Thank you so much for the love and following for this story. I think this will be a badass story, and of course Guts proving to the people of Orario that he is someone not to be messed with. Just wait and see Loki. Now let's jump back to this story and see what the Black Swordsman party do next.
The Black Swordman party was all deep in the lake, the creatures must be still on top so they need it to swim to a new shore in order to escape. Even with Isma help they need enough oxygen in order to go to the other side, some like Guts, Azan and Serpico managed to go with no problem, others like Casca, Erika and Magnificio were having diffuctly.
''How much until we arrive?' Asked Isidro with sign language.
''Hold on.'' Said Guts with sign language.
The BlackSwormand was carrying most of the group and making sure that everyone make it out alive to the other end of the lake, sadly some of them were not having much luck.
''I am passing out.'' Said Puck almost out of breath.
''Hold on.'' Said Guts again in sign language.
The Black Sworman saw a light at the end of this submatic world and it appear to be the end of this lake. They need it to make it in order to continue their quest.
''I cant hold much longer.'' Said Erika;
''Hold on….'' Said Guts also out of breath.
Casca was pretty much almost passing out, if it wasn't for Schierke help she would have died very soon. With her magic she also managed to get them much closer to the end.
''We are near.'' Said Schierke to everyone.
''Teacher…'' Said Farnesse.
''A little more.'' Said Schierke and the group made it out of the lake.
GASP
The entire group was pretty much gasping and heavily breathing. They were some of them coughing violently while others were almost screaming. Either way they made it out alive.
''We made it!'' Said Isidro happy.
''We almost died again.'' Said Magnificio all sad.
''Please, don't start now.'' Said Azan all grumpy.
''I forgot how hard this was.'' Said Isma
''We made it out alive, plus I don't see any of them demons that were chasing us.'' Said Serpico.
''Shcierke can you heal us?" Asked Guts.
''I am going to do my best; I need some space to concretate.'' Said her.
''Back off, let the girl do her thing.'' Said Ivalera.
The witch used her magic and soon the entire party was getting their lungs restored and feeling all better. Some of them need a time to rest and some potions in order to feel better after almost dying of lack of air.
Once all the party was healed up they need it to get back on their tracks towards Skelling.
''How long until we arrive now with this interference?" Asked Guts.
''A little more, I am sorry I am not sure where we are now.'' Said Schierke.
The group had just arrived at some kind of cave, the lake of the forest led to them to some random cave somewhere in the land of Midland. They all went outside and saw that they weren't in a forest anymore and instead of some random desert.
''Where are we now?" Asked Isidro.
The group didn't know but that was a mystical Lake, once someone swim to the bottom it would take the person to another realm.
''I don't know.'' Said Schierke.
''How are we going to get back on track if we don't know where we are?" Asked Roderick.
''I guess we should start walking.'' Said Rickert.
''But where to? We are in the mid of a god forsaken desert.'' Said Puck.
''Look I see a town.'' Said Erika seeing a town from the distance.
''it's a little far but if we start walking, we can get there in a few hours.'' Said Azan
Schierke sensed a weird sensation from that town, one that she had never felt before.
''I don't know about that. I sense we are off track but maybe there is a map on that city and we can use as some kind of base.'' Said Schierke.
''Lets at least go for rest.' Said Azan.
''Agreed.'' Said Serpico
The group then got all the equipment they had at their disposal and started to walk.
''Lets get going.'' Said Guts.
''Alright.'' Said Puck
The group started to walk toward the city, meanwhile they felt the same weird sensation that Schierke was feeling.
''Is weird, I don't feel we are on Midland anymore.'' Said Isidro.
''Yes, is like we are way off track.'' Said Isma
''Almost like a totally different continent.'' Said Roderick.
The party started to grown more and more worried, Guts especially but he was keeping all the anger to himself so Casca wouldn't get scared.
''I don't know where we might be. I travel all cross the land and I never encounter these are before.'' Said Azan.
''Me too. I don't know where we could be either.'' Said Roderick
''Where are we? Are we lost?" Asked Isidro.
''Maybe.'' Said Puck
''I never seen these lands.'' Said Roderick
''We might have been sent to the start of the land and we need to re start our journey.'' Said Farness.
''Or off track. We might be a few miles out and we need to get something.'' Said Magnificio.
''We need to know where we are. A lake cant send us to a place so much off track.'' Said Serpico.
''Unless….'' Said Schierke with a doubt.
''What is it?' Asked Farnesse
The group looked at the young witch who decided to tell them about a legend that she heard while studying.
