After the conversation had ended between Zagreus and Shakti, the Bloody Kaiser stands outside of the Ganesha Familia's Home with the Ankusha who is face to face with a Group of Hell Knights that formed a line before standing in salute to her.
"These Hell Knights will take you to the Underworld Castle where you will stay for the temporary time." Said Zagreus as he waves a hand to the Hell Knights and then turns to look at Shakti. "I along with the other Kaisers will begin your training after we finish a few of our other tasks at hand for the day." He then crosses his arms. "also, do not worry about your duties as your Familia's Captain. I had Ploutos and Makaria be tasked in supervising your tasks. You can rest assure that they will do their best."
"yes." Shakti nodded before she looks to the side as a Skeletal Servant came outside while carrying two luggage suitcases that are filled with her belongings that was placed to the Ankusha's side. The blue haired woman did a gratitude nod to the familiar. "thank you."
The Skeletal Servant merely bowed its head while rattling its bone and then standing beside Zagreus who snaps his fingers once to make the Hell Knights formed two lines while one went and picks up Shakti's belongings.
Afterwards, Shakti leaves with the Hell Knights and left only Zagreus with his one Skeletal Servant.
"now then…" Zagreus spoke out as his helmet reforms upon his head and his eyes flashes under the visor. "for the matter of the Hestia Familia."
In the Hearth Mansion, the Hestia Familia members are gathered in the living room, but they look very tense and nervous cause they sat across from Melinoe and Polemos who sat on a couch on each side, both glaring at them with glowing eyes.
Meanwhile, Bell is sitting in the dining room next door as he is forced to stay there in silence by the Kaisers. The young man just sits by the table while served with tea and cookies by a Skeletal Servant. Thalis is also present in the room as she just stands by the door with her Saint Cross hugged against her chest.
The entire Home just stays silent as no one spoke a single word. That was until Zagreus appears by the living room's doorway
"took you long enough." Said Melinoe with a glance to Zagreus who walked in from the doorway with his Skeletal Servant that stands by the wall near the door. Th Blade Kaiser and the Arc Kaiser backflips from the couch and stands behind the furniture that the Bloody Kaiser sat upon in the middle. "the matter with that Shakti Girl is finished?"
"I have her wait for our arrival in the Underworld Castle after this matter." Zagreus stated as he crosses his arms and legs while leaning against his seat. The Kaiser looking at the Hestia Familia while his helmet detaches and shrinks from his head, his face freed and his glowing eyes revealed to be looking very menacingly at the Loli Goddess and her children. "to be precise, after this quick matter."
Hestia and the others gulped in unison as they fearfully cower against Zagreus and the other Kaisers who are glaring at them with glowing eyes.
"we're going to make this simple and easy to understand for the likes of you lot." Said Melinoe as she takes out a rolled up paper scroll that she held up before throwing to the table where it lies and soon opens to reveal that it is a contract. "we're going to allow Bell to return to this Familia, but he will remain under our supervision and care for the rest of his life."
"That contract will be signed by every single one of you lot." Said Polemos as he raises a hand and points a finger at the contract paper that soon flies and lands in Hestia's hands. The goddess soon reads the content which has terms of agreements for the Rabbit Foot in joining back the Hestia Familia. "only then we will allow Bell to return to this Familia."
"b-but these terms are just too…" Hestia spoke out as she reads the terms that are too strict for her Familia members. "how can my children even.."
"do not complain." Said Zagreus as his eyes glows menacingly at the group. "we are allowing you to be in the presence of my son. That is something you can be grateful enough after what you did to him last month."
"b-but we didn't mean to betray him!" Welf cried out. "we were just trying to protect him!"
"and you did so by keeping a secret that could've been known by others?" Zagreus asked as he glares at Welf who tensed up. "tell me. have you ever thought of the possibility that Bell's secret would've been exposed if any of you accidently loses it to someone who would wish to have it?" his eyes hardens while at the same time turned dark. "have none of you realize the possibility of my son being in terrible danger after you learn of the secret to his strength that is also his weakness?"
