Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on multiple existing anime/manga series. The characters and settings used in this story belong to their respective owners and creators, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe upon any existing intellectual property. I do not own any of the original works that inspired this fanfiction, and I fully support the original creators and their works.
- Author note start-
(WARNING, THIS CHAPTER MY HAVE DISTURBING/SENSITIVE CONTENT, IE, SLIGHT SUICIDAL THOUGHTS ETC... SO DO BE WARNED! IT'S ONLY SLIGHT THOUGH!)
Hey guys and gals and others! Here's a new chapter. Hope you enjoy it, not much to say about this one specifically, but we are finally entering the END GAME of the Haruhime arc. (Finally Lmao), From this chapter I'd wager another 2 to finish it off, then 1 to sum up the conclusion and aftermath. And after that... Remains to be seen! Whether I do the "War" arc or just outright summarize it quickly to move on to the more spicy Xenos arc... Decisions Decisions.
Do notice the lengths of the chapters are greatly varied and the chapters as of late are quite short. The reasoning is simple, It depends on how I want it to end! But again 2k-6k words is the general length. Also! The next 2-3 chapters should be in the 5k mark or so!
As always reviews, feedback, comments, ideas and suggestions would really boost my motivation and capability to write you guys a story you would enjoy! And...
Thank you for reading, truly! and most importantly... Enjoy!
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*Indicates an action being done. for example... *Cough* *
""Indicates Multiple Peoples Speech""
(Indicates Author comment thing)
-Author note end-
(WARNING, THIS CHAPTER MY HAVE DISTURBING/SENSITIVE CONTENT, IE, SLIGHT SUICIDAL THOUGHTS ETC... SO DO BE WARNED! IT'S ONLY SLIGHT THOUGH!)
An unknown amount of time has passed and the sun begins to set on an apprehensive and yet clueless Orario. Many individuals are fearful, anxious, laughing their ass off and some... Are bloodthirsty.
A short stack goddess is losing her mind, running from guild to allied Familia's, begging for help in finding her lost children, her reliability as a goddess coming through. For once... In a millennia.
One Pallum commander, senses a disturbance in the force with his plot device of a twitching thumb, He mumbles that a great change in power dynamic is coming to Orario. The beautiful elf next to him sighs at his narcissistic antics.
A well known pub, that runs completely NOT suspicious and overpowered waitresses goes through it's business as per usual. Atmosphere and performance unperturbed due to their ignorance of what's about to come.
A Familia of amazons run amok the entertainment district, disturbing it's midday preparations in favor of searching for a rabbit.
The 3 Hestiauteers finish up reading the plot related information, enraged by what they've discovered and despaired at the discovery that whatever they've discovered... Happens TONIGHT.
A select amazon who favors a Renard, uses the location device attached to the Renard's choker to pinpoint her location... Upon seeing she is underground she rushes over.
A pair of unconscious bodies, covered in blood, brain matter and puke respectively are... Still unconscious.
A dragon, watches over them gently, providing them a safe haven of protection and warmth... Who am I kidding? The scaly fucker is taking a piss on top of the corpse? of his poor victim. Mumbling complete nonsense like: "This will throw off the bloodhounds! My piss's got Grade A perfume! I'm a genius! HAHAHAHHAH!". Fucking disgusting.
And the bloodthirsty lot...
-Top Floor Of Babel-
-A Certain Balcony-
A large and spacious balcony, luxurious in it's decorations and architecture. There, 2 individuals are seen to be discussing something.
The first, A large and towering Man, No, A Boaz. This man is, in actuality, a very well known individual in Orario and the world as a whole. He is known as the strongest adventurer, The King, The only Level 7 named Ottar. He belongs to the well known and infamous Freya Familia.
The second, A woman of dazzling beauty, dressed vulgarly and promiscuously, but regardless she remains a jaw dropping beauty, fitting of her title. Holding a cup of high quality red wine. Quite cliché but we digress.
What? You can't piece together who she is? Well, she's obviously Freya, the patron goddess of the Freya Familia that is named after her, Goddess of Beauty, Fertility and lesser known but still fitting... Goddess of War.
Speaking of War! What are these high status individuals discussing about? Well...
"Freya-sama, Allen sends his report. The Ishtar Familia has placed the entire entertainment district on lockdown. Additionally they are searching for Bell without pause." A monotone and deep voice escapes Ottar's mouth, as he emotionlessly informs Freya of the status of her... Mild obsession. A loyal and yet longing look sent to Freya from the equally obsessed Boaz, who hides it with the expertise of a veteran Freya Famila Member. He is their captain after all, the urges must be controlled.
At his words, a frown forms on Freya's delicate face. as she clenches her free hand and balls it into a fist. Staring down on to the view of the entire city like the goddess she is.
"Prepare the forces to move out, I'm coming as well." Freya commands with finality, expertly hidden rage and bloodthirst, a deadly cold tone to emphasize just how pissed off she truly is. Her eyes never leave the sight of the city, specifically the Entertainment district.
She wordlessly gets up from her comfortable chair and moves into the dimly lit parts of her private room. Malicious intent oozing out of her.
Ottar bows at his God's command and silently follows her.
Back to our protagonist...
-Ishtar Familia House-
-Dungeon-
-Secret Passage-
"Ahhhhhhh! That was bloody refreshing!" A exhale of relief leaves our Favorite (Self-Proclaimed) Dragon's mouth as he completes his... Piss on the corpse or rather remnants of a former toad's head.
Moving from the... Collateral damage, he moves towards the pair of unconscious figures that have yet to awaken for a while. 2 Hours to be exact.
They have been unconscious, but one of them, in actuality, has awoken a few minutes ago. But has refused to open his eyes and awaken to the reality he has found himself in.
'Bold of him to assume he can fool me in his pretend sleep! But, now's the test of his resolve so let's see where this goes! Character development! How exciting!' Merlin thinks tactlessly with an amused and knowing smirk on his scaly, irritating and handsome (SELF-PROCLAIMED) face. Not stopping his glance from sending shivers down the unsuspecting and yet paradoxically suspecting Bell's back. Who wisely ignores it because he has more important things to think through.
-Bell POV-
A deep sinking feeling fills my body, despair, lack of motivation, lack of... Will to live, to get up, to continue.
The realization, that blaming others, Merlin-sensei, was ungrounded for the most part. The fault... Was indeed mine. All. Mine.
'How... Can I be a hero... I... Killed her. I failed... Why?! I should of never have asked for his help! I should of powered through it! Nothing! Is worth death!' Bell ate at himself and blamed himself without a lack of mercy nor empathy for himself.
'Would... It be fine to lay here and get captured? Would... That be good enough repayment for my sins? Would... Me dying be enough to repay?' Bell began to slowly sink into despair, giving up and planning to repay for the loss of life, with his own.
'I... I want to be a hero... But how could I? I let someone die... I-I Killed someone...' Bell continued to sink in despair, his fragile dream shattered in the face of reality.
'I should stay here right? Close my eyes and get captured right?' Bell wondered if it will be enough, resolving himself to give up and repay.
A voice in his head, a more optimistic and childlike voice cried out in the depths of Bell's despair. Like a lantern in a city of pure darkness.
'What about the loving and kind Kami-sama?! You can't give up here! For her! What about the mischievous Lili-san?! The big brother and caring Welf-san?! The loyal Mikoto-san?! The teasing Syr-san?! The experienced and reliable Ryuu-san! And... What about the strong, beautiful and divine Aiz-san?! Didn't you want to reach her?! Be by her side! A hero! A harem from girls saved in the dungeon! Where is it all?! WHAT ABOUT EVERYONE?! Didn't... Didn't you want to save Haruhime?' The voice echoed out loudly and passionately, but it fell on deaf hears... Like a weak lantern in a city of pure and drowning darkness, it is not enough to illuminate the entire sea of darkness on it's own.
'They'll understand...They'll forgive me... I'm... Not worthy of them... Not anymore. Not ever...' A Brutal shutdown met the voice of hope that is still there inside of Bell.
'I'll lay here... I'll get punished and I'll repay for my mistakes...' One final despairing and apathetic echo left his mind as he shut down his mind of anymore painful thoughts, giving up and resolving only to listen to the pitter patter of where he laid down... The silent echoes of the cavernous passage he found himself in. And the sounds of... Piss?! He promptly ignored that one.
-Back To 3rd Person POV!-
A few more minutes pass by, with no change at all in the status quo.
'This is grating on my nerves... He's still not winning the battle in his head. If he's giving up now I'll have to use the last boon if he gets captured... At that, I'll give him a piece of my mind! And if that doesn't get him to reach his senses... Well... That's another hero down! Guess I best make preparations for my departure! A shame too! I'd hoped he'd last longer. At the very least if he were not to complete his adventure with a happy ending, a tragic death against the final boss to save his one of many harem girls would of been glorious! Dying a hero as his tales are sung by future generations! Well, too bad! I like those endings. Although, sometimes the fuckers curse at me as some of their final words! How disrespectful! Who do you think got you so far? God?! No fucker! God don't give 2 shit's about you! It was me!' Merlin monologued in disappointment and speculated the worse outcome of this current situation, reminiscing on old times with a nostalgic and yet irritated smirk on his scaly face.
*STEP* *STEP* *STEP* *STEP* *STEP* *STEP* *STEP* Rapid and rushed steps, the sounds of running are heard echoed a distance away from our party of 3 and former 4.
"Isn't this place supposed to be a SECRET?!" Merlin yelled out in frustration and with a twitching scaly eyebrow.
"Well, Darn it... This doesn't count as 2 boons right? I promised the kid he'll escape with the use of the first one, so... Turn invisible!" Merlin wondered at the legality of his actions in accordance to his self-imposed rules and limitations. Opting for it to be OK, he turned Bell's "unconscious" body invisible, as well as himself.
*STEP* *STEP* *STEP* As the sounds of running get ever louder and closer, their source stops abruptly upon arriving at the scene.
*GASP* A shocked gasp leaves the newcomer's mouth as they digest the scene in front of them.
A large section of the cave, a pool of blood on the floor that has begun to flow in the opposite direction. Shattered sections of the ground and... A blood and brain matter covered unconscious Haruhime laying down... Seemingly unharmed by whatever happened here.
The newcomer noticed as well, a familiar head, well, whatever remained of it, as it seemed to have exploded from an overwhelming pressure. The head, being very noticeable in it's difference from the usual skull structure of a normal Human-like being. The newcomer quickly concluded that it's departed owner is...
"Phyrne..." The newcomer whispered in complete shock and bewilderment.
After a few seconds of processing the situation, the newcomer shakes her head and quickly moves to the body of Haruhime, placing a finger to check her pulse.
*Sigh* A sigh of relief escapes her, as Haruhime is alive.
"Haruhime! Haruhime!" She begins to repeat Haruhime's name as she tries to shake her awake.
A few attempts of this and the newcomer's efforts get her the intended result.
A groggy Haruhime opens her eyes with exhaustion, her face showing traces of her having cried endlessly.
"Haruhime! What happened here?" The newcomer asks gently of the newly awakened and probably traumatized Renard.
"Hah? Oh no... Aisha-san..." The haggard and distressed Renard opens her eyes to meet Aisha's eyes and begin to cry. Remembering the atrocities that she had close contact with.
Aisha, upon seeing the crying Haruhime, was even further shocked. Despite Haruhime's rough time in the Entertainment district. She has never cried. Not once.
'Whatever happened here... Such brutality... was enough to make her cry? I need to know... Whatever could destroy Phyrne is at least Level 6... That narrows it down considerably' A paradoxical situation met Aisha's mind, as her worry and care for Haruhime, clashed against her God's commands.
Due to a... Past event, Aisha can no longer disobey Her goddess. As such, it won the clash.
"Haruhime... Tell me what happened here. Now." A cold tone, betraying her previous care and worry for Haruhime exits Aisha's mouth. As she demands, nay commands as a superior of the same Familia for Haruhime's explanation.
At the command, Haruhime resolves to take a glance around, to check if Bell has escaped, upon noticing no sight of him. She nods with apprehensiveness and begins to summarize what happened to Aisha.
-One Long Explanation Later-
"HAHAHAHHAHAH! How unbelievable! A talking Dragon?! HE effortlessly killed Phyrne?! That's who Little Rookie's mentor is?! Merlin?! Even if you were to tell that to a god and he detected that to be the unfiltered truth, even he would be skeptical! HAHAHHAHAHAHA" Aisha laughed in a deranged manner as it echoed out through the passage as Haruhime finished her retelling of the events that occurred here. As he pointed out how unbelievable that tale was.
"I-It's the truth." Haruhime whispered with weak resolve, head and ears lowered.
"HAHAHA-HA-HA... Yes, As unbelievable as it is. I believe you Haruhime... Now come with me, we need you alive for the Killing stone ritual tonight. We'll need to pass through Ishtar-sama to relay the news of Phyrne's... Passing and of that... Monster's existence." Aisha mentions dead seriously after she calms down from her deranged laughter, grabbing Haruhime's hand and... Phyrne's largest skull remnant with her other free hand, moving away from the crime scene and back towards the Main House.
At the mention of the quite critical information of: "Need you alive" And "Killing stone ritual" As well as "Tonight". Bell's stewing mind comes to a complete stop.
"You hear that Bell? Your Foxy savior is needed ALIVE for a RITUAL, that has KILLING in it. Sounds ominous don't you think? Oh dear! And it's tonight! Maybe... She'll die?! What will you do~?" Merlin provides the obvious answers and nags on Bell's unconscious like the irritating bug that he is... But... That's what he needs now.
A few minutes pass in silence at the cavernous passage as Bell contemplates and struggles.
'Haruhime... Is going to die? Tonight?' Bell echoes out that sentence in his chaotic mind, the sentence brings order and is prioritized in his mind as it continues to nag and echo in his psyche. It continues to irritate him, and yet... It begins to glue back the shattered remnants of his resolve, piece by piece. shard by shard, until... A new resolve, a stronger resolve takes it's place.
'I... NEED. TO. SAVE. HER! AFTER ALL SHE'S DONE FOR ME! I WILL REPAY FOR MY SINS THIS WAY! I DONT CARE FOR THE COST! WAR? SO BE IT! I'LL SAVE HER EVEN IF I HAVE TO DIE! I WILL BE A HERO! MY FAMILIA WILL UNDERSTAND! IT DOESN'T. MATTER!' A roar that clears out the sea of darkness that clouded his mind, unlike any other, rings out in Bell's mind. A newly formed resolve, A more resolved and brave Bell. A Bell who doesn't care about the price, as long as he can save the one who is in distress... For that is the essence of a Hero. That... Is his new resolve.
"Hmm~?" Merlin voices out in surprise at the sounds sourcing from Bell.
*Ding* Ding* *Ding* The still laying Bell's right hand begins to glow white, the sounds of Bell's echoes out loudly through the cavern. As he slowly stands up, sending a resolute glare towards the direction they came from...
At Bell's appearance and look on his face, Merlin is pleasantly surprised, to the extreme of that statement.
"HAHAHHAHAHAH! NOW THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR! GOOD BELL! GOOD! THAT'S THE LOOK! OF A HERO! HAHAHAHAH! WHAT A GLORIOUS 0 TO 100! THAT'S THE POWER OF CIRCUMSTANCE I GUESS!" Merlin roars out in pleased and deranged laughter upon noticing Bell's resolved glare, floating back to his usual spot on Bell's shoulder... Who does not react the slightest at Merlin's actions.
Complete disregard to his grimy and bloody appearance, The boy moves.
*STEP* *STEP* *STEP* Slowly, Bell increases the pace of his steps as he moves with determination of unequal proportions, his eyes locked in the direction of his target. His mind, closed from exterior useless influence.
"Well, what are you going to do Bell? Some of them are stronger than you, what about the risks to your Familia? What'll you do about them?" Merlin asks the obvious, seemingly testing Bell with an amused and curious glance thrown at the boy.
"Save her. Somehow. They'll understand." Bell quickly shutdowns Merlin's obvious and logical concerns with finality, not meeting Merlin's amethyst eyes with his own... Glowing? Ruby eyes.
*Ding* *Ding* *Ding* At his own words, the ringing of Bell's strengthen further.
*STEP* *STEP* *STEP* Bell, has broken into a run, strength unlike any other in his entire life fueling his every step.
"HAHHAHAHAH! You're an idiot! You're going to die! Helplessly! I love it! Amazing! That's what separates the boys, from the men! Resolve! Values! Overcoming adversity that is beyond yourself! That's what it means to become a Hero! Logic! Plans! They are all useful, true! And I advocate the use of them at every opportunity... But, that's not going to make you a Hero! Never! This... This is what makes you one! HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!" Merlin further impressed by Bell's short but to the point response, answer and resolve, further comments in a proud tone. A deranged and excited laughter emanates from the Scaly menace.
'All me! Damn I love myself! I'm treating myself to some 10 Star steak I got from that cooking universe after this! Although... I've got to make sense of where it is in my disorganized inventory...' Merlin nods to himself in a stupid manner as he arrogantly takes all the credit for the transformation of Bell's resolve.
"I'll save her... Whatever the cost." Bell comments one final sentence as he opens the secret door leading out of the passage back to the underground of the Ishtar Familia House.
"Yeah, yeah, all right you're a badass, I get it... I was trying to live with you in the moment. But if you continue to mumble out those edgy one liners I'll smack ya head boy! I mean, for a few seconds you were quite the intimidating 14 year old I'll admit! But, you'll never beat that one hero I trained, his name was Bob. Bob was a 12 year old, he was 6'8 at that age and he was a muscular Black boy. Bob was a badass and a chad, at fucking 12. You ain't! Not now at least!" Merlin mercilessly shutdown Bell's edgy streak with a classic Merlin lecture. A pitying and chastising tone and look was thrown at the aforementioned Bell.
Bell's resolved expression had a momentary crack at Merlin's words, which got repaired a moment later. He, of course, ignored the Sadistic Monster and did not dignify him with any response, as in ceremony.
To be Continued!
-Author Note Start-
Well guys! This is the 1st chapter out of 3 or 4? chapters that are going to be the climax of the Haruhime arc! I'll try to put my A-game on with these few chapters so do provide some feedback on how I'm doing! If you notice any plot holes and such, I'd appreciate any feedback on that, now that I'm diving deeper into diverging from canon, I don't have much of a guiding hand anymore on how events are going to go! So I'll need to study the story deeper! *Sigh* Studying... But anything for you my favorite readers!
Again, comments, reviews, ideas, suggestions etc... would provide me more motivation to write and would be a good way to show your appreciation! I'll be happy and thankful to receive them! Constructive criticism would be the most appreciated as I wont be able to improve without knowing what my mistakes are! Goodbye for now my lovely beautiful smart sexy readers, have a fantastic rest of the week/day!
-Author Note End-