3rd person POV
"How, how the hell are you still alive, Alfia? I buried you," Bell said, his voice shaky and uncertain.
Alfia scoffed and shook her head. "We live in a world of magic, gods, and monsters, you think I couldn't simply, slow down my pulse to a pace you couldn't pick up, or hold my breath so it appeared as if I had stopped breathing? I thought I taught you better than that."
Bell shook his head. "No, no, you were sick, I watched as you withered away."
Alfia rolled her eyes. "Really Bell, after all that Zeus did with his Arcanum, you didn't think he would use it to heal me before he died"
Bell felt stupid for not even thinking of that. Zeus erased everyone's memory of Regis and brought Zald back to life, who's to say he didn't cure Alfia as well
"Seems you finally pieced it together, now I will allow you to take the elf out of here, she has a purpose for later," Alfia dismissively said.
Bell's eyes narrowed at her. "How do I know you won't attack me the second I turn my back"
Alfia scoffed. "Please, I'm already stronger than you, why lower myself to a cheap attack like that if I can beat you when you're trying" she dismissively said.
Bell hesitantly knelt down and picked up Ryu's unconscious body in his arms. Alfia closed in the sphere of Cronos, so there would be enough room for only the two of them.
Alfia had complete control over this dome, only one thing had ever broken through this dome before, and Bell couldn't even comprehend its power. So he slowly walked to the end of the dome and saw his familia, as well as the Astraea familia, Demeter and her two children were there as well as Demeter had refused to leave Bell.
"Bell, what's going on" Miach worriedly asked.
A small horizontal hole opened up, it was big enough for Ryu to fit through but not Bell, as he was just a bit taller and bulkier.
"Astraea, take her," Bell said, passing Ryu to Astraea. Astraea passed her to Laurier and Cassandra, who started healing her.
Bell then looked back to Miach, a sad smile on his face. "It seems, I have one more fight before we can all go home"
Miach looked behind Bell, and his face filled with fear. He tried to reach for him through the hole, but it sealed itself before he could.
"No, Bell, she'll kill you," he panicked.
Everyone else looked to where Miach did and had similar reactions. Faces filled with fear, none more so than the Astraea familia.
Bell let out a sardonic chuckle. "Maybe, maybe I'll beat her, ya never know"
Astraea approached the dome, putting her hand where Bell's cheek was. "Bell, sweetie, don't fight her, you can run away," she begged.
Bell shook his head. "Can't do that, if I run, she'll just catch me, besides this is my chance to forge my own path, not in the shadow of Arthur's or Alfia's, but me"
"Bell, you run, run and live so we can be happy together," Aisha begged as she banged on the dome.
"Master Bell, please just run, don't fight her," Haruhime cried. Lena's fists were shaking in rage at her inability to do anything.
Welf ran up to the dome and looked at Alfia instead of Bell. "Let him go, why are you trying to kill him? He's your nephew for fucks sake"
Alfia paid Welf no mind, instead keeping her gaze on Bell.
"Welf, it's ok," Bell calmly told him. Welf angrily shook his head and punched the dome.
"It's not Bell! She's your aunt, she's supposed to help you, not fucking kill you" Welf's attention turned back to Alfia.
"You hear me bitch? You're supposed to help him, not kill him you fucking bitch" Welf then started to punch and kick the barrier in an attempt to break it. Zald pulled him back as Welf let out more cusses breaking down further with each word.
"Sir Bell," Mikoto called out to him. Bell turned his attention to her as Mikoto bowed before him.
"I promise to keep Lady Haruhime and Lady Lili safe, on my honor," she promised. She knew that Bell wouldn't be talked out of this. So she made him a promise to ease his worries a little.
Bell gave her a small smile and nodded his head towards her. "Thank you, Mikoto, that makes me happy knowing they'll be taken care of"
What Bell couldn't see was the small tears hitting the ground below Mikoto. Laurier stepped up next as she and Cassandra had just finished healing Ryu.
She was trying to blink the tears away but was failing. "I feel like we've spent so little time together, you saved my life, and I can never thank you enough for that, so please live, Bell"
Her hand moved up the dome to the scar on Bell's left eye. "Don't worry, Laurier, she won't kill me, it'll be like training all over again"
The three gods there sensed the lie but kept their mouths shut. Daphne and Cassandra stayed quiet as they didn't really know Bell all that well but were still sad about what would happen.
Nazha walked up to the dome, her body racking with sobs with each step she took. Once she reached the dome, she weakly punched it. "I promise, once this dome is gone, I'll create a potion to make you all better, I promise"
Bell smiled at her. "I never told you this, but I always saw you as an older sister, you and Demeter, you two took on roles as my sister and aunt, I never knew what having those felt like, so thank you"
Nazha's body racked with more sobs, her legs giving out from under her, Miach caught her before she hit the ground. This time however, Miach was crying as well.
Lili was rummaging around in her bag, trying to find something, anything that could get Bell out of there. Her head perked up when she heard Bell's voice.
