Within the domain of the Knossos.
Melinoe and the other Kaisers are found walking and scouting the entire manmade labyrinth as the group had just finished killing monsters that were sent their way.
"got anything?" Melinoe said to Ploutos and Polemos who came walking to her after going on a quick reconnaissance.
"other than walls and more walls?" Ploutos replies while raising his hands and shrugging his shoulders. "Not so much."
"we've checked every corner of this place, down to the last area that is being built." Polemos stated as he crosses his arms on his chest. "if those Evilus' cockroaches were hiding here, they ain't anymore."
"They must've run to the Dungeon's deeper floors." Thalia stated as she with Makaria joins the group. "it's the only explanation on why we can't find them here."
"60th. No, it might be even a deeper floor of the Dungeon that no other Familia have ever ventured into." Makaria said as she raise her right hand and creates a blue orb of light that shows a 3D map of the Dungeon itself. "we're on the 53th floor. That's already a floor deep in the Dungeon itself."
"no wonder we can't sense those rats anywhere." Polemos said as he turns and looks around. "the area is too wide for even us to survey all."
"goes to show that we need our plans to be done in haste." Melinoe stated as she looks at Ploutos and Makaria. "better get to work on the device's creation, you two."
"we already got the okay from Hephaestus." Ploutos stated while waving a hand to the side. "we just need 5-6 days to make one."
"make it 4." Melinoe said as she glance at Thalia. "you need to help them if you don't got any tasks to do, Thalia."
"I know." Thalia nods.
"and what do we do about this place?" Ploutos asks while nudging his head to the side. "we can't exactly leave this place to be guarded in case those rats come back."
"This place got high grade Orichalcum, Adamantite, and Iron Ore that are very useful for us." Melinoe stated as her eyes began to glow red. "rather than letting those Evilus rats getting to use it for their own agenda, let's take and use it for our own."
"agreed" the other Kaisers replied before their eyes glow in unison and the walls and hallways of Knossos began to rumble and shake violently.
Meanwhile at Livira. Zagreus and Riveria remains by the small river of the Dungeon as both have still been conversing ever since the Kaiser saved the high elf from death.
"A-Aiz…tried to use your son for her own desire?" Riveria spoke out with a baffled look. The high elf looks at Zagreus who told her about the duel that occurred between the Sword Princess and Ankusha that resulted in her revealing of her real intention and feelings upon Bell. "b-but that's…"
"do not deny it." Zagreus stated as he looks a bit stern towards Riveria. "that brat thought that she could do whatever she wants with my son who was lovestruck by her." he looks away as his gaze just hardens with hatred and anger. "because of her actions, my son's heart has been harmed to the point of it nearly breaking."
Riveria let out a small gasp before she frowns sadly and looks down.
"i-I'm really sorry." Riveria spoke softly as a frown form on the high elf's complexion. "I'm sorry about Aiz. I know that child since she was little. she was always very odd and a bit emotionless at times but to know that she had tried to use another adventurer for her own selfish desire…" she pauses while grasping her hands on the skirt of her attire. "I'm so sorry."
"it doesn't matter now." Zagreus said as he has a very angered look in his eyes. "the fact remains that what has been done has left its damage." His red left eye glows menacingly. "for her actions, I will ensure that her death will be torturing when I wish it."
"but Zagreus!" Riveria looks at the Kaiser with a pleading look. "I know that you are angry at her for what she did to your son, but please! Aiz just didn't know better and.."
"and she will pay the price with her life for what she had done to my son's heart." Zagreus stated as he looks at Riveria. "you believe that your Familia is able to keep it a secret, Riveria?" his gaze hardens. "I know that brat's true name, her true identity."
Riveria's eyes widen before she frowns sadly and looks down.
"she's just….she just didn't know…she isn't that well accustomed with our world and…" Riveria spoke out in a soft whisper that sounds pleading. "and she's…"
"you see her as your own daughter?" Zagreus said as he glances at Riveria before away. "perhaps you did get over those years, didn't you?"
"n-no!" Riveria cries out as she looks at Zagreus. "Loki told me to look after her and because of so many years!"