"w-what?" Hestia spoke out. "what do you mean? None of us would ever tell anyone Bell's secret! We!"
"you are all nothing but weaklings compared to us." Melinoe stated as she crosses an arm under her chest while having a hand raised near her face and is just flicking her fingernails together. "you say that you won't tell anyone of Bell's secret, but we meant it to the possibility of it being exposed if one of you were to…" she then cups her chin and giving a dark look at the Hestia Familia. "how do I say this?" she rubs her chin before waving a hand to the side. "Betray him?"
"w-we would never betray Bell-sama! Not in a million years!" Lili cried out before her mouth was zipped shut when Melinoe pinches two fingers together.
"Shut up, brat" Melinoe spoke out as she glares menacingly at Lili. "don't speak unless I allow it."
"Melinoe." Zagreus called out as he glance at the Blade Kaiser. "let her go."
"you know better just how much I am against this idea of yours, Zagreus." Said Melinoe as she glanced at her brother with her eye glowing menacing red. "I will do whatever it takes to keep Bell safe." She hardens her gaze as she pinched her fingers tighter that causes Lili to let out a muffled pained cry because her zipped up lips were getting pushed against each other so tight it was like they were going inside her mouth while pulling the skin of her face. "and nothing will change my decision."
Zagreus stares at Melinoe in silence as both Kaiser's eyes glows menacingly towards one another in a glaring contest that ended when the red haired elf close her eyes and looks away while releasing her hold on Lili whose lips were freed and the pallum begins holding her mouth that is aching in pain and bleeding a bit.
"do not blame me if these lots hurt Bell again." Said Melinoe as she turns and walks to a window where stands and leans against the wall near it.
Zagreus looks at Melinoe before he turns and looks back at Hestia who is watching Lili with worry as the pallum is being tended by Haruhime and Mikoto. The half elf raises a hand towards the pallum and it glows a dark aura that spreads to her.
Everyone watches with worry as the dark aura surrounds Lili's hands for a moment before dissipating as the pallum girl looks in surprise as the blood disappeared along with the aching pain on her lips.
"firstly understand this, we Kaisers don't like you all." said Zagreus as his eyes glows before his pupils became red slitted eyes like a reptile. "not one of you." He soon lowers his hand and leans against the couch. "we hate and despise each and every one of you lot for learning Bell's secret that is meant to be a secret no matter what. know shame, you pathetic fools."
The Hestia Familia frowns a bit sadly and in fear as they knew that they were guilty for betraying Bell's trust but adding that guilt with fear from the Kaisers just made them have trouble to keep themselves calm.
"Hestia Familia." Zagreus spoke as he looks at Hestia and the others. "listen well to what I have to tell each and every one of you." He hardens his gaze as his reptilian eyes glows even more. "I hate each and every one of you." His voice started to turn dark as the Bloody Kaiser raises his right hand that ignites in black fire. "I hate you all for being with my son. Each of you are nothing but weak, pathetic, insolent, and selfish maggots who I wish to burn into ashes. You lot do not know the danger that you pose to Bell. you learn the secret to his strength that is also his weakness, you lot think that you are able to keep it a secret, but you lot fail to realize that if you learn his secret it would mean that you also create the possibility of yourself being used by the enemy."
Hestia and the others didn't say a word as they couldn't. not when they are being scared to death by the Bloody Kaiser whose black fire rages and cause sparks to fly and burn the floor then made a large circle of fire that surrounds them all.
"my Familia is in a hatred relationship with the Freyja Familia. you lot don't realize that if that bitch of a slut gets her hands on any of you. The possibility of Bell's secret Skill; the Liaris Freese would've been revealed to her if that slut Charmed one of you." Zagreus growls out as the flames upon his raised hand rages and forms a demonic figure that is laughing and cackling all evilly. The Kaiser's eyes glows as his helmet reforms upon his head and the visor flashes red. His head turns and glares down angrily at Hestia who shakes in utter fear. "Goddess Hestia, you are nothing more than a fool for not realizing that the bitch of a slut was after my son from the moment she first laid eyes on him months ago! you did nothing to prevent her from getting closer to obtaining him like he was an object! you are nothing but an ignorant fool who is not worthy to be called a goddess! You are only worthy to be called trash!"
