Hi Sorry I haven't updated in a while, but fear not, I do not plan on dropping this any time soon. I may be slower on the updates but that's due to other life events. I know I can't keep making excuses but here ya go!
Enjoy! :)
Posted 03/03/2021
Chapter 7- Return
Orario - Cultural Festival
It was beautiful day, while most of Orario was somewhat tense at the knowledge of the criminal, Bell Cranel, returning. Thankfully, after almost two weeks of no new information regarding his return, most of the populace has forgotten it. With the addition to the surprise cultural festival hosted by the Ganesha familia, any extra attention was thankfully veered away. The music flowed through the streets not unlike during Monsterphilia.
Vendors lined the streets and the main plazas were lined with fairy lights and colorful tarps with intricate designs like stars and geometric shapes. Others told stories written within the cloth. The vendors lining the street sold a variety of things from standard weapons on par with those from the Guild to spices and artisanal crafts. The various smells consisting of incense to that of freshly baked bread and jagamarukun. Citizens, adventurers, elves, humans, gods, and beast people alike strolled through the street. Couples held hands as they walked from booth to booth, a few plays were reenacted on stages dotted in various plazas and even a few dueling circles where adventurers of similar levels went head-to-head, in friendly bouts or to settle bets and disagreements.
Unfortunately, that beauty didn't last.
An ear-splitting roar tore through the festival, the music once playing a myriad of joyous tunes stopped. Following the roar there was a beat of silence before all hell broke loose. Screams rose as those unfortunate enough to have heard that roar before scrambled to get away, others following soon after. Before even a minute passed all the people once filling the streets ran further into Orario. A few minutes later the streets were entirely void of people save for the few adventurers brave (dumb) enough to face the beast. Ganesha familia was the first to arrive, having been hosting the festival as well as maintaining security around it, Shakti leading the charge.
"Mages send a flare up, we need Loki familia here NOW!" Shakti yelled, having already figured out what she will soon be facing.
"Yes Ma'am!"
All at once three different bursts of magic flew into the air, flying high before colliding with each other hundreds of meters above the plaza. The resulting explosion was like that of a super nova with the magic compressing before exploding in a myriad of sparks and lights.
To any seeing the explosion or hearing the resulting shock wave, the message was clear, that wasn't any ordinary firework; danger is approaching.
After that, Shakti had the mages stand back and find positions lining the street and plaza along with any archers. The plaza was soon swarming with close range fighters, most shaking in their boots, they know what was approaching for many were there on the 18th floor that day, they know they don't stand a chance. They could only wait for Loki or Freya familia to arrive.
Another deafening roar tore through them, all those within the plaza staggering back, those below level 3 losing consciousness and being dragged away by those barely holding on. If they were shaking before they were now frozen in fear. Their muscles locking up even as adrenaline flowed through their bodies. It was as if even their bodies and pure instincts knew this is not a foe they could face and found it better to submit then try to flee or, gods forbid, fight.
As soon as the hulking figure's silhouette was seen all the mages let loose, practically draining their mind in an attempt to subdue the beast before the close-range fighters would have to engage. A myriad of spells from lightning, fire, and ice, as well as arrows flew through the air. The air crackled as the pure magic power distorted it. All the spells landed in the creature's general area either hitting it directly or the ground around and behind it. A cloud of smoke rose high into the air as a deafening explosion shook the streets and large cracks spread along the buildings and roads.
They stood with bated breath hoping that the barrage from the long-range attackers was enough, but even they knew deep down it wasn't. Muscles tensed and stances shifted as the more experienced adventures calmed their breathing, they knew they would need to put everything into this fight lest they want to die. A second seemed to stretch on for an eternity before with another roar the creature dispersed the smoke and dust around it as it stepped into the sunlight, its plated armor falling around it, the beast itself was unscathed and unharmed.
An almost maniacal smile filled with glee adorned its face. With a final battle cry it charged into the plaza.