"I know." Zagreus stated as he looks at the river that seemingly just continues to flow. "what I meant was that what I told you back at Mirana's café years ago was true all along." He glances and smiles a bit to the high elf. "I said that you would've made a great mother if we got married and had kids."
Riveria looks surprised at Zagreus before she blushes and hit his shoulder but winced because she hits the nearly rough armor parts.
"bully…" Riveria whispers while looking away and rubbing her right hand with her left hand.
Zagreus chuckles softly to her reaction before his expression softens and saddens a bit.
"I understand why you care for her, but the fact remains that what she did not only enrage myself but also the other Kaisers." Zagreus spoke out softly. "the reason she still lives today with your Familia is because I am allowing it." he glances at Riveria. "if she never changes her behavior and actions, then her life and the existence of your Familia shall be terminated by the Kaiser Familia."
"I can help her change! I can make her become a better person!" Riveria told Zagreus while placing a hand to her chest. "I just need time! If I can teach her how to be a person!"
"that would be difficult because of what she believes her existence to be." Zagreus said as he looks away. "that child, she believes in something that is a lie for her entire life."
"what do you mean?" Riveria asks.
Zagreus glances at her before back to the river as his lips slowly parts open and he begins to speak secretly to Riveria.
The Nine Hells listens to Zagreus as her expression slowly becomes baffled before becoming into shock as the high elf looks shocked beyond words.
After a few minutes, Zagreus stands up and looks to the crystal covered ceiling that is slowly turning dark before to Riveria.
"if you wish to make her a better person, it'd be wise if you make her into a person first." Zagreus spoke out as he reaches a hand for Riveria to take before he pulls her up. "the longer you allow her to believe what she believes she is to be. The harder she will deny it anything else."
"all this time, we just…" Riveria spoke before she was cut off when the land and the very Dungeon suddenly rumbles and shakes uncontrollably. "w-wha!?"
Zagreus turns his head to the side as his helmet reforms and his eyes flashes while glowing in the visor.
"those guys…." Zagreus whispers as he sees Melinoe and the others in the Knossos that just rumbles uncontrollably. He turns and looks at Riveria while raising a hand towards her direction. "we're leaving."
"what?" Riveria spoke before she and Zagreus disappeared in a black flash.
upon Orario and at nighttime.
By the area near the Dungeon's main entrance. Zagreus and Riveria appear in a black flash as the Kaiser had teleported the two out.
"what was that?" Riveria asks while placing a hand on the side of her head. She looks at Zagreus whose helmet detaches from his head and the Kaiser is looking down at the ground. "Zagreus?"
"something is injuring the Dungeon." Zagreus stated as his eyes glows and burns vapor. The Kaiser's vision seeing through the ground and the many Floors deep into the Dungeon. his gaze hardens when he sees Melinoe and the other Kaisers coming out of the secret Knossos entrance at Livira that they destroyed. "something that didn't originate from within this world"
"is it a Monster?" Riveria spoke while sounding confused and surprised at the same time.
"no, it's not." Zagreus stated while shaking his head as his eyes stops glowing and the half elf slowly turns and faces Riveria. "but that matter will be handled by the Kaisers." He glance to the night sky as lots of time had passed after he and the high elf had their conversation in Livira. "right now, it's night and the near end of our day."
Hearing his words, Riveria made a sad frown on her face as she looks down.
"go back to your Home, Riveria." Zagreus spoke as his helmet reformed upon his head and his eyes flashed under the visor. "and don't try to kill yourself again." He turns and slowly walks away. "I won't save you the second time."
Zagreus walks before he stops when Riveria suddenly went and hugged him from behind. The high elf buried her face in his cape.
"What are you doing?" Zagreus asks as he turns his head to look at the high elf who grasps her hold tight on the man.
"just once….just once is fine…" Riveria whispers in a soft voice while burying her face even more. "just one last time…with you…"
Zagreus looks at Riveria before he let out a small sigh and his helmet detaches. The half elf moves and turns to face the high elf princess who he gently pulls into a hug.
