Chapter 6

Valkyrie and the Black Knight

It was almost surreal, how far the Fighter had progressed in her journey. She started from such humble beginnings: naught but a lone girl, armed with a sword and shield, and no leg to stand on as she was persecuted for a crime she didn't commit. But this girl, with fire and valor in her heart, journeyed out into the world and swore to clear her name. Along the way she found powerful allies: the Mage, the Paladin, and finally, the Dark Elf. A lone Fighter became four strong, a unified team that would watch each other's backs and get strong together. They all supported Fighter in her endeavor.

Fighter's enemy had a name: a vicious gang of rogues known as Scarlet Steel, who sought to expand their territory to cities, mountains, forests, even the sea. Fighter had wiped out multitudes of them, from their naval force, to their mountain hermits.

But now... she had only one destination in sight. The heart of the enemy.

"Whoa...!" Paladin says as she stands before a large city. "What is this?"

"I think it's...the Empire Capital," Fighter says. "We finally made it."

"We made it?" Mage says. "Oh, goodness! Yay! It was a long and hard trip, though."

It was. Due to certain monsters and road blocks and such, the party still kept going until they reached the trail toward the Empire Capital. Of course they are far from it, but at least they made it to its path. All they have to do now is find Fighter's killer and be done with. Fighter will have avenged her father's death

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Dark Elf says. "It's time we stop that murderer."

"You can say that again," Fighter says. "I'm ready to kick some ass! It's go time, girls!"

"Let's do it!" Mage cheers.

The start to proceed onward down the path toward the Empire Capital. It may be a few miles or so, but they won't give in. They've made it this far, there's no way they are stopping. Or...that's what they thought.

"Hold it right there!"

Out jumps a young woman with long blonde hair wearing green bikini armor, black knee high boots, green gloves and a head-band with angel wings on the sides. She also has a long staff in her hand.

"And...who might you be?" Fighter asks.

"I'm a Valkyrie!" the woman says. "And I say...I won't allow you to go through!" She readies her staff.

Dark Elf steps in. "Hey! Who do you think you are, interrupting our journey like this?"

"I'm here to kill her!" Valkyrie says. "The Fighter. Who seeks to assassinate my Master!"

"Your master?" Fighter says. "Then...you must know who my father's killer is!"

"Huh?" Valkyrie raises an eyebrow. "I do not know who you speak of, but that means nothing to me! Now come at me! I'll have your head!"

Fighter readies her sword and shield. "So be it."

The two charge at each other and clash blades and jump back to create distance. Fighter swings her sword, but her attack gets blocked by her staff and Valkyrie retaliates by swinging her staff upward. She completely misses and Fighter swings her sword again. Valkyrie jumps back and then swings her staff overhead to smash her. Fighter dodges that too and slashes the blonde a few times, one on the leg and then on the arms. Valkyrie grunts as she tries hard to hold her ground and turn around. She's furious. She raises her staff up high. Fighter raises her shield to block her incoming attacks. Valkyrie swings left, right, then left again and then spins around. All of her attacks are blocked, but Fighter stumbles back from the last attack.

Fighter lunges at the blonde, but gets blocked and Valkyrie retaliates by swinging her staff upward again.

"Feel the pain!" she screeches.

Fighter dodges it and the two clash blades again. The rest of Fighter's party watch and wonder if they want to assist her. But the red-head looks like she's going to be alright...or so they thought. Valkyrie raises her staff again and hits Fighter hard and then swings to the right, hitting her in the leg. She then sticks her staff to the ground and kicks her hard to the ground. She chuckles as she picks up her staff again.

"Too much passion...not enough will!~" she taunts.

Fighter cursed as she thrust her blade into the ground, using it as leverage to get back to her knees, then finally up to her feet. "Damn! What makes you so loyal to a gang of thugs anyway?"

Valkryie extended her weapon, brandishing the tip. "I am a holy warrior, of virtue and loyalty. My purpose in life is to devote myself to a cause, to put my entire being into it! I don't care about the moral ramifications, as long as I get paid and I get to do what defines me as a warrior!"

