wide berth.
“Another detour? For all your talk of not being an adventurer, you're certainly acting like one.”
Ranma's eye twitched. “Remind me, between the two of you, how much money do you have?”
Granberia let out a 'hmph'. “I've never needed it before. Monster villages never charge the Heavenly Knights.”
“Well I'm not a knight so I'm taking a detour now to avoid having to detour later,” concluded Ranma.
“Don't mind her,” cut in Alice. “She always gets like this when Alma Elma comes up.”
Ranma could have sworn he saw some steam leave Granberia's nose. “I do not! I just think it's pointless.”
“What's her deal anyways?” asked Ranma. “She's another Heavenly Knight, right?”
“She's a succubus and a particularly insufferable one at that,” growled Granberia. “I'm amazed she even accepted the job of cutting off this continent.”
“Wait...you mean like...summon from hell, invade your dreams, and suck out your soul type of succubus?”
Alice gave him a curious look. “You have succubi where you're from?”
“Er...maybe? I know some old lech that tried to summon one, but it didn't work.”
“Well they're not like that here. You couldn't 'summon' Alma Elma any more than you could summon me, and the only thing they'll suck out is your semen and energy.”
Ranma rolled his eyes. “So how does that make them different from regular monsters then?”
“Because they need energy constantly and they never shut up about it,” huffed Granberia. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed on Ranma. “Where are you from, anyways?”
“Really...really far away,” said Ranma vaguely. “I landed on this continent because of a freak accident.”
Granberia blinked. “What kind of accident?”
Ranma hesitated for a moment before he caught Alice's gaze and slight nod. “I was following someone, there was an explosion, and the next thing I knew, Alice had fallen from the sky and landed in front of me.”
The look Granberia gave him made it clear she was curious about the details, but she didn't press her questioning. “We should move. Port Ilias is a fair distance away.”
Ranma hoisted his pack and fell into step beside her.
“This treasure cave. What kind of place is it?” asked Granberia
“Dunno, but it's a cave and caves are bad news. One thing I learned on my training trip? If there isn't something in there now, there will be soon,” replied Ranma. “One had a pack of wolves waiting for us, and another had a pack of wolves to greet us when we woke up. And then there was one that was full of ghosts of broken up couples who-hnn!”
Ranma stopped suddenly as the tip of Alice's tail whipped towards his throat and pointed straight at his neck.
“There is no such thing as ghosts,” she said icily.
Not moving a muscle, Ranma's eyes flicked between the tail and Alice's glare. “Something I should know?”
“No, nothing. They just don't exist,” snapped Alice, withdrawing her tail as quickly as she'd brandished it. “Your story was stupid anyways. Talk about something else.”
“My lord,” began Granberia, “Are you afraid of-”
“One more word from you and I'm putting you in charge of watching over Succubus Village. And then I'll demote you to squire and force you to follow Alma around!”
“So that's what it looks like from the other side,” murmured Ranma.
“Did you say something?”
Ranma vigorously shook his head.
“Good. The list of things I could do to you would make our inn visit trite by comparison!”
With a final glare towards the two of them, Alice slithered on ahead. Ranma stayed behind with Granberia, wisely choosing to give her some space. The dragon was the first to break the silence. “Honestly, what a child.”
“Hey, we can't help what we're afraid of sometimes.”
“You sound like you speak from experience.”
Ranma choked slightly. “N-no! I've just seen a few things. What about you and succubi, huh? You've got issues with them?”
Granberia's sword was out in an instant. “I don't have 'problems' with succubi! How dare you imply that!”
“Yeah, cause that's a reasonable reaction,” retorted Ranma, jumping away from her. “Does this Alma Elma beat you or some- yikes!”
“Come back here and I'll show you how much of a problem I have!” shouted Granberia, chasing after him.
“Can't do! Got a cave to explore!”
“By order of the Church of Ilias the following location known as 'Treasure Cave' has been sealed to all exploration until further notice,” read Ranma as he looked at the sign that had been placed beside the cave entrance. “Known threats include traps, mimics, spiders, potential cave-ins, and gho...oblins.”
Alice's eye twitched. “Let's get this over with before it gets dark.”
“Hey Alice? You don't have to go in there if you don't want to,” said Ranma carefully. “I can handle myself just fine.”
“I'm going,” said Alice sharply. “There's nothing in there I can't handle.”
