Season 3: Catpurr 11: Command

  “I thought you said we had ten hours until the next trial?!” Junith hissed, drawing her blade as the red-eyed monsters from the forest began to advance from the tree line.

  “We did!” Adam growled in response, moving to stand back to back with Junith towards the crowd of walking bulbous-like plants with eyestalks atop their flowery heads that opened to reveal rows of serrated teeth. “Damn you Eli, when I find you I'll definitely turn you into a cat person!”

  Junith’s tail began to swish back and forth, the number of assailants emerging from the woods already exceeding two dozen.

  “Huh?” Adam shivered, face twitching as Junith's tail brushed up against his that was wrapped around his waist.

  “You idiot, don't rub up on me!” Junith spat, immediately pushing Adam away.

  “Me?! You're the one who is curling their tail into mine!”

  “It's not like I can control it!” Junith replied before smacking away a blob of acid launched towards them only for the liquid to splash on the pair.

  “Huh?” Adam and Junith said in unison, watching as the sploshes of green liquid didn't harm their skin but instead boil away at their clothes and linens.

  “My armor!”

  “My cloak! My items! My LOOTS! NOOO!” Adam screamed as his Belt of Politeness began to steam, the acid causing a chain reaction against the magical items.

  “Why is it glowing? Why is it-”

  “GET DOWN!” Adam unhooked the belt, throwing it at the crowd of monsters and tackling Junith as the magic item exploded, unleashing its contents and sending a shockwave of magical energy that sent Junith and Adam flying.

  Adam held Junith close, the pair’s clothes tearing as they tumbled and flew through a tree with Adam yelping in pain.

  [-83 HP!]

  [CATastrophic damage taken!]

  [Debuff: Broken Vertebrae!]

  [ -95% Movement Speed]

  [ -25% HP Regeneration Speed]

  “Ugh…” Adam let out, slowly attempting to move yet unable to shift his legs or twist his hips.

  “You.. shielded me,” Junith muttered, rising to stare at the infeebled catboy.

  “Yeah… Don't worry, it wasn't out of the kindness of my heart, I still need you so I can get Schroedinger back!” Adam hissed, clutching his chest and coughing up blood.

  “And how is that working out for you?” Junith snickered before her joy was replaced with a grimace as dozens of bulbous monsters began to converge on them. She reached down for the sword that wasn't there, her weapon stuck in the ground further away. “Great… we're surrounded.”

  The monsters continued their advance, tentacles suddenly erupting from their jaws as they flung bile that disintegrated any article of clothing they touched.

  Adam grimaced, reaching out, the trigger of his skill feeling dull and diluted but still there.

  Come. Red!

  “No we aren't,” Adam muttered as the ground surrounding them began to break apart, revealing small bones protruding from the soil followed by dozens of skellie-cats, “Tch, great. It didn't work…ow. My back. My back itches so much. Why does it itch so much?!”

  Immediately, the skellie-cats pounced into action, leaving Junith alone who reached down and picked up Adam only for him to cry out before fainting from the pain.

  “Adam?” Junith said, realizing she was carrying dead weight as more acid flew her way, “Adam?! Damn you! Just my luck! You take one mana detonation and can't even get back up!”

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  With a full-fledged battle raging between undead and carnivorous plants, Junith was left with no choice other than to rush towards the tower.

  [Error! 9:30:12 Before Entry Is Allowed!]

  A barrier of violet energy appeared, impeding Junith who scowled and quickly turned left, carrying the unconscious Adam on her back as she fled from the monsters and into the woods.

  ****

  Opening his eyes, Adam exhaled, staring up at what little of the night sky was visible between the trees.

  “Oh… I'm not dead… damn,” Adam muttered, attempting to move only to realize he couldn't. “Oh… right. Broken back…”

  At least that was what he thought before he looked down at his near naked body and a naked Junith clutching onto his chest.

  “...Huh?”

  Then it dawned on him, it wasn't that he couldn't move, it was the fact that Junith's heavy body was keeping him pinned down!

  “Oui! Oui! OUI! Get off me meatbag!” Adam shouted, punching the paladin.