''I heard on my class about places that could take people to other realms or worlds.'' Said Schierke making the group gasp.
''Other worlds?'' Asked Farness in shock.
''That was mostly a legend told to us as kids. Some say that the most power of legendary druids and witch from centuries ago were vastly bigger than the ones we have now a days. Some of them managed to go into other realms in order to learn more magic, and apparently they never managed to close those portals. If we are on what we think we might have come across one of these legendary portals.'' Said Schierke making the group start to shake.
''So are you saying that we end up jumping toward a lake that would take us to another world. Like in just a second.'' Said Roderick in shock.
''It cant be.'' Said Erica.
'''I am not sure but if we are then I don't know how to return.'' Said her
''Cant we just swim back the way we got in?' Asked Puck
''No, the portals are only a way in. They are not a way out, if we go there we would only drown.'' Said Scheirke
The group was now in shock, if Schierke theory was true then they were so screwed. Guts was beyond pissed, he had finally a change to cure Casca and now they were way off track. He wanted to kill something to stress out and the group was worried about the Black Swordman state.
''Calm down.'' Said Schirke.
''I am calm.'' Said him all cold.
''What should we do now?' Asked Azan.
'Lets go to the town.'' Said Isidro seeing the town from a far distance.
''What kind town might be?'' Said Magnificio.
''I don't know, but with our situation what choice do we have?' Asked Rickert.
''Lets just go.'' Said Guts.
''Yes, this way we can rest, get something to eat, let Casca stay put and then figure out our next move.'' Said Serpico.
''What if we don't have money?" Asked Erica.
''We will figure something.'' Said Schierke.
''Yes, let everyone worry about that Erika. Take care of Casca for now.' Said Puck.
Casca was just looking at that city with a curious look. It was like when a baby see a building for the first time, just wondering how big it was and how stay up for so long.
The group walked for almost 2 hours and then they finally reached the giant gates of the city. There were more people entering in so they figure that they wouldn't have much of a problem, but because of their looks one of the guards of the gate stop them.
''Excuse me. What is your business here?" Asked the guard.
''I have my business right here…'' Said Guts ready to punch but Serpico steps up to talk.
''Sorry my good sir. We are just a traveling troupe that has chosen your town as our next stop.'' Said Seprico.
''A travel troupe? We haven't had those in Orario in years.'' Said the guard.
''Orario?" Thought the group.
''While we are here we just want to make some good money and enjoy the time.'' Said Serpico.
''So nothing much. Ok you all can go.'' Said the guard.
''Appreciate.'' Said Serpico
Soon the group arrive at the town, and they saw as massive as possible. Possibly one of the biggest towns that they ever step in. If this was on the kingdom of Midland, they would have heard of this place before. They look around and saw all kinds of people walking, even those with pointy ears, dwarfs and other types.
Of course being a distinct group even in this town they were being checked by some people around. Guts in particular was getting a lot look and whisper. The black Swordman didn't like that a bit so he just looked at them and gave them a cold stare that made them run off.
''Aaaaaah.'' Said the passers running off.
''Here we go, our big guy scaring everyone.'' Said Magnificio.
''Leave guts out of this.'' Said Isma
''I just thought he could handle being cool for only 5 minutes.'' Said Azan.
''Sorry Guts.'' Said Puck.
''Is ok, I am used to the stares.'' Said Guts.
The group decided to take a look on what the city had to offer and see if Schierke theory of another world was true; unfortunately it was.
Apparently there were Gods walking alongside humans in this world. Deity itself were now on the same level as the mortals, that shocked most of the group. Despite the fact that they never heard of any of those gods listed. They also heard about Familias, when a god create a group is called a familia and he or she takes care of those people like they were their children. Also, it was the best way to save money because from what they heard if you are a solo adventure and found treasure in the so called dungeon you need to give more than half to a place called the guild. The group decided that if they wanted to stay with money on this place they need it to find a god or goddess and join their familia, big trouble was who would be stupid enough to accept a bunch of people who have no idea how this system works and one of them being pretty much guts.
After a long a tiresome afternoon, they were all gathering together on a public space where they would discuss their next move.
''So we really need to join these familias thing?' Asked Isidro.
''We need too. Otherwise, we would have to sleep on the streets.'' Said Serpico.
''I don't think this would be a good idea with Casca here.'' Said Erica.
''What do we do now?" Asked Rickert.
''I guess we need to figure out what God wants to save our asses.'' Said Puck.
''Gods, cant believe they decided to go down.'' Said Guts.
''Yes, it's shocking to say none the less.'' Said Schierke.
