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

Knights’ Tournament recommenced at last now that the repairs had finished and magical enchantments fortified. Spectators flooded into the stadium. The betting booths stopped taking bets due to the sheer volume, and groups of people have started their own wagers amongst themselves. Everyone brimmed with energy to see the next two matches unfold.

After all, it was between Petyr Stormcloud and Bocchiri Ruu, and Edina Hackett and Camilla Rudeux. Kanae sat down and scooted to the edge of the seat, realizing that she was more invested than before. Especially more than her own match before.

Archbishop Patrice had easily put it into words when Kanae couldn’t. This was a spiritual battle between Radevic and the Commonwealth. If things had gone different years ago, they might have become enemies.

”Ladies, gentlemen, and all!” The archbishop descended slowly from the sky, her booming voice echoing throughout the stadium. ”Welcome back to Knights’ Tournament! I am never more glad to have so many join us in this momentous occasion. Today’s semi-finals will showcase the might of both the Commonwealth and Radevic. If you have come to see blood, then you may very well witness a bloodbath!”

Roars from the audience shook the stadium itself.

”Talk about being an orator. Archbishop Patrice should just be a motivational speaker instead.” Kanae shuddered, feeling the cheers in her bones.

”You should try attending one of her lectures, mom. The archbishop doesn’t hold back against misbehaving students. Revah and Pan would know.” Mikki giggled.

”Ehhhh. No thanks. I’ve heard stories. My academic schedule just never lined up with hers when I was attending Knights’ Academy,” she explained.

The seating filled in the meantime while the archbishop’s speech continued. Right about now, Petyr and Edina were downstairs getting into place for their fights. A week ago, Kanae wouldn’t have given it more than a sparing thought about them winning. However, after witnessing Bocchiri and Camilla fight, she wasn’t as confident anymore. Those two weren’t Saint Priests just for show.

”Let us in already! I’m telling you, we know Petyr Stormcloud!” Motta’s voice rang out from behind.

”I don’t care if you know a Knight of Color. You kids aren’t getting in,” an irate guard said.

Kanae looked up. Motta and Vesh were trying to come inside the VIP booth. Two guards at the entrance stopped them.

”If being an unchaperoned child is the issue, then how about… This?” Vesh returned to his adult incubus form in the appearance of an elf with blonde hair.

”What part of ’you aren’t getting in’ don’t you understand?” The other guard groaned.

”Wait, the two of them are with me.” Kanae rose to meet them at the entryway.

”Of c-course, Amethyst. We didn’t know!”

The guards stepped aside to let Motta and Vesh through.

”Whew. Thanks, Kanae. Petyr always glared at the guards, and they would just let us through. She isn’t with us this time on account of getting ready for her match,” Vesh explained.

”No problem.” Kanae smiled and walked them to their seats. ”Motta, have you been behaving?”

”Why are you singling me out? Petyr keeps me on a short leash, alright? It sucks, but at least Vesh is cool to hang out with.” Motta sighed.

”We’re like brothers now!” The other incubus threw an arm around his shoulders.

Archbishop Patrice’s speech was coming to a close. It wasn’t much longer before the match now. The high elves in the booth had descended to the front row. Andora, Wendy, Arenade, and even Kanade. Hard not to feel a sense of pride seeing one of their own down there.

”So, how confident are you guys about Petyr winning?” Kanae asked the incubi.

”Not a shred of doubt in my mind, are you kidding me?” Vesh smirked.

”Petyr sounded pretty sure that Archbishop Patrice has something up her sleeves for the Saint Priests. If there was any time for them to pull something out, it’s now,” she explained.

He shrugged. ”Whatever they try, it’s not going to amount to anything. Petyr’s been feeling a lot better after coming back from Savir. She won’t tell us what happened, but it sounds like a good thing.”

It was likely between Petyr and her childhood friend Riley Dryoak then.

