He wasn't one to give up. Even when he knew he would be called a fool, he would consider it a compliment. Fools were those who never gave up and always pressed forward, even if their goal might have seemed unattainable.

That was the nature of Bell Cranel. He had been sapped of all his mind, thrown around by the Monster Rex of the 27th floor - but he couldn't care less. If he couldn't even defeat this monster, how could he expect himself to face Asterius again?

He dashed forward, both knives poised to strike the monster where its weak point probably was. Its head was upon him immediately, forcing him to use his blades defensively yet again. There was no chance for him to be on the offensive. Ryuu was still on the ground, holding her side. He knew he couldn't rely on her to help until she had recovered from the blow. He took his only choice, fleeing back out striking range of the Amphisbaena.

Ryuu had joined him, waiting for the monster to near them. She had a look in her eye that asked if he had a plan - and he did.

"I want you to cast Luminous Wind."

"It'll do nothing to that thing."

"I'll make it work. Trust me."

If there was one thing Ryuu could do above all else, it was trusting Bell with both their lives. She began her Concurrent Chant, running to distract the Amphisbaena while she prepared to cast her spell.

"Distant sky above the forest. Stars without limits, set in an eternal night. He listens to my weak voice, and grants protection of the starlight."

"Marie, when I call, please splash as much water as you can into the air!"

Marie nodded, staying in the water for the time being.

"Grant the light of mercy on those who have abandoned you."

Bell couldn't do anything. He had to bet everything on this attack he had planned. If this failed, there would be no hope left, unless he could make it back to the tunnel from the 26th floor to the 25th.

"Come, wind of the winds, wandering traveler of the ages. Across the heavens, across the fields, faster than anyone, farther than all."

It was almost time. He had to time this perfectly, otherwise it wouldn't work.

"Stardust light, tear my enemies to pieces."

"Now, Marie!"

Her mermaid tail raised itself out of the water, coming down with such force that it created a fountain in its wake. Ryuu returned to where Bell was after finishing her chant.

"Luminous Wind!"

"Firebolt!"

It was a combination attack that would be found nowhere else in Orario. No, in the whole world. He decided that if it worked, he would name it something like "Blazing Thunderstorm".

The wind did two jobs - it worked as its usual physical damage spell, but also carried water droplets towards the Amphisbaena. The electricity within Bell's Firebolt was conducted through each drop, close enough to carry the shock to another, eventually spreading throughout the wave that Marie had created. It all hit the Amphisbaena at once - the field of electric flames, the wind that only served to strengthen the fire. The creature screeched in pain and fear, throwing itself against the wall in confusion, and in doing so, gave Ryuu the time she needed to do what Bell was unable to do.

In the five years since she had lost her first familia, she had never let her short swords dull. They pierced the tough, rugged skin of the Amphisbaena and sliced straight into its magic stone.

The body shattered along with its core. Ironically, the flames had done nothing to form the ash that had been left behind.

"You never fail to impress me, Bell Cranel."

Bell didn't reply. He had collapsed on the ground, completely out of energy. He had used the last he had in this battle. She couldn't carry him through the 25th floor - it was a possibility that she might slip on one of the crystal bridges and send them both falling to their doom, but she certainly couldn't wait for him to recover either as monsters had begun to gather around them. Making her decision, she lifted Bell over to the waterway where Marie was dodging several aqua serpents around her.

"Marie, please help Bell!"

It was a difficult request. Marie would have to find some way to deal with the aqua serpents while giving Bell some of her blood. It just wouldn't work. Ryuu had no Undine cloth, and even if she did, she wouldn't be able to survive an aquatic battle that could buy Marie time.

It was quite the dilemma. To run or to wait, hoping that she could fend off all the monsters around her?

Ryuu laughed to herself out loud.

"If I can't deal with this for his sake, Syr would never talk to me again."

Monsters fell one after the other to her short swords. Meanwhile, she chanted to summon Luminous Wind, her only attempt to blow the aqua serpents out of the water. Once she was ready to attack, she turned around to the water.