Ranma sighed but didn't press the issue. He was just as stubborn about his own phobia after all.
We'd be in real trouble if that stupid ghost furball showed up here...
“I'll take the lead then.” Ranma didn't wait for a response before stowing his pack and stepping up to the entrance, a solid punch breaking through the boards across the mouth of the cave. “Huh...okay, that's a bit odd.”
The inside of the 'cave' was nothing like what Ranma had been expecting. In fact, the tunnel looked immaculately carved, the walls straight and the floor even. The only 'cave quality' it had was the uneven and rocky ceiling above.
Strangest of all, however, was the light. Ranma had prepared a torch but it was proven unnecessary. Along the walls at regular intervals were torches aplenty, yet instead of flames all of them held bright blue gems that gave of a pale glow, illuminating the hallway.
“Selene must have come through here often if she made it look this nice,” observed Alice. “Or perhaps she did the pirate thing and commandeered it from someone else.”
Granberia's eyes narrowed, peering as far ahead as she could. “Looks far too inviting. Stay alert.”
“Don't need to tell me twice.” Keeping the unlit torch in hand, Ranma pushed through the broken boards and into the hall with Granberia and Alice on either side. It didn't take long for the first trap to block their path, a series of raised stones with some suspicious looking holes in the walls to accompany them.
“Classic pressure sensitive floor with darts in the walls,” noted Granberia. “There's probably a pattern-”
“Frost Ozma!”
A flash of blue light lit the corridor as energy formed in Alice's palms. Thrusting her arms out, the twin orbs flew through the air and struck both walls. The magic created solid sheets of ice that formed over both walls until every hole was covered.
“Keep moving,” ordered Alice, fearlessly slithering over the pressure sensitive tiles, small 'click' sounds following as the darts failed to penetrate the icy barrier.
Ranma hurried to catch up with her. “Not that I'm saying there are any, but if we do happen to encounter one of those g-words, how do we beat them?”
“We collapse the cave and never speak of it again.”
“Come on, can't you just throw a fireball at it or something?”
“I don't know because they don't exist. Now focus on the-”
“Nnhh...ahhhh...”
“Aaah!”
Ranma blinked and Alice's coils were wrapped tight around his legs and arms, the suddenness of it almost knocking him off his feet. “Alice!” croaked Ranma, his breath expelled from his lungs.
“Oh, sorry about that, did I surprise you?”
Turning his head upward proved difficult with Alice's arms tight around his neck, but the sight above almost made him wish he hadn't tried. The figure clinging to the ceiling was half spider and half human, and far...far larger than any spider should ever be. If it weren't for Alice's coils keeping him locked in place, he would have immediately given her some space.
“Sorry, those yawns just come without warning sometimes. Hey, that's a pretty cute boy you have there. Any chance-”
“Omega Blaze!”
“Eeep!”
Ranma felt the coils around him heat up as Alice sent a blazing fireball into the webs above, narrowly missing the spider girl as she fled along the ceiling, the webs turning to ashes behind her.
“Can't...move,” groaned Ranma, belatedly pushing at Alice's coils.
Alice blinked as the embers died down around her before slowly unwinding herself from Ranma's body. “As I said, there's nothing in this cave that can threaten me.”
CLICK!
Alice froze before slowly shifting her coil off of the floor section she'd moved to. “Putting a hidden pressure plate right after the visible ones? That's clever.”
A faint rumbling echoed through the cave, followed by a crash as a large boulder fell through the ceiling, it's size filling the hallway as it rolled towards them.
Before Ranma could react, a green blur zipped by him.
“Chaos Star!”
Granberia's sword flashed in the crystal light, cutting cleanly into the boulder several times, halting its momentum before it fell to pieces in neatly severed chunks. Keeping her blade drawn, Granberia looked around, clearly alert for any follow-up traps.
A moment passed in silence before Alice spoke. “Thank you Granberia, that seems like everything for-”
CLICK!
Alice stopped again, watching as another section of floor rose that had been vacated by her coils. “Now this is just excessive.”
Ranma's gaze turned towards the ceiling, but the trap came from below, the solid-appearing ground suddenly crumbling in an instant. “Crap!” The single word was all he had time to say before he tumbled into the darkness.
