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-
-IMPORTANT ANNOUNCMENT-
1 WEEK FROM THE RELEASE OF THIS CHAPTER, THE TITLE OF THE STORY WILL CHANGE AS WELL AS A NEW STORY WILL BE PUBLISHED! THE STORY CHOSEN WILL BE DEPENDENT ON WHAT YOU VOTED ON IN THE CHAPTER OF: "Annoucment And Vote". SO IF YOU WANT TO CONTRIBUTE AND HAVE A SAY IN WHAT THE NEW STORY WILL BE. VOTE THERE! OF COURSE THE STORY WITH THE MOST VOTES WINS!
-IMPORTANT ANNOUCMENT END-
Hey guys and gals, it's time for the first Arc's finale! Now, I hope it's pretty good and up to your tastes my dear readers! And! Put down those pitchforks people! Yes I know, this isn't the 7-10k word count I promised. But! This will be cut off to 3 pieces: This Finale, Aftermath and Intermission. Of course, now that we've reached the end of the first Arc... Reviews? Maybe? Pretty please with sprinkles on top? Write reviews people! or else I'll have Merlin spike your water with his piss... Not that I can make him do anything but you get the picture!
This chapter took a long time to write, some rewrites and so on, so I'd appreciate some feedback on this one! Also, I'm very bad at fighting scenes, so I'd like any feedback in regards to that. I really can't write that well.
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!
'Indicates Thoughts'
"Indicates Speech"
*Indicates an action being done. for example... *Cough* *
""Indicates Multiple Peoples Speech""
(Indicates Author comment thing)
-Author note end-
"There, in the hanging gardens, the Hero and his handsome and peerless companion find themselves surrounded by enemies. A damsel in distress with her head down seemingly in agonizing pain, seems to be in immediate need of some saving, as she is, probably, as my experience dictates, about to be sacrificed to eldritch gods for an increase in RPG power! The Hero, finds himself in a stare down with his main opponent. Mob A, that will never be seen or heard from again following the coming altercation! Both of them, not moving a muscle as they measure each other up and consider their next pathetic moves! The Hero, strangely annoyed at his fantastic companion's most gracious and outstanding commentary twitches his body but keeps his rather intense glare fixated on Mob A. Such a fiery and passionate gaze can only be directed towards your loved ones... Did our Hero find himself falling in love with Mob A?! If so! Then I, the wonderous companion, must endeavor into remembering Mob A's actual name! From enemies to lovers! HAH! Classic! ... Our Hero is now gritting his teeth aggressively! That might not be a healthy and smart decision I'd wager! You need to keep your teeth pearly white or else how would you satisfy your harem with that poor hygiene?! The Hero seems to have decided to ignore the words of divine wisdom and tightened his mediocre pubescent muscles... Oh! They've decided to jump into action! Would you look at that!" The scourge of the universe narrated with a rather deep and theatrical tone, trying to cut the narrating budget from the Author's paycheck by doing it himself... Jokes on him though, I don't get paid!
*SWOOSH* Bell, following Merlin's marvelous (Self Proclaimed) and irritating narration of the current circumstances smartly ignored his words and decided to go on the offensive, dashing towards Samira with his Hestia knife in a slicing motion towards her face.
*CHANG* Only to be blocked by Samira's armguard, he backs off to the side to create some distance.
However, seeing her uncomfortable with the strange knife in her hand, sensing a weakness Bell follows up his attack with a relentless assault.
*SWOOSH* He hops towards Samira once again.
*CHANG* *CHANG* Samira, being pushed back, barely but still managing to block Bell's swift strikes.
'He's fast! The ritual's almost over... WHY ARE THEY ALL JUST STANDING THERE?!' Samira thought to herself in exasperation, finding herself being pushed back and enraged.
*SLASH* "GAH!" As Samira is being pushed back, she was not able to completely block nor dodge all of Bell's swift strikes, as one strike lands on her unprotected thigh.
"Good! Bell, did you notice how she is avoiding the option to block your strikes with the knife she's holding? It might be important and she may throw it away to reach full combat capabilities. Follow it closely and use that to your advantage. Wait for the moment she throws it away and destroy it... DO NOT let her be aware of your intentions and knowledge of the knifes importance." Merlin guided and analyzed the fight completely seriously, advising Bell on what to focus on.
"Right. Thanks." Bell replied compliantly and gratefully, whispering his words in the moment he hopped back to create distance, before hopping back to continue his ferocious assault on Samira.
'It's shallow... I need to get rid of this knife, I can't fight him properly!' These thoughts ran aloud in Samira's mind as she checked her wound for a moment, being overwhelmed by the fresh Level 3.
"You idiots get a move on and help Ishtar-sama down there! *CHANG* You! Take the knife and kill Haruhime! Time's running out! I'll take care of Little Rookie!" Samira, panicked and pressured, barked out the orders loudly, sweat forming on her forehead, as she commands while being in a fierce altercation. Pointing at the amazon nearest to Haruhime to take the knife she is about to most likely throw at her.
At Samira's command, there is no hesitation nor reluctance, the amazons, proud warrior race as they are, never doubted Samira's capability of dealing with Bell, as such followed her commands obediently and all of them but the one she pointed at, were on the move towards the burning pleasure quarter to help their God.
"Welp, Mob A has disappointed me, she just gave away the knife's importance from the get go like the 2 bit side antagonist she is... She's about to throw it! Get ready!" Merlin commented with bitter disappointment, which quickly transitioned to a more serious tone as he told Bell to prepare.
'I know...' Bell thought to himself as he is subconsciously charging Mind into his hand, a grim line on his face and concentration evident all over it. His 2nd and new knife Welf gifted him, being pocketed quickly and silently to free up his hand.
*CLANG* Another block from Samira at Bell's attack.
Samira, sensing a little breathing room at the block, decides to wisely use her opportunity.
"HERE! TAKE THE KNIFE!" She roars aloud as she throws the knife towards the nearest amazon who is running towards her holding up her arms to catch it.
*SWOOSH* The knife is thrown, flying through the air traveling towards the other amazon.
"NOW!" Merlin barks out.
"FIREBOLTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" One of, if not the fastest firebolt Bell has ever released was unleashed from the palm of his hand, towards the airborne stone-bound knife.
*BOOM* A loud explosion rings from the knife as it is met with Bell's firebolt.
*Shatter* The stone, bound to the knife shatters at the powerful energy, whilst the knife itself is being melted before the very eyes of the current occupants of the room, barring the downtrodden and pained Renard.
"Now closely watch their reactions! It's just pure ecstasy to see the plans of your enemies falling apart! My goodness! That shit's better than any magical drug I've tried! And I've done more than I can count! Except Rare Candy Powder from that one Monster Ball Universe, or whatever it was called, now THAT was the stuff... But that was one truly absurd world I'll tell you! They shoved titanic and godlike creatures into a 10 year old's magic ball device that has the radius of 10 inches! And the damn kid could command said godlike creatures? Definitely in the top 50 of the weirdest Universes I've been to." The vile and sadistic thing went on a tangent about his exaggerated sadism and his experience with... Otherworldly magic drugs? This was of course ignored by our Hero as he already knows better... Probably.
At the sound and resulting explosion the pained and agonized Haruhime lifts her head up, and manages to see the shattered Killing stone. Her eyes widen as she stares in shock at Bell who has his smoking palm directed at where the knife had been.
*Grit* Samira, wide eyed and now utterly livid grits her teeth to an unhealthy degree, so unhealthy even Merlin would be worried.
"What's with you?! Why are you here?! WHY?! Why do you ruin our plans!? GAH!" Samira, seemingly reaching the limit of her emotional capacity explodes at Bell with fury fueled questions. Grabbing her head in pain and anger, glaring lividly at Bell, killing intent in full throttle.
"HAHAHAHAH! Glorious! Bitch went mad! HAHAHAHAHH! Never gets old! That's why I'm on the Heroes side for the most part!" Merlin laughed sadistically and gleefully, holding his scaly belly from how hearty and hard he laughed at Mob A's misery... Wait, on the Heroes side for the "Most" part?
At the sudden and fantastic (in Merlin terms) reaction of Samira, Bell's eyes widen, his legs waver and shiver... But only for a moment.
'No... Don't be a coward. You have to save her. Look her in the eyes and respond.' Bell told himself and reinforced himself of what he must do, his new resolve often shaken, but never broken.
"I'm here to save Haruhime-san. Please release her, now that whatever you've been planning to do with her is no longer possible" Bell says with narrowed and resolved eyes, meeting Samira's glaring and manic eyes with his ruby ones. Asking her to release Haruhime, having noticed from all the clues that their ritual if that is what it is, has failed with the knife's destruction.
'Cranel-sama... Is here to save me? A... Prostitute? W-Why...' Haruhime turned towards Bell with bewilderment and with faintly hidden hope in her expression, trying and already forming her own conclusions, some more delusional and hopeful than the rest.
"...What?" At Bell's words, Samira's manic and rage fueled face transitions into a bewildered and utterly perplexed expression, as she voiced aloud her expression.
"Umm? I'm here to save Haruhime-san." Bell repeated his previous statement, to try and cure Samira's confusion and to reach some kind of understanding.
"How long is this gonna take? We have yet to eat dinner! Beat her up and ask questions later!" Merlin complained aloud at the prolonged dialogue, having not filled up as much as he wanted to with the mediocre butter-less popcorn. His solution of violence was wisely ignored by our rabbit.
"Pfft. HA. HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA" Samira, upon understanding of Bell's intentions, goals and reasons for the collapsing of all her and her Familia's plans could not help herself but break out into a hysteric laughter.
Everyone observes the broken and hysterical Samira with wide eyed and worried looks.
"Meh, the average midlife crisis in the 21st century is on average, like, 30% worse than this. So it's so-so in my humble and completely based draconic opinion." Merlin, as expected, spewed his uninvited or wanted opinion on Samira's hysteria. Gesturing with his hand paw thing with a so-so gesture.
"HAHAHAAHAH. HAHAHA. HAHA. HAH... T-That's just ridiculous... You're ridiculous! Alright "Hero", You want her?!" Samira continued her hysteric laughter until she stopped on her own, a bloodthirsty expression forming on her face as she taunts Bell. Her legs curls into a spring like position, a movement noticed by Bell, who narrows his eyes and takes out his 2nd knife as he gets into guard.
"COME AND GET HER!" She yelled as she dashed with all the strength and speed capable of a Mid Level 3.
*SWOOSH* Flying towards Bell she throws a punch to his gut, he parries with his knife, which gets blocked by a twist of her wrist, turning it into a clash of a knife with an armguard.
'Manageable speed! Aiz-san, Merlin-sensei, Ryu-san and Phyrne-san were much faster than this!' Bell thought to himself as he measured up Samira's speed as she went on the offensive.
*CHANG* A stalemate, where knife met armguard, a battle of strength as they push each other. Bell, well aware of being weaker in strength, decides to not prolong this stalemate and backs off with an aimed kick that would cause her to dodge, granting him a window of opportunity to back away.
"Hah..." Bell releases a breath of exhaustion, as sweat forms on his forehead, seemingly nearing his limit both physically and mentally.
"I would usually suggest against this, although you are faster, she is stronger, more experienced as well as having much more gas in the tank. The last 2 days of lack of proper rest and recuperation have taken their toll on you. You need to get creative in order for you to defeat her." Merlin notices Bell's exhaustion and advices him as Bell charges forward to counterattack Samira.
'I know... If need be, I'll sacrifice myself to save Haruhime-san.' Bell heard Merlin's advice clearly, resolving himself further in his Hero act.
*CHANG* A knife strike aimed at Samira's head was blocked by her armguard, which Bell swiftly moved on with his other hand to strike her injured thigh once again.
"Not so fast!" Samira yells with a retaliatory knee strike at Bell's stretched out arm, that, were it to hit, would break it easily.
Unfortunately for her, he Sensed it coming and backed away. Managing to gain nothing with that exchange except wasted energy.
"Hah" Another exhale of exhaustion, this time much louder than before, letting Samira notice it. A cruel and mocking smirk forms on her face at this revelation.
"Aww... Tired already Little Rookie~? Was hoping it would be at least a little exciting before I break you..." She purrs at Bell, as she mocks his exhaustion, voicing her disappointment at his performance.
Bell glares at her silently in response.
"Oh~! I know just the thing to make this even better!" Samira's manic and gleeful face lights up as she discovers the most wonderful idea. A Cheshire grin forming on her face.
"Pizza? Or Liquid Nitrogen, whichever one you can prepare faster I'll be satisfied with." Merlin inquires with a tilt of his little dragon head, about Samira's wonderful idea of making this situation better.
"Haruhime! Cast your magic on me! NOW!" Samira turned her head towards Haruhime as she barked out her order.
At her order both Bell and Haruhime are frozen in shock. The former, in fear and apprehension at what Haruhime will do, the latter at the suddenness of the order and... Audacity of the order.
Upon collecting herself and fighting through the pain coursing through her veins, Haruhime nods and begins to slowly chant.
"Grow. That power and that vessel. Breadth of wealth and breadth of wishes. Until the bell tolls, bring forth glory and illusion. -Grow -" She chants, magic flying around her and body glowing.
"Guess you'll have to, Bitch slap your Harem prospect Number 5 to stop that game breaking magic! Respectfully of course!" Merlin states the obvious with a slapping gesture to emphasize the truly obvious course of action. Obvious for him. Not, Bell.
*Grit* Bell grits his teeth as he hesitates, whether to strike Haruhime and stop her chant or not...
As if he had the choice to even do any of them.
*SWOOSH* Bell dodges a strike to his face.
*SWOOSH* Sensing another to his knee, he blocks with his knife.
*CHANG* They knife meets the armguard once again.
"No time to think okay~?" Samira purrs mockingly as she backs away, lowering her guard, and waiting patiently for her level boost.
"Confine divine offerings within this body. This golden light bestowed from above." Haruhime continues to chant breathlessly and haggardly, nearly completing the chant.
"Hah..." Bell releases another exhausted exhale, his eyes and posture radiating exhaustion, regardless of his burning resolve.
"Hmm... it's not looking all too good! Where's the side characters when you need em? Emiya Shirou would definitely save the day here with his Unlimited Blade Works! Or Mizoto will use her underground contact to hire some Eminence in shadow dude to save the day in a flashy way. The loli will use her hidden skill - Summon FBI, to take the bad guys away. Truly you've got powerful teammates! But where are they?!" Merlin questions aloud in bewilderment, at the lack of presence and help of the important teammates and side characters. Grabbing his scaly face with his hand paw thing in a tragic expression and gesture.
Speaking of side characters!
-Around The Same Time-
-Ishtar Familia House-
-Middle Floors-
With our side characters, we see a bunch of unconscious and heavily injured amazons laying on the floor of the hallway The 3 Hestiateers found themselves at.
"Phew, is that all of them?" Welf voices out loudly, a little haggard and lightly injured, a shallow cut on his arm slowly bleeding. An injury he swiftly treats.
"Lili believes we shouldn't get careless in fact, We have yet to meet anyone above Level 3 or Bell-sama. It's likely Bell is confronting or has confronted most of them. I-I don't want to fear the worst for Bell-sama but-" Lili states analytically and in worry, the more she analyzes the more she convinces herself of Bell's status among the living or heavily injured more likely.
*PAT* A comforting head pat lands on Lili's head as it stops her nervous speech and argument from continuing to it's grim conclusion.
"Don't worry Lil-Lili, he's Bell! He'll be fine, you know him. Besides, he has that Deadbeat Dragon with him. Despite being a Deadbeat, we've known him to follow through with his words. 2 boons if I recall correctly? He'll be fine!" Welf calms Lili's worries with a reassuring tone and explanation meeting her eyes with a confident smirk that gives her some peace of mind.
*PAT* *PAT* *PAT* He continues to pat her head.
"ALRIGHT STOP THAT! I'VE CALMED DOWN!" Lili shouts in indignation at his continued and unnecessary patting.
"Besides, Only Bell-sama is allowed to pat me as much as he wants~" Lili whispers this spine chilling statement, that, to Welf's misfortune he heard loud and clear.
'How I pity you Bell...' Welf thought to himself after sending Lili a bombastic side eye at her chilling words.
*Step* *Step* Mikoto returns from where she was back to Welf and Lili.
"Have you finished interrogating them?" Welf questions with a serious expression and narrowed eyes as Mikoto approaches.
"Yes, it seems Haruhime-dono is in the Hanging Gardens at the top floor, Most likely, we'll find both Bell-dono and her there." Mikoto nods and relays the new information.
"Then let's get goin-" Welf states their course of action, only to be interrupted by someone.
"Going where?" A new voice echoes through the hallway, a newcomer has appeared. A familiar one, not to them of course.
Aisha, standing there Menacingly with her scimitar a serious air enveloping her.
At her sight they all get into guard and prepare.
"She's strong." Mikoto states matter of fact, voicing aloud the thoughts of them all, who on sight can tell that she is much stronger than all of them.
*STEP* Aisha takes a step forward, a second from dashing towards all of them to begin the fight, she stops at the sound of an unexpected and mystifying voice.
"Oh~? Hestia's children? What a pleasant surprise!" A sultry and calming tone of voice could make any man go wild, echoes through the room, as the current occupants of the hallway turn to see... Freya and Ottar.
*Gulp* Aisha gulps loudly at the sight, a Level 7 and his ridiculous goddess does not bode well for her or any of her Familia.
"Freya why are yo-" Aisha questions with false calm and composure, internally sweating literal buckets.
"Freya-sama." Ottar cuts her off and corrects her neutrally.
"Y-Yes... Freya-sama, why are you here?" Aisha questions nervously.
As the questioning takes place the Hestia Familia members glance at each other, meeting each others eyes with a hidden message.
Beginning to sneak away towards the staircase, beside Aisha, who can't focus on anything BUT Freya and Ottar.
Freya and Ottar notice the sneaking, but she merely smirks in amusement, letting the little followers of her favorite rabbit go and help him.
"Why? That shouldn't matter to you, my cute amazon~! It's between me and Ishtar. By the way~ Would you mind telling me where she is? It'll be much faster this way!" Freya purrs and mocks Aisha in what seems to be a cordial dialogue. Questioning the whereabouts of the love goddess.
"Sorry. I have no idea." Aisha responds apathetically and with ignorance.
"I see. That's unfortunate~! Ottar. Put her to sleep." Freya frowned in mock sadness, which promptly transitioned to a dead serious and spine shivering expression fitting a goddess of war as she ordered for Aisha's impromptu nap time.
*BANG* At her orders, Aisha did not have even a moment to blink or process the words before she got hit with a nap inducing strike, falling to the ground like a puppet who's strings have been cut.
Back To Our Hero!
-Ishtar Familia House-
-Top Floor, Hanging Gardens-
"Into the hammer and into the ground, may it bestow good fortune upon you. -Grow" Haruhime finishes her chant, a golden ball of light floating above her head, as she now moves her arms to direct it to it's intended recipient...
It flies into Bell... Causing him to glow white and feel stronger than he has ever felt in his life. Adrenaline mixed with the new power to fuel him, masks the former exhaustion perfectly.
At the unexpected outcome Bell and Samira are shocked beyond belief, Samira even more so at the betrayal.
"Well, why would you assist the one who wants to kill you, has tortured you and forced you into prostitution? The other more favorable option is to help the one who is risking it all to save you with no ulterior motives whatsoever. It's not like he wants to add you to his Harem or whatever. No, no, not at all!" Merlin analyzes and explains logically, having expected this outcome from the get go (He never expected it whatsoever) a closed eyed and dumb nodding of his draconic head to cement his utter stupidity to the masses.
'That... Makes sense? Merlin-sensei can sometimes be insightful!' Bell was easily fooled by Merlin as per usual. But you readers know better than to trust his words. Right?
"Bell, listen closely, before you commence with the unfair and brutal ass whooping. Make sure to treat her with respect. Even if she is your enemy and wishes for the worst of things humanity can conceive to occur for you. You must treat her better. Be better... On that note, make sure you aim righttttt on the face, like make that shit cave in you get me? No kissing her 10 boyfriends for a few months at least. No nonsense red potion's gonna fix that, you get me?" Merlin lectured sagely standing on both his legs as he met Bell's confused and perplexed glance, explaining thoroughly on how he should go about this. Gesturing a tiny punch towards his scaly face, causing it to cave in with his advanced body manipulation skills, looking a little goofy with that scaly caved in face of his.
"A-Alright?" Bell reluctantly agreed as he turned to his opponent who is only a few meters away
"S-SAVE ME CRANEL-SAMA I-I WANT TO LIVE!" Haruhime yells out all her repressed emotions and desires, having seen Bell's dedication and his image reflecting that of her dream. At the sight, she decides to give HOPE a chance.
"DAMN YOU HARUHIME!" Samira yells in outrage as she sprints towards Haruhime, disregarding the now dangerous temporary Level 4 Bell in favor of causing pain and misery to the Renard.
"I'LL SAVE YOU NO MATTER WHO OR WHAT IT TAKES!" Bell's passion and resolve, at Haruhime's words reignites into a blazing inferno stronger than ever before. This, coupled with the ecstasy and power he is feeling at the level boost forms a complicated expression, of confidence, bloodlust and resolve.
"Gah, that was a rather cringe one liner, 4/10." Merlin rates Bell's one liners as cringe and mediocre.
*SWOOSH* *BAM* Bell, blinks to Samira's position as he gut punches her with the strength of a Level 4.
"GAH!" She buckles at the pain and takes a knee.
But, Bell is relentless...
*BANG* *BAM* *BANG *BAM* *BOOM* Samira, in her weakness gets hit by Bell 5 times, the last one, being a powerful punch to the face, causing it to slightly cave in. As she is sent practically flying to one of the pillars in the garden, caving it in as well.
"And for good measure! Fireboltooooooooooooooooooo!" Bell yells out at the embedded amazon as he launches a firebolt to seal the deal.
*BOOM* it explodes and a cloud of smoke covers the destruction.
At the smoke clouds dissipate, Bell and Haruhime's sight catches the unconscious and burnt body of Samira, promptly defeated and mildly? injured.
"You... You just hit her with a 5 piece combo, including my requested punch and finished it off with a firebolt? Who are you and what have you done with Bell?! Actually, don't care who you are! You're much better than Bell! You can stay!" Merlin expressed his pleasure with wonder, as he recounted Bell's action with amazement and pride. Giving Bell a solid slap to the back with his tail.
"T-That... Doesn't matter." Bell says breathlessly, the white glow of the level up magic dissipating, exhausted to form any other thoughts in his head. He focuses on the last thing he must do.
*STEP* *STEP* *STEP* *STEP* *STEP* Bell makes slow and purposeful steps towards the tearful Haruhime (When did she start crying?!), who is staring at him with a mixture of gratitude, worry and... Something more intimate. Here we go again...
"Cranel-sama I-" Haruhime begins to say with a complicated and tearful expression, seemingly about to start her self deprecation routine, only to be cut off by Bell.
"You're not dirty. The heroes you and I longed for were different. Even for a prostitute, even if a terrible enemy awaits, a hero would never abandon her. The heroes I loved would be like that. Don't just decide that you're worthless, or that we can't do anything! Even if you've been tainted, even if people make fun of you, there's nothing to be ashamed of! So stop it. You are worthy of being saved. And I will save you again and again if need be! Don't you have something you want to say?" Bell, cuts off all of Haruhime's self deprecating thoughts and logic, announcing to her honestly and heartfully that she is worthy of being saved and deserving of it. A heartwarming and reassuring smile, on his face as he tells Haruhime... Of his truth. Of his answer.
At his words, Haruhime breaks out into a messy sob, managing to let out one final sentence as she jumps and hugs Bell to the ground.
"T-Thank you... My Hero!" She sobs as she hugs Bell with both of them on the ground.
"That's what I wanted... to... He...ar." Bell responded with a satisfied expression and tone, as he slowly allowed his body to relax and lost all the adrenaline that was fueling him and allowing him to stay awake so long. Falling asleep with a peaceful smile on his face. Haruhime, having taken a similar mental and physical tole as Bell did, fell asleep peacefully with him.
"And... Harem Member Number 5 Get! So worth all of this trouble right?! Now that's what I call talk no jutsu! Ahh! That takes me back! My first anime world was the Naruto world! What a sorry mess I was back then! HAHAHAHAHAH! What? Even I can develop as a character! Have you no shame thinking such degrading thoughts about me dear reader?!" Merlin comments his unwanted opinion on Bell's passionate speech to Haruhime. Floating above the hugging duo.
In this very moment, a brilliant golden light appeared, towering towards the clouds making them part and introducing Dawn to Orario drawing an end to the hectic and chaotic day for all of the Pleasure quarter and Hestia Familia alike.
"Hmm? That wasn't me!" Merlin announced to no one in particular as he noticed the golden pillar of light.
However, did you forget? There was one additional member who has shown practically zero presence through this whole ordeal. The background amazon who had to grab the knife! She was still there!
Scurrying out of her little hiding spot, the background amazon moves towards the hugging and sleeping duo. A happy expression on her face at the opportunity and easy pickings.
"Great! They're unconscious! Now I can grab them and get rewarded by Ish...Tar...?" She talks to herself, pleased as she inches closer towards the unconscious duo, only to stop in her tracks and words as she notices... Something there.
She meets the floating creatures amethyst eyes.
Suffocating and dreadful silence envelops the garden, as the background amazon begins to shiver in fear. Until...
"I am not real. I am but a figment of your imagination. I represent the rather lacking goodwill that is left in you. Deep down, you know it's better to leave these two alone. Deep down, you feel you are useless and you want to prove yourself to your goddess. But is this worth it? Are vile and sneaky pride less actions really what would make you and your goddess proud? Where is your amazon warrior pride?" The figment of everyone's imagination explains with monotone, unblinking he keeps his amethyst eyes locked with the amazon's. Making her question her own sanity.
"Y-Your right! Me! I-I'll get going!" She yells out in nervousness as she runs away from... The figment of her imagination, going towards the staircase down, only to be.
*BANG* She get's knocked out by new visitors to the Garden.
"Bell-dono! Haruhime-dono!" The first newcomer, Mikoto, notices the floating Dragon as well as the hugging and unconscious bodies of her friends. Rushing towards them in a run. Welf and Lili following her and trying to keep up.
"Of course you'll arrive after everything's over! Who could of guessed this would happen! My, how convenient~! Was this your doing, Author?!" Merlin complains mockingly and points at the newcomers, sending a growl at the Author?!
"Cut it out with the nonsense Deadbeat Dragon. What happened here?" Welf cuts off and wisely ignores Merlin's childish comments as he seriously questions the happenings here.
"Meh, they're alright! if you want to know what happened, hear it from them! I'll let you guys run damage control. I'll be off for now! Gotta get some food, I've missed dinner! So... Bye~!" Merlin waves off Welf's question and promptly leaves the aftermath and exposition stuff to them. Vanishing from there without trace, leaving the 3 Members of the Hestia Familia to deal with the hugging bodies of Their captain and Haruhime. What a drag...
"*Sigh* Merlin-sama always doing whatever he wants... We should hurry and bring both of them over to check up on injuries, they seem to have nothing life threatening but still... Mikoto-sama report to Hestia-sama. She's most likely close to or has already lost her mind, so it's best to fix the issue as soon as possible." Lili sighed at Merlin's lack of cooperation when it came to anything unrelated to Bell or interesting to him, voicing out her orders to Mikoto on their course of action for now.
"Yes, Lili-dono! You sure you don't need help carrying them?" Mikoto complies with Lili's order, but questions if she needs assistance with a tilt of her head.
"No, why do you think this guy's here for?" Lili pointed at Welf with a neutral expression and tone.
"You're talking as if I didn't fight with you guys all the way up here..." Welf grumbled in a deadpan
"We got lucky the Freya Familia drew the attention of anything and everything that was Level 2 and above! So be grateful! Also! Carry that amazon over there as well! She doesn't look too good." Lili chastised Welf for is grumbling, narrowing her eyes at him to cut off any snarky responses.
At that Welf moves to lift up 3 people. Bell and Haruhime on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Samira carried princess style.
After finishing up doing what they had to do in that floor, the 3 Hestiateers made their move to their intended destinations. Hearth Manor And The Hospital.
"And so... They lived happily ever after. The End. is what you expected but it was me! Merlin! Cya next Arc you Neanderthals! HAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA"
To be Continued!
-Author Note Start-
Finally people! We're done with the First Arc! Only the Aftermath and Intermission chapters are left before we can go to the next arc! Big hype! Hope you've enjoyed this so far, and I'd really appreciate reaching like. 10 Reviews by next week? Pretty please? Okay thanks! Bye!
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 readers, have a fantastic rest of the week/day!
-Author Note End-