Quick thing I wanted to add here before the chapter. Didn't feel like putting it in the previous chapter.
...
OMAKE (For the previous chapter):
Ais, Finn, Riveria, and Gareth were on the way up from the thirty-seventh floor. Ais had defeated Udaeus, and with it, securing her rank up. She just knew it. The Sword Princess hesitated on the twenty-fourth floor, for reasons obvious.
They continued along the path up to the fifth floor when Ais noticed someone unconscious. Who…
"Hmm, looks like a standard case of Mind Down, the poor kid didn't know about magic," Riveria said, looking at the features. White hair, young boy, brown overcoat, and black pants. "He ran in here without armor."
Ais gasped, "I know this boy."
"You do, lass?" Gareth asked. She nodded with an embarrassed look.
Riveria looked to Ais, then to the boy, "Okay, Ais, come here. You're going to help, you still wanted to apologize, correct?" The girl nodded. Finn watched on in observation.
This is the boy who has brought change into Ais? Well, seeing is believing, but why do I feel like I've seen this boy before? Finn didn't get much further as Riveria taught Ais how to give a lap pillow to help with head injuries or in this case, Mind Down.
"Let's head back to the surface, Ais, stay with him," Riveria said, but the girl wasn't paying attention. She was petting the boy's hair with a soft smile. The girl herself was thinking of how to apologize for the incident.
My bunny...no one else's. Her possessive side was coming out, but it was because she wanted to know how he grew so much and in such little time. Her expression darkened a tad, maybe if her brother was here, then he would know what to say. Ais adjusted herself and the boy so she was leaning against the wall and his head was in her lap, legs extended. "How are you growing? What is your secret, little rabbit?"
As the three executives went away, did Finn speak up, "Was it alright to leave her?"
Riveria caught the real meaning of his question, "She will be fine, and if I'm right, he will be important to her in some way, maybe not the same as Axton, but in another way, if she ever figures it out."
"Knife ears playing matchmaker? I'll believe it when I see it," Gareth said in a good-natured rib.
"Such an uncloth dwarf like yourself, you wouldn't know what romance is unless it was at the bottom of a pint glass," Riveria snapped back. I suspect that this is only one of two pairs I'm matchmaking.
"Let's not have an argument, but I'm glad Ais is trying to branch out. I will have to do research," the Pallum said.
Both Gareth and Riveria looked at Finn, then at each other before having the same thought, That is such a father thing to do.
On the surface, there was a party of three entering Babel Tower, "Do we have everything?"
"Master Bell, Lili has triple-checked everything. Lili believes we are ready," a Pallum said to a white-haired adventurer, wearing a fresh set of armor.
The third one came up, "Now, let's get going!"
"Master Welf, while Lili appreciates your eagerness, need we remind you that the Dungeon is always plotting for our demise?" The Pallum supporter said with her hands on her hips, glaring up at the taller man.
Welf crossed his arms with a smirk, "Don't worry, Lil' Bit, we'll be fine. I do take this seriously."
"Then act like it, Master Welf and Lili is Lili, is it that hard to call Lili by name?" Her glare sharpened.
Bell, not being oblivious, gently separated them, "Let's not fight before we go down into the place where we risk our lives."
Both members of the party stopped and nodded in kind, throwing half-baked apologies to one another. That's how they would bond in the future.
Just as they were entering, a figure was hobbling out of the Dungeon, getting gasps of surprise and shock from everyone. Fortunately, Bell knew who this was, and his eyes widened. Sooner than he could comprehend, he was already in front of him, "W-What happened?" they were wounded all over, bloody, almost unrecognizable.
"The idiot decided to hoof it up here without assistance," a familiar voice said. Bell momentarily froze, the words of worthlessness came back before he shoved them down.
"Bete," Bell said.
"Oh, it's the rabbit…Move, I gotta inform Loki and the Princess of this so she can quit her damn worrying," the ashen werewolf said. "And Rabbit…watch him. Go to Dian Cecht's." With that, one of the fastest in the City booked it to Twilight Manor.
Recovering from the shock, they looked to see someone coming up the stairs, hand on the wall, but it was being smeared in red. Bell was in front of them in a moment, trying to help them.
