Oi, I'm gone from this fic just to update a few other stories for a minute and the reviews already disappoint me. So much hate for Chaldea just because they destroyed Lostbelts and are mass murderers. While some have tried to be reasonable with why Chaldea must do what they had to, the sheer hate I felt in some of those reviews soured my mood.
The Hakuno VS Chaldea is similar to Hestia Familia Vs Loki Familia in the Xenos arc, where two protagonists of their own stories (Bell and Ais) have their paths intertwined and must fight. After all, heroes in stories sometimes clash with heroes from another story given how Fate portrays its Heroic Spirits at times.
I wanted this story to end with a happy ending, and you guys really know how to ruin my groove because of it. But still, I must carry on and learn to ignore your reviews if you guys can't be nice to the crew (the characters) involved in this fic as I write the story I want. Let's move on.
Several days after Hakuno left, Bell was doing his best. He was Vice-Captain, second in command if Hakuno was gone for any reason at all or if separated in the Dungeon. He followed the instructions Hakuno left behind, on certain days take Primo to the Twilight Manor to bond with her godmother Riveria and be educated in elf culture. Make sure to collect herbs from a garden outside of Orario via secret passageways from help by an orphan named Kyle.
Next was to make sure all necessities were stocked, and they had a proper budget for the Familia and make sure their Goddess did not splurge any past the limit she is allowed to. Then make sure to give members of the Familia a weekly allowance. Primo would be given a thousand valis, Haruhime would be given fifteen thousand for herself and groceries. Ais would get twenty thousand, Bell would get ten thousand, and their Goddess would get twenty-five thousand. Bell decided it would be best if they frequent the Dungeon since Hakuno wasn't around to hunt the Monster Rex on the 17th floor.
Most importantly, Ais was forbidden from exploring any lower than the floors their party can currently travel. She was their safety net in Hakuno's place unless their Goddess says otherwise, or the Guild needs the Sword Princess for something important.
Speaking of which, where was she? They didn't see her when the entire Familia bid Hakuno farewell that day.
"Ais, you're alive!" came the voice of Hestia from upstairs. "…and you complete idiot!"
Bonk!
"You're in so much trouble after this stunt! Must I be your mother and ground you!?" Yup, the Goddess was mad at Ais for something. Perhaps because she was gone for most of the week?
"I'm sorry…" ah, poor Ais, being scolded like a child caught doing something naughty.
"You should be! Not only did you risk your life just to level up, but who will look out for the rest of the Familia while Hakuno is away!? Everyone is level one still and they need someone to keep them safe in case something bad happens in the Dungeon. You're forbidden to leave home unless exploring with the rest of the Familia…and no more Jagamaru-kun for the rest of the upcoming month!"
The gasp from Ais' mouth really struck Bell, as he soon saw the horrified look on the Sword Princess' face at the punishment. It was a given, Ais loved Jagamaru-kun so much it was almost the only food she'd eat if she could. To not eat one was effectively a death sentence to the girl who was teary eyed at the thought of not eating one for a month. But seeing that expression was worth a thousand words, it was beyond cute with the way she was reacting to the punishment. Who'd think that Ais had a childish side to her?
Welf hammered away at tempered steel, observing for any cracks or flaws in the shape before carefully doing through the cooling process. The Holy Witch was gone for the month, but she placed a few orders in for him to fill out. A shortsword and buckler for Bell, a dagger for Primo, and a pair of heeled greaves for Hakuno herself.
Welf had to admit when he looked at the designs, his blood sang in joy of the details. He understood Hakuno's desire quite well now. She wanted both form and function in the gear, an elegant way of putting it but the quality of materials he had were piss poor. So, he had to choose function over form now, to test the performance until he got better materials to craft the ideal gear the Hestia Familia needed. But the Sword Princess as an absolute no.
Every sword he made for her had been wrecked beyond repair and he felt like crying at times. Now he understood what the Goibniu Familia went through with the Loki Familia at times. He's heard tales of how they poorly treated their gear and understood why Ais kept apologizing for each unsalvageable weapon she returned to him. But his blacksmith pride won't allow him to do so, but it instead ignited a passion to do better. If he could make swords that won't break under the Sword Princess' hands, then he'll prove to be worthy of being called a blacksmith.
This was his challenge, and he will face it head on!
But first he needed to get ready. Today was another venture into the Dungeon with Bell.
Primo did her daily stretches to get the stiffness out of her body. It was a routine thing that Mom taught her. Better to have your body fully awake and flexible than stiff when venturing in the Dungeon. She learned that better now that the Dungeon is full of surprises. Her staff was in good condition, her flasks of emergency potions carefully in her pouch, a dagger from Welf by Mom's request in case of emergencies, and a boxed lunch from Lady Hestia.
The little elf's smile brightened as she was going to explore with her Familia today. She can't wait to tell her mother all about it!
/
It sensed him; he is here at last. It commanded its children to clear the way as one of its stronger children sought him out. Let the tale be retold, and let it see what this second life of the One that foolish god had regaled so fondly of when the deity was still in the city above.
/
Bell felt something was off with the Dungeon, something that his companions felt as well as they reached the tenth floor. No monsters, no people, no noise and it sent alarms up his spine. "Guys, we should qui-!"
The passageway to the upper floors collapsed on its own as a singular, powerful roar echoed through the entire floor as countless monsters surrounded them, eyeing them. Ais already had her numerous spare blades in reach, Lili had her wrist-mounted crossbow loaded, Primo's staff was glowing as she carefully eyed the situation and quietly chanted her spell, waiting for the proper moment. Welf had his greatsword, alarmed but focused and cautious. Bell had his knife and shortsword in hand while the buckler was attacked to his wrist as a red minotaur wielding a worn out but well-honed axe and patches of leather armor stained in old blood walked into view as it glared at the boy.
Bell felt something inside of him resonate with the creature. The look in its eyes was of bitter longing for battle. Something within him felt the same, as if etched into his own soul as the minotaur snorted as Bell stepped forward. The other monsters stood clear of Bell as his party looked alarm.
"Guys stay back…" he told them as he stood with his back straight as they felt as if someone else was in his place. "I'm sorry guys but…" he began as a smile was on his face.
"I'm going on an adventure."
The minotaur smiled sinisterly in response, sending chills down the other's spines as the monsters focused on them instead. Primo blinked and realized she needed to act fast. "Miss Ais, be our vanguard! Miss Lili, focus on support and aim for weak spots! Welf, cover me! Mr. Bell! Go get 'im!" Primo called out as everyone got into position while Bell walked towards adventure.
Bell imaged of lightning striking something and a blaze igniting from it as both knife and sword were infused with flame and sparks respectively as he activated his magic circuits. This was a retelling of a comedy, of the clown and the bull doing battle once more.
The minotaur roared and charged, Bell dashed forward with a scream as he flew into his foe, drop kicking them in the torso and bringing his sword towards the Minotaur's face. The Minotaur raised an armored wrist to block the attack before attempting to swing its axe at Bell. The rabbit boy flew away from the incoming attack and began channeling more magical energy into his skills.
"I have to win…I have to become a hero…!" Bell thought as the two opponents clashed. Bell's speed against the Minotaur's brute strength as sparks and embers erupted from each time their weapons collided against each other. Bell quickly swung his thunderous sword with precision, piercing through gaps in the monster's armor as an image of Ais ran through his head.
"I must be fast, swift like the wind itself!" he had though as several holes in the creature's flesh began leaking blood. The Minotaur swung its head and Bell raised his left arm to block the horns as it tore through his buckler, into his flesh and ripped it off his arm. Bell's ignited knife made a gash onto one of his opponent's own limbs. The Minotaur then kicked Bell in the torso, destroying the armor in one hit as the boy was sent flying. An image of a brave boy facing against a bull from an old tale his grandfather told him echoed in his mind.
"I have to have courage and resolve, like Argonaut himself!" he thought as he dashed forward, his flaming knife cleaving one of the horns while the weapon broke itself from the intense heat, overload of magic and the durability of the Minotaur's now severed horn.
Beams of light decimated dozens of monsters at once, as Primo observed the situation they were in. Ais kept the heavy hitters from getting past her, while Welf dealt with the small fry. Lili carefully and precisely pierced the skulls of several imps while one snuck up of Primo whom lost its head due to the dagger she had.
She noticed just in time of Bell's knife breaking and only having one sword and realized he had a disadvantage now. "Miss Lili, get Mr. Bell a sword when you get a chance!" she called out as she began to caster another Lumine Pleiades when she heard more voices from the distance.
"-urry up and help clear this place out!" an adventure with a square face and covered in scars shouted as he and his party were clearly the reinforcements and Primo fired her spell to kill five of the monsters and get their attention. "There are others here, lets hurry and get out of this alive!" the man gestured as they rushed to aid.
"Miss Ais, go for it!" Primo ordered.
"Awaken, Tempest." The Sword Princess chanted as wind danced around her and she moved.
"FIREBOLT!" Bell roared as he held his hand out, a bolt made of fire surged forth and struck the Minotaur in the chest as Bell's blade of lightning severed parts of the monster's armor. A fist struck him from the side, crushing few rib bones and Bell gritted his teeth. The image of Hakuno's back and the black mana surrounding her as she turned to smile at him, asking him if he can catch up to her.
"I know of a person who can alter the rules of the world on a whim with her magic. Defying everything we all knew about it and inspired wonders for children! I will catch up to her!" Bell thought, of one of the two women he adored and fired a more focused Firebolt in the Minotaur's face, burning out its eye as it screeched in agony. A sword spun in the air, and he realized it was one of Ais' spares as he used his opponent as a footstool and leapt in the air to seize it.
The sword coated in flames as both fire and lightning danced in harmony as Bell began cutting away at his foe's flesh before the axe came down. He narrowly dodged it; his pauldron shattered as he willed himself to go faster. Adrenaline surging through his body as red and yellow streaks of light danced from his hands in a flurry of slashes. His body coated with the blood of his opponent as they leapt away from each other and glared at each other.
The Minotaur dropped its axe and got on all fours, in one attempt to kill Bell. The aspiring adventurer felt his magical energy starting to reach its limit as the sparks and flames of his Mana Burst skills were visibly weakening on his weapons. Said swords were also reaching their limits as he crossed the blades in front of him. Both adventurer and monster locked eyes, seeing each other as worthy foes before both roared and charged at each other. One final attack to decide this duel once and for all.