Walls, slippery. Ground, out of sight. Correcting his momentum was the first step, but there didn't seem to be any option other than to fall. No, there was something. A gap in the wall! His body turned and his legs kicked out at the opposite side and launched him towards the gap. His back hit and the stone crumbled, light flooding back as he propelled himself into an entirely different room, hitting the ground hard amid a shower of stone before he rolled to a stop.
“I miss the wolves,” he groaned, resting a moment before getting back to his feet to examine his surroundings.
Unlike the hallway before, this one had clearly been carved from ceiling to floor with oddly fine precision, and the same strange crystal torches were present on the walls, casting things in that same eerie light. The only thing that looked out of place was a single wooden box placed in an alcove...with a sign nearby.
Ranma's eyes narrowed in suspicion. “See-len's treasure...and an arrow. Come on, how dumb do they think I am? This is the stupidest trap yet.”
The question had been rhetorical, but to his surprise, something answered.
“Hey! I could have Selene's treasure in here! You don't know!”
“Did you just talk?” demanded Ranma.
The lid of the chest moved ever so slightly. “Um...chest noises? Treasure sounds?”
“Not buying it.”
“W-well I still have some treasure in here! Really...really good treasure!”
“I'll take your word for it. Can you point me to Selene's treasure room?”
“It's right there on the sign!”
Ranma approached the box, watching as the lid shifted in anticipation. “Well? Are you going to hop out and ambush me or what?”
“Hop out? What kind of monster do you think I am?”
“So you are a monster.”
“I never said that, I just-hey! Put me down!”
The chest had been heavier than expected, but still easy for Ranma to handle. Keeping the opening faced away from him, he shook the box back and forth, then up and down for good measure. Only when the occupant seemed thoroughly dizzy did Ranma put it back down.
The lid burst open a second after. A black haired girl leaned over a teeth-lined edge, her cheeks green. “You jerk...ulp...what was that for?”
Ranma stared. Clearly this world hadn't finished surprising him with monster varieties. This one in particular was possibly the strangest yet, with an upper female body and a lower half that 'melted' into the chest and form a blue slime-like puddle.
“You were going to attack me,” said Ranma flatly.
“I was not! I just wanted a meal!”
“And how were you going to get that?”
“By...not attacking you?”
“I don't believe you.”
“It's because I'm a mimic, isn't it?”
“I don't even know what that is. And no, it's because you have a bloodthirsty aura I could sense for a mile.”
“Alright, fine! Maybe I wanted to eat you a little bit! But you don't need both your arms, do you?”
Ranma's fist smacked against an open palm.
“So it's left, right, and then right again from here?” asked Ranma, giving the tightly bound box another shake.
“For the last time, yes! Now put me down already!”
“You realize you're getting hit first if we hit a trap, right?”
“I know, I know. I just forgot last time.”
Carrying the box over his shoulder, the shirtless Ranma continued down the corridor, following her directions. The Enrikan cloth had proven quite effective as a makeshift binding for the mimic, even if it was likely to be a bit stretched later. Soon, the corridor opened up, the lights now brighter and reflecting off of a solid metal door.
“This looks promising.” Ranma dropped the chest with a thud, untying the sleeves and reclaiming his shirt. “Alright, you can go now.”
“Good riddance you jerk, I hope the foxes get you!” Slime seeped out of the edges of the box, slid underneath, and then promptly picked the box up and rolled away.
“What foxes?” But the mimic was long gone. Another cave-dweller perhaps? Putting those thoughts aside, Ranma approached the vault and tugged the handle. To his surprise, the door moved. “Huh...guess she never thought anyone would get this far.”
Even as he said it, he was alert for traps. Yet the door opened, the lights flickered on, and the vault remained still. The only thing that moved inside was a cloud of dust, and hanging from a bright red ribbon at the back of the vault was a shiny golden bell.
“Is it really gonna be that easy?” Ranma muttered to himself as he stepped cautiously through the vault, reached toward it and delicately removed the bell from its resting place. “How the heck is this thing supposed to stand against a storm?”
Casually, Ranma tossed it into the air by the ribbon and let it fall into his palm—
FLASH!
He was underwater, yet he could breathe as easily as air. Before him a beautiful mermaid was weeping. Laura...the name came to him—
FLASH!
“They teamed up against me! I did everything I could!”
He was looking at a slime girl, but one far larger than Lime.
“But it wasn't just a fight, was it? I warned you— ”
FLASH!
“I need your power. I need to destroy Alice.”
“We will form a contract then. Reach out your hand and swear to me— ”
FLASH!
