A Danmachi Fanfiction
Adventurer: A God's Grace
by: RandomReaderThatWrites
Chapter 1: Familias
[Eris' Familia, Few days later]
"Ian, gather the rest of the exploration group." The [Goddess of Strife] ordered the Captain of her Familia. "I have a new quest for you."
"My lady!" Ian replied, bowing to his Goddess and leaving the room to call the rest of his comrades. Eris took a sip from the glass of wine she seemed to always be holding, taking a quick look at the rising sun through her open window.
Deciding it was about time to go to the main hall, the place the Familia held every meeting in different situations. Just the other day, the goddess had surprisingly accepted a deal with another Goddess.
"I hear your Famila was also targeting a floor boss days ago." The other goddess had told her. From there, Eris was intrigued by interest and curiosity. Without thinking the offer, she had accepted it, obvious to her were the benefits of her own [Familia].
"Lady Eris, I have gathered all the [Adventurers] capable of fighting." Ian called for her attention, and the Goddess smirked down at her little children. No matter how normal they may seem to humans, every average adventurer would be able to sense the dark aura that surrounded her children. And she was proud of that. Proud of the fear it would cause, proud of the strife between those that seek power. After all, she was a [Goddess of Tartarus], one of those feared even in [Heaven].
"My children," the black haired beauty started. "Today, I am giving you a special quest. When you are to arrive at the Dungeon's entrance, another [Familia] will be waiting for your arrival. Show no bad intents, as for this expedition, you will be partying up with this Familia."
Many of the adventurers in the group started to chatter with each-other, many words arriving in the Goddess' ears.
"However," the Goddess cut off their chatter with a dark voice. "If they are to reflect any bad intention, do not hesitate to-"
"Killthem!"
[Dungeon Entrance]
"Hey captain!" a male adventurer called. "Why are we even waiting for another Familia? Ours is strong enough to kill them all!"
"Do not be so impatient." The captain replied, looking at the adventurer by the corner of his eyes. "Our [Goddess] specifically gave us an order."
"Tch! I still find this useless though."
"Your opinion will not affect this quest, Bete." The Hobbit Captain said, his voice strict. "They have arrived, anyway."
"Huh?" Bete looked at the direction Finn was also looking, noticing just then that the streets were silent. A dozen meters away from them, the two Adventurers could see a group of other possible Adventurers. In the front were three people, a tall boaz knight with heavy armor and a long sword, a young boy with red hair and golden armor, alongside a blue-haired girl possessing no armor piece.
"Is that," An [Amazoness Race] adventurer from the opposite Familia spoke. "The Bad-Famed [Eris Familia]?"
Finn nodded. "And they are our partners for this quest."
"What?!" Bete yelled in shock. "We are going to team up with those -"
"Yes." Finn cut him off coldly. "Our Goddesses seem to have come to good terms lately."
Bete grit his teeth, looking around at the group of adventurers, each emitting a dark aura. Surprisingly, all of them expect the three in the front.
"You must be the [Loki Familia]." The Giant man of the opposite Familia stated.
"Yes." answered Finn. "And I believe you are the Captain of the [Eris Familia], the Annihilator."
"You are correct in your guess, Braver. Tho, that nickname is getting kinda old." Ian joked, but his laugh had no real humor in it. "Shall we proceed with our Kamis' orders?"
"Where is the [Sword Princess]?" The red-haired boy suddenly asked, catching everyone off guard. Everyone expect the blue-haired girl, who sported a pair of pointed ears, seemingly an Elf. Instead, she face-palmed.
"Can you leave your inner curiosities for after the quest, Yannic?" she said, but the redhead ignored her, instead staring at the crowd of Loki's adventurers.
"Ais has another admirer, huh?" Bete frowned with disgust at him.
"Our Princess has entered the dungeon before us." Riveria, a High Elf of the [Loki Familia] said. "She was... impatient."
Yannic didn't reply to the High Elf, but instead pushed his way through the [Loki] Adventurers and into the Dungeon's entrance.
"That boy." the bluehead of the [Eris Familia] sighed, moving alongside her Captain and Familia, following the Lokis inside the Dungeon.
[Dungeon Floor: 11th]
"What exactly are we here for?" the blue swordswoman asked her captain, slashing through a [Silverback]'s flesh. "Eris-sama didn't go into very detailed explanation." she added, grasping her second sword in hand, spinning on her heels, cutting in half three other Silverbacks that had managed to surround her.
"A group of Adventurers had encountered a new type of monster on the 25th floor." Ian answered, using his giant sword as a spear to pierce through two Silverbacks. "Their God required the help of our two Familias to defeat this new type. Apparently, their adventurers managed to gather some information, which made the God decide his chosen Familia for this quest."
"A type of monster that would require both the [Loki] and [Eris] Familias to defeat it." Fin mussed, stabbing the back of a [Hard Armored]. "It has drawn my attention."