Zagreus turns and looks at Welf who tenses up.
"Welf Crozzo, you are a Crozzo and an enemy hated by all elves whose homes were burned by your ancestor's magic swords! Do you not realize the danger that you are inviting to yourself that could harm my son?!" Zagreus growls as the demonic laughing and cackling black flames formed what appears to be a mirror that reveals a possibility scenario of Bell getting attacked by Elves who hate him for being friends with a Crozzo. "my son will without a doubt try to help you and that would put him in danger! Do you plan to let him have all of your troubles!? Do you!? You're nothing more than a trouble magnet!'
Welf frowns with a very sad and guilty face as he looks like he just realized the possibility now.
Zagreus looks at the Blacksmith before he turns towards Lili.
"and you, pallum! You're the same!" Said Zagreus as he growls angrily. "You're just disgraceful in thinking that you can have a nice life after what you tried with my son those months ago!" The mirror soon reveals the past event of Lili leaving Bell to his doom against the Monsters at the Dungeon's tenth floor. "did you really believe that even after being saved and forgiven by Bell, would mean that you would be forgiven be me and my siblings?! You're pathetic in thinking that you will have my mercy for your action in endangering his life! Did you really believe that you have the rights to learn of his secret after what you did to him?! DO YOU?!"
Lili just let out small whimpers of fear as she shakes and soon cried in tears while tilting her head down.
Next was both Mikoto and Haruhime together.
"you're not truly a member of this Familia, Yamato Mikoto! You are only here temporarily to repay the debt that your real Familia, the Takemikazuchi Familia owes to the Hestia Familia! what right do you have in learning my son's secret skill?! What rights?!" Zagreus exclaimed as he glares at the black haired girl first. "you're a pathetic child! a coward! And most of all, A fool!" the mirror in the fire soon reveals what the Takemikazuchi Familia party did to Bell's party as the Pass Parade is revealed. "you believed that since you have gained new ranks in your level as an adventurer, you believed that you were able to protect your party in the deeper floors of the Dungeon! you overconfidently lead your party to their possible doom and flee in fear like pathetic cowards! Even more, you allow your party leader, Kashima Ouka to lead a pass parade upon my son whose life was nearly extinguished by your decision to support in the action! Why did you not ask for his help!? Why did you not think to end the terror by requesting assistance from other adventurers in the Dungeon?! were you afraid?! Were you a coward?! Were you nothing more than a pathetic fool?!"
Mikoto's eyes were wide as she could only look in pure fear, sadness, and guilt from hearing what Zagreus told her.
"and you!" Zagreus growls at Haruhime who squeaks in fear while already crying tears of fear and guilt. "a renard! A race that is highly sought after by power greedy tyrants! Your existence is a more danger than that of the Crozzo! Your very existence puts my son in danger! You will attract so much evil that my son would be the one to pay the price in protecting you!" the mirror now reveals Haruhime's conversation with Bell when she was still with the Ishtar Familia. "did you believe that you the right to be with him?! did you believe that your life would be in happiness on the day he saved your life!?" his eyes soon hardens and glares more menacing at the blonde fox who is crying while feeling extreme guilt from hearing all his words. "Did you believe that you have the rights to have feelings for him?!"
Zagreus dissipates the flames upon his right hand's grasp as he raise his fist up and then slams it down to the table that shatters into thousands of pieces while the power behind it cause the entire room and Home to shake violently for a moment.
"you fool believe that you can protect Bell from Danger?! Fools!" Zagreus shouted in pure anger as the flames around the group flew and gather around the Bloody Kaiser's armor that expanded and soon lit ablaze in causing the armored half elf to become a demonic blazing monster that scared the Hestia Familia. "you do not realize that the real Danger that you are supposed to protect Bell from is yourselves! Your very existence is nothing but danger to my own son!"