"alright, let's go" Zagreus spoke softly as Riveria looks up and gently smiles at him before both held each other's hand and then began walking away together.
Riveria smiles as she leans close to Zagreus while having her eyes closed. Zagreus smiles softly to the high elf as he just looks that way before he suddenly glances behind his left shoulder when he spotted someone standing on a rooftop about 10 kms away from their current position.
That someone is a member of the Freyja Familia who is spying on the two from his position.
"I must report this to Freyja-sama." The spy spoke before he suddenly gets burned in black flames that incinerated him to the point he didn't get to even scream in pain.
Zagreus looks at where the spy got burned before he turns and smiles back to Riveria who held his hand in a tighter yet gently warm grasp.
At the location of Loki Familia's base, things there are in a bit of panicking heat because of the elves in the group who are going crazy because they can't find Riveria.
"just where is she!?" Lefiya asks as she is very worried for her teacher. "we can't find her anywhere!"
"she's not at any inns." Tiona spoke.
"and she's not at hotel or anything alike!" Tione added in.
"perhaps...she left?" Alicia said while thinking of the possibility that their high elf princess left Orario without them knowing.
"but we checked with the Ganesha guards and they didn't even see her leave!" Aki told her elven friend as she too is worried for Riveria after seeing her condition over the past few days. The cat girl frowns while seemingly frantic. "just where could she have gone to?"
"maybe…" Raul spoke as he looks nervous and worried while cupping his chin. "maybe to the Dungeon?"
"that's not possible!" Lefiya cries out. "I mean, Riveria-san isn't in any condition to go into the Dungeon! she's better than to know that she can't even go there, right!?"
"but we can't find her anywhere and we haven't heard any clue about her from anyone at all!" Elfy added in.
"without getting help from the people of Orario who are against us…." Alicia whispers as she is too worried for the high elf princess. "just what should we do!?"
As the group discuss amongst each other, Loki with Finn and Gareth are nearby as they too are worried for their high elf companion who has left without a word.
"just where could she have gone to?" Loki asks worried as she bites her right hand's thumb's fingernail. "we checked every place we can think of! And there's no way she could be in the Dungeon! she's got to be insane if she went there!"
"everything points out on the fact that she can't be found anywhere in Orario." Gareth spoke as he scratches his beard while thinking hard. "no one has seen her or rather no one would even speak a word to us."
"we're basically clueless beyond words." Finn stated as he sighs while looking very tired because of the whole find Riveria search that has been going on.
The Loki Familia had no clue where Riveria is as they feared the worst for their unwell high elf princess.
Bete is just grouching around nearby as he just looks pissed before his ears twitches a few times and he turns then growls.
"hey! That hag is here!" Bete calls out loudly as everyone hears him and turns before gasping or making surprised noises when they see Riveria coming with Zagreus by her side.
"Zagreus Kaiser?! Why is he with Riveria-sama?!" Lefiya spoke out in surprise.
"and why are those two together like that?" Aki noted in seeing how both are holding hands and leaning close to each other.
Aiz who had been silent and having a non-existent aura after her duel, appears as she sees Zagreus Kaiser coming with Riveria as the two went and pass by Loki and the others.
"Zagreus….Kaiser.." Aiz whispers as she slowly made her way to the Kaiser but was stopped the moment the half elf man turns and gave her a menacing and hateful glare. In her whole life, she has never seen a hateful gaze such as his. "urk!"
"leave my sight."
Zagreus' voice menacingly echoes into Aiz's mind as the Sword Princess staggers back before falling with a dumbfounded face.
The Kaiser looks at Aiz before he closed his eyes and looks away as he still held hands with Riveria who he brings to the edge of the Loki Familia's ruined base.
Loki and her children all watch where Zagreus is taking Riveria as they just went to the back garden area of their former Home which has remained as it is after the Twilight Manor's destruction.
Zagreus and Riveria went and stand by the garden area before the Kaiser swing up a hand as large stone walls arises and made a border wall that separates him and Riveria with the Loki Familia's members.