Ais is quite excited. It isn't every day that the person you thought you pushed away forever comes back. She does hope he forgave her; she thinks he did, but you never know. The Bell she remembered was the type of person who would forgive and forget even if he really just pushed it down inside. She rocked lightly back and forth as she stood outside the gate. It was almost a quarter to noon and she honestly couldn't wait to see him, but she was also super nervous. She stopped rocking as those same thoughts of 'not being good enough' and 'what if he didn't forgive you' raced through her mind once more. She quickly shook her head, a determined glint similar to when she gave him her first lap pillow during training came back, catching the ever-observant gaze of Riveria and surprisingly, Tiona.
"Heya Ais, you happy that Argonaut-kun is coming back, because I am~" she sang, snapping Ais out of her thoughts.
"Yes" she nodded.
"If you say sooo~ Oh, Oh how do you think he'll react when he sees you? I bet he'll rush over and give you a big fat ki-mphhmm!" Tione quickly slapped her hand over her sister's mouth, daring her to finish that sentence as Ais stood there processing that statement before the faintest trace of red dusted her cheeks. Visible to only those watching her intently, mainly Riveria who gave her an amused glance. 'I do wonder how Mr. Cranel feels about Ais as she clearly cares for him.' She thought idly.
The Loki familia executives were a few of the familias there to greet Bell when he arrived. The others were Hestia Familia and Takemikazuchi familia. Hermes and Asfi were to join them in a few moments. However, Finn was tense, a few of his comrades took notice of it and couldn't help but be on guard as well.
'My thumb is throbbing like crazy. I wonder if this has anything to do with Mister Cranel?' He thought as he bit his thumb to lessen the pain. (A/N He bites it, right?)
As if on cue, a bright light flared, covering the surrounding area in a pure bright light, rivaling the sun's for just a second, as right after a shockwave of magical energy called the group's attention.
"That came from the cultural festival. That wasn't just some stupidly strong firework, that was a coordinated burst of magical energy!" Finn yelled not a second later, having gathered his thoughts and deduced the reason for the flare.
"You don't think…" Tiona started.
"That was a signal" he sighed, taking a breath before yelling out "Loki Familia move out, prepare for enemy contact! Vanguard forward!" He turned to the remaining Familias, "We must go, I do hope to meet Mister Cranel under better circumstances, I will leave his arrival in your hands."
'It is a loss to not greet him but the people and Orario come first,' he sighed, shaking his head, about to catch up to the rest of the executives until his eyes landed on a hesitant Ais.
"I want to..." she started, but he could tell she was conflicted.
"I know Ais, but I think the Bull has returned," her eyes widened at that, "and we might need you to step in and help the others. I'm sorry but Orario comes first." He watched as her eyes darted to the gate, she was almost biting her lip, a hesitant look flashed across her face. However, another explosion rocked the city, no doubt the efforts of several mages pouring their mind into a combined attack. She glanced longingly at the gate once more before her expression hardened and in a flash of gold, she was off sprinting toward and overtaking most of the familia and joining the vanguard. It had all been less than a few seconds for Ais to make a decision but to Finn it felt like forever. He sighed, gripping his spear and twirling it behind him as he took off. Relaying orders to the rest of the familia as they prepared for another long fight. His thumb throbbing constantly.
Hestia and Take's familias shared a worried look as they turned their attention to the rising cloud of white dust and black smoke congregating in the distance. Welf couldn't help but look back through the bars of Orario's gate searching for anything on the desolate path. He swore he saw a black speck in the distance but the heat waves coming off the ground distorted anything too far away to see properly. Checking a clock on a nearby tavern he noticed it was only 11:49. They would have to hold out for at least another 10 minutes, assuming Bell could take the beast. If Loki familia couldn't who's to say Bell can? Either way, Well only had one question in his mind.
'Where are you, Bell?'
"Arghh" Shakti gasped as she was thrown into a nearby pillar, blood spewing from her mouth once more, not unlike her first encounter with the beast. She slowly slid down the pillar and laid slumped against it. After a magical barrage consisting of at least ten different mages, and 20 close range fighters, it still only removed the monster's armor, its hide however was too tough to even pierce. From the reports she read on the beast in front of her, it took Loki familia's vanguard and the Kenki using her magic to take an arm off, then managed to escape from Elgarm and Braver. It was not a monster to be trifled with even among level sixes. Even with her level she doesn't have the skill, speed, or strength to rival any of Loki familia's executives. She could probably, maybe, possibly beat Nine Hell's in hand-to-hand but that'd be about it and it wouldn't be easy.