The Hestia Familia look in pure terror at the Kaiser whose burning silhouette forms a dark and laughing demonic figure that grew and looks down upon them.
'i-is he really a person!?' Hestia thought while in complete fear. 'is this person really Bell-kun's father?! Is he really a human!?'
The goddess and her Familia continued to cower in fear while Melinoe and Polemos merely looks unfazed.
Zagreus keeps on unleashing the flames that burns around his entire body, the demonic fire monster growls and laughs evilly at the Hestia Familia who continues to cower in fear of its presence that disappears when the Bloody Kaiser swings a hand to the side in causing the fire that burns him, to dissipate.
Steam flies around Zagreus' armor that shrinks its expanded parts piece by piece before his helmet detaches from his face that has his eyes closed.
Zagreus let out a sigh as he slowly opens his eyes and looks at the Hestia Familia.
"that is all of my personal opinion about each and every one of you." Said Zagreus as he hardens his gaze a bit. "I have every right to be angry and hateful against you all. I wish for nothing but to take Bell away from this Familia and destroy it with every ounce of my power." He raise his right hand and forms a hard fist that he soon pulls down. "but I won't do it. I won't destroy this Familia that Bell loves with all his heart."
Hestia made a surprised and confused noise as she and her Familia looks at Zagreus who began to have a sincere and soft expression on his face.
"from the first time I held him as an infant with his mother; Meteria by my side to the first time I see him all grown up and had become a fine adventurer just years after I left him." said Zagreus as he slowly closes his eyes and remembering a time of the past when he was with Meteria who is giggling happily to her baby Bell in her arms, the child squealing in glee as he was tickled by his mother. "I wished for him to live a life of peace in the village, but the hands of fate had tempered with my action and made him walk the path and live a life as an adventurer." He raises his right hand as the contract paper that lies in the broken pieces of the table, flew up and floats near the Kaiser. "as his father, I want what is best for him. I promise his mother to keep him safe no matter what, but that vow of mine is obstructed from all the chaos and evil that lingers in Orario. I am Bell Cranel's Father, but I am also the Leader of the Kaiser Familia whose duty is to protect this city." The contract floats as the letters written within it started to shuffle and rearrange their alphabets one by one. "That is why I will give you all a second chance to redeem yourselves, Hestia Familia."
Hestia and the others made a surprised noise as Zagreus held the floating contract upon his grasp before he leans it forward to let it float to the group. The goddess of hearth catching the piece of paper and sees that the contract's terms have changed.
"you will do your utmost best to train yourselves to make your weakness into your strengths, you will ensure that Bell won't be in danger of your own existence," Zagreus spoke as the words in the contracts glows a rainbow color for a moment. The Kaiser slowly opening his eyes as they had a serious glint in them. "You will do your best to be at his side in the darkest of times." The half elf raises his right hand and snaps his fingers once to make a quill pen appear floating near Hestia who looks in surprise to the object. "That is my wish for you to make a reality, Hestia Familia."
Hestia and her Familia members look at the contract for a moment as they are all filled with the terms of them must be helpful to Bell who they will always look after and protect at all times. They read every last words written before turning towards Zagreus.
"may i…speak a few words?" Hestia asked the Bloody Kaiser who quickly raises a hand in stopping Polemos from saying another word. He then did a head nod to which the goddess nodded back and then coughs into a fist once before looking a bit sincere and serious at the same time. "we are sorry for hurting Bell-kun."
Hestia bowed her head and everyone else followed a few seconds later.
"we…no, I wanted to protect Bell-kun and his secret skill from anyone." Hestia spoke out. "and I realize that your words that day were true. I was jealous, I was too selfish, I was nothing more than a child than a goddess. I put my own selfish desire at first point than that of Bell-kun. I am truly sorry."
"your apology isn't meant for me." said Zagreus as he leans against his seat. "that is meant for my son and not for myself."
