Summary: This, is the story of an adventurer named Bell Cranel. Bell isn't your normal day adventurer either, no, he is in fact, an unblessed one. No one would accept him into their familia, due his weak looking self. Leaving Bell with one last option to secure his dreams. Watch as Bell becomes the first unblessed adventurer to enter the dungeon. Tread carefully young hero...The gods are not with you here...Yet.

Disclaimer: I do not own DanMachi or any characters from the light novel. Please support the original release by buying the manga, the Light Novel, and the anime when it's available. Look on google play if you wish to buy the light novel, like I did. I do however, own this story idea, and any new original characters or monsters I use.

Author's Notes: Thank you for the reviews. The closing is near. Let the first book close with a bang!

Character quote of the day: "I didn't think it was possible… Yet here you are! The Jackalope, our leader, is standing right in front of me! Please allow me to join you sir!" ~ Rakta


Story: Somebody Up There Likes Me

Chapter Eleven: A Leader and a Falcon


"You have returned Jackalope-sama."

I blinked at that. Wait a damn minute! This black Almiraj had said something that had peaked my interest. It had called me the Jackalope, er I had no idea what sama was though. That didn't matter much to me as my aura died. The power leaving me. I grimaced when a new found pain erupted out of nowhere in my back. I sent my hands to this red hot pain. It felt like something was burning on my back. I grit my teeth as it got stronger for no reason at all. "W-What the Hell?"

That seemed to get the attention of the other adventurers. Much to my surprise Ais was the first one to reach me. "Are you okay?" She threw my right arm around her shoulder to keep me from falling over.

'No, I'm sure my back is on fire. What the Hell-' I grabbed my back in pain as I let out yelp. There seemed to be a bright light shooting from my back. I could see the way the shadows on my body showed me just that. Ais was startled by the sudden burst of light. Riveria kept a watchful eye on the Almiraj as she hurried her way over to me. Bache had put up her guard and stood in a defensive stance awaiting for some kind of attack to come.

Riveria took a look at my back and was shocked to see something that no one unblessed by a God should have. She, however, could not deny what was in front of her. "H-How? That should be…" She trailed off not continuing her line of thought which was upsetting because I had no idea what the Hell was on my back now.

"Cranel, are you still unblessed?" Riveria had asked out of nowhere. I merely nodded at her which seemed to disturb her even more. "Than this will be strenuous to explicate." She had said that to herself more than to me.

'Okay, what is on my back that has turn one of most highly respected magic users in the world to not know what is going on?!' I had to know because this was something that had to with me and my body.

"What is wrong with me?" I grunted out through the growing pain. Why was it getting stronger! Then the light died down and the pain just stopped. It just stopped like it hadn't happened at all! So weird. I blinked at that. I could still feel the pain from my wounds but the terrible hurt in my back was gone. I felt a little better and could stand by myself. I didn't want to lean too much on the girl next to me, no matter how good looking she was. I took my arm from around her shoulders and smiled at her kindly, "Thank you for the support."

She didn't seemed to know what to say or just simply didn't say anything at all. In fact she took far more interested in my back. I know, I had a pretty good back.

"Cranel, it's hard to describe, but you have some form of a Falna on your back. I haven't seen anything like it before." Riveria finally clued me in on what was on my back.

My mind stopped for ten seconds at least. It came back and the first thought that ran through my mind was, 'That can't be true. A Falna, only a God could bestow one of those on a person!' A falna is the grace given by Gods and Goddesses to their Familia members. Adventurers and supporters can gather exilia to raise their status and grow stronger. The Gods and Goddesses gave the falna to adventurers to bring forth heroes, and the first God to give out a falna was Ouranos. Now I have one on my back with no God in sight! How did that happen? When did I get this?

"..." I thought of something to say, "What does it say?"

Riveria looked caught off guard by what I had said. She looked rather unsure she should say anything about it. I guess I could understand her uncertainty as it was kind of like personal information regarding one's stats and abilities. The status of an adventurer is considered to be secret information but the level of an adventurer is required to be reported and is shown to others. I had no way of knowing what was there unless someone read it to me.

"Are you sure you want to me to read it?"

I nodded my head still not facing her, "If you are able to, than yes. I would like to know. I don't have a God to read them to me so I will never know if you don't."

"I understand," She finally relented and read my stats aloud. "I have to inform you that these stats are unheard of as well. Your level one stats are as follows: Strength: F four hundred and sixty-five. Endurance: C seven hundred and forty-seven. Dexterity: X one thousand one hundred. Agility: X one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine. Magic: zero. Your have an ability named The Jackalope. This ability seems to have multiple skills that come with it." My stats had put a look of surprise on Bache's face. She had dropped her guard to look at my back as well.

Riveria looked at the ability for a couple of seconds and then looked at me. "The Jackalope is the sole service provider for the his people. He shall serve all races of rabbits and lead them. He is the protector, enforcer, and the last of his kind. The more he fights or protects the stronger he shall get. This ability has two skill I can see linked to it. The luck of the Jackalope G: If a rabbit's foot is lucky what does that mean for the most extoic rabbit around? Jackalope's fury H: Once the rage is brought forth, the Jackalope's stats are doubled yet the pain he feels in this rage are also doubled. This falna also has the image of a rabbit with antlers sitting on its hind legs much like a dog."

"Ah, so that why I feel like crap when I go into Jackalope's rage." I said confirming my suspicions.

Bache looked amused at my comment, "Is that all you say?"

I turned to her, "Oh, give it a moment." I threw my arms over my head, "Holy crap that came out of nowhere! Can you believe it? How am I such a high level one adventurer? Was all those stats just sitting there until the Falna appeared? So many questions." I paused ranting and thought a little bit more about my title as Jackalope.

'The Jackalope is the sole service provider for the his people. He shall serve all rabbits and lead them. If I'm going off that one line then that must mean that all things rabbits must look at me as their leader. That is a lot of responsibility for a fourteen year old. Have thousands of followers that look at like you have the answers.' I thought to myself. I was the leader of rabbits, rabbit monster, and humu Bunnies! Hume Bunnies are a Demi Human race of rabbit people. This was overwhelming.

Before I could even think of something to do or say the little Almiraj had been done with being quiet. "You must follow us sir. We have much to explain." The black Almiraj explained in a hurried tone. "Now that we have made our move the Dungeon will retaliate to our betrayal. We must head to somewhere safe."

"I don't understand? What is going on?" I asked out in a short gasp. The pain felt so much worse now as I realized it a lot later than I normally would. I refused to black out again this time! I will not fall to the pain. I looked at the other adventurers. They seemed, lost yet they still haven't eased their combat ready stances once the rabbit had spoken up. They were still ready for any hostile movement from the rabbits.

"You will in time Jackalope! Your people will not betray you!" This caused the army of rabbits to clink their weapons on the floor of the cave. "Please you must follow us!" The little black monster pleaded with me.

'This isn't a trap, there would have been no point in coming to my aid just to backstab me later. This is actually happening. My power- No that's wrong. I am the Jackalope, it isn't an ability. My mother was the last Jackalope, that meant that I was born as the next one. Then that means I'm not Human, but rather a Jackalope. That's odd as all Hell. Being a Jackalope means that the other races of rabbits will follow me since I'm the only one that I know of. That is based of what he is telling me or I'm thinking to much.' This day just keeps on getting weirder and weirder. I had to figure this mess out. The only way to do that was to follow. "Lead the way."

"Cranel, I must advise against that. We have no idea where they are taking us. We also can't be sure this is not a trap." That was Riveria that made that claim. I mean I could see her point but… The Black Almiraj sent a glare at the green haired woman.

"You dare say we would harm our leader that we have waited hundreds of years for!?" The little creature looked visibly upset at that. "We had sent out our lowest level Almiraj to fight you adventurers. If we wanted to, we could slay you where you stand, High Elf. Your magic maybe powerful Miss 'Nine Hell' but you will find that we have far more numbers that even you couldn't handle. This is a SMALL COLONY!"

Riveria looked taken back at how much it seemed to know about her. She was shocked by that fact more than the threat. "Enough!" Came my loud voice. I was upset by the tense atmosphere that was just created. "Threatening people will not get them to like or follow you." The Black Almiraj looked stun that his leader was scolding him.

It lowered its head, "My apologizes Jackalope," It paused to look back at the High Elf, "My apologizes to you as well, Nine Hell." The woman had seemed confused by the whole ordeal. She must have been thinking, 'How in the Hell does he know who I am?' I was thinking about that as well.

"Riveria, I get your concern on the fact that there are monsters in front of you that want to lead us somewhere unknown, but why haven't they attacked when they had the numbers? Or better yet, why even talk to us at all? Have you already forgotten what you just read on my back? It is clear as day that I'm not a normal person any more." I told her. I honestly get the fact that she didn't want to follow monsters that had been her enemies just before this. Anyone in their right mind wouldn't want to. "I'm going to follow them before we get attacked again. I need the rest and some time to patch these injuries. You have name?" I asked turning to the small Black Almiraj.

"I am called Helix. I shall serve you well sir!" The Black Almiraj identified himself.

I merely nodded at that. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. How could I? It's not like there was some kind of handbook that I had. Well, for women yes, but that doesn't count! Hell, I bet Zeus has no idea about this either! Or maybe he did! "I go with you." I smiled at the tallest woman in my company. Of course Bache wanted to go with me. She wasn't going to leave me after all that talk about getting me out of here. That and I still had common to teach her.

I then saw Ais stand right to the side of me. Okay, that was a little unexpected, but she seemed far more determined than I had ever seen her. She looked like there was something that she was after. Maybe she wanted answers as well? Who knows? She was really quiet.

The 'Nine Hell' got over her previous worry and joined us as well. "I must make sure Ais and you stay safe. It would be pointless for me to not follow." She had told me.

"Oh don't make this sound like it's the end." I chuckled at her, "Who knows we might actually learn something about the dungeon that no one knows. Not even the Gods." I narrowed my eyes at that thought. Let's see if they know anything about you, Zeusy boy.

A white Almiraj had run up to Helix, Helix nodded as it whispered something to him."We must make haste! The Dungeon seems to have spawned a Juggernaut. Please follow me."

Riveria just frowned at the knew, "A Juggernaut? Why? I thought they only spawned when the Dungeon gets damage excessively?"

"The Juggernaut spawns as a part of the Dungeon's defense mechanism every time excessive damage is done to the Dungeon itself. It has tremendous strength and speed with armor that can reflect magic. It's a defense mechanism that will also put down any rebels to her rule. She doesn't take too kindly to rejection or betrayal."

There it was! So there was someone in charge of the Dungeon! I so knew it. 'But who could it be?' I had to ask, "Whose rule?"

"I shall explain that later! Follow me for now." With that said the black rabbit took off into one of the adjacent caves. I groaned as I stumbled after the little critter. It took us through multiple passageways and turns. There was little green crystals that hung to the ceiling lighting the way for us. After minutes of walking, there was a drop in the floor. The little guy stopped right in front of it, "This is the Warren, we go down from here." It jumped right off the floor into the hole.

"Oh, is this where we commit group suicide?" I wonder aloud as I watched the horde of rabbits dive into the massive hole. Until it was only us four adventurers left. My comment had seemed to put everyone off, "God this is crazy. Well, who is first." I turned to smile at the group of women behind me. Riveria raised an eyebrow, Ais crossed her arms, Bache just stared. "Look at that! Chivalry is dead!" I said happily.

I laughed at my joke and jumped into the hole. There had to be a portal there. I was starting to figure this place out. This was just like the Rat King. At least I hoped it was like the Rat King. I heard Riveria actually say, "Cranel! Ais!?"

Oh, would you look at that! Ais jumped right after me! Fearless, huh!? Oh was that a portal? I should have known there would have been a portal! I worried myself over nothing! What was on the other side? I had no idea. I grinned, this place really was magical. I landed on my chest right when I landed. Much to my surprise I landed on a very soft fur structure that looked like it was built for the sole purpose of not killing anyone who fell through the portal. Nice.

