Bell looked down at his palm, realizing how it was shaking. It wasn't fear. It was not worry. No, what made his body waver was the memories, the painful, agonizing ones, that he associated with Solaris. He clenched his fist before shaking his head. To some, it might be breaking them. Make them unable to focus. But the regret he felt, the sensation of his captain resting on his back as he rushed through those very depths of the dungeon…all it did was set his heart ablaze. Prepared to do his duty. To win.
Which would be easier if their 'targets' would've showed up by now. He swiped the sweat from his forehead, glancing around, checking up on his allies within this damned jungle. On the one hand, he was always a fan of nature, and it helped him fight better in a three dimensional space. On the other hand, there was a bit too much in terms of vegetation, that sometimes he lost his orientation.
"Any of you spotted anything yet?" Bell asked his Familia members, one hand resting on the hilt of his left blade.
"Not at all," Haruhime muttered, her nose and ears twitching, trying to pick up something, but was unable to. Kojiro hummed, his fingers tapping away at his own sword's hilt, looking around with narrowed eyes.
"It is strange. I can't even sense any monsters around."
Some might believe that no monsters was a good day in the dungeon. However, those individuals wouldn't know that no monsters meant one of two things. Either the dungeon was metaphorically rearing back its fist for a big wave, or an irregular creature…or someone or something caused the monsters to stay away in 'fear', if they weren't wiped out. Bell bit his lip before shaking his head slowly.
"...I don't like this. We should regroup in Rivira-"
Before he could finish the sentence, the ground shook. He saw the pebbles jump and bounce a bit, the trees themselves moving with their mighty bark. It was subtle, but this time, Bell was sure he wasn't imagining it. He and the others looked at the ground, as if trying to look through the earth, eyes wide in surprise.
"That…"
"I felt it this time too…" Haruhime muttered, her ears twitching as the vibration died down. Kojiro tilted his head, almost pouting as he crossed his arms.
"It appears someone is having fun in the lower depths of the dungeon."
Bell sent his mentor a dirty look. He at least raised his hands in an apologizing manner. Shaking his head, the captain rubbed his chin thoughtfully before frowning deeply.
"I don't think it's Nyx…or the Night Queen." He snapped his fingers, looking around. "They were spotted nearby, weren't they? If it was them, it'd be stronger."
"Do you think it's Ryuu and the others?"
At Haruhime's words, Bell considered them for just a moment, before shaking his head.
"Again, I think it'd be stronger. They only went down to the Lower Floors with the waterfalls, right?"
"Maybe Kaguya got a bit more ambitious about her task."
He bit his lip at Kojiro's words. And wasn't that worrying? Normally he had faith in his house mates, and Kaguya despite all her rough exterior cared for what her Familia wanted, what the right thing to do was. Yet normally she was not so filled with vengeance as she was these days. Part of him objected to her going down there, splitting up like the others, but he wasn't her captain. Alise was, who was correct in her assertion that the level six and the singular level seven of their alliance were most suited for quick sweeps in the lower levels. The captain herself was guarding Rivira, covering their backs so to say.
"Anyway, whatever that shaking was, we can't do anything about it, so-"
Bell didn't get to finish his sentence. His eyes were wandering idly. It was pure coincidence, as the rustling of leaves got his attention ever so slightly. Yet the random winds guided his eyes, straight into the group that they were looking for, who were perfect in their presence concealment.
His bright eyes met dull, dead ones. Time slowed down as both heads have turned, meeting each other's face fully. Bell's face distorted in disbelief and shock. Her face twitched, as if something was trying to break out, something trying to awaken. Her mouth opened, as if wanting to say something…when her neck twitched to the side, like a switch turning on in her mind.
Nyx' face grinned widely with empty, black eyes. Then, all Bell saw was the abomination of darkness he hadn't seen for such a long time. Haruhime and Kojiro both almost collapsed, the instinctual fear grabbing ahold of their hearts and lungs. Even Bell stumbled, the sensation too long ago to be used to it.
And yet.
He knew in his heart, that the person in front of him was Nyx, no matter how wrong she felt. Thus, just like back then…he stomped on the ground, taking the first step forward.
"NYX!"
The desperate cry of a mortal pierced through the twisted divinity of terror. The hooded deity clutched her head, stumbling, ceasing her aura as she hissed in agony. Bell couldn't see her eyes, but he hoped that they were not so terribly blank anymore.
Yet he never got the chance to confirm it, as Filvis grabbed her by the collar. She exchanged a look wit him, an unreadable expression…before moving even faster, leaving behind the 'slaves' to do so. Bell grit his teeth. He didn't know what Filvis' plan was. He could only hope that she wasn't acting as a triple agent of some sorts. Maybe she just wanted to separate herself with Nyx. Nevertheless…
He couldn't let them get away. Thus, with belief in his heart, he picked up the pace, dashing for it. The slaves, feeling familiar, were trying to get in his way, but with a few bounces, he got past them. Leaving them for his trusted allies, recovering from the literal shock to their systems.
Haruhime was retching, wiping her mouth before forcing herself up to her feet. Then she felt rather than hear the roars behind them. She was about to turn around, when Kojiro unsheathed his blade, raising it in her way. He glanced back at her, a smile on his face.
"We should split our tasks, should we not?"
She blinked for a moment before nodding, turning around on her feet, arms raised in her stance. She didn't know why monsters decided to appear now. It was as if Nyx, or the Night Queen, was actively keeping them away with that fear aura of hers. Either way, now they had to deal with them and the slaves. Slaves that…were familiar. Narrowing her eyes, she realized who she was facing.
So that was where the survivors of the Ishtar Familia were, the ones unaccounted for. She bit her lip in anger. The drooling, the empty eyes…the way their body twitched, as if in withdrawal. Even the vice captain, a proud level four at the time, was reduced to such an empty husk. She clenched her fists, exhaling slowly.
"We can switch, if you want to."
Haruhime shook her head, back straightened up.
"No need."
With a proud chuckle, Kojiro readied his sword himself, pushing his back against hers.
"Then I shall work on my anti army abilities."
Thus, the two members of the Hestia Familia covered their captain's back, facing the superior numbers with their superior spirit.
Meanwhile, Bell growled in frustration, as he navigated the jungle. With all the trees, vines, and what not, in the way, he could only mimic Ryuu's footwork. He got rather good at copying his girlfriend's movements, courtesy of always watching her, but it was not his natural inclination. He could not perform Earth Shrinking without a flat surface, something that annoyed him to no end. Nevertheless, even without his space breaking technique, he considered himself one of the faster adventurers in Orario. Thus, even if Filvis were to run as fast as she could, Bell would not lose he-
His neck burned, as if stabbed with thousand needles. His feet stomped into a branch, breaking it, but slowing him down just enough for him to lean backwards and letting gravity take ahold of him. He raised his right arm, covering his head.
Then, a vine swung next to him, with an object tied to it, before everything went white for a split second. His ears were ringing, almost ruptured, as a sharp pain burned his entire side, sending him flying. Rolling over the ground to extinguish the heat that hit him, Bell shot up to his feet, no matter the pain, and quickly checked himself over…hissing in annoyance and pain as he stared at his right arm.
Hanging limply, still attached, but not responding to his commands as it bled profusely with burns. That arm was useless now. Bell spat to the side, inhaling sharply as he drew his left blade, aimed at the dense jungle, his eyes quickly moving in order to trace whoever ambushed him. In response to his effort, he heard clapping, mocking to his ears.
"Pity, I was trying to take off your head. My apologies for giving you unnecessary pain."
Then he emerged, and Bell froze.
Short dark red hair fluttered in the aftermath of the explosion, the burst of wind starting to calm down. Dressed sharply in a black overcoat with golden features, the man smiled politely, with his eyes lidded. It was someone that appeared to be the picture of a gentleman.
And yet, Bell felt the urge to puke. Not because of his actions. Not because he clearly belonged to Evilus. No…it was his very face.
That smile. That dramatic bow of respect. All of it…
It was a mask. An act. As if he was looking at something inhuman trying to pretend to be human. Staring upon something that should not exist due to its uncanniness. A machine, a puppet, pretending to be a person.
It must have shown on his face, as his assailant chuckled lightly, calm and relaxed as he twirled his hand at him.
"My, such a disgusted expression. It doesn't sound a blooming 'hero' such as yourself."
"Get out of my way," Bell growled, causing his opponent to shake his head.
"I cannot do that, unfortunately. I have been given the most holy of missions after all, and I intend to live up to her expectations. But where are my manners?" He gestured at himself.
"You may call me Vito, o great 'super rookie'. My apologies but…I shall hold you here. Nothing personal, you see? Just doing my duty."
Bell spat to the side, clenching his hold on his weapon. Nothing personal? He was certain he felt the same level of disgust from him that he had for Vito. The lying type was always the type Bell couldn't stand.
He would not fight straightforward. The sneak attack with the explosive just proved it.
"How respectable," Bell drawled, drawing on the tone Solaris would use when being sarcastic. Rolling his shoulder, he pointed the tip past Vito's shoulder. "Since you aren't facing me, I could just leave."
The man blinked, before scratching his chin, as if genuinely surprised.
"Hm, yes, but you wouldn't do that. After all…" He smirked, a hint of his true nature coming to the surface with its raw malice. "I could also just go after your allies and cut their throats open, no?"
"...Hah?"
The air distorted with pressure, with heat rising as Bell felt his heart race increase, its beats drumming up the magic within him. Vito cackled, his own blade drawn at this point before pointing at him.
"Ah, there we go. An expression suiting someone like you. The brave hero such as you wouldn't dare, leaving a villain like me alive hahaha!"
Bell cracked his neck with an exhale, trying to calm down at least a bit. Still, he looked past Vito, snarling a bit.
He couldn't see Nyx anymore.
So he had to leave it to Alise. To Filvis. The ones at the surface.
"Fine. I play your game then. But you have to excuse my lack of manners…since…"
His feet cracked the ground. As he leapt through the air, Vito was raising his own weapon already, face prepared with a mocking grin, as Bell shouted through the air.
"I'm kind of in a hurry!"