Wiping the blood from her mouth as she slowly stood up, noticing the sharp pain and subsequent blood on the back of her head 'I probably, no definitely have a concussion and several broken ribs', she thought, taking a ragged breath, she started to stand up on shaking legs.
She staggered toward the Bull as it finished backhanding another adventurer into a chanting mage, causing Ignus Fatus. It turned to face her, the grin still stretched across its features, without even batting an eye it raised its right arm and blocked a shard of ice that was aimed at its head. It roared again and grabbed a nearby unconscious body by the leg and flung it at the last standing mage. Now it was just Shakti and the Bull left standing.
The plaza was little more than a crater, the surrounding buildings having crumbled or started to slide in. The tarps and fairy lights that once covered the plaza were burned away, leaving a small rain of ash and dust as it fell back to the ground. Market stalls were crushed by either debris, spells, or the bodies of adventurers thrown into them.
Shakti spit the blood out of her mouth as it pooled around her bottom lip and wiped away the excess blood, smearing what was left across her cheek. She ground her boot into the ash littering the ground, ready for round two. The Bull tensed in anticipation for she was the only one so far to stand after one hit, but this was merely the appetizer or as the funny looking god put it, "the prologue before the first act." He could care less, a fight is a fight, plus the magic barrage did tickle a bit. So that was something. He knew that the person in front of him could barely stand, and just poking her would probably make her keel over but he could respect the fighting spirit and determination in her eyes, even if it was just a facade to hide her fear.
However, before either Shakti or he could move he heard the approaching sound of footsteps and felt a buildup of magical energy much stronger than any of the mages he's fought so far could produce. This was getting exciting. He turned around and crossed his axes to take the brunt of the attack. Not that he couldn't tank it but he felt that he will need his energy for the upcoming fight. A golden beam of light shot down from a nearby rooftop causing yet another explosion. He moved his axes in a large broad sweep, effectively clearing the dust previously surrounding him.
The girl behind him, collapsed to her knees. She was a minimal threat compared to those who now stood before him. He looked over the group assembled above him, the young elf that produced the magic lowering her staff as the real threat stood beside her. He locked onto the golden-haired adventurer, last time they fought he lost an arm. Thankfully the old sage, Fels he believes, reattached it. While she isn't his original target, she is a challenge nonetheless, along with those standing around her. 'Loki familia' he remembers them being called, '…they will be the first real fight.'
"Good job Lefiya" Finn commented as he looked over the plaza and the beast below.
"T-thank you captain!" Lefiya blushed at the praise, only to turn around as she felt a hand on her shoulder. Ais gave her a small smile before focusing on the scene below, her happy demeanor changing in an instant.
"Riveria seeing as any one of your attack spells would wipe out everything in a two-block radius, I suggest you help get the injured off the field and heal them. I do not believe this will be easy." Riveria nodded, and walked off staff in hand, first going around to some of the mages on the walls as they would be the easiest to heal and some of them may be healers themselves, so it never hurts to get more help.
As Riveria went about helping those that fought before they arrived, Finn turned back to see Bete, Tiona, and Tione practically buzzing with excitement, well Tiona was, Bete and Tione let it out with more bloodlust. Bete smirked at Finn and Tiona was about to ask when Finn simply raised his hand and said one word, "Go."
As the Bull heard the command, he immediately lowered himself into a more defensive stance. Letting out a war cry like roar as the first of Loki familia's executives dropped into the fray. Bete bounded across the rooftops before pushing off the walls and jumping straight toward the Bull. The monster wasn't even pushed back. Bete expected this and twirled around the axe blades as he pushed off them to deliver a roundhouse kick to the monster's back. It staggered slightly as Bete smirked before the monster whipped around. Left arm leading as he struck Bete, who barely raised his arms in a block, with the pommel of his axe. Bete was sent tumbling through the air before laying to rest in a nearby wall.
The monster had little time to rest himself, before he had to raise his right arm and axe to block an axe-kick aimed for his head from Tione. He lowered his right axe as he brought the axe in his left arm around to intercept her as she bounded away, before the swing was stopped by Tiona's Urga. He growled as his blade locked with Tiona's before he raised his right arm and swatted her away. He then turned around in time to come face-to-face with Tione's fist. She punched the Bull, her zolastrailing behind, going for his throat. He pulled his shoulder back and allowed the Zolas to trail along his chest, where they flowed along harmlessly. It probably wouldn't have killed him if he let them hit his throat as they probably couldn't pierce his skin, however, he wouldn't be in the position to bring his knee straight into Tione's gut, halting her forward momentum. He raised his right arm and back handed her into another wall.
He heard footsteps coming from his right as a flying kick was aimed for his gut. He braced and let the kinetic force flow through him and back toward his opponent, a little trick to make him into an immovable mountain of muscle. Standing almost sideways, Tiona brought her Urga around with her right arm and moved to strike the beast once more. The Bull's right axe whipped around, aimed to cut her leg off as she twisted the momentum of her Urga swing to allow her to twist over the Bull's blade. Right into his left fist, sending her flying back.
The Bull stood there, panting for a second. As fun as Loki Familia's vanguard was, he needed to be aware of the true threat watching him with a hardened glare. He jumped to the side to avoid an axe kick from Bete and was about to bring his left foot around to kick Bete into another wall before Bete dug his heel and the ball of his foot into the ground where he landed and jumped toward the monster. His Dual Rolan's out and ready to slice across the monster's gut. The Bull, instead dropped his raised leg, shattering the ground beneath him and making Bete stumble slightly. Just enough for the monster to sweep his legs ands and send Bete flying away with the pommel of his axe.
With the first wave complete the monster let out another roar. It may have seemed like a cry of victory but to Loki Familia it was a taunt asking for a harder challenge. Ais was about to respond to the challenge by stepping forward, preparing to jump into the plaza but a spear crossed in front of her halted her movements. She looked down the shaft of the spear to find her captain telling her to stand down.
"Captain but-" Finn merely shook his head in response.
"Not yet Ais. Let Gareth wear it down first. It was able to land a hit on you three years ago, and while you have grown, so did it. I expect you to finish it if Gareth fails."
"Yes, captain" she muttered, obviously disappointed to not be able to fight such a strong opponent yet and probably for another reason considering what's happening today. Lefiya nervously comforted her from behind. She doesn't know why anyone would want to fight that thing but then again, its Ais, and as much as Lefiya doesn't want to admit it. She knows why Ais wants to fight it, especially seeing as today was supposed to be a good day for her.
Finn noticed her demeanor and knew that she seemed to be stuck much like Ottar was only two years ago. Too strong to find something worthy to actually push her, that didn't start a war with Freya Familia and was accessible to Loki Familia as they didn't give the freedom to solo far into the dungeon alone. Too much of a risk to the Familia that way, it may work for Freya Familia, but then again it was Ottar. He had almost a decade of fighting experience more than Ais. From what Finn had last heard from Loki, her highest stat; her magic, was just reaching the C rank, while her dexterity and agility were solid D ranks. Her strength and endurance were even lower at a high F rank. Also, the fact that Bell was coming back today and this beast ruined their little reunion did nothing to help her mood.
'Almost forgot about that, I wonder if he'll show up?' Finn mused before he shook the thought away, he needed to focus. He then looked to Gareth and nodded, Gareth dropped into the plaza, making a slight dent in the stone as he landed. He swung the giant double-bladed axe off his shoulder and into a two-handed grip.
"Aye, so we meet again. Last time you had to run away. Pretty cowardly don'tcha think?" The Bull merely huffed in annoyance.
"Why don't we talk this out, just the two of us. No need to let the little laddies get hurt." Gareth finished as he dropped into a lower stance, lowering his center of gravity to help give him a stable foundation when he swung his massive axe.
The Bull seemed to agree with that statement as a grin broke out across his features once more. This time he went on the offensive and jumped toward Gareth with his right arm stretched out ready to swing the blade as he got close. Gareth pivoted and brought his axe to block, grunting as he felt the Bull push against him. The monster brought his left arm and axe down to cleave Gareth in two, but Gareth shifted to catch the Bull's fist with his hand, having to abandoned his left hand to block the axe alone. The two titans pushed against each other, cracking the plaza beneath them but Gareth was slowly losing. Suddenly the Bull backed away as he heard another two words uttered, the familiar buildup of magical energy coming from the small elf.