"It has indeed." another Hard Armored was cut in half as Ian joined the [Loki] Captain.
The Blue Swordswoman slashed at two incoming Silverbacks, ducking under a Hard Armored to stub it in its unarmored belly. In a flash of gold and red, another adventurer passt by the Swordswoman, stubbing their Katana through a Silverback's skull.
"Yannic!" the bluehead called and the redhead ducked. She used her right sword to behead a Hard Armored that had tried to attack Yannic, with the boy sliding under her and slashing a Silverback, standing back-to-back with the other [Eris] Adventurer. The joined Familias had yet to catch up to the impatient [Sword Princess], but Finn assured them that they would meet in the 18th floor if not earlier. Yannic hadn't spoken a word the entire way, only cutting through the monsters that showed up.
Tiona, the youngest of the Amazon Twins threw her giant Urga in the air, the sword passing atop the two Adventurers' head, as it beheaded a group made of 5 Silverbacks. Yannic deadpanned at the giant weapon, being reminded of his Captain's.
"Captain!" the lower-rank adventurers of both Familias called to their respective leaders. Finn and Ian turned their attention to them, as soon as they had finished off with the remaining Monsters around them. Their and everyone else's attention was drawn by the cracking wall. The ground started to shake violently and the cracks grew larger, until they were about 4 meters tall, from the ground-up.
"It's an [Infant Dragon]!"
"Everyone get into position!" the Captains ordered their respective underlings.
"Just let us beat it up!" Bete complained, but still followed his orders. The Dragon's giant claw was freed from the wall-prison, soon followed by half of its body. The adventurers that had been near its location ran away, their bodies feeling hot. Those that were late to realize screamed in pain as they too found their legs carrying them away.
"Do not get close to it!" Finn shouted to his comrades. "An Infant Dragon has a 150 Celsius Grade body! It can cause harm to low rank adventurers!"
"Low Ranks, guard the Mages! Mages, start the chant to a spell that can confirm our victory!" Ian ordered his party, the adventurers moving to their respective positions. "High Rank adventurers to the front! We are going to keep it away as the Mages become ready! It may be an Infant, but it is still a powerful Dragon!"
"Tch!" Bete spit on the ground. "Just get over with it already. The [Loki Familia] can finish it on our own!"
Finn was about to reply to his fellow High Class Adventurer, but a flash of Red and Gold cut him off.
"Yannic! You moron!" Ian shouted to the flash, but it did obviously not make the boy stop. "What do you think you are doing?!"
(He is much like Ais...) Finn though to himself, smiling slightly at the boy who had run to the front to attack the monster.
Yannic unsheathed his katana, the black blade of the sword positioned to stub the Infant Dragon in its giant chest. Mere centimeters away from its target, Yannic was suddenly pushed away. No, the sword had made contact with the unscaled chest of the Infant Dragon, but instead of piercing it, the katana's blade changed trajectory, unable to cut through any flesh, also making Yannic lose his balance.
(What?!) Yannic thought, his eyes widening as he used his legs to push off away from the Infant Dragon's chest. However, before he could even land on the ground or start falling, the giant claw of the Infant Dragon made contact with his body. (Gah!) Yannic let out a soundless yell of pain in his mind, now starting to fall towards the wall at high speed. (This is no normal Infant Dragon!)
"Yanni!" the Swordswoman called out to him, but Yannic had no control over his body.
"[Tempest] Awaken!"
In the blink of the eye, a gust of wind passed by the crowd of adventurers and straight for Yannic. In the next second, the redheaded boy found himself next to the wall, but in the arms of a golden haired girl.
"Are you okay?" the girl asked, letting him down, as if it was something she did everyday. Yannic's eyes widened. "[Sword Princess]?" he asked, looking her straight in her eyes, a color similar to his.
"Ais! Yannic! Move away from there!" Finn yelled, and the duo was able to roll away from the Infant Dragon's tail slamming into them. "That is no normal Infant!" he added.
"I figured." Yannic replied, gripping his sword tighter as he stood by Ais' side. "And his body is hotter than 150..." he added. Yannic had learned such when he kicked off the Monster's chest and from the giant claw that slammed into him. "Normal weapons can even melt to it. Captain! Get all the adventurers to the back! Only those with High Class Weapons to the front!"
"Eh?" Ian blinked at the child. "Yanni spoke? Without mocking? Long sentences? Eh?"
"Captain! Get it together!" the blue Swordswoman yelled at him, eyebrow twitching.
"Ah, sorry Jess..." Ian apologized, but still ordered his comrades to go to the back, leaving only the top adventurers of his Familia in the front. Finn, Tione, Tiona, Bete, Gareth from the Loki Familia, Ian, Jess and three other adventurers of the Eris Familia were left to battle the Infant Dragon, following Ais and Yannic.