"I know, but I must apologize to you." Hestia replied. "I am the goddess and yet my weak points were pointed out by you. i…I am truly pathetic."
"us too." Said Welf as he continues to bow to Zagreus with the others. "we always knew that we were a danger to Bell, but we never knew how much danger he was in just being with us."
"We're very sorry." Lili added in while still crying some tears that she wiped away. "we did our best to protect Bell-sama from the dangers outside that we forgot about the danger that we are to him."
"my guilt and debt to Bell-dono and everyone remains in my heart, I with all my honesty can state that I am still unworthy to be forgiven after learning Bell-dono's secret." Mikoto spoke out next as she bows even more. "truly! I truly apologize with all my life!"
"I as well. I was a prostitute that still poses danger to Bell-sama and is not yet proven to be truly worthy of Bell-sama.." Haruhime spoke in a whisper while trying to stop her tears.
The group keeps on apologizing to Zagreus who watches them all while Polemos and Melinoe looks annoyed and pissed.
"enough." Said Zagreus as he gets up from his seat. "if you wish to convey your apologies to anyone, convey them to my son." He turns and begins walking towards the door with Melinoe and Polemos following behind. "I have no need to hear apologies that are not meant for myself."
Hestia and the others watched Zagreus and the others who opens the door as Bell with Thalia are standing behind.
"B-Bell-kun…" Hestia spoke out in surprise as Zagreus placed a hand to his son's shoulder and leans close to whisper some words to his right ear.
"dad…" Bell muttered in a whisper as he looks at his father who nods.
"take your time." Said Zagreus as he patted his son's shoulder a few times before he along with Polemos, and Melinoe leaves the room and joins Thalia who gently pushed Bell inside.
"remember that you don't have to forgive them at all, Bell." said Melinoe as Zagreus looks at her while he closes the door.
Bell looks at the now closed door before he turns and looks at his Familia. The two sides stays silent as they didn't a speak a single word.
While Bell remains in the room with his Familia, Zagreus and the other Kaisers gathered at the front door where they linger around in awaiting for the young white haired man to reconcile with his friends.
"you are a fool to believe that they can truly protect Bell, Zagreus." Said Melinoe as she leans against a wall near the front door, the Blade Kaiser having an accusing look to Zagreus who just stands and gazes at the fountain in the Home's front yard. "they're traitors who we should kill and destroy right now."
"Melinoe is right." Polemos added in as he stands a few feet away from Zagreus while just punching a fist to a palm repeatedly. "I don't like them from the day we first met. They're nothing but maggots that needs to be stepped upon."
"and we can't forget the fact that Bell is someone who is too naïve which means we cannot ensure his safety with the likes of them." Thalia stated while slamming the bottom of her Saint Cross to the ground. "take action now or we will."
"you will do nothing." Said Zagreus as he turns his head and glares at the three Kaisers with his glowing eyes. "I wish for the same as you three, but I must act in a way that is corresponding with Meteria's last request to me." he hardens his sight as his pupils turned black slitted reptilian. "let Bell be with his Familia."
Melinoe and the other two Kaisers glares back at Zagreus as their eyes begins to glow.
The four Kaisers got into a glaring contest as they just unleashed pressuring auras that clashed against one another.
Zagreus can feel himself getting overpowered by his fellow Kaisers but he widens his eyes and breaks the glaring contest cause Melinoe and the others staggered back when they felt the power from the Bloody Kaiser just pushing back against them.
"do not dare to trifle against my actions." Said Zagreus as he turns and looks back at the fountain while Melinoe and the others have a very displeased expression on their faces that disappeared when they turn and look at the other directions.
Zagreus looks at the three before he huffs a bit and turns to look back at the fountain.
The Kaisers went silent as none speak nor look at each other.
Zagreus remains looking at the fountain as he stares at the flowing water before his helmet suddenly reforms upon his head and had a small spark of fire when an arrow came and nearly hit him.
