Despite the utter mayhem that started, Bell couldn't help but find beauty in it. Despite the cruelty inflicted on their 'enemies', controlling them and refusing to give them free will…he couldn't help but feel respect for their capabilities nevertheless.
First, there was Salieri. Even if he seemed to be in a trance, swaying back and forth, his arms moving with such excellent precision, Bell could truly believe that this was a master at his craft. The tunes of his violin were mesmerizing, a soothing melody. He could have listened to it for hours, if it weren't for the fact that the very same music almost got half his teammates to kill themselves.
Fortunately, as Bell and Kojiro navigated through the deadly vines to reach the Avenger, the opposing sides weren't the only ones capable of mysterious magecraft.
Fighting against the mind corrupting melodies, loud gongs and banging echoed against them. The cause of it all, floating instruments created out of nothing, with the cause frantically writing, not moving an inch, as the Takemikazuchi Familia roared in defiance, protecting him with their lives. The author cracked a strained smirk, as he continued writing his story, of the nonsensical, quite frankly unskilled music meant to defy the Avenger himself.
"You aren't the only damn artist in this dungeon, Frenchman!"
It didn't fully nullify the effects. They could feel the strain on their minds, stabbing their brains with needles…but now, it was no longer a borderline absolute effect. Now, they could grit their teeth, and fight back with their guts. They could focus now. However, suddenly, that mental strain disappeared out of nowhere, just as Bell was upon Salieri first, his swords crossed and swinging down. The musician stopped playing the invisible instrument, instead summoning forth a blade out of thin air. With a wide swing, he clashed with the Albion, the blade filled with a swirling miasma, sending him backwards. In that very same movement, he began to play the violin again…but this time, instead of aiming for the mind, he created something else entirely.
Several white clothed phantoms came into existence. They raised weird weapons up, carved wood into tubes, with the holes aiming straight at him. Bell didn't hesitate, letting his instincts guide him, as he swayed backwards immediately. The next moment, loud thundering banging sounded in the air, before holes were created in the wall right behind Bell. He grit his teeth, twisting his body, before new shots came after him. In that moment, Kojiro managed to reach Salieri. Long sword clashed against long sword, pushing against each other, before the musician used his free hand to press into the air. Piano tunes echoed in the dungeon, before more phantoms appeared, this time with swords. Kojiro narrowed his eyes, before being forced to disengage, fighting off the new phantoms, just as Bell rejoined the fray.
Meanwhile, Hans never ceased writing, his own 'music' never ceasing. It didn't stop the phantoms from being summoned, but he knew, the moment he stopped and put his focus somewhere else, Salieri would just return to mental attacks instead. Thus, he was stuck in that one role, to seal off one skill of the Avenger.
Naturally, with him, Lefiya and Haruhime casting magic at the same time, the Violas went at them like hungry vultures, baited by their surging magical energies. Unlike him however, the girls moved swiftly, practically dancing even as the exotic power grew within them.
Lefiya exhaled, finishing her chant…before immediately moving on to the next, a light ring forming around her wrist. At the same time, she whirled on her feet, her eyes narrowed with focus as she took quick steps to avoid the Violas that got through their defenses, same with the phantoms taking aim at them. Haruhime at the same time moved just as swiftly, but with her arms. Moving like a smashing river, her palms were like spears batting away assaults. She ignored the hardness of the Violas, concentrating on preserving her own life with the others as her words flowed through the air, with the magical tails already having manifested behind her, four of them in total.
But, it was just a question of time until they would get overwhelmed…if it weren't for the existence of one specific person in their party. The reason the Takemikazuchi Familia and Welf were not completely overwhelmed by the masses of Evilus' beasts, was due to the whirling glowing hot chain cutting through the air like a pair of hyperactive swallows, their trails deadly strings.
"That all you got, you slow fucks?!"
The Violas were attracted by her magic as well, intending to take her down…however, her magic, and her fighting style in general, was their antithesis. Magic itself was their biggest weakness, thus, they aimed for casters first. However, Solaris used magic that didn't require a chant, magic that empowered her body and weapon alike. Thus…Out of all of them…Solaris was the strongest counter against the main weapon of today's Evilus. Beheading them, burning them, bisecting them, the vine like monsters were cut apart like they were in a kitchen, with Solaris being the one to cook them alive without mercy. She jumped, spun in the air, all to add even more momentum to her chains, smashing and cutting with her fire. All while avoiding her allies perfectly, with her adopted brother covering whatever got through her net of death, his great sword thirsting for blood as well.