Ais kicked off the ground, Yannic following one step behind. The Infant Dragon lunged its giant claw at them, but Ais quickly raised [Desperate] to block it, blade intertwining with its giant nails, keeping it in place temporary, enough for Yannic to jump up and run the arm's length. Ais let go of the claw she was holding and using [Ariel], she sprinted towards the Infant Dragon's belly. Yannic's blade was raised above his head, ready to slash the Monster's eye, just as Ais readied her sword to slash at the abdomen of the Monster.
The attacks were made in unison, as if by the same person. However, little damage was done to it, shocking the two adventurers. Yannic pushed his sword forward to stab the monster, but the Dragon shook violently, throwing Yannic off of itself. Ian and Finn kicked off from their position, with the [Eris] Captain catching the falling Yannic, while the Loki Captain pierced the Infant Dragon's flesh with his spear. Bete was quickly over them, kicking the abdomen of the creature. Ian swung Yannic around, throwing him directly at the Infant Dragon.
"Ahhh!" Yannic let out a battle cry, stabbing his Katana at the monsters upper jaw, back flipping when the Infant Dragon started to shake its head again. Lending next to his Captain, Yannic grit his teeth, eyes focused on his weapon that was four meters up from his position. The Infant Dragon tried to roar, even though its mouth was shut locked.
Ais positioned her [Desperate] to stab the monster again, this time actually fully cutting through. She swirled it in her hand, making the blade cut even more as it was pulled out. Ais bent her knees, shooting up at the Monster's lower jaw, spinning in the air, slashing its neck, stabbing [Desperate] and flipping on top of its head. Pulling out of its jaw Yannic's sword, Ais dual wielded. She spun in the air, slashing the area of the monster's head. Lending behind on its back, using the two sword to stop her fall.
"This is no use!" Yannic yelled, right hand reaching for the sword on his back, its Golden Hilt shining even though not reflected by any light.
"Yannic stop!" Jess yelled, noticing the movement Yannic was making.
"Eris-sama forba-" Ian started, but he was too late. Ais jumped down from the Monster's back, using [Ariel] to regroup with her comrades, just as Yannic unsheathed a two-finger-long part of his sword's blade. The next instance, the air became heavier, Yannic's aura changing suddenly.
"Ya-"
CRACK!
"Wha-?!" Yannic got distracted, letting go of the sword, which sheathed itself again. The air returned to normal again, as did his aura. The ceiling above them had suddenly cracked, and-
ROOOOOOAR!
-A beast's roar echoed through the dungeon floor. The ground shook violently. Yannic reached for his sword again, as the ceiling broke down, giant rocks falling down. Ian was by his side the next second, catching his wrist and moving it away from the golden hilt.
"What are you doing?" Yannic hissed, trying to get his wrist free. Ian didn't response, but instead hardened the grip on Yannic's wrist. Ais landed by their side, stabbing the Katana she had picked up in front of his feet. Ian let go of his wrist, and Yannic hesitated picking up the Katana. After he did so, the trio ran towards the rest of the adventurers, the others following them, as they tried their best to dodge the falling rocks.
The next moment, balls of flame shot up from the Mages' position, destroying the falling threat. However, the Roar continued, even though the source was unknown. Ian said nothing to Yannic, but his posture had changed. The redhead passed his fingers along the Golden Hilt, making Ian go stiff. He was ready to intercept any attempt of unsheathing it.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
"Gah!" the adventurers started to scream in horror. "Look up!" they yelled in unison.
From the broken down ceiling, on both sides of it, two giant skeleton claws had gripped the edges. Soon enough, the claws pulled the entire body out, reviling the giant skull of the new monster. It roared again, shaking the ground beneath them. It then pushed its entire body inside the floor the Adventurers were in. Said Adventurers in turn ran away from its falling trajectory, surrounding the monster in a circle.
"What is that?!" Jess questioned his Captain, looking at the giant monster, one that leveled a floor boss in height. In was a dragon-like Skeleton creature. In the center of its ribcage, a giant black crystal was visible.
"It could be the new [Creature Type]." Ian answered, looking at the monster with narrowed eyes. "But what is it doing here instead of the 25th floor?! And its crystal is different."
(Don't tell me...) Ian's eyes widened. He looked at the two Golden eyed adventurers by the corners of his own eyes. (You drew it here...?)
"Hey, [Sword Princess] wait!" Yannic yelled to Ais who was meters in front of him, having run towards the monster while the group was still analyzing it. Yannic cursed under his breath, kicking off the ground and after Ais. Ian widened his eyes again, following the two kids, Jess, Finn, Bete and the Amazon twins after him.
