Dungeon Oratoria Online

by asdf1asdf1

DOO is the first game to be created in a long awaited category, a VRMMORPG. Follow Kirito and co as they seek to clear out the depths of the dungeon located beneath the city Orario. However, this game is no mere entertainment, it's a real world, where death in the dungeon means death for your body. The only way they can escape the game is to clear the bottom floor of the dungeon.

49. Chapter 45

Author's Note:

Wow, what a year.

I never would have expected my writing volume to decrease quite as much as it did. Nonetheless, I hope this chapter meets some expectations. I did not manage to fit everything I wanted to inside ou it, but that happens sometimes.

This chapter, as I mentioned prior, is the finale of the "first half" give or take of this epic adventure these characters have found themselves on. While I know the ups and downs have disappointed and frustrated many, thank you to everyone that stuck with it to reach this point.

A lot more I could say, but what I will mention is that do not expect chapter 46 right away, I should do some more outlining first so that I can make sure everything lines up nicely for the second half.

Have a fantastic 2022,

-asdf

---

Chapter 45: Heroic Desire

Part 1 – An unstoppable force

Mikoto:

"We did it…" Mikoto sighed in relief, allowing her magic to fall. Collapsing to her knees, Mikoto struggled to contain her laughter.

"Aisha?" Samira muttered. Her face stared disbelievingly at the flare that signified her familia's withdrawal. "No… NO!"

"Don't be such a sore loser," Rain berated the amazon. Standing up, the red-haired idol had a giant grin on her face as she wrapped Mikoto in a tight hug. "You were incredible!"

"You too!" Mikoto replied. Adrenaline pumping through her veins, the exhaustion of holding her magic was but a distant thought.

"The Apollo flag should be delivered right away and after that—"

"You don't understand," Samira moaned. Clutching at her face, the distraught amazon looked like the world was ending around her. "You've ruined everything. Haruhime's sacrifice was preventing a far worse outcome."

"What?" Mikoto criticized. "How dare you say that about her! Haruhime is my friend and—"

"And she is nothing before a goddess' jealousy!" Samira spat. Her eyes were wild with fear as she stared down Mikoto. "Ishtar would rather burn the world down than see Freya on the throne. It is all over now."

"What has she done?" Rain demanded. Dragging her nemesis by the shoulders, Rain yelled at her. "What is happening!?"

"She calls it the Bull of Heaven… I'm sorry."

"Stop apologizing and tell us how to defeat it!" Rain raged, shaking the amazon still.

Samira just collapsed in on herself. "…You can't."

"Huh? What do you mean we can't? If we just break its magic stone…"

"You can't." Samira cut her off. Falling back to the ground, the amazon curled over her legs. "It was built to fight the heroes of old."

Rain sniffed, dismissively waving a hand at Samira before turning to Mikoto. "Let's meet up at our base with everyone and return to Orario. If we work together we can—"

"Didn't you hear her?" Mikoto asked, pale faced. She had been in Orario long enough to remember the days of old. The feeling of watching a first-class adventurer walk by. The strongest people to ever live. If this monster could go toe-to-toe with one of them then Samira was right—they were all going to die.

"Tch," Rain frowned. "Don't you freeze up on my as well. If we go in with a plan then we can win!"

"What's the issue?" Sachi asked as she and Bell limped over. Both of them were in rough shape from the fight with Ishtar familia. On the plus side, they were doing better than Leafa who deserved an insane amount of credit for her stalling of Ishtar familia.

"Mikoto is right," Bell spoke, his eyes hooded. "We don't have a high enough levelled adventurer to deal deadly damage."

"What!?" Rain frowned. "Screw levels! There always has to be a way to kill a monster!"

"Sometimes there isn't!" Bell raged. His rubellite eyes were shadowed with sorrow and terror. "Sometimes you throw everything possible at a monster and it… It endures."

Mikoto shivered in understanding as did Samira. Rain and Sachi were clueless as outsiders. They didn't understand. How could they? It was impossible to understand without firsthand knowledge.

"So that's it then? We had a nice life, good working with you? Screw that." Glaring at her familia members, Rain let her disappointment wash over them. "If we are going to die then I'll die in combat fighting for those that I love!"

"Rain…"

"Urgh… So loud. Are we fighting?" Leafa began to pull herself off the ground with shaky movements. "Help me up and let's get moving."

"…Hahaha!" Samira laughed loudly. Slapping the ground, she got up. "Never thought some girly-girl would remind me of being an amazon. Oi! You lot! It's time to go die!"

A wave of confusion passed through the amazons that were still bewildered at the fact they had resigned for some reason. Massaging their sore joints from the gravity magic, they nonetheless stood up as Samira commanded them to.

"I think the monster was getting dropped off near our flag. Catch you on the otherside, Princess."

"H-Hold on!" Mikoto called. "You are going just like that? We need a plan at least!"

"Nah. The more I say the more afraid you will be. No point in living in fear. If I had to speculate… I would say this is our last chance to kill it. It was sleeping for some reason. Let's use that."

Jogging forward, Samira led the group of amazons toward their flag. Most of the members looked like they were following because Samira told them to rather than appreciating what they were doing.

"Well?" Rain asked. "Are they fighting alone?"

Mikoto groaned, the fatigue of her magic catching up with her. "No. We need to put our lives on the line to protect the city of Orario."

---

Strea:

"…Up!"

"—ke up!"

Eyes fluttering, Strea was certain she was hearing something.

"Wake up!"

"Ahh!" Eyes shooting open, Strea jumped somewhat. In front of her was Yui. The young girl grabbing her shoulders. Placing a hand on the ground, Strea could feel the soft grass and hard bark of a tree pressing into her back. "Where—"

The memories rolled through Strea's head. She had gotten the unpleasant task of meeting the Ishtar troops in combat. Unsurprisingly, she had gotten steamrolled by a large number of the berbera on their way to claim the Hestia flag.

"Did we win?" Strea asked instead.

"I… I think so." Yui frowned, looking distressed. "Ishtar familia resigned, moments after I felt… something."

"Something? Yui, you can't just… Oh." Strea's face paled further as she understood what Yui meant. It was like the world was warping around a not-so-distant point. Energy flowing to a convergence that should not exist.

"Heal me." Strea begged. "Get a guild employee from the edge and heal me."

"Y-Yes!" As Yui dashed off North, Strea put a hand on the tree she was leaning against and pushed. Her body groaned, but she rose. She felt an aching welt on the side of her head where the Ishtar members had knocked her unconscious. The rest of her body was in decent condition as they ensured they wouldn't accidently kill Strea and lose.

"Ugh," grunting, Strea stumbled into her first tentative step. This… It would take awhile. Her right leg had taken a bad hit and was half lame. Limping along, a normal person could have moved faster.

Struggling to move, Strea was not worried about Yui. The girl would be able to find her. After all, they both knew where the sensation was coming from. It was like nothing Strea had felt before. She didn't understand what was causing it or even how she was sensing it.

Carrying on, Strea felt her path adjust every other second or so. The thing was moving slowly. Making its way South toward Orario.

"Hurry up, Yui…" Strea sighed. Almost before the words had finished leaving her mouth, Strea heard sounds from behind. Turning to look, Strea felt the giddy feeling rise up that she always got when she saw Kirito.

The boy looked only a smidgen better than she did. He had clearly been in a long and hard fight leaving him with only half a sword. Accompanying Kirito was Aisha, two guild employees, and two adventurers from Ganesha familia.

"Ahaha…" Strea was unable to come up with any of her standard quips. Despite winning, she knew it wasn't the time.

"Strea!" Kirito rushed over. "You can barely walk! I… I'm sorry this happened."

"This is nothing. We won, right?" Unable to help herself at Kirito's desperate face, she pretended to stumble. Letting him catch her, Strea whispered into his ear. "You remember your promise, yes?"

"You, you were serious about that?"

"Of course!" Strea giggled. "I plan on taking full advantage."

Kirito gulped. His ears were turning red as he understood the implications of the promise Strea wrung in return for her role in the wargame.

"I thought this was urgent…" One of the guild members said, shifting uncomfortably. "The game is still going on and—"

"It is!" Yui interrupted. "There is something scary over there!"

Frowning that her precious time with Kirito was cut short, Strea disengaged and nodded the affirmative. "We need to get over there."

"Is this what Samira tried to tell me about?" Aisha muttered. It was Strea's first time meeting her, but Strea assumed Kirito had been able to win her over as he had hoped.

"What happened?" Kirito asked, turning to her.

"Nothing… I thought Samira was trying to tell me about what Ishtar did to her but… I wonder if I didn't pay enough attention."

"Nothing we can do now." Kirito sighed. "And you will only give us elixirs if we resign or prove that there is a risk beyond the game?"

"Correct." The guild member wilted somewhat.

"Sorry, Strea, but you're a little too slow on that leg."

"Eh?"

Strea didn't have time to react before Kirito swept her feet with his left arm. Letting out a cry as she fell backwards, Kirito's strong right arm supported her back.

"Sorry, about this!" Kirito apologized as he took off in a run. The group tried to keep up, but the guild employees got slowly left behind as Kirito loped along.

"Hehe, I have the feeling we are walking into an incredibly dangerous situation but I'm just so happy right now!"

"What are you talking about!?"

"Nothing!" Throwing her arms around Kirito's neck, Strea leaned her head against his chest and tried to forget about the growing threat in her mind.

That, of course, was impossible.

"While you deserve a nap… I need to know where I'm going."

"The Ishtar flag… or where it used to be." Using only one arm, Strea pointed at where the growing sensation was gnawing at her mind.

Sighing, she gave up on enjoying the ride and focused her gaze at it. It was so unnatural… so foreign… it almost reminded Strea of herself in a way. The growing impression that she was different from everyone else.

"Aisha, you can return to Lena." Kirito spoke.

"Are you kidding?" Aisha replied, her voice flat. "She will survive. I need to deal with the consequences of my actions."

"Ha!" Kirito laughed. "I guess that means we are working together now."

Strea nudged Kirito in the ribs. "Is that really something you should be saying when holding a woman?"

"Haha! You really have your work cut out for you, boy." Aisha's laugh sounded genuine.

Taking one final glance while she still had time, Strea tried to assess Aisha and her emotions. Deciding it wasn't worth worrying about, Strea turned toward the source of her worries as they final came into view.

Clearing the forest, they arrived upon the plain that the flag had been located upon. In the background, Strea saw the remains of a monster transportation box.

"What the hell is that doing here?" Kirito wondered.

"There are more important questions…" Aisha muttered, her voice tense. "The interior of those carriages are made with reinforced steel. The welded sections are done by a blacksmith with forge. Even a monster from the deep floors would struggle to break out."

As one, their gazes turned to the two dozen amazons that had grouped up and were watching something. Strea could not see it clearly from behind them all.

Once Kirito and Aisha ran to the front, the sea split for them and the cause of Strea's worries was made clear. It was a massive beast not quite the size of the floor boss. How it had fit in the container, Strea did not understand. It looked like a bull; the characteristic horns were a matte black with a brownish-red fur. The odd part was that it stretched four or five mel from snout to tail, making it a monster.

That was before Strea saw the other part of the monster. Laying peacefully against the bull's back, Strea almost missed it. It was shaped like the torso of a woman but comprised mostly of shades of green. Strea did not think of herself as a violent person, but her instincts screamed at her to kill it. Kill it now before it continued to wake up.

As she watched, the bull took more plodding, uncertain steps toward the south. The cart, the bull, and the distant tower of Babel created a perfectly straight line revealing its destination.

"Aisha…" Samira spoke. "Would you like the honour of leading us to glorious death?"

"…I see," the amazon frowned. "It is getting larger, and likely stronger as it goes. Let us end this. Oh, and Sharay, end your curse."

"Hmm? Oh, yeah." A random voice called out.

Before Strea could even leave Kirito's arms, the line of twenty-four amazons leapt forward toward the monster. Of the twenty-five that started the wargame, only one was missing. Every single one of the two dozen warriors was an upper-level adventurer. Survivors of terrors and veterans of war.

Sensing the approaching forces, the bull finally stopped moving. Its head turned in a clunky motion toward them. Its eyes were dull and sleepy. Its only action was to raise its right foreleg.

The amazons worked in perfect synchronicity to punish their opponent's lazy defense. Splitting up, they surrounded it in a blink of an eye, weapons posed to hit all four legs, the head, and the body on the back at the same time. Their faces acknowledged that one would probably die to the beast's horns.

However, its head didn't budge an inch. As the amazons closed in, it stepped.

The action carried so much power that the foreleg appeared to crash through the ground. The plain of grass cracked as the world detonated with an explosion of power.

The force of the shockwave sent all the approaching amazons backwards. All attacks were repelled by the wave of force which struck their torsos with deadly force. More deadly were the shards of rock that were blown outwards with invisible speed.

Strea touched her cheek and found a cut there. She hadn't even seen the rock that had done it. "No way…"

"What the hell is this…" Kirito breathed out. The terror in his eyes matched the sinking feeling that Strea was experiencing.

The field in front of them was now littered with groaning bodies. Blood poured from injuries where stones had ripped through cloth and skin. Strea did not know if any of them had died, but it was clear that at least thirteen of them would not be returning to the fight.

"Huh?" The guild employee panted having caught up finally. Yui ran to Kirito's side and stared in disbelief as well.

"So, are you going to work on healing people now?" Strea asked the employee.

"T-This is horrible!" The employee's eyes widened with horror. "A monster this powerful outside of the dungeon!? I-Its an emergency! We need to contact Ganehsa familia, no Freya and Loki familia! Ishtar familia as… As well…"

The employee collapsed to their knees as the impart of the situation was made clear. The beast in front of them had the power to quell level three and four adventurers with ease. There simply did not exist an adventurer who could stand toe-to-toe with the bull.

Without waiting for an answer, Strea took an elixir from their hand and downed half of it. Wiping her mouth, she gave the second half to Kirito. Even in his dazed state, he drank it.

Immediately after, Strea heard more steps from behind. Looking back, she found the remainder of their familia hurrying toward them with the exception of Silica, Liz, and Philia. Leafa was clearly holding up their pace as the girl looked like she had fought the hardest of any of them.

"What's the situa… What?" Rain paled as she analyzed. "H-How? I felt the ground shake but…"

"One stomp," Kirito spoke softly, his eyes unfocused. "It didn't even look like it was particularly trying. Not even the amphisbaena…"

"Kirito." Strea poked him in the arm.

"How? If this was an MMO we could just leave and level up? Do we risk the city and leave…?"

"Kirito!" Strea poked him harder.

"Hmm?"

"It will be okay." Strea smiled widely. The pit in her stomach slowly faded. "There is no way we can lose. After all… you have yet to give me my reward yet!"

Kirito stared in wonder at Strea for a bit. Slowly his face showed a real expression. Chuckling, he turned back to the Bull that was walking slowly south. The amazons were treating to their fallen comrades.

"It didn't do anything until they approached. Even then, its defense was suboptimal. We will get ahead of it and unleash a magic barrage."

"Got it!"

Forming a sort of circle, the members of Hestia smiled at each other in support. It was a little bittersweet as the holes made their lack of manpower clearer.

"Yui…" Kirito turned to the smallest member of the group. "I don't want you attempting to block an attack from this thing."

"Papa!"

"It is too dangerous! We need to dodge." Kirito rubbed his cheek. "Anyway… Let's go."

"Not without me." Aisha tromped toward them. Her left side was a bloody mess, and her eyes were fire. "I heard the plan. Let's bring this fucking bull down."

"I-I doubt I can hold it for long, but please wait for me to release!" Mikoto chimed in.

With a plan in place, they shared one final look.

"Well, let's get this party started." From his back, Kirito drew the inconspicuous blade that was stored there. As it left the sheath it emitted a wave of power.

The clear blade swam with power as a drop of darkness in the center began to spread and consume its essence.

---

Hestia:

"WHAAAT!?"

"Ahh!" Hestia collapsed sideways as Hephaestus screamed into the divine mirrors. She was far from the only deity beginning to panic. The room was half deserted as a fair number of the deities assessed the situation as hopeless and considered abandoning Orario.

Brushing herself off, Hestia stood up and yelled at her red-haired friend. "What the hell are you thinking!?"

"T-That blade… It is the Sword of Souls."

"Uhh… Sure?" Hestia felt a drop of sweat form as she felt the rest of the room fall silent and listen to Hephaestus' words. There was no chance a god of blacksmithing could misidentify a blade.

"One of the two blades ever forged on this plane closest to being a divine weapon!" Hephaestus whirled from the screen and grabbed Hestia's shoulders. "Your child just has it!? How!? I thought it destroyed like the one I lent!"

"Err… Well Be—" Hestia stopped her words before she could say them. Eyes widening, Hestia's mouth dropped at the implications. "N-No way!"

"That's what I'm saying!" Hephaestus grabbed her hair.

"I believe there are more complications about to arise," Hermes noted, showing up from nowhere as is typical for the god.

"Huh?" Following his finger to another divine mirror, Hestia's stomach dropped as the source of the war game was running across the screen. Hestia had gotten Haruhime out of the city again before the wargame in preparation of the outcome in which they were defeated. At least then Haruhime would be beyond Ishtar's grip.

"She isn't the only one," Hermes changed the view, showing the Northern gate of Orario where adventurers were converging. Hestia recognized some of them: Miach familia, Take Mikazuchi familia, Ganesha familia. There were even… "Loki!? Your children are coming to help!?"

"Of course they are, idiot!" The trickster goddess replied scathingly. "You think they were stand around and let a monster come destroy the city!?"

"Ah, true… So where is Freya familia? Actually… Where is Freya?"

The room was conspicuously lacking a goddess of beauty. A being who so commonly commands attention had managed to slip away unnoticed in the commotion.

"Forget about her," Loki scoffed. "Probably show up at the last minute to save the day."

"…Hopefully it's early enough to save my familia," Hestia muttered. Settling back in, she curled up her legs and put a loose end of hair into her mouth.

Stay safe, please.

---

Kirito:

"Well, let's start." Ordering them, Kirito stared down from a small hill at the approaching Bull. It plodded along, unconcerned with obstacles between it and Orario. The trees weren't noticed, rocks were shrugged aside or shattered where they stood.

With his spell being one of the shortest, Kirito didn't go first and allowed Mikoto and Leafa to start theirs instead. Bell psyched himself up and raised his right arm, supporting it with his left.

Kirito didn't know how long it would take but there was no point concealing anything. Meeting the boy's eyes, Kirito nodded in approval.

Chime, chime.

With the sound of small bells ringing, A white light began to gather around Bell's hand as the magics started to channel.

Casting a wary eye toward to the Bull, Kirito's worst fears were instantly confirmed. The creature's head jerked to the side and stared straight at them. It made a huffing noise and started to run. Only one step in however, it crashed to the ground.

Its snout lolled to the side and eyes closed, Kirito blinked in surprise. "What just…"

Trailing off, Kirito watched in disbelief as the upper-body began to rise. Finally off of the Bull's back, they were able to view the torso in full. If it wasn't for the situation, Kirito would have blushed at the naked body of a beautiful woman. The face was perfectly formed, with moderate breasts and a flat stomach. The only oddity was how the torso was a dark green including the skin and what should have been hair seemed to be the same substance.

Once fully erect, the torso opened its eyes, pitch black with an inseparable iris and pupil, and smiled. A strange intelligence lingered there. It knew what they were doing.

"That… That isn't a monster…" Kirito muttered in disbelief.

"What the hell is it then?" Aisha growled.

Opening its mouth, no inhuman howl or other monstrous noise emerged. Instead, it was a lilting laugh like the peal of a bell. A near divine noise that echoed loudly across the plain.

Changing into a smirk, its mouth moved again.

"Pierce spear of lightning. Your envoy beseeches you, Tonitrus!"

Hair on his neck prickling, Kirito screamed for the person he had just told to stand by. "YUI!"

"Incarnate of Thunder. Queen of lightning!"

Dashing ahead, Yui had moved before Kirito had even screamed her name. No one else could move as they stood around in shock.

"Thunder ray!"

A massive yellow magic circle appeared between the creature's upraised hands. With no warning, the world turned yellow shortly followed by a massive crack of thunder as magical rays of lightning crashed toward them.

Their only shield was a small girl with a stubborn face and upraised arms.

"AHHHH!"

Yui's scream was torture to Kirito's ears. Rushing through the burning stings of pain, Kirito caught her collapsing body. The surrounding grasslands were on fire from the unblocked offshoots.

Yui's small body had small of parts of smoke rising from it as well. "Cough, cough!"

Kirito breathed a small sigh of relief as her eyes opened again. The gray irises were unfocused and unsteady, but she was still able to find Kirito.

Ching, ching.

"Ah, I did it, Papa."

"Yeah, sorry I'm so weak."

"No Papa… You need to kill it."

"I'll do my best." Laying Yui down momentarily, Kirito assessed the situation. Yui's sacrifice did not stop all of the lightning. The two spells were interrupted; Bell, meanwhile, was grimacing, his clothes smoking as his right hand continued to gather light. Everyone else had at least a few burns and a dazed look from the blast of bright light and sound.

Nervous, Kirito looked toward the bull. If the upper torso used that quick chant spell again… However, it looked exhausted. Arms down, it slowly collapsed back down unto to the Bull's head.

"F-Firebolt!" Clearly unable to hold his concentration through the pain any longer, Bell thrust out his right arm, a beam of white light shooting toward the beast.

Bell's aim was true, it struck solidly against the back of the humanoid creature's shoulder. The short charge induced only a small burn, a small patch of burnt skin emitting black smoke.

At the same time, the animal head opened its eyes and stood up. Bellowing, the creature turned its head one toward Orario and then back to the group.

"Haha… What a joke…" Aisha's condescending voice washed over them. "We're supposed to fight that? Hahaha!"

"…We don't have a choice." Kirito reminded her. "It doesn't have infinite energy. If we can grind it down—"

"Wake up, boy!" Kirito felt himself lifted off the ground by Aisha's hand. Staring at her from eye level for once, Kirito couldn't look away as she spoke. "My familia, your familia, and most of Orario are going to die today, alright? Yes, that thing will go down, and our bodies will be the foundation upon which that is made possible!"

"I—" Glancing at his familia, none of them met Kirito's eyes. Even Bell glanced away uncertainly. His back-up skill, his ace-in-the-hole, had fizzled out. "I refuse to accept that."

"Then you will die cursing your powerlessness."

Getting dropped, Kirito's hand shook on his sword that seemed to be asking him the same question. Can you do this?

The worst part was, Aisha didn't even blame him. Stuck with his indecisiveness, Kirito stood on a silent hill, his plan blown to smithereens.

All the while, the Bull began to close the distance, its pace that of a hunter.

---

Asuna:

Boom!

"Lefiya!" Asuna called out, pointing at the lightning blast.

"I-I see it!"

"Let's go!" Dashing down toward the source of the violent magic, Asuna didn't concern herself with details surrounding the penalty for entering the wargame arena. Ishtar familia had resigned. Her senses screamed that something had gone seriously wrong.

"Asuna, wait!" Lefiya cried, catching up. "If you're wrong about this…"

"If I'm wrong I lose everything! I know!"

"As long as we are clear on that." Lefiya smiled in agreement.

Grateful for the companionship, Asuna continued at a breakneck pace across the intervening distance. With her level three agility, Asuna travelled at a speed that would have won her Olympic medals.

Reaching the flag's home, and destination of the container, Asuna slowed down. Turning South, she followed the rather obvious tracks of the passing of a heavy creature. Shortly, she found the source of the earlier shaking. It had felt like an earthquake… The origin was clear now. A massive crater from which cracks emerged in all directions. Blood and injured adventurers abound.

Seeing no deaths, Asuna continued to the south away from the scene of destruction. To the south, she could already make out the target of her worries. A large monster plodding in a straight line towards Orario.

"Lefiya, what is that!?"

"W-Why do you think I know!"

"Ah, Kirito!" Asuna finally got vision of the black-haired boy that had stolen her heart. Feeling it palpitate at the sight of him, Asuna sped up slightly.

The boy was feinting with his blade toward the massive monster, trying to distract it. The creature was practically ignoring him, its eyes focused upon members further back in his familia.

Someone even faster than Kirito faster was helping. They had a massive blade that drifted close to the Bull without managing to hit. Somehow, the Bull would do something to drive both the assailants back without them striking its body.

"It's strong…" Lefiya panted from somewhere close behind Asuna. "But with my magic, we should be able to do this."

"I wonder…" Asuna said to herself as she began taking a looping route to try and get in front of the Bull. Her screaming instincts told her that it was a bad idea to try and attack the Bull. Despite having an exposed backside… Asuna could not bring herself to do so.

"Kirito!" Yelling out to him once more, Asuna stumbled as his wild eyes met hers.

"Stay back!"

"I-I wasn't getting close to it!" Asuna replied automatically. It pained her that their first conversation in what felt like forever was a yelling match.

"Can you hold it off?" Lefiya asked Kirito.

"Not in the slightest, idiot!" The amazon yelled back, diving fully away from the bull. Something about the beast scaring her away as she lunged in closer than ever.

As Asuna was trying to catch up with the fighters, she noticed that the pace the Bull was travelling at was slowly picking up speed. It was now travelling as fast as a normal person could run. The group it was chasing was losing distance.

"Lefiya, you have protection magic, right?" Asuna asked.

"Huh? W-What does that have to do with anything!?" Lefiya shot back.

"That's right!" Kirito exclaimed suddenly. "If we have a shield then we may be able to fight back!"

"Lefiya, do it!" Asuna called, bossing around the more senior member. "Make a shield. Protect everyone!"

"W-What did you say?"

Hearing Lefiya come to a stop, Asuna planted her foot and turned around. "Protect us!"

"Ahh… N-No… Loki calls me a glass cannon, I can't…"

Confusion rushed through Asuna. Who was this confused, young girl? "Lefiya!" Rushing up to the elf, Asuna shook her shoulders as the fight continued to move away from them.

"I-I am supposed to kill monsters… I… I can't protect them… I've never practiced it."

"What are you saying!?" Asuna screamed, panicking. Lefiya looked traumatised. "What's wrong!?"

"I-I can't protect you… Ais."

---

Part 2: The world they saw that day (20 months earlier)

Lefiya:

Cough, cough!

Hacking, Lefiya's lungs screamed at her as she staggered along. She alternated between hacking up the thick black smoke and gulping down the oxygen she could find.

With her staff gripped tightly in her right hand, Lefiya's watering eyes tried to find the path she was meant to be on. Her heavy backpack had once been filled to bursting with potions and weapons. Everything needed for a protracted exam.

Now, the bag slumped empty against her body. Its contents used up hours ago. Lefiya only still carried it out of inertia.

"Ahh!" Letting out a surprised yell, Lefiya stumbled as her boot caught on a rock. Falling to one knee, Lefiya took a breather where the smoke was less thick and looked around.

Around her was more of the same. Black rock and black smoke. It was every other sense that provided real information. Even now, she could hear the howls of the nearby dragons. Here, deep in the valley of dragons, the remaining small ones cheered their lord onto victory.

Those howls were interspersed with screams and yells from the human invaders. The ones that are left anyway… Lefiya's consciousness interfered.

"Ais… Where are you?" Crawling along the ground, Lefiya searched for any sign of the golden warrior. Her immaculate armour and flawless skin. Just one inch of her perfect self and Lefiya would recognize it.

Except… Ais had practically gone insane at the beginning of the fight. Thinking about it filled Lefiya with confusion. Ais had refused to stay back and act as an auxiliary. Her face had shown the first emotion Lefiya remembered, rage. A bottomless fire that exploded out of her.

Crawling, Lefiya, felt the wind blow, the breeze was scalding hot. Forced to cough again, the heat did not recede. "W-What!?"

Eyes bulging with terror, Lefiya caught sight of the orange-red liquid. It wasn't reflecting the colour, but emitting its own light. The result of attacks too powerful to grasp, the very ground itself had melted and shifted, flowing like water.

Putting energy into her legs, Lefiya took off again. Closing her eyes against the smoke, Lefiya orientated herself with only temperature perception. Staying on the edge of the burning sensation, Lefiya finally felt the temperature lower.

Sighing, she collapsed to all fours again. Spending another thirty seconds coughing, Lefyia tried to analyze the situation; it was hopeless. She could not see anything.

Everything had went wrong. The heroes dead, the wind shifted.

"Where are you… Ais…" Calling out her idol's name again, Lefiya expected no answer.

Moving forward once more, Lefiya found another river of lava. The red glowing substance stopping all advance. Glaring at it, Lefiya turned around and tried to remember her passage.

Where had she gone awry? If she wasn't wrong then…

Paling, Lefiya darted backwards. Her worries came true as she encountered more lava. "N-No way." She was surrounded. The dragon must have blown more fire. It had created more rivers that had trapped Lefiya in an ever-shrinking island.

"AIS!" Screaming her name, Lefiya coughed and doubled over. Eyes watering, Lefiya's hands trembled around her staff.

Fighting through it, Lefiya's fear was a positive ally for once. "AIS! Riveria! Tiona! Someone…"

Cough, Cough…

The heat was oppressive now. Lefiya could feel it beginning to eat at her body. It wouldn't be long until her lungs burnt. Lefiya just had the mental capacity to wonder exactly what would kill her. Asphyxiating from her lungs not working, or the lava burning through her level three body. Maybe the hot air would be enough to kill her before either.

Suddenly, Lefiya shivered. Not from the cold, there was none of that here. But from an evil chill running down her spine. In some ways it was even worse than the creature they were here to kill.

"Lefiya."

"Ais…" Lefiya stared up into the eyes of her idol. To do so she had to look through the terrible black wind that coated her like a second skin. Its presence filled Lefiya with more terror than the lava. "W-Why are you still using—"

"Let's go." Ais interrupted.

Without waiting for Lefiya's approval, Ais grabbed Lefiya around the waist and tossed her over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Doing so put Lefiya in direct contact with the black wind.

Lefiya could feel it whispering into her mind. Threatening to break her.

"Ahh, Ahh." Whimpering, Lefiya's body started thrashing as she tried desperately to break the hold. All the while the black wind laughed at her pointless efforts.

Just as she thought she would go insane, Lefiya was thrown from Ais's shoulder. Landing roughly on the jagged ground, Lefiya's hands were bloodied as she rose. The smoke was thinner here.

"Ow! Ais, where are we, what's—"

"Via Shilheim. Cast it. Now!"

"A-Ais, what are you saying?"

"GROOAAAAGH!" The tremendous, earth-shattering roar answered Lefiya's question.

Her whole body trembled like a leaf. Hands shaking so badly, her staff fell through her numb hands. Head rotating slowly to the side, Lefiya once again set eyes upon the last of the monster gods.

No more did it resemble its once immaculate self. The body was coated in a river of dried blood. Where its massive wings should have been were two stumps. The heroes of Zeus and Hera familia had sacrificed themselves to down the monster.

"Lefiya!" Ais screamed. Her wild, angry eyes no longer resembled the golden mirrors that Lefiya was so familiar with. These were jagged and broken, raw emotions pouring through for the first time. "Cast Via Shilheim! Protect us!"

Protect… us?

Protect Ais? Impossible.

"I-I can't."

"Do it now! Block one attack and I will kill it!"

"Impossible… I-I am a glass cannon. I only practiced the offensive spells."

Ais sneered and pushed Lefiya away.

Unprepared, Lefiya stumbled and fell beside her staff. Staring up at Ais, Lefiya was convinced now that she didn't know this person. This angry, abusive girl was not the Ais that Lefiya knew.

"I even went of my way to get you just so that you could do this."

"W-What? You… You only saved me so that…" Gaping, Lefiya's heart slowly started to crumble. "You don't mean that! Ais, please, let's run away! It is injured, it won't pursue!"

"NEVER!" face contorting, Ais's beauty crumpled and vanished. "I am an avenger. I will finally redeem the death of my parents."

Lefiya could only watch through tear-stricken eyes as Ais turned to face down the grand beast. Not as the hero that had saved her countless times before, this time, Ais faced it as a monster herself.

Before Ais could move toward the beast, a song interrupted everything.

"Blessing of the root of evil, curse of birth.

"My original sin that devoured half of my body. It is not hard."

"No, not her…" Lefiya sobbed harder as a person emerged from the smoke over one hundred metres from her. It was a woman with long, silver hair. Her left arm looked crippled, and her right was pressed against her stomach. Still, she walked tall as she sang.

"There is no purification. There is no salvation.

"The resonance of this heavenly sound is my sin."

Even with burns and tattered clothing, she looked immaculate. Her intention clear as she strode towards the dragon.

Lefiya saw in its eyes that it remembered this woman. It remembered the taste of this magic. The same one that had finished off the Leviathan. Ignoring Ais completely, the dragon closed its mouth and focused on preparing its ultimate weapon to counterattack.

"The trumpet of gods, the lyre of spirits.

"Melody of light, the seal of the sin."

The ultra-long chant spell continued unconcerned.

Both of the combatants stared each other down in a terse standoff. If one got their ability off significantly before the other one could, the fight would be decided.

"Loved by the miniature garden, my destiny is shattered. I hate you.

"The compensation is here."

With time ticking down for completion, the gorgeous woman stuck out her right hand. As she did so, the gaping wound on her stomach was revealed.

The dragon, mirroring, reared back its head, flames licking at its jaws.

"Destroy everything with the proof of my sin.

"Cry, holy bell tower!"

"GROAAGH!" Bellowing, another torrential cyclone of fire originated from its maw. The air around Lefiya became unbearably hot and began to steam.

Unfazed, the woman stared down the heat and responded in kind.

"Genos Angelus!"

Lefiya could only watch in awe as the human woman used magic far more powerful than she could even dream of, more powerful than Riveria.

Gong!

With a booming sound, the grand bell was rung.

The power rippled out like shockwaves, meeting the cyclone of fire. As the two great powers clashed, the world was torn apart. Lefiya felt deadly blasts of energy, rock, heat, and sound blow past her. All missing by the slimmest of margins. Ais did not move to try and help, her eyes were focused on the fight as Lefiya's were.

"Groa…" Last of its fire expiring, the great dragon's maw closed, the heat expiring. At least, the greatest of its weapons had run out.

The remaining portion of the cyclone was blown apart by the bell's ring. The final layer of magical power colliding with the dragon and slamming it against the valley wall. Stunned, the dragon struggled to rise.

"Ahh…" Spell over, the woman collapsed to her knees. She was swaying weakly, on the verge of total collapse.

"Hehe, yes… Now, I can strike."

"No, Ais!" Lunging forward, Lefiya grabbed on the back of her boot.

"Let go!" Ais ordered, shaking her off.

Crunch.

In the time it took Ais to throw Lefiya away, a strange noise had already filled the battleground. The dragon had risen once again. Eyes filled with malice, it plodded towards the noble caster.

Even as her heterochromatic eyes filled with the fear of inescapable death, she did not turn or flee. She stared straight ahead as her last moments approached.

Crunch.

"Ais…" Lefiya was not sure if she was asking Ais to try and save her, or happy she hadn't rushed the unstoppable beast.

"It will be vulnerable when it attacks…" Ais smirked, the wind swirling faster in anticipation. At last… my moment is here."

"H-How?" The cruelty made Lefiya balk. To use another adventurer's sacrifice as an opening? It was horrible.

Crunch.

This time, Lefiya was confident the source of the strange noise was not the dragon itself. Indeed, the monster god hesitated, its head turning somewhat. Emerging from the billowing smoke was a heavily armored man. Dressed completely in black armor, the red cape gave away his identity. One of Zeus's elite adventurers.

Dragging behind him was a massive structure, the dragon's wing.

The previous owner of it howled in rage, seeing the desecration of its body.

"Oh, that upsets you?" Using his right hand, the man grabbed his helmet and tossed it to the side. His aging face was covered with prominent scars that mired his otherwise handsome looks.

Turning to the wing, the man did the last thing imaginable, he bit it. Tearing into the divine flesh, the man began to consume the raw flesh of the dragon. With the scales being nigh indestructible, only the parts within could be eaten.

After only a few moments, the man froze and dropped the appendage. His body was visibly shaking as he bent double and dry heaved.

"AHHHH!" Flinging his head back, the man screamed into the sky. Contained within it was total agony. Indescribable pain that froze Lefiya's core.

Somehow moving through it, the man grabbed his sword and moved his lips. "Father god, forgive me."

Power rippled off of him. Lefiya could practically see his aura expanding as power flowed through the adventurer. It quickly shot past the realm of level eight and into nine.

"For I am going to eat the last of the supper of gods."

"More?" Ais asked in wonder, a bit of her old self shining through in wonder.

Lefiya could understand. It was impossible not to when watching a true hero. As his power steadily increased more and more, Lefiya knew it would kill him. There was no way to recover from this.

"Greed, tongue of prison flame.

"Eat, scorching flames!"

"Groah?" With no flames left, the dragon had to content itself with its deadly claws. Moving, it was now too late to stop the man from finishing his magic, combined with his skill.

Power maximized to a deadly level, Lefiya wondered if he had done it. If the last of the Zeus adventurers remaining had crossed into the untouched territory of level ten.

"Rea… AMBROSIA!"

Body coated with fire, the adventurer disappeared to Lefiya's eyes. The massive blade leaving only an afterimage of flames as it sought out the dragon's body.

BOOM!

With an explosion of energy, Lefiya watched wide-eyed, mouth gaping as the glorious sight of a severed limb flying through the air was visible.

"No… impossible…" Ais's voice was weak as she collapsed to her knees.

"Huh?" Following her dazed eyes, Lefiya's heart stopped. The adventurer was laying on the ground in front of them, rebuffed in two pieces. His broken sword a testament to his will.

Snap!

"AHHH!" A scream of death filled the air.

Shooting up, Lefiya stared in horror at the silver-haired Hera member stuck between the jaws of the three-legged dragon.

With a horrible sound, the upper third of her body was dislodged and sent flying toward them.

Running, Lefiya was too slow to catch it, not that it would have made a difference. Falling beside her, Lefiya was powerless to help.

The woman's eyes were only partly lucid as they found Lefiya's. "So… loud."

"What? Y-You are…" Lefiya could not finish the obvious statement. There were practically no internal organs remaining. Only the power of an incredibly high status could keep a person living for even a dozen seconds in such a state.

"Huh?" Lefiya tried to recoil as the woman's hand wrapped around her wrist. Even as she died, the Hera familia member was far stronger than Lefiya.

"Be…"

"Huh?" Waiting, no more words came. She was dead.

Crying freely now, there was nothing Lefiya could do. She could have saved them. If she had done what Ais had said… Lefiya could have saved them.

"Look." Ais commanded walking to Lefiya's side. "They've done it."

"Hmm?" Looking up through inertia. Lefiya's eyes bulged as she saw the dragon try to move again. The man's blade had done far more than just go through the leg. As it turned, Lefiya thought the dragon was going to fall into two pieces.

The blade created a massive wound through the torso of the beast reaching the spinal cord between its rear legs.

A waterfall of blood fell as the dragon shuffled its way back into the corner. Pressed against the wall, it was completely on the defensive.

"YES!" Black wind rising once more, Ais stepped forth. Lefiya could not stop her, nor could she cheer for her. She felt like she was looking at the end. If Ais won here, she would not return. If Ais lost, she would be dead. Either way, it was over.

Once more, Lefiya could only cry as the final surprise emerged.

With the surviving familias emerging from the slowly clearing smoke, the final assault started. Freya familia's Warlord led the way. Behind him and his familia were the Loki elites. Pursuing them came the remaining members of Astraea familia, an inspiration to all female adventurers. Lastly were Ganesha familia, the Amazons from Telskyura, and the assorted other high-level adventurers. Each one was a hero in their own right. People Lefiya had looked up to her whole life. People that had endured countless rigors and obstacles to reach this location. Their powers united against a single fore.

As it did, the dragon's own song began.

Cradling its injured side against the sheer cliff, the dragon gave no notice to the assaulting adventurers as its song weaved through the air.

Lefiya could feel it. Each syllable pressed on her with tangible force. Not even the two powerful magics she had just witnessed could live up to the sheer energy contained within the dragon's chant. It went past magic onto a different plain, it felt divine.

"Ah, ah!" Cradling her head with her hands, Lefiya could do nothing to shut out the noise that was infecting every inch of her body.

"From the earth I was born, to the earth I return.

"Divine Right!"

"AHHH!" Howling, Lefiya's tears streaked down her cheek. Simply living felt impossible right now.

"Providence of Death!"

Lefiya's scream fell silent. Not because she had stopped, but the sound had. Try as she might, Lefiya could produce no sound. Her soul was getting squeezed.

Every inch of her body felt like it was in a press. Forcing her down, into the earth. A transition to begin a forbidden process that should never occur.

No, please! …Ais.

Even in her half delirious state, Lefiya called out to her idol. The golden-haired girl that had been corrupted with anger.

I… I wanted to save her.

Eyes closing, Lefiya felt minor relief seeing the dragon's body begin to disintegrate. They had won. The last of the three monster gods had fallen. It had taken every significant source of power on the planet… but they did it.

Not yet!

"Ais!?" Lefiya heard the girl's voice in her mind. The force pressing down on her, lessened somewhat.

You will surpass me one day, I know it.

"Riveria!" Screaming, Lefiya stood up in a rush, the previous forces on her body had disappeared. Disipated into the wind.

Stretching out a hand to where the last fight had been taking place, Lefiya's mind went black.

No one was left.

Unable to bear anymore, Lefiya collapsed to the ground.

As silence fell on the valley of dragons, the harsh truth revealed itself. Of the thousands of initial participants, only one living body remained: Lefiya.

---

Part 3: A new hero

Philia:

"What… is this?" The recent resignation of Ishtar familia was a distant thought in Philia's mind as she stared East. Somewhere on the otherside of the arena, something major was happening.

"Why? Why!?"

Philia glared at the annoying girl. Apollo familia's healer, Cassandra rocked back and forth, her eyes filled with hopelessness.

"What's wrong with her?" Liz asked Daphne, more confrontational than Philia.

"She does this sometimes… but never this bad…"

Daphne looked worried, Philia thought. Even as she tried to downplay it, Cassandra's total sorrow was sapping energy from them all.

"H-Hey, Daphne?" The first comprehensible words came from Cassandra's mouth.

"What?"

"It was… well I enjoyed being in your familia."

"What the hell are you talking ab—"

Boom!

A thunderclap washed over them all, drowning out Daphne's words.

Kirito! Philia knew instinctively that the boy was at the middle of the issue. She was barely able to stop herself from moving as she glanced again at her 'prisoners'.

"What… was that?"

Whirling around, Philia's jaw fell as she took in Silica. The girl's eyes were flat and lifeless as she approached, the Apollo familia flag dragging along the ground.

"It does not matter," a second unexpected voice announced. Emerging from the nearby bushes was none other than Apollo familia's captain, Hyacinthus. "Daphne, Cassandra, get up. We will knock out these fools and take them hostage. This war game is ours!"

"Tsk." Drawing a dagger, Philia glanced between the people present. Liz was in no condition to fight this person, neither was Silica by the look of her.

Squaring up, a tense silence was held between them. Hyacinthus did not rush. Instead he merely smirked confidently as he waited for his familia members to make the difference.

"That's it!" Cassandra shouted suddenly, standing up. "Light and dark! There is still hope." Not glancing at any of them, Cassandra began to run down the cliff before them, straight east toward the source of the thunder.

"Uhh…"

"C-Cassandra!?" Hyacinthus screamed.

"Ahh, screw it!" Grabbing her baton, Daphne took off after her healer friend.

"Daphne!? Get back here!"

The leader's words were not heeded as the girls got further away.

Sizing up the fight she did not want, Philia nodded after them. "Drop the flag Silica, let's go. I'm worried about Kirito."

"Huh? B-But Pina… She…"

"Hey," Liz laid a hand on Silica's shoulder. "What would Pina want you to do?"

"She… She would want me to look after Kirito."

I didn't even notice! Berating herself, Philia had no words for Silica as she turned and darted down the cliff, closely pursued by the two girls.

It wasn't long until a fourth pair of steps entered their group. Keeping track of them with her senses, Philia decided they weren't attacking. "Why are you coming?"

"Hmpf!" Hyacinthus snorted. "Do not get me wrong. I still plan on winning this wargame. To do that I need your flag which is over here."

"Whatever…" Mumbling, Philia focused on closing the distance to Cassandra. It wasn't hard, the healer was wearing a dress and ran with a two-handed staff clutched to her chest.

"What the hell was that!?" Philia asked the girl.

"I… I have to convince them… This time! This time I can!"

"Convince who?" Daphne asked. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't worry about it!" Cassandra responded forcefully. It was the loudest Philia had ever heard it at. "You… You never believe me anyway!"

"C-Cassandra!?"

Philia tried not to laugh. The interaction was so similar to how Rain and she had interacted at the beginning. The earlier jealousy resulting in lashing out against someone only trying to help.

"You'll see! I… I'm going to show everyone that my dreams are true!"

"Cassandra!" Daphne roared again, running at the healer's side.

"Don't… stop me!"

"Cassandra!"

"What!?" The healer yelled exasperated.

Daphne laughed suddenly, slapping Cassandra's back roughly. "You really are an idiot, aren't you?"

"W-What!?"

"I don't believe in your dreams at all."

"Daphne?"

"But I believe in you, Cassandra! Always have."

"Then why!? Why do you stop me?"

"From doing stupid things? Isn't that a friend's job?" Daphne laughed.

Philia could not help from joining in. These two were infectious. "You two are too good for Apollo."

Both of them flushed slightly. Cassandra eventually replied with a stutter. "T-Thank you, Daphne. This time… This time I'm definitely right!"

"Ha! Well this is the first time you've done something about it," Daphne teased.

As the conversation continued to develop, the distance was quickly disappearing. They had crossed the battleground between Apollo and Ishtar. Now they were entering Ishtar territory. The passage of numerous people was easy to follow. Philia had seen only part of it. Leafa with the flag had entered their vision briefly, but had left it back east.

Crossing that area themselves now, Philia's eyes saw the outline of Mikoto's magic. The earth wasn't cracked, but the grass was flattened perfectly, with signs of combat remaining.

"Looks rough…" Liz mumbled.

Philia only nodded in answer. No one dared talk now. The sounds of raised voices began to drift into their high leveled ears.

Pushing through a clump of trees and bushes, Philia's eyes bulged. Almost the entirety of Ishtar familia was gathered, giving emergency aid to their injured members.

"No way…" Daphne breathed. "Did… did you do this?"

"I doubt it…" Loping over, Philia grabbed one of them by the arm. "What happened?"

The amazon shrugged her off and pointed to the south. "Follow the footsteps and find out."

Doing just that, Philia took off with the group in hot pursuit. Even Hyacinthus continued to follow without speaking a word against the decision.

What the hell happened here?

The cracked ground was surrounded by a circle of blood. Philia understood the amazon easily as there were large hoof prints heading south.

"Hey, Cass. You should stay here and heal the amazons."

"No!" The healer denied. "I need… I need to find the ones that can kill this thing."

"Whatever you say." Daphne relented.

"Also, she was right." Philia reminded Daphne.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm never going to live this down."

"It is changing direction," Hyacinthus pointed out.

Philia was well aware as she continued running following the footsteps. Taking one last glance at Orario which they deviated away from, Philia could now hear everything.

Rounding the top of a small hill, Philia finally got a look at everything. Kirito, trying to slow the beast down, a pair of elves standing around, and the larger group trying to flee.

"Ah, the dark one!"

Cassandra set forth with purpose in her eyes.

Sighing, Philia followed. Her senses told her this wasn't going to be easy.

---

Lefiya:

Protect us. Protect us.

Lefiya could feel the heat encroaching upon her. The ash clinging to her clothes. The infinite hate of a god. Memories of that day refused to fade and played in vivid clarity as she stood in place stunned.

"Lefiya!" Asuna screamed, shaking her shoulders. "What are you doing!?"

"Ah… Ah… AHHH!" Screaming, Lefiya dropped her staff and collapsed to the ground.

"Lefiya!?"

Unable to bear the guilt any longer, Lefiya's mouth produced the truth that had been seared into her on that fateful day. "I killed them all. It was all my fault. I… I can't protect you."

"Lefiya!" Asuna repeated firmly.

Looking up, Lefiya was certain this would be the day she died. She had been the only person to survive last time. She would ensure that would not repeat.

Slap!

"Ow!" Lefiya tasted dirt, her left cheek burning with pain. Asuna… slapped me? Sitting up, Lefiya blinked in surprise. Her eyes instantly crossed as a finger was jutted into her face.

"I don't care. I'm sorry, but I don't. The people I care about are about to die now."

"A-Asuna?"

"So Lefiya… Please." Bowing deeply at the waist, Asuna prostrated herself. "Please save them!"

"Eh?" Caught off guard again, Lefiya could only watch breathless as a tear fell from Asuna's hidden face.

"Please, Lefiya! Use your magic to protect us!"

Can I? Can I do this?

Lefiya's hand brushed lightly over her dropped staff. The beautiful weapon's four crystals sparkled up at her.

If I can't, I get my wish.

Mind made up, Lefiya was not sure what her problem was as she grabbed her staff. "Let's go Asuna. We'll save your boyfriend one way or another."

"EHH!? B-Boyfriend!? W-Why would you think that the two of us are—Philia!?" Asuna broke off in surprise as another group entered their view.

Lefiya turned to analyze them. It was mostly unremarkable adventurers. The girl that Asuna addressed was a level three, the rest were two, except… the man at the back. If Lefiya remembered correctly he was the captain of Apollo familia.

"Yo, Asuna! What are you doing back here, shouldn't you—"

"Let's go." Lefiya interrupted taking off. Glancing backwards, Lefiya was glad that they were keeping up. The level twos struggling to keep the pace. At this speed, the distance to the monster closed quickly. As the most senior of the group, Lefiya took charge.

"To summarize, the monster has the strength of a first-class adventurer. Furthermore, it appears to have a second body which can cast powerful magic."

"W-What!?" Philia and others blew up. "Magic? Impossible!"

Lefiya narrowed her eyes against the criticisms. "An adventurer that cannot adapt will quickly die." The age-old adage silenced the criticism. "We have one advantage; the creature is not at full power. For it to use magic, it loses its ability to move."

"A-Amazing… You should only know the same as me and yet…" Asuna blubbered.

Lefiya felt a twinned rush of joy and guilt at the same time. "Deducing information is an important skill."

"We're approaching it…" Philia reminded Lefiya.

"Uhn." Nodding, Lefiya held her rod horizontal between her hands. "Prepare to split up and dodge if it changes tactics."

"Unleashed streak of light, bow limbs of the holy tree. You are an expert of the bow."

Chanting while running, Lefiya felt herself begin to lose hold. This was the only thing she had taught herself while wandering alone outside the city. A mage with no allies was easy pickings for a group of level two thugs.

"Shoot, sniper of the fairies. Penetrate, arrow of absolute accuracy."

Lefiya felt the moment the bull's eyes rolled back to stare her. Her body shivered as the killing intent threatened to paralyze her. It was a wonder that the swordsmen were able to slow it down at all.

"Arcs Ray!"

Chanting the name of her spell, Lefiya stopped momentarily to unleash the column of yellow light. Shooting forward like a lance, it was thicker than Lefiya's thigh and nearly two meters long.

Snorting, the bull stomped hard with its front left leg to slow its momentum enough to rotate into the magic. Sweeping its head up, the iron-like horn cut through the magic.

Completely shredded, the last bits of power flew around like sparks before winking out of existence. Before it had even faded, the beast was moving again. Following someone.

"We need to get it to change heads." Lefiya decided. "Without its ability to move, it loses its defensive capabilities as well."

"How though?" Asuna commented.

"I'm not sure…"

"Just ask Kirito," Philia sighed. "They did it already, yeah?"

"True. W-Well I'll do that!" Taking off, Asuna approached the boy struggling to put a dent in the bull's speed.

Oddly, as Lefiya watched him work, she thought the bull treated him with more respect than the amazon. He was clearly the weaker of the two, but his weapon… Lefiya got the odd sensation that she had seen it before. That couldn't be possible though. Lefiya had never seen a pitch-black blade before. It was unnatural.

And yet… this one seemed normal, somehow. As if the color suited it. The sight of the void-like metal soothed Lefiya's worries. As if staring into it reflected the wielder himself.

Before she let herself get distracted further, Lefiya focused on catching up to Asuna. The concerning thing was that even as the bull slowed, the distance between it and the adventurers fleeing was shrinking.

Lefiya was honestly shocked that it had taken this long. They had just finished fighting a war game. Just moving should have been a monumental enough of a task. It would not be long now until the group needed to make a decision.

Just as Lefiya was thinking that, Asuna returned. "The top body took over when they tried to cast magic."

So was mine not strong enough? Or is it something else?

Feeling a bead of sweat tracking down her cheek, Lefiya was conscious of every second that ticked past. One wrong decision could lead them all to disaster.

"Kirito also mentioned that the Bull appears to be hunting down Bell, the white-haired boy in Hestia familia."

"…Does he know why?" Lefiya asked hopefully. A shake of Asuna's head denied those chances. Measuring the distance, Lefiya gave the group three minutes until they were caught.

"Lefiya…"

At Asuna's urging, Lefiya made a decision. "Get the group to split up and meet me on that hilltop. The boy will run a circle around the bull and bring it to us where we will hit it with magic."

"On it!"

Watching Asuna speed ahead, Lefiya seriously doubted her ability to keep up with the girl. Her agility stat had to be insane. Not wasting any time, Lefiya led the way up onto the hilltop that she had signaled too.

Arriving, Lefiya planted her staff and dove into her double chant required to use the requisite song.

"I wish upon the name of Wishe. Ancestors of the forest, proud brethren.

"Answer my call and come to the plains."

Lefiya's third magic, Elf ring. It was the spell that granted her the title: Thousand elf. By casting it, Lefiya could then use any elven magic for which she knew the entire chant and properties of. Compared to the standard limit of three, Lefiya's versatility was magnitudes higher.

"Connecting bonds, the pledge of paradise. Turn the circle and dance around. Come, ring of fairies. Please - give me strength."

While focusing on the spell, Lefiya observed the minute changes. Asuna convincing the swordsmen to stop their distraction and the group to peel off. Now, all that was remaining was a small boy with bright white hair.

Lefiya thought him rabbit-like as he dashed and darted around. The Bull closing the distance between them surely. It confirmed the suspicions that it was tracking the boy.

"Elf ring!"

The white magic circle around her feet glowed with power and began to spin. The interior signs and sigils composing the magic circle rose and joined the exterior, forming a solid white band. Rising to waist level, the ring continued to dance and weave around Lefiya.

With the easy part done, Lefiya lowered her staff until it was level with her waist. Closing her eyes, Lefiya let the staff move on its own, finding the correct position above the ring. This part was probably not necessary, but Lefiya felt it easier to cast the borrowed magic in this state.

With just a bit of thought, the words her teacher had forced into her rose to the top of her mind.

"Dance around spirit of the atmosphere, lord of light…"

Eyes closed, Lefiya could no longer see how things were developing around her. Even as she sang, Lefiya could sense the ongoing developments. More people reaching the hilltop and arranging themselves behind her. The additional spells that were starting, Asuna's among them.

"Contract with the guardian of the forest and envelop us with the song of the land."

!? Lefiya shivered as a menacing wave washed over her. Something had changed.

"Surround us become a great barrier of forest light and protect us—"

"My name is Alf!"

With the chant finished, Lefiya's eyes flashed open. The power was ringing through her body. The magic within her was fully primed and ready to use.

Before her was the horrifying scene she had been warned about. The upper-humanoid body had pushed itself up as the bull snored, its face buried in the dirt.

The green face had a wicked smile as it met her eyes. Licking its lips, it raised its hands and began its own chant. Lefiya wondered if it had given up on Bell, but no, the white-haired boy was still beelining toward them.

"Arise, flames. Rage, rage, rage. Vortex of fire. The crimson wall. Hellfire's roar. May the ardor of the gale plunge the world into grief and misery."

"W-What!?" Lefiya was baffled by the speed of casting. Line after line fell from its mouth in quick succession. No adventurer could perform it that fast. It wasn't just speaking the words, one had to feel them. Pour their mind into making the words a reality.

"The sky shall burn. The earth shall ignite. The seas shall boil. The fonts shall churn. The mountains shall erupt. All life shall turn to ash."

The length of the spell was sapping confidence from Lefiya. Hand slick with sweat, Lefiya wondered if she had overestimated herself. What if I fail?

"Lefiya."

"Huh?" Turning to Asuna, Lefiya met the girl's warm smile. "We will do this."

"May the lives of the great ones serve as atonement for the coming choler and grief. Your envoy beseeches you, Salamander.

"Incarnate of fire. Queen of flame."

"…It is coming." Lefiya declared. Eyes focused ahead; her voice overlapped with the monster's.

"Firestorm!"

"Via Shilheim!"

Around Lefiya, a dome of soft green energy formed. Translucent, it looked like it would break at the touch of a finger. Lefiya could sense the doubt of the waiting adventurers. Each one wondering if they had signed their death warrant by coming into her sanctuary.

Lefiya's true attention was on the spirit. From where its outstretched hands were raised, a massive red magic circle began expanding in the sky. Fear coursed through her body as it did not stop expanding. Over one hundred metres in the air, the magic circle must cover a diameter of half a kilo.

Wooo! With the distinctive sound of rushing air, a torrent of fire descended. Shades of red and yellow tainted Lefiya's visions as tornadoes of fire descended upon them and the surrounding grasslands. In an instant the scenery was ablaze. A moment later, it encountered Lefiya's magic.

"Ahh!" Gasping from the force of it, Lefiya felt her knees threaten to buckle. This magic… It was stronger than Riveria's. It baked the world with the power of a spirit from the old tales.

"Vanforlengelse!"

Asuna's magic rose in an odd pattern. Forming a liquid wall, it pressed itself against Lefiya's. Trapped between two forces now, Lefiya felt the burden lessen somewhat. The fire sizzled against Asuna's magic, granting Lefiya a moments reprieve.

"Are you fucking kidding me…" The amazon spoke, voice filled with awe. "This shit is on par with that stupid dragon."

Lefiya jerked as the words brought back memories. Unable to peer over her shoulder, she wondered if she was not the only here with horrid memories of that day.

Immediately though, she was ruined of chance to think on it as the pressure sent her to her knees. Gripping her staff with two hands, Lefiya struggled against the mounting heat.

Oh god, it is just like that day…

Panting, Lefiya's eyes flicked wildly, searching desperately for freedom. But no, from this heat there was no escapes. The flames of destruction licking at her, seducing her to give in to their all-consuming appetite.

"N-No, they are coming for me… Again, the flames come!" Lefiya felt the magic begin to shatter as her concentration waned. For a moment she considered cancelling it. Seeking that nullification that would follow right after.

"Lefiya!" Asuna yelled. "Don't give in! We can do this, together!"

"Hrgh…" Groaning, Lefiya's vision shattered into pieces as her eyes unfocused. Everything hung by a thread. With everything pressing down upon her, Lefiya felt the truth, she could not hold out.

Everyone will die.

"Liz, give Bell the Aegis."

"Huh? I used it already you know, it doesn't have much strength—"

"Just do it."

"Bell, charge it."

"…Got it!"

Lefiya felt someone walk in front of her. Glancing up, she saw the mop of white hair from that boy. He had just arrived as the magics had gone off. In no way had he recovered though. His form was tattered and torn as he stood in front of Lefiya.

Ching, ching.

"That sound…" To Lefiya's ears it was a familiar melody. Just… weaker than she recalled. Unable to place it, Lefiya could only watch the boy as the shield he held began to glow with white light.

"Please hold for another minute!" The boy requested.

"That… Isn't easy to do…" Asuna replied for Lefiya.

One minute!? One second is hard enough…

Even as Lefiya thought that, time ticked by. Each second, the temperature rose inside the dome, the magical power seeping through her shield and Asuna's.

"Lefiya!" Asuna cried, "You… You can do this!"

Glancing at her, Lefiya understood exactly how much strain Asuna was under. Her magic was not designed to do this.

I need to help her! Lefiya yelled at herself. Yet, the memories of fear still pressed on her.

Ching, ching.

"That noise…" Glancing up once more, Lefiya found herself transfixed by the boy. His back was straight as he glared at the storm of fire consuming them. Unable to look away, Lefiya listened to the bells chime as motes of white light flew through the air.

Fear fading, Lefiya found the principle her mentor had tried to teach her: the mental palace. A perfect harmony existing between her supply of magic and mind. An unbreakable bond allowing her to freely supply the shield with more of her mental power.

Ten, twenty, thirty seconds ticked by in this strange equilibrium.

"Lefiya… I… I can't…" Collapsing, Asuna's magic gave out.

Lefiya did not blink as the remaining magic fell on her. Without its insulating power, the temperature rose further. They were barely holding on. Yet, Lefiya listened to the bells. The sound sustaining her through the unbelievable mental agony.

Finally, "ready." The boy spoke, his voice strained.

"The front will break." Lefiya gasped. As she did, the palace collapsed and with it, her magic. As designed, the weaker front collapsed letting the remnants of the storm flood in.

"Ring, Aegis!" Throwing the shield forward, it exploded into a wave of white light and sound. Scattering flames before it, the boy's power ripped though the monster's magic.

"Amazing…" Collapsing to all fours, Lefiya let her eyes close for a moment as her magic dissolved completely. They would not die yet.

---

Kirito:

"Ring, Aegis!"

Rushing past Bell, Kirito was at the entrance to the dome just as the flames were scattered. Rushing amid sparks and motes of light, Kirito felt sweat trickle down his body from the incredible heat. It was a miracle they had lived through the magic.

As the flames faded, Kirito saw the spirit. Its eyes were wide with confusion. It could not understand how they had survived its magic.

"Gigas… Cedar!" Crying out the name of his prepared magic, Kirito thrust the massive blade forward. Moving in time as it extended, Kirito felt a sense of ownership over the blade for the first time. It was moving how he wanted it to; it recognized him.

Kirito watched with sadistic pleasure as the monster's eyes shifted from confusion to fear. His growing sword threatening to pierce its heart as it continued extending. Far past its limits, it reached past 50 and then 60 metres. The ashen plains that were left behind contained no obstruction nor object to hide behind.

Reaching out its fragile-looking feminine hand, the monster tried to grab the tip of Kirito's ebony spear. Slamming together, the monster was blown backwards. Its bull lower body flipping up as it was pushed backwards.

"GAAAH!" Releasing a scream, it rolled once more before coming to a stop. Kirito's magical spear ending less than a meter before its face.

"I… was too far…" Muttering in disbelief, Kirito was helpless to follow-up as his magic slowly retracted.

"Thanks for the opening, boy! Hell Kaios!"

"Heh, I'll show you the power of a true adventurer. Aro Zephyros!"

"You two…" Kirito smirked at the other familia leaders' attempts to show him up. Each of their magics rushing out to try and deal a crippling blow to the downed monster.

"I'm getting on this too! Thousand Sword Rain!"

Of the notable magics in their group, Leafa and Mikoto were the only two missing. Although Sachi as well could potentially be included in that group now.

All three of them were completely exhausted from the wargame. After fighting hard against challenging opponents, Kirito had thrown them into an even harder battle.

The three magics followed Kirito and pursued the beast. Whirling to its feet, the monster's bull head released a roar as it stood up, with its right horn it bisected Aisha's wave of red energy. With its left, Hyacinthus' discus.

"Go, Rain…" Kirito breathed. Unopposed, the swords fell hard upon the creature's upper body. Sprawled to the side, only one of its thin arms guarded against the barrage. Golden blades composed of pure magical energy crashed against it relentlessly, searching to fill it with holes.

"GAAAH!" The monster screamed as its body was covered with a cloud of dust, obscuring view.

"Is it… over?" Silica asked.

"…Yeah" Kirito agreed after a second of no sound. "I think it is."

"What was that power…" Philia mumbled, approaching Kirito. "Even now it is still brimming… Watch out!"

Kirito noticed a half second after Philia's cry. The soft sound of hooves through ash. Throwing his body to the side, Kirito stared horrified at the creature as it sprinted through the smoke.

Meeting the upper body's eyes, Kirito caught a sardonic grin. It was not uninjured, but it was far from dead. Worse than that were the implications, both bodies were now awake and functioning.

Whirling toward him, Kirito just managed to jump back to avoid the deadly horns. Caught in the air, Kirito was unable to do anything as its hooves landed with incredible power.

Stones rippling out with deadly speed, Kirito gritted his teeth against the lacerations which now coated his body. Touching his cheek, Kirito's finger came away wet.

The monster pawed at the ground, head lowered and snorting. Its upper body glanced around, but was supporting itself on its elbows, eyes closing periodically.

It was not fully awake.

More importantly however, it appeared to have changed opinions and now considered Kirito to be its most important target.

Why me though?

As the upper-body turned once more to glare at him, it raised its right arm and examined its hand. The palm there was tainted black and had a hole through the middle of it.

"I can kill it with a clean shot!" Kirito declared. "Buy me time and—"

"NO!" A shrill voice cut off Kirito's declaration. It was the young female mage that had arrived with Philia's group. "Not… alone…" She panted.

"What!?" Kirito had no more time to discuss it as the Bull charged. Its speed had increased. No longer did it move like a level one adventurer, but a mid level two adventurer. Dodging to the side, the speed was still easy enough for Kirito to deal with. The problem was the raw power.

When it got within five metres, it would kick the ground, sending its deadly rock shards at him. "Tsk." Riddled again, Kirito protected his vitals with his blade. Nothing protected his legs and hands which got the worst of it. Flexing his left hand, Kirito thought his pointer finger was broken.

The worst part was, he could not even attack when it did this. Each step shook the ground to an extent that it was impossible to gather the force for a solid attack. Gritting his teeth, Kirito's mind was still reeling over the healer's vehement denial.

"What do you mean?" Kirito heard Asuna yelling. "Kirito's magic is the strongest single target magic we have!"

"It won't work on its own!" The healer insisted.

"Then what!?" Kirito screamed as he barely dodged another horn. Off balance, his speed was reduced.

Suddenly, the spirit's upper body's head jerked up. A victorious smile on its humanesque face.

"Flash, rays of light. Tear through the darkness. Your envoy beseeches you, Lux. Incarnate of light. Queen of luminosity."

"No way…" Face blanching, Kirito instinctively raised his blade before the spirit's outstretched hand.

"Light Burst!"

Closing his eyes against the pillar of white light, Kirito's eyes were still burning from the incredible number of lumens being put out.

"Gah!" Letting out a small, pained yell, Kirito held the sword firm in front of his body. The force on it was massive and carried incredible heat. The light breaking upon his blade and smashing into body.

Flying backwards along the ground, Kirito tasted dirt before peeling himself off of it. Blinking, Kirito tried to clear his eyes. His body felt fine, but the light had been incredibly bright. When he opened them, large spots circled in his eyes, obstructing everything.

"HRUGH!"

"Huh?" Body reacting without vision, Kirito tried to jump away. His blade raised to try and block what was coming. The air around his stomach distorted, below his guard.

Eyes widening, Kirito felt the massive horn of the horn easily penetrate his cloth armour and sink into his stomach. Midsection gouged, Kirito did not feel a rush of hot pain, but instead an icy sensation. The numbness of shock grasping at his senses.

With a fling of the bull's head, Kirito's body was tossed through the air. The air was permeated with the triumphant cry of the monster and the horrified screams of his family.

Rolling heavily across the ground, Kirito coughed up a gout of blood. Sword still locked in his right hand, he pushed himself up. Left arm covering his midsection, he got to his knees before a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"W-Wait Kirito!" Asuna pled. "Let me heal you!"

"No time," Kirito shoved her off and struggled to his feet. Gritting his teeth against the wave of crippling pain from his abdomen. The more he fought against the pull of the shock, the more the pain swelled. "I have to kill it…"

"NO!" That healer, Cassandra, yelled again. "You won't win alone. It has to be with him!"

Following her finger to Bell, Kirito blinked in surprise. "What? We don't have time for this nonsense, look at it!"

The monster was currently in a lull state. Rather than attacking, the upperbody's arms were spread wide, head tilted back. Faint particles, like motes of light were gathering together and fusing into its body.

"T-That's mind recovery!" Lefiya gasped.

"Seriously?" Aisha cursed, one of the few others that knew what was happening.

"S-Sorry, what?" Asuna asked.

"Some of the great mages had the ability to recover mind from the remnant magic floating through the air. At this rate, that monster will have the ability to continually cast magic without running out of mind!"

The sobering fact made their plight all the more serious. "You, healer." Kirito addressed the droopy-looking girl roughly. "All of our lives are on the line. Why are you so adamant on this?"

Analyzing her, Kirito was not impressed. She didn't have the bearing of a great warrior like Aisha or Imizael. She did not come across as a tactician like Lili or Asuna. Essentially, there was not a single aspect to the girl that Kirito could find which would lead him to follow her judgement in a life-or-death scenario.

"I-I just…" Closing her eyes, the healer took a deep breath. When they opened, her light gray eyes burned with conviction. "I know that this is the answer! If the two of you don't do this… We will all die!"

There was silence except her panting. These were the final seconds of peace before the bull attacked them again. Mind wrought with pain, Kirito tried to think.

Me and Bell? Why? What is the point?

"Kirito." Bell spoke.

Looking up at him, Kirito met his bright red eyes. The boy stood tall despite his exhaustion. He had a horrible job in the wargame, running from amazons and then a brutal fight. Now he had already used his mind draining skill twice. The boy was ready to collapse.

How much further away am I?

With his adrenaline keeping him going, Kirito was unsure exactly how well he was doing. Based on the crippling pain, his internal organs had been severely damaged.

"Let's do this." Bell handed the Hestia knife over in a reverse grip.

"What are you— Ah." Smiling back at Bell, Kirito yelled to the surrounding members. "Three minutes. Don't die while buying it for us."

Leaving all further strategy to the others, Kirito closed his eyes and tried to focus on his magic. All he wanted to do was lie on the floor and cry. The pain kept increasing, adrenaline fading as his body reached the limits of his endurance.

Is this your limit?

Is this your end?

The two weapons in his hands pulsed their questions. Kirito's answer was immediate and vicious. NO! I will never let the ones I love die!

Fiery determination burning away the pain and exhaustion, Kirito's skill burned to life. As it did, he spoke his second magic.

"Trapped and secluded, I cry alone.

"Oh Endless fights, flying fortress, I endure."

Kirito did not understand the meaning of his magic, if there even was one. For some reason though, they spoke to him. A personal admission of something that never happened.

"Incarnate the Radius and answer to me!

"Mirrored Blades!"

The change was instantaneous. The Hestia knife began to grow with a small creak. The hieroglyphs engraved on it swirling in a rapid pattern. Once it reached the size of a shortsword it stopped, more than doubling its original length. Meanwhile, the black blade in Kirito's right hand did not grow, but the interior section slowly illuminated. The violet hieroglyphs from the Hestia knife showed up along the length. Ten large symbols glowing brightly along the whole length.

The drain on Kirito's mind was larger than he had expected and was ongoing. Both weapons in his hands were radiating power. Before he could let himself wonder if this was enough to defeat the spirit, Kirito crossed the weapons.

Holding the elongated Hestia knife away from his body and parallel his shoulders, Kirito rested the flat of the longsword on top of it. A faint chiming noise emerged from where they touched. Rotating his right shoulder back, Kirito's perpendicular swords resembled a drawn crossbow.

"Come, Bell!"

Kirito did not look back to see what Bell would do, his vision was focused on the spirit whose attitude changed entirely. The smirk that had been there vanished as it stared at him. Things were about to get serious.

Three minutes.

The fate of the world would be decided in that time.

---

Bell:

"Kirito…" Bell stared at the boy from half a step behind. The whole time his once black eyes were fixed upon the enemy, fixed on his goal. They shone now with a golden light.

While I'm here staring at him!

Clenching his left fist, Bell stepped up to Kirito's side and stuck out his right hand. Grabbing unto the end of the Hestia's knife blade, Bell felt it easily pierce his glove and palm. His blood flowed swiftly down its edge to the hilt. As it went the hieroglyphs glowed even stronger, reacting to his blood.

Looking back at Kirito, Bell caught it, the small approving nod from the boy that had put everything on the line to execute this.

Bell's left hand hesitated before joining Kirito's on the hilt of the Sword of Souls. There was one thing he needed before activating his skill: a hero. Bell needed the image of a hero fixed strongly in his mind to call upon the power of Argonaut: The story of the fool.

You're a fool.

That was how Bell would have described Kirito when they first met. A boy dabbling in matters he did not understand. Bell knew different now. Kirito put every ounce of his being into living a good life. He did not live for just the future as some did, nor was he like the gods living only in the present.

Kirito was a force of passion who constantly reshaped the world in seemingly impossible ways to achieve the best not for himself, but for those that had captured his heart.

If Kirito was a fool, then Bell was decided, he too would become a fool, because Kirito was everything he wanted to be.

That's right.

The choice of hero was easy.

Kirito.

Forcefully grabbing the pommel, the obsidian stone at the center recognized his grasp and shone with a bright white light. That same light made its way up the blade, mixing with the pitch-black surface. In the end, the two outer edges shone white while the center was still solid black with the violet hieroglyphs.

Bell did not observe the sword, nor did he stare at Kirito any longer. From now on his eyes were only fixed upon his goal.

Gong, Gong!

The grand bell sounded from Bell's hand with two minutes and fifty seconds left before their deadline.

Hestia:

Gong, Gong!

"WHAT!?"

"Impossible!"

"That hair… Those eyes!"

"The sword as well!"

Hestia could only sweat as the gods erupted into a frenzy. Even more than the reveal of the Sword of Souls, the ringing of the grand bell had set them off. Frothing at the mouth, the deities could not understand what was happening.

"So, it was true, huh Hermes?"

"Did I say something?" The god replied.

To a child, Hermes would have appeared aloof. Hestia knew better, the god was practically swooning with joy. He probably felt responsible for the power that they were witnessing from Bell.

Hestia did not entertain Hermes' fancies. The person responsible for Bell's growth was Bell. From the jaded and strangely knowledgeable boy he had grown into a more naïve and yet accomplished teenager. His eyes were always focused ahead, on achieving his ideal.

"Go everyone. I believe in you."

Ringing her hands, Hestia did the only thing possible and prayed for them with all her might.

"Do not fret, Hestia. I believe in them." A female voice spoke to her.

"HUH!?" It was a voice Hestia had not heard in centuries. Rotating one hundred and eighty degrees in her chair, Hestia stared wildly at the brown-haired goddess. "Astraea, what are you doing here!?"

The goddess of justice laughed lightly. "Am I not allowed in Orario? My familia may be gone… for now, but I have done much for this city."

"I-I didn't mean to say that, but I heard you left on… on that day."

"I did." Astraea nodded; her indigo eyes shadowed. "After burying the bodies that remained, I set out to help the world."

"…Why return then?" Hestia dared to ask.

Astraea winked mysteriously. "I have the feeling I will not be alone much longer. Just as your children will not leave you alone."

"…Yeah! You are absolutely correct!" Turning around again, Hestia resumed her vigil, belief assured that they would emerge victorious fixed in her heart.

---

Rain:

Gong, Gong!

The sounds of a massive church bell rang through Rain's ears. Even without looking, she could tell who the source was. "Those boys of ours…"

Even as she spoke, Rain tried to formulate a plan.

They had been gifted fifteen seconds by the monster recharging. Now, it was finished, and its eyes were filled with murder. Rain's mind went between two options, magic or melee.

Her magic had already failed.

"Guess melee it is." About to take a step forward, Rain felt a presence by her side, Philia.

"Did you really think I'd let you go alone?"

"…We should do this one-by-one. When the first person… falls, the next should take their place."

"Shut up." Philia scolded her. "You know we are better together. Just accept it and start singing."

Accepting Philia's criticisms, Rain looked once more into the bright blue eyes of her first and best friend. Rain knew they would be together forever. Either in this world or the next.

"Everyone! Are you ready? Let's do this!" Holding up a sword, Rain felt her advanced ability activate. Darting forward, Rain intercepted the Bull's charge with a swing of her blade. As its deadly horns approached, she pushed off her right foot. Her body flew with a speed Rain had never achieved before.

Dancer. Her new skill that only activated when Idol was in use. "Do you want to hear a song?" She taunted the monster as the upper body glared at her.

"Yes? Here I go!"

Twirling away from a foreleg, Rain felt the rocks rip through her clothes and armour, drawing blood. How is Kirito still standing!?

Smiling through the pain, Rain dove into her song. "Dance. Blades of fire, Blades of Ice,

"Obey your mistress and dance."

The monster retorted immediately. "Pierce, spear of lightning. Your envoy beseeches you, Tonitrus."

The odd sped-up song tearing through line after line in only a second or two.

"YAA!" From above, Philia fell on the monster's blind spot. Her blade burying itself into the center of the upper-body's back.

"GAAAH!" Screaming, the magic was clearly interrupted as the bull began bucking in a wild circle.

Philia's body was launched off in a low arc. Before she could land, the Bull found her, and its horn contacted her crossed arms with a horrifying cracking noise.

Thank you, Philia!

Sending her heartfelt prayers to her friend, Rain tried to rush though the end of her spell.

"Sing. Swords of Air Swords of Earth,

"Obey your mistress and sing."

Even before she could finish however, the Bull was moving again. Forgetting about Rain, its focus was further up the hill. Eyes locked on where Kirito and Bell wove an incredible piece of magic together.

Not so fast!

Using her increased agility, Rain dove after the Bull. Swords crossing like the blades of a pair of scissors, each sword tore into the iron-hard skin and stuck. Getting dragged, Rain finished her chant.

"Come and multiply, blades of light.

"Appear and fall,"

Only now did the Bull realize its mistake. "GROAH!" Rotating in a circle, Rain felt her body fly into the sky. Just like Philia before her, Rain knew that she would not rise again after receiving this attack.

"Thousand Sword Rain!"

Finishing her magic, Rain directed the waves of blades at the upper-body. One of its raised arms enough to shake off the damage that it dealt.

I believe in you, Kirito, my love.

With a titanic force colliding with her body, Rain felt a searing red pain and wished instead for the darkness as an escape.

Landing hard, Rain's blurry vision made a leg beside her head. "Why? Don't you see that it is impossible?"

Samira? Rain's fading thoughts told her. "Nothing is impossible… when you fight to save someone. …Please." Grabbing at the leg, Rain could not feel enough to know if she made contact.

As her consciousness went one last disappointment rose, thirty seconds. That was all the time the two of them had managed to shave off.

---

Sachi:

"Hah… Hah…" Panting, Sachi's vision was dark at the edges. Ash swirled around her as screams and songs were wove yet her feet did not move.

Rain's inspiring shout could have occurred in the summer for all Sachi remembered of it. Hands trembling, her broken spear was pointed at the beast as it knocked Philia away. Rain followed shortly and its attention was back on Kirito and Bell.

"N-Not again…" Mumbling to herself, Sachi knew that she could not do it. She could not stare down this horrifying foe. No matter how much Kirito had inspired her, Sachi lacked the requisite characteristics required to fight a monster of this caliber.

"I… Will not fail everyone here!" Mikoto shakily pushed her hands in front of her again. "I respectfully speak to you…"

"W-What…" It was Mikoto's magic, Futsu no Mitama. The gravity magic would have been a great help in hindering the monster and stalling. Even Sachi could tell it was far too slow. "Why?"

Mikoto could obviously not answer. Sweat beaded down her cheek and mixed with the dried blood there. Her mind and body were on the verge of collapse. She had trapped herself with her own magic for an extended period of time.

The monstrous Bull did not advance but stopped as it saw no more assailants pursuing it at the moment. Raising its arms into the sky, it wasted no time entering into another long-chant magic.

"Moan, mighty earth. Rise, rise, rise. Husk of the earth. Sheen of iron. Hammer of the cosmos. May genesis's pact upheave rock and stone."

"Sachi!"

"Huh? Ahh!" Sachi flinched as her boots left the ground. She was suspended by Strea's strong hand. The large girl was smiling as usual. It was strained as Strea's eye twitched.

"Please use your magic to interrupt that or we all die."

"W-What? I-I can't!"

"…Very well." Strea did not argue, dropping Sachi. Falling to the ground, Sachi stared at Strea dazed as the larger girl turned her attention to the monster. "Hey, Yui? Just know that you were the best older sister!"

"Strea!" Yui shrieked, her heartbroken words piercing Sachi's own.

"The sky shall burn. The earth shall split. The bridge shall rise. Heaven and earth shall become one."

"YAAAH!" Charging with her greatsword, Strea rapidly closed the distance with each step. Even facing down the fearsome warrior, the monster did not budge.

Why would it? Sachi's inner voice rang clearly in her mind. It is stronger than all of us.

"May the axes of the ether rain down and bring about calamity's ruin. Your envoy beseeches you, Gnome. Incarnate of the land. Queen of the earth."

"The chant's over…" Sachi realized with horror. The vast paragraphs passing by in a matter of seconds.

Strea leapt powerfully into the air, her sword primed over her shoulder to make a powerful attack against the monster.

As she descended, her muscles flexed, and the sword whizzed with phenomenal speed. The heavy blade would split a kite shield.

Crack!

Forced to answer Strea's attack, the monster's upperbody stuck out its hand. Catching the sword, it broke it in half. From the junction, thick black blood fell unto the ashen earth.

As Strea fell back to the earth, her mission failed, the Bull prevented her. As was becoming extremely familiar, the Bull's head came up to gut the girl.

"GAH!" Letting out a pained cry, Strea's body lay unmoving on top of the monster.

"N-No…" Sachi mumbled as the spirit turned back to them. Its large magic circle was uninterrupted. I'm going to die.

Sachi's languid thoughts were interrupted by an odd cracking noise.

"DIEEE!" Upper body rising from the monster's back. Strea's bare hand slammed into the upperbody's humanoid stomach. Again and again. A black mist surrounded Strea's fist. Each impact notable for the massive collision that emanated.

"Guh!" Arms falling, the magic circle collapsed. Bent over, it grabbed Strea's hair and tossed her like a ragdoll to the side. For the first time, the monster had taken true damage as it took a breather to recuperate.

"Strea!" Screaming, Yui took off to where the purple-haired girl had fallen and not gotten back up.

"She… She bought so much time…" Sachi muttered. That had been another thirty seconds. They were almost halfway through the three minutes Kirito had asked for.

Not even halfway. Sachi reminded herself.

"Descend from heaven, rule the earth - shinbu tousei!"

Arriving to the rescue was Mikoto as the monster finished recovering from Strea's blows.

"Futsu no Mitama!"

For the second time that day, Sachi got to watch Mikoto's incredibly powerful magic. The crushing gravity magic was essentially forbidden in the dungeon due to how dangerous it was. Out here however, it could shine for the world to watch.

"Groahh!" The bull mumbled its displeasure as it sunk to its knees. The once straight upperbody had been forced flat. Its head unable to rise off the Bull's back.

"Yes, Mikoto, you've done it!" Sachi cheered.

"Not… Yet…" The girl strained. Mikoto's face was rigid with strain. Sweat beaded off her in rivulets.

"GROA!" Roaring again, the Bull moved. Lifting its right foreleg, the strong appendage slammed forward. As it did, the ground itself began to shatter from the abuse.

Using the hole as an anchor, the Bull switched to its left. Once again, the earth shook as the Bull pulled itself another two metres closer to the edge of the magic. In the end, Mikoto's magic would only buy them around ten seconds.

Unlike the wide-area one she had used previously, Mikoto had narrowed the diameter as much as possible to increase the gravitational effect. Not even a level four would be able to move in this one.

"Not so fast!" dashing forward, Lisbeth extracted a knife from the wrappings at her waist. The icy-blue blade left a path of cold air in its wake. The blacksmith made it to the monster just as its right hoof made its journey to freedom.

Leaping at it, Liz thrust the blade into the center of the two toes. "Sprout, eternal ice!"

Crack!

The blade disintegrated.

From there, an artic wind blasted at everyone, freezing skin and making their breaths visible. At the epicenter of the effect, a massive crystal of ice had sprouted. The dizzying fractals created an almost snowflake effect where jagged arms of ice sprouted from each other creating a roughly spherical ball.

"Ahh…" Stumbling away was Liz. She only got about ten meters before collapsing. Her right arm was frozen at ninety degrees. Her whole front was covered with a layer of frost as well.

"Why? Why am I the only one that can't help!?" Sachi lamented.

"Hah… Hah…" The humanoid head of the monster lifted up to glare at Mikoto. Due to Liz's heroics, the monster was frozen in place between the gravity magic and the ice.

Lining up its arm at Mikoto, the monster began to chant. "Flash, rays of light. Tear through the darkness. Your envoy beseeches you, Lux. Incarnate of light. Queen of luminosity."

Mikoto's feet were locked in place. Her eyes showed no fear as she stared down the deadly magic.

"I've got you!" Yelling, Yui threw herself in front of Mikoto. The small girl's eyes stared straight ahead. There was no terror there, just a grim confidence as she understood exactly what she was getting into.

How am I the only coward?

"Light burst!" The monster's magic raged forward through the edge of Mikoto's gravity magic. Some was affected and twisted down into the ground trying to reignite the ash.

Most of the power cruised forward into Yui. The solid beam of white light crashing against her translucent purple shield.

Whoosh!

With a rush of air, the commotion between them fell silent. As the last of the light died, so did the purple shield. It had remained solid throughout the spell.

"Yui!" Sachi breathed relieved. The three-way combination of Liz, Mikoto, and Yui would be enough to hold off the monster until Bell and Kirito were ready.

"Ahh… Sorry, everyone…" speaking those final words, Yui collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. Mind down.

Magic stopped once; the spirit wasted no time starting another spell. "Freeze over as though the eternal permafrost, untold blades."

From the west, a male voice countered it. "Blasphemous burn!"

"Your envoy beseeches you, Undine. Incarnate of water. Queen of aqua."

In the moments before the spirit could activate its magic, the red-haired man in a frumpy looking blacksmith's apron used his own. "Will-o-wisp!"

"GAAAAH!" Screaming, the monster writhed as its magic circle detonated. Rogue magic energy snapping violently at both it and its surroundings.

"Made it just in time," the man laughed, self-consciously, Sachi thought. "Ah, shit, Liz…"

The man had no time to worry about Lisbeth as the tenacious monster started up yet another cast. Its seemingly endless mental power fueled partially by the remnants that continue to settle down around it.

"Arise, flames. Rage, rage, rage. Vortex of fire. The crimson wall. Hellfire's roar. May the ardor of the gale plunge the world into grief and misery. The sky shall burn. The earth shall ignite."

"H-Holy shit!" Stunned, the newcomer was slow to stick out their arm and begin his magic that had disrupted the monster last time. Based on the triumphant look its eye, Sachi had the feeling it would not work again.

"Blasphemous burn!"

"The seas shall boil. The fonts shall churn. The mountains shall erupt. All life shall turn to ash." The monster continued without a care in the world.

"Will-o-wisp!"

A strange surge of energy crackled through the air. The magic circle under the monster swirled with more intensity, but there was no stopping the ongoing chant.

"I-Impossible!" The man cried.

"Your magic… It sends a surge of energy into the target and disrupts casting, yes?"

Sachi recognized the elf's voice. It was the girl that had saved them from their death at the hands of the magic that was coming again. A magic that would not be halted this time.

"Y-Yeah, that's right…" The man frowned.

"I assume then, that the amount of magical energy being forced into the cast is insufficient to disrupt the cast." The elf concluded.

"Oh! So, the bigger spells act like a surge protector which take more current to get through!" Sachi was proud of her analogy.

"Sounds that way." Asuna agreed who was nearby.

The conversation, while a nice distraction for Sachi, did nothing to stop the encroaching reality that the monster was nearing the end of a powerful spell that would kill them all.

"Heh, Guess I'm using this then. GO, Fire moon, Kazuki!"

Grabbing the wrapped package from his back, the boy swung it forward in one clean motion. As he did, the wrappings burned off. Beneath was a glorious red longsword. Gaping at it, Sachi was only mildly surprised as a line of red fire extended from it.

Where it impacted the monster, it blossomed into a massive sphere. Heat that rivalled the monster's earlier firestorm rolled off in waves.

"GAAAAAH!" A very human scream of pain originated from the monster. Arms folded over itself, Liz's ice was gone in a matter of seconds. Likewise, the magic circle collapsed as the monster could not maintain concentration within the conflagration.

Finally, Crack! The sword broke and the flame ended. As impressive as it was, it was far from enough. The monster's green skin had been turned black, the bull's fur incinerated. That did nothing to dissuade the monster as the bull progressed again.

"GROOOAH!" With a triumphant roar, the monster emerged from Mikoto's magic.

The moment it did, the magic wavered and faded. Mikoto collapsed to the ground, caught at the last second by Leafa who was barely mobile herself. Even with all the time that had been shaved off, there was still a minute left.

Stretching, the monster's damage was quickly healing. Burnt patches of skin falling off, leaving new, regenerated patches behind. The bull's once naked body already had a thin coat.

Swallowing, Sachi knew. They could not hold this. The last of their help had arrived. Only a handful of them were remaining standing, they had no tricks left.

---

Haruhime:

"Hah… Hah…" Panting, Haruhime's bare feet hurt with each sprinted step along the hard cobblestone road. The slippers she had been wearing had slowed her down too much.

Now, each step of her left foot left a spot of blood behind. It would not be long until the right joined. Haruhime, did not care. Her destination was in sight.

There was the church bell that had started a minute ago. A source of glowing white light just ahead. Haruhime knew who she would find there, Bell.

Gong, Gong!

The majestic sound filled her heart. Pushing Haruhime onward, she felt an urgency in her breast. Bell needed her. She knew it.

Haruhime had started off running when lightning flashed. Her hiding place had been so close to the arena she was a little surprised no one had found her. Now, Haruhime wished it had been closer.

"Bell!" Haruhime yelled as she turned off the road. Getting him in view, Haruhime was able to see Bell on the left and Kirito to his right. They were sharing a sword that glowed with power.

Haruhime did not understand in the slightest what they were doing. Honestly, she could care less. One thing, she did know. They needed her help or her time being free would be rendered short by whatever they were fighting.

I'm too slow.

Struck by this thought, Haruhime knew she only had one option. Pushing through the pain, she started her magic. "Grow. That power and that vessel—"

Uchide no Kozuchi.

Haruhime's curse. Haruhime's blessing.

It was this magic that made Ishtar prize her so greatly. It was this magic that had doomed her to being a sacrifice. Unlike other magics, this one only served to reduce the caster's agency. An eternal tool, it was finally Haruhime's turn to decide who she granted the blessing to.

"Into the hammer and into the ground, may it bestow good fortune upon you. -Grow!"

Magic finished, Haruhime staggered to a stop twenty metres behind Bell and Kirito. No real target in mind, she finished the cast.

"Uchide no Kozuchi!"

The golden hammer spawned into existence above the sword shared by the two boys. Consuming both of them, golden dust swirled in and combined flawlessly with the magic already present. As it did, Haruhime was not sure if it was illusion or not but the very sword increased in size.

The whole time, Bell and Kirito did not budge an inch. Their eyes were fixed ahead toward the monster. Kneeling, Haruhime prayed for their success. It was the only thing that she could still do.

---

Sachi:

"Huh?"

Lifting a hand, Sachi watched as a golden mote of power flickered in her palm and then went out.

GONG, GONG!

The sounds of the bell crashed through her ears. Her limbs that had been frozen for minutes suddenly defrosted. A warmth was flowing through her body.

It felt like…

"Onii-chan…" Leafa's said, her voice filled with a tender love.

This is Kirito's… Tearing up, Sachi stared at the sky filled signs of their power. Oddly enough, the sky seemed darker than before. A single bright point illuminated everything, Kirito and Bell.

Rather than fear, Sachi felt a warmth and love emanating from the faint shadows. It was like a manifestation of Kirito's soul, supporting her.

"Haha… I really am a hopeless coward." Condemning herself, Sachi moved forward once more.

Not for herself. Never again would Sachi move forward for herself.

Are you like me, Kirito? Is that how you were able to help me?

Sachi thought that maybe she was right. People like them struggled to fight for themselves. But when they have someone to protect, a loved one to help, their true power shone.

"Break through my fear, my terror…"

Sachi felt each word echo in her mind. Held by Kirito's spirit, Sachi aimed the second half of her spear at the rapidly closing monster. Having given up on magic for the moment it charged at Kirito and Bell.

"Shatter my delusions and consume me…

"Spear of agony, spear of hate…"

"Sachi!" Leafa warned as she moved to the side still carrying Mikoto.

"Let this one last wish carry on and connect!"

"Distorted Thrust!"

Ignoring the Bull head, Sachi thrust her weapon up at the cocky upperbody's throat. Before it could notice what was wrong, Sachi's spearhead appeared directly in its path.

"Guh!" Blood poured like a fountain from where it contacted. The upperbody writhed, its two hands containing the damage that it had inflicted. Only because of the monster's own speed and weight had the spear been driven in so deep.

That speed, however, did not stop. Glaring at the bull, Sachi finally understood how the others felt. The power that let them stand in front of this monster and not flinch.

"Thank you, Kirito…" Smiling softly, Sachi did not wait long before the Bull's head flicked her aside. Maimed and sent flying, Sachi tumbled across the hard ground, a severe injury to her left side.

With the last of her strength, Sachi reached her right hand to the origin of that comforting darkness. "Ha, I love you… Kirito."

---

Asuna:

"Rise and flow. I am the Master of Water, servant of Neptune."

Too slow! Asuna lamented to herself. Lefiya beside her had just finished elf ring and was starting on a second cast of Via Shilheim. Even with Sachi's sacrifice, the monster would be on them in ten seconds, they needed twenty, and Kirito thirty.

"Rise and obey. Destroy those who obstruct."

Continuing with her magic, Asuna glared at the approaching Bull. She could not stop it with her rapier. Was there anyone left who could delay it?

"Forget about me?" Aisha laughed as she rushed into the Bull's path. "Hey, elf, an adventurer's life is too short to waste it second guessing."

Blushing, Asuna almost lost control of her magic. From beside her, Lefiya sniggered even as her magic progressed.

"GROAAH!" Roaring, the Bull lowered its head and prepared to gouge the level four leader of Ishtar familia.

"RAAA!" Matching its howl with one of equal intensity, Aisha put all of her skill and power into the attack.

Bang!

With a massive collision, horn met sword. Aisha's wooden padao was bending under the force. The blade near its breaking point as the combatants continued to collide. Aisha sliding backwards, uphill during the whole encounter.

"Hah, rejoice peons!" Declaring himself in a rather rude manner, Hyacinthus lunged unto the scene. Moving with a refined grace, the leader of Apollo familia struck hard at the other horn. Together with Aisha, the bull slowed down again. To Asuna's eye though, it was not enough.

"Me too!" Slotting in beside Hyacinthus, Leafa her blade into the mix.

"For Pina!" Yelling, Silica used her dagger to aid in the effort.

Crick!

"GROAHH!" Roaring, the Bull strained, its progress slowed to that of a brisk walk.

Crick!

With only a brief warning, both weapons of the leaders exploded. The two blades shattered under the immeasurable strength of the monster that surpassed a floor boss.

With twinned, pained shouts, the two familia leaders were thrown through the air, one to each side. Leafa and Silica followed only a moment later. Their lower strength stat saving their weapons from the same fate. Together they had bought five more seconds. Such was the overwhelming power of the monster.

"By my will, I give you life. By your will, I wield it.

"Chosen not given, I call. Answer my prayer and heed your duty."

While Asuna neared completion of the magic, she noticed it. The rumbling of footsteps marking a great number of people.

Ishtar familia.

"Stop that Bull!" Leading the charge was Ishtar's second-in-command, Samira. Her cocky smile was ever-present as she shoulder-slammed into the bull's side. Following her were a dozen other members. Their weapons and limbs bearing into the Bull's side which plowed forward with single-minded determination to stop Kirito and Bell.

"Gah!" "Aargh!" Screams echoed from the brave amazons as their bodies were ground away beneath the Bull's might. The powerful legs broke weapons, limbs, and earth as they powered through the obstructions.

More, we need more! Asuna prayed.

"Soulight!" Cassandra's voice called out. The healing magic washing over the amazons. While not an instant fix, it inspired a second wave of attack. Daphne as well, joined in by grabbing on its tail and pulling.

Samira, knocked in front of the bull, stood up and grabbed both horns with her bare hands. It was a foolish gesture; one flick of its head could send anyone flying.

"GROAH!" Howling in anger, the Bull staggered. The dozens of weapons piercing its side finally had an effect. The strength of multiple adventurers slowing its limbs.

Forced to stop, the bull raised its right foreleg. Asuna trembled as she beheld the sight. She knew exactly what this foretold. The cracked ground that she had travelled past.

"Se Weyga!" Yelling the phrase, Samira did not release the horns she held.

"Se Weyga!" The doomed amazons responded.

Thud!

With a dull boom, the foot made contact with the ground. Despite her distance, Asuna was almost blown off her feet. A soft cushioning behind her, kept her upright and deflected the rocks.

Kirito! Thanking the boy who stood right behind her mentally, Asuna finished her chant.

"Blessed of the Undine. My name is Necksa!"

Staring straight ahead, Asuna tried to ignore the bodies. The brave warriors that had done it. The last ten seconds that they needed. Samira's sightless and bloodied body lay between Asuna and Lefiya. A faint smile still touched the lips of the fallen amazon who had died accomplishing something great.

"Vannforlengelse!"

"Via Shilheim!"

Gritting her teeth, Asuna forced the water to obey her will. This time, you will obey me!

Forcing out all of her mind, Asuna changed the properties of her magic. This time, it will not shoot out. It will not disperse.

"This time… You will protect him!"

Asuna felt something brush your right hand. Glancing over, she saw Lefiya in a mirrored position to her. Their crossed staffs touching softly as they encouraged each other.

"GROOO!" Howling, the Bull crashed into the double-layered magic. Its horns and hooves beating away at the barrier that protected Kirito and Bell.

Each impact was a sledgehammer to Asuna's mind. The unbridled strength surpassed every limit that she had believed possible. Every stray attack had the power to reshape the terrain. Even now, the Bull's attacks were beating away the landscape.

Massive vibrations and cracks in the earth. Their lone bubble of safety was in danger of sliding down the hill behind them as the entire knoll began to shatter. Large chunks of boulders were shearing off and shattering from the shockwaves.

Five seconds.

Halfway done, half left.

"Asuna…" Lefiya gasped from beside her. "I… I'm sorry…"

"Don't be sorry, be better!" Asuna screamed back. Internally, Lefiya's words broke her. Neither of them had any mind left from the first spell they had stopped. "Hear it, listen to their determination!"

Gong, Gong!

The origin of the church bells was directly behind them. The sound pouring over the girls. Asuna was being held up solely by the knowledge that Kirito's life was in her hands.

"These bells…" Lefiya crumpled to her knees. Even as she fell, her magic remained.

Asuna did not know what passed through Lefiya's mind as the elf stared backwards towards Bell.

"That hair… This sound…" With both hands on her staff, Lefiya forced herself back to her feet. Her once placid blue eyes burned with reignited passion. "I already failed it once! That will not happen again!"

Two.

One.

Together the elven mages stood strong as the remainder of the three minutes ticked past. Just as the timer reached zero, the Bull reared back on its hindlegs. Bursting with power, it sent its legs down into the magic.

The earth shook with a mighty roar. The hillock gave under it as the ground collapsed in a rockslide.

As it faded, Asuna felt a small splash of water on her cheek. Beyond that, no sound reached her ears, the bell had stopped.

She could sense it. The absurd amount of magically power swirling through the air. Gold and white sparks danced and swirled. Kirito's shadow sucked away any background light, making the sword glow all the brighter in the dim light.

"Go…" Smiling at the boy that had stolen her heart, Asuna sent the remnants of her energy to him.

---

Kirito:

Thrum!

The power zipped through my body in waves. It poured from my hands, into the blades and back again. At the same time, I could feel Bell's own power that augmented and expounded on mine own.

It was a glorious addiction where every detail, every microsecond passed with clarity. As they had, my friends and lovers had fallen. Their screams and cries of pain, echoing endlessly in my ears.

Three minutes.

The time was up. Bell's charge had finished, my spell was done. It was time to end this.

Anger and determination poured through my veins, aiding the power. More than that though, it was awe at the display of love I had witnessed.

Every single one of them was precious and irreplaceable. I will not lose them!

With the barrier broken, there was nothing separating the Bull from Bell and I. We breathed together, we moved together.

The Upperbody of the monster rose again. Prone since Sachi's blow, the hole in its throat had closed. Thrusting both of its hands together, it chanted magic as the beast charged.

I could not hear the words to the short chant. My ears were filled with the thoughts and words of everyone that had bought us this time.

Philia and Rain.

Strea and Yui.

Silica and Liz.

Mikoto and Sachi.

Leafa and Asuna.

Everyone had thrown themselves into a hopeless battle to delay momentarily. Haruhime's magic. Cassandra and Daphne, Ishtar familia.

Every last person had played a role in defeating this monster.

Now, Bell and I would finish it.

"Light Burst!"

A column of terrifying white light burst from the spirit's out-stretched hands as it bore down upon us. The horns and hooves were directly behind it.

Let's go, Bell!

Yes!

"Gigas… CEDAR!"

"YAAA!"

My voice and Bell's roar merged until they one. A single human roar that resisted the divine.

Stepping forward, the Blade in my right hand thrust forward until the hilt connected with the blade of the Hestia knife. Not stopping there, it grew and elongated, my magic stretching, and thickening the blade into a black tree trunk.

Surrounding my magic, was a white light. A perfect magic for what the spirit fired off but for one difference. Bell's was stronger.

Where my magic impacted the monster's attack, a gigantic shockwave tore the air asunder. A series of small sonic booms gave evidence to the destructive power flying back and forth.

As the earth around us was torn apart, anyone nearby was sent tumbling. Our battle had transformed from a hill to a crater in the past fifteen seconds.

"Break!" Shouting my determination, I forced the magic ahead. Before it, the monster's magic splintered into dozens of small rays of light.

Ching!

As expected, the magic was unable to damage the monster before the Bull's horns intercepted it. Forelegs hovering half a meter off the ground, it used both its weight and strength to plow through the combined power that Bell and I had released.

"Bell…" Grinding out the boy's name, I could feel the power of my magic waning. The light had sheared off most of its potency. The healer, Cassandra, had been right. My magic alone would not have been enough.

"I… won't let you down!" Red eyes glowing with determination, the white light roared up the length of my magic, encasing the black spear with a phenomenal power.

Crashing into the Bull's horns, Kirito felt the power of the fight shift. The ground beneath its rear legs gave way. The monster was getting pushed back.

"Hiyaaaaah!" Roaring in sync once more, Kirito lifted the longsword off its rest of the Hestia knife and stepped forward with Bell, pushing the blade all the way forward.

Shoulders and arms touching, I could feel Bell's power rushing forward with mine. The twinned halves combining to create an even more deadly force than either of us alone could have.

"G-GROAH!" Panic suffused the monster's howl. Eyes filled with fright, the monster knew it demise was coming. Attempting to shake off the spear and leave, a soft snap! Signalled the end.

Horn splintering through the air, the Bull did not have a chance to register the pain before the dual magics atomized its entire head. Unhindered, the magics tore through the stomach of the upper-body as well. A fountain of blood getting forced out through its mouth.

Collapsing, the monsters body writhed for a moment before lying still.

"Is it… over?"

Not answering Bell, I walked forward to its side, twinned swords at the ready.

The upperbody's eyes were still open, but distant. It did not look at me, even as I raised the sword to remove its head.

"Ah… A-A…"

Pausing, I watched as its left hand shakily lifted to the sky.

"A-Aria… Where are you?"

In the end, it was a strange pity that drove my blade through its upper chest. A crack confirmed my guess. With the magic stone broken, it fell limp at last and began to dissolve into ashes.

The monster was defeated.

Orario was saved.

A lone tear fell from my eye at the price it had cost.

---

Epilogue: Reset

Bell:

A week had past since the wargame. While the result was still in limbo, things were settling down.

I had used that time to organize a trip to the adventurer's graveyard. It was my first time back since I had left Orario the first time. It would have been too hard to face up to my parents until now.

Now, my back was straight as I walked among the rows of flowers. There were lots with lists of names engraved on stone tablets. Sometimes memorabilia were placed reverently to the side. Often as not, a favorite sword or gauntlet was all that could be retrieved when someone perished in the dungeon.

Prior to going to my destination, Hestia and Silica turned off, guiding us to a secondary destination. It was odd that the tranquil field was actually situated with Orario itself. Isolated on the western side of the city by an iron fence, it was the place considered most holy by the adventurers of Orario.

The gods, with their differing view on death, did not care for the place as much. Hestia, however, kept a somber expression along with everyone else.

The procession included many people. All the members of Hestia familia, Miach familia, Haruhime, whose status was still undetermined, and Asuna, the mage from Loki familia. Her position here was obvious as she walked beside Kirito holding his hand.

For some reason, everyone seemed to fine with it except Lili and Haruhime who stared at them, and then pointedly at me. I had no idea why they were upset and wanted me to do something about it.

"Here…" Hestia murmured, bringing the congregation to a halt.

On the ground was a recently decorated lot. Littered with the weapons of the fallen, a long line of new engraved names were present. For once, the soil was upturned as well, signifying the bodies that had been placed here.

I could make out the last name on the list: Pina.

"How?"

"Aisha agreed when I approached her about it." Kirito answered the question softly. "She lost nine familia members to this fight…"

"Samira…" Rain read one of the names with a complicated expression on her face.

Philia touched her hand. The motion of affection natural for the two girls.

"She always felt like a force of nature… for her to be gone…"

The pensive mood was eventually broken by Hestia. "Do not worry about these children. The gods above will surely honour them for their heroics."

"…Will they really?" I asked. Not wanting to ruin the day, I was unable to contain my skepticism. "The gods are so fickle. They could punish them for failing to defeat the monster itself, or for previous deeds, or simply because they are lazy…"

"Ahaha…" Hestia laughed awkwardly as she had gotten called out. "Sorry. Bell's right. It is impossible to know the judgement for any soul. Even the most righteous could be punished if an evil god judged them."

"So, the system is completely random!?" Rain yelled. "No wonder no one worships you assholes! …Sorry."

"Don't be," Hestia glanced sadly at the monument before turning away. "Us gods have failed humans again and again. We are too nonchalant about your fate, your struggles…"

"Please…" Silica's voice was on the verge of breaking. "Can you all please be quiet?"

Silica… I had no words to comfort the girl. I had known some tamers in the past, but the link between Silica and Pina felt unique to me. Pina, was unique. A monster that had no inclination towards fighting.

"Pina… Pina didn't even have a soul. She's gone now, and nothing remains of her!"

"I'm sorry," releasing Asuna's hand, Kirito wrapped the small beast tamer in a hug. As Silica cried into his chest, I caught Hestia's askance, guilty glance.

What aren't you telling us? I mouthed at her.

Hestia's eyes only reflected her regret as she began the slow walk away. Liz had taken the other side as Kirito and she guided Silica onto the second destination. The one I had requested.

Butterflies fluttering in my stomach, I suddenly wondered if I could back out of this. If I was really ready to declare my heritage. To carry that weight with me.

"Bell…"

"Master Bell…"

"Y-Yes?" I answered slowly to Lili and Haruhime's inquires. The two girls were staring at me and frowning.

"Are you not going to tell us after all?"

Flinching under Lili's accusation, I averted my eyes. "I… What if… What if everyone treats me differently because of it? What if everything changes? What if you two… leave me?"

I could already see it happen. I knew firsthand how my parents and their familias had been revered in Orario. They had become martyrs, symbols more holy than the gods themselves.

"Hmm, you have a big head, don't you?" Lili hmffed, crossing her arms. "Did you forget how we met? I already have a good guess about what you are going to reveal."

"Bell, you are already my hero," Haruhime smiled brightly, her golden hair sparkling in the light. "Whatever your past, it is less tainted than mine."

"Sorry… Just a bit paranoid." Forcing a smile to try and put us as at ease, I walked past the girls, toward the center of the graveyard.

The whole graveyard was located on a gentle hill. I could easily track the group making their way up the central path to the middle where three statues were located. One, was hundreds of years old, close to the thousand that Orario was. The other two were erected the day I left Orario. The last time I had been here, just over a year ago.

The group had split into two and looked back towards me. Walking slowly through the corridor, I approached the statue of the great hero: Albert Valdstein. The man that had struck an eye from the great dragon, ushering in the age of the gods.

A statue stood on the left and right of him. One of a man one and a woman. Their gear was elaborate, its quality clear even though the statue was a uniform gray. Smaller figures were displayed behind them. A variety of faces and races that Bell also recognized. The lieutenants of the respective familias.

Completing the circle were stone monoliths with hundreds of names engraved upon them. These were the other casualties of that day. All of the heroes that had perished.

Standing here again, tears began to roll down my cheeks. Mouth moving, no words emerged. I didn't know what to say. Maybe I wasn't ready.

"It's okay, Bell." Lili grabbed my left hand.

"I believe in you," Lili enfolded her fingers around my right.

"I… These statues…"

"Bell," Hestia smiled widely at me, "I'm really glad that you chose my familia."

Blinking away the tears, I grabbed unto the words of the three women and pushed through. "Father… Mother… Thank you. Thank you both so much for killing the three great monsters. I am going to do my best to live up to your legacy. I will do what you never got the chance to do: clear the dungeon."

Silence followed my declaration. Following my eyes, it was easy to figure out who I was referring to. The two great people displayed here provided the greatest challenge any child could ever have to live up to their parents' legacy.

"Ah…" Kirito's strangled voice rang out through the silence. His eyes were flickering back and forth between the sword stabbed into the ground on the Zeus statue and me. After a moment, his right hand touched the hilt but did not draw the blade.

"Keep it." I insisted. "It was used by the leader of the familia, it is where it belongs."

"…You got it." Kirito agreed after a moment.

Bowing my head to the heroes here, I reconfirmed my desire as I wanted. From now on, it is on me to make good on it.

---

Knossos:

BANG!

The sound echoed through the room. It was instantly recognizable to anyone that had come from the old world. It was the sound of the innovation that had changed warfare forever, and the world shortly after.

A metal slug forced out of a narrow metal tube from the explosion of a flammable powder. Fireworks and flares were known in this world, but the hooded man had taken it a step further.

"Impressive…" Ikelos gazed intently at the hole in the metal shield and armour behind it. "You could kill a level three, maybe four adventurer with one of these. Even a completely untrained civilian."

"There are more advancements to be made," PoH smirked, "but it is a start. The steel shipments we have stolen are a start, but we need more blacksmiths. We need to look into hostages."

"Hmm… possible," Ikelos smirked. "You've come so far in such a short time. Don't disappoint me now."

"Heh, no need to worry about that. I still have revenge to get on those girls. Besides… Showtime ain't over."

---

The Hallowed Altar:

In the dark room, no noise dared to penetrate. Yet, there was a rhythm in the air. Rumbling through the rock as well, it pulsed a consistent beat. Reminiscent of a heartbeat, the whole room echoed in time with it. Slow and melodious, it would drive a person insane if any were around to hear it.

From the central altar to the three surrounding walls, the proportions beggared the mind. It was built for giants, every dimension stretching for hundreds of meters. Forming a perfect three-sided pyramid, the northernmost point had a staircase up. There was no matching staircase heading down.

For the first time in thousands of years, another sound penetrated the chamber. Overlapping with the dungeon's heartbeat, another, slightly swifter beat. It did not have the power of the room itself yet contained a divinity within itself that was unique.

From behind the southern wall, two large red lights appeared. Staring ahead, the glowing orbs were situated as if they may be eyes for a gigantic creature.

One not quite ready to emerge back to life once more, it waited. Moments later, two more heartbeats joined the two pre-existing.

The reset was complete, release was imminent.