"ARCS RAY!" Lefiya yelled, as she finished her chant. She felt the magic build up around her, whipping dust around as the magic condensed into a bolt of light. She pointed her staff forward as she felt the familiar release of magic energy and slight mind drain.
The bolt flew above Gareth looking like it would fly over the plaza as a miss, however, it suddenly dived down aiming right on top of the Bull. The bolt drove toward the Bull's unprotected back as it was locked in the standoff with Gareth.
It jumped back upon hearing those words and smirked thinking it successfully avoided the attack as a cloud of dust was kicked up from where he jumped, until suddenly the bolt shot out of the dust and hit it square in the chest.
'Homing magic…interesting' He grunted as he proceeded to stand once again to his full height. The only evidence of the attack was a small patch of singed hair and skin that looked practically invisible against his already blood-stained body.
He then jumped upward into the sky, flying high above the plaza's buildings and he watched as the narrowed eyes of the three standing atop the walls tracked his every movement. He was going to flatten the dwarf.
"Gareth incoming from above!" Finn warned as he brought his spear to his side and prepared to jump.
Finn's grip tightened as he spun the spear tip downward and jumped off the roof, as he rose to intercept the makeshift meteorite of pure muscle, he swung the spear's tip forward to make himself into a living arrow. The beast's eyes widened momentarily before determination and excitement replaced it once more. It swung the axe in its left arm down to change its center of mass and allow the tip of Finn's spear to sail passed where its head would have been and over its shoulder. Because of the previous axe swing the bull was slowly spinning, continuing its momentum through its right axe it aimed to cleave the outstretched pallum clean in half.
Finn, however, had other plans and with all his might swung the spear to the side, clocking the beast on the side of the head with the shaft of the spear. This movement also pushed Finn to the opposite side as the monster's head acted as a fulcrum. As Finn was pushed away, he managed to dodge most of the incoming axe, however his left thigh was sliced open horizontally as the Bull's axe passed through. He let out a pained scream as the axe tore across his thigh, as his body pivoted above the Bull. It didn't hit the bone but it still cut deep. Unfortunately for the Bull, the momentum and force of his swing brought him into a front flip like maneuver.
However, due to his positioning above the Bull and the Bull's forward momentum forcing its upper body down, Finn had a perfect view to the Bull's exposed back. He quickly composed himself as adrenaline numbed the pain. He observed, for a split second, as the muscles on the Bull's back tensed. He saw how they stretched and where they connected. Finn realized he had one strong downward swing before they would hit the ground, he needed to inflict as much damage as possible. 'One diagonal strike across the back should do as much damage as possible in the shortest amount of time,' he thought through grit teeth.
He aimed across the Bull's back from its right shoulder down and across to just shy of its left hip. The tip of his spear sunk into the monster's flesh, cutting through fur and sinew. It scrapped against its shoulder blade, as it sliced through its right deltoid. Unable to cut through the bone from his current angle and due to the loss of something to push off of, relying on only his level 7 strength to push the spear down. It sliced deeper nicking the right latissimus dorsi but continuing past the small of its back and through the left latissimus dorsi.
The Bull howled in anguish as they both fell down to the ground. Finn braced himself to land on his right leg to reduce the damage done to his left while the Bull could only roll his left shoulder forward to crash into the ground. He rolled forward slightly, which added to only worsen his newly acquired wounds. As Finn was about to hit the ground, Gareth managed to catch him in a dive and protect him with his body as to not worsen his wounds like his opponent did.
"I neva knew you to be so reckless" Gareth joked as he got up, gingerly carrying Finn.
"Not my worse wound…" Finn pointed out.
"That's what I thought ya would say." Gareth sighed, "You are in no condition to fight, ya need to be healed."
"What we need to do is deal with the bull," Finn retorted, pushing aside his wound. It wasn't fatal to him in the least, but his movement speed would be greatly hindered and in a battle of titans, that could be the difference between life and death.
