Phyrne yelled in pain and grabbed the stump of her hand. The other Berbera were shocked at Bell's arrival. They all drew their weapons, ready to fight.

Bell stood there, Mikoto on his back. His left shoulder was dislocated from stopping Mikoto's fall. Haruhime sat behind him, chained to the ground.

Pyhrne's severed hand laid on the ground next to the shattered killing stone and ceremonial dagger. He had stopped the ritual. Mikoto was still on his back, her breathing steady. She was only unconscious. Who knows how much worse she could've been had Bell not caught her?

Bell's breathing was heavy and shallow as his shoulder kept shooting pain through his body. It was starting to annoy him immensely.

"Now I'll ask again. Who's next?" Bell asked.

The other Berbera looked amongst themselves. They didn't even sense Bell or see him move until he was already in front of them. He was a strong man, and strong men are what amazons liked. Who cares if he was on 14? His strength only scared them a little bit.

No, the only thing they felt right now was the urge to bed him and have long nights full of passion until a baby popped up. Only to then do so again and again.

But before the fight could begin, a whimper stopped them.

"Just go," Haruhime whimpered.

Bell glanced at the fox girl out of the corner of his eye. What did she mean by that?

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

A Berbera saw her chance and laughed herself at Bell. She thrusted her spear forward, aiming at his abdomen.

Only for a quick swing from Longclaw to cut the spear in half and a kick to the side sent her flying away. She slammed into a wall at high speeds, causing the stone to crack and for her to fall unconscious.

"I don't deserve to be rescued. Just leave me."

Bell tilted his head to the side and glanced at Haruhime in confusion. Did she want to die? If so, then why?

"Do you want to die?" Bell asked.

Haruhime kept crying as she answered. "No. But I don't want anyone else to get hurt. That's already happened to Aisha and now Mikoto. It all ends the same."

Bell glanced over to the head of the Berbera known as Aisha. She looked at him with an uncomfortable gaze, which Bell found odd. If Aisha tried to save her, why didn't she try now?

"I wouldn't necessarily say that. You just haven't had the right person come along." Bell replied.

His shoulder throbbed in pain, but he ignored it. Another Berbera charged at him, and Bell blocked the dagger.

His knee met her stomach, and the pommel of his sword met the back of her head. The Berbera's eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she fell to the ground.

"It doesn't matter. Even if the right person did come along, I don't deserve to be saved. I'm tainted, impure. Just leave me to die." Haruhime wept.

Bell dealt with another Berbera by severing her Achilles tendon, causing the Berbera to fall to the ground screaming in pain. Bell curb stomped her to shut her up.

He jumped back and dodged Phyrne's great axe that shattered the ground where he previously stood.

"Ah, you damn little brat! I'll fucking kill you for what you did to my beautiful skin! Me, the great Phyrne!"

Bell rolled his eyes and dodged again. He made sure Mikoto was still tightly on his back so she wouldn't get hurt anymore.

Bell parried Phyrne's axe downward before slashing her across the face. This seemed to further enrage her as she began to swing wildly.

Her axe slammed into the stone where Bell once stood, causing rubble to go everywhere. Bell summoned an ice wall to use as a shield against her. The stone pelted the ice, yet it did not break.

Bell could see the ugly toad's silhouette through the ice. Her axe was already barreling toward the ice. Bell maneuvered around her as she shattered the ice wall, hoping to cut his head off.

But Longclaw had already found its way into her knee. Phyrne yelled in pain as the blade popped her kneecap out, rendering the leg as useless.

Bell severed her Achilles tendon on her other leg, rendering the ugly woman immobile. Seeing as she couldn't move now, Bell stabbed her in the gut before slamming his pommel into the back of her head.

Haruhime kept crying. She wanted Bell to leave. He was already hurt enough. She knew from experience that a dislocated shoulder hurts like hell.

Yet he was still fighting with one while having Mikoto. Her beloved childhood friend on his back. She could see the small flashes of pain on Bell's face, yet he kept fighting. For someone like her.

She didn't know why he did. She wished he'd stop and let her die. That was her fate as Ishtar's toy and sacrifice.

"Please, I'm begging you. Just leave me here. It's what I deserve."

Bell just groaned. "Will you shut up about that!"

Haruhime looked at the boy in shock, as did the Berbera. Wasn't he supposed to be saving her?

"It's getting pretty annoying hearing you beg to die. Honestly, where's your will to live? So what if you're a prostitute? I don't give a shit. Neither does Mikoto. Do you want to make Mikoto sad by dying so soon after reuniting?"

"B-but I'm tainted! I'm dirty! Impure! Why would you save me? Someone you don't even know."

"I don't care about any of those things! Just because I don't know you doesn't mean I need to save you! But I won't stand here and listen to you wallow in self-pity!"

Bell slashed an amazon down the chest, causing her to stumble. He kicked the side of Samira's leg hard, causing it to break. His pommel met her forehead, causing her to fall unconscious.

"But you need to make a choice! I've already said this to somebody else, so I'll say it to you. At the end of the day, it's your life! You decide how to live it! Not the Berbera. Not that bitch Ishtar. Not me. You!"

Bell dodged another attack before kicking the amazon away into the wall.

"So hurry the hell up and make your decision! Do you want to wallow away in misery, waiting for a death you know will be miserable? Or do you want to live and be with your friends again?"

Bell parried Aisha's greatsword away before kneeing her in the face. She stumbled back, and Bell pressed his advantage. He swung down, but Aisha blocked it.

"I will not make this decision for you! After I rescue you from these Berbera and you still want to die, you're welcome to jump off these gardens if you want!"

Bell kicked Aisha in the ribs and headbutted her. She stumbled back, and Bell pressed his advantage. His slashes were hard and fast, and Aisha could barely keep up. Tiny cuts were appearing on her skin as her defense couldn't keep up with Bell.

Bell swung down once more, his sword hitting Aisha's hand. Pain shot across it, causing her to drop her sword and see Bell's at her neck.

"Surrender." He said.

Aisha looked over to Haruhime, who was still crying. Her body shook with sobs, and her kimono was disheveled and had fallen around her shoulders. Her hands were clasped to her chest, and her ears were pressed against her head.

"I can take you away from this Haruhime. All you need to do is ask." Bell told her.

His blade was still at Aisha's throat, which aroused the amazon. He so easily disarmed her and now made demands that she surrender. She licked her lips in excitement.

"P-p-please t-take me away from here. I-i-i-i don't want to be here anymore!" Haruhime cried.

Bell swung his sword down and cut the chains binding Haruhime down. Once the chains clattered to the ground, Haruhime got up and hugged Bell. Causing the boy to wince as she touched his shoulder.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Haruhime apologized.

"It's fine. Just need to pop my shoulder back in," Bell winced.

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"Lord Poseidon. We're about to reach Orario," Beatrix said.

Poseidon stroked his beard as he looked out the window. It didn't take them long to reach the dungeon city. Being able to fly high above the sky had its perks.

"Beatrix. What's that smoke coming from the pleasure district?" He asked.

Beatrix walked next to her god and stared out the window. Her eyes widened in shock, seeing the smoke.

"That's fire, my lord."

"Hmm, I see. Tell the helmsman to take us above the district. Inform Baldur to have Leon and the other elites to be ready. I want that district locked down and secured by the time the sun rises," Poseidon ordered.

"As you wish, my lord," Beatrix bowed.

She ran off to carry out her orders as Poseidon remained where he was. He stroked his beard once more before sighing.

"Why do I have a feeling you're involved somehow, Bell?"

A bright yellow light then shot to the sky, bathing everything in its brilliance. It lit up the nights sky, almost giving it the impression of day.

Poseidon's eyes widened in shock and horror as he knew what that meant. A god was just sent back to heaven.

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Bell put his fingers to his mouth and whistled. He waited a few seconds before Bache appeared at his side. She looked around at all the unconscious Berbera as well as Aisha.

She saw Mikoto, a girl who earned her jealousy, lying unconscious in the fox girl's lap. She had to respect the girl as she ran head-first into danger despite being weaker than everyone else.

Such a thing took courage, and it was something Bache respected a great deal. She looked over to the boy who saved her from Kali and unintentionally captured her heart.