"what did he just…" Alicia spoke out as no one could say a word when they saw Zagreus coming with Riveria.
Currently, the two are just standing close as Riveria is hugging Zagreus by the front and leans close to him while looking like she won't ever let go.
"it's almost time for the night to come and for you to rest." Zagreus spoke out to Riveria who tears up a bit while hugging the man.
"please….just….one more day…just one more…" Riveria whispers in a very small voice as Zagreus smiles sadly to her before shaking his head.
"as much as you desire it, I cannot fully grant your heart's wish." Zagreus whispers softly as Riveria hugs him even more. "just one day. I can only be your Zagreus for this one day and when night ends and the morning sun rises…."
"it's not fair…." Riveria whispers as the time of the day is running out and that means Zagreus will leave and be the Bloody Kaiser of the Kaiser Familia, and not the man she loved. "it's just not enough time…it's not fair…"
"This world is never fair to anyone." Zagreus spoke out. "it wasn't fair when it took away Meteria from my life, it wasn't fair when it allowed the Black Dragon to destroy Zeus and Hera Familia." he slowly reaches a hand and gently wipes a tear from Riveria's eyes with a gentle finger. "it wasn't fair when it separated us for 15 years."
Riveria's tears started to flood her eyes as she softly sobbed and sniffled while trying to tighten her hold on Zagreus' left arm.
"the past can never be brought back to the present. We have to let it remain as the past and move forward." Zagreus whispers softly while gently tracing and caressing his right hand around Riveria's head down to her face. "but we can allow it to be with us in our dreams."
Riveria made a confused noise as she looks up at Zagreus before looking surprised when the Kaiser leans down and gave a small kiss on her forehead.
"remember this night as the night of my return to you." Zagreus whispers as his voice sounded a bit echoing in Riveria's hearing and is slowly lulling her into sleep. "our time together today, remember them in your dreams where I will always be there for you. Remember our wish together as a reality in your own dream."
"n-no…please…" Riveria whispers as she started to look very drowsy. "Zagreus…"
"be in your dreams where I will be awaiting you, Riveria." Zagreus spoke as he gently holds Riveria whose eyes are fluttering close and her hold on his left arm is weakening. "don't think of this as our goodbye. Think of this….as our reunion after 15 years."
In a minute, Riveria fell asleep in Zagreus' arms as the Kaiser holds her close.
Zagreus looks at the high elf before he looks to the side as a bed of flowers grew around him.
The flowers grew fast as they bloomed beautifully under the moonlight in the night sky.
Zagreus nods before he went and carried Riveria up in his arms then goes to the bed of flowers where he placed her down gently. The Kaiser gently combed some of her hair behind her pointed elven ears as he caresses her cheek before gently taking her left hand that he held and giving a small peck on her knuckles.
"one day, you'll be someone who is more suited for your love." Zagreus whispers as he reaches a hand to his back and takes out the necklace with the locket and ring. He place the items in Riveria's left hand and gently puts it down by her side. "and one day, you'll obtain the happiness you desired."
Zagreus takes off his cape and drapes it over Riveria's body, to prevent her from getting a cold in the night. The Kaiser caresses her head a few times before he gets up and slowly turns to see Meteria appearing behind him.
The White Spirit having tears running down her eyes as Zagreus just smiles sadly to her.
"it had to be done, whether I wished it or not." Zagreus spoke as he looks back at Riveria with a small frown on his face. "we had to move on and leave the past as it is. There's nothing I could've done to change it."
Meteria let her tears drip and turn into sparkles as they fell, the White Spirit speaks out to Zagreus while slowly coming near him. she takes his right hand and leans close.
"I'm sorry that I can't follow with what you wish for but there are limits to what I can even do nowadays." Zagreus whispers softly while closing his eyes and his helmet reforms upon his head with his eyes flashing under the visor. "please understand that, Meteria."
Meteria continues to cry in tears before slowly fading away.
Zagreus watches her disappear as he let out a small sigh before he turns to look at Riveria who remains asleep on the flower bed.