"No…"
"Listen, you need help and I refuse to let you suffer for this."
The figure looked up, recognition flashing in their eyes, "Bell…take to…Amid…" they said before passing out in his arms, fresh blood staining the armor.
"Master Bell, do you-oh, my GODS!" Lili said before turning a sickly green. She looked away to calm herself. She's seen someone wounded, even maimed, but never like this.
Welf popped in, draping a cloak over the passed-out figure. "Bell, do you know this guy?"
The white-haired rabbit gulped, "Y-Yeah, he saved me once...and...Miss Ais. This...This is her brother. The Sword Prince, the one who has been missing for the past week." Here he was, all bloodied, bruised, and on the verge of death. Axton Wallenstein, the Sword Prince, made it to the surface, and behind him were multiple parties of very concerned adventures.
""What?!""
Bell's voice was more confident than moments ago. Turning towards them, "You all, help me get him to Miss Teasanare's and explain what happened on the way, let's move it!" People looked at Bell in a new light. They didn't see him as a rabbit…
...okay, who are we kidding, he'll always look like a rabbit, but he certainly wasn't a docile one. The boy took charge. It would only take minutes before the Loki Familia knew what was happening; no one was more relieved than one Ais Wallenstein.
Later on, people would say that a windstorm passed through Orario that day.
One of the leaders of the parties stepped forward, "He came stumbling up from the eighteenth floor, then he killed Goliath-"
"Goliath isn't supposed to spawn yet!" Lili chimed in.
"We know, but he did, surprising all of us. He came up and just toyed with it"—in their eyes—"looking like that," he referenced to the passed-out adventurer in Bell's arms. "I don't really know how to describe it. It was like he just wanted to protect all of us."
Bell could see why the adventurers all looked shaken. He and Welf supported him as they exited Babel and headed to Dian Cecht's.
People wondered what happened. Lili had taken his weapon once it fell, walking beside Bell. "He took on Goliath in that state…"
"First-class adventurers are no joke," Welf said. A crowd was watching with curious eyes. The adventurers went to the Guild to report what happened. This would cause a small uproar, and it wasn't Axton's fault.
As they were walking, they heard a faint 'thank you' but did not comment. Welf volunteered to carry him to not drag his feet. The blood would come out eventually.
Amid was behind the counter and she heard the door open, "Welcome to Dian Cecht Familia's Pharmacy, how may I…" she looked up and her stoic persona broke seeing the blond hair on the red-haired man's shoulder, "Axton!"
Clearly, the trio was surprised, "Miss Teasanare…"
Amid felt her emotional state slipping, "Martha, Bernadette, get in here! Mr. Cranel, please go get Naaza, I will need her help." Bell looked conflicted, as he knows the bad blood between them. "With how I feel about him, my judgment is not fully sound, please go get her."
Without so much as another word, he left. Welf took this moment to help set Axton down, "So, you like him?"
"He's already expressed that we are not compatible," Amid said, slowly regaining her demeanor. He was right, it's breaking my heart to see him like this.
Martha and Bernadette arrived and began preparing the tools.
The question they all had on their minds was, "What the hell happened?"
Backtracking to the Loki Familia, after escaping the now destroyed pantry. Finn was the last one to leave as Bete carried a screaming Ais, her persona shed. Lefiya and Filvis were keeping a decent pace.
The Hermes Familia members all made it out, breathing hard. Riveria was waiting outside, her expression neutral, but upon seeing Ais thrashing in Bete's grip, she looked to Finn, the unspoken question in her eyes.
When he shook his head, Riveria's expression hardened, and when Ais continued to thrash, she knew that she wasn't going to like it. The High Elf noticed that Requiem was not with her. "Did you find him?"
Bete's ears were having a fit, first dealing with weaklings, then a crying Princess, and worse, no Prince.
"Can somebody shut her up?!" Bete snarled, almost losing his grip on her. Then, everyone heard the sound of a staff hitting their skin. It was the second time Riveria had to use her staff to silence her. It hurt the High Elf
Bete looked at Riveria with a mix of thankfulness and a little fear. "Bring her back to the surface, have Gareth hold her off." Finn nodded at her statement, knowing that if the situation has anything to do with Royalty, it basically means she is deciding anything that helps their well-being.