The flying projectile falls into Zagreus' grasp as the Kaiser held the arrow up and turns his head to look at it. the arrow's tip is blunted from clashing against the helmet's metal plating, but it is coated in greenish purple liquid that is dripping to the ground that is melted concluding that it is an acidic type of poison.
"Melinoe, Polemos, Thalia." Zagreus calls out to the other Kaisers who turns their head at his direction. The Bloody Kaiser lifts his head up and looks somewhere above his position. His eyes glows under his helmet's visor as he sees a pair of cloaked individuals equipped with arrows and bows are fleeing from the top of a roof nearly 10 kms away. He raises the arrow and grips it hard to the point it suddenly burns in black flames. "kill one and interrogate the other."
The other three Kaisers looks at Zagreus before their eyes glows menacingly and they disappeared into black blurs.
Zagreus remains in his position for a moment as he turns his head and looks upon the ashes of the arrow that he burned in his grasp.
"pathetic slut of a bitch." Said Zagreus as he throws the black dust away by swinging his hand to the side before his eyes flares under his helmet's visor. "try as you might, you're nothing but a pathetic child against my Familia's might." The Kaiser lifts his head and glares at the sky that suddenly has a glass like crack that shatters into dust. "you may be nothing more than being the pathetic goddess you are."
Screams are heard in a dark room as Freyja is grasping her eyes that are bleeding while banging her head against a table.
"You! You! You Kaisers! How dare you!? How dare you?!" Freyja screams out as she pulls down her gripping hands that has their fingers just digging against the skin of her eyes that were blood red. "he's mine! that boy is mine! he belongs to me!"
Freyja continues to scream while in her vision sight is the dark burning silhouette of the woman with glowing red eyes that has a white fire forming a smirk and seems to be laughing.
"HADES! WHY WON'T YOU DIE?! YOU LEFT ORARIO YEARS AGO AND YET YOU DARE APPEAR BEFORE ME AGAIN!? WHY DON'T YOU JUST DISSAPEAR!?" Freyja screams as she just continues to go berserk in her hideout that has members of her Familia who looks quite unnerved to their goddess' actions.
"we must find a way to soothe Freyja-sama's emotions." Hedin whispers to Hogni who nods with a rather scared look from seeing how their goddess is just looking unbecoming of herself.
"but how?" Hogni whispers back to his Light Elf comrade. "we've tried everything that is possible to kill the Kaisers and each time we tried, we failed with more of our numbers dwindling." He soon shivers a bit when he remembers a time when the Dark Elf King was spying on Zagreus who was talking to Riveria, he was watching them and trying to hear their conversation but the Bloody Kaiser glance at his direction with his glowing red left eye that turns reptilian and instantly scared the Dainsleif who soon fleas. "there is no possible way to defeat them."
"you don't have to defeat them." Freyja spoke out as Hedin and Hogni turns and looks a bit surprised to their goddess who lifts her head up while looking at the wall before she then turns to look at the two elves with a blood crazed look on her face. "YOU HAVE TO DESTROY THEM!"
Zagreus remains in his place as he is still glaring at the sky with his eyes just glowing brighter under the visor of his helmet but soon dims and his helmet detaches from his head. The Kaiser turns around and looks at the front door of the Hearth Mansion that opens for Bell to come out with his Familia members, everyone having a bit of a puffy eyes from crying but there is a sign of happiness, relief, and joy in them.
"finished reconciling with them?" Zagreus asked Bell who nods while wiping away a small bead of tear around his right eye. "good." he raises his hand and strokes his son's head a few times. "do remember that you can always come to my Familia if you ever need help, alright?"
"I will." Bell nodded with a smile as Zagreus pulls away his hand, the young man then looking side to side before to the Kaiser while having a confused face. "where's Aunt Melinoe and the others?"
"Something urgent had occurred and it needed their help to resolved." Zagreus replied as he glanced to the side. "They won't be coming back until they finish it."
"I see…" Bell muttered out, looking oblivious.
Zagreus looks and nods to his son before he faces Hestia and her Familia members.