Ranma was drifting. He could feel the air around him, yet it felt like he was suspended in water. This state. He recognized it.
“You who seek my power...what is your name?”
Ranma opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. A sound like rushing water filled his ears, the serene state slipping away until suddenly—
“I got it! Tamamo is gonna promote me for sure!”
His hand was holding nothing but air. His eyes snapped to the owner of the voice and his fist moved, coming down on a head of silver hair while the other hand snatched away the bell.
“Owww! You meanie! I'm telling Nanabi!”
Finally his senses caught up to his instincts, but the small twin-tailed fox girl was already scampering away.
“Wait, I didn't mean to...” But she was gone. Warily, Ranma turned his eye back to the bell. The strange energy that had enveloped him before was still there, brimming beneath the surface. Any doubts he had about it being Poseidon's Bell were gone. Careful not to let it touch his skin, Ranma used the ribbon to guide it into his pocket. He was going to have to look at it later, preferably outside of the cave.
Aside from the bell, the rest of the vault was a far cry from the treasure cove it had been advertised as. A handful of coins lay scattered about with a few gemstones here and there, but nothing like what the scroll had promised. Still, something was better than nothing and Ranma quickly scooped up the lot and made his exit.
Someone was waiting for him.
“That's him! That's the guy who took the bell from me!”
The small twin-tailed fox was back, and she wasn't alone. Crouched beside her on four paws was a kitsune that dwarfed her in size and tails, with seven golden lengths fanned out behind her. Right at the waist the fox part melded into a female human body like a centaur...a very naked human body.
“Human, is this true?” the large kitsune demanded.
Ranma found his voice after a couple false starts. “She took it from me first!”
“You were just staring at it!”
“Enough, Nibi. Human, do you posses the bell?”
There was no point denying it. “I do.”
“Then I cannot let you leave with it. Tamamo has tasked me with retrieving it.” As if she already knew what his response was to be, Nanabi shifted her stance, her fox body tensing and her tails poised to block the passage behind her.
Ranma didn't disappoint. “Sorry, I got a ship to catch and this is my ticket.”
“Nibi, leave us. It's best for you to stay out of the way,” said Nanabi.
“You're gonna get it now!” cried Nibi, sticking out her tongue before she dashed back into the halls.
“Ranma Saotome, martial artist,” he introduced. “And you must be Nanabi.”
“Trusted third of Tamamo,” Nanabi confirmed. “By her command, the Ilias Continent quarantine shall be maintained!”
With her declaration, Nanabi lunged forward. Her forepaw lashed out in a powerful swipe that tore up the ground where Ranma had stood just moments before. Her second strike was followed by a twist of her body and her tails kicked up a whirlwind of as they swept out at him.
Ranma leapt back and his hands blurred as the appendages reached out for him, meeting each with a fist and deflecting them in turn.
Another twist by Nanabi and Ranma was dealing with the front again, the foxtaur now using her bulk to try and knock him off his feet. While she wasn't faster than him, her size and the confined space made it difficult to dodge, and none of those fluffy tails lacked for power.
He could sense something else from the mythical woman, a familiar power that was similar yet different from the harpy queen and Granberia. Earth. Strong, sturdy, and as a couple punches proved, durable as hell.
Guess it's time to go to the Ryoga standby!
Ranma waited for the next tail sweep before making his move, kicking off the narrow walls in and forcing Nanabi to work to keep track of him. The moment she looked ready to lunge again, Ranma struck first, channeling his momentum into a single powerful strike.
“Shooting Star Kick!”
The force of the blow delivered to her fox body sent her teetering onto her left two legs, briefly exposing her underbelly.
“Kachuu Tenshin Amaguriken!”
His rapid fire punches struck the exposed belly repeatedly in the same spot before she could regain her balance, and by the time she'd recovered, he was already back at the walls, rebounding twice and kicking at her other side to repeat the combo.
Nanabi growled, and dug her claws into the floor while her tails moved around her like a protective cocoon.
“Spirit Talisman: Earth!” she shouted.
The ground rumbled beneath Ranma's feet. He didn't wait to see how the attack would manifest and threw himself aside just in time to avoid a pillar of earth shooting skyward and slamming into the roof of the cave. More followed, bursting from the walls and the ceiling and Ranma twisted wildly to avoid them. He was rapidly running out of room though, and it looked like Nanabi had planned for that. Power was building and her tails were glowing, each of the tips pointed in his direction.