”Hm? Vesh, is that you? Hey!” Minestra sat down in the row behind them and leaned over. Lored Charron’s been asking about where you and your brothers are! You were in Radevic this whole time?

”Oh, shit. Uh… Hi, Minestra… Yeah. Haha… I’m just… infiltrating Radevic. You know how we are,” Vesh replied nervously.

”Count your lucky stars you’re seated next to me… Anyway, where’s Thored? I haven’t seen him in days,” Kanae said.

The herzulith erupted into laughter. ”You won’t believe what happened. Some people found Lord Thored splayed out butt naked. They called the guards, and they arrested him for indecent exposure. Had to get your king to come in and bail him out, so he’s sitting in the royal booth all guilty and ashamed of what happened. He told me he got drunk and blacked out, but I think it was something else!”

Kanae swallowed the lump in her throat. The last time she saw Thored was when they had sex. She had left him unconscious in that little garden. Oops.

”I’ve lectured you all enough.” Archbishop Patrice’s voice cut through Kanae’s thoughts. ”Before you all fall asleep, let me introduce to you the former Knight of Gold of the Order of Colors, once named the Empire of Ortesia’s greatest knight, a member of Amethyst Hall— Petyr Stormcloud!”

Although there were boos the first time and cheers the second, Petyr’s third appearance drew applause and exuberant ovation now. The high elf emerged from the south tunnel, clad in her glistening dragonscale suit of armor. It was as if the sun itself illuminated her. She held her helmet in one hand and propped the warhammer against her shoulder with the other.

”Go, Petyr! Whooo!” Vesh jumped out of his seat and cheered.

”You can do it! Shifting Steel is watching you!” Suvee waved the magic haft.

”Careful not to drop that!” Arenade scolded her.

”And facing her is the incarnation of the frigid wastes, one of the blessed eight who guards the heart of Radevic— Saint Priest Bocchiri Ruu!” Patrice shouted.

Cheers were followed by a breath of mist. The world had grown noticeably colder all of a sudden. Mikki started trembling even after Daya threw a cloak around her. Bocchiri emerged wielding a staff completely different from what he had before. The smooth and straight cane looked of icy make, but the top was the most fascinating part of it. A snowflake of an intricate pattern, significantly larger than their usual size, rotated and emitted a trail of fog as he walked.

”What… is that?” Kanae squinted.

”That’s an artifact called Permafrost, Master. It’s a profoundly powerful magic weapon of unknown origin. Little is known about the depths of its capability, but Elizabeth Bedlam divined that it reduces the mana cost of cold magic and magnifies the wielder’s spells. Archbishop Patrice sanctioned its use. They picked it up from the vault in my hall a few days ago,” Esta explained from a row down.

”They did what?! Is that even allowed? What am I asking? This is the archbishop we’re talking about…” She sighed.

However, even with a new weapon, did Bocchiri have what it took to match Petyr? A Saint Priest once said, it would take at least five of them to subdue Petyr. Down there, only one of eight stood against what used to be the might of an empire.

The applause finally subsided, helped along by the frigid chill. Now, all everyone was waiting for was for the fight to start.

”Begin!” Archbishop Patrice announced and quickly levitated into the sky.

”Camilla has a better chance against me than you.” Petyr sneered, donning her helmet.

Bocchiri tapped the base of his staff on the ground, transforming the entire arena into a frozen waste. Ice coalesced up the walls and magical barriers. Everyone in the front row recoiled, but the shields held. Suvee reached out to poke the misty shimmering wall that separated the booth from the interior of the arena.

”Oooh! It’s cold to the touch!” Suvee retracted her finger.

”Your party trick doesn’t imp—” Petyr lifted her warhammer as Bocchiri channeled a beam of frost that slammed into her.

The unceasing spell forced the high elf into the side of the stadium, where it entombed her in a giant block of ice. Gasps erupted from the audience. Bocchiri stopped casting and waited.

