[#] Posting this story here on Royal Road, I don't know why I didn't post here before.

  [Point of View: Marcus Carvalho]

  The temple shakes violently. Ancient stones groan and creak as the volcano’s fury thunders through the chamber. Lava spits and hisses through the widening fissures, casting an eerie, flickering glow against walls carved by a civilization long since erased from history.

  In the heart of this unfolding calamity, I stand. My breathing is ragged, uneven, but my hand grips my sword with white-knuckled intensity.

  Right in front of me stands the very reason I was summoned to this world.

  Lilium, the Demon Lord, glares down at me. His eyes glow with the flickering heat of hellish flames, a cruel, jagged smile cutting across his lips.

  [Image]

  “This world will be mine,” Lilium growls, his voice booming like a gathering storm. “You won’t win, Rift Wanderer.”

  He sneers as he spits out that title, the name given to those pulled from another world.

  “Fu… fu… FUCK YOU!” I scream, launching myself toward the creature.

  The black stone floor shatters beneath my feet from the sheer force of the jump, the sound echoing like a bomb going off. My blade sings, slicing through the air like a silver missile. Lilium moves to defend himself, bringing a giant claw to collide with my weapon. The impact reverberates through my very bones, a jarring shock of agony, but I ignore the pain and spin mid-air.

  “DIE, LAVA BITCH!” I roar, my blade shearing clean through the demon's hand.

  “ROARGH!” The demon bellows at the loss of his limb.

  THUD!

  As the gigantic hand hits the floor with a heavy, wet sound, I scramble back to catch my breath. The Demon Lord stares at me, eyes wide with disbelief and mounting rage.

  “Why do you help these humans, Marcus?” Lilium thunders, his voice thundering like a storm. “You are not of this world. You owe nothing to the humans who inhabit it!”

  I laugh. The sound bounces off the crumbling stone walls, sharp and jagged.

  “Isn’t it obvious? Being isekai'd into a fantasy realm, gaining powers, and then killing the Demon Lord is a dream come true!” I end up laughing out loud, as if my body isn't burning with pain.

  Lilium’s eyes narrow. His smile vanishes completely. “You dare mock me?”

  “Mocking you? No, sir. I’m just stating the facts. This is the ultimate adventure, and I’m going for the high score on this shit.”

  The Demon Lord’s fury finally boils over. His form swells, growing larger as lava and fire bleed from his body like a hellish machine.

  “You will pay for your insolence!”

  With a roar that shakes the temple within the volcano, Lilium charges. His remaining claw slices through the air, but I leap just in time, feeling the wind of the attack. The ground shakes as he lands, cracks snaking across the floor like spiderwebs.

  “Is that all you’ve got?” I taunt, jumping off the wall to the other side as yet another blow comes. One of the temple arches collapses in response, the roof threatening to cave in.

  Lilium’s eyes burn with a murderous intensity. His anger is palpable. “DIEEEE!”

  Adrenaline and magic course through my veins, and I can't help it, I grin. “Nah.”

  With a scream, I rush towards him. My sword shines like the sun, cutting through the darkness and the fire that the Demon Lord brought. He moves to meet me, his remaining claw aiming straight for my heart.

  BOOM!

  The impact is like a train collision. I feel the bones in my leg break, my ribs crack, and the muscles throughout my body ache as if I were being tortured with thousands of hot needles.

  But I keep pushing. My blade digs deep into Lilium’s flesh.

  “That’s it?” I growl, spitting out blood. “Mid.”

  Lilium collapses, his eyes widening in shock. He looks down, seeing my sword sticking out of his chest.

  “Impossible…” he mutters, his voice weak.

  “I know,” I respond, taking a step back as my sword leaves his body. “I usually wait until the third date before I rearrange someone’s guts.”

  Lilium falls to his knees, his body beginning to disintegrate, returning to the darkness from which he came. In silence, I watch him, my aching body only standing due to my equipment and other buffs.

  “How…” he begins, looking at me with eyes full of confusion.

  “Because I’m awesome,” I reply, a smile forming on my face.

  Lilium lets out a final sigh, his body disappearing completely. I fall to my knees, the pain finally catching up to me. But I smile, knowing I did the right thing.

  The sword light intensifies as the temple crumbles and the volcano finally explodes.

  “What an epic death,” I say, closing my eyes, waiting for the end. “My only regret is not spending more time with Eira.”

  But the end never comes.

  The white sword glow grows, covering my body completely.

  …

  When I open my eyes, I’m standing on a busy street. Cars pass by, and people are talking on their smartphones.

  Looking down, I see that my armor is all damaged from the battle against the Demon Lord, but my sword is nowhere to be found.

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  “The fuck…” I mumble in frustration. “I’m not in Onarac anymore?”

  As I look around for the sword, I notice them.

  The women are... different.

  And it wasn’t just one or two. ALL of them are different from normal women, and ALL of them have one thing in common. They are all anthropomorphic creatures, humanoid beings that have characteristics of human women with something else. In this case, they are half-animal.

  “They look like beastfolk from Onarac…” I mutter to myself.

  I smile, realizing where I am. I’ve been isekai'd again, this time to a modern world that is not my original one.

  “I need a beer…” I mutter dejectedly. “...Maybe fifteen.”

  [Point of view: Edith Nivia]

  “What a horrible day,” I murmur, trudging down the grimy street.

  Each step is a chore. The injustices of the shift still weigh heavy on my conscience, and my supervisor’s voice refuses to stop echoing in the back of my mind. “You’re responsible for this, Edith. Fix it.”

  “Fix it?” I repeat, mocking her tone under my breath. “Fix what? The mess Gorete made? The parts that never even arrived?” I’m talking to myself in the middle of the street like a crazy person. I let out a long, weary sigh, fighting the urge to just break down and cry right here on the sidewalk.

  On the horizon, the sun is dipping low, but the streetlights haven't flickered on yet. The world is filled with long, dancing shadows.

  A sudden breeze brushes over my white fur, carrying a foul stench that triggers a primal panic in my brain. My heart starts hammering against my ribs like a trapped, terrified rabbit. Because that's exactly what I am.

  Please, please, please, I pray silently. Don't let them be coming this way.

  Despite my frantic prayers, three large figures round the corner. Three Anthro hyenas. Their laughter rasps against the cobblestones, their eyes glinting with pure malice.

  I lower my head and try to hurry past, praying they’ll just ignore me. But my luck ran out the moment I clocked in this morning.

  “Well, look what we have here,” the tallest one scoffs. Her snout curls back into a smile that reveals far too many teeth. “A little white bunny, all by her lonesome?”

  Her friends swarm around me, cutting off any hope of escape. I can feel their eyes crawling over me, hungry, cruel. I clutch my backpack to my chest as if it could somehow protect me.

  “Please,” I whisper. “I just want to go home.”

  The leader barks out a harsh, jagged laugh. “Home, is it? Fine by us.” She reaches out, her gaze locked on my bag. “Hand over the pack and your phone, and we’ll let you go.”

  As they close in, my breath hitches and my throat goes bone-dry. My entire week's paycheck is in that bag. It’s everything I have, the money for my late rent. I spent the rest on parts for my personal projects, and if I lose this, I’m ruined.

  “Please,” I beg, my voice trembling uncontrollably. “I need my backpack.”

  The hyenas just keep laughing, a sadistic, screeching sound that bounces off the empty walls. The leader steps closer, her cruel eyes boring into mine. She raises a fist, clenching it tight.

  “No!” I scream, throwing my arms up to shield my face.

  It’s useless. Pain explodes across my vision, white light blinding me as I’m knocked to my knees. I taste the hot, metallic tang of blood in my mouth. Tears start to blur my sight as the hyenas keep cackling, snatching my backpack away.

  The fire on my cheek spreads across my face. I feel the cold pavement beneath me and look up at the vultures circling their prey.

  “Please,” I sob, my voice barely a whimper. “Please, give it back.”

  The tall hyena leans down, her hot, foul breath hitting my skin. “Give it back?” she mocks, howling with laughter. “You’re comedy gold, bunny!”

  I feel a wave of sheer dread. My body screams at me to run, to hide, to find safety, but there’s nowhere to go. No one is coming. I’m at the mercy of monsters.

  “Help!” I try to shriek, but my voice is hoarse with terror. “Someone, please help me!”

  The laughter only gets louder. They’re feeding on my fear, their eyes shining with sick satisfaction.

  “No one’s coming to save you, bunny,” the leader sneers. “This is our turf. You’re all alone.”

  I ignore her. I gather every scrap of strength left in my lungs and scream at the top of my lungs.

  “PLEASE! SOMEONE HELP ME!”

  The sheer volume makes them hesitate for a split second. The smallest one actually takes a step back. But after a moment of silence, the mocking laughter starts right back up. I hang my head, watching my tears and blood splash onto the cold ground. I'm helpless.

  Then, just as the despair swallows me, something warm and soft wraps around me. I look up through blurry eyes and see a figure standing over me.

  He’s wearing shining armor that seems to radiate its own light. As my vision clears, I realize he’s draped a cloak over my shoulders, red and sparkling, like living fire.

  He rests a hand gently on my head. A comforting warmth floods through me, chasing away the cold and the fear. I can actually feel my wounds knitting back together, the pain receding like a tide. I look up at his helmet, but I can't see a face, only a brilliant light emanating from within.

  “I can’t believe a literal knight in shining armor showed up,” the small hyena mutters.

  “This is the kind of shit only little boys dream about,” the leader grumbles. “You’re a disgrace to all anthros.”

  The armored figure turns toward them. His presence is massive, authoritative. The hyenas, so confident a moment ago, start to waver. Their laughter dies into uncertain growls. The leader takes a step back, her eyes narrowing as she tries to size up this new threat.

  “Who the hell are you?” she growls, her voice thick with a mix of fear and rage.

  The knight doesn't hesitate. He steps forward, his voice echoing with a calm authority that gives me goosebumps.

  “I don’t like hitting women,” he says, his tone carrying a faint, mocking edge. “But I make exceptions for bitches like you.”

  The hyenas trade nervous looks. Their confidence is crumbling. The leader, desperate to keep control, bares her teeth and lets out a low, rumbling growl.

  “I’ll open you up and rape you in the middle of the street!” she challenges, though her voice shakes.

  The knight doesn't draw a sword. He doesn't even clench his fists. Instead, he moves with a fluid, terrifying grace. His left hand shoots out, grabbing the lead hyena by the throat and hoisting her up to eye level.

  Her eyes go wide, her bravado evaporating like mist.

  “I don’t like people who abuse the weak,” he says. His voice is calm, but it has a steely weight to it that makes my skin crawl.

  The hyena struggles, her legs kicking wildly against his chest, but his grip is like iron. Then, he raises his right hand.

  SMACK!

  He slaps the hyena across the face.

  “W-what?” she stammers, completely dazed.

  SMACK!

  Another slap rings out through the street.

  SMACK!

  “STOP!” the hyena shrieks. “Why are you doing this?!”

  SMACK!

  “Doing what your father or pimp should’ve done,” the armored figure says coolly. “Teaching you some fucking manners.”

  Each blow echoes like a gunshot in the empty street. It’s brutal, but I feel a strange, sharp satisfaction seeing her humiliation.

  “Stop! Please stop!” she wails, tears streaming down her snout.

  But he doesn't stop. He delivers each slap with measured, deliberate force. The other hyenas watch in horror, their laughter a distant memory.

  “You think this is funny?” he asks, his voice dropping to a cold, threatening low.

  The hyena whimpers, her face a mess of tears and snot. She tries to speak, but it only comes out as a sob. Finally, the knight lets go of her throat. He leans in close, his voice a low growl.

  “If I see you or your friends harassing innocent people again, I won’t be so merciful.”

  He drops her. The once-proud leader hits the ground, sobbing and trembling. The other two back away, eyes wide with terror, before turning and bolting into the darkness.

  The knight turns to me. His eyes, or the light within, seem to soften. He extends a hand and helps me to my feet. I look at him, my heart overflowing with gratitude and something else I can't quite name.

  I stand there, stunned, as he lets go of my hand. My heart is racing. He’s tall, with broad shoulders and a strong jaw visible through the gaps in his helm.

  “Thanks,” I whisper.

  He raises an eyebrow. “For what?” he asks. His tone is different now, less like a legendary hero, more relaxed.

  I hesitate, my mind spinning. I can't tell him about the strange flutter in my chest. “For saving me,” I say sheepishly.

  He chuckles, a warm, genuine sound. “You don’t need to say thank you. Helping people is basically in the job description.”

  I swallow hard. “But... you’re a m-man,” I stutter. “It’s not right for a woman to depend on a man to save her.”

  “Why?” he asks, sounding genuinely confused. “Are you one of those feminists with colorful hair and hairy armpits who can't stand help from a guy?”

  “Feminist?” I repeat, the word foreign to me. “It’s just... it’s always been this way. Anthro women protect human men.”

  Silence. Through his visor, I see his eyes go wide. He stares into space for a long moment before suddenly dropping to his knees.

  “Are you okay?” I ask, stepping toward him.

  “Oh, fuck,” he mutters in total astonishment. “Did I really just land in furry heaven?”

  He looks so suddenly depressed, so utterly defeated, that I feel like I have to do something. It would be rude not to offer help after he saved my life.

  “If you need anything, I-.”

  He snaps upright and grabs me by the shoulders.

  “Iiipe!” I yelp, startled.

  “Do you have beer?”

  [#] I hope you enjoyed it. I see you next time.