Danmachi Emerald Version

Chapter 6

Evilus Part 4: Encounter

A/N:

Narration

"Talk"

Monologue

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅": Monster noise

*sfx*

West alliance route

With the King and majority of Freya familia adventurers leading the Western alliance, they made more progress compared to the Eastern alliance that Finn led. In the span of two hours, they are already halfway and the huge black twister is already in sight.

"Hmmmm..." After dealing with the latest batch of enemies that came north, Ottar look at the black sand with a troubled expression.

"Something wrong, Ottar?" Heith, Freya Familia's healer and one of the best healers in Orario alongside Airmid asked. It was not unnatural for their captain to be silent but something is odd with his behavior.

"Tell them to take a rest first and the supporters to make an inventory of their antidotes." He turned his head towards the horizon where the large black twister is visibly seen. "Also instruct all adventurers to prepare a mask before we engage that beast."

"Mask?"

"To lessen the poison we might inhale,"

"You seem to know something about them," Allen who overheard their conversation asked.

"...A hunch." Ottar pause for a bit as he turned his head towards the east. "If my guess is correct, the larger one will be different from the one we just fought."

"You mean about them having poison?"

"Yes," Ottar nodded. "I'm not certain if their poison will be as potent as the one before but it is better to be careful. Worst comes to worst, the antidote won't even work."

"So you're saying without Airmid here, we can't be careless?"

"..." Ottar looked at their resident healer that is pouting but decided to ignore it. Instead, he turned his head eastward. "Finn, you better remember, this is not the first time we'll be fighting this thing. Unlike the first quest we partook in, Zeus and Hera are not here to finish the job."

"Zeus and Hera? Wait... but that should be impossible!" Allen growled furiously. clenching his hands to the point of his hand starting to bleed, much to Heith's annoyance. "You mean these beasts are spawns of the Behe-"

"It doesn't matter what it is," Ottar interrupts Allen as he is starting to garner the attention of other adventurers. "Use the remaining time to heal and rest. After that we will depart." he paused for a bit before turning his head towards Allen. "If you're worried about her, You're free to go to the other side if you want."

"Mind your own business!" Allen barks.

East Alliance route

This is progressing smoothly after I fired my combination magic with Ms. Ryuu. In the span of three hours, we are already halfway through our destination. If we continue this pace, by noon we will be able to reach the target. I along with the others am getting excited and at the same time anxious.

Just how strong is the large black beast? As the thought entered my mind, it was during such a moment that I noticed a group of monsters gathered in one place.

Looking at the distance, I am confident enough to say that the Argo Tempestas we fired earlier did not reach that far, and since there is no black twister in sight. majority of the adventurers in our alliance either did not notice it or choose to ignore them.

We too can ignore the group of monsters but with the way they gather feels unnatural. Just like when hordes of Orcs gathered around me when I ventured to the tenth floor for the first time with Ms. Lily. If not for Ms. Ais, I would have been long-dead.

This just means that they are ganging up on something or someone.

And as time is of the essence, I made a quick decision. Going there with just my party is asking for trouble. "Mr. Ouka," so I called Mr. Ouka of the Takemikazuchi familia running along side eyes and pointing in the direction of the monsters.

"Got it," Ouka replied with a nod.

Before looking at my party members "Lili, Karen, follow me!" I called them with my hands pointing in the direction of the monsters. "We're taking a detour."

"On it,"

"Just lead the way, Bell,"

Lily and Karen replied in unison.

"Captain, Bell's and Takemikazuchi's group is leaving," A voice said. Looking back to the source of the voice, I saw Iris is one of Emma's familia members and a regular part-time for Mama Mia.

"Follow them, they might need an extra hand," Emma replied as she wave a hand to me as if saying I got your back.

"Don't worry, Master Bell," Mikoto match the pace of my run and said to me with a thumbs up. "We got your back."

"Thanks!"

At the same time, in a part made up of the waitresses of the Hostess of Fertility, the two feline maids began competing on who gets to kill the most numbers of monsters while trash-talking one another

"Captain, Bell's group is taking a detour,"

The elf Ryuu heard Iris's voice calling out Bell's name. As they are ahead of their party, she took a quick stop to look at his party location "Where do you think you're going, Mr. Cranel?" Ryuu exclaims, noticing Bell, Takemikazuchi's familia and even Emma's famila just left the main alliance are heading westward.