"the contract?" Zagreus asks as Hestia came forward and presented the contract paper that has been signed with her signature and along with Welf and the others. "do remember that the terms of this contract are binding and if any of you break just one of them.." his eyes hardens with a dark gaze. "I won't care of your lives."
"y-yes…" Hestia replied a bit unnerved while nodding. "we understand. We understand very well."
Zagreus looks at the goddess before he closes his eyes and holds up his right hand that has a Halo Ring materializing upon his grasp. the Kaiser held the item and held it towards Bell who gently takes it.
"I will call my son from time to time to check on him. he will report to me what you all have been doing for the days that will come and pass." Said Zagreus as he opens his eyes that are glowing. "do remember that I along with the other Kaisers do not trust any of you completely." He raises his right hand and made a loud finger snap that calls two squads of Hell Knights and Skeletal Servant to appear by the fountain by magic. "these Hell Knights and Skeletal Servant will ensure that my son and your Familia is safe from the harms of Freyja Familia and the other evil Familias. Do not dare to obstruct their duties. They are here to protect my Son as their first priority and they have no care for any of you. Understood?"
"yes.." Hestia bows her head as Welf and the others followed in action.
"good." said Zagreus who holds up the contract paper and waves a hand over the words that began to shuffle once again. He then turns to look back at Hestia and the others. "also, I will not allow any romantic relationship of my son with any female in this Familia."
"w-what!?" said Hestia along with Lili in shock but the two shuts up when Zagreus hardens his gaze at them.
"My Son deserves the best and you lot are not the best." Said Zagreus as he glanced at Bell who looks a bit flustered. "He may have his hearts set on someone, but that someone I have not deemed to be worthy of him." he then looks back at Hestia and the others. "If you truly wish to have the rights to earn his love, then prove to me and the other Kaisers that we can trust you. Prove to us that you have what it takes to care for Bell and protect him from harm." He rolls up the contract paper that disappears into sparkles. "That is my one and only advice to you, Hestia Familia."
Hestia and the others look at Zagreus whose helmet reforms upon his head and his eyes flashes under the visor, the Kaiser turns towards Bell and patted his head a few times before he turns around and walks forward before disappearing in a black blur.
Meanwhile, upon the Underworld Castle.
In one of the many rooms that is available in the floating Home, the door was opened by a Skeletal Servant that went in and bowed to Shakti who came in and looks a bit amazed to the interior and the furniture provided.
"to think that the Kaiser Familia could have such level of luxury…" Shakti whispers before she looks to the side as the Skeletal Servant placed her luggage near the bed then bows to her. "thank you."
The familiar servant left the room and closes the door to let Shakti to begin unpacking her belongings, the Ankusha is going to be trained by the Kaisers and she is given the room as a place to stay.
As Shakti is unpacking her clothing, she hears knockings from the door.
"please come in." Shakti replied as the door opens for a Skeletal Servant to come in while carrying a metal tray with an object placed upon it. the Ankusha turns towards the familiar and sees that it has brought a set of black and white training outfits that has the marking symbols of the Kaiser Familia imprinted upon its fabric. "this is?"
"Zagreus Kaiser has given the order to provide you this clothing when your training begins." The Skeletal Servant replied in a robotic voice as it leans the tray forward to Shakti. "the Kaisers shall return in 4 hours and in the passing time, please use the time to rest."
"I understand." Shakti replied as she nods before taking the training outfits and nods to the Skeletal Servant in gratitude. "thank you."
The familiar bowed and leaves the room with the door closed.
"to become a Kaiser, huh?" Shakti whispers as she held her training outfit and looks at the markings of the Kaiser Familia's symbol upon it.
After a few hours, Shakti is now found walking in the hallways of the Underworld Castle. The Ankusha wearing the training outfit provided to her as she is adjusting the straps of her hand wrappings while following a Skeletal Servant that guides her to a very large metal gate that is chained and locked in place by two giant stone statues of cyclops that has their hands on the metal surface.
Shakti looks at the gate with a bit of amazement as she could tell that it was at least 30-40 feet high.