The Hermes Familia all looked on in a form of pity, knowing that the Sword Prince was important to Ais, and seeing her like this hurt everyone.
"Bete," Finn said, looking back at the destroyed pantry, "since you have the better nose-"
"Yeah, I'll look for him. What happens when I find him?" Bete said, knowing the order was coming and he was annoyed, but not for the reason one would think.
"Bring him to the surface ASAP, and force him if you have to. No telling what his condition is, or what his mental state is," Finn grimaced slightly, and knowing how to keep a cool face, he suppressed his whole reaction. However, he noticed Asfi looking on in sympathy. "Is the quest complete?"
A sigh from Perseus, "Yes, we were tasked to investigate the disturbance in the pantry, and the added objective was to find the Sword Prince once we learned of his condition."
The Pallum Captain nodded, "Get everyone on their feet. Riveria, could you heal the injured?" A nod from the jade-haired elf. "Let's go, everyone."
Bete stayed behind, except he had one person, "Listen you little elf, you better go before I throw you back to that hag."
Lefiya didn't bother to retort, she only said, "Just find him, please…" Filvis watched on with confliction, and for more than one reason.
The red-eyed Banshee hesitantly—and she was still in conflict as she followed through—put her hand on Lefiya's shoulder, "Come on. We should get going. You will see him again." The young elf's words on the Rivira bridge still stuck in her mind. She wanted to find out all about her, what Filvis was like as a person, a fellow elf. The girl in question believes that she's tainted, Lefiya, the naive girl, believes the opposite.
Thousand Elf didn't expect the skinship, or at least, didn't expect the contact. After a moment of silence, Filvis started to lift her hand, but another grabbed hers. "Thank you, Miss Filvis."
"If you want…" the elder elf's cheeks became red, "I could…teach you…concurrent chanting, or a-at least m-mentor you…"
"Really?" It brightened her mood slightly, getting the more reclusive elf to branch out.
Filvis's cheeks matched her eyes at this point. "O-Only if you want…"
"That would be an honor, Miss Filvis," she said before having a little skip in her step. However, it died when she thought about Axton, and her chest felt tight for some reason, but she did her best to not let it show. Maybe Lady Riveria has answers...
Bete watched as the two elves flirted, unknowingly, and scoffed. In a low voice, "Here I thought you fell for the Prince." He sniffed the air, trying to clear his nose so he could focus on the scent he needed to find.
After everyone left back to the surface, Gareth coming in last, he found Bete. "Lad, you're not coming?"
"Finn wanted me to find the little weak ass brat," Bete snorted out, sniffing again. The blood stuck to him would be a great scent tracker, if he hadn't been smelling the damn flowers for the past few hours. Those fucking things are annoying. "Head on up, I'll be fine."
"Two days, lad, otherwise I'm coming back down here and grabbin' ya by the tail, you hear me?" Gareth admonished the wolf.
"Sure thing, Gramps, now go," Bete said before he himself took off, trying to search the immediate area. He couldn't have gone far.
There was a song for this that Axton heard a few months back, before this all started, even before their expedition. He thinks the lyrics were something like, 'Pain's a gift, it ain't a curse. My heart still beats, my blood's still red. Hallelujah, I'm not dead.'
All those statements were true, and it was scary how well they fit.
What floor are we on again? The escaped boy said. It was only by using his wind in minuscule portions to slice the vines holding him. Everyone was so distracted by the fighting that no one noticed him slipping out the door. How no one spotted him was a mystery.
He felt as if the surroundings were familiar. Is it Twenty-two? Or was it twenty-one? This Great Tree Labyrinth is a pain in the ass,
Axton wondered what the hell this skill really was. It always seemed to be more than meets the eye. The last thing he expects is for it to start talking to him so that he can fully believe he has gone crazy. Or Dungeon Drunk, one of the two.
Axton seriously thought he was losing it. He was having a mental conversation with himself. Even so, Axton wanted to be far away from that woman. She may have been a stoic person…
…but she was sadistic, and it was taking a mental toll. If he didn't constantly talk to himself in his mind, he might have lost it. There was no doubt about it. Axton really owed his past self a drink. An ironic thought since his ten-year-old self couldn't drink anyway. He still can't now, not because of age, he's just a lightweight.
The only thing he got from the Dungeon was silence. Coughing into his hand, more blood slipped between his fingers. There were more important things to worry about. For example, making sure that he can walk. Axton was barely able to move and it took a lot for him to move without breaking critical bones but that didn't lessen the pain.
He was gritting his teeth with every step, and it was a lot to just stand. He would be on bed rest if he got back. Not if. When. He was going to make it out alive and he'd be damned if he died. Ais would lose all sense of reality and fall to her hate.
Axton saw people leaving the floor, not knowing who they were, his vision was half as good as normal. Gods, what were his injuries? Another step reminded him of that, giving him his answer.
Alright, Axton thought, what are my options? The tunnels are my first option but if my bones are as bad as they feel, then that's out. Going up the normal way is an option. The Sword Prince needed a way to level up as well, as the boost in status would be beneficial for healing. The injuries would numb down faster, but the physical healing part won't speed up.
If it was to be put any other way: Leveling up is a drug. It's assisting with injuries.
How long has it been? I came down on Monday…and Dungeon days are slightly shorter than a normal day and… he gave up not really wanting to know.
Axton paused in his next step, I don't remember all of it, am I suppressing the memory? Or did they do something to me?! The panic was setting in...the questions of what they did to him were flooding into his mind...until they weren't.
His back burned slightly as if someone was reassuring him. Guardian as a skill seems weird but it is not without its quirks. It felt like someone was pushing him forward, telling him not to let this be the end.
Throughout this two-sided mental conversation—of which it only consisted of just Axton—he had made it to the twenty-second floor, completely missing the twenty-third. With each step he took, it was one further away than that woman. Anyone else would be dead, succumbing to their wounds and trauma. He wanted the surface, he yearned for it. The Sword Prince desired survival amongst everything else. Once more, he felt something light up on his back, but he was in so much pain that he barely noticed it.
Axton recalled the route out of here and took his next left. However, during this entire ordeal, he was still not encountering any monsters, which was a red flag. To be fair, every single red flag has been going off in his mind and it was driving him bonkers.
This Dungeon must have a funny bone somewhere and Axton really really wants to hit it just to see if it would actually function like it was supposed to for once.
Meanwhile, a werewolf was following the trail, "Does he even realize how fast he's going?" Bete Loga was tracking the blond swordsman all the way up through the Dungeon. The trail was currently on the twenty-second, and it got easier to pinpoint him as they got further up. The smell of blood, plus Axton's natural scent were the only things on his mind.
Even so, Bete noticed the lack of monsters, which made him want to catch the kid faster. Not because he really cares about him or anything, or because he's one of the four top men in the Loki Familia, and it's usually female-dominated...totally not because of that. Nope. Not at all, and no one was there to argue otherwise.
I'd never hear the end of it from those bimbos, Bete thought to himself as he heard footsteps up ahead. Slow...methodical footsteps. Bete stretched his hearing, narrowing his eyes. His hands were still in his pockets, but he was anxious at what he would find.
The werewolf continued to approach silently, flicking his ears at every little sound. The sounds of the floor were slightly distracting, but the wolf himself was not. Damn, since when did I become such a softie for the kid? If anyone found out...ugh...you little shit.
The sound of heavy, hoarse breathing reached his ears. Then a very wet cough. A grumble of 'shit…' and some muttering that not even Bete could decipher. Walking into his line of vision was the person he was looking for. Bete decided that a flashy entrance was not important. So, he was going to do it in classic Bete style. Hands in his pockets, as casual as can be, and nonchalant, "Hey, dipshit."
The figure barely recognized the words, but the person, they did, golden-onyx eyes met amber. "Bete?" the werewolf grimaced slightly, his voice is fucked. His body is fucked, what in the absolute fuck happened to you?
As he approached, the smell of blood and possibly vomit hit Bete full force and plugged his nose, "Holy shit, you smell like you died."
The figure was, of course, Axton Wallenstein. "Hey, Bete...would you...rather...me dead?" In reality, I should be.
The werewolf unplugged his nose and sighed, "No. Now, what the hell, they said you looked dead, but…"
"Seeing...is...believing," he responded, walking towards him, his one arm hanging by his side, the other clenched Requiem tightly. He didn't have the strength right now to attach it to his hip.
"Come on, I'm taking you back to the Princess so she stops crying about it."
"NO!" His voice screamed, making Axton cough up more blood. "Must...fight…"
How the tables turn, Bete thought, thinking about the stories the old man used to tell about Ais and her adventures in the Dungeon. "You got a death wish?" His response was a sheepish grin. Axton blinked deliriously at Bete, feeling his world swim, before something was placed on his lips. A cold sensation and a need washed over him. Bete was feeding him a potion. "This will help you recover, but I got orders from Finn to bring you to the surface, are you going to be a good boy and cooperate, or am I gonna have to knock your ass out?" Either worked for Bete, it didn't matter really.
Now that the potion was in his system, he felt lighter, his head wasn't pounding, but the exhaustion he felt...well, it was noticeable now. His voice was slightly better, but a ways away from. Not to mention, his armor was torn. Bete noticed that his shoulders looked out of their sockets.
"Hold still," Bete commanded as he quickly, and forcefully adjusted his arms. The popping sound and muted cry of agony sprung from Axton.
"Dick…" he mumbled.
I suddenly don't feel bad, the wolf grinned, "Good, now let's go. Ais will jump you as soon as she sees you, and that might just kill you." Axton did not have a response for that.
However, "Why are you caring?" he spoke slowly, not wanting to aggravate his already sore throat. His face still felt like a bruised mess, but he didn't have to keep the smile up. Bete wouldn't admit it, but that smile reminded him of a battle-junkie with a death wish. That wish is to slaughter all and die in battle.
"I don't," Bete said. "I just don't wanna be responsible if you die because you're too weak."
Tsundere, Axton thought. "Let's go…" He coughed again, a small trail of blood leaked from the corner of his mouth…"Well...not as bad as before."
"That was worse?"
"Try a glob the size of my palm," Axton said dryly, but softly.
Internal bleeding and it's been about an hour...shit, we really gotta go. "Come on, Amid is going to be pissed."
I know, and I'm thankful that I turned her down...as much as it pains me to admit. What about…
"The useless elf is fine too," the elder man said. Axton's expression showed his confusion, "Your eyes, plus, she's not being as subtle as I thought." Despite the dirt, grime, sweat, and blood on him, Axton's cheeks turned red. "Hopeless, you are," Bete grumbled under his breath.
That was how they made it to Rivira, in silence, and without a single damn monster. Bete would be able to hear them before they could see them. "You've noticed too, hmm?" Axton still chose to whisper, so he doesn't hurt his throat or his voice. Bete put a hand on his shoulder but soon found himself on the ground...Axton immediately apologized, still in his paranoia mood.
"Damn idiot," Bete said as he stood. "What's got you so jumpy?"
"No monsters since the panty, at all, you noticed."
Come to think of it, the Sword Prince was right, there hasn't been a monster since the Bugbears, no Battle Boars, and no Lizardmen. Despite being on the eighteenth, it was the previous floors that this applied to.
"Yeah...anyway, I gotta stop with Bors, go to the entrance of the floor and wait, am I clear?" Axton remembers that Bete used to be the Captain of the Vidar Familia, so he didn't find this tone surprising.
"Can't run away from one of the fastest in the city," Axton quipped. Bete turned, and Axton wouldn't see it, but he had a small smirk.
Now, let's see if the kid actually listens.
Now, normally, Axton would have listened to the guy, but with the potion that Bete made him drink, he heard the sounds of fighting above him, on the seventeenth floor. He felt a churn in his gut, telling him that it was a bad idea. As were most things these days
The boy sighed, grabbed his weapon from the rock on which he laid it before starting the trek up the hill. The entrance was a straight shot, but an incline, a somewhat steep one too. He clambered up the slope with pain in every step, but he made it work. He needed to get up there.
His internal fear was confirmed as he heard the roar of one Goliath...that wasn't supposed to spawn for two days. This would be a problem. Sorry, Bete, I know you despise weaklings, but I refuse to let them die. It was reinforced by the sounds of someone screaming, then suddenly stopping. Too late...damn it.
