End Of Evil VI
Normal POV.
The High Elf princess peaked at the end of the corner, observing goddess Ishtar as she received a peculiar looking dagger with a gem attached to the hilt.
The goddess grinned before nodding at the Evilus member before the said member proceed to the room where he got the item.
"This time, I'll make sure no one interferes with my plan. Not after Freya Familia went inside this place, prepare her for the Ritual. Also inform the others that not only them will partake in the ritual but also the Evilus. I don't care what happens to Orario so long as I beat that Bitch." The goddess of beauty (A/N: really...???) clenched the handle of the weapon before handing it towards the man behind her.
Before they left, a member of their Familia suddenly rushed to them, covered in blood from head to toe and a dislocated left arm. Missing right arm and face distorted in despair.
"L-Lady Ishtar!! Kk-King!! And his lackeys found us!! Phryne and Samira are currently fighting them but by the looks of it, they will be butchered by the Guillevere brothers before they could even act!" The amazon cries as she held onto her goddess.
"Fuck this!! It looks like I have no other choice but to release it. There is no use on leveling up dead people. Follow me, I'll have that rampage from here." Ishtar angrily stomped further into the dark corridor, disappearing in Riveria's sight as she let's out a sigh and a signal that they can now proceed ahead.
"Seriously, I never thought that Ishtar was involved in Evilus. Let alone work with them." Gareth commented while carresing his chin.
"Yeah but knowing her, she probably wants to use them just so she could beat lady Freya. Their so called rivalry made her to resort into this kind of activity. I guess she really doesn't want to lose against her."
Riveria then grouped them into two, having her and the amazon sisters go inside a long with Lefiya and leave Gareth with the rest to guard outside.
She wanted to inspect the storage room that. She also plans on interrogating the person inside on what's that item for and why does it look so important for Ishtar, as well as the "level up" she is talking about.
The door was left open, thinking that they probably forgot to close it, Riveria went inside with Lefiya and the two sisters behind.
"Hehehe..."
A creepy laugh echoed through the room and the door suddenly closed shut. Leaving them no choice but to look ahead but found it empty.
"Show yourself!" Riveria shouted yet, she heard no response.
The room was not small but also not big, it has plain brick walls as a cover but obviously still adamantite beneath it. Few candles were lit around each corner to give some light but other than that, there was nothing.
"Weird, I thought you saw someone enter here Riveria?" Tione asked.
"Yes, I'm also surprised to find this room this empty. But still, that laugh earlier definitely came inside.
"That's right, Nine Hell."
"""!!!"""
Riveria, Tiona and Tione turned to Lefiya who suddenly started to emit black smoke.
"Who would've thought that Ishtar revealing herself unintentionally would be a blessing in disguise" The short elf slowly got enveloped in the black smoke and rushed towards Riveria who reacted on time but was still slow enough.
"Bastard!" Tiona lifted her Urga ready to slice it but then, the smoke went inside the high elf and gained control over her body.
"Hehehe... HAHAHA!!! Magnificent, so this is what Enyo meant when he said that the princess will serve as a great power source for US. I've already accomplished my goal, it's time for nuisance to disappear." The possesed Elf pointed her palm towards the twins who could do nothing and blow them outside before closing the Orichalcum door again.
"GARETH! CAN YOU SMASH THIS DOOR!?" Tiona asked in panick as she tries to destroy it with her weapon only for it to break instead.
"Sorry lass but that's impossible even for me, I can smash adamantite if I use my full strength but that thing is on another level. It's five times stronger which means I need five times of my strength to smash through it... We've got to find another way."
The second grouo gritted their teeth because of their loss, even though they knew that Riveria is still alive. They don't know what will happen to her, each passing second bringing anxiety and fear on what might just happen.
They hurriedly ran around the maze but was met by nothing until they felt a strong Wind.
Aiz' POV.
Aiz and Revis Fight.
"You are tenacious Aria, I'll give you that. Even after the blow you suffered, you're also strong." Revis pointed out her sword to me, challenging me to exchange blows with her once again. " But I'm getting tired of this endless back-and-fort. Aren't you the same? Let's end this already."
I have to stand up... Stand up..!! If I don't then...
