Mum? Mei Hatsume just appeared in the bathroom

Pt. 16 Lady Of Vines

Kendo was easily able to fight the numerous goblins and ogre that came about.

Kendo: Do they have anything else? Geez.

Ponama: Let's just be happy that it's not anything difficult.

Kendo: I guess. Fair point honey.

Just then, a purple portal came into view, always there, just now noticed.

Y/N: Seems legit.

Ponama: Where do portals ever steer us wrong?

Y/N: Well... Nether Portals... trapped teleporters... surprise boss rooms... but that's not the point. We have to go through to advance.

Mei: I guess.

Kendo: Should I remind you that you have fourteen rounds left?

Mei: Oh shit... two magazines... one in here... false. Fifteen rounds. One in the chamber.

Y/N: Well, that last bullet is probably gonna save our ass.

Kendo: Alright.

All of you nod to each other and jump through the portal at once, taking you to another part of the forest, covered in vines.

Y/N: Well, we didn't die... I guess.

You look in front of you to see a woman, Ponama and you averted your eyes from her, only wearing a few vines to cover her nipples and underneath.

Y/N: Geez. Can she put some damned clothes on?

Ponama: Shit. Nah.

The two girls locked eyes with the other lady, who was swaying about without a care in the world.

Mei: Can I just?

She draws her gun.

Kendo: Saves me the trouble.

Mei nods and aims the weapon, putting her finger on the trigger.

The lady smirks and gets on her hands and knees.

Mei: Is this... surrender?

Kendo: We can't exactly take prisoners...

At that moment, three plant matter stalks came up, one hitting you, straight in the balls.

Y/N: Why is it always the balls?

You managed to get out from the raspy breath you took before falling to the floor.

The two girls were a little luckier, the vine-like shafts hitting them in the face, they were knocked back, but not out.

The lady stood up.

???: You'll have to do better than that.

She smiled and started spinning around with small, flickering, yellow lit orbs around her.

Kendo enlarged her fist and punched towards the lady, the wind pushing her off balance and onto her behind.

Kendo went to follow up with a crushing blow, before the vine-clad woman made another vine from nowhere, using it like a whip.

Kendo stumbled back, the other woman jumping up and following up with another strike of her whip.

Mei finally had the lady in her sights as she moved around.

Mei: I've got you!

She squeezed the trigger and fired, hitting the lady straight it the chest.

Y/N: You got her!

The woman then coughed up a little blood and slowly started to stand.

Kendo: Oh no you don't!

An enlarged fist to the face later, she was done for good.

Y/N: The hell was that?

Ponama: Don't know, but it looks like we eliminated everything that's gonna try to well... umm... y'know.

He finished, with everyone knowing what he meant.

Mei: Can we... umm... rest for a bit?

Kendo: We'll go to the grotto a little later, it's right over there. We'll rest out here and then head in.

With that, Mei lifted the still bleeding body off the tree it landed on, throwing it into the depths below the steep cliff with a bottom easily visible.

Y/N: Great...

At the cave entrance to the grotto, you saw a chest. Walking towards it, Mei joined you.

Y/N: What do you think is inside?

You asked, nearing the chest.

Mei: No clue. Hope it's good.

You kick the chest, making sure it wasn't a mimic. The chest held strong and sure felt like wood, a solid, tough wood, that is.

Y/N: Ow...

Mei: Well I'll be damned if it's a mimic.

Y/N: Yep.

You suck in a breath as you stamp your sore foot.

Mei: I'll open it.

She does so, revealing a pair of metal gauntlets.

Y/N: The hell?

You took the gauntlets out, revealing what appeared to be a user manual.

Y/N: Would have never guessed it would come with that...

Mei takes it and skims over the pages.

Mei: Basically... they're metal gauntlets that are able to store the life energy it takes... then disperse it on the wielder...

Y/N: Dumbass terms Mei...

Mei: Kill shit to charge battery, the battery heals you.

Y/N: I'm no good with my hands... Ponama, you did boxing, right?

Ponama: How do you think I seduced the martial artist?

Y/N: Take these.

You hand the gauntlets over to him.

Mei: Here's the manual.

He puts it in his pocket, probably never to be seen again.

Ponama: There's a name carved into the side...

Y/N: Let's have a look.

He shows you the side of the gauntlet on his right hand, showing, indeed a name carved in the side.

Y/N: Who the fuck's Kincaid?

Ponama: No clue.

Mei: Previous owner?

Y/N: I'd have to guess. Why would they leave their gauntlets in a chest though...?

Mei: Probably died later on and their gear was brought here somehow.

Y/N: Well... with Ponama now able to fight... I feel a little bit more confident.

Mei: We just need to get a weapon for you. What do you predict, Nighteye?

She asked you, rolling her eyes slightly and leaning towards you, referring to the predictions you'd made already.

Y/N: I bet...

You think about it for a second.

Y/N: Some badass scythe with red energy from a black blade that looks infinitely cooler when I drag the blade across the ground.

Mei: Now that. Is wishful thinking.

Y/N: Ten bucks says I'm right.

Mei: Ten bucks says you don't have ten bucks... well, an equivalent amount of yen says you don't...

Y/N: I know... another ten bucks says we fight an eldritch horror next.

Kendo: You don't have the money to pay up if you lose.

Y/N: Exactly!

You wave a finger across your body as you announce before walking into the grotto.