Paladin scratched her head. "Eh? You don't sound like a holy warrior. You sound like a blind fanatic."

Dark Elf shook her head. "Don't provoke her, please. Fighter is having a rough enough time against her."

Finally back on steady legs, Fighter raised her shield and sword respectively. "Sorry, but my ambition is gonna prevail here. See, you may call yourself a holy warrior, but I'm the one with a just cause! You're just following madmen for the sake of following them! Time to knock you back to reality."

No more words were shared. Fighter charged, lunging deep with an overhead swing, which was easily parried by the long polearm. Valkyrie rolled her wrist and redirected Fighter's blade off balance, exposing her chest, which she thrust at with the tip of her weapon. Figher yelped, leaping back just in time... but the center string of her bikini top wasn't spared.

"AHHHH!" her face burned bright red as the two pieces containing her breasts loosened, now just flimsy white fabric doing a much less spectacular job hiding her goods.

"Ohhh Fighter is letting it all hang out~" Paladin moaned.

"Please don't start touching yourself in the middle of a battle." Dark Elf rolled her eyes.

"FIGHTER-SAN! YOU CAN WIN!" Mage was the only one delivering uninterrupted hype for the bold comrade they called leader of their group.

Valkryie came forward mercilessly, twirling her weapon rapidly in a criss crossing motion, like a spinning propeller of death, before finally spinning around and letting it fly towards Fighter's head. Fighter had to drop to her knees just to duck the decapitating blow; taking advantage of her position, she threw her weight into her legs and thrust them forward to trip Valkyrie up.

"Wha-WHOA!" Valkryie stumbled back, but she quickly thrust her staff downwards to stabilize.

"Gotcha now. HYAAAAH!"

Fighter came forward with a 1-2 punch: She thrust her sword forward with a flying attack, forcing Valkyrie to sloppily raise her weapon... but she didn't have a strong grip on it, and Fighter's powerful attack knocked it from her hands. The second blow came in the form of her shield, bashing Valkyrie in the face and sending stars in the deluded warrior's eyes.

"FIGHTER-SAN! That was a clean hit! WOOOOO!" Mage bounced up and down so wildly, her breasts nearly clocked herself in the chin.

Valkyrie hooked a foot underneath her staff and kicked it back upwards, catching it in midair. She quickly tried to get two hands on it and thrust towards Fighter, but the red-haired warrior easily parried her staff and knocked it off course, sending the blonde into a stumble. Fighter stepped forward with a deep swipe: she could hear the clanging of armor, as her mighty sword stroke cleaved through the protection on Valkyrie's shoulders, as well as her skirt leaving her all but naked as she only had her gauntlets, greaves, and the bikini itself to protect her.

"Son of a...!" Valkyrie didn't have enough time to raise her weapon; she had to extend her hand and allow the blade to strike her palm. Thankfully, her gauntlet held up... and she also was granted the opportunity to enclose her fingers around it and snatch the sword from Fighter's grasp.

"M-my sword! OOOF!" Figher only had a second to lament the loss of her weapon before Valkyrie reared back and clocked her in the nose with an iron fist. Fighter was dropped to her knees, stunned by the blunt force of the gauntlet hitting her clean.

Both of them now unarmed, the two stood back up and, with a mutual understanding... ran back over to collect their weapons and resume the battle.

"I'm not like Father's murderer," Fighter says. "But...if you tell me who my father's murder is, I might spare you."

"What are you doing?" Paladin says. "She's trying to kill you. You can't trust her!"

"I don't trust her either," Dark Elf says. "Let us finish her!"

"I want answers!" Fighter shouts. "You guys stay out of it. I'm not one to kill my victim if she knows something about my father's murderer."

All of them hesitate a little, waiting for Valkyrie to speak.

"Alright, fine..." the blonde sighs. "My mistress is inside that capitol. Her name is Black Knight...one of the most powerful warriors of all."

"The most...powerful?" Mage says.

"Yes. She's defeated many warriors who challenge her," the blonde says. "I sure hope it's not going to be any of you four."