''I never imagined this even in my wildest dreams.'' Said Isma
''So how do we find a god?" Asked Ivalera.
''I think we need to go back to the guild.'' Said Roderick
''And then register as an independent group. However for what I heard we would need to pay to register.'' Said Seprico.
''If we register right now we won't have anything to eat tonight.'' Said Azan.
''WHAT! This is outrageous, we can't afford this.'' Said Magnificio.
''This is not the time for your panic attacks douche.'' Said Isidro.
''So how should we do in regards to our situation?" Asked Guts.
''Lets split and try to find a god that needs a big group.'' Said Schierke.
''Yes, we can formulate a story and make sure they feel sorry for us.' Said Isidro.
''So how are we doing this?" Asked Puck.
''We need go to crowd places and find where Gods like to hang out. I can't believe I am saying this.'' Said Schierke.
''Ok how about this. Puck you go with Isidro, Isma and Magnificio, I will go with Serpico and Rickert, Schirke you, Ivalara and Farness go with Farness, while Guts is best to go alone.'' Said Roderick splitting the teams.
''How long do we have to do this?" Asked Isidro.
''How about two hours. Azan you stay here and take care of Erica and Casca.'' Said Farness.
''Sounds good my lady.'' Said Azan.
''Sure, let's go find a home.'' Said Schierke.
The groups all split and went to look for a god to take them in the vast city of Orario. Of course talking was more easy than just causing the action to happen, because with a large group you kind make things hard for a god to create his familia.
With Guts.
The Black Swordman was just walking, and the people couldn't stop stare at him. Because of his massive heigh, armor, scared eye and gigantic sword he was the main point to look after. Not only the regular folk, but Guts saw that there were some individuals hiding in high places just starting at him. That's what he need it more people after him.
''What a pain.'' Said him.
It didn't help that every time he try to talk with someoene they run away screaming. Guts hated socializing and now that he needs a place to stay with his party that's when he curse the loudest.
''How the fuck I am going to do this? Who would be dumb enough to accept me as a member?" Thought Guts.
With Hestia
The Godess of Hearth had just finished her work selling potatos on the streets. The job wasn't much high quality for a goddess but in order to pay the bills and put food on the table, it did enough for everyone. She was now just heading home to see her sweet Bell.
''Ok time to relax and talk with Bell-kun.'' Said her to herself.
As she walks toward home she felt something in the air.
''Huh?' Said her sensing something.
She could feel the vibrations and emotions that a person heart was transmitting while beating. She felt a heartbeat full of sadness and anger, it was almost a cry for help. She looked around to see where this beat was coming from and she found Guts, talking to a low rank god.
''Who is that?' Asked her.
''Hey are you a god?" Asked Guts
''Uhhhhh.'' Said the god scared.
''Do you need more familia members?'' Asked Guts and the God just run as fast as he could.
''No thank!'' Scream him.
''Fuck! Three in a row!'' Said him all pissed.
Hestia saw that man, he was like a level 8 adventurer and someone that had a lifetime of quest. However, she could tell that he wasn't happy at all and what little happiness he had was pretty much almost death. She was pretty much feeling sadness and sorrow for him.
''Poor child.'' Thought her.
She didn't know what she was doing, she started to walk toward the tall man and poked him in the back.
''Huh?' Asked Guts looking around to see Hestia.
''Oh hey.'' Said her a little scared but still keeping calm.
''Are you a goddess?" Asked Guts.
The Godess felt the immense fear and terrifying aura that Guts posed, however unlike the others she would keep cool and try to talk with him.
''Yes, I am Hestia goddess of the Hearth. So are you looking to being blessed?" Asked Hestia.
''Look here, I don't give a crap about gods but me and my group are lost and this is the only city in kilometers. We are staying for an untold time and we need a god, are you willing to take this risk?" Asked him.
Hestia could tell that he was speaking the truth, it was a little hard to talk since her only member was Bell and he was being ignored by other familias, but since she didn't had nothing to lose she would take a shot on talking with this man.
''Look sir, here in Orario if you want to stay on the good side and get pay a nice reward you need to treat your god and party nice. Now I know you said you don't care for gods, but you can at least just try to be nice to me. If I accept you and your friends, then you can do whatever you want as long nothing bad involves around us.'' Said Hestia.
''So is really true, you people run this city?" Asked Guts.
''Kinda, is a complicated system. If that was the case every single one of us would be rich but we can't have that luxury.'' Said Hestia.
''Fuck, so you are poor?" Asked Guts seeing that Hestia was pretty much saying ´´I don't have much to offer´´.
''Look, yes I am poor as so many other gods in this city. But if you want to live a comfy life you need to work hard in other to be rewarder. I don't know who you are and the other gods who ran away from you are right to run, you are scary as hell. However, I am whiling to give you and your friends a change to make something in this city, in order to this to happen you need to obey me. Can you do that a lest?' Asked Hestia.
Guts just saw how much steam that little goddess had, it was so pathetic that was kind of funny. He saw that this was the best he could make it right now so he decided to accepted it.
''Fine.'' Said him and Hestia just sighed.
''How many people are in your party?" Asked her.
''13.'' Said him.
''13!'' Scream her in shock. How is she going to fit all that people in the church.
''Any problem?" Asked him.
''No, you are lucky. The Hestia familia only has 1 member, so we are pretty much open.'' Said Hestia.
''You are in the bottom of the barrel in terms of Familia. Am I right?'' Asked Guts making Hestia angry again.
''Hey! You try to start a familia out of the blue, is not easy.'' Said her.
''Well that makes a good way to start learning.'' Said Guts.
''Yeah, you are right.'' Said her with puffy cheecks.
''Come on, lets get to meet the others.'' Said him
''Fine, lead the way.'' Said her.
Guts was taking Hestia to meet the others; he could tell that they would have a surprise upon seeing her looks. Guts didn't mind someone so small having gigantic boobs, he saw so much fucked up things in his life that there are a few things that shock him now a day.
''By the way I never asked your name.'' Said her.
''My name is Guts.''
''Guts, may I ask why you don't care about gods?'' Asked her.
The Black Swordman just shiver remeberign…that day, when Griffith took everything he holds dear.
''I stop believing in them a long time ago. Just because you are in front of me, it doesn't mean I have faith in you.'' Said him.
Hestia saw how strong he was saying those words, he was serious. She was trying her best to not be scared, so she talked some more.
''Then I am sure that I will put some kind faith in you. No matter what I do.'' Said her.
''Good luck. I don't think a goddess that short is going to make me believe again.'' Said him.
''What! I am serious! I am going to save your ass you gigantic idiot!'' Said her all chibi angry.
Guts just smirk at that. He didn't care what he called her, he managed to find a goddess so he and the group can save money.
With the rest.
The rest of the Black Swordman party were on the same spot that they were early. They were all hungry and cold. Just waiting for Guts to arrive. None of them had any luck in getting a god to take them, because they didn't find any of them interesting or fit to work in their familia.
''Where is Guts?" Asked Isidro.
''I bet he is dragging a god or killing one.'' Said Magnificio.
''You guys are so mean. Give Guts a little bit of a chance.'' Said Puck.
''Did Erica and Casca got in any trouble?" Asked Farness.
''No, they are well behaved. Unlike some punks I know.'' Said Azan looking at Isidro.
''Stop clomping old man.'' Said Isidro.
''HEY!'' Said Guts shouting to let everyone know.
''Guts!'' Said the group happy
''Speak of the devil.'' Said Serpico.
''I found a goddess to take us.'' Said Guts appearing with a small woman.
The group saw the woman that was with guts. She was small, like she could reach Guts stomach, has massive breast, pig tails and a really weird white outfit. Of course that look surprised the group and left them in confusion.
''Uh…'' Said Serpico in shock.
''Hello there, my name is Hestia and thanks to Guts here, I am willing to let all of you join my familia.'' Said Hestia.
The group was shocked, this was what Guts got. They look at him and he gave his expression of ´´This was the best I could find´´.
So this is it. Hestia and Guts have meet and I have to say that I am interest to write the relationship of those two. Not romantic. I mean kind mother and son. Guts didn't have any motherly figure; I mean his first one was a whore that died of plague, and he saw her dying when he was four. Hestia is the right fit to put some love and compassion in Guts, of course that's is not going to cause any problem in his badass moments, but I want some kind connection.
Also, I am trying my best not to rip off that other Berserk x Danmachi story. I know that Guts really hate God, but here he put the party first. He will declare later blasphemy and pretty much told Hestia in the face that he is just taking her so they could get a place to sleep and not to worry about losing a bunch of money. Later they will meet Bell and then go into the dungeon, it's going to be amazing.
Yes, this was a bit confusing at the start. They felt weird of the location and Schierke told them about this legend. I feel that this transaction wasn't good but it was the best that I could come up in my head. I am not proud of that way, but what can I do.
I am really happy that so many people liked this story. Let's see what else happen when the Black Swordman party meet a certain rabbit with white hair and red eyes, very soon.