The very same chains were also the only thing keeping Filvis at bay. Despite how 'sluggish' she appeared with her monstrous form, she still moved extremely fast. However, even she couldn't shrug off the burning fire, forcing her to move in an irregular pattern, unwilling to take the hits. Nevertheless, she was not reliant entirely on close combat.
"Dio Thyrsus!"
"Ouka!"
"On it!"
The captain roared, reaching for his hip and swinging the magic sword even as he held up the shield. Solaris narrowed her eyes, when the usual light beam had a black color added to it. It clashed with the furious lightning of the Crozzo Blade, counteracting the blast. It bought them all enough time for now, but Solaris knew they couldn't just keep wasting their limited resources.
Fortunately, the winds were going to change, as Haruhime suddenly dropped down to her knee, her magical tails twitching and extending outwards. They touched Hans, Solaris, Lefiya, and even Bell, who swiftly retreated on perfect timing.
"Uchide no Kozue!"
They immediately felt the power bursting forth from their very souls, as Haruhime gasped for air. Liliruca at the same time popped the cork on a potion and emptied the contents down the Renard's mouth without hesitation, the blue liquid splattering a bit on the ground. At the same time, Bell and Solaris were long used to the sensation, having felt it before. Still, the both of them couldn't help but smile widely, with the latter even cackling like a mad woman, as her chains moved even faster, managing to cut Filvis across the cheek even, damage that healed slower than usual, her wound sizzling.
"Whoooooohohohohoooo, yeah baby!"
"Why me, you idiots?!" Hans shouted in annoyance, yet wrote even faster with renewed vigor…summoning his own phantoms to fight off Salieri's, even as he made his awful noise.
Lefiya on the other hand almost stumbled over her words, her eyes going wide. She heard of the rumors, of the information from her Familia members, when Kojiro showed off greater strength than he was meant to have. But at the time, she chalked it off to their ludicrous growth speeds, the Hestia Familia just being like that…however, now that she felt this overwhelming power, she realized why her 'student' was always so reluctant to actually cast her magic until she expanded her arsenal. Those damn cheaters!
With seething flowing through her veins, Lefiya raised her staff into the air with a roar.
"Hail Dust!"
The ice projectiles rained down around them, hitting the phantoms and Violas. The power behind the magic was below most other spells she had…but they still caused their opponents to crumble with ease. She needed to preserve her mind after all, as well as find the perfect opportunities to use her saved up magic too. While potent, the skill was meaningless if she didn't make the right decisions, downing a mind potion as her eyes flickered over the battlefield.
Bell's boost was the most noticeable, becoming a blur, as he split up his attention between all enemies. Violas, phantoms, Salieri, even Filvis. He became the incarnation of hit and run tactics, even as his body charged up with white light. Leaping across the air, using the monsters as stepping stones, his dual blades struck true, to push Salieri or Filvis back when they tried to engage their backline. It put a big strain on his body and mind, as he had to cross the battlefield with all its chaos over and over again.
Yet, he preserved. Shining brightly, almost blindingly so. Lefiya bit her lip, before refocusing on her chants. She won't lose to him!
"Okay, y'all are boosted, that's great!" Ouka shouted, gritting his teeth as he pushed his shield back against a charging Violas, his feet digging into the ground alongside his Familia. "Someone remind me what the game plan here is?!"
"Kill everyone but Filvis, do not hold back against Filvis because she is immensely strong, but aim for knockout attacks!" Solaris barked out, flicking her wrists and shooting her weight like a projectile, destroying a phantom's head.
"And not dying! Very important Lili might add!" She shouted, in a panic, ducking under the wild swings of Solaris, in order to down a mind potion down her throat.
"Well, I was kinda hoping for an actual plan!"
"JUST HOLD THE DAMN LINE, RICE EATER!"
"Solaris!" Haruhime shouted, aghast at her captain's behavior. Said captain however just intensified her speed, sweating profusely as she snarled back at her Familia member.