“Seven Moons: Moonlight Cannon!” cried Nanabi.
Bright light manifested from each of her tails, drawing power towards the center of her palms. With barely any room to dodge, Ranma tried to break through the wall of stone pillars at his side, just barely managing to avoid the energy blast as he forced his way through the earth. The second wave hit him head on, shattering the stone around him and sending him flying into the back wall.
Ranma willed himself to stand. The energy was still building, which meant another wave was coming. Likely another five, given the name of the technique.
“Moko Takabisha!” Ranma shouted.
The concentrated ball of confidence met the next attack and detonated in the center, and a second and third one clashed with the others. The explosions were causing the cave to shake, the earthen spires breaking apart further with each blast. Ranma was being pushed back. Whatever power she was drawing from was simply more vast than his own reserves of energy.
Maybe there was an out. His mind flashed to the technique Granberia had used in their fight. Had that state of mind been the key? Ranma's hand dived into his pocket, fingers wrapping around the bell. The soothing feeling enveloped him again, a calm overcoming him even as the next wave of energy raced towards him.
His fist opened, his palm went straight, and with a swift chop, Ranma severed the energy as it came. He didn't have time to celebrate or even think about what he'd done. His body was twisting, his single arm sweeping out and cutting through the next and the next. He barely registered the look of surprise on Nanabi's face as he came within arm's reach. Her tails swept out in an effort to strike him, but Ranma flowed around them and brought his hand across her midriff.
The resulting shockwave knocked Ranma off his feet. Nanabi got it worse, however, her entire body lifting from the ground and arcing through the air to land hard on her side.
“I yield!”
Ranma's fingers immediately released the bell at her shout and his body staggered slightly when the serene state slipped away, and left a dizzy feeling behind. “Ugh...sorry about that, I'm still getting a handle on that stuff.”
Nanabi gave him a strange look, clearly limping as she worked her way back to her paws. “But...you executed the technique perfectly?”
“What technique? I was just dodging and-” A sudden rumble echoed through the cavern, dust and rocks falling from above while the ground below cracked and crumbled.
“I uh...don't suppose you could use your earth tricks to stop a cave in, can you?” asked Ranma nervously.
Nanabi looked panicked. “I...I need time to recover. I used all my energy in that attack. Maybe if you joined your mastery of earth with mine— ”
“I don't have any earth mastery.”
“But the final blow you struck...”
“That was a normal punch!”
“Then...punch the wall maybe?”
“How is that gonna help?”
“Spirit Talisman: Earth!”
Powerful energy rippled outward along the walls, ceiling, and soon the entire cave. The tremors instantly stopped, and the rocks around them shifted back into place while the earthen pillars crumbled.
“Nanabi, what did I tell you about using earth techniques inside caves?” Standing at the entrance to the vault was a third kitsune, only a little bit bigger than the two-tailed Nibi, though their size was where the similarities ended. Wearing a white kimono and holding a folded fan, this golden tailed kitsune looked poised and elegant rather than childish.
And she had nine tails instead of two.
Nanabi tried and failed to stand. “Lady Tamamo! My apologies, but this adventurer pushed me to my limit.”
“Hey you started the fight,” grumbled Ranma.
Tamamo waved Nanabi off as she approached him, her nose twitching. Her path took her in a small circle around his legs and she continued to sniff all the while.
“Are you...looking for something?” asked Ranma finally.
The inspection carried on for a few more moments before Tamamo finally spoke. “You're cute. Do you want to get married, or did Alice already claim you?”
Ranma let out an exasperated sigh. “No and no. I'm just here for the stupid bell.”
“Oh, I understand. Granberia is getting in the way, isn't she?”
“Pretty sure she's only interested in beating me.”
“That's like dating to dragons, you'll get used to it. Or you'll get routinely beaten until you get better. Kitsunes are much more reasonable, and far more fluffy.” Tamamo swayed her tails in a wave like motion. Ranma had to admit, they did look very fluffy.
“Sorry, but I've already been engaged twice. Not looking to add a third.”
Tamamo pouted at the news. “Fine, fine. Although...” The air in the room shifted as Tamamo opened her fan and hid her face. The playful demeanor evaporated. “I am going to need that bell before you go. I put this place under quarantine for a reason.”
Ranma's breath caught in his throat. The energy Tamamo was giving off was inhumanly oppressive. “You really wanna cause another cave-in?”
“It'd be annoying but I'd survive,” said Tamamo. “Still, it would be better for the monsters here if we didn't. So how about a contest instead? You knock me off my feet, I'll let you pass. Otherwise I get the bell. Deal?”
It was obviously a trap. Ranma could feel the power surrounding her similar to how Alice had shielded herself. Unfortunately, the alternatives were few and risky. His hand went into his pocket and drew the bell out by the ribbon. “I accept.” With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the bell to Nanabi and drew his energy inward.
Tamamo didn't look like she was going to move and Ranma was happy to use that to his advantage, planting his feet and opening himself to the same energy the kitsune was drawing upon. He'd done it once before, he could do it again. The flow was sharp in his senses as though it were a living entity...but something was off. A dim spot was within the current.
“Are you going to use your full power?”
The sudden question seemed to catch Tamamo off guard. “You don't think I'm taking this seriously?”
“No...but there's like a seal around you...limiting you.” Ranma's brow furrowed. “Can't really explain it.”
Tamamo's fan snapped shut, her eyes showing amusement. “Oh you are a keeper. What's your name?”
“Ranma Saotome, martial artist and apparently part time adventurer now.”
“Well Ranma, I don't know how you sensed it, but this seal doesn't come off unless the fate of the world is at stake. Or there's a particularly cute male I wish to claim. You're getting close though.”
Deciding it was better not to push the topic, Ranma returned his focus inward, drawing in as much energy as he could before he started to lose control over it. “I don't have a name for this yet, so get ready!”
Tamamo's stance didn't change, but Ranma was out of time. A cloud of dust accompanied his kick off the ground and his body flowed through the air on a direct course towards the kitsune. The first blow landed with the same earth-shattering impact he'd hit Nanabi with. He could hear Tamamo's feet sliding across the stone, but she stayed upright.
Ranma wasn't done. A second punch followed, then a third, the impacts starting to shake debris from the walls of the cave as he drew more and more power from the earth below. The serene state felt like it was overtaking him, his body almost moving independently of his mind, his strikes crashing like waves against a rock. Tamamo was being forced back and her balance wavered. He could feel just where to strike to—
POMF!
His mind jolted back to reality. His fist had been stopped cold, caught in the embrace of a soft tail.
“If I wasn't so sure Alice had her sights on you, I'd drag you back to Yamantai right here and now.”
Ranma swallowed. He recognized that look. It was similar to the one Alice had shown back at the Sutherland Inn. His feet braced against the ground and he tugged back with his arm, but Tamamo was ready and sent him flying to the ground with a twist of her tail. “Ah ah ah, no more of that. Not unless you're trying to break every bone in your body.”
More tails came forward, two for each arm and one more for each leg. “Nnh...I was just doing what you were-mmph!”
“Hush now,” teased Tamamo, a tail wrapping around his neck like a fuzzy collar and then again around his mouth. “The difference between you and me is that I am a monster. As a human, using spiritual energy without the permission of the spirits...well, let's just say that you're lucky you were punching something as fluffy as me.”
Her tails flexed, bringing his legs together for a moment before she pulled his pants clean off, his shirt soon following as the furry appendages pushed beneath his clothing. Ranma struggled, but the powerful high he'd felt moments before was fading fast, and the tails rubbing against his bare skin were relaxing his body, their warmth soothing him from his battle mindset.
With a small thump that briefly winded him, Tamamo straddled his stomach, her small hands pressing flat against his chest as she leaned over his face. “Now you listen carefully, Ranma. If you want to avoid being burned alive by that power you're tapping into, go find the spirits and make proper contracts with them. Understand?”
Ranma nodded as much as his tail collar would allow.
“Good. You're only going to be able to push yourself like that so many times before it takes a permanent price. Oft times a fatal one.”
Ranma tried to nod again, but the nine-tailed embrace was making him feel more lethargic by the second. Her tails constantly shifted, and rubbed pleasantly across his body. They were easily as strong as Alice's own tail, but with far more delicate finesse and number.
Tamamo grinned down at him. “Enjoying yourself? It's a privilege to experience a fox's tails like this. It's not something I do for just anyone.”
Two of the tails not bindings his limbs stroked along his inner thighs, and his boxers were soon showing the results of her work, his manhood tenting noticeably against the fabric.
“Mmph!”
