The Hero Became a Succubus, and the Only Way to Level is to… What?!

Odika and Rasheena invited Kanae back to the manor, but with everyone coming along this time. The edirashem had parked just outside of Sultan’s Wake, and its citizens were already descending into the city or opening shops to let people on board browse their wares. However, little did any of them know, a plot to destroy the port was well under way at the edirashok’s mansion.

There was no feast to be had this visit, only tea and coffee. Kanae, the members of Amethyst Hall, Renya, and Kris sat around the rectangular table, listening as Rasheena gave orders to the most trusted officers of her resistance. The tension in the air was thick. It was already suspicious enough that an edirashem dropped by Sultan’s Wake, since the Meeting of Sands neared. Even the mayor of the port questioned Odika lightly about it, but his authority as edirashok quickly shut those suspicions down.

If word got out to the wrong people that there were plans to destroy the port, it would jeopardize the rest of Rasheena’s later intentions of attacking Avanesse from within. They needed to do this quietly without drawing attention to themselves, and frame it on another country. Fortunately, they had just the scapegoat.

The enthralled Praijya entered the dining chamber, escorted in by six guards. Despite being firmly under Kanae’s control, Rasheena had put her in chains out of an abundance of caution.

”When we start destroying the Ortesian ships and port,” Kanae began with an arm up to the harpy, ”I’ll have Praijya fly around making a mess of everything, too. Some people will recognize her as a Talon of the Harpy King and think Elusis was behind the attack. It would be more convincing if Sofisa and Grahib are seen with her.”

”It’s a solid plan, but you will have to do without them. We’re not risking valuable prisoners. Besides, we have very specific targets. I don’t want the people of Sultan’s Wake getting caught in the crossfire.” Rasheena grinned while sharpening her claws with a file.

Kanae narrowed her eyes at the hellhound. After learning that there was something fishy about her and Odika, she couldn’t look at them the same way anymore. They might very well not be the freedom fighters she thought they were.

”So, when are we getting the party started? I’m eager to get to Avanesse already to give Jhene and Elaine a piece of my mind.” Claudia cracked her knuckles.

”Not so fast. We still have time. Odika and I need to move things into place. I’m going to have my men move dynamite disguised as other goods into the docked Ortesian ships. We will also have to find a way to destroy the support columns and sink the wharfs,” Rasheena explained.

”Leave that to me.” Petyr infused her felmetal hammer with holy energies and drew everyone’s attention. ”I just need Tio to make me a potion to breathe underwater.”

Odika and the other resistance leaders gulped hard at the sight of the paladin’s warhammer.

”A ship won’t outright sink just because you blow a hole in it, and they’re going to have mages aboard to close hull breaches with magic. Put me in with your demolition crew. I’ve studied Ortesian ships after we commandeered a few after the war. I know exactly where to plant the explosives for maximum damage,” Renya said.

”Renya Rown, the scourge of the seas. Very well. Rysla, introduce Renya to your team and brief her on the demolition plans. Defer to her expertise,” Rasheena ordered a centaur woman.

Renya took her hat off and bowed deeply, then followed the centaur named Rysla out the door, presumably to be filled in on their plans.

”High elf.” Rasheena eyed Petyr in particular. ”You may be pleased to know my scouts have discovered one of Arnault Pyrelle’s lieutenants leading the empire’s maritime forces here. He goes by the name, Admiral Vernon DeSalle.”

”Good. It will be my pleasure to make a fool out of another DeSalle.” Petyr glowered.

”As for Kanae, I trust you and your companions will handle any unforeseen variables that try to hinder our plans?” she asked.

Kanae nodded.

Amethyst Hall had the simplest yet possibly the most important role of the plan, and that was to repel anyone and anything that wanted to stop them. Elusis, Bravost, or even from Avanesse itself, there was no telling what might happen while they were here.

”The attack begins at midnight on the third day since our arrival. Look to the lighthouse for the sign. New friends, and fellow brothers and sisters, freedom returns to Avanesse once we sever the strings Ortesia and the succubi cultists have tied on our sultan. We will not be made a puppet of, and neither will we be made livestock of. May the harsh winds of Savir erode your uncertainties and lay bare your courage tempered under its scorching sun. Long may Avanesse stand. For Sultan Cerberus!” Rasheena pumped a fist, and her people rose to their feet in raucous cheers.

The fervor in their energy was intoxicating. It felt like Kanae was going to war against Ortesia all over again. One thing was for sure about Rasheena, her charisma and strength were very real.

Everyone departed from the mansion. The only one to stay was Renya. With Rasheena leaving the edirashem for Sultan’s Wake soon, Odika would be a lot less guarded. That gave Alicia a chance to seize control of his mind for some answers. Hopefully.