"That's enough Aria. There is no use in struggling, you cannot win as you are now and no one is coming to save you." the red haired women continued to glare at me as if she demands that I gave up on the spot or she'll chop my head off.
"This ridiculous labyrinth has seen to that. Those monsters will devour you, as it's already done with your companions."
There is no one to save you.
Those words echoed through my head, as if reminding me how weak I am despite all the efforts I put on reaching this level. I still can't defeat her, I still can't defeat "King", I still can't defeat THAT thing.
I know that I'm empty.
That's why I took the sword and sought strength.
I have no salvation, no hero to save me.
But now, it's different.
Riveria, Gareth, Finn, Lefiya, Aki, everyone is here.
"This is it..." As she raised her sword I started to focus my mind.
"Awaken, Tempest."
I know I'm no match for you now, but I can't let you take them away from me. I'll burn my life if I have to, to defeat this labyrinth!
"Rage!! Tempest!!"
"What the!? The wind of the great spirit!? You're just wasting your time!"
Normal POV.
Gareth's group.
Swoosh.
"It's getting stronger and more familiar... Aiz! She's calling us!" Tiona exclaimed as she realized the sudden blow of strong wind inside this closed space.
"No time to hesitate youngsters!! We lose this wind and we will have no chance!!" Gareth roared as he led the charge towards the source of the wind.
Aki's Group.
As they felt the strong gust, Aki and Bete immediately realized where this came from. They felt how strong the wind is calling out to them and called everyone's attention.
"Everyone! Listen close, we'll change plans. We must locate the source of that strong wind. Abandon all the rooms you are investigating and follow us, make sure captain is safe and hide him in the middle of our group!" Aki ordered as their group started to gather.
"Wait! Bete-san!!" Elfy called out in panic as the werewolf suddenly ran.
"Let her be Elfy, we'll catch up to him soon enough and besides, Aiz-san us probably doing this to call us." Lefiya placed a hand on her shoulder.
"She's right, Now! If everyone is ready let us head off too. We can't let that reckless girl kick the bucket here can we?" The cat girl smiled as she led the charge.
Aiz's POV.
I collapsed as the last drop of my mind left my body and started panting heavily. The heavy toll of overusing my wind started to appear as my head started to ache and my body to feel heavy.
"If you resist again, it'll be too much trouble. Now begone Aria."
Her sword started to swing towards my head. But I'm not afraid, because I know that my family will arrive. They will arrive if I call them, that's how they are.
"Move, and I'll chop your head off."
I saw my friend Aki with her sword on the enemy's throat, ready to slice it at the slight movement.
"You're out of options now, surrender or die. Choose one." Gareth said as everyone started to arrive.
But for some reason, Riveria is not there.
"Tsk... Curse you Aria."
Knossos.
Shrine.
"This is bad! The second and the seventh restrain is in a bad shape! If this keeps up, it will also destroy the rest!" an evilus member said in panic as the chained creature below started to thrash around.
"Replace it with our-"
"Thanatos, what do you think will happen if we let this thing wreck havoc here?" Ishtar grinned.
"Even I cannot allow that request even though you are our sponsor. Ein will not let me hear the end of it." The god of death scratched his head at the absurd idea of the goddess beside him.
"I just want to test the strength of that thing. And with the Loki Familia in here and Freya Familia on the other side, I think this is the perfect chance to unleash our trump card."
"While I cannot completely agree with you, I do think that you are right but please be responsible for what happens next alright?"
Ishtar ordered them to leave the place and let the monster destroy it's restrains by itself.
If her hunch is correct, it will go straight to the source of Aria's wind earlier.
"Let the fun begin, Loki Familia."
Normal POV.
Aki still has her sword through Revis' throat, preventing her from moving from her position, not because she can't handle the cat girl behind her but because of the 3 level 6 adventurers will slice her if she gets any weird ideas.
Bete, Tiona and Tione have their weapon pointed at her head in case she tries something they don't like. Leaving her no choice but to stay put and watch as the others try and heal Aiz.
"You've done well Lass. Normally, I would've scolded you for overusing the great wind but since it helped us regroup, I won't. In fact, I'm happy that you did and I know that Riveria would say the same thing if she's with us." The dwarf said as she poured an elixir to the blond girl who's exhausted beyond belief.
