I Hate Systems

"We have arrived at Mohart Dungeon," Regriel said, accompanying a group of four women that rode an insect-type Puppet.

The Puppet looked similar to a housefly but with a diamond-shaped head and a polygon-styled body. It was large enough to carry all five of them without issue, the transport they used to quickly travel from the Heroica Empire and reach Mohart Dungeon within a day.

"There are many Haggons here. Let's proceed with caution. Chikon is too high profile." General Artica said, expressing alertness, intending to defend against anything that might attack them. "Are you feeling alright, Princess Raecha?"

"This hasn't been easy." The one addressed as Princess Raecha, a lady in her late twenties wiped off her sweat as she complained, "I also had to carry your three Iron Puppets. So, the weight has increased my Darlac consumption. If not for Wakuta's help in replenishing my Darlac constantly, we wouldn't have been able to reach here within a day."

She was one of the princesses of the Heroica Empire. Having been kicked out of a contest for the throne, thanks to a strange string of fate, she ended up travelling with Regriel. Back in Heroica Empire, she was hailed as a genius for being able to control an insect-type Puppet with flawless grace.

And, to support her more, her aunt used her personal connections and resources to create an insect-type Darble Puppet for her. This allowed her to wield her prowess, even more, making her famous throughout the Heroica Empire.

"Don't mention it." Wakuta, the girl thanked by Princess Raecha nodded curtly. Even though she had a petite frame, she was six feet tall, resembling a mannequin thanks to her lack of facial expressions.

"Spirits really are something," The last of the group was a middle-aged lady that sported some strands of white in her hair. Her expression was cold while every word uttered by her was suffused with arrogance. "Though, they were always touted to be legendary. So, I thought they would have been terrifying."

She looked down on Wakuta, "Except for your special ability, you are weak. You can't even fight."

"I can still suck you dry of all your Darlac though." Wakuta snapped back. "If you dare look down on us Spirits, I'm sure you'll pay for it, Rikune."

"Oh," The middle-aged lady, Rikune stared back as a tiny energy blade shaped like a crescent moon slowly exited her hand, "If you have the guts, try it. Before your beam can land on me, my energy blade will sever your head."

"Aunt, please stop it. We are in enemy territory now." Princess Raecha looked at Rikune, "You've seen how much the Great Megwest Empire has changed. We can't afford to be careless."

"Oh please, you are worrying about it too much, Raecha. Even if a horde of Haggons attack us, I can easily kill them." Rikune rolled her eyes, "With me, the Crescent Blade Transcendent around, nothing can threaten us."

"Still, it's for the best to be careful." Regriel said, landing on the ground once they reached a discrete spot, "And, you know how Wakuta is. Spirits have a different level of common sense than us."

"Now, let's rest and recover a bit here before entering Mohart Dungeon." He said, entering an inconspicuous house upon judging that it was safe. While everyone else entered it, he and Rikune awaited at the entrance.

Closing the door, Regriel said, "Shall we hunt a Haggon?"

"No need to kill one." Rikune said, walking through the road as she motioned for Regriel to hide behind her, "Just the arm of one is enough to feed all of us for a week."

"Alright, let's do that then." Regriel nodded, peeking out from a corner as he saw a lone Haggon resting on the road, using a house to rest its back upon, sleeping. "That seems like a good target…mmph!"

He was surprised when Rikune planted her lips on his, giving him a deep kiss, only backing away after a good minute had passed, "We haven't had any time together."

"Isn't it risky here?" Regriel said while his heart thumped.

"Well, you seem rather raring to go. I thought you wouldn't like an old lady like me." Rikune said as her hand massaged him.

"I prefer older women actually," Regriel said, taking the lead as he buried himself in her hills. Soon, their thumping sounds resounded in the place. But, they weren't audible to the Haggon sleeping nearby, for even the sounds of its breathing were louder than the best of their wrestling efforts.

Fifteen minutes later, they stopped their wrestling session and readjusted their clothes when Rikune said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "I guess we have to end it at that. If we delay too long, the others would feel suspicious."

Saying her piece, Rikune crouched as her feet shone with a yellowish-white radiance, jumping when a pair of crescent blades expanded under her feet, instantly reaching a length of ten metres as her figure shot off into the sky.

There were a pair of holes in the road as Regriel stared at them in awe, "Every time I see her in action, I cannot get over this fact. Transcendents are tremendously powerful."

Rikune was high up in the air as she aligned herself, shooting forth a couple of crescent blades from her hand, causing them to hit the ground as she used their curvature to transfer the momentum of her fall, making them flicker while they touched the ground repeatedly, reducing her momentum to the limit.

She then landed on the roof of a building, the one used by the Haggon to rest, peeking out once as she looked at its hand, pointing both her hands forward. She then unleashed two crescent blades, causing one to pierce into the wrist while the other severed the hand.

Right when the Haggon flinched at the pain, she retracted her energy blades, bringing the severed hand with her, retreating deeper onto the terrace, away from the Haggon's line of sight.

"Grr!" The Haggon expressed its anger upon seeing its hand be severed, looking around as it failed to find any enemies. It then closed its eyes, returning to sleep while its hand automatically regenerated.

Once it was asleep, Rikune descended from the building while using her crescent-shaped energy blades, returning to Regriel. The two of them then carried the Haggon's severed hand and entered the house they had chosen to rest, beginning to process its meat before dining on it.