"you're prepared." Zagreus' voice is heard as Shakti turns to see the Kaiser coming while still wearing his armor that his helmet covering his face. "how do your training outfits feel?"
"perfect." Shakti replied with a nod before looking at her wrapped up fists. "it's strange that they feel perfectly comfortable. As if I've worn them for years and such."
"is that so?" Zagreus spoke out before he looks at the gate and raises his right hand towards it. "with your will and determination set, let us begin you training in the Kronos Stasis."
The Bloody Kaiser's eyes glows as the chains on the metal gate begins to break and retract themselves into four large holes located on the side of the walls. The stone cyclops' eyes glows red in life as their bodies begins to move in pulling the gate open slowly.
Shakti just looks in incredible awe to see the gate opening by the moving statues but she soon closes and shields her eyes when she sees white light coming from within the gateway.
"b-bright!" Shakti grunted a bit in pain as she closed her eyes tight for a moment before slowly opening them and becomes surprised. "t-that is…"
"come." Zagreus spoke out as he walks through the opened gates and enters a part of the Underworld Castle that is completely white. "enter the Kronos Stasis and let us begin your training."
Shakti didn't speak a word as she just looks in shock to see herself entering a room that is pure white and could see nothing but the one color.
When Shakti had entered the white yet vast looking chamber, the gate slowly closes behind as the stone cyclops locks it shut.
"w-what is this place?" Shakti asked as she walks around in trying to find the edge of the white room but even after going nearly 40 feet away from Zagreus and the metal gate way, she still can't find it. "it's so vast."
"this is the Kronos Stasis." Zagreus spoke out as he walks towards Shakti while his helmet detaches from his head. "it is a world where time and space bends and fluxes together in causing a reality that is different from the outside world." He then suddenly appears in front of the Ankusha and then behind her. "this place was created over a hundred years ago by Makaria who discovered a magic that can slow down time."
"slow down…time?" Shakti asks as Zagreus nods before he snaps his fingers and causes the white room to flash for a moment.
Shakti closes her eyes for the flash and opens them to see that she is now standing upon a stone arena of some sort of ancient stone colosseum.
"here you are standing upon the Kaiser Temple, a foundation made by the 8 Kaisers of Orario as our training grounds." Said Zagreus as he waves a hand to the side and snaps his fingers that causes golden sparkles to float up from the stone floors and gather to form a human shape glowing silhouetted figure. "this is where we will begin your training in this world void of the laws of the real world and here is your training partner."
"t-that is…" Shakti spoke out in complete surprise and in shock as the gathering sparkles forms a human who is revealed to be the Ankusha herself but her entire appearance differs from the original. "m-me!?"
"the only way for you to surpass your limits is to surpass your own self." Said Zagreus as he looks at the other Shakti whose hair color is red, her outfit pure white, and she looks void of emotions. "this is how the Kaisers have trained in order to become who we are now." He then looks at the original Shakti. "surpass yourself, Shakti Varma. Only then will you be able to achieve the power that lays dormant within you."
Shakti looks at Zagreus a bit in surprise before to her doppelganger who raises her fists and got into a battle stance that she is very familiar with.
"we will begin with a warm up practice." Said Zagreus as he walks away and jumps to a spectator's seat where he sat and looks upon the arena. "I will firstly examine every single hand to hand technique you have and create the right training regime for you. Do note that you are not allowed to hold back."
"why?" Shakti asked before she suddenly ducks when her copy suddenly lunges a strong and fast kick that nearly hits her head. "wha!?"
"it is because the other you is the you whose possibilities of power have been awakened." Said Zagreus as he watches Shakti now ducking and dodging the attacks from her doppelganger who unleashes a hammer punch that the Ankusha backflips away and soon looks in shock to see a part of the ground shattered into pieces after the punch hits the stone surface. "do your best to learn of your own potential, Shakti Varma."
Shakti tenses as she grits her teeth and got into a battle stance against her copy that did the same.
Both looked at one another before they dash and clashed in a power battle while just staring at one another.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye