Nearly a week had passes in Orario, Bell had returned to his Familia but with the addition of him being supervised by the Hell Knights and the Skeletal Servant left by Zagreus. Even with his son now reconciled with Hestia and the others, the Kaiser still doesn't trust them enough to protect his son.
By the passing days, Bell also learns from his Familia about everything that has been occurring in Orario while he was obliviously living in the Underworld Castle. The young boy was appalled to know how much destruction that his father and his family members have been causing over the passing weeks.
Currently, Bell is found in his bedroom and the young boy is looking upon the Underworld Castle by the window of his room.
"dad…why?" Bell spoke out while frowning sadly.
Bell continues to watch the Underworld Castle as he wishes to talk to his father about his Familia's actions upon Orario.
Meanwhile, in the Kaiser Familia's Home.
the Kaisers minus Zagreus, and Thalia have gathered in their throne rooms as they are in the middle of a discussion.
"so? how are things with Ganesha's Familia?" Melinoe asks while looking over some papers floating by her side. The Blade Kaiser flicks a finger at one as it causes flames to burn it to ashes. She then turns to look at Ploutos and Makaria. "trouble handling the brats and maggots?"
"not much." Ploutos replied while leaning against his seat. The Iron God Kaiser yawning once before he holds up a rolled up scroll that he throws and let it floats towards Melinoe who catches and begins to unravel it. "for a bunch of brats, they know well to understand and follow our commands like soldiers. It's like they're well behaved kids in a way."
"who can blame them?" Makaria asked while overlooking dozens of floating crystals that shows reflections of every member of the Ganesha Familia who are doing patrols over the city. "they seen how powerful the Hell Knights are, and they sure enough won't want to piss any of us." She then looks at Ploutos. "it's more like they are well behaved since they don't want to get killed."
"that's obvious." Said Melinoe as she reads the content of the scroll that she burns into ashes. She sighs and looks at Polemos. "have Thalia finished extracting the information from that assassin?"
"she got nothing other than the guy was working for an assassination Familia from outside the city." Polemos replied as he place his elbow on his arm rest and leans his cheek against his fist. "the assassin is from the Phonoi Familia which was thought to have been destroyed nearly 30 years ago."
"Phonoi Familia…" Makaria spoke out as she looks at Melinoe. "wasn't that the Familia you destroyed when you left on the mission to Rakia, Melinoe-nee?"
"now that you mention it…" Melinoe spoke as she looks up while cupping her chin. "there were assassins trying to kill me as I established the peace agreement of Orario and Rakia…" she closes her eyes and held up her hands while shrugging her shoulders. "I slaughtered every last assassin, but I didn't bother getting to know who they were. I only knew that they were from the Phonoi Familia and that's it."
"weren't you drunk that time?" Polemos asked as Melinoe merely smirks a bit in response that made him sigh a bit annoyingly. "I thought so."
As they were conversing, Thalia appears sitting upon her throne. The Saint Kaiser let out a sigh while placing her Saint Cross by the side of her seat.
"finished with the interrogation?" Makaria asked her sister who nodded and leans against her seat. "tired?"
"just annoyed from an obvious fact about the assassin." Thalia replied while sighing. "the guy was Charmed into doing the attempted assassination."
"Charmed, huh?" said Melinoe as she now has a dark look on her face. "I don't think we have to guess on who the culprit is, do we?"
"it ain't the slut." Thalia stated as this made all the Kaisers look at her direction. "The guy was Charmed by someone else."
"someone else? Who?" Polemos asked Thalia who waves a hand up and a glass vial filled with purplish red liquid appeared floating upon her palm. "that is?"
"the stomach contents of the assassin." Thalia replied while taking hold of the item.
"that's just gross." Said Ploutos with a bit of a disgusted face. "why the heck you took out his lunch and stuff?"
"it's because he was Charmed in a way that is unlike anything I have ever seen before." Thalia replied while twirling the vial in her grasp. "I checked his entire physics, from head to toe for an entire week. I found that he was Charmed but he was Charmed indirectly. Basically saying that he was drugged into being Charmed."
"drugged? Drugged into being charmed?" said Makaria as she sound baffled. "that's something very unusual."
"unusual, yes. But it is highly effective." Thalia replied while nodding as she held the vial and let it float to the center of the room where screens like mirrors appeared to show a holographic image of the assassin that tried to kill Zagreus a week ago. "I checked his stomach content as I found out that he drank wine that has a mixture of herbs and magic stone that has been enchanted with mind controlling magic. It's like a lesser version of a God's Charm that works its way to control and manipulate the consumer's mind." The screen shows an x-ray like image of the assassin that has his brain shown and is glowing. "I've seen the effect of a god's charm on a person, and this was the same thing. Whoever made the drink had the intention of framing the attempted assassination on these guys instead."
"Evilus remnants?" Polemos asked as he looks at the dead assassin's image before it disappears.
"highly possible." Thalia nods.
"they want us to focus so much on that bitch in order to move with whatever they are planning undetected, huh?" Ploutos stated as he crosses his arms. "hate to admit it, we were nearly fooled for a second there."
"is there anything else you can find, Thalia?" Makaria asked her sister. "like the origin of the herbs perhaps?"
"the herbs were daily bought and sold everywhere in Orario." Thalia shakes her head while waving a hand up and then to the side. "trying to trace their origins would literally be finding a needle in a haystack." She soon points a finger up. "but, there is something we can trace."
"that is?" Ploutos asked.
"it's the wine, isn't it?" Melinoe stated as Thalia nods before holding up her hand that has a high brand bottle of wine appearing in her grasp. "is it a specific type of wine or what?"
"it's a unique type of wine that is made by only one Familia." said Thalia as she threw the wine to Melinoe who caught and checks the maker of the brand. "the Dionysus Familia to be precise."
"that drunkard playboy of a god, huh?" said Polemos as he rubs his chin. "he was one of the few gods I didn't manage to collect during the time we purged the city."
"that settles it then." said Melinoe as she grasped the bottle of wine and destroyed it, causing a splash of red liquid to spill upon the floor and drips around the Blade Kaiser's grasp. "Dionysus Familia is a threat and possibly a supporter of Evilus."
"I'll immediately post up wanted posters and danger signs of them." Said Makaria as she waves a hand to one of the glass crystals that glows red. "I'm going to send a group of Hell Knights straight at the Dionysus Familia's Home."
"I'll lead the charge." Said Polemos as he gets off his seat. "Ploutos, you're with me."
"don't you dare put more work on me, Polemos." Said Ploutos as he sighs while standing up with his hands in his pocket. "it's already hard enough managing Ganesha's brats and making equipment for that Shakti girl at the same time."
Both Polemos and Ploutos soon disappears from the throne room and only leaves the three female Kaisers behind.
"speaking of that Shakti." Thalia spoke out as she looks at Makaria. "is Zagreus still training her in the Kronos Stasis?"
"for the entire last week." Said Makaria with a nod as she waves a hand on a few crystals that glows and flashes to reveal the inside of the Kronos Stasis and in the stone arena field where there is Zagreus who is standing and watching a Shakti who is standing on top of a tall and high poll with only one hand at the top, the Ankusha looking extremely tired and worn out but she continues to train under the Kaiser's teachings. "it usually takes three days for someone unlike us to go crazy in that place. But she is still holding on quite well."
"goes to show that she has the potential, right?" said Melinoe as she held up her hand and shrugs her shoulders before she gets off her seat and place a hand to her waist. "I'm going to go and check on Bell for a moment. You two can manage everything else?"
"like we have a choice?" Makaria asked as she flicks a crystal that moves away while showing a reflection of the Ganesha Familia members apprehending a merchant and his goons with the help of the Hell Knights. "I'll just be managing Ganesha's brats until Ploutos-nii comes back."
"I'll help with that." Said Thalia as she waves a hand out and in, some crystals that were with Makaria instantly floats to her side. "got to keep my mind off with something."
"you just don't want to have the possibility of doing more stomach pumping and stuff." Said Makaria to Thalia who shrugs her shoulders while Melinoe laughs a bit.
Melinoe snaps her fingers before the three women disappears from the Throne Room in a flash.
Meanwhile at one part of Orario, there is Aiz along with Tione, Tiona, and Lefiya both were doing some grocery shopping but are having a hard time doing so considering how the stores selling foods and stuff have sometimes reject to give them service.
Right now, the small group are heading back to their Home with a few grocery bags as they only managed to get some food from small stores.
"we're going to starve at this rate…." Tiona whined a bit as the Loki Familia's income has been so bad that they are barely surviving on food and everything else. "I'm going hungry! I had to sell my Urga just to buy one slab of meat~! It's frustrating!"
"don't whine! it's so annoying already!" said Tione as she looks incredibly frustrated. The Jormugand looking at the grocery bags in her grasp as there is only scrap food like leftover vegetables and fruits. "to think we are reduced to only eating this stuff." She then grits her teeth and glares a bit angrily at the Underworld Castle that is hovering by the Babel Tower. "I am beginning to hate those Kaisers."
"just how is our Familia supposed to survive like this?" Lefiya asked with a sad frown. "we have no Home, our finances is growing dry, and we're barely surviving with how many members we are having left."
In the passing week, after all what the Kaisers had done in destroying the Loki Familia's Home. there have been departures from the low ranked members who left because they couldn't live with a Familia that is targeted and hated.
"we might have to leave Orario if this keeps on." Said Tiona with a frown. "it's getting so hard just to live a single day through with how much we're having left."
"do you plan to betray the Captain!?" Tione exclaimed at her sister. "we're a Familia and you think of running away?! There's no way we can do such a thing!"
"then what are we supposed to do?!" Tiona cried out as she stops and faces her sister. "our Familia's reputation went downhill, we're growing poor by the passing day, and we can barely survive nowadays!" she soon frowns sadly. "I don't want to leave or do anything that means disbanding the Familia, but what are we supposed to do?"
Tione looks at Tiona before she frowns in understanding what she was saying.
"Tione-san….Tiona-san…." Lefiya muttered out while frowning to the Amazon Sisters, she then turns towards the Sword Princess beside her. "Aiz-san, what should we do?"
Lefiya looks at Aiz who remained silent as she just had her doll like expression on her face.
"i….i'm worried about Riveria." Aiz spoke out as Lefiya made a noise and she looks down with a frown.
True to the Sword Princess' words, Riveria is living a hell of her life as she had been brought back to the Loki Familia a week ago and has been living a solitary life away from her comrades. The Nine Hells just stays at one corner of their temporary residence as she just cries all day long while only resting when she got tired.
"just what did Zagreus Kaiser do to Riveria-sama?" Lefiya whispers.
The small group decided to continue their path to their Familia's temporary Home, they planned to get the groceries back to them but stopped when they see some crowds by a bar and are just chatting a bit loudly.
"hey did you hear!? That Shakti Varma of the Ganesha Familia got captured by the Kaiser Familia!" "she was taken!?" "yeah, I heard that she got a bad deed she did and they've arrested her!" "what? no! she was recruited by them! I heard it from my friend who is a Ganesha Familia member!" "she is recruited? For what?" "I don't know, but I heard that she's been chosen as a new Kaiser!" the group chattered amongst each other as it got the attention of Aiz and the others.
"d-did you hear what they say?" Tione asked as Tiona nodded.
"Shakti became a Kaiser?" Tiona spoke out. "how?"
"I heard that she's going to be trained personally by Zagreus Kaiser too!" one person in the bar called out with a big surprised face. "Can you imagine how strong she will be!?"
Hearing the words caused Aiz to look in complete jealously and frustration that turns into pure desperation.
"strong…" Aiz spoke out as Lefiya hears her.
"Aiz-san?" Lefiya looks at the blonde before making a surprised noise when she suddenly took off. "Aiz-san!?"
"Aiz! Where are you going!?" Tiona cried out as Aiz just runs away while dropping her grocery bag to the ground. "Aiz…"
"I think something bad is going to happen…" Tione muttered out as she believes she knows the reason why Aiz just took off. "something very bad."
The Sword Princess rushes on the street as she is going west.
'it's not fair! It's not fair!' Aiz cried out in her mind as she looks incredibly desperate. 'I have to become stronger to get my Mother back! why does she get to become strong and I'm not!? Why!?'
At the Ganesha Familia's Colosseum, there is a large number of Ganesha Familia members just doing push ups on the sandy field as they are being supervised by Ganesha who is also being supervised by Thalia while Makaria is nearby and is still looking at the many crystals that floats around her side.
"another 10 more pushups to go! Keep strong, everyone!" Ganesha cheered for his children before doing a pose. "and also! I am Ganesha!"
"please stop making this more tormenting for us, Ganesha-sama!" the people cried out in agony as they seem to be doing this pushups for more than the regulation time.
"if you lot have the strengths to blabber, than I suggest using it to do your training!" Thalia shouted as she raises her Saint Cross and slams the bottom to the ground, causing a quick tremor of an earthquake that vibrates the land for a moment. "anyone who doesn't finish doing another 15 push ups in the next 5 seconds! I will make them clean every dirty drainage in every part of Orario for an entire year! Got it!"
"Y-YES!" they cried out in unison before doing their push ups faster.
"slave driver like always…" a voice called out as Thalia turns and sees Hephaestus coming, the goddess waving at the Kaiser with a smile. "am I bothering at the wrong time?"
"no, not really." Thalia replied while turning around to face the goddess. "what brings you here, Hephaestus?"
"just want to give you some messages for Zagreus' plan." Said Hephaestus as she reaches to her back and takes out wax sealed letters that she hands over to Thalia. "I was told to give it to Ploutos, but since he wasn't available. You and Makaria there were the next choices."
"true." Thalia nods as she takes the letters and checks the sender's name. "to think that there were this many still awaiting for us to return to the city…"
"goes to show that they trust your Familia more than anyone else." Hephaestus replied with a smile. "even I have to admit that having your Familia back is the most reassuring thing that has ever happened over the years."
"I guess so." Thalia chuckles a bit as she held up the letters that disappears into sparkles. "I'll send them directly to Zagreus later."
Hephaestus nods before she looks surprised when the ground suddenly rumbles from a loud explosion coming from a distance.
"what was that?" Hephaestus asked as she and a few other people in the Colosseum turns to see a large amount of smoke flying into the air from somewhere in the city. "an explosion?"
"that would be Brother Polemos and Brother Ploutos." Said Thalia all calm, "currently, we got tracks on another Evilus' supporter who has been hiding in plain sight for years."
"really?" Hephaestus asked while blinking her one eye twice. "who?"
"it's….!?" Thalia was about to reply but she made a serious noise while suddenly grabbing Hephaestus by the shoulder and pulls her back then swings her Saint Cross up to block a sword strike from Aiz who appeared from out of nowhere.
"t-the Sword Princess!?" Hephaestus look in surprise as Aiz growls a bit while trying to push her sword against Thalia's Saint Cross.
Ganesha along with his Familia members saw what was happening as they couldn't believe their eyes.
"so, you plan to join with what that bitch wants to do with us, huh?" said Thalia as she pushes her staff against Aiz's Desperate, both in a power match that went stale in the scale. "you want to kill us Kaisers, even if it means endangering others, is it?"
Thalia grips the handle of her Saint Cross and immediately pushes Aiz away before she spins and sends a powerful kick at the Sword Princess' gut.
"Gah!" Aiz coughs out saliva and some blood before she was sent flying away and crashed to a wall that crumbles.
Many Ganesha Familia members let out small gasps as they see how Aiz was kicked away so easily by Thalia who lowers her outstretched and raised right leg that had kicked the Sword Princess.
"pathetic as always." Said Thalia while Makaria came jumping down and joins her side. The Mage Kaiser snapping her fingers as this called 10 Hell Knights to appear into the arena and surround the area where Aiz is. "capture her and send her back to the dirt where her stinking comrades are."
The Hell Knights moved in as one grabs hold of Aiz by the leg and pulls her out of the crumbled wall, only to get a sword through the gaps of its chest armor that caused it to suddenly shut down.
"this is?" Makaria looks at what was occurring as she and the others sees Aiz getting back up while wielding her Desperate.
The Sword Princess grasps her weapon in her right hand while wiping away the trail of blood on her lips with her left arm. Aiz had a look of frustration, jealously, and desperation that made her look like a mad woman instead of an adventurer.
"WHY!? WHY IS SHE ALLOWED TO BECOME STRONGER!?" Aiz screams out as she glares angrily and in tears towards Thalia and the others. "WHY WON'T YOU HELP ME BECOME STRONGER?! WHY?! WHY DOES SHAKTI GETS TO BE TRAINED BY HIM?! WHY CAN'T I BE ALLOWED TO BECOME STRONGER LIKE YOU!? WHY!?"
"What is she talking about?" Hephaestus asked completely confused.
"she's completely insane now." Said Makaria as she raises a hand in front of Hephaestus while calling two Hell Knights to come and escort the goddess away from the arena.
"I'd say." Thalia spoke out as her eyes are glowing under her blindfold, the Saint Kaiser seeing Aiz, but she is focused on the facts that the blonde was a bit malnourished, tired in mental and physical meaning, and most of all stressed. "with how much been going on with her pathetic Familia's finances. I doubt she has been eating or sleeping well."
"ANSWER ME!" Aiz screams. "WHY I CAN'T BE ALLOWED TO GET STRONGER!? WHY WON'T YOU HELP ME?! I JUST WANT TO GET HER BACK! I JUST WANT TO GET MY MOTHER BACK FROM THAT MONSTER! ANSWER ME!"
"we don't have to answer her anything." Said Thalia as she slams the bottom of her Saint Cross that made the Hell Knights readied their weapons against Aiz. "it's just luck that allowed her to take one out."
"I wonder about that…" Makaria whispers as Thalia made a noise while turning towards her.
The Hell Knights engaged in action as they begin to surround Aiz while swinging their weapons at her.
"AERIAL!" Aiz exclaimed as she summons her wind that twirls in a cyclone around her body. The Sword Princess jumps away from the Hell Knights and soars into the air before coming down and thrusts her sword into the gaps of one of the armored Familiar's body and her weapon pierced straight into its red core that shatters and cause it to shut down.
"so she studied one of the Hell Knights' weaknesses." Said Thalia with an annoyed tone. "the brat must've been desperate to get to us."
"seems so." said Makaria with a nod as the two sisters sees the Hell Knights spinning bolas that they threw towards Aiz, trying to restrain her but the Sword Princess dodges and went for the killing strike that took down two armored familiars in one go. "I have to tell Ploutos-nii about this later."
Aiz keeps on fighting against the Hell Knights as she takes each one out and in a matter of minutes, the last armored familiar fell while shutting down. The Sword Princess finished them off and is now tired because she overexerted herself in wasting a lot of her stamina and magic power.
"haaa….haaa…haaa…" Aiz huffs her breathing a bit before she turns and faces Makaria and Thalia, both Kaisers merely stands in their place and just looking at her. the Sword Princess still having her desperate expression as she takes a step forward and then another towards the two female Kaisers. "why? … why won't you help me!? …..why won't you train me to become stronger?!"
Makaria and Thalia just stayed silent as both stands in their place and face Aiz who is coming at their direction.
Aiz approaches the two Kaisers as she grips her Desperate's handle very hard like she wants to break it.
"why won't you help me!?" Aiz shouted before she was slammed to the ground by Polemos and Ploutos who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "ugh!?"
"you think we want to help a brat like you?" said Polemos as he grips and pushes Aiz's hands against her back while Ploutos takes away the Sword Princess' weapon. "you must be dreaming."
In time, Lefiya, Tione, and Tiona came into the scene. The three are by the spectator's seat as they look around and became surprised when they see Aiz getting cuffs restrain on her arms behind her back while getting pulled up by Ploutos who hands her over to two Hell Knights.
"Aiz-san!" Lefiya cried out while Tione and Tiona jump down into the arena and rushes for their friend.
"look, more maggots." Said Polemos as he along with the other Kaisers turn to see the two amazon sisters coming. "it's so admirable that they want to help their stinking blonde friend here."
"Aiz!" Tione and Tiona tried to reach for Aiz but they were stopped by a group of Hell Knights that raise their shields against the two sisters.
"hey! Stop! Aiz didn't mean to do it!" Tiona shouted out as she tried to push through but the Hell Knights slammed their shields against her and cause her to fall back. "agh!"
"leave us alone!" Tione shouted as she punches a Hell Knight on the head but it was ineffective, the armored familiar instantly counters by kicking the Jormugand on the gut before another Hell Knight went and swung the edge of its shield at the amazonness' back. "gagh!"
"what should we do with these lots?" said Ploutos as he twirls Aiz's Desperate by the bottom tip of its handle on one finger. "Take them to Tartarus?"
"we should just kill them for aggression against us." Thalia stated while slamming the bottom of her Saint Cross to the ground. Her eyes glows menacingly under her blindfold. "I just had enough of these brats."
"I'm with Thalia." Said Polemos as he grabs and grips his hold on Tione's neck, the Jormugand struggling against the hold while looking to be in pain. "these lots are peskier than mosquitos."
"let's report this to Zagreus first." Said Makaria as she crosses her arms under her chest. "as much as I want these brats gone from our paths, we have to get his approval first."
"since when do we need his approval to kill the maggots who took away our loved ones!?" Polemos growls at Makaria as he throws Tione down and allowing two Hell Knights to restrain her hands behind her back, another pair doing the same with Tiona. "I say we kill these lots to make an example for the other maggots lurking in this city! we make them all learn what happens when they mess with us!"
"that wouldn't be what Alfia would've wanted, Ploutos." Hephaestus spoke out as the goddess returns while having Hell Knights guarding her side. "not even your Familia would want you to taint yourself in blood."
"Hephaestus…you dare speak her name without my permission!?" Polemos growls before he made a noise when Hephaestus takes out the gold coin with the skeletal marking designs that made the Arc Kaiser clicked his tongue in annoyance. "that bastard must've given it to you when you wanted to talk with him, didn't he?"
"trust me when I say that I do not wish to defend Aiz Wallenstein after how she tried to attack Thalia even with myself in the way." Said Hephaestus as she took a glance at the blonde who is restrained to the ground by two Hell Knights, she then looks at Polemos. "I only wish that you be more obedient in the rules that your own Familia made with your own agreement. You taint yourself in enough blood for the past month, Polemos. Let them be judged by Zagreus for now." She then flips the coin towards the Arc Kaiser who catches it. "can you do that for her?"
Polemos looks at Hephaestus before he clicks his tongue in annoyance and pockets the coin while walking away.
"I'm done for the day." Said Polemos as he snaps his fingers and disappears in a flash of lightning and a roar of thunder.
"you defend them for what?" Thalia asked Hephaestus after seeing Polemos leaving the area.
"let's just say…" Hephaestus spoke out as she crosses her arms under her chest. "that I am only doing this to ensure that Zagreus won't go in a fight with you all when we are at an important time of the year."
"make senses when you put it that way, huh?" said Ploutos to Hephaestus who nods.
"then it is settled." Said Makaria as she raises her right arm and taps a finger to the gem of her Halo Ring. "I'm calling Zagreus now."
In the Kronos Stasis, Zagreus watches over Shakti who is now doing combat training against her doppelganger. the Kaiser watch her battle before he sees his Halo Ring just glowing its gem because of a call.
"this is Zagreus." Said Zagreus as he answered the call while taking a few steps away from Shakti. "what is it?"
"this is Makaria. Zagreus, we have a problem." Makaria's voice called out from the gem as the Mage Kaiser informs the Bloody Kaiser about what had occurred in the Ganesha Familia's colosseum.
Zagreus stays silent in hearing her explanation as he listens and understands every single detail before he glanced at Shakti and then to the Halo Ring's glowing gem.
"what should we do with them?" Makaria asked as Zagreus stays silent for a few seconds before he glance back at Shakti once more. "Zagreus?"
"release their restraints and hold them there." Said Zagreus as his eyes glows and sees Shakti is glowing in a strong white and blue aura that covers her entire body. "I'll be arriving there soon."
"I'll judge them personally myself." Zagreus' voice spoke out from Makaria's Halo Ring that soon deactivates.
Makaria looks at the magic item before to Thalia and Ploutos who she shrugs her shoulders to.
"for the love of the world…" Thalia sighs a bit tiredly while Ploutos shakes his head and then commanded the Hell Knights to pick up Aiz and the others but they released their restraints yet made them remain still.
A few seconds later, gusts of black air gather around in making a small tornado that disperses and Zagreus appears within it. the Bloody Kaiser has his helmet upon his head and his eyes glowing a bit menacingly under his visor.
Aiz sees him and instantly tried to go to him, but the Hell Knights grabs her arms and pulls her back.
Zagreus looks at her before to Makaria and the other Kaisers who are with Hephaestus.
"how many witness the attack?" Zagreus asked as Makaria waves a hand towards Ganesha and his Familia members who have been staying quiet in the entire moment. The Bloody Kaiser looks at them and then back to the Mage Kaiser "that many, huh?" he then turns towards Aiz and two of her Familia members. "only these three?"
"no, there's another one." Said Makaria as she turns her head to the side to see a Hell Knight escorting Lefiya who has been restrained with her hands behind her back and a piece of rope gagging her mouth, preventing her from chanting any magic. "these four are in a group, but seeing how this blonde over here attacked Thalia first upon arrival…" she looks at Aiz who keeps on struggling against the Hell Knights before back to the Bloody Kaiser. "I would say that she attacked on her own whim, the two amazons and the elf brat tried to stop her but failed." She then shrugs her shoulders. "seems that these maggots have become hostile after what has become of their Familia."
"I see…." Zagreus spoke out while nodding once before he turns and faces Aiz. "Loki Familia's Sword Princess; Aiz Wallenstein. State your defense for the reason of your hostile action against my sister; Thalia Kaiser." He tilts his head a bit and his eyes glows pure red under his visor. "your fate along with your comrades depends on what your answer is."
Aiz glares at Zagreus as she struggles against the Hell Knights and breaks free before facing the Kaiser head on while making the armored familiars go hostile in action but stopped when Makaria raises a hand that stops them.
"WHY?! WHY DO YOU HELP SHAKTI AND NOT ME!?" Aiz cried out in anger, jealousy, and desperation. "WHY CAN'T I BECOME STRONGER?! WHY WON'T YOU HELP ME BECOME STRONGER?! I JUST WISH TO BECOME STRONGER! TO DEFEAT THAT MONSTER! TO TAKE BACK MY MOTHER WHO WAS TAKEN FROM ME! WHY?!"
Zagreus stays silent as he looks at Aiz with his eyes glowing brighter for a few second before dimming
"jealousy, is it?" Zagreus spoke out softly before he turns his head to look at Thalia. "this is nothing more than a child's tantrum. Thalia, go and deliver a warning message to that clown and her Familia. demand compensation of 1,000,000,000 valis." he turns and takes a few steps away. "if she tries to do this again, you can restrain her and send her to Tartarus."
"if you say so." Thalia replied before she and the others made a noise when they hear a loud metal clang coming from Zagreus who blocks a dagger strike from Aiz who had a concealed weapon in her possession.
"A-Aiz! What are you!?" Tione cried out before being shut up by the Hell Knights restraining her.
"don't you ignore me! I must become stronger! I have to become stronger! Give me the strength to become stronger!" Aiz exclaimed as she tries to do another strike of her dagger against Zagreus. "give me that strength I desire!"
Before her attack could even reach, Zagreus grabs hold of her face by the mouth and held her up while making her drop her weapon.
"There are limits to how I can be merciful to a brat like you." Said Zagreus as his eyes begins to glow under his helmet's visor. "If you dare attack me, you should be prepared for the consequences that may befall your Familia."
"give it to me! i have to become stronger! I!" Aiz screams while struggling against Zagreus hold on her face.
Zagreus looks at Aiz with his glowing eyes for a moment before he glance at Thalia and Makaria whose eyes glows red for a moment, the Bloody Kaiser then looks back at the struggling Sword Princess before he let out a small sigh.
"so tiring.." Zagreus spoke out in a whisper as he drops Aiz and placed a hand to the top of his sheathed sword's handle. "very well, I shall give you the strength that you desire."
"w-wha!?" Aiz made a surprised noise while Makaria and the others just looks shocked in return.
"hey, Zagreus! What are you saying!?" Thalia exclaimed in a baffled tone. "you want to let this brat become stronger!?"
"she's not worthy! She doesn't even have the potential to even become a Kaiser!" Makaria added in.
"I bear this action with my own words." Said Zagreus as he looks down at Aiz who has a surprised expression on her face. "I, Zagreus Kaiser will allow Aiz Wallenstein to gain the strength that she desires under one condition."
"a condition?" Hephaestus whispers out before she made a noise and looks disapproving at Zagreus. "Zagreus..you wouldn't…"
"what is the condition?" said Aiz as she faces Zagreus with a serious look. "what is it?"
"you must defeat a Kaiser in battle." Zagreus stated as he raise a hand and waves it to the side. "the condition for Aiz Wallenstein to receive rights to be trained under my supervision is that she must defeat a Kaiser in battle. The duel will be simple and not to the death. It will time limited to one hour and will only end if the time runs out or if one side surrenders and admits defeat. this field shall be the place for the duel that will take place in a week.." He then looks at Ganesha and his Familia members. "that wouldn't be a problem, would it Ganesha?"
"n-no…not really.." Ganesha replied with a bit of an unnerved voice.
"good." said Zagreus as he looks at Makaria next. "the Contract Scroll, Makaria."
Makaria looks a bit hesitant at first but she soon shakes her head before snapping her fingers once to make a scroll appear in her grasp, the item in her hand was soon thrown towards the Bloody Kaiser.
Zagreus unravels the scroll and waves a hand over it to cause words to instantly appear upon the piece of parchment.
"every single person present are witnesses as I signed this contract of this duel." Said Zagreus as he watches the letters appear in the scroll before a part of his armor by the right arm retracts to reveal his hand that he cut with the horns of his helmet. "I, Zagreus Kaiser signed this contract as my binding agreement to give Aiz Wallenstein her desire for if she wins the battle against a Kaiser of the Kaiser Familia." the armored man writes his name with the blood from his finger before handing the scroll to Aiz. "but if she loses…"
"if I lose?" Aiz spoke out a bit hesitantly as she was sure that it won't be a good thing for her.
"nothing." Zagreus replied as he raises his right hand that gets covered in the armor plating once again. "if you lose, you will be afflicted with nothing at all. no harm whatsoever."
"why? why won't I receive anything if I lose?" Aiz asked while hardening her gaze a bit. "what do you plan?"
"I don't plan anything." Said Zagreus as he looks at Hephaestus. "if you wish to clarify my words, Hephaestus. You can prove it to this girl that I speak the truth for I won't do anything to her if she loses in the duel."
Hephaestus looks at Zagreus for a moment before she close her eye and sighs while tilting her head down a bit, she then looks at Aiz and nods to her.
"he's telling the truth." Hephaestus stated. "he won't do anything to you if you lose."
Aiz looks at the goddess for a moment before to the scroll in her grasp. she reads the terms and rules written carefully as it was simple; if she wins, she'll become stronger but if she loses, she won't get anything. A very simple term of a duel that is very agreeable to many. The rules were the same as there were only five that starts from how she must follow the rules to the point, she must not complain for if she doesn't win and tries to demand a rematch, she cannot be allowed to harm the Kaisers before the duel, she must cheat in any manner, and she is not allowed to bring any other member but herself in the duel.
"Aiz! Don't! we have to talk it to the Captain for this! Aiz!" Tione cried out to AIz who didn't listen as she is focused on the contract. "Aiz!"
"do remember that this contract is binding and if you go against the terms by breaking the rules set in it.." said Zagreus as his eyes glows in a hardened gaze at the Sword Princess. "…there will be repercussion for if you do."
Aiz looks at the words in the contract paper one more time before she bit her right hand's index finger to draw out blood that she uses to write her name in the contract paper.
"Aiz!" Tiona exclaimed in shock after seeing how Aiz just wrote her name in the contract without anyone's suggestion and advice.
"Hephaestus…Ganesha. The both of you will sign the contract as the witnesses of this agreement." Said Zagreus as he receives the contract back from Aiz and held it to the Blacksmith goddess and to the masked god of masses. "will that be alright?"
"w-well…I guess so?" Ganesha asked in an unsure voice.
"Zagreus, are you really serious on doing this?" Hephaestus asked with a slightly serious face while holding her left arm with her right arm under her chest. "if you lose this agreement."
"then I will abide to it." Zagreus stated. "I have signed this contract while vowing with my own name. I will give her what she desires for if she wins in the duel."
Hephaestus looks at Zagreus for a moment before she close her eye and sighs then opens her eye while taking off her right hand's glove to expose her hand then asks for a dagger provided by a Hell Knight. The goddess cuts her index finger and then went to the Bloody Kaiser who holds up the contract paper and allowed her to write her name and sign it.
"Ganesha." Hephaestus calls out to Ganesha who came near, she provided him with the dagger and the god of masses repeated what she had did.
Ganesha writes his name and signs the contract paper that glows and soon rolls itself.
"the contract is now active." Said Zagreus as the scroll disappears into sparkles. The Bloody Kaiser then turns to face Aiz while handing her a big grey sack that has metal clinking sound when shaken once. "use this." He threw the bag to the Sword Princess who catches it. "I will allow you to use the funds I have provided to do whatever you desire. I will contact all the stores in Orario to allow you to use the money I have provided to be used in whatever way you desire. Repair and maintenance your weapon or armor, replenish your bearings along with your Familia, I'll even allow you to use the money to rebuild your own Home." His eyes soon glows. "use it in whatever way you desire. This is my handicap to you."
Aiz looks at the sack that is filled with dozens of valis that is easily 1,000,000,000 or more. she looks at the money inside before to Zagreus.
"fine." Said Aiz as she nods. "I accept this handicap of yours."
Zagreus nods back before he turns and waves his cape to the side.
"Release them." Zagreus commanded the Hell Knights that begins to release the restraints on Lefiya and the others. "Return them back to their Familia and inform them of this duel that will take place in this area and in a week's time." He then glances at Makaria. "ensure that this is well known to all in Orario."
"This is your own words, alright?" said Makaria after sighing. The Mage Kaiser raises a hand towards Aiz who is joined by Lefiya and the others. the masked half elf's eyes glows underneath her blindfold and the Loki Familia members disappear in a flash.
"Thalia, contact Ploutos and assist him in making preparations for this Colosseum," said Zagreus while looking at the Saint Kaiser. "make it a place worthy for a Kaiser."
"very well." Thalia stated while nodding.
"Zagreus." Hephaestus calls out to the Kaiser who turns towards her. the goddess having a disapproving look. "this it not what Helios would've wanted you to do."
"no, it is not." Said Zagreus whose eyes soon glows red under his helmet's visor. "this is what I desire to do."
Zagreus soon turns and walks away as his cape flutters and the Kaiser is enveloped in a small black twister that explodes and disperse along with the armored man who disappears.
Hephaestus looks at where the Kaiser disappeared as she sighs with a small frown on her face. She soon turns to the side when Thalia came and placed a hand to her right shoulder.
"you know better than all of us that Zagreus has limits to his patience, Hephaestus." Said Thalia as she pulls her hand away. "you cannot try to stop him like how Helios did in the past."
Hephaestus frowns a bit sadly before she placed a hand on her chest, the Goddess grasping her shirt but is actually grasping a necklace that has two golden wedding rings attached and hidden underneath the goddess' attire.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye