Bell tried to keep in high spirits, but knowing that an entire town was most likely dead didn't help with that fact. It also didn't help that Matthew was on his seventh mug of ale and wasn't slowing down.

"Matthew I know you said you had a bad dudgeon run, but don't you think this is a bit much?" Syr asked with clear concern. Matthew just smiled back at her.

"Itsh fine, I'm fine." He giggled. "Need to calm te nervesh ya know?"

"Yeah, magic man saw something messed up in the dungeon. I'll make sure he doesn't go too far Syr." Welf piped up.

"Bell. How close are you to level three? I need to level up tonight." Matthew slurred. That had actually caught him off guard. Matthew had specifically told him he was going to wait at least a month before leveling. This entire situation must have been a lot more worrying to him than Bell had initially assumed. It did make him wonder what Matthew's life growing up was. He was a good person, so how could his family be so bad.

"I should be able to reach level three in a few weeks at this rate." He said as several people across from the dining room burst into laughter.

"Ah so the Little Rookie is almost level three huh?" A snooty voice cried from across the room as Bell's eyes met a blonde pallum in a suit matching another table in the back. "I don't care if they call you the record holder, you should really stop lying to everyone."

"Wha-"

"You're just a cowardly little rabbit that runs from everything aren't you? That's how you leveled up. And the other member of your familia is just as cowardly huh? Runs away from the dungeon to play with corpses and once he returns he's so scared he needs to get himself drunk. How pathetic. And don't even get me started on that failure of a goddess you have." The little man ranted. Bell was furious. It was one thing to insult him, but to insult Matthew and his goddess?

"Just ignore him Bell." Syr said rubbing his shoulder. It wasn't easy, but Bell dismissed the jerk and turned back to Matthew, who was laughing his head off for some reason.

"Ahaha you look ridiculous! A bowl cut and that silly suit? What are you a dress up doll or something?" He giggled. Thinking about it, Bell had never seen Matthew drunk so he was quite surprised this was how he acted. The pallum for his part was completely caught off guard by the casual insult and Matthew's unfazed response to being insulted.

"How dare you! This suit was designed by Apollo-sama himself and he said my haircut makes me look handsome." The pallum scoffed which only prompted Matthew to laugh even harder.

"You really are a dress up doll! Haha Reduce." He said casting a spell on the man to make him even smaller. The jerk who was about four and a half foot tall before, now only stood a foot tall in height. Matthew then picked the man up by his arms and picked him up as if he were a toy. "So what was that you were saying about my goddess little guy?"

All of the sudden Matthew became very intimidating as he held the tiny man against his will shifting him into a single hand with his thumb pressing against his head, threatening to crush the pallum. This prompted a group of men across the room wearing identical suits to jump into action. Three men charged their table while a fourth sat back with a bored expression. Two of the servers jumped between the groups ready to stop the fight, but that only prompted Matthew to laugh harder.

"Do you really wanna pick a fight when I got Dolly with me like this?" He taunted pressing his thumb further into the pallum's neck making him cry. The three men paused, unsure of what to do before quickly surrendering.

"Fine fine, we'll back off. Just put him down alright." One of the men pleaded as Bell watched Matthew in terror. Matthew looked as if he thought this was the funniest thing in the world and he had never seen his vice captain be so terrifying.

"You want your dolly back? Here." He said tossing the screaming pallum across the room for his familia member to catch. Only when the man tried to catch the tiny pallum Matthew canceled his spell returning the man to his normal size causing both of the Apollo familia members to fall to the ground rising another fit of laughter from Matthew.

"Alright that's enough!" Mia said grabbing Matthew by the head, stopping his drunken laughter cold. "I'll overlook this one time since I saw those other guys were the ones instigating, but if you ever do anything like that again you're banned for life. You hear me?"

"Yesh Mia." Matthew responded meekly.

"And you lot! Try to pick fights in my restaurant again and a mage will be the least of your concerns." She threatened.

"We're sorry Mia." One of the Apollo familia members said before the group made their way out of the hostess leaving only one behind. Last member, a man with chestnut hair fashioned into a ponytail made his way to Bell's table much to the apprehension of Mia and the servers.

"You're going to regret that." The man said ominously before leaving himself.

With the rest of the night going smoothly Bell went home to tell Hestia everything that happened. Hestia wasn't exactly happy to hear that they not only went to the eighteenth floor, but was too tired to argue. It also didn't help that shouting at Matthew wouldn't have done anything given that he was passed out. The next day however was a surprise to Bell. Matthew decided to stay home and study his magic, Lili was spending the day with him and Welf was doing somethin with his own familia, so when he was approached at the guild by two members of the Apollo familia he was alone.

"Bell Cranel right?" A redhead with short hair asked. After Bell nodded in response she continued handing him a letter, "I'm Daphne Lauros and this is Cassandra Ilion, we're from the Apollo familia here to give you an invitation."

To his surprise they actually left without further incident. Returning home from the guild he gave the letter to Hestia.

Bell hadn't expected to be dressed up in a suit at the Apollo familia mansion just two days later. Apparently Apollo was already hosting the next denatus and had invited the other gods to bring a mortal from their familia. Bell, being the captain, won the honors by default, though he did bring Pride along with him.

The manor was lavish and bright and all the other guests were dressed in very fancy clothing. Bell wasn't sure what to do in the company of so many gods, goddess' and powerful adventurers so he just stuck by with Hestia and Pride. While the gods were mingling amongst themselves Bell watched as another god approached them with a strangely familiar woman at his side.

"Ah Take! How have you been?" Hestia said with a smile. Take however didn't return the smile and looked rather distressed.

"I've been well Hestia. However I wanted to talk to you about something that has happened between our children." Take said, sending a disapproving glance to the girl at his side who shrunk under the god's gaze. It was then Bell recognized her.

"You're the ones who threw the pass parade at us!" He cried in disbelief. Both Take and the woman bowed in response to that.

"It is to my greatest shame that my children did that to you. We wish to make it up however we can." Take said.

"I'm so sorry Bell." The woman said. Bell wasn't quite sure how to respond. Ultimately the only harm that came out of the ordeal was the initial fall Matthew took and it allowed them to uncover the destruction of Riveria, but it was extremely reckless and it could have seriously hurt or have killed them.

"We're fine, so I can't be too mad. That said, what you did was extremely dangerous." Bell chided. He would have continued, but she looked really sorry. Also he couldn't continue to berate her with the look she was giving him. Bell was weak to cute girls after all. Before they could continue, the tapping of glass could be heard.

"Welcome one and all to my home. And I see you've all brought your beautiful children with you! Now now, enjoy the the party!" Apollo shouted as music began to play. At this point many mortals and their accompanying gods made their way to the middle of the floor to begin dancing. Hestia grabbed Bell's arm seemingly wanting to dance as well, but Loki had called out to the two of them before she could.

"Bell... Hestia." She said like she was trying to swallow something bitter.

"Loki, Wallenwhatsit." Hestia responded in an equally puckered manner.

"So... Rivira? What happened?" Loki asked. With that the mood immediately soured. Everyone in Orario was apprehensive about the news.

"Matthew's father did it apparently." Hestia said. Loki seemed confused, so before she could ask Hestia continued, "He can make those undead like Matthew and knows lots of strong magic apparently."

"But why would Matthew's dad attack Rivira?" Loki asked. Prompting Hestia to shrug.

"Maybe he's trying to build an army?" Bell interjected.

"Undead are too weak." Aiz said immediately in response. And she wasn't wrong, even Silver was kind of weak in comparison to Welf or him.

"Well unless we find where he's hiding there's nothing we can do about it right now." Hestia sighed.

"We'll help you keep an eye out Hestia." Loki reassured. "How's Matthew responding to that?"

"He's taking it rather poorly. He's been either studying his magic or 'power leveling' in the dudgeon." Bell said. In fact he wasn't sure Matthew has slept since. The morning after they returned from the dungeon he saw Matthew reading his spellbook when he would normally be asleep.

"Moh, what a mess." Loki whined, "Well, if you need help with this you know where we are."

"Ah Hestia, Bell! I was looking for you." Apollo said from behind the two of them, "I'm sure you're aware but your child hurt one of mine quite badly recently."

"What are you talking about?" Bell asked. The only time they had even touched one of Apollo's familia was when Matthew tossed the pallum. Something that could hardly qualify as 'badly hurt'.

"My poor precious Luan was cursed by that dreadful spellcaster of yours and your brutish friends threatened my children." Apollo claimed. "I want fair compensation for your transgressions and I think Bell will do."

"What? That spell wasn't a curse, I've had it used on me before!" Bell fervently denied. Several gods were starting to surround the commotion and he wouldn't stand for such slander.

"I understand that you wish to defend your friend, but how can you argue with the facts!" Apollo said with a wide sweeping gesture as the pallum from two nights ago limped towards them covered in a ridiculous amount of bandages. "I won't stand for this! Hestia I declare a war game!"

"Apollo be serious! We know you're lying." Hestia groaned.

"Doesn't matter! I declared the game, dare you deny this game?" Apollo asked smugly.

"Are you serious Apollo?" Loki interjected, "The entire population of Rivira has disappeared and you want to declare a wargame?"

"Now now Loki. I understand tensions are high, but surely you must understand that Rivira was full of second and third level adventurers. This is a task for the likes of you and Ganesha."

"Well I'm workin with Matthew to catch the ones who attacked during monsterphillia!" Loki barked.

"And once I defeat Hestia's familia you can have the spellcaster." Apollo dismissed.

"Caw caw caw!" Pride screeched from Bell's shoulder.

"How dare! You vermin!" Apollo snarled.

"Caw sqeee"

"Pride, it's fine. Apollo we aren't going accept this game on such ridiculous grounds. A larger familia like yours should have more dignity." Hestia snapped.

"Very well, but be prepared for the conscience of your decision." Apollo snapped.

"Caw Caw."

"Hestia get that bird out of my house this instant." He snarled in response.

"Bell, Pride, let's just go home." Hestia moaned in disappointment. The two left with great disappointment. When they did get home they saw Matthew sitting on the couch in the exact spot they had left him. Eyes red with dark circles under them he looked to the two of them tiredly.

"Hey, sorry the party went poorly." He said before returning to his book. "So what now?"

"We ignore them for now. And you mister need some rest." Hestia admonished.

"I'm fine Hestia." He tried to wave off.

"No, you're going to bed right now." Hestia commanded. Matthew, being visibly exhausted didn't give further resistance and everyone went to bed.

"You fucked up idiot! Fireball!" Bell heard Matthew scream from across the house accompanied by a loud boom. As quickly as he could Bell threw on his armor and grabbed his knife before running towards the front door only to see it smoldering in flame.

"Matthew what's going on?" Bell asked as he looked out of the new hole in their house seeing twenty other adventurers standing on the roofs of adjacent houses. Amongst them was a blond elf who began to chant.

"I don't know, these guys just blew up the front door for some reason. Counterspell!" Matthew said as the adventurers attacked. "Get Hestia over to the guild. I'll hold these guys off."

No wanting to argue Bell ran back into the house to grab his goddess running past a groggy Medior and Lili. Bursting into his goddess' room he saw a unfamiliar man trying to grab her. Jumping into action, Bell immediately attacked the intruder forcing him to let go of Hestia to dodge. Bell didn't allow him to rest as he struck at the man with a flurry of stabs and slashes. The intruder tried to retaliate with his own weapon, but he was unprepared, allowing Bell to stab him before he could unsheathe his weapon.

"Bell what's going on?" He heard Medior shout from behind him.

"Looks like Apollo's goons decided to attack us. Stay here and lay low. Matthew and I will take care of this." He said assertively grabbing his goddess in a princess carry. "Goddess, I'm taking you to the guild."

Jumping out the window holding Hestia Bell looked back to see how Matthew was doing. Currently his vice captain was twelve foot tall wielding one adventurer as a weapon against the others with several buildings around them on fire. Lili was there at his side launching crossbow bolts at the spellcasters trying to hide in the backline as well. Deciding that they would be able to handle themselves Bell made a beeline for the guild.

His efforts were interrupted by more of the Apollo familia however. As he ran down main street holding his goddess the ponytail man from the bar before attacked him suddenly from behind. Setting Hestia down, Bell reached for his knife only to be beaten by the man before he could even react.

"You really should be honored that Apollo-sama wants you. Stop resisting and no further harm will come to your pathetic familia." Ponytail sneered. Bell didn't dignify the man with a response, instead raising his knife once more.

"Wait stop!" Hestia cried, "We accept your war game."

"Heh, I knew you'd see things our way."

Just two more days later Hestia watched in anticipation as her precious children ran across the castle being used in her wargame. When she was discussing the terms of the wargame, the form of the game was decided by random draw and she had the terrible misfortune of that draw being a siege. Apollo having the greater number of children insisted on being the defender, but to Hestia's surprise Pride insisted twice as hard.

"You know Hestia, I didn't expect you to gather more children just to hand them over to me. That was very generous of you." Apollo mocked. After the war game had been properly declared Welf Crozzo and Yamato Mikoto both approached her in order to join her familia. Welf because he wanted to stand up for his friends and Mikoto because she wanted to make up for leading a monster party into her children in the dungeon.

Hestia tried to ignore him as best as she could. She knew the plan and all she could do at this point was to watch it unfold. Medior made long cloaks to hide the identity of her children, and while they didn't do much to hide the undead, it should allow for the plan to work.

"Say Hestia, care to tell us why your putrid little bird wanted to defend? Those pathetic undead won't make up for the fact that my familia outnumbers yours thirty to one."

Again Hestia ignored the god as she watched the walls of the fortress. The victory condition was to hold the fortress for three days, but the open gates made it very clear her children had no plan to hold the fortress. On the outer walls stood a dozen cloaked with one standing out. Though none of the gods watching the game could see his face, Welf stood guard on the walls with his massive sword in hand. It wasn't long before the walls were peppered with the arrows of Apollo familia members. Welf ignored the arrows until his opposition were gathered close enough before raising his arm, commanding the undead to do the same.

"What is that child doing? Won't he get to cover?" Apollo asked immediately before the view was engulfed in flames as Welf and every single undead on the south wall activated their magic rings. The Apollo familia archers tried desperately to escape the torrent of flame, but only the higher level adventurers amongst them had managed to escape the blast. After the flames had petered out it was reveled that three members of the Apollo familia had passed on to the heavens as only husks remained. Apollo for his part had gone dead silent, no longer taking this game lightly.

The initial assault of the Apollo had broken immediately as the rest hid themselves amongst the terrain not wanting to bear the brunt of another flaming assault. Hyakinthos however charged the wall faster than Welf could react, leaping above the wall and hitting Welf right off. With Welf down the walls were as good as undefended the rest of the Apollo familia made a break for the fortress. Lissos, Daphine and Cassandra followed Hyakinthos up the walls however the rest of their familia, being unable to scale the walls as easily as them, made way for the undefended gate. The gate was not undefended however. Before the gate stood a cloaked man with another, shorter cloaked figure by his side.

"Fireball." The man said calmly as flames burst forth from his hands forcing everyone who could to dive out of the way. By the time the attackers had recovered from that unexpected spell, the two had disappeared. Venturing into the fortress the were assaulted on all sides by undead. Though they weren't difficult to deal with on their own, the monsters were being supported by adventurers that would attack them before once more disappear into a sea of brown cloaks.

On the other side of the fortress the spearhead of the Apollo familia searched for Bell. If they had defeated the Hestia familia captain they would win immediately. And to their surprise they found Bell rather easily. Considering their commander was the only one in the building not wearing a cloak, it only made his shining armor and white hair stick out that much more.

"It's over Bell. Your pathetic resistance is over." Hyakinthos said smugly with all of Orario save three certain goddess' believing his claim. Hestia watching anxiously knowing what was about to happen, Loki analyzing the wargame with a keen eye, and Freya, who knew Bell's secret. Save those three, all of Orario watched in confusion as Bell turned tail and bolted inside without a word.

Quickly chasing the boy, Hyakinthos and the three level two adventurers behind him gave chase. The three chased Bell at a rather leisurely pace. As far as they were concerned, they had already won. That belief cemented even further as Bell had trapped himself in a dead end.

"Why don't you just surrender Bell. Save us the time. I promise Apollo will treat you well." Hyakinthos said smugly as he levied his sword at Bell. Bell in response said nothing as he drew his knife. Lissos, Daphne and Cassandra simply sat in wait as Hyakinthos made his move. The fight wasn't even close. Bell didn't even stand a chance as Hyakinthos beat him senselessly. However, so absorbed in the one sided beatdown before them, the Apollo familia hadn't noticed the only door in the room closing behind them.

"Well. Why hasn't the game been called? I've won." Hyakinthos asked angrily as he looked down upon the bloodied form of Bell. Bell, bleeding and broken mumbled something on the ground. To those who had been paying close attention however whould have heard the defeated commander say false life four. And as those words were uttered Bells face began to shimmer as it was replaced by a chuckling Matthew.

"Good Game." He said with a sinister grin as the members of the Apollo familia tried to attack him, but they were too late. "Cloudkill."