They had two whole days before the plan went into motion. Kanae wanted to get a good look at the port city before then. She, Edina, Claudia, and Kris descended from the edirashem. Petyr paid Tio for a visit to grab some potions from him. Probably for a little more than just that though.

The group of four boarded one of the many carriages waiting below the edirashem into the city. Sultan’s Wake was beautiful. Unlike Kandis, another coastal town of similar caliber, there were no beaches or sandy shores to play in. Its rocky coast showed evidence of terraforming to create a harbor for the new wharf. Fishing trawlers squeezed past large Ortesian warships, bringing catches onto the docks.

It only took a quick glance for Kanae to learn that high elves controlled the port authority. Imperial officers harassed the native citizens, who in turn kept their heads low and coddled law enforcement to avoid trouble. Even the average Ortesian grunts went around strong-arming shops for free stuff.

”They probably all drank reversal potions, huh?” Claudia growled, peeling back from the carriage window.

”Not probably. Most likely. When we sink those ships though, we cut off the rest of their supply from Ortesia. Try not to run into them while we’re here,” Kanae warned.

”Oh, come on. I’m not the one you need to be worried about. It’s Miss-Always-So-Angry-Bitch-Face who might lose her temper!” she exclaimed.

”Claudia’s right, you know?” Edina backed her up. ”What if Petyr decides to take a stroll into the city, some imperial recognizes her, and she goes all, ’I’m going to fucking kill you!’ on those poor suckers?”

Kanae buried her face into both hands and sighed. Maybe they should have waited for Petyr. Fingers crossed, she knew better than to start a fight. But… her track record had consistently proved otherwise.

”Oh! Guys, look. It’s an outdoor chapel. Can we go take a look?” Kris pointed out the window.

The carriage driver let them off in front of a temple-less place of worship. It was a crescent amphitheater, with curved granite seatings going around an elevated stage. Several statues of The Many faced outward from the center, receiving worshippers in their eternal vigil. Others sat on the pews and simply enjoyed the afternoon underneath the thick shade canopy.

Kris looked like a child running into an amusement park, admiring the architecture and statues, gladly taking a pamphlet from a priest, and putting a couple of gold coins into the tithe box. An older cleric had to admonish her for almost bumping into him.

”I didn’t realize you enjoyed religious settings so much. You weren’t like this in Vanuis,” Kanae struck up a conversation with the excitable demon woman.

”I’m not actually! But this is just so different. I’ve never seen a church without walls before. It feels like I’m discovering something new!” Kris beamed.

This might be a good time to check in with Demigod Regallis. Kanae took a seat in the pews and clasped her hands together. She uttered a quiet prayer, beseeching the beastman deity to spare a few moments for her, but without the whole getting caught up in the realm of the dead part.

”Kanae Toyomi, you have called for me. I have answered,” Regallis’ voice echoed throughout the darkness.

”Hey, Regallis! I wanted to let you know, I’m not in Vanuis anymore. I never did find that Rift you wanted me to solve. Are you sure it was there?” Kanae asked.

”You didn’t? Oh, you didn’t. I still feel its presence in the mortal world. Strange. I’m currently sensing it in the heart of Avanesse. That’s odd. Rifts do not normally move…” he muttered in confusion.

Kanae slapped a hand to her face. The only thing that moved was the cult’s flying ziggurat. Did Jhene have control of the Rift then? If it wasn’t conquered yet, then she hadn’t managed to obtain its treasures. The beastman demigod didn’t have time to humor Kanae anymore. He wished her luck and retreated back to his unending duties in the Realm of Eternal Rest.

When Kanae came to, everyone was ready to move on. Kris had collected a souvenir from the outdoor temple in the form of a wooden carving of Regallis, thoroughly satisfied by their pit stop. Edina suggested they should grab a room in Sultan’s Wake for the next few days, because coming to and from the edirashem was a hassle.

They avoided the upscale inns, since high elves congregated most there. Edina found a decent lodging in the upper ward of the city, which gave them a clear view of the docks and lighthouse. The two-story inn had a long tavern floor in which laborers frequently gathered after a long day of work, but they lived elsewhere in the city. Its second floor was one giant corridor of modest and uniform rooms, more like a dormitory. The four paid for their own rooms, because there was only a single bed in each and too small for them to double up.

Kanae fell backwards onto the thin, feather-stuffed mattress. She hardly bounced. The wooden boards creaked on impact.

”I’m so horny.” Kanae sighed.