“Shh...just relax,” murmured Tamamo, slowly working his underclothes down and off his ankles. “Just consider this repayment for saving you from a cave-in.”
The very tips of her tails began to stroke his exposed length, moving up and down from the head to the base, sending thrilling jolts through his body. His teeth clenched and his fists curled in an effort to forestall the intensely pleasant feelings, but when Tamamo slid the tail away from his mouth, a pleasured moan sounded out from him.
“Already?” mocked Tamamo. “We're only getting started. Try not to pass out too soon.”
“This...is nothing,” Ranma lied. Tamamo's tails may have sapped his fighting spirit, but bravado and arrogance he still had in spades.
“Guess that means I can stop holding back them.” The feather light touches she'd been tormenting him with stopped and the tails made their move, wrapping his shaft tight and stroking in a spiral like motion. Ranma's cry fell freely from his relaxed lips, his hips bucking hard enough to bounce the kitsune on top.
The excitement on Tamamo's face was plain to see. “Ahh...if we weren't in a cave right now, I'd keep you going for the rest of the day.”
Ranma had almost forgotten they were in a cave at all. Tamamo's tails were like a soft bed beneath him, and spared his naked body from contact with the rough ground. Besides, the constant warm, and soft heaven his manhood was being treated to...it was taking all he had to stop himself from peaking.
Tamamo was having none of it. With six tails keeping his limbs restrained, that still left three to tease him, and that final tail was soon between his legs, massaging rubbing his balls in time with the ones around his length. The cry that left his mouth was embarrassingly high pitched, but his body didn't care. His shaft pulsed, his limbs tensed, and his seed came spilling out, soaking the twin tails attending him with a healthy amount of his essence.
He could feel Tamamo's energy slipping in as his own was expended, further relaxing him and increasing his body's sensitivity. Above him, Tamamo let out a moan of her own, her eyes going wide and her tails squeezing tight before she relaxed. An adorable smile graced her face. “Ohhh...that's good.”
Her body slumped forward, the tail-grip softening as her chest pressed against his own. Bright eyes looked into his own, the kitsune reassessing her prey. “You're tasty. If Alice is stupid enough to let you slip away, I'm going to catch you.”
Ranma tried to regain his breath while he searched for a retort. “What...makes you think I'll want...to be caught?”
Tamamo giggled, leaned forward, and placed a kiss on Ranma's cheek. “Don't be silly. You won't want to resist.”
“What kind of threat is tha-aaah!”
Tamamo's tails moved and her gaze still showed that predatory look he was getting used to seeing on monster's faces. Unlike the gentle massage from before, this was far more demanding. The tails were still fluffy, but now felt like an iron cage as they twisted around his shaft and squeezed it from base to tip, his sack undergoing a similar torment.
The tails around his limbs tightened considerably, making it near impossible to move. Gasps left him at a rapid rate as her tails fully cocooned his shaft, their warmth and texture downright dizzying.
All the while, Tamamo rested on his chest. Her eyes watched his expressions as he was milked and her head occasionally moved down to plant a kiss on his open mouth. Somewhere in a corner of his mind not being overwhelmed with pleasure, he realized she was grinding against him, but her tails commanded far too much attention to give it much thought.
Even recovering from his first climax, the second one came in record time, a fresh spurt of seed soaking those tails as Ranma's control shattered and accompanying cries of pleasure left his mouth. Tamamo seemed determined to milk out every drop this time, squeezing in wave-like motions and meticulously massaging his sack until Ranma's stamina was finally spent.
Tamamo let out a satisfied sigh as her tails absorbed his essence, leaving them just as soft and fluffy as when she'd started. “If Alice doesn't get her tail moving, mine will be ready for you,” she murmured.
The tails relaxed and Tamamo rose, taking a moment to straighten her kimono. With a gesture, she beckoned Nanabi over, the seven tailed fox having been silent to the point that Ranma had entirely forgotten her presence until now. Holding out her hand, Tamamo let Nanabi drop the bell into her waiting palm.
“When you get back to the surface, given Alice a message for me, please?” Tamamo waited for his nod before she continued. “Tell her that she's the monster lord now. Her time will be better spent acting like it rather than tiptoeing around problems.”
And with a final brush of her tail, Tamamo left, flanked by Nanabi, leaving Ranma alone to catch his breath and try to recover his energy and dignity.
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An Artist Among Monsters