I do not own Familia Myth or any of the characters.

Final Battle

"You're asking the Xenos to die!?" Fels shouted. "What's the meaning of this, Lord Hermes!?"

"It's a trade," Hermes said calmly. "No, I suppose it's a request. At this rate, you'll be found by the Loki Familia. But there is another way out. If you listen to my request, I'll tell you. And in exchange..."

"Fels!" Hestia's voice shouted from the crystal in his hand. "This is bad! The notes were submerged in water but they held their form! They're fake! Ouranos must have...no. That Hermes must have done something! Are you listening? Fels!"

Fels crushed his crystal. "What is your objective, Lord Hermes?"

Hermes smirked wickedly.

"I see," Gros said. "So, you are telling us to die for that boy's sake, correct? To regain his honor, you want us to be defeated by him in front of the people."

"It's such a help that you understand so quickly," Hermes smirked. "Oh, I'm not saying that all of you need to die. If you'd pick three or four of you, that would be sufficient."

"In that case, I will go," Gros said.

"No, you won't!" Ethan snarled, pressing the tip of his sword to Hermes' back as Ryu held Alf's Lumina across the front of Asfi's throat.

"What do you think-" Asfi began.

"Utter one more word and Hermes dies!" Ethan spat.

"And if you try anything, Hermes, Perseus dies," Ryu warned.

"Do either of those and you'll both be blacklisted," Hermes warned.

"So?" Ethan asked. "One of us has been blacklisted before, and considering we're under orders from Ouranos to protect the Xenos no matter what, I doubt we would be. Besides, it's hardly the first adventurer we'd have killed."

"So what will you do, then?" Hermes asked. "Fight your way through the entire Loki Familia to one of the entrances, then heroically give your lives while the monsters escape into Knossos?"

"Fight the Loki Familia, yes," Ethan said. "Kill you, maybe. Die, no. Only Dix Perdix will die today."

"Alright, do it your way," Hermes shrugged. "But when your plan fails ad Xenos begin to die, I hope you'll consider my request."

"We won't," Ethan growled. "Now leave before everyone sees a pillar of light."

Hermes nodded and he and Asfi turned and began to walk away. Ethan readied himself to counter any surprise attacks, but nothing happened.

"Now what?" Fels asked.

"Hestia," Ethan said into his communication crystal. "I'm with the Xenos. Hermes wanted Bell to kill a few to salvage his reputation. We're going to have to go through one of the Loki Familia's doors, since those are the only ones we know for sure exist."

"Okay," Hestia said. "Just a minute."

They all waited in silence before Hestia spoke again.

"Just to the south is a door guarded by Gareth, but Tiona is nearby as well," Hestia said.

"Dix Perdix will be there as well," Ethan said.

"How do you know?" Lili asked.

"Cassandra," Ethan said. "We'll deal with whoever we need to. Right now, I'm pissed and desperate."

"Understood," Hestia said. "Be careful."

"We will," Ryu said.

Ethan lowered his hand and nodded to Fels, who returned the nod. Then, they all left, heading south quickly. However, after barely three blocks, both of the Loki Familia executives in question landed in front of them, along with Finn, a couple dozen lower ranked members swarming out of the alleyways around them.

"Finn," Ethan greeted, drawing his xiphos as well.

"Guardian," Finn replied. "This is as far as you go."

"If you get in our way, you'll die," Ethan warned. "You were accommodating before when you told Bete to bring Dix Perdix to me. You're a good man, so I don't want to kill you. But if you force my hand, I won't show mercy."

Finn's eyes drifted to Ethan's left slightly, to where he could see Wiene behind Ethan and Ryu. "You got her under control."

"With help," Ethan said. "And no one will be laying a hand on her again."

Finn's hand tightened around his spear subtly, preparing to strike. However, before he could, a deafening roar echoed from above them before a series of explosions suddenly echoed from off to one side, the ground below them trembling. Everyone spun, eyes widening at the multiple dust clouds filling the air.

"What the fuck was that?" Ethan asked.

"The Black Minotaur just attacked Bell!" Hestia shouted, panicked, Finn staring at the crystal in interest.

"Finn, he needs help!" Ethan said. "It gave Ais a hard time!"

Finn hesitated before nodding. "We'll be back once it's dead."

"We'll be gone," Ryu said flatly.

Finn shouted for the Loki Familia to follow him and they all raced off. Ethan and Ryu spun, sprinting through the streets with the Xenos, heading for the door to Knossos. As they ran, more roars, and a much, much larger explosion rang out, the explosion actually making the ground lurch. Then, they all slowed to a stop as they reached the doorway. As Cassandra had warned, Dix Perdix was standing in front of the door. He had five spears strapped to his back and one in his hands, he was completely healed, and he wore a deranged, psychotic smile across his entire face.

"I found you!" Dix all but panted, his mental state so broken that he was gasping for breath, drooling, and laughing softly and unsettlingly every few seconds.

"So you did," Ethan growled, his sclerae turning black as pitch black fluid began to pour from his eyes, his irises shining crimson. "And now you die!"

Dix smirked and they both exploded forward. Ethan's blades clashed with the plain spear rapidly, the dagger-like blade cracking more and more. Finally, Ethan leapt backward, sheathing his xiphos in the air before grabbing his sword with both hands, forming a Light Blade around it. Then, he shot forward, sashing with all his strength. Dix ducked aside, slashing, and the Light Blade smashed through the blade, the rest of it only barely missing Ethan as his own blade sliced some of Dix's hairs off. Ethan spun instantly, snapping his arm up.

"Lightning Spree!" Ethan roared.

The lightning bolt exploded from his hand, but then arced into the air, hitting the suddenly airborne spear and being redirected into the city in the distance. Ethan growled, lunging forward as Dix yanked the next spear off of his back. This one was pure white with a jagged, double-edged blade, a gap down the center of the blade leaving it as two separate blades. Ethan didn't give him a moment's rest, pressing him hard as they dueled around and around the street, sparks and dust filling the air around them. Dix spun around Ethan and stabbed at his back but Ethan spun, slashing and locking his sword into the center of the blade. Dix grinned, twisting sharply and flinging the blade into the air, then spun, slamming the base of the shaft into Ethan's jaw, launching him. Before he could pursue Ethan, he spun, deflecting Alf's Lumina with the shaft. He slashed at her, but she flipped over it, allowing Dix to spin, deflecting Ethan's xiphos blade. Ethan caught the shaft of the spear and Dix instantly leapt away, avoiding Ryu's strike and grabbing another spear as Ethan broke that one over his knee then pulled his sword's blade free of the ground.

Dix narrowed his eyes as the pair readied themselves, then pulled another spear off of his back. One was all red with a pair of long, thin arms sticking out of the sides of the blade at the base, and the other was green with a blade designed to look like a leaf. Ethan readied himself to fight against magic attacks, Ryu doing the same. Sure enough, Dix spun both spears before driving them into the ground, sending out a massive wall of flames and wind. Ethan fired a Lightning Spree into the ground and the explosion cleared the blast before he and Ryu exploded forward through the dust, using it to help mask their movements as their blades crashed into Dix's rapidly. Dix held his own beautifully, however, spinning and slashing, helicoptering the spears, and managing to keep the battle on even ground, even against both of them. Finally, he knocked Alf's Lumina away, toward the Xenos, but before he could capitalize on having disarmed Ryu, he was having to fend her off yet again, this time with her wielding her Durandal sword. Finally, both spears suddenly cracked under a particularly powerful blow from both of them and all three leapt away from them before they exploded, the escaping magic erupting into a massive, flaming tornado. Dix pulled the next-to-last spear off of his back, a black one with the smooth, scimitar-like blade dripping acidic poison from the tip, and cackled.

"He's completely lost his mind," Ethan said.

"We should be merciful and kill him," Ryu said.

"Agreed," Ethan nodded. "Blade Rain!"

Light Blades began to streak toward Dix from all sides, and he began to helicopter the spear, shattering them, then transitioned into fending the two of them off perfectly, both of them having to be extra careful to avoid both the blade itself and the droplets of acid and poison it was flinging. Ethan spun around a spray and stepped forward as Dix was knocking Ryu's sword aside, Ryu leaning aside from a spray of acid. However, as Ethan moved to strike, Dix swung the spear's shaft back at Ethan, forcing him to block it. Dix instantly lunged, slamming a foot into Ethan's gut and hurling him away. Ethan flipped, crashing into the wall and cratering it just before Dix managed to use the shaft of his spear to knock Ryu's blade aside, then stabbed. Ryu spun around it, however, her foot flashing up and crashing into the side of his head, sending him staggering away.

"Luminous Wind!" Ryu shouted.

Dix spun, beginning to block the blasts, then also blocking Ethan's Blade Rain at the same time. Finally, Ethan fired a Lightning Spree into the cloud of dust and exploding spells. A massive explosion filled the street, and as it faded, Dix staggered to his feet from a hundred meters further along the street, glancing at his utterly destroyed spear. He tossed it aside and pulled out his last spear. It was a long spear with a black metal shaft, a silver point on the back, and a long, double-edged blade for a head with a dragon carved into the sides. Ethan recognized the Goibniu Familia's work, and narrowed his eyes, sheathing his xiphos again. As he did, Ryu backed up, sheathing her sword before Wiene tossed Alf's Lumina to her.