”There’s no way it’s over so soon! Come on!” Suvee shouted.

When the mists subsided, the ice block cracked and fissured. Bocchiri resumed channeling his spell, further sealing Petyr within. Golden light suffused across the frozen tomb until a bright ray shot out like a geyser from a break in the ice. The block exploded. Petyr’s warhammer came flying out.

Bocchiri raised a wall of ice, and the warhammer slammed into it hard. A rippling shockwave burst outward and hit the stadium barriers. Petyr stepped out from her entombment, brushing pieces of frost from her armor. To everyone’s surprise, Bocchiri compelled his ice wall forward. It stopped right in front of Petyr, allowing her to pry the warhammer right out.

”Care to try again?” Bocchiri dared.

”As if I need permission!” Petyr infused her warhammer with Smite and smashed it into the wall, shattering shards of ice across the stadium. She broke into a sprint right for the Saint Priest, who wreathed himself in icy armor. The staff, Permafrost, transformed into a javelin. He flung it with all his might and missed Petyr by mere inches.

But Permafrost seemed to move on its own. No. Bocchiri was controlling it. He flicked his wrist, recalling the weapon screeching back. When Petyr spun around to meet Permafrost head-on, it missed again seemingly purposefully. Spikes erupted from the ground in its path, trapping her in a ring.

”You think this will stop me?” Petyr lifted her warhammer and overhead-slammed the ground.

The ensuing earthquake demolished the frigid prison. In that time, however, Bocchiri disappeared. Kanae had lost track of him, too. A thick fog rolled in up to Petyr’s knees. She illuminated her surroundings with a soft glow of light from the warhammer.

Bocchiri came rocketing down from above. Petyr retaliated with Smite. Her warhammer connected with Permafrost, but Bocchiri let go and performed a sweeping motion with his arm.

”Cone of Cold!” Bocchiri blasted Petyr with a conal spell, throwing her across the arena. Permafrost flew back into his grasp and received an icy make-over to become a longsword.

”I don’t remember Bocchiri’s spells being that strong. Is Permafrost really that powerful?” Kanae asked.

”Master Marwin is the only other person who has wielded it, and he can attest to its strength. Even then, he didn’t make the most out of the staff as a crowned Wizard. I imagine Permafrost is right at home in Bocchiri’s hands though,” Esta explained.

It wasn’t easy watching Petyr thrashed around by magical spells. She normally withstood them the way cliffs shrugged off crashing waves. This must be what Petyr warned about. No doubt Camilla was going to have a surprise for Edina, too.

Petyr did have an ace up her sleeve. Kanae remembered facing the spell before. Retribution’s Cross. An incredibly high level Paladin skill with a long recharge time. She was likely holding onto it for the finals. Would it really matter if Bocchiri defeated her here?

”Kneel!” Petyr commanded.

Bocchiri fell to his knees. Some of the spectators around Kanae twitched to the paladin’s skill. Petyr walked stiffly out of the fog, hand glowing with healing magic pressed to her chest. Frost clung to her armor like parasites. Brushing her gauntlets over them did nothing but grow back more intensely.

”The clock is ticking, Petyr. You’re afflicted with Frostbite. The more my spells land, the faster it overwhelms you. This blizzard is constantly doing just that. It’s going to sap your stamina until you can’t even lift your warhammer anymore,” Bocchiri taunted.

”Not if I crack your head open first!” Petyr growled.

Bocchiri let go of Permafrost. Even on his knees, he commanded the staff-turned sword to fly into battle. Petyr deflected one blow, only to be bogged down by constant attacks. It sounded like shattering glass. Every time the felmetal hammer clashed against the sword of ice, it chipped pieces off and reformed just as quickly.

”Tsk. Fight me yourself, you fucking corward. Let’s see you try and hit me again with another spell before I break your arms!” She ignored the longsword and ran straight for Bocchiri.

Soon, Petyr’s Command skill wore off. Bocchiri rose to his feet again, raising both hands into the sky.

”There’s nothing to dodge when the whole of the arena is showered in hail— Blizzard!”

Kanae’s nipple stiffened. It had gone from chilly to freezing. She wrapped her cloak tighter around herself. The brewing storm intensified within the arena, raining down hail and the gales swelling up intensely enough to roar. The magical barrier barely contained it. Cracks snaked up the shimmering shield.

”Arenade, get the kids back from the barrier!” Kanae yelled.

”Kanade, Suvee. Let’s go!” Arenade pulled them both by hand, but Suvee hooked her elbow around the guardrail.

”But I won’t be able to see!” Suvee cried.

On the arena surface, Petyr struggled to fend off Permafrost while Bocchiri fired barrage after barrage of ice spikes. His Blizzard spell continued to wear her down. Hardly any gold or purple of the dragonscale armor could be seen, too covered by the layer of Frostbite.

”No way is Petyr going to lose…” Vesh chewed on his thumb.

Even Motta was on the edge of his seat, eyes peeled open.

Kanae descended to the front row just as a hole opened up in the magical barrier. Freezing winds blasted outward for the briefest second, then sucked in like a vacuum. She threw herself over Arenade, Kanade, and Suvee, wings outstretched over them. Their hairs whipped madly from the winds.

”Suvee, be a good girl and stay down!” Kanae groaned.

”But she… needs this to win!” Suvee flung Shifting Steel into the hole.

Kanae and Arenade stared aghast.

”Is… Is that allowed?” Arenade asked.

”It’s too late now!” Kanae watched as the gale carried the haft into the arena.

By some miracle, Petyr caught sight of the glint in the snowstorm. She swatted Permafrost away and dashed in its direction. Bocchiri didn’t see what she saw. He pursued her, raining spikes down from above. The longsword flew back to his hand, ice melting away back into the staff.

Frigid beams carved trenches into the earth. Even in all that armor covered in Frostbite, Petyr pressed on until a wall of ice erected in her way. However, Shifting Steel hit the wall and slid all the way down into Petyr’s grasp.

”It’s been… a while. One more battle for old time’s sake?” Petyr willed it to transform into the bone-breaking maul she used to wield. She infused both Shifting Steel and the felmetal warhammer with Smite. The weapons glowed brightly, and when she smashed them together, a discharge of holy energy knocked the Saint Priest out of the sky.

Bocchiri landed on the ground, hand pressed to his head. Petyr was nearly covered in Frostbite. She used the pick side of the felmetal warhammer to pry the helmet off her head.

”Is this supposed to be a storm? I’ll show you a real storm!” Petyr shouted over the raging blizzard.

The Saint Priest channeled a barrier of ice around himself so thick it couldn’t be seen through. Petyr adjusted both weapons into an underhanded grip. She pounded into Bocchiri’s shield. Sparks of holy energy and shards of ice went flying. Spikes sprung from the barrier, and Petyr narrowly craned her neck to avoid getting skewered. Her pummeling cracked the dome protecting him and in one final strike—

”Divine Smite!” Petyr’s blow exploded with searing holy magic, blinding Kanae and anyone watching.

The blizzard subsided, and so did the bright light. Saint Priest Bocchiri Ruu laid still on the ground, surrounded by chunks of ice that used to be his barrier. Permafrost rested only inches from his fingers. Even Archbishop Patrice was stunned speechless, and she had nearly forgotten to call the winner until applause snapped her out of it.

”Victor, Petyr Stormcloud!” the archbishop declared.

”Yes!” Motta and Vesh whooped together.

”She won! Mom, she won with Shifting Steel!” Suvee cheered.

Both hammers slipped from Petyr’s grasp. They dropped onto the frozen sleet with a heavy thud. Covered head to toe in lingering Frostbite, she dropped to her knees first and fell flat on the ground.