| Hello everyone,
| This final act of volume uno is taking longer than expected; reminder that this isn't the end of the story
| and danmachi elements will soon become more prominent as we move onto the second volume.
| Anyways, enjoy~♥
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"..." = Speech
<...> = Thought
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A voice cut through TinkerTae's thoughts.
Whirling around to see a shockingly familiar BatGal was looking down at her without armour on - in fact they had a pair of glasses with a check board in hand. Looking every part of "sexy demon manager" as inhumanely possible. Even down to the half-unbuttoned white blouse that let her assets half-hang out.
That caused the should-be-dead BatGal's brow to raise as an imaginary bead sweat dribbled down Shantae's own (currently) non-existent brow.
Silence grew between the two of them.
With nothing but that piercing gaze ShanBat couldn't help shiver.
"Did you idiots leave your flintlock on the bot again?" That warning came with the pressure that only an angry mother could provide - fortunately Shantae was not just fatherless but also motherless. As such she was completely immune to parental guidance!
The nameless BatGal raised a finger to point further into the yard with an annoyed scowl. "We only installed the stones a bit ago, so the TinkerBot should still be located in the underground hangar, just be quick about it. The captain is quite excited to unleash the thing and won't shed tears over sending you to the respawn screen if you get in her way."
Shantae had so many questions but wisely decided it was best to not push her luck.
Simply nodding as she began heading towards where directed; with the occasional monster nodding at her in greeting. As a result she soon found herself heading down into the emotionless metallic bowls of the island. Where the comforts of wooden embellishments were things of the past.
While before there was a rather rustic atmosphere surrounding the homebase of the TinkerBats - now all that was left was the coldness of steel. TinkerTae's feet met the cold metal steps as she looked at the metal walls. Glancing up revealed a metal ceiling holding the earth out downward.
Trying to find any sign of anything other than metal.
That was just as she finally reached the last few steps, which promptly opened up to what could only be called a truly colossal hanger, holding only one thing.
"Is that a giant TinkerBat mecha?!"
Indeed.
Risky Boots Battle (Shantae) - GaMetal Remix
The monolith of TinkerBat power stood so tall that no building Shantae had ever seen could compare to how grand it was. In fact, the only thing that she could compare it to was Mount Pointy. A truly terrifying level of size that one struggled to even comprehend - even when it was right in front of them.
Such a monument could only be classified as a landmark.
Although, this one wasn't exactly stationary.
Below was a metal turntable that adjusted its position so that it could face the bay doors of the gigantic underground hanger.
It seemed that her guide was a little off on her timeline as those massive TinkerBat eyes glowed as the gears within the giant began to spin. Metal roared out as it began to move. She also didn't need to wonder who was piloting it as they were not exactly quiet.
"YO~HOHOHO~ TODAY IS THE DAY WHERE I PUT THAT OVERSIZED GENIE IN HER PLACE; NO AMOUNT OF MONSTER BLOOD WILL SAVE YOU FROM PAYING THE ME TAX!" Risky's voice bellowing out the mouth of that TinkerBot. Of course, TinkerBat's don't actually have mouths but Shantae didn't think that was a particularly important thing to correct at the moment.
There was no way she could beat that thing in a fight.
With a last minute mental pep talk; she burst into action.
At the same time that bot also went into action - its flat feet slowly lifting off the ground as it began to step toward a gradually opening bay door. The scent of seawater wafting across the hanger from the massive robot accessibility ramp that was revealed. Making it quite clear that the half-genie had no time to waste.
Quickly approaching the bot's position only for its foot to fall to the ground. That impact brought with it a thunderous quake that momentarily halted Shantae - yet she was quick to recover as she leapt up onto the now grounded limb. Meeting its back leg with a… Metal *TANG* as she bounced off its surface.
As it turns out, although TinkerBats were surprisingly good jumpers, her new transformation still struggled to climb the slippery metal of the TinkerBot body. Even if she could; the TinkerBat form was too big to sneak into that bot's body. Fortunately she knew exactly the transformation needed in this situation.
Releasing her new transformation in order to activate her first (and surprisingly most versatile) form.
Monkey time.
Although this monkey looked quite different from how it originally did - from each of its ears hung a pair of slightly different magical talismans. Meanwhile it's cute little paws looked far more intimidating on account of the pointy looking cat clawed gloves they wore. On its tail there even hung a ritual bell from a ribbon.
"Time to see how good these gifts from Sky are~!" Shantae's wagging tail caused a ringing.
Wasting no time.