"Gareth, don't waste it on me. My wounds won't close no matter what. The weapon that she used on me is "Cursed". It won't have wny effect." She said while panting heavily before smiling at the sight of all of her comrade.
She was happy that she heard her call and answered it, but still. The missing color of jade made her quite sad because she expected her to be the one running to her first.
"Gareth, answer me honestly. Where is Riveria?"
"I'll tell you but first, Raul! Bring Finn over here!"
"What is it...? Gareth...?"
"Actually, we have an emergency right now."
By the time Gareth finished his explanation, Aiz and Finn obviously became enraged at the fact that someone disguised as Lefiya has taken their vice captain to become a power source.
And Finn knows what will happen if they don't find her soon.
She will become a food for those demi-spirit.
Knossos.
Bell's POV.
As we started to hurry and explore this man made labyrinth, I suddenly heard the voice of Fels from the magic item they gave me. Calling out to my name, I decided to pull it out and answer their call.
"What is it Fels-san?" I asked the dark figure.
"Bell Cranel. I need you to get back here and fetch Dea Saint and bring her to the Loki Familia. They are inflicted by a curse and if things goes on, Braver and Sword Princess will die. We cannot allow that and also, we will need their strength if we strength to retrieve Nine Hell alive from the enemy."
Alarmed by the sage's last words, I stopped from my tracks which caught my party's attention. Welf immediately asked what's wrong but I just kept silent for a second before talking.
"Everyone, if you turn left at the two diverging paths ahead, you will find Freya Familia. I suppose they already have defeated the enemies over there. Just say to them that you were sent here with be but I had to go back to the city to get Amid-san." He said in serious tone that earned a nod from everyone present.
"Mikoto-san, I leave this group to you. I'll head off."
I wasted no time and enchanted my self by my lightning magic and ran faster than I've ever done before but because of the sudden leap in my power, I struggled to keep it without crashing to a wall.
Finally, I got out of the Knossos so I deactivated my magic and just ran with my own strength.
It's not that long of a trip since I immediately reached the Dian Cecht Familia's Pharmacy and asked for the saint who took care of me while I was still asleep.
"Amid-san is currently on break right now, she is at the room you were occupying earlier."
I left the counter and headed straight to my previous room.
Opening the door, I saw Amid taking a nap on the table and immediately felt bad that I have to wake her up and bring her to the battlefield with me.
But I have no choice. If I don't do this, Aki-san and the others will be in danger.
"Amid-san, please wake up." Hearing my voice, she slowly opened her eyes and got up from her seat..
"Why are you here Bell-san? I thought you headed to the battlefield with Andromeda-san and the others?" She tilted her head cutely.
I don't have time to admire her right now!!
"I'll explain to you on the way but I need you right now, please come with me." I extended a hand to her.
I thought that she would shower me first with questions but she gladly took my hand and held it firmly.
"Then let us waste no time."
"Then, sorry in advance."
I carried her in bridal style and enchanted myself with my lightning magic. I then zoomed out of the pharmacy and sprinted towards the streets of Orario.
I looked at her and explained the situation as I ran and I saw her holding tight to my clothes so I held her more firmly.
We reached the entrance of Knossos at the sewer in less than five minutes before I destroyed the door, revealing the Loki Familia that's currently treating their wounded comrades.
But the sight was much more worse than I expected.
Tione-san and Tiona-san are both exhausted and full of wounds, the same goes for Gareth-san but he seems fine. The other second tier adventurers as well especially Raul-san looks like he's gone through a hell of a beating.
I know that there are countless traps here and a demi-spirit inside this place but I thought that they are already prepared after I gave them some information about what to expect but...
"Finn-san!" I rushed towards him with Amid-san behind me.
"Bell Cranel and Dea Saint!! You two arrived at the right time! Most of our members are affected by a curse!"
"I'm aware, please do calm down as I was already filled at what this curse does but I can't treat multiple person at once-"
"That's why I'm here. But I also need a mage who can create a huge magic circle that can reach us all here. Is there anyone who can do that here?" I looked around and saw a couple of their mages raise their hands.
But I also saw Aki-san, on the verge of crying as she placed a pressure on the abdomen of their female member with short hair.
"Aki-san... I'm really sorry, I guess... I got unlucky when... That Bull appeared behind us and made me it's first victim..." The girl said weakly.