"What, don't want me to impale your girlfriend?" Dix asked, his voice slurred slightly by the drool running from his mouth. "Well, after I kill you and all those monsters, I'LL IMPALE HER OVER AND OVER UNTIL SHE BEGS FOR MORE! ! !"

Dix exploded forward as the skin around Ethan's eyes blackened and his irises shone. He gripped his sword with both hands, raising it over his head as Dix pulled the spear back on his right side. Then, Ethan exploded forward, his sword crashing into the spear and knocking it aside. Dix spun instantly, the shaft swiping at Ethan, only for Ethan to have ducked under it, slashing upward at Dix. The blade sparked along the shaft then skipped off of the base of the blade. Dix grinned, striking instantly, but the blade sparked off of Ethan's own. Dix spun, and swiped quickly, the blade and back spike both sparking against Ethan's sword repeatedly before Ethan ducked aside from a stab, allowing the blade to embed itself in the wall. Then, he shot past Dix, slashing, only for Dix to block it with the shaft. Ethan spun, deflecting a stab before flipping over the shaft. Dix's psychotic grin grew wider. As Ethan landed, Dix's spear whipped around, crashing into Ethan's blade and hurling him toward the Xenos. Ethan flipped, landing on his feet and driving his blade into the ground, skidding to a stop. After taking a second to make sure he didn't need to use a spell to stall Dix, he stood, pulling the sword free of the ground. Dix grinned, readying himself to charge again. Ethan stared at him for a moment before turning his left shoulder toward Dix, holding his sword across his chest, the tip aimed at Dix. Then, both exploded forward, a Light Blade blazing to life around Ethan's blade. Then, there was a deafening clash as Dix's spear skipped off of Ethan's Durandal chest plate before Ethan slashed with all his might. The Light Blade knocked the spear aside with ease before Dix's upper body spun into the air at mid-bicep, his arms both remaining attached to the spear and the rest of his body falling to its knees, then forward onto the ground.

"Let's go," Ethan said, the blackened skin receding and fading from his eyes as he shone green for a moment as he healed himself.

They all hurried down the street, past the destruction of the battle, then finally slowed to a stop at the entrance to Knossos. Fels opened the door and the Xenos all headed through, except for Wiene, who caught Ethan and Ryu's hands, stopping them.

"You two have to stay here," Wiene said. "We'll be okay."

"Yes, you will," Ethan said. "Because we're going to be there with you."

Wiene shook her head. "I can see you when you explore the dungeon, but you need to stay here. It won't solve anything if you're hated along with us."

"It'll solve the problem of us wanting to live with our daughter," Ryu said.

Wiene smiled. "Soon, we can. But for now, I have to go."

Ethan glanced at Anya, seeing her kissing Ray goodbye. He sighed, kneeling and pulling Wiene into a hug. "Be careful. Take this." He put his crystal in her hand. Don't lose this. And if you're ever in trouble, call us. Ryu and I will be there immediately, okay?"

Wiene smiled and nodded, hugging him again, Ryu joining in this time. Once she pulled away, they stood and Ethan turned to all of the others, Ray and Anya still holding each other as Ray, Ranye, Gros, and Lyd watched them.

"The same goes for all of you," Ethan said. "Call if you need anything, even if you're not sure there's actually danger."

"We'll help you no matter what," Ryu said.

They all nodded and Ray and Anya pulled back from their embrace. They kissed one last time before Four scooped up Wiene and the Xenos headed into Knossos with Fels. Ethan looked down at the key to Knossos in his hand and sighed, slipping it into his pocket before turning to leave, only to see Finn and Bete. The door ground closed behind them as the three of them stared at the opposing two.

"Bell Cranel lost to the minotaur, Asterius," Finn said. "Cranel's alive."

"That's good," Ethan nodded, pointing to the only spear of Dix's that remained unbroken. "I believe that belongs to the Goibniu Familia."

Finn nodded, picking it up.

"Just give me the word, Captain," Bete growled, Ethan's hand tightening on his sword's hilt as Ryu gripped her tanto hilts.

"There's no need," Finn said, turning away. "We have no instructions regarding these three unless they are between us and the Xenos. As the Xenos are no longer here, we have no reason to fight them."

"I have plenty of reasons," Bete grumbled, following Finn away from the alleyway.

Ethan sighed, releasing his sword. "Let's go home."

"Yeah," Anya nodded, smiling. "I have to get my room ready to bring my girlfriend over, and we need to get to work getting things ready so I can."

Ethan nodded, then grinned. "I always knew you were the black sheep of the family, but a lesbian?"

Anya punched him in the shoulder, laughing, and he chuckled, massaging it. Then, the four of them headed back to the house, finding the others were all present. Ethan healed Bell's wounds for him before everyone headed to bed.

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