"Hmmmm..." Shakti, the captain of the Ganesha familia also stops on her track to take a closer look at where he is heading. "Stay with them Lion, we'll assist Little Rookie," Shakti called much to Ryuu's surprise. "You six follow me," she looks at her back, to Mord's group and some of Bors's party before turning to Asfi. "Perseus, please make contact with my familia leading the supply route. Tell them that I want two level five and three level four to head to where Bell Cranel is going."

"You sure you can handle this with just them?" Asfi asked as she take a side glance at the Elf Ryuu and the maid Lunor who is standing beside her.

"While I doubt there will be an issue with just monsters," Shakti replied which prompts Mord and his party to look smugly at Asfi's worries. "I found the issue rather odd." She also looks Ryuu straight in the eye. Something the elf decides to look away from. "If you want me to turn a blind eye like usual, It's better to leave this issue to our familia."

"On it," Asfi nods before heading toward the center route.

"..." The elf Ryuu hesitates for a bit when she felt Lunor's hand on her shoulder. "Leave it to them. You should know how hard it is to dispose of Ankusha." with a sigh Lunor look at the back of the two cat people who began quarreling over the number of monsters they defeat.

"Oi! Idiot cats, Let's rest for a bit!"

"Oi who are you calling stupid, nya?!" Anya roared.

"Nyahahaha, you can't even tell when you're being called," Chloe laughed before stabbing two monsters near their vicinity. "That's two for me now!"

"Oi! That's cheating, nya!" Anya glared at the black feline Chloe. "We're on time out! That's not counted nya!"

"Oya~ Did you say time out, nya-aaaaaah!" Just as Chloe responds back, Anya quickly disposes of three monsters.

"Oi! Who's cheating now nya!"

"Nyahahahaha! Right back at you, nya!"

"... seriously, those stupid cats!" Lunor grumbles as she tightens her gloves. "Be back in a minute."

Bell's group

After running for a full fifteen minutes, to where I saw the swarms of monsters, it became clear that they did not gather there naturally. As we saw three caravans being surrounded by them.

"I hope we make it in time," I utter under my breath as I increase my speed while focusing on the hooded individuals that are fighting the monsters while protecting the caravan.

"Firebolt! Firebolt! Firebolt!"

I repeatedly shout as I release a rapid fire of magic at the monsters blocking our path.

With our arrival, the monsters running amock were taken by surprise which the caravan personnel uses to their advantage to go on the offensive.

And it took ten minutes before all the monsters were defeated.

"You're safe no-"

!

What's that?! For some reason, I felt malice coming from someone near the caravan.

"Master Bell watch out!"

Lili yelled as I quickly jumps back right after I feel an unnatural chill.

*thud*

Only to see a knife stuck to the ground from where I was standing.

"Tsk! I missed!" one of the hooded personnel said.

"What's the meaning of this?" I asked confusedly.

"Dispose of them before any more adventurers arrive!" another hooded individual said as all seven closed figures draws their weapons at us.

"Look's like we help the wrong bunch," Ms. Oriana Drake, a member of Ms. Emma's familia, said in a low voice. "I don't want to jinx it but they might be the fugitive group running around and causing trouble in Orario recently.

"Heh, they know of us," one figure said.

"Let it be a lesson to not stick your nose in someone else's business."

From defending the caravan personnel from the monsters to defending ourselves from the caravan personnel. While there are still some personnel near the caravan, non-combatants maybe, we did our best to fend off all of their attacks. From the looks of it, most of them are already level two at strength. And while we have multiple level ones with us, three of them teaming up against one level two opponent seems to suffice the level difference.

"Let me handle this." from inside the caravan, a hooded man emerge and began removing his hood to show his short red hair and black clothing with gold trim.

!

I don't know why but when he looked at me, I instantly felt his malice.

This... this is not an enemy that we can handle normally.

I thought as I readied my knife, made a defensive stance, and took a few steps back. I have no leisure time to look away from the likes of him. One wrong move means death.

"To think I'll meet you here, Little Rookie," the man said casually as he unsheathed his blade with the same ominous vibe as the dagger thrown to me earlier. While he has a smile on his face, I can sense his malice directed at me. A type of malice that feels more disgusting than the ones thrown at me after I level up and during the rabbit hunt.

"You know me?" I ask as I keep my eyes on him.

"You should know you are quite famous, record holder," The man replied.

The way he says it seems to imply he knows me to an extent. After all, even back in Rivira, not all know me. They might know my alias, little rookie, but not all know what I look like.

Damn!

While we may be having a seemingly cordial conversation and his voice may sound calm but that's all superficial. You can't sense any warmth from his tone and I'd say he is more hostile than the ones during the rabbit hunt. "And I happened to hate your voice."

My... voice?

"Reminds me of a certain traitor-"

In an instant, he quickly vanish from my sight, the tingling sensation I got was far worse now and this prompt me to quickly jump back.

*swoosh*

"Hooh~" the man muses as I manage to avoid his initial strike.

*thud*

"Gack!"

after his failed sword swing, he twist his body to deliver a powerful kick to my abdomen. Fortunately, I was able to block it on time but the strength he has is so great that it made a dent in my armguard and in turn, my arm arm is all numb now.

"Bell!" Ms. Karen shouts as she attacks the unknown assailant.

"Even if all of you attack, things won't change," the man said as he quickly parry Ms. Karen.

From there, an all-out fight against the man began. Wherein he easily played with us like it was nothing.

Judging from how he handled us, I estimate his strength to be on par with Ms. Ryuu. This means he is a second-class adventurer. And not just an ordinary second-class adventurer but as skilled as Ms. Ryuu as well.

He's toying with us...

i grumble as I fell to my knees.

Not only is he strong enough to easily handle all of us with relative ease but he is also clearly toying with us. The worst part of this opponent is that he also relishes in our pain. His counter is strong to inflict pain but not strong enough to knock us out cold. He is making it sure that the fight will last longer.

"Hmmm...Look's like I played too much," the man said. he is about to strike a killing blow to me and Ms. Emma who are helplessly on the ground until he quickly leaps back.

*Boom*

"It's Ankusha!" the few hooded men from behind yelled.

That's right, the opponent jump back because he evaded the strike of Ms. Shakti. And right now, Ms. Shakti is standing a few feet from us in the middle of a small hole caused by her kick.

"Looks like we drew unwanted attention," a person standing near the caravan said as she removes her hood. "Vito, you can't handle her on your own," She said as he casually walks forward while the other hooded individual make way for her. "The rest of you," she turned to one of the hooded personnel. "Deal with Litle Rookie and his allies." and points at the reinforcement brought by Ms. Shakit.

"Y-yes!" all the hooded personnel replied.

"Valletta..." I heard Ms. Shakti say in a low tone. From her tone, not only does she know of her but also holds a level of animosity.

"I'll hold them back as much as I can," she said without looking at me. This just means the two are opponents she can't look away from. "In the meantime, try surviving as long as you can."

"Y-yes!" I replied as I struggle to stand from the ground.

"Quite confident for you to say that," The woman called Valleta snickered. "Tell me, Ankusha, are you that eager to see your sister once more? Gyahahahahaha!"

With a clear provocation, Ms. Shakti retain her calm demeanor but at the same time glared at the two enemies in front. I don't know much about Ms. Shakti's sister but from the statement, it looks like she already passes to the afterlife. Even in such a situation, Ms. Shakti doesn't let her emotion reign her in. She maintains her guard and seizes the opponent before her.

"Heh, looks like we arrive in time, eh, Little rookie," Mr. Mord said smugly as he drew his sword and stood near me and Ms. Emma. His two party members on the other hand, Mr. Scott and Guileare distribute potions to Mr. Ouka's and Ms. Emma's familia while Mr. Bors's party holds themselves against the hooded personnel we fought earlier with relative ease.

"Can you still fight, Little Rookie?" Mr. Bors asked. He looks at the hooded personnel he just toss with disgust in his face. "If you think the adventurers of Rivira are bad, these Evilus scums make us look cute."

"Y-yes, I can still fight,"

"Here Master Bell," After receiving potions from Scott, Lili and Ms. Chigusa began distributing potions to their party members.

"Thanks, Lili," I replied as Lily handed me a recovery potion. As I drank the potion, I support Ms. Emma who injured her leg, to stand. "Here, Ms. Emma," I offered her a half drank potion.

"T-thanks, Bell," Ms. Emma huffs as she looks to her side nervously.

Is something wrong?

I thought as I look at Lily who only glares back at me.

"Don't mind me," She slowly stand up while holding onto her knees for support. "We have our supply so you can finish it all up.

"Master Bell, finish it all up" Lili warns as she loads her ballista. "here they come!"

The fight between the Captain of the Ganesha Familia and two executive members of Evilus is at a standstill.

And while Bell is in awe with how the Azure-haired adventurer carries herself, this made him realize an important factor that he needs to develop as well.

A level head mind that can handle the pressure of any given problem. Strength, speed, skill, and knowledge are not enough if he wishes to be a top adventurer.

Even if I have the King's strength, Ms. Ryuu's techniques, Ms. Riveria's intellect, or Ms. Ais's speed, if I don't display a level-headed mind like Ms. Shakti, all of it will be a waste. Bell thought as continued to watch her fight.