As Finn said this, they heard a pained and angry roar emanate from the crater made by the dropped Bull. Gareth tensed as the bull appeared in front of him and Finn in a burst of speed, arm cocked back, ready to deliver a terrifying punch.
Gareth raised his left arm as he protectively curled around Finn, his gauntlets cracking under the force of the hit. He was sent flying back through several buildings as he protected Finn. After being sent a few blocks away Gareth tried to raise his left arm to help him himself out of the crater he made in some cellar, when he felt it. An almost burning sensation, closer to a thousand needles poking into his arm. He looked at his forearm and saw that while his gauntlet was able to take the force of the Bull's hit, his bones weren't strong enough to support the gauntlet, making it bend into his arm and most likely break the bone.
"That looks bad" Finn commented dryly as he started cutting apart a nearby curtain to stop the bleeding and used his spear as a walking stick to keep off his bad leg.
Gareth simply grunted in pain and lifted himself up with his right arm, walking to the curtain to make a simple sling.
"I didn't think it would pack that hard of a punch. Dented and cracked my Durandal gauntlets." Gareth said through gritted teeth as he gingerly removed the gauntlet piercing his forearm.
"I regret not carrying potions on my person today, didn't think it would devolve into this" Finn gestured to he and Gareth's pitiful states.
"Your thumb didn't prophesies this?" Gareth asked dryly as he tightened the sling around his broken and bleeding arm.
"It simply alerts me to danger and/or dangerous opponents, like when we confronted Freya familia. Ottar manages to get a mild throb every time I'm in the same room as him. I believed that Bell Cranel was the source of our worries but I appeared to have misinterpreted it."
"Well, how do you think the young one is doing?" Gareth asked just as an explosive pressure flew through the holes they recently made.
"I believe that answers your question." Finn replied as he stood up and started hobbling back to the main fight.
"I feel like we're getting old." Gareth sighed as he followed after Finn.
"We are old" Finn chuckled as they walked off, side by side.
"I could use a drink after this."
"For once, I agree."
Back in the main plaza, the monster flexed his arm experimentally and rolled his shoulders. 'My range of motion has diminished and my right arm isn't as powerful. If I overextend my arms, I may rip the remaining muscle, however…' he turned to look at the last real threat standing atop the wall, 'the battle is far from over.'
"Lefiya" Ais called out, jolting the elf out of her shocked state, her eyes never leaving the monster below.
"Y-yes?" Lefiya stuttered out, looking back at Ais.
"Find Riveria and have her or yourself heal Finn and Gareth."
"What are you going to do Ais?" Lefiya asked concernedly, having just watched two of the most powerful people in the familia get punched away.
"Fight" she stated simply before jumping off the terrace and into the cloud of dust below.
As she fell, she uttered but one word as an explosive burst of magic whipped through the plaza, the dust being pushed out and revealing the grinning Bull.
"You seek to fight Bell…" Ais stated darkly as she floated down without so much as a sound, the wind whipping around her starting to pick up. It wasn't a question.
"AHAHAHAHA, do you know where he is?" He bellowed, his voice being drowned out by the swirling vortex around them, that question was meant for her, no one else. His grin growing ever wider.
Ais didn't give him the satisfaction of a response as she shot forward, calling upon her magic and sword, Desperate, in her ultimate finisher that has been stopped only so many times that it could be counted on one hand.
"Lil Rafaga!" She yelled out, as she let her wind guide her Desperate true. The Bull crossed his axes and met it much like Ottar did several years ago. Only this time Ais made sure not to hold back last minute.
The unstoppable force met the unmovable object as a blast of wind pressure tore through the plaza as Ais' wind slammed into the Bull.
He didn't even budge.
The wind started to make small cuts around his body, with a grunt of pain he managed to push Ais away from him. He jumped after her, swinging his left axe down hoping to catch her off guard. She noticed this and as soon as she touched the ground, pushed off disappearing in a burst of speed invisible to any below level 3 and a blur to any above.
However, the Bull could keep up.
