I sighed and pulled out my sword from my back. Technically I really hated using it. But I had to make an exception just this once.

  I raised it towards the tank and winced slightly before saying the activation phrase. “You shall not win monster! May the divine flame purge you!” The sword began to glow as it heated up. I felt as my hand began to melt onto the hilt and tears streamed down my cheeks.

  A ball of fire formed at the end and fired at the tank, it hit the tank and what I can only describe as someone making wooshing and exploding sounds came through. The tank head was flown off and fire came from the cockpit. But the big guy had jumped off.

  I sighed and did the only thing I could do after activating the sword. I pulled out my very sharp dagger, closed my eyes, and sliced my hand off at the wrist. The pain was excruciating, but compared to the searing pain from the sword it was almost refreshing.

  I waited a moment for the sword to turn gray again and ripped my melted hand off with my dagger before putting it away and grabbing the sword with my one remaining hand. I raised it.. and put it back on my back.

  “Alissa, I could really…” I turned to see Alissa had rushed past the large man and was currently talking animatedly with one of the female soldiers who looked uncertain. I sighed and looked back at the man approaching me. He raised a pistol and fired it. It made a pew pew sound and I wanted to cry.

  He pointed the gun at me and I said as he pulled the stupid toy gun trigger. I watched as the bullet left and traveled the distance. I felt it pierce me directly in the heart. Because of course the Boss Mob had aim assist. My vision went hazy and I rolled my eyes and dropped dead.

  I appeared back at the Lego castle and sighed. Standing, I checked my gear and it was all in order. Turning, I stepped out of the stupid lego castle and walked around it to see the back half of the major army.

  None of them turned around to look at me. I snorted and pulled out my dagger. This was going to be fun.

  In all fairness, it only took them twelve dead soldiers, a lie about being a mechanic, and another fifteen before they noticed something was wrong and killed me again. The second time they were on to me! It only took them twenty deaths to notice. But I got a level up! 21 bitches!

  The third time around, a few soldiers were waiting for me to respawn. The shot at me and I just stared for a long minute, waiting for them to realize they couldn’t hurt me in the respawn spot. After about ten minutes, I was the one to realize that they would never realize. So, I threw my dagger one by one and killed them from the safety of the lego castle.

  I stepped out and another soldier rushed up to me. I almost stabbed her, but recognized Alissa. She was dragging another girl behind her who appeared to be unconscious. “so, good news and bad news..” She said hesitantly.

  I looked at the unconscious body behind her. I learned how to tell the difference very quickly.. those damn bears and their trickery. “Can we start with the good news?” I asked hopefully.

  Her eyes lit up and she nodded. “Daddy has agreed to retreat for a week to give you time to prepare for combat. He says he cannot wait for the duel where you beat him to win my hand.”

  My eye twitched, but I just nodded. “And.. the bad news.” I said in a defeated tone.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Well, as it turns out, my second didn’t want to join the harem. So I had to bring her here for you to use your skill on her.” She pulled the unconscious form of another girl and pointed at her.

  “Great.. Prisoners of war. Just what I always wanted.” I said in a deadpan tone.

  “Really? I personally prefer to kill mine. But to each their own!” Alissa commented happily.

  “You know Alissa, I believe it. How is the town and Sarah?” I looked at her and away from the unconscious girl. Not sure what was worse. That these toys looked so very human, that they FELT human, or that they somehow had all their toy parts attached… all of them.

  Alissa looked at me confused for a second before asking. “you mean Peep Town?”

  I nodded and waved my hand expectantly. “Oh, Daddy burned it to the ground. Sarah is fine though. I told Daddy she was one of your Mistresses.”

  “What happened to retreating for a week?” I asked in horror.

  “He did!” She said joyfully. “But now we need a new place to stay.”

  I shook my head and looked for the teleport to capital skill. I paused and looked at Alissa, looking in the direction of the capitol.

  I wondered if I ran… Then I looked at Alissa again and decided I would sooner die than spend another minute with the psychopath.. which is exactly what I was about to do.

  I tapped the skilled and a small circle surrounded me. Then it began to shrink. I felt as the invisible cube began to crush me slowly. I will not go into details, but let's just say I was a pretty little cube by the time it was done.

  I appeared in the center of town and gasped for air. Why? Just why? What did turning me into a cube even have to DO with teleportation?! It didn’t matter for now. Alissa was far away on the border of Tardriss. There was no way she..

  “Wow, so this is the capital of The Emerald Kingdom! It is much prettier than Tardriss.” Alissa said from next to me and I felt my soul leave my body. I quickly opened the skill list and read the skill again. My body twitched.

  I had no words. I was like 99.9% sure that was the description even a moment ago. I stared up at the toybox lid shaped sky and screamed at it until I felt better. Panting heavily, I realized I had fallen to my knees and was sobbing.

  “Wow, it wasn’t that bad was it? Teleporting hurt or something?” Alissa asked curiously. I turned to see she had leaned over and was looking at me worriedly. For the first time ever, I had someone look at me with worry.

  I simply stared blankly at her in shock. I had no words. It shouldn’t have mattered.. it didn’t.. not really. But something in that face, that look of.. of care… I grabbed her into a hug and sobbed on her shoulder.

  I felt her slowly wrap her arms around me and hug me. After a moment she whispered in my ear. “So, uh, in public? I’m not against the idea but..”

  I pushed her away and stood up, not looking her in the eyes. “I said I wasn’t against the idea…” She spoke quietly. I looked over at her and saw she was looking at the ground uncomfortably. “It’s.. it’s just, I’ve never done... done it like that is all.”

  She held her hands together and she slowly raised her head to meet mine. She looked very upset and hurt. “I thought guys liked it like that. I practiced a lot by myself. I just.. haven’t..” She trailed off and looked away.

  That’s when it clicked and I felt stupid. I sighed and stepped forward, grabbing her in another hug. I went down on one knee and looked her in the eyes. “Alissa, it was just a hug. Guy’s don’t all just want one thing.

  I want Alissa, not what Alissa thinks she needs to be for me.” I said. Inwardly I was cringing at it. But it was what you told someone like her.. right?

  “I mean.. it was the first thing you tried to order me to do…” She said playfully, a smile growing on her face. But I saw the fragility behind it. I knew that looked all too well. I felt it many, many, many times. A facade.

  I smiled back. “That was when I wanted it. Now I want a teammate.” I said back.

  She looked like she was thinking about it before responding. “Hmm, I think I can do that.”

  Then she pulled the unconscious girl from behind her and asked “So, you gonna make her a slave or what?” I facepalmed.

  “what happened to that whole teammate talk we just had!” I snapped at her.

  She giggled and raised the body. “Of course, and as teammates, we need more competent members. My second is a great soldier and a tactician at heart. She can help us I swear!” By the end her smile had faded slightly and she sounded almost desperate.