"be well, Riveria." Zagreus spoke out as he raise his right hand that holds a glowing green sparkling orb of light that he let float into Riveria's left hand that holds the necklace.
The Kaiser looks at the sleeping high elf before he turns and his eyes flashes brightly to the point that they burn out vapors.
He raises a hand to the rock wall, and it disintegrates into dust that flies away then reveals the Loki Familia members who are just silent and looking surprised of the action that had occurred.
Zagreus takes a step forward before another as he begins walking away.
The Kaiser walks upon a lone path as he pass by the Loki Familia members one by one.
Aiz watches Zagreus walk by, the Kaiser coming and then stops near her.
Zagreus glances at Aiz by turning his head slightly towards her direction, both locked gaze and the Sword Princess felt a pressure pushing down on her body.
"don't you ever come near my son, brat." Zagreus growls out in a dark voice before he walks away.
Everyone watches Zagreus as the Kaiser soon disappears in black flames that dissipate the moment they engulfed the dark armored man.
"just what…" Tiona whispers as many are keeping quiet.
At the Underworld Castle, Melinoe and her group are found walking in the hallways of the floating Home as they are heading off somewhere.
"we can't actually find out where those rats actually even went." Polemos spoke as he sounded annoyed. "no matter how much we broaden our search."
"you think that they're using some sort of Concealment Magic Item?" Ploutos asks while glancing at Makaria who shakes her head.
"as powerful as any magic item can be, there's not one that can perfectly conceal one's presence and existence." Makaria stated while crossing her arms under her chest. "there's no Item Maker in Orario who has that level of skills."
"in Orario, that is." Thalia stated while turning towards Makaria. "there is no telling if Evilus has a talented Item Maker in their ranks, who could be helping conceal their whereabouts."
"even if it's the works of them using a magic item, it should still leave a trail we can follow." Makaria stated as she sighs a bit. "the fact that there's no trail just means…"
"that those rats are just hiding deep in the Dungeon." Melinoe added in while scratching her chin. "I doubt that our powers can find them in such a deep level."
"we only ventured to the 60th floor in the past." Ploutos stated. "and that was the deepest we could've ever reached."
"then we just need to make a new record then." Polemos said as he raises a fist that is coated in crackles of electricity. He then slams that fist to an open palm which causes discharges to fly around. "Evilus has been running around in Orario for the last 15 years after we were gone. It's time we eradicate the pests."
The group continues to converse as they walked straight into the Lounging Room where they find Zagreus standing near the large center table which has a 3D model of the Dungeon's floor made of black sand that just pulses and moves.
"look who finally came back from his little date with the princess." Melinoe spoke out sarcastically as she and the other Kaisers approached Zagreus. "how was the date you were having with her? fun? Enjoyable?"
"saddening." Zagreus spoke as this made the other Kaisers sound surprised to his choice of words. The Bloody Kaiser waves a hand over the black sand model of the Dungeon as it disperses before reforming and creates the landscape of a large cave area that has Stalactites, and Stalagmites. "but none of that matters. What matters currently is the fact that Evilus's remnants are doing something in the Dungeon."
"which floor is this?" Makaria asks as she goes near and checks the 3D model. "a deep floor?"
"55th floor." Zagreus stated as the black sand model had one area just making spikes repeatedly. "and there's something on this floor that is creating a huge amount of magic power."
"Monster?" Melinoe spoke as she waves a hand towards the model and the spikes just grew even more. "or something else?"
"when I was in the Dungeon, I sensed something." Zagreus spoke as his eyes glows bright and the other Kaiser's eyes followed suite. "I sensed the presence of a Spirit."
"a Spirit? In the Dungeon?" Ploutos said in a surprised and confused voice.
"an Ancient Spirit." Thalia spoke in a whisper as she grasps hold of her Saint Cross. "just like during the ancient battle between the heroes of the past and the monsters of the Dungeon. many spirits lost their lives in the Dungeon where they were eaten."
"this might be what Ouranos had told me of." Zagreus said as he snaps his fingers and the 3D black sand model just reforms to make the static and pulsing image of something large and inhuman looking. "a Spirit whose existence has been morphed and repulsed by the world."
