Part IX-

With golden eyes she watched from the ledge of the cliff that served as their team's momentary safe haven from the battle. A place where the Loki familia could regather themselves, apply aid to those who needed it. And yet, out there on the other side of the battlefield lay Bell, motionless with the elven woman. She watched Tiona drag him out and Ryuu carry him to safety, her chest tense and focus on solely that.

If she took one more step, she'd fall. But she could leap, let the wind carry her to his side. But what would that accomplish? That was what she wondered. It was a hard truth that crept up on her.

Then she saw the elven woman bring her lips to Bell's. An attempt to bring life back.

"No." The voice in her head grew into panic at the sight. "Bell.."

In her being there was a sensation that she felt. Standing at the ledge of grief, she took another step causing a stone to tumble, as she watched.

"Wake up. Bell, wake up." Her fist clenched at the sight.

What could she do? What could she do?
Except to stand in place and watch the elven woman try so hard to save his life. The tension in her chest took her breath. From the corner of her eyes she saw the monster rage towards them. And so she gripped her sword. The black flame pulsed with life within her. Wrapping itself around her heart.

And then Bell breathed. Though the black flame still attempted to retain it's grip, she too took a breath in. The majority of the time it was still.

As the eleven woman darted to the monster, the battle continued as she led it away from Bell. Preparing herself to join in, she was stopped by a familiar voice.

"What do you think you're doing?"

It was Bete. They locked eyes and she didn't need to say anything for him to understand that it was no use to convince her to take more time to recover.

As she summoned the wind, it wrapped itself around her, lifting her up into the air and towards the battle down below.

"Suppose you can't really blame her, can you?" Gareth spoke as he lifted his Grand Axe over his shoulder standing guard over Finn. "But of all people why aren't you out there? I thought you wouldn't want to miss out on this."

Bete shaked his head as he took a breath in from his nose. "Go fight in that cluster? Yeah right. Pretty sure Tiona would end up hitting me instead of that damned thing.."

He took a pause and his eyes went from the ongoing fight to the area around them. Trying to catch ahold of something.

"Eh? That's not the only thing. You're thinking of something else." Gareth asked.

Bete starred at the opposite end of the floor that leads one step closer to the surface.

"I got that thing's scent only when we first found it. And if it was buried under all of that rubble-..."

The entire way down after the safe point the corridors were filled with a scent not natural to the Dungeon. A scent At first Bete assumed it was from the stranger, who had a rancid air to him. Though it wasn't until he met the smith, Jai, that he noticed the same smell on him too.

"Oh, I don't like how that sounds." Gareth asked reluctantly as he shifted uneasily in his boots.

"Then what is it that you're suggesting, Bete?" A youthful voice said groggily as he struggled to sit up. Wobbling all the way up. His face was still pale and his face looked like he was still in pain, and still he managed to stand on his own two feet as he leaned against his spear. "But before we go any further into that topic, how are we faring against that monster?"

"Are you sure you should be standing so soon? Your innards were very determined to give us a warm welcome not too long ago." Gareth added faintly surprised of his captains return to consciousness.

"I'll be fine for the time being." Finn offered a reassuring glance to Gareth only to turn his attention to Bete. "Well?"

Bete took a few seconds, his eyes squinted in a glare at no particular thing before rather a thought that worked itself in his mind.

"What was that deadbeat, that Aiz found, running from?"

Not too far away from the Loki familia, the renard's ear twitched.

Everything was a blur as he reached to rub his eyes to get a better view. Even the sound was muffled as the water hadn't drained from his ears. Even his chest felt light, unrestricted more than usual. As he sat himself up, leaning on one arm, his head weakly scanned the environment.

There was something out there. He couldn't tell what. But the sensations that wrought them upon him felt like the worst feelings in the world.

"Master Bell!" A muffled voice shouted, from where he couldn't tell.

"Master Bell is over here!"

Blinking a few times, his vision slowly got clearer but not completely. With this slight improvement he saw a figure running towards him with a large shape on their back.

"Lili?"

Leaning on his injured side, the pain shot up and through his body causing him to fall flat on the ground coughing up the remnants of water and blood in his lungs.

Amongst the footsteps that ran towards him he was able to hear two sets. Would it be Haruhime? Welf? Mikoto?

"Stay still." The unfamiliar voice said as they dropped down to one knee and raised their hand over his chest. Their voice sounded femine but also stern, careful and calculated. Though it wasn't Mikoto, no this had to be-..

"Riveria?" Bell said weakly as he tried to lift his head. Blinking his eyes, her face slowly became less of a blur, and sure enough Nine Hell was kneeling beside him.

Immediately she lowered his head forcefully.

"I said stay still. It's a miracle that you're not dead." Riveria said firmly.

"But why are you-?.." He tried to say only to be cut off by Riveria.

"You said it yourself, we're in this together. It'd also be a shame if you'd go and die when a certain someone is out there fighting for you." Riveria said as if admonishing him like a mother would for his recklessness that put someone else in harm's way instead of him.

"Certain? Someone?" Bell tried to turn his head to look only to have Riveria reach out once more to bring his head center. "I've got to-.."

Bell tried to get up when his ears picked up the sounds of the battle raging on.

"Stay. Still." She said firmly.

"Is Master Bell going to be ok?" Lili asked from behind.

"He will." Riveria said calmly then she began chanting and there began to be an unusual sensation that spread through his body. It was warm, and the pain that wreaked itself on his insided vanished. Finally he felt that he could take a deep breath in and so the air filled his lungs where he could feel the haze in his mind lift and his eyes opened wide.

"They're still fighting." Bell tried to get up.

Riveria placed her gloved hand on his shoulder keeping him while she chanted. She wasn't finished, nor could she stop mid chant. As he laid back down he turned his head to find multiple blurred figures in combat with the monster. All he could do was watch.

She dove in for the attack, the Juggernaut left itself open and she used the power of wind to thrust her through the opening. Swinging her right sword then her left, they streaked through the air. The swords successfully struck the wounded underbelly that Bell had initially dealt. As she slid underneath, she blocked a strike from the claws of the monster, sending her into a slide.

But that alone wasn't going to be enough. Which is why she felt a ping of gratitude for not fighting this fight alone.

"Jeesh, that thing is vicious!" Tiona said as landed beside Ryuu.

"No kidding. To think Aiz held that thing off for ten floors." Tione said as she landed on the other side of Ryuu.

Both were bloodied, but they made no fuss. To the amazon twins this was just another challenge.

"We need to finish it quickly before it gains that wound heals." Ryuu said plainly.

"Then allow me to aid you." A voice rang, one smooth and elegant. With a gust of wind it revealed none other than Aiz as she landed beside them.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be resting?!" Tione yelled, obviously not pleased with her teammate's disregard for her own health.

It was there at the edge of the cliff where she watched Bell lay lifelessly, and as Ryuu did everything in her power to save him, Aiz couldn't help but feel something mournful fester within. Despite breathing new life, she wasn't there for him.

"I'm fine. Consider me well rested." Aiz said plainly, as she drew Desperate.

"Agh, you're gonna get yourself killed you know that?" Tione groaned in exasperation.

"Woohoo! This one's going down in the books!" Tiona cheered with a joyous leap up, quite the opposite expression from her sister.

"Then let's not waste anymore time." Ryuu declared.

Four of the greatest female adventurers leapt into action with Ryuu leading the charge in what could only be described as a series of events beyond comprehension. With the wind against her back, she leapt and slid into a curved path under the legs once more striking the underbelly. Desperately trying to keep that wound from healing.

As the Juggernaut prepared to strike, a decisive blow rang out from it's left with Tiona swinging her Urga with massive force that sent shockwaves through the dungeon floor.

"Nuh-uh! Not on my watch!" Tiona shouted, preventing the Juggernaut from striking Ryuu.

Ryuu slid clear of the danger zone and came to a stop on the ice. There she saw the twins at work. Tione swung and deflected strikes with her Zolas. The metallic sounds rung through the air with each hit.

As she blocked with both Zolas in hand, she thrust upward leaving the bottom of the monster's head clear and open for an attack. Seizing the opportunity Aiz swept in. Before she could swing her sword, the monster swatted away Tione from it's left front arm, impacting Tiona sending them both away with a surprised scream.

It was either attack and be attacked, or defend while losing a prime opportunity. She had no choice, while the black flame inside screamed for blood and for revenge, she couldn't give in. She wouldn't let it.

Bringing her sword up in a block, she narrowly managed to block the attack and divert its force away from her but still she slid. Using the wind she came to a stop and hovered just about the ice. As she hovered there ever so briefly, there was one word that could describe her gaze. She glared at the monster as it stood there staring at her. Waiting as it bore its claws into the icy surface.

"Very well." Aiz said as if coming to an understanding with it.

Lowering herself down to the surface of the ice, she began a steady walk towards it that turned into a jog, then an all out sprint.