The world watched as the room filled with a disgusting yellow gas forcing everyone in the room to begin violently coughing. Immediately Cassandra and Daphne tried to force the door behind them open, but unlike those spectating the event, they did not know that behind that door Welf, Lili, Mikoto and the real Bell were holding the door closed. Lissos and Hyakinthos tried to attack the Wizard, but no matter how hard they hit all of his wounds kept healing. It didn't take long for the effects of the poison to take it's effect. First Daphne fell, then Lissos, next was Cassandra, and finally Matthew fell causing the poison cloud to fail.

Thinking the Apollo familia had fallen Bell opened the door only to see the opposing captain still standing, even if in rough shape. The opposing captain raged as he spat at the Hestia familia. "You cowards!"

Before Bell or anyone else could react Hyakinthos had struck at Bell. Only thanks to his opponents sluggish body had Bell been able to avoid being impaled then and there. In retaliation Bell, Welf and Mikoto all took the chance to strike at the man while his guard was wide open.

Meanwhile in the spectators room Apollo could only watch in horror as his favorite child was ruthlessly beaten. Slowly he turned to Hestia with a pitiful look on his face as if to beg for mercy as the game was called. Hestia however had no interest in mercy. "You know what this means don't you Apollo." Hestia said with a sadistic glare.

"Please Hestia be reasonable." He pleaded. However Hestia could not be reasoned with.

"Everything. Everything you own is now mine. And your familia is to be disbanded." Hestia laughed madly.

"I thought you said no disbanding familias." Pride piped up.

"He declared on us. It's different." Hestia dismissed.

Mathew M Mathers Lv 2

Strength I 0 - I 24

Defense I 0 - I 67

Dexterity I 0 - I 23

Agility I 0 - I 10

Magic I 0 - H 132

Skills

Arcane Spellcaster VII - Rather than drawing from a pool of mind to cast spells, user expends spell slots. Ritual spells do not expend spell slots. Chants do not expend spell slots, functions as if Arcane Spellcaster is not in use

Available spell slots - I (5) II (4) III (3) IV (2) V (1)

Spell slots recovered via long rest or study of spellbook.

Arcane Student VI - Ability to learn new spells up to tier V through study of spellbook

Arcane Tradition Necromancy I - Necromancy comes naturally. Study of spellbook reveals necromancy spells quicker, ability to cast necromancy spells as if they were one tier lower.

Magic Sense - Ability to detect nearby sources of magic passively

Spells

Firebolt (cantrip), Light (cantrip), Mending (cantrip), Message (cantrip), Minor Illusion (cantrip), Toll the Dead (cantrip), Cause Fear (I), Crumbling Dead (I, ritual), Expeditious Retreat (I), False Life (I), Find Familiar (I, ritual), Ice Knife (I), Identify (I, ritual), Protection from Good and Evil (I), Shield (I), Sleep (I), Tasha's Hideous Laughter (I), Alter Self (II), Arcane Lock (II), Binding Ice (II), Continual Flame (II), Crown of Madness (II), Invisibility (II), Life Transference (II), Sightless/Soundless (II), Wither and Bloom (II), Animate Dead (III), Bestow Curse (III), Counterspell (III), Fireball (III), Fly (III), Glyph of Warding (III), Life Transference (III), Remove Curse (III), Spirit Shroud (III), Blight (IV), Ice Storm (IV), Secret Chest (IV), Cloudkill (V)

Command Hatred (V, chant, incomplete) "Old rivalries, bad blood, hated enemy, destined foe. Let rage flow through your veins, an endless sea of fire. You are mine, my wrath yours"

Bell Cranel Lv 2

Strength F 352 - E 403

Defense G 276 - F 300

Dexterity D 521 - D 556

Agility D 578 - C 610

Magic F 337 - F 355

Skills

Ultima Speranza: Greater growth as long as feelings persist

Spells

Booming Blade - "Let lightning strike my foe, true as blade"

Lightningbolt - "From darkened clouds, a flash of light. Blinding bolt a star at night. My heart beats as a drumming thunder. Dancing lights command the sky as rain and tears fall. Light of the gods burn the unworthy. Wrath of the gods Lightningbolt.

Heyo, sorry that chapter was awkward to write. I wanted to include the war game, but in the anime it spread the course of multiple days. In the anime it transitions pretty seamlessly, but I wasn't quite sure how to do that. Sorry if it's an awkward read.

In other news, I was job hunting and got a new job recently. It will take some time to adjust to my new schedule, but hopefully I'll be able to keep to my schedule of a new chapter every two or three weeks.

Thanks a million to everyone that reads this.