"Lili, you're the smartest person I know, you'll figure out a way to get this barrier down" Bell's eyes then motioned to Regis, and Lili saw he was trying to get the barrier down.
Bell's attention then turned to Alise. She wasn't crying, but her eyes were glassing over. She had already forgiven Bell for what he did, she knew he wouldn't have won if he didn't do that. She also knew he hated himself for doing something like that.
"Alise, I'm sorry for what I did, I understand if you hate me now, but just know I'm sorry," he told her. He couldn't look her in the eye, but Alise knew he was sorry.
"It's ok, Bell, I forgive you, just survive, that's all I ask," she replied.
He nodded his head before Lyra called out to him. "Kick her ass Bell" Lyra then turned her head as she didn't want to see the beatdown that was about to happen.
"Fight with honor, Bell" Kaguya also looked away. She also didn't want to see what was about to happen.
Bell's attention was then turned to Demeter. The woman who actually tried to be Bell's aunt. She was crying her eyes out at the situation. Here she was, an all-powerful god, and yet she was crying over a mortal boy whose life span took up absolutely nothing of her lifetime.
"Hey Demeter, I uh never told you this, but…thank you for being there for me, you were a better aunt than Alfia, which isn't saying much, but thank you, I don't think I'd be who I am today if it weren't for you."
Demeter shook her head, sniffling as she did so. "No, I was a horrible aunt, I was barely around, and you needed me to be."
Bell put his hand on the dome, and Demeter put hers where his was. "But you tried, when you were around, you're only focus was me, so in my books, you did ok."
Before Demeter could respond, Alfia spoke up. "That's enough time for goodbyes, it's time to see how much you've grown, Bell" she coldly said.
Bell didn't say another word as he turned and started walking back to her. Images of a younger Bell happier and playing went through Demeter's mind as she watched him walk away to his potential death.
Bell stopped and turned around with a smile on his face. "You're still an asshole, Regis," he joked before he faced Alfia. Everyone there braced themselves for what they were about to see.
.
.
.
Before Bell could make any quips, Alfia was already in front of him. Bell leaned back, avoiding a fist to the face.
Alfia kicked his legs out from under him and elbowed him in the gut, she went to curb stomp him, but he rolled out of the way and pushed himself back to his feet.
He didn't have any time to gather his bearings as Alfia was upon him once again. Her fist met his face, and the beating ensued.
She grabbed his collar and punched him over and over again, his nose had started bleeding by the second punch, his mouth the third.
She let go of his collar and kicked him in the stomach knocking him to the ground. Bell's vision was hazy, but he threw a fireball which was dispelled before it even hit Alfia.
Alfia grabbed Bell by the hair and slammed his head into the pavement, before she got up and took a few steps back.
.
.
"How pitiful, the record breaker is still too weak to beat his aunt," she scoffed.
Bell pushed himself up to his feet, his legs wobbling as he did so.
"Still hitting hard as ever," he spat, coughing up blood.
Bell shot fire from his feet and swung his fist at Alfia, she dodged with the grace and expertise of a woman who spent many years of her life fighting. Not even the wind from Bell's punches grazed her.
She ducked under one of his punches and uppercutted him in the gut. Bell hunched forward, and she elbowed him in the neck, sending him face-first into the pavement.
She took a few steps back again and allowed Bell to get up. He pushed himself up to his feet, his legs shaking more than they did before.
He wiped the blood away from his nose and limped towards Alfia again.
He swung his fist, which Alfia easily caught, she brought her knee upwards and pushed Bell's elbow the wrong way, a sickening crunch was heard as Bell's arm was broken, and he didn't even yell out in pain.
She then grabbed him by the throat and choke, slammed him, and then took a few steps back. Bell tried to push himself to his feet again, but his arm gave out from under him. He tried again and met the same result.
.
.
"Give up, Bell, you know it's pointless," Alfia coldly stated. Bell didn't listen and kept trying to get up.
"Why do you still fight, you know you'll lose," she asked.
"So I- he whispered.
"Why"
"So I-
"Speak up" Alfia yelled.
Bell pushed himself up to his feet, his left arm hanging limply at his side.
"So I can be a hero…the one that we never had" his voice was quiet, yet filled with so much determination.
Alfia coldly stared at him for a minute before responding. "How pathetic"
Alfia then walked up to him, getting right in his face, Bell tried to throw a punch, but she caught his arm.
"Gospel," a burst of sound shot forth from Alfia, sending Bell flying into a building and burying him in rubble.
Alfia dropped Bell's severed arm as her tight grip caused it to be torn off when the spell hit him.
Some of the spectators threw up at the sight while Demeter had to be held by her children. Astraea was letting out silent prayers for Bell, and Miach just watched, he had to, Bell deserved that much.
"Just stay down, Bell," Alise silently begged, but she knew he wouldn't.
.
.