"Hah! Is that your best?" Mr. Bors roared as he deliver a powerful kick to one of the hooded figures that is about to attack Bell.

"Little rookie, don't lose focus!" Mr. Bors shouts. While he had my focus stolen by Ms. Shakti's performance, Mr. Bors

"S-sorry!" I apologize as I look at the dead body of the man Mr. Bors defended me from.

This... I thought as I look at the dead body of Mr. Bors' opponent. This is the first time I saw a dead body but this is no time to get unnerved by it. The enemies are clearly gunning for our lives such a result is inevitable.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Just drop dead already!"

Valleta clicks her tongue in irritation.

"More from the Ganesha Familia are heading this way," Vito said, taking ten steps back. "Perseus is with them as well."

"Damn!"

"Don't think I'll let you go,"

"Gyahahahahaha!" Valleta laugh hysterically as she took some small orbs from her back pocket.

"A bomb?!" Shakti exclaims loudly to alert the rest fighting Evilus.

"Have fun! Gyahahahahahaha!"

Just as everyone's attention is on Valletta, Vito uses the opportunity to open one of the caravans revealing a chained dragon and by the time she threw the orbs that turned out to be a smoke bomb, the two executives already flee.

"Gah! A bluff!" Mord gritted his teeth in irritation.

"No, this is what she is aiming for," Shakti said as she cast her eyes to the nearby forest.

"It's not a regular smokescreen," Lili added. "I'm familiar with this scent. It's mixed with substances that attracts monsters."

*clang*

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅"

Just as Lili said, the smoke that came out attracted a lot of monsters in the forest. AND NOT JUST THEM BUT THE OTHER MONSTERS IN THE FIELD AS WELL.

By sheer numbers alone, they could already pass as a pass parade. But because we can't let them go south, we hold our ground and defeat multiple monsters until the backup Ms. Shakti requested arrived.

"This is too much..." I said in a low tone as I look at the corpse of the evilus members that were killed in earlier fights being devoured by the monsters. Even some members that were alive fell pray to the monster's frenzy

"Just what are you doing?!" Iris scolds me after I defend the evilus members that are about to die.

Enemies or not, I can't stomach watching someone helplessly be killed just like that.

"Don't mind what he's doing and just focus on the enemy!" Mord scolds back as he and his party members gather together and beat one monster at a time.

*clang*

"What?!"

The two remaining caravans that topple revealed reveal the content of the cage. The very black beast we were fighting.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅"

One beast roared loudly. Because of how the cage fell, it loosen one of the beast's paws and it uses the opportunity to try to rip the cage wide open.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅"

And the monsters used the beast situation to prey on it.

Strength-wise, the beast is stronger but their massive number and the beast not fully freed yet left it open for them to attack to their heart's content.

Damn it!

"MASTER BELL!" Lily yelled.

"Firebolt!" Running towards the fallen caravan, the white-haired adventurer did the unthinkable. He jump towards the half-open caravan and defended the wounded monster. He began defeating all the monsters surrounding the cage before defeating any monsters that try to come near with speed surpassing what a normal newly leveled-up adventurer for a few weeks could do.

"Haaaaaah... haaaaaaah... haaaaaaah..." Bell Cranel breathes heavily as he cast his eyes on the black sand covering one of the fallen caravans. Even before all the monsters were all defeated, the beast died due to the number of injuries it had received.

"Get away from there quickly Master Bell!" Lili shouts seeing Bell slowly approach the caravan.

"Huff haaaah..." Bell Cranel breathes deeply as he focuses on his next attack.

*clang*

"Please tell me I'm not the only one seeing this," Ouka asked.

Rather than killed the detained beast, the little rookie broke the cage of the black beast.

"Tsk, move it, little rookie, let me handle that," Mord clicks his tongue in irritation and tried to move to where Bell is only to be stopped by Shakti.

"Ankusha?" As the adventurers that gather began readying themselves to attack the black beast. Shakti walks in front of them and raises her hand. Signaling them to halt. "What do you plan to do with it?" she asked in a calm yet serious tone.

"I honestly don't know," Bell replied honestly. He hung his head down before taking a look at the struggling monster whose eyes reflect his image. "My body just moves on instinct. And I believe it's not fair to strike it down like this. At the very least, the adventurer I had in mind does not do that."

"So you plan to release it?"

"... yes,"

Many wished to argue back at his response but seeing Shakti's raised hand, they allowed her to speak in their stead.

"And what if it attacks you even after you freed it?" Shakti asked darkly. "You know the damage they caused. By letting one go, you are inviting an unnecessary tragedy in the near future."

"I know, I KNOW! But..." Bell yelled as he tighten his hold on his black knife. "If the beast dared to go south, I will beat it my self. At the very least I am not fighting a defenseless enemy." His eyes then turned to the carcass of the evilus members that were devoured by the hordes of monsters.

"... sigh" Shakti shakes her head and massages her temple. "Your behavior truly doesn't fit to be an adventurer."

Bell from his part bit his lower lip in frustration over her criticism. "But this is your decision. Do what you need to do."

"Eh?" for a brief second, Bell Cranel looks at her in disbelief then he remembers the advice she gave him before regarding his indecisive nature.

For all its worth, Shakti gave him the go signal. Even if what he will do is probably a mistake, he can't stand fighting an opponent that can't even defend itself.

"hmpmhmp"

And as Bell approaches the beast, seeing as how aggressive it is when he is holding onto his knife, he put it back in its holster before slowly approaching the beast. And while it is still cautious of him, his behavior is not as wild as it used to be.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅"The moment he release the gag on the beast's mouth, the first thing it did was to struggle more and bit off his head.

"Master Bell!" Lily cried.

"I'm ok Lili," Bell replied as he backed off for a bit.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅"

Seeing he once more drew one of his knives, the beast once again trash around violently.

"Do you need help?" Shakti asked. From start up to this point, she was quietly observing how Bell Cranel handle the beast.

"Uhm actually yeah, I don't think I will be able to remove the restrains like this.

"Very well," Shekti planted her spear to the ground as she approach Bell and the black beast.

"Will she be okay?" Emma asked nervously.

"Hmph. You newbies might not be aware of this but she's not only the captain of the Ganesha Familia but is also a veteran monster tamer."

"Is this related to the monsterphilia the Ganesha familia regularly held?" Emma further inquire curiously. Unlike the rest of her party, she is new in Orario and doesn't know much of the known adventurers of Orario outside of their title and what familia they are affiliated with."

"You betcha," the monsters that were brought during the event are not just monsters they captured but tamed to a specific degree too.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅"

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅"

With the arrival of Shakti, the monster doubled its effort to struggle free. But after seeing one of the restraints in its paws removed by the white-haired human with red eyes that makes him look like a delicious rabbit, and the intense presure the azure woman is applying to it just by gaze alone, the beast stopped struggling and curiously look at what he is about to do while maintaining a level of vigilance when the knife close into it.

"grrrrrrrr..."

with all restraints removed, the black beast took one step back and growl at the white-haired human.

Unlike earlier when he is removing the beast's restrain, the monster can see in his eyes that he will fight back if attacked.

"▂▂▃▃▄▄▅▅" the beast howls before taking a few leaps backward.

"I take back what I said," Shakti said in a low tone that only Bell can hear. "Do you want to be a monster tamer?"

Dungeon 17th floor

It's been three hours since the expedition force left and no more signs of the black beast invading Orario. As the civilians began rebuilding their homes with the help of the adventurers that remained, a few unscrupulous individuals uses the opportunity to venture into the dungeon using a different path.

"Call in Revis! This new one is beyond our capabilities!"

Only for them to meet an unexpected demise.

An adventurer wearing a full-body robe that covers their face ordered as he trembles in fear in front of a small humanoid ape-like monster roughly 149 cm tall.

"Gaaah- p-please he-help me!" another hooded figure shrieked as he struggle to free his head from the monster's grip.

"Aaaaaaaaah-!"

*squirt*

"Damn, it... retreat!"

"..." As the now three hooded figures began to run away going to the 18th floor, the humanoid monster look at her bloodied hand. Closing and opening it a few times before looking at the back of the humans that dared attack her earlier. "Everything is too fragile." the creature said as she scoop the ground and firmly mold it to a shape of a small pebble. "One, two... haaah!"

*swish*

*thud*

in one swing two hooded figure flop to the ground with visible holes at the center of their body.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!" and the last remaining adventurer yelled his last as the humanoid beast quickly grabs his legs before swinging it around like a bat until his leg broke and he is sent flying to the dungeon wall.

Aaaaaaaaand Cut!

With this, the chapter came to a close. Vito's statement of not liking Bell's voice is a semi-meta-commentary regarding the VA of Bell. Who also happened to voice Erebus as well.

For the time being after this update, will put on hold danmachi updates as I will return and continue my Hayasaka fic (shameless plug-in)

For the review, likes, and follow, thanks.