She reappeared above him bring her Desperate down as he blocked only for her to reappear in a different spot. The battle continued like this for several seconds with Ais jumping around and the Bull blocking or tanking the hit. Ais was having trouble trying to keep her movements unpredictable, last time they fought she just attacked and relied too much on speed, of which the Bull could match. Now however, by attacking at random and making sure to try to get behind the Bull, she is keeping it on guard as a well-placed hit on its back could easily turn the tide of the battle.
The Bull, tired of this game of cat and mouse, swung his axe in a wide berth, it wasn't to hit Ais but merely push her back. She quickly ducked under the blade and brought her Desperate up to pierce its chest. The Bull was surprised momentarily that she went for the attack instead of dodging but recomposed himself quickly. He then brought his horn down to parry, reminding him of the first fight with the golden-haired adventurer. Ais quickly realized what he was trying to do, knowing that the last time he parried her, he twisted her arm making her unable to continue. She quickly flicked her wrist to the side and managed to dodge the horn's curved edge. The blade left a shallow cut across the bull's torso before Ais quickly backflipped backwards, using Aeriel to control her descent.
Ais idly noted the clock tower toll twelve times as both she and the bull stared each other down. She knew it meant something, something important but she couldn't quite place it. The adrenaline in her system keeping her alert and her instincts screaming to focus on the threat in front of her. After the twelfth toll, both parties charged each other once more.
Outside Orario's Gates
A figure clad in a tattered robe made his way up to the gates. Interestingly enough there weren't many people standing outside the walls, only a few lost travelers and the guards themselves. He smirked as he walked to the entrance, stepping in front of the guards he lowered his hood. Dirty white hair waved in the wind, strikingly red eyes concealing so many things met terrified brown. The figure, Bell, takes a step toward the gate, the guards only nod shakily as he passes. He continues past without breaking his stride.
He takes a deep breath and continues down the street getting only two steps into Orario before he feels several eyes on him. Not even a second later he is tackled by his goddess.
"Bell-kun you're back," Hestia cries into his robe, "I-I-we were s-so-"
"Shh, Hestia I'm back and I don't plan on leaving again," Bell whispers softly, patting Hestia's head comfortingly.
Hestia continued to cry as both Lili and Haruhime make their way to him. Lili glances at Hestia for a second, a scowl on her face before looking up at Bell, her face softening before she too hugs Bell. Haruhime looks on from the side, longingly. She too missed Bell but she doesn't want to ruin the moment. Bell simply looks at her and opens up his left arm. Haruhime flushes slightly before looking down and practically throwing herself into the embrace. Bell whispers to them, "I'm back, please don't cry. I'm okay." The girls stay like that before backing off slightly, faces streaked with drying tears.
Bell takes a second to breathe again before he receives a big pat on his back. He lurches forward slightly. Bell turns to Welf with an eyebrow raised, Welf simply stands there grinning, wondering just how strong Bell is as that was not a small pat on his part.
"Hey man, it's good to see you" Welf greets after a second, Bell relaxes and grins back, but Welf can tell it's not the same as when he left. It's not strained, nor insincere, more tired if anything. Welf almost falters but catches himself, glancing at the crying girls, he can't ask, not now.
Bell nods again before looking at Ryuu, who stood there watching silently with the rest of Hestia familia behind her. He takes three long, and graceful strides before bowing to her.
"Thank you for taking care of them" He whispers, his voice carried in the wind. Ryuu still picked it up and gives the slightest of nods, Bell straightens before looking past her at those who joined after he left. He smiles softly and greets them individually as they look on in awe.
Ryuu watches from the side, her face stoic as always, but internally she is in turmoil. She knows the faraway look in his eyes, his tired smile, and his almost purposeful and efficient gait. Even when he relaxes, he is tense, his eyes dart around every once in a while, searching. He's not the same kid who left Orario so many years ago, no he's grown, he's killed, taken many lives without mercy. She would know for she herself was like that before she found happiness and comfort in her friends, family, and familia. She wants to hug him and tell him it's alright, that he's home now, but she stops herself. He must find it on his own or it won't mean anything, much like Syr and the girl's at the Hostess did fore her, but that doesn't mean she won't try to help him.
After Bell greets his familia he turns to Takemikazuchi familia and nods to Mikoto and Take. Bell was about to say something when a yell forces him to shut his mouth.