The sun was beginning to set. A gorgeous view of the cloudy skies painted orange and purple stretched across the horizon. The cursed heat reached even as far as Sultan’s Wake. Being so close to the ocean made it so humid, Kanae almost didn’t want to wear any clothes. Sweat drenched her entire body. A depraved idea suddenly came to mind. She stripped down to nothing and threw a long cloak that reached down to her knees, then set off into the night to get some air in Human Form.

Kanae emerged outside just in time as a carriage rolled down the road. The driver held a long, fishing pole-like tool with a fiery wick instead of a hook. He held it up to the lampposts and ignited them while on the move. All across Sultan’s Wake, dotted lights sprung into existence like they were stars on the surface of earth.

Heading down a less traveled road behind a row of shops, Kanae disrobed her cloak and let the muggy winds caress her bare body.

”God, this feels so good. When was the last time I walked around naked?” Kanae wondered quietly.

A commotion farther down the road interrupted the evening stroll. Some thugs were picking on an elderly merchant and rifling through the stuff in his cart.

”Please, this is my livelihood! My grandkids won’t eat tomorrow if I don’t sell these at the edirashem bazaar tonight!” the old man cried.

”Shoulda thought of them before you came down this road for a shortcut. Now, you gotta pay the toll with something.” One of them sized him up against the side of the building.

”Hey!” Kanae shouted, biting down on her lower lip and drawing attention to her. ”How about I pay you instead?”

The knives fell from their hands. Five thugs in total couldn’t resist the busty, naked woman in front of her and took turns. Kanae didn’t even need to charm them. They gladly, and foolishly, plunged their dicks in with wild abandon. Even the old man got caught up in the moment and joined in on the fun. She drained all of them to the point of passing out except for the victim, who thanked Kanae by blowing a thick load into her pussy.

”Whew… I don’t know who you are, mysterious slutty lady, but boy are you my guardian angel tonight!” The old merchant pulled his pants back up and gave her ass a quick slap.

”You’re headed to the edirashem, right? Think I can catch a ride?” Kanae asked, wrapping the cloak around herself again.

”Of course! Hop right in!” He scooted over to let her sit next to him in the front. ”Name’s Jenky. This ole girl is Sandsnort.”

The single ronoa named Sandsnort pulled the entire cart. Kanae looked over her shoulder. The merchant had a bunch of seashells fashioned into necklaces, wristbands, and other trinkets back there. Selling these was probably his main source of income.

”So, missy… You, uh… one of them crazy succubus followers? Don’t know many ladies walking around naked letting everyone screw her,” Jenky said.

”Yeah… Yeah! I’m just doing what my succubi masters think is best for us. Say, how has the high elven occupation of Sultan’s Wake been going?” Kanae asked.

”Things have changed drastically, that’s for sure. I’ve lived here for forty years. Watched it grow from a fishing village to a whole port. ’Course, a lot more people moved in. Place has gotten wealthier. But we can do without them imperials bossing us around. They don’t even protect anyone, but they sure as hells take what they want. Not sure what Sultan Cerberus is thinking invitin’ so many of ’em over,” he muttered, the sound of his voice holding no love for Avanesse’s leader.

They stopped in front of a thin blockade of crates. Jenky hopped off the cart to push them aside, revealing a way on to the main road not much farther from the city’s entrance. Even the edirashem caravan could be seen from here.

”Clever, eh? Few people know about this path. I keep it to myself, but those thugs back there musta saw. And… before you go, think we can go for one more quick round?” Jenky asked nervously.

”Alright, fine.” Kanae climbed down, bracing both hands on a crate and sticking her ass up for him. ”I have something to—”

Just as Jenky grabbed Kanae’s waist, a stream of people flooded into the streets for the second time since Odika’s arrival. The ground rumbled, but not from them. It was coming from behind Odika’s edirashem. Several large caravans pulled to a stop beside his, and they bore the familiar banner of a serpent. Kanae thought for sure she recognized them from somewhere. But where…

Kanae snapped from her thoughts when Jenky stuck his dick into her and started going at it.

”Hey, quit thrusting for a second and look. Whose edirashem is that?” Kanae asked.

”You must really be new here, ain’tcha? That there’s Edirashok Levain’s edirashem. What a sight though. Not often you see two edirashems together unless its during the Meeting of Sands in Avanesse. Come to think of it… Why are they here and not heading to Avanesse yet?” It confounded Jenky enough that he stopped pounding and fell into thought instead.

Was Levain onto them? This was exactly the kind of unforeseen variable Rasheena warned about. The presence of a second edirashem definitely complicated their plans. Just when Kanae thought things couldn’t get any worse, a swarm of succubi flew out from the forewagon of Levain’s edirashem towards the docks. Their horns were of the same size and shape as the Queen-Mother’s.