Ais drew her sword forward, blocking the claw that was intended to slash her in half, using both of her hands to push it away, continuing her run with Ariel to make it to the monster's feet. Climbing up its shins, Ais kicked off, literally flying up to the monster's ribcage. She slashed at the Skeleton's ribs, but to no use. From the crystal in the center, a powerful gust of wind kicked Ais away from the monster. She started to fall back.
Yannic was under Ais as she started to fall. Bending his knees, he warped his arms around her shoulders, to stop the fall.
"The [Crystal] is a weapon on its own?!" the two children gasped at the same time.
"Don't recklessly charge forward!" Ian reached them, same as Finn who narrowed his eyes at Ais. "Ais! Yannic!" It was no use though, the duo left again.
"How are we going to defeat that monster if its Crystal can produce gusts of Wind?" Jess asked, having just arrived at their location, Bete, Tione and Tiona by her side.
"With such ability, we won't be able to cause any harm unless we can counter the wind-"
"I and Ais can do that!" Bete said, fist-bumping himself and cutting the Captain's sentence.
"-Even if the Mages try to chant a spell, we are still in the dark about the Monster's ability." Finn ignored him and continued. "Thus, Bete and Ais are our best options." he finished, looking at the two adventurers who were currently trying to damage the monster.
Yannic used his Katana to deflect a giant claw, using it as a shield for the passing Ais, who jump-slashed the monster's shin. Yannic was then by her side, his katana piercing through an invisible shield of the Monster. [Desperate] cut through the layers of the bones of the shins. And the beast surprisingly roared in pain. It ducked to catch the two adventurers with its claw, but the Golden Eyed duo jumped away, landing in the same distance, kicking of the climb up the monster's arm.
The black crystal shone again, just as the duo jumped away from the boned arm and straight for the ribcage's center. A gust of wind was soon to come.
"[Tempest] Awaken!" Ais called just in time, a torrent of wind surrounding her completely, blocking the wind of the crystal from harming her. "[Ariel]!"
Yannic smirked as the gust of wind crashed with his chest, knocking his breath out. At high power and speed, Yannic was sent falling down on the ground.
CRASH!
The ground under him cracked on impact, creating a pit underneath the redhead. Tiona tried to go and check his state, but Ian stopped her.
"What are you doing?!" Tiona yelled at him in confusion. "He could be in a bad situation!"
"Please," Ian started, even though his voice lacked any emotion. "Leave him alone."
"What are you suggesting, [Eris] Captain?" Finn asked, lowering his spear.
"Leave Yannic and Ais to fight the new monster." Ian said, making the rest gasp. "Since the new monster appeared, everyone forgot about the Infant Dragon. It has strangely not moved from its previous location. However, we and the rest of the high adventurers should go finish it off, while the Golden pair fight the [Skeleton Dragon]. Meanwhile, the rest of the adventurers should return up in Orario, along with low-class mages. This way, the fighters will have more space and no worries for the injured. Only the Mages capable of healing should stay behind, in case any of us needs help."
"Hmm..." Finn placed a hand under his chin. "I thought of that too... However, I'm not so sure about Ais and your Yannic. I can understand Ais and Bete, but why would you send Yannic?"
"Look at him." was Ian's plain reply. Finn turned to look at the boy inside the pit. He was slowly rising to his feet, Katana still gripped in his left hand. The boy moved one step forward and the next step... He started to run, kicking off the ground just under the Skeleton Dragon. Reverse gripping [Fall], he jumped up the Skeleton's bones, striking at the invisible armor he could imagine between every rib surrounding the [Crystal]. Gripping one of the giant ribs with his right arm, the redhead pushed himself inside the cage.
With [Fall] in hand, Yannic ran for the Crystal Core. It shone again, readying the Wind attack.
"Wallenstein!" Yannic called to the [Sword Princess] who was still in air, surrounded by [Ariel]. Ais positioned her sword to stab the outside center of the cage, [Ariel] pushing her with powerful force. The Crystal released its gust of wind.
"Gaaahhaahhh!" Yannic yelled in pain, his back slamming against the cage's insides. Ais used the tempest around her to block the gust, stabbing [Desperate] right in the center of the cage, her sword's tip mere centimeters away from touching the crystal core. Ais twisted [Desperate], the bone starting to crack. The Skeleton Dragon sensed this, thus rose its left claw to slam it against Ais. Her [Ariel] however didn't allow for the attack to succeed.
"What the-?!" The bones of the claw started to shatter into dust, yet the Monster didn't stop its attack. When the finger bones were about gone, Ais' [Tempest] broke down, the left-bones slamming into her powerfully.
"Now [Desperate] is stuck..." Tione commented, even though she was barely keeping herself from rushing to help Ais.
Finn closed his eyes. "I can see what you mean, [Eris Familia] Captain." he said. "I shall order my Familia to retreat, as you shall do with yours. Only Riveria will remain behind."
"Wait captain!" a female voice called for his attention. Through the crowd of Adventurers, one single Elf came out.