"I'M BUSY, SHUT UP!"
Bell's eyes widened, as Filvis allowed his left sword to dig into her palm…before she grasped it and flung him away. Then, she turned her attention back at the backline, specifically at Solaris.
"Sweep, holy-"
However, one of them was sick and done with her taking potshots at them. Welf let out a roar, as he left his position and forced his way forward, his palm shooting out.
"Burn out, illegal work! Will-o-wisp!"
The fire hit the Creature head on. Filvis staggered, letting out a pained groan as her build up magic backfired on her. The Ignis Faatus sent her on her knees…with her eyes clearing up for just a moment, before they were clouded again. Some noticed it, specifically Lefiya and Solaris. The latter whistled through the air immediately.
"Blast her, now!"
From behind, with his feet against the wall, Bell took aim. From the front, Lefiya did the same, extending her staff forward.
"Firebolt!"
"Dio Thyrsus!"
"Dio Grail."
At the same time, a sharp melody was played, before a sword cut through the air. Several cuts of miasma came into existence around FIlvis. Solaris clicked her tongue in annoyance, as she saw the barrier shimmer into existence, even as the massive blasts of magic hit her head on.
Before the dust even cleared, Filvis emerged, wounded, but already healing up in the process of moving her blade at Bell, who swiftly retreated.
"Dio Grail and that music weakened our attacks…!" Liliruca let out a strained laugh. "But they are running low on Violas!"
Solaris hummed in thought, noticing that the masses were getting lesser. Still too many for now. However, something else caught her attention more.
"Hey, did you girls just see her eyes?!"
"They were clear for a moment…!" Lefiya felt her heart beat with hope, as she stared at Filvis chasing after Bell, who was too fast as he rejoined Kojiro's side. "Anti magic!"
"Don't get too hasty!" Solaris roared, cutting into Filvis' path, redirecting her attention. "Pick your opportunities, people!"
Everyone nodded as one, their eyes burning with determination. They all felt things were going well. A bit too well even. Thus, they did not lose to hubris. Their experience as adventurers demanded they intensified their concentration, to focus on their enemies without missing a single detail. With Bell and Kojiro pushing Salieri back, who barely managed to avoid a Tsubame Gaeshi with his music and phantoms, with Filvis on the backfoot as Lefiya and Solaris countered her actions, they all concentrated on the battlefield at hand, for any nasty surprises.
All of them sharpened their focus on their enemies…for one exception. Eyes narrowed, moving away from her own actions of her arms.
Only one of them looked upon the battle not as an 'adventurer', but as a 'captain'. Time slowed down, as Solaris pulled her chain back, decapitating another vine monster in the process, while forcing Filvis to jump directly into another magic blast of Lefiya. She exhaled, her mouth releasing steam from the sheer heat she exuded.
It was a common mistake to tunnel vision in a fight, to think of it as a mere series of 'duels' of some sorts, that there was always the one goal, one target. However, combat was chaotic. It was a fucking mess, all things considered. Because of that, it was so much more important to keep looking around, too keep the mind cool even as the heart was set ablaze.
Everyone was focusing on Salieri, the Violas and Filvis for any nasty surprises. So it was up to her to look at any nasty surprises that came from somewhere else entirely.
If she were the Night Queen, if she'd put one more card into this place, in order to guarantee wiping out the Xenos…what would she put in? If she could afford splitting her attention like this, between surface and dungeon?
Filvis, the muscle, the magic. That Salieri, crowd control. Violas, the chaff. To make this team work even better…was either more muscle or an Assassin…
"We couldn't even see it, until it let us. This…Lobo…it has some sort of-"
Invisibility. More muscle or an assassin. But if one could have the best of two worlds…she could feel a cold sweat run down her back, despite her fires keeping her as hot as always. Biting her lip, she inhaled. She might be wrong. Be too paranoid. But if she was right but didn't bother to check. She extended her sense, for heat. Pushing it beyond the limits of the non existent battlefield lines they and the enemy drew up. There was only cold for her to sense, reflecting from the walls, from the water. Most lifeforms were hiding in the water at this point, their signatures barely noticeable. Her senses reached out further and further, almost reaching their limit. At that last moment, that one miniscule blink of an eye before Solaris was about to retract her heat sensor, to fully focus back on the Violas…She felt it. Her eyes widened before she snapped her head around, not at it, but at where it was aiming at.