"Please... Don't waste your energy!! Help is here now so please!"
"Aki-san... I want to go home with everyone... Laugh at Loki trying to grope us... And tease Captain and Tione-san..."
I resolved myself and pulled a small bottle of marrie's blood. A mermaid Xenos that I encountered for the first time when I visited the great falls.
"Aki-san, don't cry. She'll be fine after this. Remilia-san, you will go home with everyone, because I won't let a single soul die here. I'll use all of my power to stop that from happening." I poured everything to her almost severed stomach and Aki-san's eyes widened as she saw the liquid miraculously heal her as if she never got injured to begin with.
"Eh..??" The girl named Remilia slowly sat up, feeling her and checking if there is really no trace of the wound.
"Is this true...!?" She started to tear up as she slowly looked up to me.
"It's not over yet, now we need to lift the curse to everyone else."
My eyes wandered around again and saw a familiar looking girl that I just saved not too long ago, she has a very innocent looking face and attractive features and in front of her is a werewolf smiling somewhat triumphantly at her wounded form.
"Damn, look at yourself. Just like I've always said: Weaklings only get in the way... And what a sorry state you are in right now, you are as good as dead and that goes for everyone else! If I'm the captain of our Familia, I never wanna see your sorry ass agai-"
BANG
I couldn't take it anymore and I grabbed his face before lifting him up and slamming him to the adamantite wall. How could a person say that to his familia member at the death's doorstep!?
"FUCKING ASSHOLE!!" I couldn't hold back my words as well as my strength as I gripped his face tightly and pushed him further into the wall.
"Bell! Stop!" I heard the voice of Aiz-san and Aki-san from behind but I don't care.
This dog needs to learn some new tricks.
"Hey, there are two things I hate the most when it comes to scumbag adventurers like you who feels like they are sitting at the top of the world." I dropped him down and brought my face close to his.
"first, I hate how you lot throw away someone's life just because they are not as strong as you and the second one is... HOW YOU TREAT A GIRL!!" I punched a hole at the wall beside his head trying to calm myself down.
"Bell, That's enough. Calm down already." I heard Alise-san's serious tone inside my head. Her cheerful tone were gone, replaced by a cold and stern voice that freezes everything in contrast to her power.
"I know how you feel, if I were you I would definitely do the same if not worse but please don't let anger rule over you and dictate your actions, it's not like you. Bell Cranel is not like that. You might've changed and matured but you are still the kindest soul I know. So please... Stop, do it for that girl. You know her right?"
Yes
I slowly pulled my fist out of the wall and control my breathing as well as my emotion, I don't think I've ever been this angry before aside from what happened to Hestia.
"Bell Cranel." I heard Gareth-san calling out my name so I looked at his direction and saw his face filled with anger.
"I am greatful and happy that you are showing concern to our Familia members but I don't want you to go around and hurting them especially the executives." He stood up and closed the distance between us, still frowning.
"And I also don't want you to be punishing our members around because-" Everyone was shocked on what he did next to Bete.
"THAT IS OUR JOB AS THE HEAD OF THE FAMILIA!!" He slammed his fist towards his face so hard that the place shook.
Everyone was stunned in his actions and Finn who just got healed was shaking his head.
"Gareth, don't go ahead killing him here. We've been way too soft on him lately that's why he's acting like this. You're not the only one to blame for the massive damage we received, we were also responsible for that because we are too caught up with our own pride but... Hearing you say those types of crap earlier makes me think that you let them get injured on purpose because they are weaker than you." He walked towards his limp form while holding his shoulder that just got healed, it looks like the pain was still there after the removal of curse.
"Ofcourse I know you didn't, but next time I hear you say something along those lines again, I'll strip you of your position and everything and have you start as the lowest of our numbers and forbid you from entering the dungeon and joining us from every mission. Remember that."
After a moment of silent, they went back to their previous positions to rest, Finn whispered a thank you to me when he passed by whe Gareth only tapped my shoulder.
Now going back to the plan I have earlier, I started to ask around for mages who can create a large magic circle, as large or if possible, larger than Riveria-san's.
Luckily, I found someone who can do that but before she told me, she asked me first why I need it.
"It's hard to explain but it will be necesarry to heal everyone and cure their curses in one fell swoop."