"Lefiya?" Finn questioned her presence.
"Please Captain!" Lefiya started again, trying to catch her breath. "Let me help Ais-san too!"
Finn looked at Ian for a second, who only shrugged, clearly saying 'She is you party, not mine.' with his movements.
"Fine, Lefiya." Finn answered. "However, you should keep a safe distance away from the fight."
"Hai Sir!"
Yannic managed it outside of the cage holding the crystal. It was useless to try to attack it from up close. Ais was also trying to get up from her crash, scratches visible on her clothes and skin. The cloth on his back had already been torn apart, but his Familia's symbol wasn't visible.
"[Sword Princess]," he started, walking up to her. "It will be useless to get near it recklessly." he added.
"I know." Ais replied. "I can get close to it with [Ariel], but not for long, it seems."
"What if," Yannic started, stopping to take another look at the monster whose Crystal started to shine again. "You can get close to it with your [Magic], while I will try to keep the bones from interfering with your [Ariel]."
"Can you manage?" Ais asked, doubting the recklessness behind his plan.
"I will manage." Yannic replied, and the two started to run towards the monster. Ais was before him.
"[Ariel]!"
The Crystal released its gust of wind, but Ais was able to block it with her [Tempest], while Yannic jumped up, as high as he could, lessening the chances of the gust hitting him. Yannic landed on top of the Monster's collarbone, kicking off of it and landing on top of its skull. Turning around so he could face Ais, the redhead saw the girl try to stab the center of the cage again. The Skeleton's left arm rose up again, but this time Yannic was already up in this air, falling upon the claw with all of his weight.
The bone-arm was pushed slightly down, away from Ais' [Tempest]. [Desperate] was already inside the cage, twisted so the bone would start to crack again.
"For how long have they known each-other?" Tione commented from behind the Infant Dragon.
"Team-working with another adventurer," Finn started, smiling at the duo. "Quite interesting." Ian nodded at his words.
"Come on Wallenstein!" Yannic yelled, as the arm threw him away. "Finish it."
"[Lil-"
The word was not finished. The cage broke but the attack wasn't finished. The Monster's right arm slammed onto Ais, breaking the perfect shield around her. While Ais was still falling, the right bones started to shift, until they took the shape of a sword. The monster slammed it into her body.
Ais let out a soundless scream, slamming on the ground, creating a bigger crater than Yannic's.
Back with the group that was fighting the Infant Dragon, Tiona saw the injured Ais falling down into the ground. "Ais!" she called out to her friend, ready to rush in and help, but Finn's spear stopped her. "We will just get in the way." he said, turning his attention back to the monster in front of them.
"But Taicho!" Tiona grit her teeth, her attention shifting from the Infant Dragon to her injured friend and back to the monster again.
Yannic crashed on the ground half a minute later, using his nails to try to stop the harsh rollings he was making. Meters away from their crashing location, Lefiya started to shake. It was both from fear and helplessness. She didn't know what to do to help her fellow comrade, especially in a situation that even Ais was finding hard to survive. She rose up her shaking weapon and with tears falling down like torrents, the Elf made her decision. Magical words started to leave her mouth, a magic circle starting to form under her feet, magic gathering around her.
Ais slowly rose from her crash-point, her abdomen completely exposed, with a large cut above her bellybutton. Whatever cloth she had covering it was torn apart, only leaving her chest-plate and bottom half of her armor/clothes. Few second later, Yannic pushed himself up, his scarf missing, clothes on his back and shin torn away, together with what armor he had over said places. His Golden Eyes were narrowed, much like Ais'.
Ais started to run towards the creature again. The Skeleton Dragon rose its sword-arm, and it started to stretch longer and longer, until a bone-arm holding the sword was created. He slashed downwards, right in the location Ais was. The [Sword Princess] jumped just in time, running up the sword's length.
When her foot stepped on the sword's hilt, she jumped again, this time above the Crystal Core.
"[Tempest] Awaken!" Ais shouted, the wind surrounding her entire body. [Desperate] was slashed downwards, just as the monster's free arm rose to intercept her.
"[Kenos] Release!" Yannic shouted, his katana slashing at the monster's left shoulder and in the next moment, the air became heavy for just a second, just as the left shoulder was cut through, the Monster now missing a limb. However, the Skeleton Dragon brought up its sword arm, slamming it at Yannic, cutting apart his shirt and chest-plate, a soundless scream escaping him as blood licked away from his wound.
(Was that his skill... ?) Ais thought as she looked at the boy by the corner of her eye. She breathed in, ready to finish off the [Crystal Core] of the monster.
"[L-"
(What?!)
Instinctively, Ais used [Ariel] to move away from the monster, while Yannic re-crashed on the ground with a yell of pain. Just as her feet touched the ground, giant [Fireballs] bombarded the Skeleton.