Hmm, I knew Ais would be coming right after me, so I either moved out of the way or… Actually no I didn't want be knocked out again because a girl landed on my face. That and Ais had armor on. She could sit on my face another time! I rolled out of the way as the blond landed right where I was. I watched as Bache landed to the left of Ais. Oh, she must have remember how these portals worked now. Hmm, that was good. I didn't need anyone else-

"Aagghh!" I cried out as once again, I found someone landing on top of me. Who would have guessed it was the Elf! It was always the third time that got ya! Well, at least she did land on my head! Then again that might have been a better because at least I HADN'T BEEN INJURED ON MY HEAD YET!

"C-Cranel?!" The woman stuttered as she got off like there had been a fire under her. It looked like I just couldn't keep them off me, right Zeus! RIGHT!

I groaned in response, "Second time I have been used as a chair by an older woman." I muttered to myself. Once on my face, now my back! I looked up to see the Helix right in front of my face. "Are we safe yet?" I looked at him. Riveria had taken the last of my strength from that landing of hers.

He first looked like he didn't know how to respond to what just happen. Helix just muttered something before saying, "For now yes." I grinned weakly at that. Thank God.

"Good, does someone know healing magic by chance?" I spoke up from my spot on the floor. I already knew Riveria's got my back on that. Oh, I didn't mean to do that but, 'Ha!' I was the only one on the floor at this point. I watched as Riveria staff start glowing in this soft orange color as she said "Fil Eldis" and I watched as a small glow formed around me. I could feel myself getting a bit better as it grew. It lasted a little longer before she added, "Luna Aldis." Now I felt overwhelmed by the healing power and I could see all my injuries closing and feeling better. I blinked as the power stopped and the Elf went to work on bannaging me with the help of the tall Amazon.

This process went on for twenty minutes before I ended up being able to move around. I had used the time to look around this place. It looked like a hole in the ground. Much like a rabbit hole! Who would have guess that one? The walls were dirt, the ceiling had a massive glowing purple portal surrounded by green glow stones, it look exactly like a rabbit hole. Once I felt better, I wanted to explore this new area that I found myself in. "Sir, the people await."

I frowned at that. This was it. I finally got to see what being the Jackalope entials. "Take me to them." I said with determination, steeling myself. If I was going to be a leader of people, animals, monster, whatever, I had to grow up but not lose myself entirely. I also couldn't allow this to get to my head either. I was thrown into this position with no prior knowledge. Nothing to ease me in. I had no idea what was needed of me. I had no idea why these rabbits looked up to me. I had no idea what they expected out me either. I was just a kid to the world. It was time to find out.

Helix turned away from me and hopped further down the hall. I followed after him with the other three following behind me. "If any of you have questions for me, please wait until we find out what is going on here. I have many questions myself." I informed my group of guardians.

"I understand." Bache confirmed she accept my request. Since no one else had said anything that meant they got it as well. The dirt hallway led us to a door made of oak wood. It was the second piece of architecture I had seen of the rabbit species. Unlike the mat made of fur, the oak door had multiple pictures on it of rabbits and in the center there was a Jackalope standing over the Almiraj as they praised him. He looked like a noble guardian standing against everything that could be thrown at him.

"I give you, your warren." Just like that, the doors opened and there was a bright light that shined in. I stepped through and I was met with a sight that made me speechless. There was thousands of Almiraj standing on either side of this dirt path that lead into a forest of evergreen and oak trees. There was buildings that you could also see too. They had very foreign design to them. The Almiraj seemed to have made their own structures out of oak trees that were mixed in with the evergreens. We were clearly still in the dungeon due to the area being enclosed by the rocky walls that made up the dungeon. Looking up you could see the crystals that gave the light need to make this place bright and feel like you were on the surface. The big yellow one seemed to be getting blacker very slowly. Helix than called out to the rest of Almiraj, "All hail the Jackalope! The protector!"

"Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail! Hail!" They chanted. Their chorus deafen my own thoughts. All I could hear was Hail! That sneaky little bastard. Trying to impress me! I started walking down the path with Helix hopping along my side. I couldn't help but smile at the looks of awe, or happiness these rabbit monsters were giving me. I gave a small wave which caused an uproar. They seemed to think I had accept them as my own. I couldn't honestly say that I have just yet. They treated me as if I was some kind of lost hero. I held my head a little higher. This was such a high reception of me.

"We have waited hundreds of years for this day sir. We knew that one day you would return to us." Helix claimed.

I narrowed my eyes at him, "What of my mother, she was the Jackalope before me. She must have known about this too?" I had to get this feeling off of my chest. How come no one else knew about this? Why did no one know about the Jackalope race and thought of it as an ability? What was the reason behind it?

Helix looked at me with some uncertainty before sighing, "You mother was claimed by the Gods long before we could reach her. It had made her into something that we could not approach. We were happy to see the Jackalope as well, but her falna hadn't developed just yet. You see after you have started using your powers as a Jackalope it will appear. You have to use it a certain amount times."

"I thought that only Gods could place a Falna on a person?" I asked still not completely get the idea of already having a falna on me and just waiting for it to appear.

The black Almiraj nodded in conformation, "That is very true, however, the Jackalope race is far different than any other race alive. They are actively born to the responsibility to their people and know this since birth. They already have the falna already on them when born. A God may add to it to increase the intensity but that is only after it has developed first. However, if they had no knowledge that we will be their ally they will still see us as the enemy. Tell me, have you have harmed a rabbit in your life? Or have you come to their aid?"

I blinked at him, 'How could he possibly know that I have come to the aid of bunnies when I was younger?'

Helix merely nodded at me. "I can tell from your face that you are realizing this. Unlike you, your mother was claimed by the God Zeus, and his adventurers." He seemed to be speaking in sorrow, "They made her do acts against us and her people without her realizing what she was doing. She was not like you. She didn't come into the dungeon by herself. She could have never grown to be a true Jackalope because of her actions. I believe the Gods gave her the name of Jackalope's Bane for a reason. As a sign of respect for her we had never attacked her."

I frowned at that. 'They know very little about my mother. It would seem that she had been cultured against her own people. Now that I'm here, these Almiraj have hope that I will do my job. They have been waiting for generations for this.' I kept me eyes narrowed in a thought look, "Then I will take on this service. I will be everything that you have wanted. I will not fail."

Helix looked taken aback at my words. There seemed to be a sort of smile on his face. "I shall hold you to those words sir."

I looked back down at him, "As you should. Where are you taking us by the way?"

"Us Almiraj have a high council of five members. I am on the council board along with four others. It is our responsibility to await the return of the Jackalope and watch over the other Almiraj. Once we get to town you will see just how vast we truly are. There is a colony for each five members." He explained more about the inner workings of the colony. It was truly instreasting. To learn that the monsters of the dungeon are far more civilized than was ever thought.

"Is it like this with all the monsters in the dungeon or is it only a few?"

"I shall have the minister of Information, Espionage, and Sabotage, Alyssa, explain that to you since she knows far more about that matter than I."

I rubbed my chin in thought, "So the council members are called Ministers? What is your title?"

"I am the Minister of Public Relations, Foreign Policy, and Development. Yes, us councillors are called Ministers."

"So interesting." I exclaimed. This will shake things up on the surface once it was found out. I had no idea what this might cause but I had a feeling of dread about it. This might just cause a mass panic. I might have to stand in front of the Gods. "You also mentioned something about a Juggernaut spawning?"

"I did, however, it hasn't spawn as of yet. He is in the Sun crystal. Once It becomes completely black, it shall spawn one after another until they whip us out completely." I looked up at the Sun crystal and saw what he was talking about.

"We need to meet this council. I want to know all I can about the situation at hand." I requested of Helix. I didn't want to walk there either. "We're double timing it. Ladies were picking up the past, the faster we get there to the council building the faster we find out what is going on down here." From that point on we ran to the council building with thousands of Almiraj hopping behind us. I glared up at the crystal. 'I don't care how powerful you are, you will not harm my people. The Jackalope is home.' Hmm, I was starting to buy into this role. I will not run from responsibility like a little bitch either. If this was what I was born to do… So be it.


Freya had been annoyed by the fact that she could not find Bell. She had seen the fight that he was in on the fourteenth floor. He had gotten so much stronger in that month he had spent in the dungeon with that blasted Amazon. She had learned from Syr that Bell hadn't come back from the dungeon and was wondering if he was okay. To think that her own daughter was into her Bell. Syr had seemed so worried about the boy. To think she had had the same taste in men as her.

This of course had Freya look around the dungeon with her powers. To her relief, the boy was still kicking and in a place, she didn't think she would have seen him. He was on the eighteenth floor. What a wonderful surprise that was! To think a no level had made it that far into the dungeon solo! Those were her thoughts until she saw that Amazon. How she had managed to get with Bell, she had no idea, but she would eventually.

That Amazon had done things with Bell that made her want to go down there herself and rip that tall Amazons heart out with her teeth. She didn't like how close they were becoming after a month. To make matters worse Bell was also teaching the woman common which could make their communication grow between the two. That boy was far too intelligent for his own good. Then again, she liked that about him too. How could she not? He just kept making her heart race with all these little actions of his.

Who would have guessed he was such an excellent teacher! She would like to learn a few things from the boy as well.

Now that fight she had been watching disappeared from her view. How that had happened she could not explain. It took her a few second until she came to a conclusion. Someone, another God, had not wanted her to see what was going on. That had pushed her to the blink. How could a God not realize that this would mean severe punishment! No one got in her way. Unless they wanted an unmarked grave somewhere. Yet still seeing Bell for that fight had made her happier then she had realized. How could it not! He was fighting a horde of monsters that should have slaughtered him in an instant! He was winning too!

Then it all cut out after he had jumped on the back of a Battleboar! The anger she had felt! The rage! She cursed. She was pacing back and forth around her chair wondering how to handle this. What made matters worse was the fact that none of her most reliable Adventurers were around at the moment either. She had to know what was being hidden from her. There was something that someone didn't want her or any other God that might be watching knowing. The question was what though?

If that was the case then there was a good chance that even Ottar would have been in trouble if she sent him in after Bell. Hmm, her options were running low. She had to know what was going on in this Dungeon. The moment Bell arrives everything seems to change. There was something about him she had to know. How could he just walk down into the dungeon and find something that even she couldn't find? That and how did he know what to do to open those secret areas? He shouldn't, so this left her clueless on that matter.

Then what could she do… Then it had hit her. She did have someone she could send into the Dungeon. She grinned brightly at the thought, 'It's been too long since Lady Falcon has had some… social interaction.' Her grin widened considerably at the end of her thoughts. This would be a prefect time to get Bell into the Familia. She could only hold off the hounds for a limited amount of time. She had mange to keep the other Gods away from Bell for quite awhile, but now once he came out and gave a report to Guild he would be swarmed with requests. Everyone had known she was after him. That wouldn't matter the minute he returned to the Guild.

"It's time to make a move. I've been patient enough." She told herself as she made her way over to the door to her room and locked it. Once that was done she went up to the wall on the left side and put some magic power through it. She waited for the outline of a secret door to finish. Once it was done, it moved to the side and there was a secret armory there. She stepped through the doorway and took a deep breath. She beamed with a psychotic look befalling over her features.

It had been a very long time since she steped through here. It was her little secret she shared with one other God. Her and Zeus had gone down into the dungeon way before the guild and fought alongside the no level adventurers that had gone down. Zeus knew far much more than she did which always unnerved her. All that God had wanted was a harem and he was far too stupid to know what he did. Of course, she knew that Zeus wasn't stupid but it was the act he had always put out there. It was madding to know that he had known so much and she didn't. They had explored so much in those times, yet he always seemed ten steps ahead.