  “GAH?! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!” Junith shouted, rising to her feet as Adam did the same.

  “YOU! Hugging my body! Trying to defile me! I knew I had good looks but to think they would charm you into-”

  “You moron! Why would I ever try and make a move on you?! I hate you!”

  “Then why am I naked?! Why are you naked?!”

  “Because the acid from those monsters burned out clothes and ruined the straps the cheap armor you gave me!”

  “That armor wasn't cheap! It was locally sourced!"

  “From dead people! You gave me loot from dead people!”

  “Yeah well the last time I gave you actual gear you lost it!” Adam retorted, wishing they still possessed the Armor of Smoug that was missing, “What are you even doing laying on me anyway?!”

  “I propped you down and fell asleep nearby after carrying you for miles, so excuse me if I'm tired!”

  “So you sleep on me?!”

  “I didn't mean to! It's cold! If you haven't noticed we don't have clothes!” Junith shouted before vibrations upon the ground drew their attention.

  “Tch, oh great, look what you did,” Adam muttered, drawing Junith's anger.

  “ME?!”

  “YEAH! YOU! Or is there someone else here to blame?!”

  “AAAAGH! You're so damn annoying! Do you ever take responsibility for anything?!” Junith hollered, picking up a stick while Adam summoned more skellie-cats that appeared from catshaped portals.

  Adam furrowed his brow, eyes narrowing as he scanned the foliage nearby, the rumbling drawing closer and closer as his vision adjusted to the night foliage.

  Ogre? Orc? Oh please don't be another Duckysaur! Adam grimaced, wishing he had Liza to sacrifice.

  Then it emerged from the greenery, a four-legged creature of green hues at five feet tall with a large round shell on its back.

  “Oh… it's just a turtle,” Adam sighed, shoulders dropping as the tension left his body.

  It reared its stumpy head, eyeing Junith and Adam with beady eyes, the pair visibly relaxing.

  Then it opened its mouth, revealing an orange and red glow Adam was all too familiar with.

  “FIRE?! WHY DOES IT BREATH FIRE?!” Adam shouted, dodging to the left to avoid the fan of flames that singed his hair. “Why does everything I freaking encounter breathe fire?!”

  Adam's cat's went to work, charging towards the oversized turtle with their attacks doing little to its scaley hide and shell.

  “Junith! Engage!”

  “What? What am I supposed to do against that without a weapon?!”

  “I don't know! Blast it with void energy! Do you have any brains or is that head just for being annoying?!”

  Junith took on an apprehensive look, the ex-paladin hesitating for a moment that nearly got her roasted if not for Adam's telekinetic hand shoving her away from the stream of green fire.

  “Junith! What are you doing?!”

  “I…”

  “Damn it! Junith now! Attack!” Adam ordered, the brand on Junith glowing as it compelled her to heed his order.

  Suddenly the ground began to rumble, the fire breathing turtle stamping its feet in anger as its eyes began to glow, all telltale signs of a beam attack from the eyes.

  “Oh… crap baskets,” Adam muttered at the influx of power only for Junith to scream with her palm facing the turtle.

  “VOID WARP!” Junith shouted as violent purple energy left her palm to swallow the turtle and the nearby flora whole.

  Adam squinted his eyes, lowering his hands from his face to inspect the carnage let out from Junith's attack. Then it clicked, Adam's eyes darting towards the sullen woman.

  “You idiot! Why is it you never just DO that, when threats are coming at us?! Do you realize how much pain and suffering we could avoid if you would jus-”

  “SHUT UP!” Junith spat, catching Adam off guard as he stared at the woman with tears streaming down her face. “Just… leave me alone.”

  “Uhm. Huh,” Adam looked away from the dejected cat girl, unsure what to make of the Junith seeing as he'd never seen her full on cry before. “Sure.” Adam mumbled, turning his attention elsewhere.

  [6 Hours Before Trial Begins]

  Adam eyed the time, clicking his teeth as his skin began to prick from the cold and the elements of the foreign world.

  “Come,” Adam said, summoning a multitude of skellie-cats to begin foraging as he took one more look at the sullen Junith before walking off.