As Axton made it to the top, he saw what a sight that is all too common in the Dungeon. Blood smeared the wall, and some...remains were all that was there, plastered. Despite being in a worse condition than normal, and he still felt like shit, he had cleaned himself a little, the dry blood had made him uncomfortable. It was no wonder why he looked up he saw Goliath...staring back at him.
Did it just smile?
The normal color of this Goliath was a dark beige or grey depending on the lighting, but this one was black. "An Irregular...damn it," Axton said, his hand drawing Requiem, but his hand trembled slightly. The Sword Prince ignored it, focusing his attention on the adversary in front of him.
He risked a glance behind it to see some adventurers leaning against the wall, in some states of shock. They recognized Axton, but only a few realized what condition he was in. Crippled. It was suicide to face Goliath in his state, especially when it was an irregular he was staring down.
"I don't plan on dying today. I plan on living, and I still have a life to live and a sister and familia to get back to," Axton said with more confidence that he didn't have. He was well aware that he could die here, but he'd rather die to this than...her.
The Black Goliath, having been summoned by its mother, grinned in anticipation. This was the Dungeon. There was a reason why it spawned two days early and as an irregular. It was waiting. Mother was waiting for this delectable spawn to have his guard down. A Spawn of the wonderful Aria...mmhmm.
Axton felt a chill go down his spine and a foreboding presence. Groaning aloud as his body was literally falling apart on the inside, exasperating his injuries by trying to fight and the strain of Guardian being active.
*Tempest!*
The winds surrounded the Sword Prince and he waited for the Goliath to make the first move. It wasn't his first time fighting the Goliath, but it was the first irregular version of it. He won't make any moves like he normally would, one reason was obvious. The other was because if it displayed higher intelligence, then normal strategies won't work.
This Goliath was pleased. The smile turned into a battle-hungry one, the rows of teeth showing like it was trying to intimidate Axton. It would crush this spawn and present it to its Mother. The Goliath slammed a fist into the ground and began its attack.
Axton was right on not charging in, as the ground was uneven...wait...it wasn't? Did that mean this thing just poofed into existence?!
His instincts told him to duck, so he did. Although, feeling his ribs protest, even as the shockwave threatened to throw Axton to the floor, hurt a bit. His wind, his mother's wind flourished around him. He coated Requiem with the wind and took a step forward, sending a slash towards it. The wind attached to the blade was sent away with that swing. The Goliath laughed until it felt something hit the ground.
Its arm.
Axton allowed himself a smirk, knowing how to manipulate his wind like that was always a helpful boon. However, that was short-lived as the Goliath's arm started regenerating. With a thunderous roar, Goliath was now enraged at Axton.
The two combatants stared one another down. As injured as he was, he was not going to falter.
Bete checked with Bors to see if Ais picked up the green gauntlet thing that she had left him. To the wolf's annoyance, she did, and according to Bors, she was much more stone-faced.
That's not good, Bete thought solemnly. If she was like that, it would take seeing Axton to get her out of this funk. Leaving a few hundred valis on 'purpose' was all that was needed to make Rivira's leader happy.
Bete left the town feeling something ominous in the area, and it only got worse as he got to the entrance to the floor. Axton wasn't in sight.
Then he heard the roar.
"Fucking kid, won't stay put and now he's trying to play the hero, is the tomato brat rubbing off on him?" Bete sped up the ramp to witness the finale of the fight.
Axton could be seen using his wind freely, as part of the derivative skill of Ariel, and he was using it against this Goliath. It was then that Bete noticed that it wasn't a normal one either. The werewolf took notice of the surroundings, seeing the wall look perfect. It raised a lot of questions.
The main course was Axton using said skill to cut into the limbs and eyes of the Goliath, immobilizing it. the scream of agony was echoing off every surface of the cavern, but Axton remained unfazed. One arm hung limply at his side.
Bete noticed something in his eye, but at his angle, he couldn't tell exactly what it was. Axton brought the wind-infused Requiem down into the Goliath's chest, hearing the familiar clink of a magic stone being pierced. The hide may have been thick, but with a high enough concentration of wind, it can become 'armor-piercing' wind.
This Black Goliath roared in agony as blood gushed from the chest wound and started fading to dust. Axton lost his balance and fell backward. Bete was quick enough to catch him, "You listen as well as Ais."
"I'm her brother after all…are the others okay?" He was exhausted and wanted nothing more than to shut his eyes and rest, but he had to make it to the surface.
Bete looked over to see a group of weaklings signing in relief, the Wolf smelled the blood and saw body parts scattered about. Fucking hero complex. But good thing he got here when he did otherwise, there would be a lot more gore. He traced the tattoo on his cheek before helping the Prince upright. "Idiot."
He smiled, but it was a very bloody one, "I regret nothing."
The adventurers stared incredulously at Axton, seeing that he took on an opponent that—in his current state—should have killed him. "Thank you, Sword Prince!"
Bete didn't respond but instead rounded up the weaklings and headed back to the surface, and that's where they met a certain rabbit at the entrance.
On the surface, North Main, Orario.
Bete literally leaped over the fence, ignoring the guards, and headed inside. The first people he saw were the bimbo Amazonians. "Oi, where's Finn?"
""Bete?"" Tione and Tiona looked at Bete in shock, "You have blood all over you."
The wolf looked down, and he did indeed have blood on his chest, "Not mine, it's the Prince's. Answer my damn question you dipshits, where's Finn?"
"Princey's alive?!" Tiona shouted, which gained the attention of an apathetic Ais Wallenstein.
"Yes! He's on his way to the clinic thanks to that tomato brat, ran into the weakling as we left. I have shit to report, so is he in his office?" Bete growled, impatient now.
"You have something to report?" Finn's voice came through the hall. Riveria and Gareth were nearby.
"He's alive, on the surface. Dian Cecht's. He killed an Irregular in his condition." Bete grimaced as he recalled how he looked before and after the fight. Riveria noticed the look, and she noticed Ais looking fearful, her eyes were wide.
"Why aren't you with him, lad?" Gareth asked.
"Because I met the rabbit, old man, and he brought him to the clinic, I saw them off. Figured you'd appreciate a report first," he said, crossing his arms before standing in front of Ais. "Are you going to be fine?"
Her thousand kilomeder stare focused solely on Bete, then on the blood, "This is…"
"On second thought, it'd be best if you don't see him yet-"
"No!" She screamed, making everyone regard her. "Take me to him, please!" Her grip on his arms was uncomfortable, with her strength surpassing his.
His nose twitched before he acquiesced. "Hmm, fucking fine, let me wash up. We can go to him, not see him. Trust me, he did not look pretty..."
The trio of the top executives stared at Bete like he was a different person. Riveria was more so, thankfully, her mouth did not fall open. Tione and Tiona shared a glance. One of worry, for multiple reasons.
"Not a damn word out of any of you shitstains!" He screamed.
"Such a moody little puppy," Tiona joked. "Oh, I gotta tell Lefiya!" While she spoke she was running out of the room screaming the elf's name.
As soon as Bete and Tiona left the room, Loki walked in from the other door, "Why the long faces?"
"Axton's alive and in the hospital…" Ais said after a moment of no response. A small smile split her face, "My brother's alive!" Loki did not expect to see the smile on her little Aizu's face, not with news like that.
"Where? What happened? WHEN?" Loki dropped the glass she was holding at the proclamation.
"Loki," Finn spoke, "we will have to get the story from Bete. It turns out, Bell Cranel is with him, escorting him."
"How did he look?" Loki's concern crept into her voice. Three head shakes, "So…to Dian Cecht's?" Itty bitty's child met him on the surface? Bete, what did you do? What kind of condition are you in, Axton?
"Damn it, Ais!" They heard Bete's voice and smelled a summer spring breeze. "We need to follow her!" the wolf's voice rang again. "If she sees him, it will hurt her! I agreed to take her to him, not to see him!"
The Loki Familia chased after the girl...already knowing they would be too late. Ais can outpace Bete using Ariel, without it, Bete wins by a decent margin. The fact the breeze was still going means that she was already beyond their reach.
That didn't stop them though.
"Bell, slow down, please!" Naaza Erisuis said. She's a chienthrope of the Miach Familia, and currently the only member, much like Bell to Hestia. Her droopy eyes and ears showed how tired she was, or how comfortable she is.
"I can't, but Miss Teasanare required your assistance!" he said.
Naaza frowned, "What does that harlot want with me?!"
"The Sword Prince is injured and she lost her cool, admitting it aloud!" Bell said, pulling her along to then hearing her laugh.
"That is...priceless!" Naaza's laughs turned into giggles. She was finding it funny that the stone-faced Dea Saint was worried about...the Sword Prince...shit…
Her laughing stopped as she looked at Bell, "How bad?"
The white-haired adventurer experienced whiplash, and instead of replying, grabbed her good arm, and pulled her along to the pharmacy.
They arrived in a few minutes, and Naaza immediately entered, getting to work. "What happened, what injuries, and what has been stabilized?"
Martha was around 5'3", a chienthrope like Naaza, her face well-rounded, hints of dimples on her cheeks. She wore a standard robe of that in the Dian Cecht Familia, their emblem front and center. An emblem that depicted an orb and herb. Her bright citrus irises and her matching hair made her look adorable, her ears only added to that factor. "That's the thing, Miss Naaza. With these injuries, there's only one thing he can be..."
Naaza frowned, knowing the answer, but asked anyway, "What is that?"
"Dead," answered Bernadette. She's human with long hair that descended down to her waist, woven into a tri-braid. The color was that of a light cyan, contrasted by her magenta irises, a small scar rested on her cheek that was close to her mouth. The robe she wore matched Martha's.
Amid flinched at hearing that, turning to Bell, "Mr. Cranel, please go inform the Loki Familia."
"I believe that Bete is informing them, but...I'm curious as to what happened, considering the story I heard from the adventurers who were with him…"
Bernadette grabbed Bell's attention, "I do hate to ask, but I need you to leave Mr. Cranel. Myself, Martha, our Captain, and Miss Naaza need to begin assessing him much more thoroughly...his injuries are life-threatening."
Bell sweatdropped, "W-Would it be possible to inform me of when I can visit? I do owe him…" Amid nodded once, before gesturing to the door. The boy opened the door, swinging it shut with a click-clack. Naaza sweatdropped as she looked over Axton again. I want to know the story. These injuries...the worst I have ever seen...and I lost an arm.
"I do too…and I agree...and that is saying something," Amid said. Naaza realized she thought aloud.
Which makes this the perfect time to ask, "So...you fancy him?"
Amid glared at Naaza with flushed cheeks, reaching for gloves, "Not the time, Miss Naaza, now please get ready."
"Are you emotionally ready?" the Miach Familia chienthrope asked, her attitude switched on the valis. Knowing it from Bell, Amid likes him, to the point where she had to call her because she was emotionally compromised.
The audible smack of gloves could be heard against the skin, Amid fixing Naaza a determined glare, "I don't have a choice."
...
The song lyrics that Axton recalled is from "Hallelujah (I'm Not Dead)" by Citizen Soldier. High key, recommend listening to.
Otherwise, another chapter, Axton in the hospital, again. Amid's worried, again. He was right, because for once he was. I'm tired, and any errors in spelling and grammar will have to wait. I was determined to finish this.
Martha and Bernadette have not been given a race, the wiki confirms my statement. So I went with it. The descriptions are from Delicate Balance, as I allowed myself to be a little lazy. Why do thing I've done already? Also, is it Naaza, Nahza, or Naza? I've seen all three variations, but I went with Naaza, because wiki.
The fight with Axton. Could I have done something differently? Yes. Why I went with Black Goliath? The Dungeon bears its fangs in weird ways. The fight scenes are a struggle for me to write, as stated before. Forgive me for not wanting to bang my head against a wall trying to be creative with that. Does it seem like BS that he beat it? Probably? Power Fantasy? a little, but we have to remember one thing...
Guardian. What is he? It? That's for me to know, and for you to guess.
Speaking of guessing, A review from BigBrother, nice guess—half correct—but I am not introducing them for later. I do have a plan for that arc though, and the scene is in my head...probably should write it so I don't forget it. It'll serve as motivation.
Okay, I think I hit all the points I wanted to. Peace.