Something was shooting at them, at rapid high speeds. So fast, it was a miracle that Solaris could notice it in time to even react. Maybe she was fortunate that her paranoia won out. Maybe she was lucky that the thing was weakened.
But at the moment, all she could feel was exasperated annoyance.
"Fucking-"
In that split moment, her mind rapidly analyzed and processed several facts. It was running at a straight line. The angle, to the battlefield, the target prioritization it should have, Solaris and the others' positioning…and there was one person, who was both a high priority target, and in perfect line with its current course.
Solaris didn't hesitate, throwing her chains forward with a snap of her wrist. Her scythe dug into the stone, getting stuck in it. The individual didn't flinch at all, trusting and focused on her own spell. However, she snapped her eyes open in shock, her chant almost stuttering to a stop. She turned her head around, but it was already too late for her.
Lobo's sword in his maw was already right upon Lefiya. However…so was Solaris' foot against his temple, as she pulled herself at her own chains and shot herself forward like a slingshot. She screamed, putting all her weight into it, but the neck was just too damn thick. Not only that, the beast's reflexes were obscene, already moving with her kick, before twisting his head away. In midair, Solaris tried her best to pull herself at her own chains, but it was not fast enough.
The paw smashed into her from above, bouncing her off the hard ground, away from the startled Lefiya. She coughed up blood as her head rang, but she grit her teeth instead. Just as Lobo tried to cut her apart, she let out a burst of flames, scaring him off, at the same time pulling her chains back to herself.
"BEHIND YOU!"
"Dio Grail!"
Solaris didn't see anything, but she felt the surge of magic behind her. Just as a golden barrier surrounded her, dark light engulfed the air space around her. She grit her teeth, crossing her arms as she summoned forth her flames.
However, with the magic, the barrier was already straining. Then, Lobo returned, cutting down from above with the cursed sword. The shield cracked before giving in. Weakened, but still present, the modified Dio Thyrsus burned her skin…while the sword cut her chest open.
Before she could land on the ground, Lobo's feet landed first. His legs' muscles bulged…before he shot forward, his head smashing into Solaris' body. The chains barely protected her from the weapon cutting her in half, but she had no way to escape.
Thus, her whole body was being dragged away from the battlefield.
"SOLARIS!"
The captain snapped her head towards Bell, who was about to drop everything to chase after her. With a snarl, she raised her middle finger at him, stopping him immediately.
"FUCKING FOCUS!"
They still had a battle to fight themselves. They couldn't get distracted by this unfortunate turn with events. Solaris smirked when she saw Bell only hesitate for a moment before turning his attention back to Salieri.
That was all she saw before she was pushed away, through the pathways of the dungeon. Even as Lobo dashed, away and further away, Solaris growled, pressing her weapon against his eyes. The wolf monster snarled in pain, but only intensified his speed. Solaris felt a shiver down her spine before she braced herself…
And was smashed through a wall, sending her flying. She gasped in pain, finally rolling away from Lobo. She shot up to her feet, despite the wide gash across her chest. The monster growled, yet his eyes were misted over, a clear sign of being controlled as well. It was a hard to tell, with how scorched they were. Yet her hard work was immediately thrown away, as his eyes glittered with light, healing them back into peak condition. Solaris let out a growl as she reached into her pockets. She was lucky he had a sword in his mouth, else he'd have taken bites out of her. With that in mind, she poured the health potions over the gash, covering her body and any other minor wounds she had. She felt the burning sensation, the pain…before her eyes widened in shock.
The gash was still there. As if mocking her. Her mind clicked, connecting the dots.
Cursed weapon. Great. Either that or the black magic of Filvis prevented healing. Or knowing her bad luck, it was both at the same time. Solaris let out a sigh as she cracked her neck. Wonderful situation she found herself into.
With that dry thought in mind, Solaris stomped her right foot on the ground, her body exploding into blue flames and searing the wound shut anyway. With a pained hiss, she grit her teeth, smirking widely at the same time as she rapidly spun her chains, eyeing the Avenger before her.
"You want a piece of me?! COME AND GET SOME THEN!"