But even the best of adventurers made mistakes.

She had let her mind run off, using it to aim her spell - but that was the only break in concentration needed to completely cancel Luminous Wind.

"Argh!"

A failed concurrent chant took a toll on the user and this case was no different. Ryuu's legs felt like they had broken underneath her, almost sending her face first into the ground. She wasn't hurt, but she didn't have the energy to fight anymore either. She watched the remaining monsters close in on them, ranging from sirens to mermen.

"So this is really the end now…"

Or so she thought, before the notorious double-headed Labrys slammed down onto the monster horde in front of her. Its wielder, the fearsome black rhinoceros grunted and made short work of the aqua serpents in the water as well, his precise and skillful hacks bisecting them. His axe did not risk Marie whatsoever. A monster with such control of a deadly weapon was a monster to be feared.

"Watch it, little elf. If he dies, you become my replacement, and I certainly won't be giving any mercy if you do."

Ryuu was genuinely terrified. Never had she been so scared of a single entity, yet here was one that chilled her to the bone. All she could do was nod in understanding.

Asterius disappeared as quickly as he had come, bounding towards the higher floors, supposedly to meet up with the other Xenos, threatening to crack the crystals below his feet.

With that, Marie had finally gotten her chance to give Bell some of her blood. Letting a few drops drip into his mouth, she waited anxiously for him to wake. Luckily, she didn't have to wait long as her blood worked its magic.

Bell sat up, feeling rejuvenated and ready to return to the surface. Seeing Marie nurse her bleeding finger, he figured out what she had done.

"Thank you again, Marie."

"May I have some as well? I have sustained quite a few injuries as well."

"Hmm? You're one to ask if I have a monster fetish, aren't you, Ryuu?"

Embarrassed or dignified - Ryuu suddenly did her best to straighten up. She tried to show no signs of weakness but it was clear that she wasn't doing too well.

Marie giggled and raised her finger to Ryuu's mouth and she took it gratefully.

"I imagine we'll be leaving soon. I'll see you another time, Marie. Maybe on our next expedition, okay?"

"Okay Bell! I'll be waiting to see how much stronger you've gotten!"

Ryuu's body had healed just as quickly as Bell's and they were indeed ready to leave.

"Thank you, Marie. We owe you a lot," Ryuu said solemnly.

"No you don't, stupid. You are my friends. I'll always be here to help."

Waving a final farewell, Bell and Ryuu began on their return to the surface.

It wasn't a difficult journey - with their bodies in optimal shape, their combined power was more than enough to breeze every floor they set foot on. And then came the 18th floor.

Bell hadn't lost to any monsters on this expedition, but one mere tackle from Lilly was enough to send him to the ground. Welf grabbed him in a headlock and Haruhime checked him like a mother would an injured child. Mikoto and Takemikazuchi Familia stood back and watched the reunion with Aisha beside them, a massive grin on her face. Inevitably, it didn't last too long as no Amazon liked waiting.

"Well, if you're done with the reunions, how about we go back to the surface? We've been down here for so long, it would be nice to have a fresh breath of air."

Her suggestion, or rather push, was met with unanimous agreement. Sneaking past the town of Rivira and the camps of several familia on their own expedition, they began their journey up. Now with the full party back together, there was no problem at all. No monster parade stood in their way and they were almost immediately back on the ground floor of Babel.

Not that they were met by a friendly sight.

"Gale Wind… you are under arrest by order of the Guild. Don't try anything funny - any of you."

"You just can't stop being a pain in my neck, can you?"

The executives of Loki Familia surrounded them, blocking all entranceways. Finn strode towards them confidently, an air about him that made him worthy of his title.

"We don't need to fight," he addressed them calmly, "if the elf puts her weapons down and comes forward, there will be no conflict. Nobody will be hurt."

"We will allow no such thing," Bell replied quickly.

Finn covered his face with a hand, dumbfounded by Bell's determination and stubbornness. With his mindset, it would be impossible to avoid violence, but it was evident that Bell couldn't care less. The boy's friends and companions needed no order to mobilise, either. They had already prepared themselves, laying their hands on the hilts of their weapons.

"We let you off easy last time. Don't think we'll do that again."

"You will have nothing but dust," Bell threatened him.

"The dust of your failure, I assume," Finn replied, almost sympathetically.

The leaders of both familia were as headstrong as each other. Neither would budge and there was no resolution to this situation other than one born from force. Tension grew, several of Loki Familia's warriors becoming restless. Aisha, upon spotting Bete had become agitated, itching for a rematch.

This time, there would be no Freya Familia intervening. It would be a staggering loss for Hestia Familia and its allies - but that didn't mean Bell wouldn't try something.

He burst off running, Lilly and Haruhime over his shoulders and dragging Ryuu behind him. Finn had clearly anticipated where he would try to escape to, having Ais block off the south-western exit. Mikoto moved to intercept the Sword Princess, buying enough time for Bell to get out of Babel. Mikoto stood as little of a chance as Bell did when he trained against Ais on the wall. She was blown away in a half-hearted thrust from Ais, falling onto the hard floor. Welf had occupied himself with Gareth, but a similar event occurred. Aisha struggled to defend against Bete's swords, barely able to hold up against him. Takemikazuchi and Miach familia took on one Amazon each, both being beaten easily. Finn merely stood and watched, knowing the others could handle it without him. He noted that Ais had already begun to chase after Bell.

Luckily for Bell, Hearth Manor was not far and he had faith in his ability to outspeed Ais just for now. Reaching the gate in record time, he threw Haruhime and Lilly over unceremoniously, following with Ryuu in tow.

Ais stopped outside the courtyard, knowing that it would be a breach of privacy to enter without permission. Most of her fellow familia members joined her soon after, having quelled Hestia Familia in little to no time at all.

Hestia came bolting out of the manor, having taken days off out of worry for her familia. Needless to say, she was stunned by the sight before her. The opposing familia's goddess herself had also appeared in front of the gate.

"Yer a branded enemy of the Guild now, Itty-Bitty. Whatcha gonna do?"

Hestia made no reply, angered by Loki's presence alone. Loki continued her teasing, serving only to annoy Hestia further.

"We've got your familia all subdued. Takemikazuchi and his kids are gonna get deported back to the Far East at this rate - oh, and don't get me started on those two from Miach Familia. I wouldn't believe for a second that those pathetic rascals were the ones who forced you outta yer house a few months ago. That Amazon from Hermes Familia, too. A she-dog that shames my darling Tione and Tiona. Come on, just hand over the elf. We'll even let you have the bounty. Think about it, she's worth eighty- no, they doubled it, so she's worth a hundred and sixty million valis. That's almost enough to pay off your whole debt!"

Hestia snapped. She ripped the gate open and slapped Loki in the face, issuing her challenge without even having taken her glove off properly.

"Your best against my Bell. You win, go ahead and do what you want."

"Hmm? And if you win?" Loki asked, bored as usual.

"If we win, you get your hands off everyone in our party," Bell answered, knowing what Hestia would've said. There was no need for a pardon from the Guild - Ouranos would make sure they were given one with or without this challenge.

Loki chuckled, obviously amused by the courage of the two to challenge her best - her most powerful familia member.

"Sure. When do we start?"

A/N - Same old, same old, I'm not Fujino Omori and therefore I don't own DanMachi or any of its characters. We're almost done so I hope you enjoy this chapter and stick around for the next! Oh, just one more thing. I noticed that they recently added a category here for one of my favourite games (Azur Lane) and I have these random one-shots I wrote stacked up in Google Docs, so I've decided to upload them soon due to the addition of the tag. I hope you guys will try out the game and my fan fiction as well! That said, until the next chapter! (Or you can PM me, I don't mind!)