She darted toward the TinkerBot at speeds that made her a simple blur, leaving even Shantae bewildered at how quickly she arrived at its leg, proceeding to climb.
Eyes glinting as her eyes darted around as she clambered up its massive metal form. Soon those eyes of hers highlighted a tiny little vent into the core of that steel giant; quickly adjusting her course to sneak into that entryway. Even her claws coming in handy to pull herself and her wagging tail through the tight vents.
Upon climbing through she arrived in a chamber in the chest.
One that had four familiar looking stones stored inside four glass bowls attached to pipes.
A big smile grew on her face as she flexed those claws with all the mischief of a monkey knowing what she was about to do. "I mean, I only said I'd lend them to her~!"
With that she darted toward the glass only for her claws to uselessly scrape against the glass. Scuffing up the surface but otherwise not eliciting nearly the effect that she wanted. Scratching her head while studying those glass bowls until her gaze slowly found themselves following the attached pipes.
"If I can't get to the heart and the brain would kick my ass; why not go for the limbs?" Nodding to her own idea as there was no one else to agree. Quickly deciding it was best to head towards one of the arms as they were closer.
Fortunately those eyes of hers made it easier enough to do. "When she said this thing would let me see the truth of the world I didn't think it would give me minor clairvoyance~."
To be fair… It was unlikely that Sky knew it would.
All she did was go to all the ancient dungeons she could find; traversing through them to plunder the relics in order to gift them to Shantae herself.
She could only learn whatever cryptic nonsense was written down in records and legends.
A set of legends that now belonged to Shantae.
Utilizing her new powers to follow the pipes leading into the bot's left side. Ignoring the mad laughter of a certain pirate as she crawled through shafts and dove through gears. Although those claws of hers failed against that strangely sturdy glass they did more than enough work against the metal vents.
Soon finding herself looking down at where those pipes all united to filter into a miniaturised version of the steam engine. Thinking for a moment, if not for too long, before coming up with how she wanted to destroy the machine in front of her. Deciding promptly to not over complicate it.
So she didn't; simply slashing at the valve causing steam to immediately explode out in a hiss that scolded her fur wherever it landed.
Thankfully her agility let her quickly dart away before the worst could happen.
"Time to scadaddle!" Promptly turning tail and running just as the sounds of clanking & clunking grew gradually more noticeable from behind her.
With her route already mapped out, it was far easier to return than leave the chamber, hurriedly finding herself returning to the core of the TinkerBot. Just in time for the robot to lurch to an annoyed roar from that pirate queen. "Why in Davy Jones' jorts has the arm locked up - move you hunk of junk!"
Hearing that got a snicker from the cheeky monkey who decided the time for planning along with waryness was now gone. Darting through the machinery to head down into the leg that she had initially climbed through. Fortunately the engine for that leg was located fairly high up making it easy.
Quickly repeating her actions.
"Urgh? WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS THING, NOW THE LEG IS BUSTED, BATS GET YOUR ASSES IN HERE AND FIND WHAT YOU MESSED UP THIS TIME!" With that yell heard Shantae arrived in the chest compartment once again. Just in time to see the roof hatch open up as a TinkerBat head stuck itself in.
Yellow eyes met with monkey eyes for a second.
Sadly for the TinkerBat - MonTae exploded forward at speeds impossible to track.
Her outstretched claw easily blew the little monster's head from its shoulders moments before it exploded into abyssal dust.
Knowing the time she had left to sneak about the machine without getting spotted was quickly dwindling she decided to waste literally no time. Dashing through the mirrored nooks and crannies for the last two limbs - fortunately them being exactly the same in reverse let her get through at record pace. Soon finding herself panting in the core chamber as the entire mech shook.
"DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT! DAMMIT!" Risky's voice echoed throughout.
Add the booming that was happening from around her…
Shantae had a feeling she may or may not be about to blow up. "Welp, that doesn't sound good, probably should escap-"
Her vision was filled with white glow as all sounds instantly became muted.
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"Shantae, you've done it, you have saved us all~." Sky's voice sure sounded different; wispy in an undoubtedly sexy way that Shantae never had the pleasure of hearing until now.
Opening her eyes to a room overflowing with a misty white light to take in the sight of her friend. What she didn't exactly expect was how different that friend looked. Arms cradling a bust bigger than their heads while Sky's lips were so plump it was a miracle she even managed to close her mouth.
"Sky… Is that you?" Something did feel off about the usually more serious member of their trio of friendship - although the woman in question didn't appear to agree. "Gee you are such a kidder like always Shantae, now, are you ready to have your head blown in hot lesbian sex with me~?"
"Always." Not even a millisecond of hesitation.
Hearing that brought what Shantae thought may have been a smile on Sky's lips (hard to tell given how fat they were) as she walked up to push Shantae's arm between her twins. "Then it is time to wake up."
Strangely she couldn't quite feel those bouncing tits despite it covering her entire bicep plus some more.
"Hm what did you say?" Tilting her head as she asked upon realising her friend actually said something while distracting her with those wonders.
Thankfully Sky didn't seem to hold it against her as they licked the side of the half-genies cheek while their other one hand came to cup her privates. Even with all feelings unusually dulled the excitement literally overflowed from Shantae's body as that teasing minx whispered in her ear. "Wake up…"
"Huh?" Turning to look toward Sky only for her to abruptly scream "WAKE UP!"
With that she suddenly felt a hand yanking her tail(?) as she found herself forcibly taken away from that ever pleasant mist filled world. In its place was a familiar hanger that was not filled with fire, smoke and the debris of what used to be a giant TinkerBot. It still took Shantae a moment to remember where she actually was, however.
Just enough time for the cranky piratess to give her an aerial view of the place. "Wakey, wakey, you flea ridden tree hugging rat!"
Hurling poor MonTae up into the air with a cackle that was half mocking and half boiling rage.
Spinning in the air allowed Shantae to truly take in the sights - including the fact the roof supports were not exactly looking too great at the moment. She, of course. also took notice of her enemy.
The only sign Risky Boots was caught in that explosion was a bit of soot on her blue cheek and clothes.
That along with the mixture of a scowl & smile she somehow invented.
Fortunately, that monkey body of hers had all the agility she needed to masterfully land on the side of what may have been a clawed hand at some point. Grin only grew as she remained there for a second before exploding back toward that legendary pirate queen. Only for her claws to clash with a blade.
"Wha-!" Even before getting her monkey dash enemies had failed to react to her speed but that clearly didn't matter to Risky. Raising her gigantic platinum sabre to clash with those magic claws. Quickly having her free hand shoot forward to deliver an air-displacing punch to monkey gut.
Shantae immediately felt glad she didn't eat anything over the last week or so as she was confident that would have left her mouth as a projectile.
Fuzzy monkey evidently sent hurtling back to that claw.
Meanwhile, Risky didn't look as if she had exerted herself at all, she casually waltzed over toward where the monkey fell with a sway in her hips. "Are you really surprised that mommy isn't an easy ride~?"
Half-genie huffed as she managed to use her agility to, this time, land just in front of the bot's hand before releasing her transformation. Returning to looking human just for a moment before deciding her next course of action. "If speed isn't the solution then maybe overwhelming power is!"
With that she transformed into an elephant that stood tall above the pirate who finally stopped a few meters away from that giant beast. Only eliciting a challenging brow raise and a cocky smirk that could anger a monk. As such Shantae wasted no time in throwing her entire weight behind a dash.
"You think your strength comes close to matching that brutish behemoth?" Raising a foot that soon impacted the elephant right on its trunk.
This time Shantae at least managed to push her back…
Yet it wasn't far.
Soon that heeled boot managed to stop that train in place - raising that sword over her head even if she couldn't help gloat before striking Shantae down. "I'm impressed you made it this far. But you should have learned that the only thing you're good at is sex and stuck to that; instead of playing hero~!"
Sword coming down as she finished.
Apparently neither of her combat focused forms were good enough causing Shantae to momentarily close her eyes… Only to snap open at the last second as light consumed her.
Aiming directly for the sword wielding wrist where those sleeveless pirate cuffs lay.
Risky's eyes actually rose in shock as, for a moment, even she believed she was about to lose her hand to the rookie half-genie. Yet that surprise gave way to the sound of metal scraping as the hair spear ended up getting deflected instead. Failing to remove her hand but at least making the sword fall from her grip.
*scing*
The weaponized ponytail slipped past the pirate's face as she quickly tilted; though it still managed to leave a light gash on her cheek along with another across her bandana. Knocking her pirate hat, recognised the world over, to the floor. Her long flowing hair unravelled yet neither focused on that.
Instead Shantae backed away with her gaze locked on Risky's wrist as the pirate's cloth cuff fell away or more importantly…
Revealed the golden bracer.
Looking toward the pirate in time to see the blood seeping from her wound.
A liquid more like liquid silver than blood.