"Alright, I trust you even though Lefiya hates you." the brown haired mage said with a smug look on her face.
"Amid-san, Elfy-san. Please stand right in front of me, after that I need you Elfy-san to create a magic circle enough to house all of your present members in. Amid-san, you on the other hand please start chanting your most potent healing and curse removing magic. I will charge my Argonaut skill and combine our abilities to create a healing area that removes curse and restores everyone's health and stamina."
The two girls nodded and positioned themselves in front of me. Amid-san started chanting while Elfy-san started establishing a magic circle.
I closed my eyes and focused on charging my skill but to my complete surprise, when the bell first rang, it was already at the sound of a grand bell.
"Is this the power of true Falna?" I opened my eyes and looked at my glowing figure, similar to my form in my battle against the Black Goliath.
I looked at the two of them and noticed that Elfy-san was already finished and Amid-san was at the final phase of chanting so I extended my hands towards them and took theirs.
As the saint finished her chant, I started to channel to both of them the power that I charged up and they also glowed white just like me.
"Saint's Pledge."
The whole area glowed as white as snow when Amid-san casted her healing magic, the wounded members of Loki Familia then started to regain their strength and their wounds disappeared. I also felt the effect of the magic as I was at the area of effect and I must say that the slight exhaustion I received vanish.
Remilia's eyes widened in both shock and awe as she saw each members of their familia go back to their perfect condiotion.
"Are you for real Little Rookie? You are just like one of those fairytail heroes! As if you traveld through the time from the Age of Heroes just to help us!"
"If that's how you see me then thank you, my dream is to become a hero like Argonaut, Albert and King Arthur because their stories inspired me. And now I've obtained a power to become like them so I won't waste this opportunity, I'll become a hero that I've always dreamed of!"
"Don't worry, you are already qualified ever since you defeated the minotaur in front of us that day, in my eyes, you've become a hero at that moment. I owe you my life and I want to thank you for that, but unfortunately our battle just entered it's second phase."
Finn stood up and held his spear firmly, taking everyone's attention as he announced their next move.
"Now, I know that we just recovered thanks to the combined effort of Bell Cranel and Dea Saint but the battle is not over yet, the enemies still have their resources to completely destroy Orario to prevent that disaster, we will be stepping inside this man made dungeon again. But fear not! This time, we are now aware of everything inside it, what to expect and what to do in any scenario and besides... We have a Hero among us, the child of the Goddess of Justice and the strongest adventurer right at this very moment and the only person in this age to ever unlock the true potential of Falna." He glanced towards me before he continued his words.
"Unlike before, we will enter as a one group only, our mission is to retrieve Riveria and annihalation of Evilus. Now! Let us begin oud counter attack!"
With renewed resolve, the Loki Familia roared as we started to depart, I decided to stick in the middle of the group to keep Amid safe in case something happened or we need to run.
As we were walking, I noticed someone was poking at my side and when I turned around, I saw a glasses wearing girl with a thousand watt smile on her face.
"Bell-san, do you have a second?" She asked me gently.
"Yeah, sure what is it?"
"I just wanted to thank you for earlier, I was actually getting tired and I just wanted to give up my life earlier when Bete-san was mocking us but when I heard how you got angry at him for me, I was really surprised. I never knew that side of you since the only things that Aki-san told me about you is how kind and brave you are... Your words earlier really gave me strength and for that..."
CHU
I felt a soft sensation on my left cheek, a soft pair of lips were pressinv against it and my eyes immediately shot wide when I realized what just happpened and for a second, my mind flashed me an image of my grandfather grinning like a maniac.
"EH!!??"
Hi.
Do I hate Bete?
Yes.
Does Line deserve better?
Absolutely Yes.
The scene where Bete were saying those words to Line actually came from the Manga, he said those lines when she saw her dying along with other members of their familia that got separated with them inside when Valetta went and vented her frustration out of them.
Seriously, she did not deserve to die. I hate the fact that she did. The same goes for Remilia, I don't think I saw her in the Light Novel but she was actually given a spotlight in the manga at the time of her death, it was a very sad moment for Aki when she slowly died in my favorite girl's arms.
Anyway, that's it for this chapter, I hope I did a decent job this time.
See you next update.