"I take it everything went well?" Bache asked.

Bell nodded. "Yeah. Went peachy. Now, can you help me with this?"

Bell gestured to his dislocated shoulder, and Bache got the message. She walked over to him and grabbed his arm.

"This is gonna hurt. Are you ready?"

Bell took a deep breath. "I know. Just get this over with so I can-

He was cut off as Bache suddenly kissed him. He was caught off guard but didn't have time to think as Bache popped his shoulder back into place.

"Shit! Damnit, that hurt!" Bell yelled.

Bache pat him on the back as he groaned in pain. "It's alright. The pain shall subside in a moment."

"Hmm, I hate it when something dislocates. Goddamnit"

Once the pain subsided, Bell took a deep breath and calmed down. The pain went away, and he could think more clearly now.

"So what's the plan now?" Bache asked.

"Wait for the fighting on the street to subside. After that, we head-

He was cut off once again as a bright golden light bathed the sky in its brilliance. So bright was it that many thought the sun was out. But once everyone saw the pillar of light going to the sky, they knew what it meant.

A god was sent back to heaven. But the ones in the pleasure district knew who it was. Bell looked over to Belit Babeli and saw the goddess of beauty, Freya, standing on the stairs.

He saw her lips move, and she uttered three words, which caused his eyes to widen.

"From a friend."

She gave him a wink before turning around and walking down the stairs as her words played back in his mind.

The letter he found when Silver was just an egg in the snow. Was it Freya that gave him his dragon? She had the means to do so. As a goddess of beauty, her natural charm could get her anything she desired.

"You know people will still come after her, right?" Aisha said.

Bell turned to her. "I know. Whatever magic she has, they'll want it. But they'll have to go through a lot of people before they get to her."

"That's some big talk coming from a kid. You ready to lay down your life to keep her safe?"

"If needed, yes. But I don't plan to die."

Aisha smirked. "Then I leave her to you."

The sounds of engines filled the air as the wind picked up all around them. Bell looked up and saw the Education district flying over them. He saw someone jump off the airship and land directly in front of him.

In front of them was a tall blonde man whose hair resembled that of a lion's mane. He had piercing yellow eyes that radiated power and further solidified the lion-like appearance. He was dressed in silver armor with a long sword at his side.

The man smiled at Bell while the boy paled.

"Ah, Bell, so good to see you again. I know Beatrix and Delta will be delighted to see you as well," The man playfully said.

"Goddamnit, why are you here, Leon?" Bell groaned.

Leon chuckled before taking a look around. "Well, for maintenance, of course. However, I didn't expect the pleasure district to be on fire when we arrived. Care to explain why that is"

Bell shrugged. "Freya familia attacked Ishtar's. No idea why."

Leon put his hand to his chin. "I see. Well, it looks like things will be interesting for Poseidon."

He looked around the roof once more before smirking. "Say there wouldn't happen to be members of your harem your Grandfather taught you so much about?"

Bache quirked an eyebrow while Haruhime blushed. Mikoto was still unconscious, and Aisha licked her lips.

"I fucking hate you," Bell growled.

Leon chuckled before walking over to the blushing Haruhime. Looking at him, she had to admit he was quite handsome. He crouched down next to Mikoto and pointed at her.

"Is it alright if I heal her a bit?" Leon asked.

Haruhime nodded, still blushing and thinking about his comment. Leon raised his hand above Mikoto and started chanting.

"Midnight maiden, I request your aid. Give me light and purge the darkness. Moon's Fall"

A small light filled in Leon's hand as his magic was cast. Small dots flew toward Mikoto and attached themselves to her wounds.

After a few seconds, the lights went away, and all of Mikoto's wounds were gone. Bache looked to Bell, wanting an explanation, which he gave.

"It's a healing spell. Leon uses it as a sort of spirit healing. Asking the maiden of the moon to provide him with life."

"But wouldn't the sun be a better representation of life since it helps crops grow?" Bache asked.

Bell shrugged. "Hey, I don't make the rules about magic."

Bache giggled. "No, you just break them."

Bell smirked. "Exactly"

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Once the attack on the district was finally over, Bell carried Mikoto to the Twilight Manor. He instructed Bache to head to the Takemikzuchi home and inform them of the situation.

He was escorting Haruhime back as well. She would need a safe place to stay because Bell didn't know who else would be coming for them. It was also the reason he was bringing Mikoto as well since Haruhime didn't want to leave her side.

"Um, Master Bell-

"Just Bell, please. Hearing that master stuff makes me feel weird. Or you can do what Mikoto does and call me Sir Bell."

Haruhime nodded. "Ok, Sir Bell. How do you know Lord Poseidon and the knight of knights?"

Bell sighed before answering. "Well, they're technically my uncles."

"Uncles?!! How?"

"I come from a village to the far north of Orario. It's nestled deep within the Halfdan mountain range. It's a land of always snow and cold. In this village are the remnants of the Zeus and Hera familia's. I was raised by Zald and Alfia. Or, as you would probably know them, Gluttony and Silence."

"But why would they raise you?" Haruhime asked.

Bell sighed again. "Because Alfia was my mom's sister, and Zald was my dad's best friend. Along with them, I was raised by Zeus as my Grandpa and sometimes Hera as my Grandma. She was always busy with administrative work in the village, so I didn't get to see her much."

Haruhime stood there in shock and awe. The Zeus and Hera familia's were real-life heroes, and the son of the two strongest was standing right in front of her. She was talking to the descendant of real-life heroes.

"So how would Lord Poseidon and the knight of knights know you so well?" Haruhime asked.

"Well, despite Poseidon being my Grandpa's brother. They've tried for pretty much my whole life to get me to go to the education district. But Alfia always told them no, and I also didn't want to go either."

"Why not? It seems like an amazing opportunity."

Bell chuckled. "Yeah, it is, but it's not something for me. Besides, I already had good teachers growing up. That's why I'm really good at fighting, even if it pisses my aunt off."

"Why does it make her angry? Shouldn't she be glad that you know how to defend yourself?"

"You would think. But if Alfia had her way, I'd never pick up a sword. But circumstances made her change her mind."

"What type of circumstances?"

Bell readjusted Mikoto on his back before answering. "The kind I need to be ready for. Oh look, we're here," Bell said, dodging the question.

Bell made the gate guards wave him through after avoiding all their questions. He made his way to Loki's office before kicking on the door a couple of times.

After a few seconds, she opened it and stared at Bell.

"I knew you were lying when you said you were gonna take it easy. Set her on the couch and tell me what happened." Loki said in an exasperated tone.

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Mikoto was lying on the couch with Haruhime next to her. Loki sat at her desk while Bell was standing across from her.

She was pinching the bridge of her nose in annoyance.

"So let me get this straight. You snuck into the pleasure district to save the hot fix girl over there. But unknowingly walked into a war between Ishtar and Freya, which you participated in to save her?"

"Yeah, pretty much sums it up."

Loki sighed again before chuckling. "Damn, Zeus really did beat a heroic drive into you. Well, I'm not mad you did a good thing, and as long as they can't prove you were there, we shouldn't get fined."

"So, can they stay here for a while? Others will be coming for Haruhime's magic. Which I have no clue what it is."

Bell turned to face Haruhime, and Loki looked at her as well. Haruhime felt a little nervous at having to reveal her magic. Last time someone found out about it, she was thrown into a life of slavery. What would happen if she revealed it now?

But Bell's comforting smile told her she would be alright. So she confessed her magic.

"I have the ability to level a person up for a short period of time. Depending on how high my magic means, the time limit for it increases. The higher it goes, the longer it'll last."

Bell's eyes widened while Loki's jaw dropped. This would explain the discrepancies with Ishtar and her familia's levels. The reason why people thought she wasn't telling the truth was because Haruhime made them a level higher for a short amount of time.

Bell turned back to Loki. His eyes filled with worry. "Loki we-

"I know, I know," Loki sighed before speaking again. "Haruhime, I'd like you to join my familia. I can provide you around-the-clock protection, and I promise to treat you fairly and with kindness."

"Also, if you join, I can protect you better," Bell added.

Haruhime didn't even need to think about it. Her hero was here, and she didn't want to leave his side.

"Of course. I do request, however, that I be allowed to visit Mikoto as she's a dear childhood friend of mine," Haruhime asked.

"That's fine. Just make sure to bring someone with you. At least a level four, which ol Bell here happens to be the best of friends with. Isn't that right?"Loki joked.

"Oh yeah, your brother Baldur's here, by the way. Have fun with him."

Loki's head slammed onto the table, and an annoyed groan was let out. "Uh, great. Now I need to listen to him talk about how education is very important for kids and blah blah blah."

"Yeah, and dear old Uncle Poseidon is here as well. Can we go back to Melen and avoid them?"

"Nope. We're needed here for the expedition planning. Besides, Kali might try and kill you if you go back there. She was pretty pissed when you took Bache away from her."

"Right. Well, anyway, the Takemikzuchi familia should be here soon. Think it's time Haruhime had a fabled reunion."

Like clockwork, the door sprung open after Bell said that. When the far eastern god and his two familia members spotted Haruhime, they rushed her and enveloped her in a massive hug.

Bell smiled as he watched the reunion. Watching it, however, made his thoughts wander to a blue-haired goddess who his aunt had saved a few years ago. He wondered how she was doing.

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Artemis stood atop a cliff in the Kaios desert. It overlooked a trading route used to transport slaves and other commodities through this great sand sea.

Artemis and her familia were waiting in the canyon and above. The moon shone high in the sky as Artemis and her familia of elite archers waited.

A few minutes later, the sounds of camels and voices were heard.

"Come on, keep moving! You worthless sacks of shit won't sell for anything if you're dead!"

A crack of the whip and a scream rang out as they drew closer. Artemis grit her teeth in anger as she saw the slavers come into view.

The strongest slaves were carrying items, while the weakest ones were left in cramped cages with dozens of others.

The cages were dirty and way too small for the amount of people shoved inside. They wore rags and were skinnier than they should be.

Artemis took a deep breath to steady her heartbeat before pulling back her bowstring with an arrow notched.

She waited for the overseer to come into view, and when he did, she loosed the arrow. It soared through the air before impaling itself into the overseer's throat.

He flew to the ground and started choking on his own blood as the rest of her familia fired. It was a slaughter on the slaver's side as they were caught off guard.

They didn't even have the chance to fight as volley after volley of arrows rained down on them. By the time the fifth volley ended, the slavers were dead. Leaving behind the slaves and the merchandise they were transporting.

"Free them and get them food and water. Medical corp, check on the ones inside the cages and work your way down from there!" Artemis ordered.

A chorus of agreement was heard as her familia jumped out of the shadows and began freeing the slaves and tending to the wounded.

Artemis looked out into the vast expanse of the desert. She knew freeing these slaves was only a drop in the bucket. Truth was, she'd never be able to free all of them. There was just too much distance to cover.

But if she could free some of them and give them a better life. Then that's what she'd do.

A small smile appeared on her face as she remembered the small nine-year-old white-haired boy from Hearthome. She'd know he would try and save all of them even if he was by himself. That's just who he was.

She had met him after the boy's aunt had saved her life. At first, she shooed him away as even if he was a boy, he was a man, and men couldn't be trusted.

But a growl from a dire wolf and a death glare from boys said aunt made her change her mind quickly. She got to know the boy and knew of the nightmares that plagued his mind.

She knew what was coming, which is why she was recruiting as many of the slaves as she could. Even swallowing her pride and allowing men to join her once all-female familia.

Which seemed to have gone over well, to her surprise. She expected them to be brutish and all muscles, but she was pleasantly surprised when they didn't act how she would think.

Instead of brutish and cocky. They were kind and caring. Even settling into relationships with some of her female members. She remembers when the first couple announced themselves, her captain Rethusa gave her a smug smirk.

But she always held a weariness to men. Except for one.

Well, I think I'll end this one here. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the somewhat fight scene of Bell beating the Berbera.

Artemis made her appearance, leading an anti-slave revolt of sorts. Haruhime joined the Loki familia, and she reunited with her childhood friends.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you later.