To think she would be going back in as her secret identity as Lady Falcon made her giddy on the inside. It had been too long since she had found a no level. It had been too long since she had seen that hopeless look in their eyes as they realized they were in far too over their heads with the monsters. She had seen that look of desperation on their faces as they wanted the monsters to stop coming from the dungeon and invading the surface. That was the time to be alive. Now they had made the dungeon a game of sorts.

She had seen Bell and saw those same looks she had seen. The real warriors. The ones that fought for a purpose. The ones that went in knowing it was a hopeless cause, the ones that knew they had nothing to gain but everything to lose if they didn't. They were beautiful in her eyes. A Goddess of beauty on the outside she was, but a Goddess of war on the inside. It amazed her that people forgot just how good she was at warfare. She excelled in it.

People has said she was a monster that only took the best, the cream of crop. That wasn't true at all. She had taken the Gulliver Brothers who were just a run-of-the-mill family of Pallums that had to turn to fighting in the dungeon after their parents died. They lived in the streets but the look on their faces when they fought an adventurer that had stolen her Brísingamen necklace. They had almost died but in the end they had managed a win and brought her necklace back. Once again the group of brothers had tried to make it on their own and that was when they were attacked by a bounty hunter. Apparently, she was hired by the same adventurer that had stolen her necklace in the first place. They walked away from that one just fine thanks to her help and she had offered them a place in her Familia. They have been extremely loyal to her from that point onwards. The bounty hunter was also in Mia's service as well.

There was also Mia Grand, a tall woman who had just arrived to Orario and just wanted to make a life for herself after her old home had been wiped out. She had become an adventurer because it was the only thing she could at that time. Freya still remembers seeing that battle from Mia's old home in her eyes. Freya had accepted the woman because she had reminded her of an old friend, Ymir. She had a lot of pitfalls on that journey that cause her to quit her adventurer career. She had lost a loved one. Once she hunted down the creature that had done the act and killed it, it was at that point she quit being her captain. Freya had let her leave and helped her open up that little place of hers as long as she stayed in her Familia. Mia had accept it and also provided her information as thanks.

All of her adventurers came from a troubled background. It was because these people all had one thing in common, the people that faced the most hardships in their life made the strongest of warriors. They all had amazing strength to continue to fight and not give in. None of them had easy lives or were pushed to be adventurers. It was something they had to do to live. She still couldn't get the old days out of her head. Back when Humans fought each other, when they fought the monsters, when they fought everyone one. The days of heroes. The days of men. Now these were the day of the Gods going around making people more powerful. That would boil over soon enough.

She walked over to her black and silver armor and she could still see her face in it. She started to put on the armor and felt the rush of battle run through her. A feeling she had long forgotten. She had let her familia do the fighting for her. The dumb rules had truly pissed her off. Her, a Goddess of war, could not actually participate in a war? Battles? Fisticuffs? Who in their right mind would want to agree with that? She was a part of the group of Gods that had said no to the rule but in the end they were outnumbered by the other Gods. 'But a God of war doesn't simple sit back. Fools for thinking I would just sit by in my tower and not do anything worthwhile.'

She walked over to a mirror and put her silver hair up in a high bun and swept her hair to be over the right of her forehead. She put her helmet over her face. It covered the upper part of her face completely and left the lower part of in uncovered. It looked very similar to most of her adventurers armor. She had their armor based off of it, The Valkyrie. The last article of clothing she put on was her cloak made of falcon feathers. She grinned placing it on and picked up both of her swords and placed them around her waist. She walked out of the her armory and made sure it closed behind her. She walked right to her window that was in the middle of her room.

She opened it and put one foot on the ledge. She let the powerful gusts rush past her. She had missed this feeling of freedom that she had taken away from herself. Now that there was a chance to find out just what was going on in the dungeon was on the table, she would make all the risks she could to find them out. That and it was time to make Bell her own. She would be damned if she allowed the Loki Familia take him before her. She wouldn't allow that. She wouldn't allow that red-haired Goddess to get her hands on Bell first. She wanted Bell to grow more on his own but it looked like she might have waited too long. Now there was a very well chance that she might not even get him.

A silent rage had taken over her. She, Freya, the Goddess of love, beauty, sex, fertility, seiðr, war, and death could not lose him. She refused to let Bell be anyone else's but hers. 'To think you managed to get me to chase after you… My little rabbit.' Then just like that, she stood up on the balcony and shut the windows behind her. "Let them know that Lady Falcon's leave of absence is over. I have returned."

She jumped off the balcony and fell for a moment. There was a loud bird call followed by a soft silver glow and a Falcon replaced the Goddess. Freya's exotic cloak had turned her into a Falcon And now she was soaring over the city below her. There was a good old saying that people had for her. It went a little something like this, "Do not, under any circumstances, get Freya excited. It will mean the end.' For anyone that got in her way.

She flew to the opening of the tower and landed on the floor much to the confusion of some adventurers and just like that she had returned to her normal form causing the crowd around her to gasp. She merely kept on her frown that was commonly noted with LadyFalcons appearance. She went down the steps to the entrance of the Dungeon not paying any mind to the adventurers that were talking about her. It was clear that as soon as she entered the dungeon, the people were going to spread the news. The news that Lady Falcon was back and in the Dungeon. How delightful!


"Long live the Jackalope! Long love the Jackalope! Long Live the Jackalope! Long Live the Jackalope! Long-" They just wouldn't stop as our group made our way through the town of rabbits. They chanted, they cheered, they cried. It was if I was some great savior that had returned. In reality I had done nothing to deserve this praise, this love. I didn't deserve this, I knew this but yet here they were. They already loved me as if I was one of them. As if I was the king. I was royalty it seemed liked. It was starting to make sense now. The girls at my hometown had all said I looked as cute as a bunny. Now it turns out that I'm a Jackalope, the leader of all rabbit races.

This is not how I thought my life would end up. A leader. This was all happening so fast that I was being to think I might still be asleep and just dreaming all of this. Of course, I knew that not be true but what else could there be? It was crazy to think this Dungeon was this complicated. In reality, I knew why I didn't want to believe it. If monsters were capable of creating towns like this, having leaders and ministers, having armies, how different were they from us? If what I was seeing was true, which it was, there wasn't much. We were almost the same and that was scary.

I followed Helix right through the double doors of the large building. Looking at the town it was clear that the rabbits built most of their homes and shops underground with the top parts sticking out like little mounds. Some were built around trees, and in them. The rabbits used everything to their advantage when building up. It was a nice sight to look at. To think this place will be destroyed by Juggernauts soon. I hadn't been with thes- no my people long but I could feel anger knowing all this hard work they had put into this town would be gone. All because they had come to save me. I was the cause of this and yet they cheered for me.

They must think I have an answer for them. I didn't, but I will. Once I find out everything I can I will think of something. I had to. I could not allow them to be killed off because of me. I will stop as many of these Juggernauts as I have to until I find an answer. Entering in the council tower I found myself looking at a mass of Almiraj standing straight with their weapon pointed upwards. They were the guards, well trained ones at that. They didn't even move at all. I was led through them and up this staircase. Everything on this floor was decorated in wood and crystals giving out this awe-inspiring beauty. The second floor was were the large circle room known as the meeting room was.

Now I would have my answers. Helix opened the doors and there was the so-called council of five. Each one looked different from each other. "I have returned with the Jackalope!" He declared as if it was the biggest accomplishment in his whole life. If what he said about my title was true, it probably was.

I walked into the room and took notice of the six seats around this large circle table. On the floor in the middle there was a picture of five colonies surrounding the Jackalope. There was multiple pictures of the deeds of past Jackalopes it seemed like. I looked at the five Almiraj staring at me. It was time to take my role as Jackalope seriously. I heard the other adventures come in behind me. "My names is Bell Cranel." I introduced myself, "Allow me to serve as your Jackalope." I said bowing my head in respect.

That seemed to put most the Almiraj in the room in a form of shock, "The Jackalope b-b-bows before us?" A light grey Almiraj stuttered in awe. It seems I might have done something that no one was expecting. Its eyes were colored blue unlike most of the other Almiraj. The voice sounded female to boot.

"My word!" An older Almiraj gasped, "He is so young but knows respect! How encouraging!" He was brown and had a greying patch of fur around his left eye.

"Not in a thousand years had I expect this day. Our leader asks us to serve… This is what we have been waiting for. A revolution!" That came from the tallest one there. He had red and white fur with black eyes. He also had an axe on his back.

"The Jackalope has finally come home. Took you long enough." That came from an Almiraj with bluish fur and a white under belly. Once again its voice sounded female. She also had on a staff by her with a white crystal.

I looked at them all and then I looked to Helix, "Could you all please introduce yourself and what you are a minister of, please. The faster I and my companions know what is going on the faster we can come up with a solution."

Helix stood up first to get the ball rolling, "I am the Minister of Public Relations, Foreign Policy, and Development, Helix Von Rab."

The next one that stood up was the older Almiraj, "I am the Minister of Law, Law Enforcement, Judicial Services. Kurt Von Hop."

"I am the Minister of Magic, Alchemy, and Enchanting. Merla Von Bun at your service." The blue one smiled.

The tall one stood up and I was amazed at his size. He stood up to my waist, "I am the Minister of War, Crafting, and Discovery. My name is Joseph Von Stal."

The last one looked nervous for some reason before she too introduced herself, "I am Alyssa Von bit! I'm the Minister of-of Information, Espionage, and Sabotage. I hope to serve you well!"

This was the council of the five huh? This was definitely not what I was expecting but it was time to get some answers that were very much needed. "Thank you, now let us move onto more important matters. I must know what is this Dungeon and who made it?"

All eyes turned to Alyssa, much to my surprise her personality completely switched to something, I hadn't expected. "Oh ho! What a wonderful question! Now where to begin!? Hmm… Oh, I got it. Well, before the Gods came down there was a Goddess called Zona! A very insane Goddess that came down from Heaven. She hated her fellow Gods and created this place! She made it a home for all Monsters alike! Some she gave some sentients, some she did not. She had made us and all the rabbits sentients. She thought were cute and all. Yes, that was her reasoning. She had this major thing for Zeus and all so she would tell him some of her creations secrets and-"

I snapped my fingers at that, "So that is how he knew all those things! That old bastard." That had seemed to surprise everyone. "Sorry don't mind me. Continue."

"As I was saying she loved Zeus a lot but Zeus being how he is, didn't want to live in the dungeon. Zona was getting more and more upset about the Gods coming down here and killing all of her monsters. So she started making more powerful Black monsters that would spawn to kill any God that came down to fight once they had been detected. The last straw was when Zeus rejected her-"

"Zeus rejecting someone. I don't think I would have even had heard of that. That God came on to everyone-" I paused myself when everyone was looking at me again. "Okay, my adoptive Grandfather was Zeus so I know a little bit about him. That God never shuts up about women at all. I just thought that Zeus rejecting one was odd is all."

"You were raised by Zeus? I didn't think he would even know what to do with a child little long look out for one." To my surprise, Riveria said that.

"Oh, so you met him too? He was the one that taught me that old Elvish."

She seemed to find something funny, "I am not surprised. He tried to flirt with me once in Elvish."

I snorted at that, "Yeah that sounds like him, I'm guessing he made a fool of himself?"

"I add to it." I grinned at that response.

"Please continue."

"Well, Zona was always unstable so when Zeus rejected her, she made the three beasts. Zeus and his adventurers killed the first two. The now referred to One Eyed Black Dragon, she had put a huge amount of her own power into it in order for it to stop Zeus so his Familia basically fought a half God and were destroyed by it. That was also when the previous Jackalope died."