Bell was buried under the rubble but still conscious. He felt his right arm was gone, but he felt so tired. He was just so very tired. But he had to get up, he had to fight. But he didn't have the strength to do so.
Well, he did have one more trick up his metaphorical sleeve. He took and deep breath and felt his beast will and mana core. He was still low on mana, but he had enough for what he was about to do.
"Bell, don't" he heard Regis panic through his mental link. Bell ignored him as he kicked the rubble off him and stood.
"Dragon's will…third phase…Deity's awakening," he mumbled.
Bell's eyes started to bleed as runes spread all over his body. He could see the mana particles and aether all around him.
He used it to fix his broken arm, and a purple skeletal arm replaced his right one, and when Bell opened his eyes, they were purple.
He took a step forward, the ground cracking from the sheer power he was exerting. Regis was shouting out curses trying to get the barrier down faster.
The reason he didn't immediately get it down was because time and reality exist with each other. One can't exist without the other. So if the two were to attack each other somehow, the damage would be catastrophic. So Regis had to be careful when bringing down a barrier made of time itself.
Bell once again shot forward, and his fist met Alfia's face before she could react, she stumbled back slightly before another fist also met her face.
Bell was moving at a speed that Alfia could barely keep up with. Blow after blow connected with her face causing small amounts of blood to dribble from her nose. He grabbed her by the collar and threw her into a building, jumping atop her and hitting her in the face over and over again.
Yet this power didn't come without its consequences. Bell could feel his mana core nearly breaking, he couldn't hold this much longer. He was also getting slower, allowing Alfia to react again. She grabbed his wrist and threw him back.
After about another minute of Alfia dodging, he had to turn off Deity's awakening and fell to his knees, coughing up blood.
.
.
"Pitiful, all that for a nose bleed" Alfia wiped her nose and then kicked Bell in the face. He landed on his back and laid there, blood covering most of his face.
Alfia took a few steps away and waited for Bell to get up again, she knew he would.
.
.
"I'm all out of moves, some hero I am, can't even beat the villain," he chuckled to himself, spitting out some blood.
"But I need to get up, to be a hero"
Ding
Ding
Ding
The sound of bells tolling started to ring through the air. But no one knew where they were coming from. Bell's left hand started to glow white as the ringing got louder.
He pushed himself up to his feet, he knew he had one final shot to at least do more than a nosebleed.
So with a snap of his fingers, he sent the spell he had created toward Alfia. His magic broke through her magic-negating barrier and hit her square in the chest.
Bell fell to his knees, feeling all his strength leave his body. He was panting and coughing up blood, having trouble catching his breath.
He knew his attack didn't do much and was waiting for Alfia. A few seconds later, her hand shot forward and grabbed him by the neck, lifting him up in the air. All his magic was able to do was leave a small burn on her chest.
"It took everything you had for a nosebleed and a small burn, pitiful."
Alfia then drove her fist through Bell's stomach.
The barrier then dropped.
The Astraea familia rushed forward to fight Alfia, but multiple smoke bombs were thrown, and once the smoke cleared, she was gone.
Bell took one step forward, then another, and another, then collapsed. Miach caught him in his arms and gently laid him down.
He quickly got to work grabbing the healing stones that Lili had given him for his birthday out of his gauntlet and breaking all three of them at once.
Cassandra and Laurier were immediately chanting their strongest healing spells, while Regis turned into his will-o-wisp form and went inside Bell's body.
He started spreading aether everywhere, expelling that much would cause him to lose his physical form temporarily, but he was ready to do it.
Nazha was putting pressure on Bell's chest wound, While Alise tore off the sleeve of her shirt and was wrapping up Bell's stump. Lyra had grabbed his severed arm and, with Lefiya's help, was able to preserve it.
Haruhime had passed out from the sight, and Aisha held her tight.
"His heart stopped, Lena start CPR," Miach cried. Lena did what he said and started chest compressions.
Demeter hadn't moved from her spot, crying and begging for Bell to wake up, she was hysterical with grief.
Kaguya had already run off, intending to get Airmid the second Alfia was gone. She returned a minute later with the dea saint in her arms.
Airmid immediately rushed over and used her healing spell on Bell, it barely had any effect, so she tried again and again, each time it only worked a little, but a little was better than nothing.
"We need to get him to my clinic, he's losing too much blood," Airmid pointed at Zald and Kaguya.
"Zald, I need you to take Bell back to my clinic, Kaguya carry me back and show him the way," she ordered.
Both adventurers did as they were told and left the scene of the battle. Leaving behind many broken people and gods alike.
Well looks like Bell got the invincible treatment from Alfia. Right now he's knocking on deaths door and if he loves it might be time for some reconnecting.
Anyway I hope you enjoy this chapter as you didn't have to wait that long for it to come out.
Next arc is gonna be another calm one since this one was crazy. Four major fights in once arc. Hope they were somewhat decent.
Also Arthur's third phase was never named so I can up with my own.