With a nod, Fighter finally sheaths her weapon. "Alright. Listen up, and listen good... your devotion to a group of evildoers is over. If you want to fulfill your holy purpose in life, then I suggest forming your OWN group of honorable warriors. Friends, to watch your back, and you watch theirs, and you fight for a noble cause. What you're doing now, throwing yourself at any cause... it's very self-destructive. Be smarter!"

Valkyrie lowers her head shamefully. "B-but... I just wanted to serve a cause well... ANY cause!"

Fighter put a hand on her shoulder. "Find your own cause."

Valkyrie hung her head down in shame, feeling almost scolded by Fighter's words. But instead of choose to take it negatively... the blonde Bikini Warrior finally lifted herself back up, her weapon proudly displayed, and turned this defeat into ambition.

"Very well then! I'll create my own noble cause! I'll raise a team, get stronger, and then we'll meet again, Fighter-san! I want to challenge you again someday!"

With a smile, Fighter nodded. "Bet on it."

And thus, the misguided protector known as Valkyrie was no longer an obstacle in Fighter's journey. The redhead rounded up her posse, at last able to move forward again, towards the TRUE enemy. These thugs would not be morally confused like Fighter's last opponent: their ambition was very clear, to loot and plunder and kill and invade the land, expanding their poisonous influence to suck the land of its riches.

And one of them... was probably her father's murderer.

"This is scary!" Mage whimpered, looking around the bustling architecture of the aptly named Empire City. "I bet a whole lot of no good happens here!"

"It's a big city." Dark Elf calmly elaborated. "Lots of powerful influence here. No doubt the gang Fighter-san's been at war with is a huge presence here."

"I hope nobody kidnaps us! Ohh, I can't imagine what they would do to us... ahhh... I can barely fathom it~" Paladin no doubt had her head in the clouds, as she fantasized about the lengths the evildoers of this city could go to with her.

As if on cue, an army of warriors with large, rectangular shields step forth, marching toward them after coming in from the double doors. Fighter and her friends stand together, readying their weapons.

"We're here to see the Black Knight!" Fighter says. "Please, let us pass!"

"I can't do that," one head warrior says. "The mistress allows no trespassers."

"I'm here for Father's murderer! I want some answers from the Black Knight herself!" the red-head says. "If you won't let us in, then we'll do it by force!"

"We'll be the ones to kick you out!" The head warrior shouts. "All of you men! Attack!"

He gives the signal and all of them charge at each other. Blades clash and warriors letting out battle cries and the Bikini Warriors go head to head with the large army of well-experienced fighters.

Fighter is able to slash about a few of them, some openings where there isn't any armor and spins around to kill another one. She uses her shield to bash one of them to stun them and then kill that one with ease.

Mage uses her electric magic powers to electrocute those who are surrounding her, leaving them paralyzed and dropping to the ground. She dodges one strike and then fires a fireball at him from her staff. He is sent flying straight into a wall and then knocked out when he hits the floor.

Dark Elf also uses her sword and magic at the same time, creating a glowing ball from her hand and chucking it at the line of warriors charging at her. They get knocked down like dominos.

More and more coming at the Bikini Warriors, but the girls don't let up. They fight and fight valiantly with everything they have to take down each and every single one of them. Until there is no warrior in sight so they can move on. Fighter HAS to stop the Black Knight before she does any more damage.

By the time Fighter kills the last one, she pants and relaxes her shoulders.

"There!" she says. "That's the last one. Now follow me, everyone. We can now search for the Black Knight!"

"I don't think you can search for long..." a voice says.

Come in from the double doors, a young woman with long dark hair, different colored eyes with a knight's helmet on her head, black thigh high boots, metal elbow gloves and a long, tattered cape. In her hand is a large battle axe and she is also equipped with a shield. A large pentagon shaped shield.

"You came all this way..." she says as she points her axe at her. "Faced so many of my minions...only to die at the end of my blade."

"I want answers first!" Fighter demands.

Black Knight's face was ominously stiff. "This is a forced Boss Event. You are not allowed to run, and opposing me is probably a death sentence. In accordance, I'm allowed to monologue and drop as much exposition as your heart desires before your deaths."

Fighter didn't back up in the slightest, flanked by her three comrades. "Okay then... first, I want to know what this gang is all about. Are you the leader?"

"Yes, I am." Black Knight nodded. "But I don't care about this gang at all. I just needed to be the Boss of something. It's in my blood. And so... I killed the old leader of this gang and took over, so I could command all their numbers and resources. Now I feel complete inside."

Dark Elf's face twisted. "That's very... unsettling... and creepy."

Fighter growled. "Don't you care that you're leader of a vicious gang of marauders that reap the land and harm people?"

Black Knight shook her head. "These things don't concern me. I don't feel compassion or sympathy for anything... ever since I was a little girl. My only purpose now is to be an unstoppable Boss, and kill foolish warriors who try to be heroes. Like you four."

Fighter's grip on her sword tightened. "I'm not on any mercy mission, I'll tell you that. I'm after the scumbag who killed my father and framed me? Now do you know anything about that?"

Surprisingly... Black Knight's face broke its composure. Fighter was able to spot it too, and this sent a sharp elevation in tension through all four of their spines.

"Father... I used to... have... a father..." Black Knight murmured zombie-like. "He was the Boss. But he didn't recognize me. He only had one daughter in his eyes... he chose her to be his champion. He wanted to forget I existed... so I made him cease to exist."

Fighter's sword nearly fell from her grasp. "Wha... you... but...Father always called me his little champion. He said I was going to continue his legacy. Don't tell me he had ANOTHER... AND IT'S YOU?"

Black Knight's fingers tightened significantly. "He left me with other people. He didn't want anything to do with me. I guess it's nothing but a title at this point... and so, it doesn't matter. I killed that red-haired fool. I became the Boss. Nobody will ever cast me aside again."

"Oh, no...!" Mage is about to cry. "That's horrible!"

"we can help you!" Paladin says, stepping forward. "If you really want that attention so badly, maybe you can change all that. You don't have to do it this way!"

"That's not YOUR decision to make," Black Knight says, coldly. "What I chose was mine and I shall stay with it. I framed Fighter for a reason and she'll forever be known as the traitor." She raises her axe, getting into her battle stance. "And your traitorous adventure ends here!"

Fighter stands in her battle position, with the three standing by her side.

"We're with you Fighter-san!" Mage says.

"You can't do it alone,' Dark Elf says. "This warrior looks tough, which explains why she's the final boss."

"We'll get her from all sides if we have to!" Paladin adds. "We're a team and we shall clear your name together!"

Black Knight scoffs. "You think you puny warriors can challenge me? I'LL BRING ALL OF YOU DOWN IN A SINGLE BLOW!"

Fighter charges at the dark haired woman first, but gets blocked with her shield and retaliates by swinging her axe downward diagonally, very hard. Fighter blocks it with her shield, but gets stumbled back due to the sheer force in that strike. Dark Elf charges and tries to strike Black Knight with her sword, but gets parried left and right and then parries Paladin's strike from behind. She swings her axe to the left, striking Dark Elf hard and takes a few steps back. She spins around 360 degrees and hits Paladin hard as well, sending her straight into a wall.

Black Knight raises her shield to hit Mage, but Fighter jumps in and tackles her to get out of the way in order for her to dodge such a devastating attack. But that leaves Fighter wide open for the dark haired woman to strike. And so she does. She slashes her in the back, making her cry out in pain and then gets kicked to the side. She turns and blocks Paladin's sword, shoves her away and strikes her with her axe again, making her stumble back and fall to the ground, seriously injured.

"Better luck on your next incarnation!" she taunts.

"Strong... cough cough... very strong..." Paladin groans.

"I can't stand up to her..." Mage squeaks.

"Usually I can beat anyone with ease... but she's taking a little effort..." Dark Elf pathetically attempts to save face.

Fighter was the only one still on her feet. Her fury boiled SO hot... how could her legs give out, when the blood inside them were like raging lava, commanding her nerves to scream out in fury and stay up? No... she couldn't go down. She would NEVER go down to this scum. This girl killed her father... she KILLED HER FATHER... and even worse, she's HER...?!

No. She refused to believe it. This person was not a loved one. She was nothing but garbage. Garbage who didn't deserve to live. With unrelenting fury, Fighter would end her existence right here and now.

"EVERYBODY ON YOUR FEET!"

"F-Fighter-san..." Mage gasps.

"I'm going to end this with one blow." Fighter commanded them. "Mage. Dark Elf. You two will fire your strongest projectiles on my command. Paladin, you will flank left and create an opening. I'm going straight down the middle. We're going to do this together!"

Her powerful, booming voice was enough to lift Mage back up. "I-I'm with you!"

Paladin followed second. "Let's do this!"

Dark Elf was the last one up. "Hm, if you say so..."

Fighter and Paladin raised their swords and prepared to charge.

"3...2...1... NOW!"

Mage extended her staff. Dark Elf extended her hand. From their respective persons, a huge, glowing ball of intense flame spawned and shot outwards. Mage's fireball zoomed to the left, while Dark Elf's traveled right, to sandwich their foe in between the fearsome flames.

"GO PALADIN!" Fighter encouraged the blonde as she took point, to strike the blow that would open her up.

"I'VE GOT THIS!"

"...Pointless."

That was the only word Black Knight uttered, to shut down all their confidence and momentum at once. She raised her axe, twirling it rapidly to create a strong vacuum; upon the fireballs colliding, she was bathed in fire... but instead of her scream of defeat, a howl of pain echoed from Fighter's comrades as the heat wave was deflected towards them.

"AGGGH!"

"AHHHH!"

"ARRGH!"

Fighter made the mistake of taking her eyes off of Black Knight, to look back: all three of them were caught in the blast, their bikini's charred to a crisp where they lay.

"M-my friends... OUUUUUUUUF!"

The last blow would be struck by Black Knight: the blunt end of the axe smacked Fighter in the face, knocking her out cold, sending her flying backwards until her body joined that of the other fallen warriors. The battle was over... just like that.

"This is a Forced Boss Event." Black Knight coldly taunted them. "You're not allowed to run. At this stage of the journey, your power isn't enough to stand up to the Boss, either. That leaves you with only one option: you have no choice but to lose. Hahahahaha... of course, The Boss is supposed to take pity on your weakness and leave you alive to get stronger. But I could easily just kill you all right now. This is the end of your journey."

It seemed to be the end for the Bikini Warriors, as Black Knight dragged the axe across the pavement, lifting it up above her head to rain down on them...

"ONEE-SAMAAAAAA!"

Her attack was interrupted, as a small figure tackled her from behind, two arms wrapping around her breasts. Her axe fell from her hands, as the surprise attack left her guard lowered.

"Wha, you- what do you want, Necromancer-chan?"

"All our men are dead! Dead dead dead!" the cheerful little imp sang. "Let's retreat! Let's go to our forest stronghold! I'll make you a new army! Hee hee hee!"

"Grrrr... I HATE THE UNDEAD!"

"Cmon cmon CMOOOOON!" Necromancer tugged at her larger counterpart. "Don't kill them now! I want to use my new army on them. The army THEY created, hahahahahaha!"

"For the last time..." Black Knight's forehead was throbbing. "I... HATE... THE... UNDEAD! You are not making me an army of them!"

"Oh yes I am~"

"Grrrrrrr!"

The Black Knight turns toward the injured warriors. "You're lucky this time. but don't think you will the next time. I'll definitely kill all of you in our final battle. That is all."

With that, Black Knight walks away with a clinging Necromancer, happily giggling. Fighter grits her teeth and looks back at her friends.

"W-we need...to get stronger..." she grunts. "And then...we'll end the Black Knight and her gang once and for all!"

A/N: We're back! A very, very long time since our last update, but we were able to get to it today. And I decided to have Black Knight use a shield because….I think it's cool. Sword and Shields are my favorite weapons. Hehe~!

A-anyways! Just a few more to go. The Bikini Warriors need to get stronger first. Long and detailed reviews!

Have a nice day~