"a Corrupted Spirit.." Polemos spoke while hardening his gaze. "a Demi Spirit."
"if Evilus could make them in some sort of experiment…" Ploutos spoke as he crosses his arms. "just thinking of what they did to the poor Spirit's soul just pisses me off."
"what's the plan?" Makaria asks as she looks at Zagreus who stares at the black sand model. "what do we do with Evilus after knowing what they are currently doing?"
Zagreus stays silent for a moment as he stares at the model before he stands up straight and then slams a hand to the table which causes the black sand to disperse into the air.
"We set up a trap for them" Zagreus stated as he looks at the other Kaisers. "prepare ten million valis, weapons, supplies for the Loki Familia."
"huh? Why?" Thalia stated with a growl over the name of the Familia that banished her own.
"we're going to use the Loki Familia as live bait for Evilus." Zagreus stated as this made the Kaisers look a bit surprised.
"wait a minute, Zagreus." Makaria stated. "you want to use those guys as live bait?"
"you have a complain on that?" Zagreus asks as he focuses back to the table that has the black sand gathering back before forming little models of the Loki Familia that moves to face whatever is in the Dungeon's 55th floor. "we get them to be the bait to lure out Evilus' masters and the Demi Spirit that they have with them. We will ensure that this bait is well trapped by us Kaisers who will strike once we achieved the right momentum."
"so you plan to let the group die if Evilus' monster pet is too strong for them?" Melinoe asks as Zagreus just nods.
"that's dark, even for you." Polemos stated while crossing his arms. "what made you change your stance on them?"
"it is their fitting punishment for banishing the Hera Familia and causing pain upon Meteria and Bell." Zagreus stated as he turns and black flames burst around the back of his armor that soon became a dark reddish cape that looks nearly ragged and tattered. "I learned that they would use others as bait for their enemies. It's only fitting that we use them for the same idea."
"just what did you talk with Riveria about earlier on?" Ploutos asks Zagreus who is now walking away. "considering that we saw you two being together in the Dungeon and all."
"we said nothing more than our permanent goodbye." Zagreus stated as he had turned his head to look at the other Kaisers with his eyes glowing menacing. "just that."
Everyone looks at Zagreus who turns and walks towards one of the many doorways.
"ensure that our bait is perfectly set up for Evilus and get Shakti Varma to come to the Underworld Castle in three days' time." Zagreus stated as he stops by one of the doorways that had swung open. The Bloody Kaiser turns to look at his siblings. "it's time we ensure that Aiz Wallenstein won't ever be a part of Bell's life ever again."
The Kaisers look at their leader for a moment in silence before they nodded and Zagreus continues to walk and disappears into one of the Underworld Castle's many hallways.
When he was gone, the other Kaisers look at each other.
"he was serious." Polemos stated.
"no kidding, genius." Ploutos retorted.
"permanent goodbyes." Thalia spoke before turning towards Melinoe. "have any ideas on if that is a lie or not?"
"not one idea at all." Melinoe replied while shaking her head as she crosses her arms under her chest. "he has that look when he is set to do something and won't stop until it is done." She looks at the other Kaisers. "he's really serious on using the Loki Familia as live bait for Evilus."
"considering the info report that we got on their little trip to the deep floors months back?" Makaria spoke as she shrugs her shoulders. "can't say I didn't see this coming in many possibilities."
"it's just a possibility that turned into reality." Polemos stated as he slaps a hand to the table. "I'd say let's begin with the plan and get rid of two problems with one fell swoop."
"I'll start preparation of the funds and weapons." Ploutos said with a nod.
"I'll prepare their supplies." Thalia stated. "but while also putting in some extra baggage for them."
"don't poison them even if you want to kill them." Melinoe said as she waves a hand to the side. "better for them to be dead by monsters rather than by poison and stuff."
"still can't help but feel that Zagreus wasn't serious in one way or another." Makaria spoke as the group looks at her before the doorway where Zagreus had walked into.
"I got the same feeling.." Melinoe stated while nodding.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye