Chapter 68:
The time was drawing near. Freya had lost many of her allies, but so had Loki. The only problem was that Loki still had more friends fighting for her. But there still remained some notable players. First and foremost were the King, the Sword Princess, and the March Hare. But the fight was not done yet, and many in Orario were holding their breath. The scene was building to its climax, and no one could be ready for how it ended.
And that ending would start in the yard of the Hearth Manor. The bodies of different Familia members were strewn about, and still, the intense combat carried on. At the center of it was the Demi-Ymir and Elgarm. Their titanic strikes and clashes sent out ripples, with nearby adventurers flinching in terror. At the same time, the former waitresses battled against the Captains of Hephaestus and Ganesha Familia. And even if the battle was four against two, the Captains were winning.
"How is this happening!" shouted Anya. "There's more of us!"
Anya attempted to block with her golden spear, but Shakti's extended thrust pushed through. The cat girl was sent flying into the metal fence. Chloe flashed in, her jagged daggers ready to plunge into the woman's back. But as it happened, the bluette pivoted on her foot, sweeping low with her lance. Chloe flipped over, but it was already too late. Shakti's fist had plunged into her gut. The cat-girl crashed through part of the building.
On the other side of the courtyard, Tsubaki easily parried Helun's sword and Lunoire's fists. The smith smiled as it happened, enjoying the dance of combat.
"You're so much faster than us… don't tell me!" shouted Lunoire.
Tsubaki's grin got wider. "Your Goddess's plan backfired a little bit. She forgot that the survivors would only get stronger when she made that war. Including me and that woman over there."
"Level sixes!" roared Lunoire.
She raised her gloved fists to block a glancing blow. She forgot that this was the blade of Orario's most excellent smith. Even with the blade barely grazing her, the gloves were ripped through, and her hands became mangled. Then, with an even faster strike following next, she and Helun got cut through. As the blood splurted, the two of them fell over.
"Don't worry, we won't let you bleed on the floor. It would ruin Lady Hestia's lawn after all!"
The two of them, free to fight as they please, started darting around the field. Slowly, they started working their way towards the center of the arena, edging towards the titanic clash in front of them. But there was a niggling thought at the back of their heads, and it persisted in the brain of the Dauntless as well. In fact, she had been asking herself this very question since the war in the streets had begun. How did Freya expect this to go? No matter how intense her Familia war was, if all of Orario turned on her, it would only be a matter of time. So, what was her backup plan?
This was compounded by how disturbingly easy the fight was getting. The constant healing that had plagued them at the start was gone, and Amid was still cranking out her strong healing aura. With Miach Familia acting as her personal guard, no one had gotten close yet. The fight was getting comically easy for Hestia Familia and her allies. And that sent the hairs on the back of Lili's neck on end. A strategist like Hedin wouldn't have let something like this happen without planning. There was something else in the water. The Dauntless would figure out what it was. That was her duty as the strategist.
She just hoped that her Familia would get back here soon.
The Elf:
Standing at the crater's edge, Ryuu looked down at the bodies of Hedin and Hegni. She had already moved Lady Riveria to a safe position and splashed her with a magic potion. Even with all that, though, the high elf needed to rest and recover. And now Ryuu was looking out over the crater. There was absolutely nothing left to see of Folkvangr.
Riveria's spell had obliterated the entire lot, with only bits of mangled fence left behind. Debris was everywhere, and people were only now coming out of their homes to check. That was who Ryuu had given Riveria to, a lovely elderly elven couple. Thankfully, they understood the gravity of the situation.
"I apologize, my comrades," said Ryuu to no one. "But I had to see it, just a little bit more."
The blond elf was starstruck by the power and magnitude of Lady Riveria's magic. It was more than she could have ever imagined. She had seen it once, many years ago. But that was a power constricted by the Dungeon's natural barriers. She had not wanted to cave the area in. Now, though, Ryuu had seen the Nine Hells unleashed. And it had been glorious.
The Faerie Princess quickly pivoted on her foot before taking off. She had to return to her familia. They would need her, even if she was injured and out of breath. So, Ryuu took off through the city. Her Familia awaited her, and she would not abandon them now.
She had crossed many rooftops when she finally noticed the silence. The fighting plaguing the city for many hours had died down. Everywhere she looked, there were unconscious bodies. Which was how she was picking her path. Wherever fighting remained, she would get there and help her allies. And most of the fighting was happening around Orario's largest park.
The Spirit:
Filvis, still living in Elwin's body, had no idea what she would say to his mother. She did not even fully understand what was happening. All she understood was that, in one second, it had been her new normal. The former monster had been living in Elwin's head, doing what she could to watch out for him. Then, he had gotten himself knocked out like an idiot. And even though Filvis would never admit it, she cared for the stupid half-elf. And she cared for Lefiya even more. So, when Filvis saw both of them in trouble. Something had seized her. There was a deep desire in her to protect them both. And a wish to do something besides float alongside the important people in her life. And then, she was there. Elwin's body became her's. Movement was hard, and fighting was nearly impossible, but Filvis struggled on. She loved her stupid half-elf like a brother, and she would not let his body fall apart.
So, Filvis followed the strangers into the park. And what she saw surprised her. It was a mini-infirmary, with healers dashing about and caring for civilians and adventurers alike. Organizing this chaos was a short woman with brown hair. She looked over in Filvis's direction, and the smile that lit up her face made the spirit's breath hitch. There was an ease and natural grace in her movements that defied logic. She just seemed so comfortable in her own skin. It was like watching a fairy tale maiden come to life. Filvis was so caught up in admiring her that she didn't process that the woman was running towards her. And she didn't register how the woman pulled up short or the confused look on her face as she tilted her head.
"…you're my Elwin…but you're also not…."
The woman trailed off as she advanced more cautiously. The mages that had escorted the adventurers here cast dubious looks between them.
"No offence, Lira, but this is your son. He looks like Elwin, sounds like Elwin, and even smells like Elwin."
Lira shook her head. "No, there's something different here. There's something in how he walks…and his eyes are different." Her gaze narrowed into slits. "Explain yourself."
That was when Lefiya stepped forward, as Filvis was still trying to process things.
"It is Elwin! It's just that…he got knocked unconscious…and he has another being living in his body…so she took over?"
The young elf's explanation came out in short bursts as if she was still trying to process what had happened to her beloved and betrothed. Everyone else looked on in confusion or disbelief. Everyone except for Lira, who looked contemplative. Eventually, she turned back towards Filvis and Elwin.
"Your soul lives within my son?" she asked.
Filvis nodded.
"And what do you feel for him?"
Filvis felt herself blush.
"He's like a brother to me now. I care about him a lot, and I don't want to see him get hurt."
Lira nodded along as if expecting that answer. "Well, alright then, if what you say is true, the number one thing that needs to happen is that you need to lie down and rest. Then, we'll see if Elwin takes back control and can confirm your story. Does that sound fair?"
Filvis nodded.
"Well then, follow me, sweetheart."
Lira walked off, gesturing for Filvis to follow. The woman led her through the park, which had been restructured and regrown to a forested grove. As Filvis looked around, the other woman looked back sheepishly.
"Ah yes, sorry about the restructuring, it's just that I prefer my environment to be a certain way…and most parks miss the point of all that." Lira shrugged. "So, I changed it when I got here. And it's more defensive this way, too!"
Filvis blinked a couple times before nodding slowly. The casual way the woman in front of her described the massive terraforming was a little off-putting. It was safe to say that Elwin's Mama was a different kind of beast altogether.
Eventually, the three found a quiet piece of soft grass to lie down on. There were already pillows and blankets made up to look like a bed. Lira softly pushed Filvis to the ground and ensured that she was comfortable. The mother brushed her son's hair away from his eyes as if on reflex.
"Sleep now, my beautiful child," she said. "Your mother will take care of you. And when you return to the land of the living, we will have a very long talk about this decision to let yourself die."
Filvis felt herself finally relax. And as she did so, the world slipped away from her. She could feel her spirit form returning, and her grip on the physical switched back to its original host. And while it felt good to be alive once again, to her, it felt better to be a guiding spirit.
The Dwarf:
Back in the courtyard of Hearth Manor, Gareth faced the tempest. Despite her adventuring days being behind her, it was safe to say that Mia Grand had not lost her edge. The former Captain of Freya Familia was a force to be reckoned with. But so was Gareth, and in fighting, one came to know their opponent at a deeper level. And to the stout dwarf, he knew Mia's heart wasn't in this fight.
"Those girlies of yours are taken out. There's no way for them to hurt themselves anymore. You can stop if you want," he said between clashes.
Mia rolled her eyes as she swung her axe. "If I don't put up a decent fight, the witch will know about it. And then she'll just cause more trouble." Mia sighed, stepping back, feinting an attack. "No, I must give this everything I've got. It's the only way to keep myself and my girls out of danger." She hefted her axe. "So, sorry for you, but I won't be holding back."
Gareth laughed his shield already up. "I was counting on it, you old hag. Now come and give me a proper taste of battle, why don't you?"
The two came back together. She swung her battle axe, which Gareth caught on the rim of his shield. With his greater strength, he twisted and pulled. Mia stumbled from the first, and the Elgarm used the momentum to push forward. He tried to bash his shield right into her nose. Unfortunately, Mia saw it coming and was able to step out of the way. She swung her haft around, looking to club Gareth before he noticed.
However, the full-blooded dwarf was ready for that. He brought his axe up to push it out of the way. The two of them continued like this. Gareth was okay with keeping this as a battle of attrition. Especially since Mia's wounds weren't healing like before. Someone had removed Freya's backline, which suited him just fine. And it would suit Mama Mia fine too.
That was when Tsubaki and Shakti jumped in, their sword and spear skewering where Mia once stood. Of course, she had already jumped back in time, but it was plain to see that the battle had swung fully in Gareth's favour.
Tsubaki brought her sword over her shoulder. "You know, I actually feel bad about this one. Your inn has done a lot for me and many others. I hate that we have to beat you."
Shakti was silent, but it was easy to see the conflict in her eyes.
"Ack, don't worry about it," replied Mia, spitting at the ground. "This is just another part of the Goddess's song and dance. We'll finish this one, and then I'll host the whole city on Freya's dime!"
The quartet continued their bout, sending shockwaves through the battlefield, but it felt just slightly less menacing than before.
The Amazon:
In another part of the city, Aisha raged in battle. The Amazon was working through her fear, and all that remained was pure anger. It burned white hot as she and Phyrne danced through the city's ruins. While the two clashed, Hermes Familia darted in and out with a barrage of attacks. The instinctive teamwork of Orario's shiftiest Familia kept the great toad on the back foot, giving Aisha all the openings she needed.
As the fight continued, the one called Hippolyta could see the mounting frustration on her opponent's face. It was pretty satisfying to see.
"Why won't you just go down?" roared Phyrne.
Aisha swung her padao in a devastating arc in response. She didn't bother speaking right now. After all, monsters like this didn't deserve conversation.
Asfi flew by and threw her explosive oils.
"Everyone, move into fifth formation. Keep up the pressure and support, Aisha!"
There was a rustling of movement as the different members of the Familia made quick and precise actions. It wasn't clear what the fifth formation was, but everyone understood what it meant. They moved silently, like shadows in the evening sky. Then, they attacked like thunder from a Summer storm. Phyrne tried to rage back, attempting to fight like a fire, but she failed. And in that failure, Aisha took courage.
For so long, Aisha had seen and remembered Phyrne as a monster that haunted her dreams. She had been the evil toad that had committed horrible crimes. The things she had done to other prostitutes. It had been terrible. But now…now Hippolyta, big sister of the Amazons, saw just how pathetic the toad was. And it made her smile.
"You really have no one, don't you?" asked Aisha as they crossed blades. "Even if you've been supported by the Goddess, you stand here alone!" She kicked out with her foot, landing an impressive knock on the toad's gut. "You are no one! And all you want is vengeance!"
Phyrne recovered and readied a counterattack. Before she could make it, though, there were explosions. Asfi whizzed by in flight. The resulting kabooms knocked the toad even farther away, opening her to even more attacks. This barrage continued for some time. Eventually, the battle led all the way down the boulevard. Resounding flashes of light and sparks almost seem like a show or parade.
"You know, this is pretty flashy for a Familia like ours," commented Aisha.
Lulune grinned her knives in hand. "You say that like it's a bad thing. Personally, I like the fact that we're working together right now. I feel like I'm in a real Familia now! Just like Hestia Familia!"
The Amazon grunted with joy.
"The two of you need to stop chattering!" shouted Asfi. "This is a Monster Rex right now, which means no sloppy movements!"
Lulune sighed. "She's so bossy.
"It's because she's pent up," replied Aisha, diving in to cut at her opponent. "We must find her a good lay when this is over."
"AISHA!"
"Oh, you want me then? Sure, Andromeda, I'd be happy to!"
The banter continued as the fight went on. Eventually, Hermes Familia cornered Phyrne into a corner. She was alone, covered in what must have been a thousand wounds. As she teetered back and forth, unsure on which foot she stood, Hippolyta strutted forward. Her hips moved as they always did, and her confidence had returned. As she tossed her hair back over her shoulder, she grinned.
"You hold no power anymore."
The Amazon didn't even swing the final blow. She turned around, happy to walk away from her former tormentor. Instead, it was Lulune who stepped forward.
"Guess who's helping me get to level four?"
Phyrne didn't respond. Her final insult died on her lips.
The Boy:
Bell could see the buildings become familiar. And as he saw, so did he hear the sounds of battle around him. Adventurers he recognized from Loki and Freya Familia and dozens of other, smaller Familias burst through walls.
"The fight's gone beyond just us now," commented Hestia. "These adventurers are fighting for the very soul of the city. Everyone wants to stop Freya, and they're tired of her trying to control them."
Iris frowned. "The fact that someone let it get this bad…."
"That's our fault," replied Ais. Her grip tightened on her sword. "We should have done more to stop her."
Hestia sighed. "It's no use debating what ifs or what would have been. We just have to keep going with what we have."
As the quartet started forward again, they were stopped by the sight of familiar people coming out from an alleyway.
"Look, its Argonaut!"
Tiona jumped over, bruised by still with her usual smile. Tione followed behind, taking the time to survey the scene around her. And finally, there was a group of people Bell did not know. They all looked to be Far Eastern, though, and they carried two bodies that Bell recognized.
"Otohime?" asked Bell.
Meanwhile, Hestia stared at Urashima's limp form.
"What happened to them?" asked Ais.
Tione grunted. "The Gulliver Brothers attacked. Don't worry, though, we took care of them." Her eyes darted to the foreigners. "And we met these three." She wept out a hand. "Meet Oto's mom, Ura's mom and their…uncle?"
The old man with long white hair shrugged.
Hestia continued to ignore them. She only had eyes for Urashima Taro.
"What happened to him?" she asked, her voice cold.
There was a deep silence and a shared look between the twins. Finally, Tiona spoke up.
"Freya got to him…she got into his brain with her charm and sent him to attack Otohime." The usually boisterous twin stopped talking.
"Otohime seemed to break him out of it, but as soon as she did, he just kind of…passed out. He's been totally unresponsive," finished Tione. "We think his mind is broken."
Bell felt something profound inside him then. It was similar to when he saw Elwin's limp body in the Dungeon. There was a deep and cold anger that threatened to take him over. Ais and Iris both reached out to comfort him. But they stopped. And Bell was roused from his rage.
In front of them all, Hestia's divine aura lit up, just like it had in the Dungeon. Her twin tails danced while the air seemed to shimmer around her. Loose bits of gravel rose from the ground.
"This is perverse… it absolutely disgusting," said Hestia.
The small Goddess reached out to rest a hand on Ura's head. She whispered words that Bell couldn't hear. And when she turned around, it was apparent she was crying.
"I swear in the sight of mortals, in the sight of my first child, that I will get justice. I will bring Freya to justice, and no one will stand in my way."
Her oath was made, and the divine aura dissipated. Bell felt the air return to his lungs. It was easy to forget sometimes that the deities of this world walked among them. They could command such terrible power that would bring entire civilizations crashing down. And it was especially easy to forget when it was a Goddess like Hestia.
"You're the Goddess that my child joined?" asked Oto's mother. "I like you very much."
Before others could speak, Tiona gasped.
"Wait a minute! There are two argonauts!?"
Tione finally noticed Iris, and her head swung between the two like a pendulum.
Ais nodded along. "This is Iris; she's Bell's twin sister who was raised by Poseidon Familia in the third uncharted region. She was originally taken in by Hera, but she didn't feel like raising a child. Her Familia, including their executives, are on their way to help us." The blonde stopped. "I think that's everything?" She looked over at Iris, her face emotionless.
The white-haired girl shrugged. "I think so. The rest is probably just details."
Before the conversation devolved even more, there was the sound of groaning. Otohime woke up, obviously still in pain and groggy. But one of the first things she did when she was cognizant was to look for Urashima. She pulled herself from the makeshift cot and cradled his head.
"She really did this?" asked the Dragon Princess. "I can't believe she really did this."
"I can," said Bell. "She killed our friends, started a war against the Xenos, and obliterated Ishtar and her Familia." He shook his head. "Even before it was about me, she committed horrible crimes and atrocities." The grip on his knife and blade tightened. "We overlooked it every time because we said it wasn't our problem. We always thought that Freya would never go too far or that she would only take down the bad people. But those people don't exist to her. Freya only knows about herself and only does things for herself. She's a storm or a natural disaster. And we've been idiots to think otherwise."
Oto's mom smiled. "Ah, you are the Captain of Oto's Familia, are you not? I like the way you talk." She bowed. "I am Tsuchiyaka Nakamura, and these are my friends Sasaki Kojiro and Kokina Taro. Now, while the conversation is lovely, and I am happy to see that my daughter is awake and alive, we should keep going. We have a house to protect, yes?"
"She's right. We'll be angry about Ura later," said Hestia. She took Bell and Oto by the hand. "Now come on. I swear that I'll take care of us."
The group continued to move, with Urashima Taro still carried on his mother's back.
The Fiance:
Lefiya gladly took the time to rest and relax. But she also made sure to keep an eye on Elwin and Filvis. And Lira did the same. The members of Hecate Familia currently here came to her constantly with questions, and she was just as quick with answers. But her eye was always on her son.
"So, how long have you been dating my son?" asked Lira at one point.
Lefiya blinked and felt the heat rise to her face. "Well, we've been together for a couple months now…and it might have been a little quick, but…by the rules and customs of the elves, we are also now engaged."
That made Lira stop for a second, but then she returned to caring for others.
"I'm happy to hear that, but I'm afraid your fiancé might die." She ripped a bandage. "Because I'm going to kill my son. How dare he just get engaged! It hasn't even been a year since he left!" She looked over and made a light placating gesture towards Lefiya. "Not that I blame you, dear. My silly son is just such a conniving miscreant!"
Lira rambled on like this while Lefiya sat there in a quiet stupor. Thankfully, her embarrassment dissipated when another mage ran into the clearing.
"Lady Lira!" she said. "The garden is ready! Also, more adventurers have started to poke their way in. Shall we continue to push them back?"
Lira shook her head, standing up and brushing the dirt from her knees.
"No, you have all done enough. I believe it's my turn." As Lira stretched her arms above her head, she looked back towards Lefiya. "I would have you join me to watch my back. Is that okay?"
Lefiya nodded, already up and following in the older woman's footsteps. The young elf took in Lira's simple homespun clothing. She also noticed that she didn't wear any footwear. It reminded Lefiya of the Goddess Hestia. There was something caring and motherly in both women's appearance. The elf was so focused on studying her future mother-in-law's appearance that she didn't recognize the sounds of battle around her. Eventually, she bumped into Lira's back. The older woman didn't move, while Lefiya stumbled backwards.
"You might want to stand back a little," said Lira.
Lefiya nodded, shuffling away. Then, she stood there and waited. After a couple minutes, adventurers popped out from the trees. In response, Lira raised her arms.
"Auxánō"
The plants exploded. Streets shot up from the ground, vines shot outwards, and brambles popped from the ground.
"By using and promoting good horticulture, I was able to graft different types of seeds together," commented Lira. "This created some truly amazing plants. Unfortunately, they must be in the ground for my magic to work on them. But they allow me to do some wonderful things. Wanna see my exploding pines?"
Lira thrust out a hand.
"Auxánō"
A nearby tree seemingly exploded, and hundreds of what seemed to be thorns went outwards. They tore into adventurers, shredding their armour and their flesh.
"I have many such seeds buried all around this park now."
Lefiya blinked. This was a magic and implementation different than what she had seen before. It was incredible.
"It is also quite useful for acquiring medicinal herbs when needed."
Unfortunately, plants could only do so much. Some of the more cautious ones hacked their way through the plants. As they barrelled closer, Lefiya wondered if she should do something. Before she could act, though, Lira raised another hand.
"Saprós"
And in real-time, the Earth at their feet fell away. A literal sinkhole formed, and they plunged into its depths.
"So much of our modern Earth is built upon old layers of life. Many plants, roots, and bits of life form the infrastructure of the ground beneath our feet. Removing it removes the foundation." Lira smiled. "And now I get to do this!" She waved her hand. ""Auxánō"
Plants regrew in record speed, forming around the adventurers. As they struggled, little spores seemed to release themselves.
"Specially cultivated mushrooms! Enjoy!"
The attacking adventurers began to cough and choke. Eventually, they passed out. Lira waved her hand again, and the spores dissipated.
Lefiya was left to blink in shock and awe as the once-normal park became an herbologist's dream. There were no more screaming adventurers, just the ruffling of plants.
"Now, let's get back to Elwin!"
Lefiya nodded in both fear and awe.
The Fighters:
It took a lot of exhausting time, but Gareth, Tsubaki, and Shakti finally defeated Mama Mia. The large woman was hunched over, using her weapon to support herself.
"So, do you think that was enough of a show?" asked a panting Tsubaki.
Gareth grunted, unable to form words.
"Please stay down," finished Shakti. "Gods above Mia, just stay down."
Mia chuckled. "Sure, why not."
The older woman collapsed forward. With her down, that was the end of Freya's assault. While not terribly wounded, the rest of Loki Familia were utterly exhausted from the fighting. The only one not happy to rest was the little Liliruca Arde.
"Everyone, take the time to rest. Drink magic potions for the body and for the mind! Then, reform into battle groups! Take a standard Monster Rex Formation!" She looked over to Amid and the other members of Dian Cecht Familia. "Healers now is your time for a break!"
She continued to bark orders, which everyone begrudgingly accepted.
After all, everyone knew that one significant hurdle remained.
Thankfully, though, before the end came, the rest of Hestia Familia made it home. Welf, along with a gaggle of members from Hecate Familia and the rest of her friends, came running through the charred ruins of the gate.
"Hey, Lil Bit! Thanks for holding down the fort!"
Lili smiled. "Well, Lili knew that Mister Welf was only going to bitch and moan at anything else!"
Welf laughed. The newcomers quickly dispersed themselves, falling into concrete lines.
Shakti, Tsubaki and Gareth took a rest at the back of the formation.
"You will recover what strength you can before returning," said Lili. "Be ready for anything, though."
And even as she said this, the puzzle's last and most essential pieces came through the gate. Bell, Ais, Hestia…and some others came sprinting through.
"LILI! You're okay!" shouted Bell, smiling.
Before the pallum knew what was happening, Bell was tackling her. He held her tight. When he finally pulled back, Lili tried to resist the creeping blush.
"Of course, Lili's okay! Did Master Bell not think Lili capable of defending her home?"
Bell laughed in response.
The others introduced themselves, and everyone looked on in confusion as Ais explained Iris's presence. All questions were waved aside by Goddess Hestia, though.
"We'll answer questions later. Does anyone know what's been happening?"
"All of Freya Familia and their allies have been accounted for, bar one."
The gathered generals and captains turned at the appearance of Ryuu Leon.
"Ottar will be here in minutes if not seconds. Aisha and Hermes Familia, having defeated Phryne Jamil, or in the ruins of the Pleasure District, looking after Bete, Mikoto, and Haruhime." As she walked by, the elf squeezed Bell's shoulder in comfort. "The rest of our allies, the members of Hecate Familia and others, are gathering at a park nearby. It is serving as a makeshift hospital. I have already sent the most wounded on their way there. Lady Riveria is unconscious but otherwise okay."
Gareth grunted. "Of course, she's okay. I don't doubt that she'd defeat those upstart elves." He snorted. "Kings, my hairy ass."
"And Finn?" asked Tione.
"Go find him," said Lili. "Both of you should go. You're exhausted, and Lili doesn't trust that everyone will leave him alone. He's a valuable target. Drop him off at the makeshift hospice, and then return immediately."
The two jumped away.
"Don't know if that was the right move," said Tsubaki. "Those two are good in a fight."
"Tione would be distracted and emotionally off. Tiona would follow soon after," replied Lili. "Better to let them fix their emotions." Her eyes shifted. "Sword Princess, you will be the vanguard."
Hestia shook her head. "I have something I need to discuss with Ais."
Taking her by the hand, she led the confused blond away.
"I will take her place," grunted Ryuu.
Before Lili could protest, Otohime pulled herself to her feet.
"And I'll back her up."
"Realistically, we just need to hold out till Poseidon Familia gets here," explained Iris. "But that big fucking brute probably knows that. So, he's likely going for the throat."
Lili grunted.
Before she could say anything else, though, they all felt it.
Looking back to the front of the house, they saw the pulsing light. Lili cursed as all her planning and ideas vanished before her eyes.
"Everyone, take cover!" shouted Gareth, throwing himself in front of everyone, shield in hand.
Scatterings of Adventurers did the same, but they knew it would not be enough. For at the source of the light stood a Boaz. He was snarling in rage.
The Sailors:
Near the once proud gates of the city, which stood in charred ruin, walked a group of men and women. They smelled of salt and the sea.
"Well, it's about time we got to work."