"Lefi-" Ais turned to look at the Elf that had managed the attack, only for her eyes to widen as the Monster roared. "Lefiya!" she yelled, the Crystal Core shining a darker color. The young Elf's eyes widened in horror as a gust of wind blew from the core.
"[Ariel]!"
"Ais stop!" Riveria order-yelled, raising her staff to create a spell to protect Lefiya.
But she was too late. Ais pushed Lefiya away from the gust's trajectory and with no [Tempest] around her body, the entire force of the Gust was slammed into her.
The [Sword Princess] screamed in pain, her body crashing on the ground and rolling harshly, passt Riveria and Lefiya, cuts appearing around her body, clothes and armor being torn apart as back slammed against a hard wall.
"Gaaahhaahhh!" her scream filled the entire dungeon floor, reaching the ears of Finn and the others.
"Ais-san!" Lefiya screamed in horror. (I did this to Ais-san! ... I didn't help her... I only caused her pain... I'm such a-)
"Get it together Lefiya!" Riveria yelled, her eyes narrowed. A strange emotion was present in her voice and it made the younger Elf flinch. "I'll heal Ais." she added, eyes closed in concentration.
(I can't feel anything above my right ankle... Nor from left shoulder down. My sword's fingers are also broken... My chest is heavy and I can hardly breath. My vision... is blurry.) Ais tried to look at her opponent, but could see nothing, blood trailing down from her forehead. (My abdomen hurts... My back burns... my skin may be torn apart... everything hurts...)
(Is this the best I can do?!)
Riveria's eyes widened. "What?!" Lefiya flinched at her high volume. "I cannot heal Ais. Something is interfering with my magic! How-"
"What is Yannic-san doing?" Lefiya asked, looking at the injured boy, a large gash over his chest and abdomen, upper armor and clothes missing. Even his Golden Hilt-ed sword was missing. Yannic kept falling with every two steps, crawling on the ground, heading for Ais' fallen self.
"He is trying to-" Riveria started, amazed by the boy's strength. "Reach Ais." she added, smiling at the young boy who tried to push himself up again, few meters away from their Princess. "I see..."
"What is going on?!" Lefiya asked with an unnecessary high voice. "With those injuries, they have no chances to fight that Monster!"
"Don't you believe in Ais?" Riveria asked, still looking at the redhaired child.
"I do but," Lefiya started to cry again. "She can't even move and you can't heal her."
"The child has a plan." Riveria mussed.
"What?"
"[Yannic Streit], one of the few Adventurers who can't use any magic, not even from Grimoirs." Riveria explained, Lefiya's eyes widening. "That is rumored to be because the [Child of Discord] possesses a [Rare Skill], one that makes him unable to use Magic."
"Child of D-! People like that exist?" Lefiya asked. "That can't use any magic at all?" for her, an Elf that specialized in magic, this fact was unbelievable.
(The Skill doesn't allow any Magic to enter the boy's body either... Could he have passed it to Ais too... That would explain why, but how?) Riveria added in her mind, lowering her staff down. If her guess was correct, no magic that she tried to chant unto Ais would have any affect on her. "Lefiya, continue attacking the monster so it doesn't attack Yannic or Ais. If it counterattacks, I will have a shield up." Lefiya nodded her head, starting to chant again.
Slamming face-first on the ground, Yannic finally made it to Ais' feet. He crawled up to her position, his hands warping around Ais' broken arm. The girl let out a small gasp of pain, but Yannic didn't apologize. He instead placed her broken arm around his neck, his left arm around her waist, supporting her to stay up. Ais' entire left arm was limp, her body unbalanced, ready to fall down at any moment.
[Desperate] was about to fall from Ais' hand, her broken fingers unable to keep it up.
"[Ariel]!" she whispered, the torrent of wind warping around her sword and fingers.
Yannic whispered something with an inaudible voice, and a golden light lined his entire body. It slowly moved towards Ais' body that was pressed against his.
"[Kenos]," this time Ais could hear his voice. "Minimum Release!"
(What is he do-) Ais thought, but her eyes suddenly widened. Her left leg was suddenly not so tense, the entire weight of her body that was being kept by it was suddenly lifted. (What?! My body suddenly feels... lighter?)
"Come on." Yannic starting, shakily moving his right foot forward. "I will be your second leg."
Ais smiled slightly, barely noticeable. "Let's go!" she whispered and Yannic nodded. Their steps were slow, Ais limping and knees buckling every now-and-then. Yannic's hand gripped her waist harder, but not enough to cause any more pain. The [Sword Princess]' teeth were gritted, even though whatever the redhaired child had done to her had lightened the pain in her body.
The Skeleton Dragon noticed their movements and removed its attention from Lefiya and Riveria. The right bone-arm that held the bone-made sword rose up, diagonally downing on the injured duo. Ais grit her teeth even harder, ready to activate her [Magic]. Yannic's right leg pressend against Ais' left leg inner side, their opposite sides flat against each-other. The golden light appeared again.
The bone sword was few meters from their heads. "[Ariel]!" the Tempest Awoke, and the wind swirled around them. Yannic shot his eyes closed, while Ais' widened, sensing the pain of the Adventurer next to her. The only person immune to [Ariel] was only she [Ais Wallenstein]. The bone sword clashed with the [Tempest], its trajectory changing as it hit the ground. The wind's force started to lower, even though the Crystal Core started to shine again.
"Are you capable of destroying the [Core]?" Yannic asked quickly, sensing the change in the wind's speed.
"Ye-"
"I'll send you there, then." he didn't even wait for a full answer, bending his knees just as the Crystal Core unleashed its attack. "Do not weaken [Tempest]." he warned. Ais did so, the wind around them starting to gather again.
Little by little, a wall of [Magic Circles] formed before them, intercepting the Gust of Wind of the Monster.
(Riveria?!) Ais thought, her eyes shifting to High Elf's position for just a second. Deciding to use the moment of the shield's distraction and the possible countdown needed for the [Core] to shoot again, both Children rose their feet as one, kicking off towards the skeleton beast. The bone sword rose again, but a wave of [Ice] froze it in place. This time, Lefiya had been able to chant a spell in time to help the duo.
Hard breathing, just as the Adventurers jumped from one misshapen part of the dungeon to the other. Slipping as the ground was unstable, bruises appearing, but they still rose to their feet.
The Skeleton Dragon roared, making even the wind around them flinch. Sounds of bones cracking and shifting filled the area around them, the back of the Skeleton Dragon becoming misshapen.
"Ais, fast!" Riveria shouted to them, predicting the move of the Skeleton monster. The bones on its back started to become longer, and the ice around the sword started to crack. "Lefiya, try holding the sword down!"
"Right!"
Meanwhile, Ais heard the shout from her parental-figure. Her blade rose up, [Desperate] coating itself with [Ariel]'s wind.
"Do it, Wallenstein!" Yannic yelled, blood licking from his wounds and teeth. "[Kenos] Break!"
Everything around them disappeared, leaving only the Adventurers and the Skeleton Dragon. Nothing had weight, as if it was just a [Mirage].
"[Lil Rafaga]!"
Crick... Crack...
It exploded. Yet, just like the wave of Ice that enforced the previous one, the long bones stretched. Before the crystal completely broke, the unfortunate form of giant wings slammed itself into the two Golden-Eyed Adventurers' chest.
Gasps of pain, sounds of broken... be it [Bones] or [Cores].
After the seemingly slow-motioned impact, the two fighters were flung away from the defeated monster. Riveria rose her arms to complete her chanted spell, as two rays of silver light chased after the falling kids. However, coming within a meter radius distance, the spell's trajectory was deflected in two random direction. The High Elf grit her teeth.
"What happened?!" Lefiya asked in alarm, her entire being shaking.
"His skill..." was all Riveria said as she jumped away from their position, and towards the falling duo.
CRASH!
"Gaahh!"
Their backs slammed against the ground, but it didn't end there. The power behind it made the two roll on their side or shoulders, knees harshly hitting the ground beneath them.
Yannic kept his arm warped around Ais, not willing to let go for a second. With his free hand, the redhaired boy managed to stab his sword on the ground, finally halting their 'rolls'. Ais was unmoving, the use of [Ariel] taking its toll on her.
His back was against the cold ground, perhaps now skinless, just like Ais', whose head was resting in his chest. Yannic let go of his sword, lacing his right fingers with Ais' left ones, just as the girl was gently pushed away from him by the Mage of the [Loki Familia].
Riveria sat down, placing Ais' head on her lap. Noticing the laced fingers, she breathed in deeply. "[Child of Discord]." she softly called, and Yannic's eyes shot open, mixed emotion in his golden orbs. Riveria looked down at those orbs similar to her [Child]. "Please, release the [Golden Apple of Discord] from Ais."
Yannic's eyes widened even more, his fingers tightening around Ais'. "H-how do you kno-" he began, but Riveria shook her head. Even if the boy was to ask, he wasn't going to get any answer in this place. Yannic looked away, just as his fingertips seemed to retract the golden light from Ais' body. The second he released her hand-
"GAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Ais screamed.
"Miss Ais?!" the younger Elf had just arrived, only for her ears to be pierced by such scream. "What is wrong with her?!"
(This is the Skill of Discord, huh? ... I wonder what its other attribute can do... [Chaos]...) Riveria thought to herself, not answering Lefiya's questions. She instead laced her fingers into Ais' dirtied hair. "Sshh, Ais." Magic started to coat them. "It's going to be alright."