"Okay, so I know how my mother and father died. It was because Zeus pissed off Zona-"

Alyssa was quick to jump the gun, "No, you don't seem to realize that it wasn't just Zeus, she had put those Guardians down there to protect herself from the oncoming threat of adventurers. She is also gaining her power back as well. The dungeon is going to get far more dangerous in the coming months. It will not be a smooth transition either. Zona had made the Dungeon to be a home for monsters, so if any of them betrayed her…"

"They get the axe!" Joseph said slamming his axe into the table scaring the Hell out of everyone.

"I say, you just ruined the table!" That startled cry came from Kurt.

"It's a piece of wood that doesn't matter anymore, you know just as much as me we can not stay in the dungeon! We have to leave. What happens here no longer matters."

"Everybody stay calm I still have questions. The Jackalope, why did he leave the dungeon?"

"That is because the thirteenth Jackalope had fallen in love with an Elf that had lived on the surface. He had gone after her."

"So he had abandoned his responsibilities as a Jackalope and-"

"No!" Alyssa cut me off right away, "That didn't happen. He had managed to get the girl in the end but he was killed when he went up to see her one day. He was killed by some assassin that was hired because the Elf he had gotten pregnant was an heiress and her father was pissed off that he wasn't a noble on the surface. We don't know what had happened to the child afterwards..."

"Then that is when the Jackalope line started on the surface isn't it?" I groaned out. The others nodded at me. "Okay, that explains that now what does the Jackalope do exactly?"

This answer came from Helix, "You are the leader, your goals are ours as well. You are the leader of all rabbit kind. You are responsible for your people. You also have to find a mate to pass on the line as well. If the Jackalope was to die without having a child, the line ends and we are leaderless. We will also lose all of our sentients, skill, and magic we possess as of now. Hundreds of years of progress for nothing."

Riveria decided she had enough of being quiet. "If that is the case, what are the guidelines that you have to live by then? You said earlier that you broke some kind of rule."

"I shall answer that one Miss Nine Hell," Kurt looked at the green haired Elf, "We of the Monster Defense Pact have come to the agreement that we shall not harm our fellow monsters. This law was put in place by Zona herself, she didn't want us to fight amongst ourselves as the Adventurers started coming down long ago." He explained politely to Riveria. "One of the biggest reasons we hold the Jackalope in high respects was at the time of the Monster Warring period when the dungeon was far more hostile than you would believe." Kurt paused for a second and found Joseph speaking for him.

"It was basically a free for all." Stal summarized crossing his arms, "There was no reason. It was just a territorial dispute between some of the more deadlier monsters. We had been caught in the middle and we were being killed off rapidly. The Jackalope stepped in and he was the one to keep the peace among the rabbit races and used us as a fighting force. That was the Third Jackalope. He had managed to conquer the first fourteen floors. Zona had stepped in before we could push further down. Apparently, she caught wind of fighting due to walking out one day and seeing it herself on the surface floor. She had called for the summit on the spot."

Kurt seemed to remember something important. "Ahh, yes the third Jackalope. He was the one that managed to get the rabbits this home on the fourteenth floor and eighth floor. He was also the one to suggest that the stronger Monsters got the bottom floors. He had wanted the weaker Monsters to be on the upper floors because there would be less fighting as adventurers would all be trying to go as low as they could. He was of course right about that as well! Oh my, it seems I have gotten off topic. To answer your question though, it was at that summit when the law came fourth!"

"Blah! You fools have rambled on this whole time without even saying what the law is!" Merla complained aloud, "The law states that each monster species will not harm another under any circumstances. There is also the fact that helping adventurers is seen as helping the Gods. That is treason. Oh, and let's not also forget the fact that there is a quota that each monster race has when it comes to killing adventurers as well." She sent a glare out at the two idiots.

I watched this all with a thoughtful glare. It seemed I was far off from what I thought this dungeon to be. To think a Goddess created this place. Then again she must still have her power if that is the case. Which also means she is in her Goddess form. She has to be very powerful. "I'm guessing that Zona is the Goddess of Monsters or something?" I wondered aloud.

Alyssa grinned at me, "Yes! She is also the Goddess of Gravity as well! That is the force that keeps all of us from not flying off in the air when we jump. She is extremely powerful and dangerous. She is currently locked away on the dungeon's surface. She can't be freed unless someone does it or when her power is fully restored."

"That explains it." I mumbled to myself, "I'm guessing each Jackalope had done something amazing for rabbits up till the thirteenth?" I got nods that confirmed my answers. "Alright Ladies if you got questions, ask away," I told the three and went to lean against a wall to watch. 'To think this place was created by one Goddess that had a crush on Zeus. What a terrible person to have a crush on.' I shook my head at those thoughts. 'To make matters worse the dungeon will start targeting the Almiraj. I have to find some way to get them out of here.'

I saw Riveria step forward again. "How do you know of my Alias?"

"Don't think that the Dungeon doesn't have ears. One of my young runners had overhead your traveling group before. Other monsters inform each other of the stronger adventurers that come down into the Dungeon. I guess you have written us off as creatures that can't think for themselves?" Alyssa was really not what I was expecting at all. It seems her first impression was nothing like her at all. I must have really caught her off guard if that was the case.

That response, however, didn't seem to stop or even slow down Riveria, "Then why the act? Why act like mindless monsters?"

Joseph Von Stal chuckled at her, "And give up our element of surprise? Let the people up there know that the monsters are not mindless and we can wage war like them? Please, we would be facing armies not small groups of adventurers as yourself. Sure the groups are powerful, but image an army coming down here with the Gods blessings! You must see the panic that would have caused. What it is going to cause."

Riveria had to admit that made sense more than she would like. They had kept up a good act for this long. To think this was all coming to light because I, the Jackalope, had returned back to my people. Thousand of years had past and this dungeon went by with no one knowing how it was made, why it was made, or who had made it? Stunning to find it all out in one sitting.

"If that is the case how come Zeus or the other Gods hadn't figured out Zona created this place? Or better yet how come Zeus didn't rat out Zona?"

"Zeus is afraid of Zona." That was the simplest answer I have heard all day. I actually pushed myself off of the wall with disbelief.

"Zeus was a-" A memory popped up fast then I could blink.

"Bell there is one type of woman you must avoid, they are called the Harem destroyers. They are the ones that will not tolerate you to be with any other women out there. They will want you all to themselves. You must avoid them at all coast like your life depends on it. I have met three of those and they have all been Goddess. You must watch out for them." Zeus had explained to me. I was twelve at this time.

"Yeah, yeah-" I started to wave him off which cause a major outburst from Zeus.

"I AM BEING SERIOUS BELL!" He screamed at me like I was making the biggest mistake ever if I didn't listen to these words.

Not seeing him so upset over something like this, I was quick to shake my head, "I will."

"Good." He said nodding before he continued, "Those women that fall into this category will try their hardest to keep you all to themselves. The will try their best to ruin all relationships you have with other women. In fact, they might just outright kill them if they think they are truly a threat to their love."

"Holy shit!" I exclaimed, "That sounds horrible! Why would they do that?"

"That is called women's jealousy." He explained, "That is why women end up hating each other, they don't like sharing something they hold dear with anyone."

"Then how is a harem possible?!"

"That my dear boy is what I'm trying to teach you."

I looked at him with curiosity, "Then where is your harem?" There was a look of pain on his face at that thought.

"As I have said, I have met three of them. Two of which were after me. One is still after me as we speak. The other one wants me dead but will not leave her home."

I started clapping my hands together and laughing, "So he was talking about Zona! That poor old fool! I would never have thought about that!" I just couldn't stop laughing! I must have looked insane for a moment. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry its just that I recalled a teach session he had with me, to think that he was talking about Zona."

Riveria glared at me, "This isn't a laughing matter Cranel, it seems that Zeus had kept the truth hidden from all of Orario if this is the case."

I eased up from laughing and looked her with a disarming smile, "I believe that is why he was chased out ofOrario don't you think? Freya or Loki must have found out about him hiding something. When his family went to fight the dragon he lost all of his strongest adventurers. He was then expelled by Loki and Freya. Do you really think that their reason for doing that was because he was the strongest or a pervert? There are plenty of perverts in Orario and I don't see anyone driving them out."


Riveria looked thoughtful as she processed that. She had been younger when they chased Zeus out of Orario and much to her dissatisfaction, she couldn't remember what the reason was for Loki chasing the God out. It was starting to make sense that the Zeus Familia had done some of the most amazing of achievements and that Loki was getting jealous of the fact. Loki would always complained about how Zeus knew that or this. Her eyes widened, it was finally making sense now. It was all coming together.

Bell seemed to be at the epicenter of these groundbreaking developments. She couldn't believe that Bell was the one that had been the reason why everything was coming together. Here she was, at the center of history being made. The boy now had so much put on his shoulders you could see it in his eyes. He was overwhelmed by it all. However, he still managed to look himself and hold himself a little higher. He was taking it the best he can.

It was hard to describe just what he was. It was clear that the Jackalope wasn't an ability, no he was a Jackalope. It was a race of people much like High Elves, Wood Elves, Humans, and Dwarves. To make things even more complicated, he was the last of his kind but also the leader of many. There had been thousands cheering for him as they entered this place. To think this was all hidden away for years and no one had ever crossed it.

Riveria questions had all been answered, but it was still like she was forgetting something. She couldn't place her finger on it but there was a nagging feeling in the back of her head- There it was! She had found the question that had been alluding her. "Is it possible for us to defeat the Juggernaut and you will be fine here?"

"No that would be impossible. They will keep spawning until the last crystal falls from the ceiling. There are thousands of them up there. It is the reason why no one commits the act that we have done. It will mean death for them." Helix explained sadly.

"Well, what about the Needle Rabbits? Can't they take you in?" Riveria wondered aloud.

"You think they will have room for over a million of us? They could take some but not all of us. They themselves have a population of one million seven hundred thousand." Joseph Stal pointed out.

"How many you have?" The Amazon finally spoke up. To be honest she couldn't believe she would run into her here, of all places. To also think she found and followed Bell. It was odd. She remembered her fighting Tiona at one point. She was one of Tiona's old teachers for that matter.

Stal once again answered. "We stand at one million respectively."

"Then what about outside the dungeon?" That came from Ais to her surprise.

"That would be impossible, the adventurers-"

"Will be too shocked to see an army of Almiraj and Needle Rabbits being led by the Loki Familia and me to do anything. Oh and don't think I'm leaving the Needle Rabbits down here either. We all leave." Bell had confirmed his plan of gathering up all the monster rabbits. "It isn't uncommon that adventurers tame monsters. Sure, this might put people on edge but as long as you don't do something to cause harm, you should be fine. Hell, the Gods would be amazed by this feat." Cranel had taking a liking to Ais idea. "The problem I see is I have no idea where you- Wait? Can you guys survive the extreme cold?"

"We shall be fine no matter where we go. We can survive extreme cold or heat as long as there are trees." The proudness in the voice of Von Stal made the boy grin.

He nodded then turned to her, "Riveria, is the northern area above Orario still uninhabited?"

He was talking about Siberia. The coldest part of the continent and the farthest north you could go. It was the area were no one dared to enter because of how cold it got. She was talking about eighty-eight degrees below zero. It was always cold except in three months where it got barely over sixty degrees. It was seen as unprofitable land that couldn't be settled nor should it. It was the perfect place that she could see how well it would work.

"No one dares to go there anymore. Anyone who has tried to explore the area has to leave before they get too far or risk freezing to death." She had explained to Cranel. 'He is actively taking his role as a leader very seriously. It almost reminds me of…' There was the image of her late grandfather that had passed away at the age of nine-hundred fifty-seven. He was an extremely kind and knowledgeable man. He was known as the 'Kilous The Great'. He had taken over when Celdia hadn't returned from the Dungeon long ago. Celdia was a great queen; when Kilous had stepped forward, he had ended all disputes between Elves and Humans.

He had been replaced by her father. A man that lived in the shadow of his father. A man that wanted to be great in his own right. He had tried his hardest to keep her from seeing the outside world. She had been with him for seventy-one years until she grew tired of her father's negative attitude toward her interest in the outside world and decided to leave. She had left the forest with her follower and friend Aina.

Her grandfather Kilous Alf was a great leader who cared for his people. To think she would see him in Cranel. 'There is more to that boy that he lets on.'

"I believe we have our answer. How long do we have before the first Juggernaut falls?" He asked looking at Helix.

"Two hours. It will fall somewhere in the third hour." Bell clenched his fist in anger or frustration. It could have been either one.

"So be it," He growled, "Today we begin the long march to Siberia. We are lucky that this is the summer season. I believe," He looked to her. Riveria confirmed his unasked question. "We will have a month or so to build up and prepare for the winter. I want us to be ready to have us ready within the hour." That seemed to startle the council of ministers. "We simply don't have the time to wait. We get ready to leave the dungeon now. Is there a way for me to give an address of some sort?"

Helix grinned at Bell, "You already want to give an address so early?"

"I think it would be the right thing to do since I'm their servant, wouldn't you agree?"

Merla raised one of her brows, "You keep saying servant, why not leader?" She seemed far too curious. Riveria had to say she too wondered why he kept saying that as well. Looking around at everyone else she could confirm that everyone had their form of eagerness to know as well.

"I am a servant to my people. I provide a service to keep them safe, provide them with knowledge, provide them with shelter, provide them with food, provide them with decision making that will enbetter them. A leader leads. A servant listens and obeys."

Once again Bell Cranel had shown more maturity than a fourteen-year-old should and stunned everyone. How many times was he going to do that today?

"I'm making a map. I do this for all the floors and make notes on the side that explain my findings. You know, what adventurers are supposed to. Explore and calculate data."

"It's okay, I don't hold it against anyone, life's too short."

"Yes! I would like to learn."

"While you started out just as weak or weaker as I did when you became an adventurer. Tell me more about how that isn't the pot calling the Kettle black? You believing in it or not still doesn't prove that I didn't kill a minotaur. There is more than one way to kill an opponent, using your bare hands on everything isn't the only way."

"Second of all, don't call ladies hags or tell them to shut their mouths. No wonder why you're single."

Riveria had to calm herself with that last one. Bete was still single and that made that line even more humours. Just in those brief encounters with him, he had shown himself to be far more sophisticated than anyone could have guessed. Cranel was proving to be a far more complicated person than a simple adventurer.

He had pretty much just solved the dungeon in three months without exploring all of it. Sure it was all a matter of circumstances, but even with that in mind he still did it. He found new places hidden away, with the help of Zeus yes, but it would always have his name on it. He survived countless encounters with powerful enemies that overwhelmed. Then there was his personality. He was mature but still had childish tendencies. He was intelligent and then went out and did something that wasn't and damn the consequences. He was kind but could be easily riled up.

He was eccentric. 'And that is what makes him a loose fire spell.'

"Now, let's get to it."

"What about the battle plan sir?" Von Stal had interrupted Bell. The rabbit had a good point. There was not enough time to evacuate a million in the course of two hours and some change. It was going to be a logistical nightmare.

He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, "Right," He seemed nervous. Riveria had seen this before in all young adventurers when faced with planning. They had no experiences in forming plans with others. Cranel would be in that group more than others because he had been flying solo in the dungeon for three months by himself. It was showing more now. You couldn't expect someone to be great right off the bat. If you did, you were nuts.

There was just too much to consider once someone took power. There were secrets that had been hidden that no one even knew that would pop right off the bat. Then there was the fact that you had armies you had to manage. People to please. Then there were other nations you had to worry about. Expecting someone to be good at all of that at fourteen, insanity.

While Bell had managed to sound the part, he had no experience in the part. She would provide the help he needed for now since she had what he had not. She was a Vice Captain of the Loki Familia. She had to keep the rowdiest of members in line and form tactics on the fly. She would have to one day lead her own people. That is why she wanted to experience the world so she had a better idea on how to lead. It was something her Grandfather had said to her before he passed away.

"I think the best way to lead is not to sit home and watch from afar. It is to be among your people and realize their struggles. Only then you will know how to lead. Only then will you make the right decisions for what is best for your people, not the nation. It is the people who make the nation, not the nation that makes a people."

They were the words that made her want to experiences the outside world outside her home. She would never know what the people wanted or need if she sat at home and did her studies. She had done self-research in her free time, explored the world, met great and terrible people. It was all thanks to him that she could learn as much as she did. Her father never saw that. He was too busy trying to stay out of a shadow.

She stepped forward. "I believe I have a solution to that." All the eyes in the room looked at her, she looked at Merla, "You said you are in charge of magic, what do you know?"

"I know a recovery spell, a healing spells, a couple of ice spells, and my most powerful spell is The Ice Lord's Blessing. It is a spell that can add ice magic to anything including magic. Those will not be strong enough to affect the Juggernauts, unfortunately."

Riveria processed that information and could see multiples counters to the creature. "Fortunately, I don't need you damaging them, anything at all will be fine. Here is what I propose."

Page Break

I could feel it. It was there in the pit of my stomach. I believe the term was called having butterflies in the stomach. The nervousness one feels when giving a speech. This, however, wasn't a speech on something that you didn't care about. This is a speech in which you cared. It was a speech that mattered to you and had a major effect. It was here where I would begin my career. I was in charge of a population of over a million creatures that had a mind of their own. A people forced to live under the rule of an insane Goddess.

It was time that they earned their freedom. It was time they saw the real surface. It was time to rebuild everything that we would lose. It would be a time of struggle. Even I know that once we started setting up on the surface we will be faced with outrage and be called upon to be destroyed. There was no doubt in my mind that this would happen at some point. The question I had was how long before that would happen? How far would this new race of people go? How much will they struggle? How much fight did they have?

I inhaled… Exhaled. This was it. This will probably go down in history at some point.

To think that, I, a no level adventurer would even get this far into the dungeon. To think that I would discover the mystery of the dungeon in three months time. To think that I was some type of legendary being that was to serve all of rabbit kind. To think that I would march them out of the Dungeon into a new world. To think that this was where I was going. I was a fourteen-year-old put in a position that I never thought possible.

It was crazy. It was insane! I was insane to think that I could handle this! I knew now that there was no going back. I had already taken the step forward. I had made it by myself. I wouldn't go back. This was it. A whole species lives were on the line. They thought I would have the answers for them. I had some, but without the Help of Riveria, and Ais I don't think I would have. They had made great points. Riveria's plan would work out fine. I had total faith in her abilities.

All that was left was for me to give my address. Did they want the return of the Jackalope? Well, that is what they were going to get. I might look like a mess but that wouldn't stop me. I had a job to do.

I walked out on the balcony that overhung the council building. The roar that I was meat with was twice as loud as before. To think all of this was happening because they had seen the Jackalope as some kind of Godly figure. I stood tall and waited for the roar to quiet. I looked over the mass of Almiraj. There had to be thousands watching me. I calmed myself.

"Today marks the first day that I, Bell Cranel, the Jackalope have come back to the service of my people." I had to silence myself as a very loud cry of thousands interrupted me. I once again had to wait for the cheers to die down again. "To think that I been fighting for my life minutes before to finding out that I'm the Jackalope. It truly amazes me how much can change in only a matter of minutes, seconds even." I paused. Once again I looked over the Almiraj, "Now I must inform you of your actions against the Dungeon. It has caused great unrest, and we are standing at the epicenter. The Dungeon sees us a threat to the peace that was made so long ago. It fears us! She fears us! They know that a change near!" There was small cheer to that.

"Zona had made this Dungeon and placed these crystals above our heads as a repercussion for disobeying. She thinks an army of Juggernauts would stop us from reuniting. I say no, we are not scared! I say no, we will not obey her call! I say no, we will not follow her rules of hatred! I say no, we don't need you any longer! I say we are free to make our own calls for now on. For these reasons, these laws she forces us to follow, I say we are done. It is time for us to make our leave. It is time for us to make it on our own. We may no longer stay here in the Dungeon. The dungeon will keep on hunting us until we are gone entirely if we stay. All of the monsters will see us as enemies. It would be pointless for us to stay. Some of you will not like this transition because the dungeon has been your way of life for years. Your whole lifetime." There was silence with this. I could tell this was going to be the core issue. I had to make them see this place, not as their home.

"You have been lied to, this place was never a home. It is and was always a prison! Look around you, you are sealed up in this circular cell with the threat of Juggernauts above you if you disobey your master!" There seemed to be outrage at that one. It was like I had said a truth that they had known but feared to say. They didn't want to believe they were only being used until they weren't useful.

"We must persevere as there is a new home that I have secured for us. It is a place far away from adventurers, the dungeon, Zona. No one dares enter this area due to the cold unforgiving months. This, however, will not affect us. We can survive anywhere that we wish. The heat nor the cold will stop us from finding our new home. Today marks the first day that we move to our own freedom, our own home. Today marks our independence from dungeon! Today you all free!" I throw my hands outs and watched as the crowd's thunderous roar shook the very ground. I felt tired. All that stress was washing over me.

That had been the easy part. The next few hours were going to prove just how far this movement was going to go. This was the moment if my words proved to be true or not. They had been waiting long enough for their Jackalope. Now that I was here, I was going to get stronger for both our sakes. I will gather all of the races of rabbits under one banner. We will become our own nation. A nation that survives in the harshest of weather.

"Let them know that the Jackalope and his people will stay reunited."

I stepped away from the balcony and made my way back to the roundtable as the cheers still roared behind me. There was no one there in the room but myself. They had plans that needed to be completed. The evacuation could finally begin. Riveria had really surprised me. The plan she had come up with was inspiring. I had never seen or even knew just how bad a Juggernaut was. It was apparently very powerful that a group of first-class adventurers had trouble fighting one.

They said only a fool would try to summon one on purpose. Now there was an army of them above us. This was going to be the fight of the century. Three level six adventures, a level one Jackalope, and an army of Almiraj. It was going to be a long hard fought fight.

Hearing footsteps behind me, I turned to face the person. It was Ais. She was looking at me intensely for some reason. In fact, that emotion didn't seem very common on her at all. I so used to seeing her without emotions on her face. She was looking right into my eyes with that look of fire. "Is there something I can Help you with Ais?"

As soon as I finished she was already talking, "You know of the Black Dragon?"

I paused not expecting that at all but answered her the same, "Yes, he was the one to kill my father and mother. It was one of my goals when I came here, to kill it. It had taken them from me and I never even got to spend time with them. Every second it is alive is an insult to me." That intense look fade from her. I looked at her and I could there was a reason that she had asked that question. In fact, she seemed off since I let that slip out when I was fighting. "Let me guess you are the same right?" I asked quietly.

She gave a soft nod to my words, "Yes, I need to kill it and get my mother back. I miss them."

I looked at her puzzled, "You mother? How do you know if she is still alive?"

"She was a spirit. They can't be killed by normal means." She seemed to be getting more depressed by what she had said. Oh no, I knew where this was going. She looked away from me. To think she would come to me of all people and bring this up. Then again I'm in the same situation as her. Both our parents died to the same beast and now look where we are.

I knew I had to say something to her, "You are a strong girl Ais with good intentions," She shook her head at me. "No? You do not think you are good?"

"How could I be? My goal is revenge-driven and for my own sake." She had muttered bitterly.

I frowned at her words, "Is that it?" That caused her to look at me with a glare, "So the fact you want to save your mother in which you just told me she isn't dead isn't enough? How is that revenge? What I'm doing is revenge, you have a reason, your mother is alive while mine is dead." She flinched at that but still looked ready to interject.

"But-"

"But nothing. Then there is the fact it could escape again once its back to full power. That will put everyone's lives on the line. Zona will be back and so will that Dragon. This isn't for revenge. This is a matter of safety of the populace and the rescue of your mother. I'll be there to judge you on whether you did it for revenge or not. I- No we will kill it. I want it dead for multiple reasons." I put my hand on the girl's shoulder and looked into her eyes, "I am for worse than you."

She lowers her head, for what I don't know but I heard her mutter: "I'll never be a hero." She had said it so quietly that if I didn't have the senses that I had I wouldn't have heard her.

Me not being a punk called her out on that. "Heroes in the books are far too overrated then." She looked at me with confusion as if I was crazy, "Because if you, a person that wants to save their mother, make friends along the way, fights monsters that want to kill others isn't a hero, then no one has that right to be called a hero. Hell, I'd say their pretty arrogant if they themselves call themselves a hero anyway. " I don't think I would ever get that image of Ais standing there in shocked silence looking at me out of my head.

The light from the balcony was shining on her making me see her in a new light. A girl that would go to Hell and back to get her mother. A girl that wouldn't call herself a hero because she thought what she was doing was revenge. A girl with a very sad past. A girl with beautiful yellow hair. Yellow. I wondered what she would look like if I did this? I put some of her hair back behind her ear. Damn. She would look good no matter what you did! Like a doll! "There she is. Stop trying to hide yourself so much." I told her with amusement seeing her- OH MY GAAH! That pout! AGH! The cuteness! She was pouting that I was teasing her.

"Stop it."

I shook my head at that and started to walk away from her but stopped right at the door. Turning my head a bit with a grin, "I think you are a far more a hero in the fact that you don't see yourself as one. Get stronger Ais, I need you to be ready when we Kill that Dragon." It was funny because I was far weaker than her! Ha! Got myself! I need to get stronger for myself, for my goals, and for my people. I was far more important than a simple adventurer now.

Right now though, I needed to get ready for the upcoming battle. It was going to be a close one.

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The third hour was upon us and the sun crystal was blacked to the point the lights were gone. It was dark in Warren. I had known this was coming but I couldn't believe the time was upon us already. We had at least managed to get seven hundred thousand out of the warren so far. I hadn't stopped watching the crystal as I could see the Juggernaut clearly now. It was moving around in the crystal, shaking it much like a chick breaking out of an eggshell.

I continued to watch it from my vantage point high up on the Dungeon wall. Riveria and Merla were with me up here in this cave. This was the point where we will drop the roof on top of it. I would be the one to cut the strings that would cause this cave to fall on top of the beast. Riveria just didn't know that yet. That and Bache had been able to poison my weapons. I had thought of it as a good idea to make sure that anyone that could face the Juggernaut on would have their weapons poisoned. It would at least slow the thing down. If one of us got lucky and got a headshot then the poison would kill it. Hopefully.

Ais and Bache had the hard part. They had to set the forest on fire which would stop it from landing and trying to dig out the Almiraj in the tunnels below. It would also have to penetrate the ice barrier that Riveria and Merla had made. Who would have thought that such a small monster could place a spell over another spell?

It was almost time. The crystal started to drop but the last rock held it in place before it could fall all the way. That was the signal. I watched on as a small blaze erupted from the forest. A massive forest fire soon devoured the thing whole. The blaze reached for the sky. It wanted to embrace the Juggernaut!

I remained calm seeing the fires take over the prison cell that my people had been held in burn. It was a prison riot. The last rock gave out. The crystal fell. "Here comes the Guards."

Riveria was still standing next to me and couldn't help but watch on as the beast broke free of the crystal. Just like we had planned the beast had landed in the fire. It screeched out in pain from the red-hot flames but I knew better. That hadn't done a damn thing to it but surprised it. It had to get through the ice barrier while it was on fire at the same time. This plan might actually work. Once the Juggernaut put a hole into the ice barrier, Ais and Bache would engage the Juggernaut and do enough damage to it before destroying the pillars. The barrier would fall on top of it. Once that happens, Riveria would fire her Rea Laevateinn.

Rea Laevateinn was a wide area annihilation magic. It is the second level of Riveria's attack magic Vas Windheim. Vas Windheim was the third and the most powerful, however, that would cause too much damage and might just cause more than one Juggernaut to fall and that would be the end of that. No matter. Riveria second level should be an attention grabber. The Juggernaut smashed against the barrier repeatedly. Ais and Bache were up.

I really hope those two will be safe. The last thing I wanted was one of them to get hurt or something. Not when I was getting to know them so well.

"You must do it for the Harem Bell! Do it for the Harem! One shall never be enough for you!" That no good Zeus. I couldn't go five minutes now in a serious situation without having a phrase of his pop up in my head. Then again, since he was by himself hiding somewhere I wouldn't be surprised if he was using his God magic to corrupt me in my free time. Then again I was free at the moment!

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Freya had seen the dungeon from top to bottom. She had explored this place for so long and hid from the other Gods. Her and Zeus had been the little team to beat for a while. They had always run into each other on multiple occasions while exploring the depths. It was at one point that she had noticed that Zeus knew too much about the Dungeon. He was explaining what he had found a made a simple slip of the tongue.

She had a saying about that, "It was better to slip with the foot rather than the tongue." A slip of the foot could cause you physical damage. While a slip of tongue could cause many drawbacks. It could upset a group of people, it could cause you reputation severe backlash, or it could bring forth something that should be hidden. Loose lips sink ships as they say.

She had gotten him excited about the topic of the big three. They had been talking about Leviathan. The overlord of the seas. A monster that escaped the Dungeon in ancient times, it was defeated by the Zeus's Familia. Its remains were later used in the process of sealing the underwater dungeon entrance near Melen. That wasn't important, this was, he had simply told her this one little line, "I was told that the Leviathan weakness was in his back right below the neck." Was he told? Who had told him? Who was his contact and why did they know more than Zeus?

He had also noticed that she saw through him at that point too. It was why he distanced himself from her as much as he could from that point on. It came back to haunt him when she and Loki had chased the fool out. He had gotten his almost his whole Familia wiped out. She really wanted to give chase, but the guild had stopped her. She wasn't allowed to leave. That fool had slipped through her fingers more than once. Then again it also made sense because he had to constantly slip away from Hera.

Those two had always caused some form of trouble for her and her Familia. She was happy that the Goddess had followed that idiot of a God. It was less of a headache for her to deal with. Now that Zeus was gone, she had taken the place of top dog. Loki was close behind her but once she claimed Bell, she had no doubt her position will remain. He was simply doing the impossible in three months time. Even Ottar had been impressed with some of his achievements. He was one of the only level sevens in the world.

Now here she was actively chasing after her desire. Freya was back in the dungeon. A place she had put on the back shelf. Now all the old memories were coming back to her. She had missed the rush of battle, war, death. She had missed it all. So long as she kept her cover and not used her Goddess powers she would be fine. She didn't need magic to beat these monsters. She easily dispatches a Minotaur with a light backhand. All monsters activity seemed to die right on the seventh floor. There was nothing. It was empty and void of all monsters. That was odd. To make matter even weirder, there was no sound but small drops of water landing into puddles.

It stayed like that all the way to the fourteenth floor. Freya didn't know what was going on but it had to do with something that involved Bell. She had come to this conclusion because if her powers couldn't locate him, then something had to be afoot. What had he done now? What had he stumbled himself into? 'Or better yet, what was I going to discover when I find him?'

She stopped right at the scene of the battle. To her amazement, it looked like everything was left untouched. Monster crystals laid in their place where they had fallen and she could see drops of blood on the dungeon floors. 'I'm sure he would want these.' She thought and made sure she collected them to give to him later. She crouched over the small drips and her eyes trailed some line of blood that led to a cave on the far left side. She followed the little blood trail until the darkness of the cave washed over her. She moved her hand to her one of her swords, she pulled it out and said the word, "Kveykva."

Her sword had a golden glow as she continued to follow after the drips of red splattered on the ground. It made her almost overjoyed at the fact that he lived. Now to see where he had gone. She had followed until she came to a stop at a large pit in the middle of her path. The blood stopped right at it.

No, that couldn't be- Did he jump down there? There had to be something there. There was no way he would have just jumped off and had the others follow him. To be safe, she had transformed herself into a falcon. She would find out just what that boy was up to. She would get to the bottom of this mystery once and for all. She was tired of sitting back and watching. She had her fun and now that was over. 'Loki eat your heart out.'

She flew down the large hole and to her disbelief there had been a portal right there. It took her to this large room that looked like a hole in the ground. It looked like a burrow of some sort. There was a-

The ear-piercing screech of a Juggernaut caused a small rumble in the room she was in. She had transformed back to her regular form. "Oh, what have you done this time Bell! What will I see when I see you! I can not wait." She moved like lightning through the mud hallway and came to the stop at the wooden door that the most interesting creature on it. It was a Jackalope surround by five groups of Rabbits. The door was made with excellent craftsmanship and painstaking detail.

With that in mind, she sent a swift kick onto the door and watched as it was blasted off of its hinges. The area beyond the door was on fire, covered in darkness with a large skeletal beast running around through the fire. It slammed against a barrier made of ice. It couldn't seem to breach the magic wall. Now that she looked around she could see multiple ice pillars around the inside of the barrier. She looked around and finally found the white-haired boy standing in a cave near the top of the dungeon wall on the far side. She had also seen the green haired Elf standing next to him.

She grinned. She knew what they had planned to defeat the creature. Maybe she should just watch and if need she would step in. 'If he manages to live through this…' She couldn't help but smile, "You will be mine."

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There was a thundering crash and seconds later the fast-moving beast was in the barrier. I couldn't hear the fighting on the inside but I could tell it had begun once a pained ear-splitting wail came through the air. It sounded like the girls were putting up a good fight.

It was nerve-racking to not be able to help out or see what was happening. How could I feel comfort in not knowing just how they were doing? Just how strong was that beast that we had to do all of this for? I watched as two pillars of ice fell. That was the sign for Riveria to begin the chant. There was a total of five pillars that held up the Ice barrier. Once they fell it would trap the Juggernaut inside the ice. Bache and Ais would escape through the rabbit hole next to the fifth and central pillar. Once it broke out of the icy grave Riveria would drop the hammer. That would get the attention of Juggernaut to us and from there it was up to me to drop this cave on top of him and bury him under the rocks. It wouldn't kill him but it would stop him long enough to get all of rabbits out. That would also stop more Juggernauts from coming down. Then we could really finish this.

I looked over to see Riveria raising her staff. "The flame will soon be released. Creeping war, unavoidable destruction. The horn of battle sounds aloud, the cruelty of conflict will envelop all."

I turned to see the black flames coming forth from the barrier. I had heard that was the signature attack it was known for. Another pillar fell. Followed by another screech as the fourth pillar fell. I think Bache might have broken the Pillar with the Juggernaut. That was just a guess but I had a feeling. This time more black flames rushed out. It was clear that the beast was getting enraged at its failed attempts to kill the adventurers.

"Come, crimson flames, the ruthless inferno. You are the avatar of hellfire. Sweep completely, bring a close to the great war."

I waited for what felt like the longest thirty seconds of my life. The last Pillar fell and the barrier collapsed on top of the beast. That had to be a couple of tons of ice too. Yet that damn body it had would keep it alive.

"Burn them through, Sword of Surtr - my name is Alf." Just like that, the Juggernaut broke free of the prison of ice only to find a large comet coming down on top of it. Yet in those short seconds, we had made eye contact. He and I knew saw each other. We both had a mission. He was to kill my people, mine was to kill him before he could. I had to cover my eyes from the blast that the explosion threw out. The gales were powerful enough to try and take me off my feet! I was so high up and I felt all of that.

"Very nice! And that is weaker than your third tier attack!? Incredible! You really are amazing." I must have been grinning like an idiot. You know what they say, explosions were a blast! Ha! Get it? GET IT?!

Riveria didn't look like she knew how to handle that compliment, "I-It was just-Just my second tier attack." Humble as ever. However! I could see her trying to cover up the fact that she was tired. Just looking at everything she had done so far would come up to it. From her earlier fights, healing me back to almost full health, to making the barrier and the pillars with Merla. To now dropping a giant flame ball on top of a Juggernaut. I don't care what anyone said about this day. Riveria was the Most Valuable Adventurer. MVA! MVA! MVA! MVA-

The whole bloody cave shook like there had been an earthquake. I looked down at the smoke screen caused by Riveria's attack and lo and behold the Juggernaut is sprinting out of the black smoke and fire. I turned to look at the Elf. The way her eyes seemed droopy and the way the sweat was dripping down her face. I was going to need her to cover our exit. I didn't need her fainting on me yet. "Riveria get out of here, me and Merla got this one."

"You couldn't-" She was instantly against the idea of leaving me to face the Juggernaut alone. It was an extremely injured Juggernaut that seemed too much slower than before. Bache's poison was working. Very slowly, but surely.

I cut her off before she could continue, "Please get a breather. You need a small break." The glare she was giving me told me to shut up and listen to her.

She still wanted to argue over the issue, "That is unacceptable. I will not allow you, a level one to face off against a creature that second class adventures couldn't face. First class adventurers require aid when fighting one. What you are suggesting is suicide Cranel."

I looked at her seriously, "You need to realize that you have been spamming magic ever since you came into the dungeon, even before we met up with you and Ais. You also need to know your limit." She didn't seem to like what I was telling her. Too bad. "We also still need you cover our back door. That spell will take whatever you have left to give. You must not waste it here." She looked away from me. She knew I was right on the matter and chose not to say anything more.

"It is still very foolish for you to attempt this. Insane even."

I grinned at her, "I have been called that plenty of times in my short life."

"Yes, and you plan to make it shorter than it has to be!" She snapped at me in a low voice.

I pointed at myself, "It has to be me. I have done this before. I have brought down the ceiling on top of a Monster Rex and a Minotaur, doing it again will not be much different." I assured her, it didn't seem to work. "Oh, get down there. I be right behind you. I'll even make sure to follow the same path and everything."

She sent me a glare, "You better, so I can hit you over your head, you simpleton." She grumbled as she walked away from me clearly upset with me. "You still haven't come to one of my lessons." She mumbled that last part. Oh shit, I totally put that on the backfire.

"Oh no, I still want to learn! Please don't hold the fact that I was trapped here in the dungeon for a month against me!" She just continued to walk away from without responding. I chuckled to myself. "I think I found a sore spot."

"Hmm, to think she would be so prideful enough to try and hid her tiredness. What an interesting Elf!" Merla grinned, "Your mates are very interesting Jackalope, sir!"

"Don't I know it." I nodded in agreement. I pause when I realized what she had said, "MATES? WHAT?!" Before I could even begin to question the rabbit on what she was talking about the cave shook a second time. I looked down the dungeon wall to see two yellow circles blaring up at me. The Juggernaut was here and ready for round two. That was freakishly fast for something that took an attack like that.

"Merla, close the way Riveria just went," I ordered her.

Her head jerked to the side to look at me like I had grown a horn on my head. "But didn't you just tell Riveria that you would-"

"I know what I said, but I had never promised that I would. Close it. I don't want her to try and aid me like I think she will. I also don't want the Juggernaut targeting her. She is the only hope we have to close this place and drop the whole ceiling on top of it." I reasoned. Riveria was going to do more than beat my head. Wait a damn minute! That came out wrong! Or would that be in because I thought it and not said it? Great, I'm talking to myself. No, I'm not! Talking to myself is like this 'Oh, hi Bell!' Then saying 'Hello Bell,' back. Great, now I am talking to myself!

Well I could add her to the list, she would be behind Eina because had told me to be careful, Syr because she must have been distraught, Ryuu because I made Syr distraught, Mia because I owed rent. Now I could add Riveria because I had lied to her. "Do it."

"At your command Jackalope." I watched on as the tunnel that Riveria had taken caved in. It was also the only way out unless you could fly. I sent a small glance at Merla. She would provide the second way out with her ice magic.

I took moved to the back of the cave. "I hope you have good aim with those icicles," I told the magic bunny. She seemed to be unamused by my joke at her spell. "Get ready to lay down some mist."

"The cold winter, unforgiving and harsh, covers the land and the sky, snowblind!" She waved her little staff and I espied her white mist that resembled a blizzard. This was the perfect cover. A few seconds later the place looked like it was in the high mountains. It was all covered in snow and was just as cold. I hid behind a large stalagnate that would cover me from view. I waited until I heard the beast enter the cave through the opening.

It's heavy, pained, wheezing could be heard against the rushing winds of the spell that was in use. I had to get it to the back of the cave without it cornering me. I'm not that stupid to just run out there either. This thing seemed to be waiting for something as it stayed put. It was clear it wasn't moving an inch until it saw something move.

I grit my teeth in frustration. 'Why can't things ever be easy? Always the hard way.' I had to do something. I quietly opened up my backpack, I saw Zeus's book right off the bat, my rope, and hook, paper, quills, ink, my friends' blade, some empty v-. I grinned. I had a plan. I tied the rope end of my grabbing hook against the stalagnate.

I took the empty potion vials and tossed them against the far wall. The sound of breaking glass pierced the cave and to my vast revelation, that thing was severely faster than me. By the time the glass shattered, it took it two seconds to get to the back of the cave. It took me twelve. That was horrible. How the in the Hell was I supposed to outrun that fucker?! Thinking fast I gave the order to drop the ceiling.

Merla flung her ice dagger at the triggers that would destabilize the cave. It had been a huge ordeal to destabilize this cave opening. It had been even harder from keeping it from falling until ready. It was a major headache. This would hopefully cause the Juggernaut to be distracted long enough for me and Merla to escape. The last thing I wanted was to make big talk with a High Elf only to fail a moment later.

I was actually pretty sure it would displease her if I died here and not by her own hands. Well, it was show time. The cave started rumbling and I had used the loud sounds to cover my escape. I tossed my grabbing hook to another stalagnate that would hopeful trip the beast. I took off from my spot. I was booking for the exit. I was almost there when I heard a snap. That was the rope. I could feel it! I could see the opening of the cave getting wider and wider in my vision! I was there. It was somewhere in these final seconds I realized I just wasn't fast enough to get away from everything the dungeon had to offer.

I leaped into the air to buy me another second worth of time because I could feel the Juggernaut right on top of me. It was the sixth sense. To know when there was something or someone behind you. I knew it was right there. Merla knew it was right there. One second was the difference that mattered in the end. To think one lousy second was all it took, and boom your leg was in the mouth of a Juggernaut!

Yep! My right leg was in its mouth! If I hadn't jumped it would have been my head! I had been caught like a rabbit by a hunter's dog. This might have been some of my last moments alive. That had scared me. To think that I would die before I could even do what I had said I would do. Millions depending on me, promise that I made, and boom I'm dead. I could not let this be the end! Merla was caught like a deer in the torchlight. She was petrified.

This was my last desperate attempt to live. My struggle to live. I clutched Merla close and twisted myself to face it. Merla seemed to unfreeze as scream out my name. My knife was held firmly in my hand with a blackish purple light surrounding it. That had meant it was enchanted with Bache's enchantment. I stabbed my knife right into its eye and I watched blackish purple light fade from the blade and enter into the creature's new hole in the face.

The monster had let go of my leg the second the knife had been pulled out before it could even scream out that it had lost its left eye. Merla saw the opportunity to launch more ice daggers at the weak inner flesh of its mouth. We free fell out of the cave. I turned to watch the rocks bury the monster under them. It cut the scream off it was giving off. I knew that thing wasn't dead and to make matters worse, it was buried at the front of the cave.

The pain in my leg was intense and blood flowed freely from the deep wound. It had got me pretty good.

"Cranel are you okay?!" Came the worried voice of rabbit.

"I will be once the threat of death isn't over my head! Please tell me you have some magic you could use? Maybe form a slide or something!" I completely got over my leg as I saw the ground approaching rather quickly.

"A what?" Yeah, I should have seen that coming. How would she know what a slide was?

"Make a path of ice at a slope of forty degrees!" I demanded of the little blue monster.

"That I can do! I must warn you, I won't have much magic left in me after!"

"That's fine! Just do it!" Ice rabidly appeared behind my back and I could see the ice forming at an incline much to my satisfaction. "There we go!" I saw the flames ravaging the forests, the buildings, everything. It was dark and the smoke only adds to the void. Sweat was lining my body. I kept my eyes on the incline and saw that it stayed the same all the way throughout, she needs to start making the slope even out. "You have to start making the slope flatten or I will go splat when I hit the ground!"

"Co-Copy that Jackalope." She was getting tired much like Riveria. I frowned but I had gotten what I had asked for. It was added to the large structure that had been made. I hit the bottom a couple seconds afterwards. I was quick to get out of the slide made of ice and use the flames as a light source. Only to realize just how bad my leg injury was. I grimaced in pain as I put pressure on it. It was far worse than I thought previously. I limped away from the slide that was falling apart rather quickly. I had to find a way down now into the tunnels. That meant I had to enter the town that was becoming a blaze of fire. I disregard my fear of the red-hot fires and made my way into the town. It was time to get out of here.

Really did hope that Riveria didn't watch any of that fight with the Juggernaut. I didn't need an 'I told you so' moment with the High Elf. They were already High enough. I needed to stop. Merla had kept quiet during my search for any kind of passage that was still usable. I heard a loud bellow and knew just what that was. Looking back up at the cave the inured Juggernaut had dug its way out from the cave and was now free. They were nothing but blood coming from its large mouth. Death was near. I could see it on the creature. This would be its last fight. I also noticed that it seemed to be missing a hind leg. The creature leaped off the cliff and land on the ground with a loud crash that kicked up dirt and rocks. It was much slower, thank whatever merciful Goddess had seen to that. Yet it was still coming after me.

"That God damned beast just doesn't know when to fucking quit. Fine then, It dies here." I barked out in anger. It was going to die. I was tired of this goddamn thing now. I found a home that I could use to fight it in. I spotted a building that had a second story. I opened the door loudly to hopefully attract it to me. I was going to pull a Doluk. This time, however, I was not going to be aiming for its back. The Juggernaut had one good eye left and I was going to change that.

"I would advise against that. The evacuation is already a success! We need to go now, sir." Merla pleaded with me.

"No, I have already set my mind on it. I will kill it. I will not allow it to live past today. Did you not see all the monster crystals down here?! It did manage to kill some of them. Our people. For that, it will die." I declared with divine fury. There was indeed monster crystals all over the place. Right now all I felt was the rage. I could not leave that thing to live. It was going to die by my hands. I climbed the stairs while my bad leg felt like it was on fire. I made use of the wall on the left side to give me extra strength. Blood smeared against the wall.

I reached the top and found a room that had an overview of the street below. I entered the room to see that it was much like a small bedroom with some flowers in a wooden vase on a small wooden table by the window. The Rabbits had an interesting way of sleeping, their beds were built under the had to step down to sleep, step up to leave. It was actually pretty cool. If there was an earthquake the ceiling wouldn't kill them when it came down. That didn't matter, the window in front of me did. I opened it and looked up to see if I could access the roof. I smiled, I could indeed.

I took a grip on the ledge and pulled myself and Merla up on the roof. I laid down flat on the other side of the roof and waited. The house had caught fire and the flames were raising. I could feel the heat at it rose up to meet me. I was glaring hard at the creature as it re-entered the town looking for prey. Too bad it didn't realize there was no prey to be found. There was only a Guardian. "COME AND GET ME YOU FUCK!" I ducked my head down knowing full well that it was coming at me. I could hear and feel it. A minute later the house had been engulfed in flames, the Juggernaut was below me peering into the building trying to find me, and I was creeping into position.

I was right over its neck. This was how I notice just how damaged it was. Its bony shell was cracked and chipped. The right horn on its head was snapped off. One eye and back leg were gone. Dark blood oozed from its mouth. This creature was like an arthropod. The bones were on the outside rather than the inside. Its feet were also built to give it an extra spring in its step. It was a master predator. A master predator that had run into the wrong prey.

I dived over the ledge and descend atop of it. My right arm swung around the bones on its neck. The Juggernaut realized I was there far too late. I stabbed my knife right into its right eye. That was when I realized that I had stabbed it with the wrong knife. I had already used this one to take out its other eye. I cursed out in disbelief that I made such a stupid mistake, 'Do more damage! Keep stabbing!' My mind ranted on. I was quick to listen as I kept stabbing. Raging at myself, rage at the death of my people, the rage of everything was overwhelming me. The white area was round me again. It started to shake, twist, rampage to get me off of it. I felt Merla fly off of my back, "Jackalope!" I couldn't do anything for her at the moment which only enraged me further.

"I'm not too young, I was born for this!" I twisted my knife deeper into the eye socket, blood spraying all over my hand and arm. Some even got on my face. Then it happened. Its good arm grabbed me after it realized it could not shake me off like I was some fee. No, I was a tick, and I was latched on.

It yanked me off of its neck. "I was born to protect! I will kill you for what you have done!" I screamed at its bloody face. It had no eyes but didn't need eyes to know where its hand was. I was lucky it had grabbed me around my waist and not the shoulders because I still had full use of my arms. Its mouth was opened wide as it brought me to its mouth. I aimed my poisons knife for the roof of its mouth and the other for the bottom. "I hope this is painful!" Before the jaw could bite a good portion of me off I lashed out. My bottom knife cut right through the tongue and into the jaw. The top blade sunk right into the flesh of the beast. I used whatever strength I had left to keep the jaws from coming down.

The poison had finally worked. It had hit home and was spreading fast. It was a goner. I could tell by the fact that the creature had no strength left in it. I broke free from the beast and land on my rear. I watched on as the beast that towered over me fell to the ground and laid still. I saw the body start to disappear and there was the monster crystal of the Juggernaut laying before me. That thing was going to make me rich since these were rare as all Hell. I might be able to buy a place with this. Nah, the Hostess will still be my place. Too many lovely girls there that I get to see every day.

"Bell! You are alive! I was so worried that you-" She stopped herself, "Nevermind! I must heal you!"

"No, we have to get out of here. There will be another one or two on their way. We have to leave. You can heal me later." Much to my relief she back down from saying more to me. "Today the Jackalope is victorious!" I cheered to myself getting off the floor. We needed to get out of here.

A bird call interrupted my thought process. A bird? I saw a falcon land on a fence by a house with an open door. It cried again. It wanted me to follow it? Well, this must be my luck or something. "Come on let's follow it," I suggest.

"But there should be no birds here!"

"That's why we follow it, it has to belong to someone. Let's move."

I stumbled my way over to the house where the bird was and it flew inside the house with practiced ease. That only solidified my belief that it was owned by someone. I followed it with Merla hot on my heels. Once we entered I saw a hatch that been open that lead to the basement. There was the exit!

My head snapped behind me as two loud booms caused the ground to shake. Two Juggernauts had dropped. The great bird called, "Yes, yes, I know! Time to go! Merla down the hatch!"

"Yes, sir!" She cried in a hurry. She was fast to get down the steps the bird followed after her. I closed the hatch and locked it. "Over here Jackalope! The tunnel is over here!" I saw Merla the falcon sitting by a small tunnel on the far right of the room by some wooden barrels. On my way over I heard a ping as something hit the ground behind me. I didn't have the time to see what it was as I was in a rush to get out of the place.

"Fantastic, let's go," I said and petted the Blue Almiraj. She seemed really happy with the action I had done. I was about to enter when the bird cried out. I looked at it. "What you want to be petted too?" It gave a firm nod, "Well, damn. I'm sorry I left you out then." I was still in a slight surprise that the bird nodded but I also petted the bird that almost seems too eager to be petted. The building shook violently, "Time to bolt!" One of Zeus's favorite one-liners! He must have said that every time Hera had found him.

I crawled as fast as I could with one bad leg and to my neverending thankfulness, the tunnel got larger until I was finally able to stand. "Oh, thank the Gods. I was getting tired of crawling." I thanked any God that could hear me. Standing up the falcon that had been following behind me flapped up to my shoulder to ride along. It had saved my ass so it was fine. Though those claws were damn sharp. Let me tell you.

"We shouldn't be too far away now, we are almost there Jackalope!"

"Okay, okay, okay. I get I'm the Jackalope and all but please call me Bell. I'm getting tired of being called Jackalope, the last thing I need is that passive-aggressive Riveria too starts calling me that too." I told her honestly. That Elf would catch on that I didn't like being called the Jackalope and keep calling me that because I upset her.

"Then it will be Bell from now on." She said timidly.

"Oh, it's not that big of a deal." I shrugged at her. We kept on at a smooth brisk pace. A couple of minutes of walking in silence did the trick. The soft glow of the glowstone crystals led our way. I could finally see the home stretch. We were at the meeting point. This was the second exit that leads to the thirteenth floor. Which meant I wouldn't be able to collect the monster crystals that I dropped on the last floor. Whatever, I was just happy I was alive and now I had an army of Almiraj with me. On our way out we will also pick up the Needle Rabbits too. Then we would begin the march to Siberia.

I could see the opening that leads back to the surface. The little light that poured in was a dead give away and I could see a ramp made of dirt that was the way up. I went up the dirt made ramp and was greeted by the remaining council members and the other adventurers. I grinned at them, they didn't seem to notice me as they were looking at the town that was burning brightly. I crept up behind them. They all seem worried. Aww, they did care! "What are we looking at?"

That seemed to surprise them all. "Jackalope! You are alive!"

"Of course I am, the Juggernaut not so much."

Ais was in awe, "You killed it?"

"Well, you three and the warriors that stayed behind did a number on it. I just finished it off."

"You are full of surprises Bell." Bache Nodded at my deed.

"I grinned, "Thanks-" I was cut off by a staff to the top of my head, "Oww!" I was right! I pissed off Riveria. I was quick to rub and hold the spot.

"You reckless ignoramus! Don't think I didn't see you get caught by your leg as you hungover the edge of the cavern." She then glared harder at me, "Didn't you say this: Oh, get down there. I be right behind you. I'll even make sure to follow the same path and everything?" I backed away from the furious Elf, "Lair."

I bowed my head apologetically to hopeful disarm the woman of her anger. She had a very hard staff that I did not want to be hit with again. "I'm sorry Riveria. I only did it so it couldn't follow after you."

She sighed, "I know why you did it. It all ended just fine. Get everyone back, I'm preparing my spell Vas Windheim."

"Alright everyone get in the passageway! Merla get ready to use your ice on the barrier that Riveria places down." I ordered. Everyone followed my instructions with ease. Good. The faster we got out of here the fast I go home.

"Fires banished from this existence, I call to thee. Destruction is my plea, my call to arms. I summon forth the cruelty of blinding flames, the endless inferno. You are the fire that devours all before your might. Do not rest until the foe is but ash. Heed my call of power and death. The utter annihilation of cities and populations alike. Screams of broken people are your joy. Carried by the wings of freedom, wipe the world clean of life. End the war in a flash. Give the world a second sun! This is the ultimate cleansing - Vas Windheim - my name is Alf!"

I had to cover my eyes from the blinding light that had formed at the top of her staff, Magna Alfs. Riveria had told me a little about her weapon during the planning. Magna Alfs was Riveria's silvery white staff made from mithril and holydite that's hard enough that it can also be used as a weapon. Why I didn't want to be hit with it again. It was made by Altena after Loki ordered for it to be created, it was a first class mage weapon of very fine quality, enough to be considered one of the five best staves in the entire world. Nine magic treasure stones are embedded in the head. It was a powerhouse of a weapon.

Then the white light was shot through the air. Riveria was quick to turn and look at me. She seemed very tired like she was on the verge of collapsing. "Make haste Cranel!" She still managed to zoom past me in her state and I was right on her heels or at least I was trying to be. This damn leg of mine! Push through the pain! Push through the pain! I'm going home to-fucking-day! And not in a bag either!

I thought of a joke and being the kind of guy who speaks his mind when I thought I should, how could I refuse? "Well, you know what they say, cool guys don't look at explosions."

She didn't look back at me but she snorted at my joke, "At a time like this?"

"But of course Miss Riveria!" I grinned at nothing at all. We entered the tunnel that leads to the thirteenth-floor portal. The doors closed behind us thanks to two warriors Almiraj. "Everyone get back! Riveria and Merla, form the barrier! Now before-" I was cut off by a huge explosion that almost ruptured my ears. I could see the white flash burning underneath the door! What the Hell was that kind of attack! Riveria was far too humble! It is only slightly more powerful than my tier two attack my fucking ass! "Form the barrier!" I yelled over the screeching wind that was about to rip the door off of its hinges. I stood behind Riveria. I could tell that she was at her limit when she sent out that last attack. I was going to call that End War from now on. That thing could literally end a war.

Riveria and Merla cast their spells and I watched on as their spells mixed together. The ice formed over the door and kept it in place. Riveria leaned against her staff and the little Merla was laying flat on her back. It looked like my leg was going to have to wait. That was fine by me, almost. This was the cost of magic, huh? Riveria's eyes started to close and that was when I knew she was down for the count. I caught her in my arms before she hit the ground. I really shouldn't have, you know my leg not being able to carry myself at the moment. I was thankful that the wall was behind me.

Merla had finally gotten her breather and looked to me, "May I please heal you now?" She pleads, implored even.

I nodded at her, "You won't end up like her will you?" I asked pointing at the elf that was squishing me against the wall. She didn't answer me as she started casting her magic. I knew she would. That no responding thing only works on idiots. It gave you away in a heartbeat. I frowned. It looks like a get to carry two girls back to the surface. I blinked for a second, 'Zeus you better be watching this! I swear to some other God that I will find you and show you just how much progress I've made! You old bastard!'

I just remained there holding the Elf when Ais and Bache came up to me. I gave a sad smile, "Things could have gone much better."

"You could not save all them." Bache already seemed to know what I was referring to. "Warriors die to protect, honor them." The wise woman explained to me in just a few words. "Losses happen. Recover from them is the hard part."

I frowned, I wanted to say more but I would look like a child if I had said there was something I could have done. There wasn't. I did manage to kill their killer so that put them at ease I guess. To put their souls to rest I would have to makes sure this all works out. Their sacrifice would not be in vain. I would make sure of it. My leg felt a whole lot better now! I looked to the Almiraj to thank her but she had already passed out. I shook my head with satisfaction that I had called that to happen.

"Hey could one of you carry-" I stopped myself from speaking when a burr of motion happened in front of me. I blinked and looked at Ais. It looked like she hadn't moved but I knew she did because there was Merla in her arms. "Nevermind." I chuckled at her.

It seemed like Ais like cute rabbits! Or maybe that was a thing all girls shared? I don't know, don't quote me on that. She moved her hand to go in for the kill! She was going to pet Merla! I acted fast, "Please refrain from petting the Almiraj."

That had been the kill shot. She looked like I had just told her that she was in debt for eighty million Valis! Oh, my God, that face was priceless!

"I'm kidding Ais."

She looked like she wanted to hit me. She didn't do this because I had Riveria in my arms. I picked her up and held her bridal style. "Okay everyone, let's get a move on. We still have the Needle Rabbits to round up too! Then we can finally leave this hole in the ground!" With that, my fight for the Almiraj was over. The round up for the Needle Rabbits was about to begin. Hopefully, that went much smoother than this did. The Dungeon shouldn't be trying to kill them. It shouldn't be!

Author's Notes: A very fast update for you all! Enjoy the new chapter. It must be Christmas!