"BELL CRANEL!" Eina yells as she sees him freeze up, "OH YOU BETTER BE SCARED!"
"Hello Eina" Bell greets, ever so slightly hiding his face farther into the reverse veil. He idly notes the snickers coming from Welf and the newer members of his familia. "How are you?"
"HOW AM I? Who do you think you are? How are you!?"
"I…I'm…okay." Bell replies, taking time between each word as if he really doesn't know how he feels. Eina's face softens after hearing that, it hurts her to know that Bell doesn't know if he is okay.
Bell sighs, he doesn't want them to worry about him he can take care of himself. He's been doing that for a few years now anyway. He feels a hand placed on his arm, turning his head slightly he meets Hestia's concerned gaze. "Bell-kun it's okay. You're home now, okay?"
Bell doesn't answer, instead he looks toward Babel. His gaze traveling up the tower and stopping. He holds it there for a moment before tearing away and turning back to Hestia. He nods in response, not wanting to talk about it now.
However, he has one more question. "Where's Loki Familia?" Welf and Mikoto share an amused glance while Hestia and Lili scowl ever so slightly, all knowing who he is really referring to. Haruhime was the one to answer.
"They were here waiting with us, but had to leave when a distress signal was sent up from the cultural fair." Haruhime pointed to the ever-rising cloud of smoke and dust in the distance.
Bell really idn't like that. Taking a moment to focus himself he felt the faint vibrations of magical energy and slight changes in wind pressure that told him there was something big going on. He didn't give it much mind when he first arrived but now that he focuses on it, it's clear it isn't just the natural mana flowing from the dungeon or several thousand individuals all holding a god's blessing. No, this is a more concentrated wave coming from the one direction. It's really faint and almost familiar, but he could tell it's the same direction as the smoke and dust. He only nods in acknowledgment to Haruhime's answer, as he faces where the supposed battle is taking place. "I'm going to check it out, make sure everything is okay. You can come with me, but it might be dangerous." Then Bell thinks to himself, 'And I don't want you to see what I've become.'
"You go on ahead, we'll catch up" Welf replies nodding toward the faint cloud of dust that was recently thrown into the air. Bell merely nods before he jogs off and easily clears several buildings before landing on the houses out of sight.
Welf whistles in appreciation of the feat while Hestia, Lili, Haruhime, and the newer members of Hestia familia stand there slack jawed.
"WOW the ex-captain is so cool!" Maisy, the cat-person, exclaims. The others nodding in agreement.
"C'mon I want to see him fight!" Lexi shouts and starts to run off toward the fight, the other's swiftly following. Lili scrambled after them telling them to stay behind the executives and that it will be dangerous if they get in Loki Familia's way.
"Well, he seems to have definitely leveled up" Welf says to no one in particular from behind the group. Mikoto and Ryuu nod in agreement.
"Bell-dono seems off though. I expected him to have grown but the aura around him is…" Mikoto trails off table to find the word.
"Confident, colder, almost suppressed" Ryuu helpfully supplied, having sensed the tension bubbling beneath his skin after he heard about the supposed fight. As if he was suppressing the urge to take off and let his instincts guide him, similar to that of a wild animal or monster. Mikoto only nodded.
They all shared the same thought, 'What happened to Bell?'
That was a doozy. I hope you guys could keep up with the fight scenes and it wasn't too boring. Also I hope I didn't downwrite Finn and Gareth too much. I took out Riveria as her magic is literally game changing and I don't know if she has any plaza-sized attacks as the only aspects of her magic I know she has is her two wide-scale attacks and her healing magic. Don't hurt me, I'm sorry I don't read the LNs so I don't know specifics.
Sorry that there wasn't any Bell V Asterius in this chapter, but next chapter will probably finish up Ais V Asterius and show, hopefully, the entirety of Bell V Asterius. That's the plan anyway. Uhh, I don't know when I will post next. Probably in a few weeks as a lot of things are happening and I don't get off til April. I'll try to get the next one off before April but no promises. Sorry for the slow(ish) updates, but school and life versus my hobby, I'm sure you understand.
Anyway, until next time!
See Ya! :)