That was because it wanted her. The adventurer who thwarted it for ten floors and survived. Denied the ability to perform it's one duty. To kill. Once it was done with her, then it'd move onto the rest. The elven girl, the white haired boy. It would take the strongest. The ones who caused it the most trouble. Then make quick work of the stragglers. Once it finds the root cause of it all, it'll slay it. Then it'll have served its purpose. Yes, it's purpose. To kill those who dealt such great harm to the Dungeon. It's home. It's mother.

It scrambled on it's three legs into a charge forward. It's eyes deadset on her as it drew closer.

With the wind blowing against her back she sped even faster then she swung.

She missed. Her blade pierced nothing but air.

"Wha-?" The word didn't get out of her mouth as she felt something squeezing pressure around her waist. Looking down she was soaking in red with the jaws of the Juggernaut clenched around her waist from her right flank. It had dodged and immediately when for her exposed side as she swung. Then it squeezed.

Bones snapped and a metallic taste appeared in her mouth as the monster lifted her body off of the ground.

Her eyes still drawn down, she met its glowing red eyes watching her. Waiting for the sheer expression of terror to draw itself upon her gorgeous face, it never came.

"Reckless." She quietly admonished not herself but the monster. Swinging her sword to a reverse grip she thrust the blade into the Juggernauts eye. Immediately releasing her she fell to the ground in a solid flop. Leaving her in the wake of its flailing tantrum of pain and anger. With each step, it slammed down it's claws, each time narrowly missing her as she quietly layed there.

The sound of it's raspy cries and shrieks filled the dungeon floor. If it were any other monster, one not as much of a threat, it'd be considered inhumane to watch it continue in pain. But this, this was something else entirely and deserved no mercy.

As the Juggernaut drew it's claw up, Aiz watched as if it were all in slow motion as it prepared to come down right on her. She wasn't concerned, not in the slightest. In the tremors that shook the ice she felt something else amongst it. Footsteps.

Her allies were coming.

"Together."

In that moment it was as she believed, the entire monster was struck away by a massive blade. Followed by the swinging of an axe. The shriek of a magic sword. And finally the crack of what sounded like a whip.

"Bell."

Bell slid in front of Aiz, thrusting his arm out causing the Goliath scarf to uncoil with the tip of it wrapping around the handle of Aiz's sword, Desperate. With a solid yank, he held the Sword Princess's sword in hand. A sword that has taken a number of monsters that it is unfathomable. As the Juggernaut charged forward to him, it brought its claw out to strike.

He raised not the sword, nor the Goliath Scarf, instead he covered them both with his robe. A fury of ice and fire roared towards them and under the surface of Bell's robe they were blind. The ice and fire screamed its way to the monster only to ricochet off of it's magic barrier. All Aiz could see were the lights from the outside peaking in reflecting off of Bell's rubellite eyes. There was a stillness in this moment as all they could see were each other.

A series of sharp and hard impacts rang out in the Dungeon and the monster cried out. Some from an axe, others from swords.

"Just where do ya think you're going?" An angry young man called out as the scene played out around them.

As if on cue, Bell swung up his robe handing Aiz back her sword and turned to the monster. In his hand he gripped the Hestia knife, and with a gaze of utter determination as he saw the battle before him.

Welf built a wall of ice with one swing from his magic sword, forcing the Juggernaut into an assault from Gareth with his Grand Axe. It blocked and blocked each of Gareth's strikes. Desperately it stumbled and leapt away from the battle.

"Don't you think you can get away that easily!" Gareth shouted with a war cry, he turned and noticed Bell standing there. "Go get 'em Rabbit Foot!"

Wasting no time, Bell darted off with speed Aiz hadn't seen. It was there that Aiz noticed the faint glow around his body and separate more intense glow around his arm. Her eyes tracked him and led to the elven woman, she too was glowing. In the distance, she heard the faint incantation being cast.

"Grow.."

Catching up to the Juggernaut, Bell could feel the wind cut at his face. In a series of movements that were blind to the normal eye both Bell and Ryuu struck and cut the monster. Again and again. They lost count of the strikes and the time that had passed. Wearing it down until finally they saw it. The opening they were waiting for.

"Ryuu! Now!"

Bell on the ground darted underneath, where Ryuu took to the top of the monster's body. Ryuu's boots scrapped against the hard surface of the Juggernaut's body where she thrust her blade in between its body and head. Underneath, Bell swung with all of his might to the wound that he created from before and the wound that everyone helped prevent from healing.

The Hestia knife shimmered in the dungeon light as it bore itself deep into the shell of the Juggernaut. The monster squirmed in pain, defiant of this being the end. With the blade of the knife halfway in, he thrust it upwards and twisted the blade prying the shell open. Freeing his one glowing hand he swung his fist to the crack and dared not to look, instead his weary but determined eyes held to somewhere but focused on no particular thing.

"Argonaut!" Bell's voice roared through the dungeon only to be overwhelmed by the sudden blast.

Ryuu leapt from the blast, as the Juggernaut was engulfed in a blinding light. Landing just a distance away from it's head, there she prepared waiting for the light to settle.

Underneath, Bell uncoiled the Goliath Scarf to Ryuu and she pulled him out from under. Where he came to stop by her side out of breath and exhausted. And there before them, weakly stood the Juggernaut, a force to be reckoned with, unyielding. But there was something different, it's armor was gone. This was her chance to finish it.

Beginning her chant, she leapt forwards up into the air, then she swung with streaks of wind cutting through the air. The monster staggered back with each blow, attempting to swipe and block each attack. But it couldn't withstand the attacks. It's bones creaked, and a raspy growl rumbled the air so deep that all could feel it in their chest. Slowly it's shell cracked and it's body groaned as it strained to keep itself upright. As she traveled forward, she landed on it's head with both of it's eyes staring at her in full view. Placing her swords at the base of its neck in a cross, she paused for a moment with unspoken words solely for the monster to understand that she had every intention of keeping her promise.

"You will die by my hands.."

Sliding the swords severing the head from the body. Flipping back in an arc back to Bell, she landed gracefully on one knee sheathing her swords. Watching the red light of life fade from the Juggernauts eyes as it's head falls to the floor with it's body initially reluctant, it followed with a wobble and crashed to the floor with a thud.

There they waited for the ash, and finally it came. The skull of the Juggernaut was the last to fade, offering a final glimpse of the face that caused so much terror.

It was done.

It was over.

Ryuu fell to her knees beside Bell, both utterly exhausted borderline trembling despite Haruhime's boost. Leaning their shoulders against each other their labored breaths continued as Ryuu looked up to the heights of the dungeon as if in prayer of her fallen comrades.

After taking a few moments in silence, they held each other, slowly making their way to the makeshift safe haven with the participating members of both teams behind them as they led the way. It seemed funny for the two, how this was the longest trek of all. With exhaustion set in, their legs were fueled by determination to join the remaining team that awaited them. And at the top stood the Loki Familia Captain.

"You did it.." A seemingly youthful voice said in awe and admiration.

Finn stood in the center near the scattered supplies of the teams. He stood weakly leaning on his spear with a few of his teammates behind him. His wounds have been healed, leaving only the red staining his clothes and the tears on them. But despite his physical weakness he stood determined to personally commend Bell.

"No.." Bell said, his voice littered with exhaustion as he leaned with Ryuu at his side. Giving her a thankful warm glance, his eyes fell to everyone else both in front and the members behind him where the Bell's team stood mixed with Finn's own.

Bell blushed as a faint breath got caught in his throat. He truly felt that he couldn't take all of the responsibility for their success. For in the end, both Bell and Ryuu operated with the knowledge in mind from their last encounter how to slay the monster. It was effective, that was all it needed to be. In turn, with Bell's team, it lessened the load, and even more so thanks to the spontaneous addition of the Finn's team pitching in. Genuinely so, he knew that without everyone this wouldn't have been possible.

"We all did."

The already cheerful smile on Finn's face grew even more.

"You really are something else, Bell Cranel." Finn said.

Regrouping at the small camp that Bell's team setup for the Loki familia, they tended to their wounds by sharing healing spells and potions. After all, this was a joint operation. Sitting in a circle surrounding a breathing flame, they gathered for warmth. Particularly Bell and the amazon twins after having been submerged in the water.

"Egh, now my hair is going to get poofy!" Tione murmured in disdain as she desperately tried to wring out the water that soaked into only to fall her face into the palm of her hands, she released a muffled groan.

"Stop moving." Riveria groaned as she straightened Tione up who whelped as her hair was pulled.

Behind her Riveria was brushing her hair in a sort of motherly fashion. Beside her Aiz tilted her head watching Tione get her hair brushed, paying too much attention to the act of service that it seemed that Aiz was a little envious of Tione. "What do you say, Tione?"

"Thank you.." Tione grumbled.

"Not to me.." Riveria said sharply pointing to Lili who face immediately looked surprised and nervous as if she didn't want recognition.

"You don't have to-.."

"Thank you." Tione grumbled as the bristles tugged on some knotted hair. In the background Tiona was vicious shaking her head like a mutt whipping out whatever water remained in her hair. Seemingly satisfied with herself she sat down with a giant grin.

"So, why did you even bring a hair brush anyway?" Tione continued after her sister's eccentricities finished.

"Uhh, well the last time we came down here it was our expedition-.."

Lili went on to explain their previous adventure where they encountered the Irregular Moss monster, which in turn led to more water after pursuing Ryuu. That was at least one of the discussions that was held around the fire. Amongst it all, Bell and Ryuu remained silent as they sat next to each other.

Their eyes glanced over every single one who was present. Checking off names off from a mental list and double checking just to be certain. Everyone in some way was exhausted or wounded. With grime and old traces of blood still remaining, everyone showed some effort that had gone into today. As they made their rounds, both Bell's and Ryuu's eyes stopped at each other's.

"Everyone is here." Bell said softly to Ryuu.

"Mhm.." Ryuu softly said as her sky blue eyes shimmered from the firelight. T

Saying those words lifted an enormous weight from his chest and his face began to grow hot. The weight of the Juggernaut's presence terrified him. After everything that he and Ryuu had gone through some time ago, he didn't want anyone else to go through that, but in the end it was because everyone played a massive part that they were all able to sit there. It was because of that he felt so happy where his body didn't know what else to do with itself other than to let tears swell up in his eyes.

With Ryuu at his side, he knew how much of a feat that was.

"Oh Argonaut, are you ok?" Tiona said immediately noticing his expression.

"Huh? Yeah, I'm good. Smoke just got in my eyes." Bell said as he wiped the tears away.

"You should say, 'I hate white rabbits'! I hear that always wor- Oww! What was that for?!" Tiona offered only to be smacked in the back of her head by Bete.

"You were doing that thing called 'talking.' Shut it, you're giving me a headache." Bete growled as he turned away from the group.

"What's with you, you're acting like you're on guard or something?" Tione offered in defense of her sister. "The thing is dead, you can drop it."

Bete took a deep breath in through his nose as he starred off into the distance of the dungeon. The expression on his face was one of contemplation and confusion, that and frustration.

"Don't mind them, it's how they usually are." Finn said with a gentle gaze to Bell and Ryuu, as he cherished the moment. "It's very important for everyone to relish this moment."

Bell simply nodded in agreement, where that was nothing more he could add to that.

"Yeah..

Bell's eye glanced over to Aiz, where their eyes locked briefly. Any of the tension in his face suddenly faded as a relaxed smile grew on his face. Though it was not a sentiment reciprocated as Aiz briefly turned her gaze to the woman sitting so close to Bell, only then for Aiz to turn her view away. Was it the firelight on her face that made her skin seem red, or was she blushing?

The thought or idea left him confused.

"What? Is something wrong?"

"So are you gonna tell us what you found down there or what?"

The one who broke the casual silence was none other than the bullheaded supporter, Lili. Immediately the Loki familia froze or slowly came to a halt in whatever it was that they were doing.

"Lili, just what are you doing?" Haruhime gently shrieked. She tried to reach out to Lili, who simply shook her off. Leaving Haruhime with arms frozen in front of her in defeat.

"Look at them!" Lili said, pointing her finger. "You see that look and tell Lili that they didn't find something."

With all eyes trained on the Loki familia, Finn glanced at Lili, one that expected no less from her. A woman forever perceptive of the subtleties that people try to hide. As he turned his eyes to Riveria, her eyes simply spoke that there was no other choice.

In these seconds, the air was frozen, perpetually still even as the flames flickered.

"You are right." Finn sighed as his eyes dropped to the flames. "We did find something.."

"See. Master Bell? Lili was right!" Her face was taught, it must've been something that she had caught onto once the dust had begun to settle after the battle. Though Haruhime's face looked as if she too had some intuition that something was being kept from them.

"Did you ever intend on telling us?" Bell spoke, his normal youthful and naive tone was gone, in it's place was that of the leader of the Hestia familia.

"No. I personally did not want to."

"How could you say that? I thought we were working together?" Bell spoke in disbelief.

"Bell, you and your team's directive was to stand guard here and wait for us. There was nothing-.." Riveria began to explain, trying to sway the conversation in their favor in place of Finn's contemplative silence as his eyes held onto Ryuu's.

"Evilus." Ryuu said plainly and as coldly as possible with her eyes locked on Finn. "You found members of Evilus down there."