The entire pain came crashing on her. The now skinless back, the torn apart abdomen, her broken leg, ribs and shoulder, the bruises, the cuts, the side-effects of [Ariel]. Yannic's wounds were the same, yet his throat was closed, the [Skill] he owned being of help as a painkiller.
"Healing you may take a bit of time." Riveria continued, sure that Ais could listen to her. "I won't be able to completely heal you because of the 'aftereffects', but it should be enough for until we return to Lady Loki."
"Lefiya, try bandaging Mister Yannic's wounds."
"Wha-? Aren't we going to heal him?!" Lefiya asked, a bit of doubt in her voice.
"You can't, remember." Riveria countered, just as Ais' breath started to calm down.
CRASH!
Behind them, the ground shook.
"Is Ais alright?!" Tiona asked from her running form, her team following soon after.
"We heard her scream!" Tione added, the group of Adventurers arriving at the others' position.
"She is going to be fine." Riveria assured them, as Finn inspected her wounds.
"Yannic!" Jess, the Elfen Swordswoman ran to her fellow Familia member's side. "Hey, are you alright?" she asked softly, brushing his hair off from his eyes.
Those Golden Orbs were tired, empty. "You overdid it again, huh?" the [Eris Familia] Elf added in a whisper. Nodding to Lefiya who had treated some of his wounds, Jess took her place, fixing his missplaced hair strands. Ian hovered over the two, sweat running down his face like torrents.
(Lady Eris is going to kill me...) he thought in his mind.
(Deal with it, old man!) was Jess' reply as if she had read his mind, as she deadpanned at the older man.
"After resting a bit, we should head out of the dungeon as soon as possible." Finn said, ending the silence. "We will never know when another one of those monsters may appear again."
[Outside, Dungeon Entrance]
"Taicho, you should have left me to aid Ais in the battle, not that weirdo!" Bete complained for the who-knew-how-many-th time. "Just look at them now! I could have done it quicker!"
"I made my decision, Bete." Finn calmly replied. "Besides, you can consider it a bit of relationship exercise between the Familias."
"We are the strongest [Familia] in Orario! The others should be the one to seek mercy from us!" Bete continued with his point, ignoring the glares and killing intents his sentence awarded him with.
"Can we just return home?" Tiona interrupted the two from fighting any further. "Ais still needs to be treated by Loki-sama." she added, pointing at said [Sword Princess].
"This is where we part ways, [Loki] Captain." Ian offered his hand to Finn to shake, and the fellow captain did. Both Familia then headed their separate roads. However,
Two Pairs of narrowed Golden Orbs would have one final exchange.
A/N: And this is for Chapter 1!
Character Information:
1. Yannic Streit [Eris]
Race: Human
Magic: I 0
Skill(s): a) Kenos
[Kenos]' abilities are still unclear, but in this chapter, the skill managed to give Yannic enough strength to cut off the Skeleton's shoulder and made Ais' body feel lighter.
b) Golden Apple of Discord
This skill is said to give Yannic a special attribute, but doesn't allow him to use any type of magic, nor for any magic to affect Yannic, such as Healing type spells. However, it is still not clear as to what abilities this Skill really holds. Depending on Riveria's words, this skill while not allowing for the user to be healed, it still increases their durability and pain resistance. Besides possibly his Familia and Goddess, no one is supposed to know of this skill, seen by the shocked Yannic when Riveria revealed she knew of it.
Weapons: a) Fall
[Fall] is a black bladed katana that Yannic keeps sheathed at his waist. It is the weapon he uses the most in battles. The Katana is made with a strong mineral, making it unbreakable by normal and medium attacks.
Fun fact: Because Yannic is neither Left nor Right handed, he forgets sometimes the side where his sheath is supposed to be...
b) Unknown
A sword in Yannic's back, its name still unknown. So far, Yanic has never used it, Ian and Jess are charged to stop him from using it, Eris-sama having forbidden it to him, hinting that it has a special ability.
Yannic wears a set of Golden Armor, its name still unknown.
2. Ian
[Ian, Eris' Familia]
Race: Boaz
Lv. 6
Strength: S 965
Endurance: A 850
Dexterity: A 884
Agility: A 830
Magic: ?
Weapon(s): a) Ian uses a Longsword for all of his battles, wearing heavy armor, but still moving freely in it. With his attire, Ian looks like a Royal Knight.
3. Jess
[Jess, Eris' Familia]
Race: Elf
Lv. 5
Strength: B 780
Endurance: B 765
Dexterity: A 823
Agility: A 865
Magic: ?
Weapon(s): a) Moonlight
[Moonlight] is the name of Jess' twin swords that she keeps sheathed on her waist. Jess doesn't always use both weapons at the same time, drawing them out only when surrounded or facing a strong enemy. Jess wears no armor, being the first introduced [Eris] adventurer who doesn't wear any protectors.
P.S: Happy New Year 2018!