A Journey That Changed The World.

Chapter 1687: Monsters Will Be Monsters

Archer appeared outside the treehouse, summoning his wings and soaring into the sky, hovering above the surrounding forest. He knew where all the Swarm Colonies were, but he hadnʼt checked on Athena, the Deepsea Stalker Queenʼs new home in the Western Seaʼs which was full of all kinds of sea monsters.

He soared above the lands forged from his mana: jungles that bled emerald into obsidian forests, rivers of liquid starlight carving through crimson canyons, and glaciers that kissed skies of perpetual dawn. Below, endless grasslands rolled like a sea, where titan herds of crystal-horned beasts grazed beneath auroras.

Following that, Archer banked westward, wings of pure violet flame igniting the stratosphere. The grasslands fell away like a discarded cloak, giving way to the continentʼs jagged spine, mountains that bled molten gold at their peaks, their shadows slicing the land into ribbons of dusk and fire.

He punched through a storm of his own making: thunder that roared his name, lightning that stitched the sky in fractal scars. Hours collapsed into heartbeats. The air thinned, then thickened with salt and storm. The Western Seas erupted beneath him, an ocean of liquid obsidian shot through with veins of bioluminescent sapphire.

Leviathans the size of cities breached in slow-motion arcs, their hides encrusted with coral cathedrals and barnacles that sang in frequencies only gods could hear. The water parted like silk before a blade, forming a tunnel of roaring silence. Schools of dagger-fish scattered in prismatic explosions.

At the trenchʼs heart, an abyssal palace rose, carved from the fossilized skull of a dead world, its eye-sockets glowing with captive stars. Archer landed on the throne dais, boots ringing against bone. The sea itself knelt, waves frozen mid-crash in perfect, crystalline stillness.

A single kraken tentacle, thick as a fortress wall, rose in salute, then wrapped gently around his wrist like a loyal hound. ʼʼOld friend,ʼʼ he murmured.

Following that, a nearby crash caught Archerʼs attention as the massive eels swarmed over a Deep Sea Shark. The creatures ripped flesh from bone before dragging the body into the deep. His eyes widened at the sudden scene, but soon the Krakenʼs soft voice echoed in his mind.

ʼTheyʼre aggreesive, attacking all the hunters,ʼ he revealed.

Archer nodded. ʼʼIʼll make sure they leave everyone alone; they canʼt be killing so many monsters.ʼʼ

Just then, he spotted the green-haired beauty Athena swimming through the waves, heading toward him. The older woman stopped and motioned for him to come closer, which he did, only to have one of the eels lunge out of the water, mouth wide open, ready to tear him apart, but he backhanded the monster.

Moments later, the leviathanʼs body cartwheeled across the obsidian sea like a broken moon, shockwaves rippling outward in perfect circles of white fire. Every creature within a league froze, krakens mid-coil, eels mid-strike, eyes wide as the impossible unfolded. Then Athenaʼs hiss echoed out, low and venomous, a queenʼs decree carved in acid.

The Swarm answered in a blur of fangs: attackers shredded into chum, the nearest eels flayed to drifting ribbons before they could twitch. Archerʼs laugh rolled like distant thunder. He turned to the green-haired siren, her eyes still glowing with feral aftershock. ʼʼCare to explain the bloodbath?ʼʼ

ʼʼThey get a bit too excited after a kill,ʼʼ she answered, nervously chuckling. ʼʼSorry about that, handsome.ʼʼ

ʼʼDonʼt worry about it,ʼʼ Archer waved her away. ʼʼMonsters will be monsters.ʼʼ

Following that, Athena led him deep underwater until reaching a massive opening to a tunnel. She turned to him, a big smile stretching across her face. ʼʼWelcome to my colony, itʼs still under construction, but itʼs looking good.ʼʼ

Archer was just about to reply, but Maeveʼs voice echoed in his mind. ʼArch! Help us, the Terravians are attacking!ʼʼ

Without thinking, he grabbed Athena and teleported to the orange-haired beauty, only to block a punch aimed at her face. The being grinned before stabbing him in the stomach, injecting something. He let out a growl and bit down on the Terravian, killing the enemy with a tug of his head.

Blood flew everywhere, and he felt himself getting weaker as the poison rushed through his veins, ignoring the mana. Archer grit his teeth and sent everyone back to the Domain. He looked at the injured Teuila with a smile, saying his farewell as the enemy swarmed him. ʼʼLook after them, Teu. Iʼll be back when I can.ʼʼ

***

An explosion tore through the swarm of Terravians, leaving Teuila wide-eyed and in shock as she was sent back to the Domain, landing on her arse as Nyx and Maeve looked horrified as the Dragoness whispered. ʼʼDid he just get killed?ʼʼ

ʼʼWorse,ʼʼ the blue-haired woman muttered.

ʼʼHe was taken somewhere as poison infected him,ʼʼ Maeve revealed. ʼʼHis mana was shut off, Aisha mentioned the Alliance was working on such a thing.ʼʼ

ʼʼWe need to get back and make sure the empire doesnʼt fall apart,ʼʼ Teuila warned. ʼʼOur enemies will take advantage if they know heʼs gone, for now.ʼʼ

Following that, the women teleported back to the Domain, gathering the entire harem, even the newer members. Over forty powerful women stood in front of Teuila as she explained everything she knew of the situation before finishing. ʼʼWe cannot find Archer, heʼs just vanished. Brooke believes theyʼve taken him to another world after disabling his mana.ʼʼ

Demetra, the Demon Shark, spoke up, a fierce glint in her yellow eyes. ʼʼWill he return? And why have you called us here?ʼʼ

ʼʼYes, we all know how hard it is to kill him, but we have to hold everything his built together or it will all be lost,ʼʼ Teuila revealed, looking determined. ʼʼWeʼll make sure the Alliance knows what happens if they try anything.ʼʼ

ʼʼAnd how do you plan to do that?ʼʼ Nefertiti questioned.

ʼʼSend the strongest of us to attack anyone who attempts to take advantage because our husband isnʼt here.ʼʼ

ʼʼSo, me, Brooke, Mary, and Tiamat will go?ʼʼ Agrippina stated.

ʼʼYes, will that be a problem?ʼʼ

ʼʼNot from us,ʼʼ Brooke was the one to answer as the others agreed with stern nods.

Just then, Halime put her hand up, making the gathered women giggle as Teuila spoke. ʼʼHali, you donʼt have to raise your hand, weʼre not in class anymore, and weʼre all sisters here, in love with the same man.ʼʼ

The snake beautyʼs yellow serpent eyes lit up as she asked her question. ʼʼWhat do we know so far? How did they cut off his mana?ʼʼ

Brooke stepped forward, a stern expression appearing on her face. ʼʼOur spies have been reporting back about the Allianceʼs old plans, and we learned that during one of their encounters, some of the Terravians stole his blood and some scales.ʼʼ

ʼʼSo they got pieces of him to use as a weapon?ʼʼ Ella was the one to speak next.

The brunette nodded. ʼʼYes, despite its uselessness because his strong without mana. But we donʼt know where heʼs been sent, thatʼs the issue.ʼʼ

ʼʼI might be able to locate him,ʼʼ the High Elf Ayrenn offered. ʼʼBut it will take time to gather up the materials for such a spell.ʼʼ

Over forty pairs of eyes snapped toward the platinum blonde elf as Embera spoke. ʼʼWhat do you need? Avidia has some of the rarest plants on Thrylos?ʼʼ

ʼʼIʼll make a list of everything I need and share it with you all,ʼʼ Ayrenn responded.

Following that, the crowd began discussing ways to scare away their enemies, and after hours of talking, several plans were formulated. Just then, a suffocating aura fell over the palace, causing all the women to glance up as Valariana, Vivienne, and Jasmine began to transform at the threat, but it was cut off as an older white-haired woman appeared.

Most of the women knew who this was; the ones who didnʼt instantly reacted and tried to attack. Embera and Malakia moved toward the Dragon Goddess as Nemuia appeared behind her, but were distracted by a soft giggle before all three were sent flying back with a single thought.

ʼʼLadies, is that the way you greet a fellow harem member?ʼʼ Tiamat teased.

ʼʼYouʼre not in the harem yet,ʼʼ Ella corrected the goddess, a knowing smile crossing her face.

ʼʼSemantics, El,ʼʼ the Dragoness waved the Half-Elf away. ʼʼArcher loves me as much as he loves each of you.ʼʼ

The women all turned to Tiamat, who shrugged. ʼʼWell, Iʼm here now to help. Iʼve sent my servants all across Thrylos, looking for any information about where the Dark Gods have sent him.ʼʼ

ʼʼDark Gods?ʼʼ Demacia nervously asked.

ʼʼYes, thatʼs whoʼs targeting Archer using the Terravians,ʼʼ the Dragon Goddess replied.

ʼʼHeʼs fighting gods now?ʼʼ the older Necromancer, Morena, spoke up. ʼʼMaybe the Death Army should be deployed? I know your kind hate the undead?ʼʼ

Tiamat shivered but responded with an offer. ʼʼIf theyʼre strong enough, maybe I can come help you girls?ʼʼ

[Sorry for not uploading the last 5 days, I was feeling too stressed to write anything decent due to real-life issues. Things should be back to normal, I hope. Things are looking ok, still messed up a bit, but will be fine - Negan]