[Would you like to give the Eternal Shadows Epic-Grade Weapons as well?]
"What do you think?"
[Of course I got you on that as well.]
"Uh..Master look."
Ariel's voice cut in sharply, all trace of playfulness gone as she pointed downward.
Terrence followed her gaze.
Beneath their feet, the smooth, artificial floor began to change.
Not crack.
Not shatter.
It was being overwritten.
Shadowy gold bled outward in a perfectly symmetrical circle, reality itself peeling back as if rewritten by an unseen hand. Ancient runes surfaced along the expanding edge. The runes were old, deliberate, activated, not summoned.
The air thickened.
Just enough to make breathing feel..heavier.
Pressure pressed in from all sides, subtle but absolute. It was like the Evo Rend itself had drawn in a slow, measured breath.
Terrence's eyes gleamed.
He knew this sensation.
He'd felt it before.
Anticipation.
The shadowy-gold circle finished forming. It was massive, precise, flawless. Its perimeter pulsed once.
..Then again.
Each pulse slower.
Deeper.
More deliberate.
"It's time." Terrence chuckled.
The sound barely left his mouth before-
BOOM.
Two blinding golden flashes tore into existence with a thunderous detonation. The shockwave rippled outward, rattling the air and kicking up arcs of light.
Ariel yelped.
She jumped onto Terrence's back instantly, arms locking around his neck.
"MASTER TERRENCE!!"
"Master Terrence!!"
The voices that followed were guttural. Deep. Resonant.
Familiar.
Bob and Weave stood before him. They were towering, golden-shadowed, their forms pulsing faintly with runic light.
"Bob and Weave? How did both of you get h-"
"Terrence!"
"T!"
He didn't get to finish.
Heavy impacts slammed into him from both sides as Treasure and Eiselle crashed into him with tight, unrestrained hugs.
"You summoned us here, Master—are you okay?!" Bob asked, concern clear as he scanned Terrence from head to toe.
Weave was already closer.
Much closer.
He carefully lifted Terrence's arms, inspected them for bruises, leaned in to examine his face. His eyes flickered with almost surgical precision. He checked everywhere he could without crossing lines, hyper-focused, methodical.
Terrence chuckled once Weave finally leaned back.
"It's alright, Weave. Bob. I'm good, I promise." He exhaled. "Long story short, we're in a Rend. There's an incoming monster wave. I summoned Eternal Shadows to help deal with it. Guess you two got pulled in as well."
"Why didn't you tell us, T?" Eiselle released him and lightly punched his stomach, fake anger clear on her face.
"Yeah! You couldn't even let us know you were awake?" Treasure added, still hugging him as she repeatedly poked his chest. "We were worried about you!"
"Psst.."
Terrence felt warm breath near his ear.
Ariel whispered from over his shoulder, voice barely contained laughter.
"Tell them you were spending quality time with your other dragon girlfriend."
Eiselle froze.
Treasure froze.
Slowly, both of them turned their eyes upward.
"…Who was that?" Treasure asked.
She released Terrence and glared at the small, pale fingers now visible over his shoulder. Eiselle crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. The dark tints in her hair slowly spread without her noticing.
Ariel tried to duck back.
It did not work.
Terrence glanced at Bob and Weave.
They had already taken several steps back, hands raised.
Not our fight.
He almost burst out laughing.
"Welp~" Ariel giggled, pulling herself up and propping her chin on Terrence's shoulder. "Pointless to hide now that you both obviously saw me."
She smiled wide. Her smile was cheerful, fanged, and unapologetic.
"I'm Ariel Dragonesh! Newest love and addition to Master Terrence's harem!"
Eiselle and Treasure stared.
One second.
Two.
Then they slowly circled behind Terrence, eyes scanning Ariel from head to toe.
The tension snapped.
"AWEEEE~!"
"She's SO cute!!"
They said it in perfect unison, hands cupped dramatically.
Ariel blinked—then giggled, hopping down from Terrence's back and walking over to them.
"Thank you! You're both beautiful too! What're your names?"
"I'm Eiselle. Nice to meet you, beloved." Eiselle smiled warmly, gently pinching Ariel's cheek and making her giggle.
"I'm Treasure! We're gonna be best friends!"
Off to the side, Terrence, Bob, and Weave watched the sudden emotional whiplash in total confusion.
"..Is that all it took, Master?" Bob asked carefully. "Are all women this..strange? I know she's extremely-"
"HEY!" Ariel snapped.
"-tiny," Bob finished calmly. "But wouldn't they still be angry at Miss Ariel?"
Weave stared at Terrence like the answer would shape his worldview.
"I don't get it either," Terrence shrugged with a grin. "I just know if you're honest, don't lie, and don't treat them like trophies.. some things tend to work out."
Weave immediately produced a notebook from nowhere and began writing furiously.
"Noted, Master Terrence."
Bob nodded solemnly.
[/!\ Warning /!\ 2 Minutes Remaining..]
Terrence's expression hardened instantly.
"Alright. We'll save the rest of the talking for later." His gaze swept over them. "It's almost time to fight. Before I call the rest of my Eternal Shadows, do any of you want a weapon?"
"I think a ranged weapon would be best for me." Ariel said seriously. "I'm weak up close."
"Hm. Whatever you think is best for me, T." Eiselle replied without hesitation. "I trust you."
"I'd love gauntlets!" Treasure said excitedly. "I like fighting up close and personal!"
Bob and Weave exchanged a glance, then raised their clawed hands.
"All we need are these, Master."
[Don't worry. I have the perfect weapons for all of them. They're going to love it.]
Terrence smirked.
He turned back toward the circle.
"Then let the game..commence!"
He clapped his hands.
Instantly hundreds of thousands upon hundreds of thousands of golden, shadowy forms erupted from the massive circle, flooding the space as the timer struck zero.
[Transporting..]
The whitish-blue dimension around them cracked like shattered glass. It fractured violently, and sliced reality apart like Vergil's Judgement Cut End.
[Complete!]
[You have been summoned to kill the Demon King and his demonic monster waves!]
Terrence stared.
"..No fucking way."
Guess this really was Rising of the Shield Hero.