Danmachi: Fated Hero or Foolish Demise?

by Darth-Bagus27

Following the events of Danmachi Light Novel 18, Bell is walking through Orario, trying to clear his mind. Bell is a level 5 but soon will realize that he needs to get far stronger. (This is a cross-post from Wattpad by me, the author.)

5. Chapter 3 RW

Chapter 3 RW: Dreams (Heroes of Old)

Author's Notes(A/N): Hello, everyone! As mentioned in the previous A/N, this rewrite should be the last one that takes me some time to complete. What I did not account for were several factors, such as getting sick… twice (and Elden Ring, but that's aside the point).

Chapters 4—9 SHOULD be relatively easy to complete to the quality I am striving for as they helm some semblance of quality in their original forms. Chapter 9's rewrite will mostly just be me fixing issues I glossed over in my original final product. Issues such as copy/paste not importing words from my final document (which is why somethings might not have made sense). In any case, I know this took forever, but I'm very proud of how this turned out, and I hope you all enjoy this!

---

[Start SoundTrack: Fi's Gratitude Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword]

What makes up this world?

A basic question ever so deceitful in its simplicity. Those who fail to grasp the hidden beauty behind it shall fall victim to answering in the literal sense. There have been two groups known to give such replies: children, sheltered from horrors, and those unwilling to think. The former can be excused as kids being kids. For the latter, their responses run fragrant to the purpose of asking such questions. Yet, all their retorts do is prevent the usage of this shortcut.

But across my travels, searching for her, I have heard many. Of them, two have stayed at the forefront of my mind. Both responders shared one thing in common: they were dying. Aside from that, they couldn't be more different.

One of them was from a little girl dying from wounds afflicted to her. I met her when I was young, long before I adopted my current mantle of Wanderer. She was of a group I couldn't save, and I knew she was dead faster than her mind and body could tell her. When I held her to hear any last requests, she gave what I now perceive as her answer to this question.

"I know... you tried your best to stop this. The world is full of meanies; I know you can't change that. But... if people like you can stay around, maybe other kids won't get so unlucky. Pretty... please, keep making people be like you, and then... those bad people might start to change... as... well..."

Her hollow smile as life exited is as vivid now as it was then.

The other was an elven male dying from age. I encountered him long after I abandoned who I was, taking up my current title. It had been so long since then that I was certain none would know who I was. Yet, that old elf knew, and his final words were one of spitefulness.

"This world is comprised of people like us. People who suffer while the gods either sit back in Tenkai or get front-row seats in our world as they watch our lives like it's a game. They enjoy watching us struggle and see how we fare until we meet the sole constant: death. We're all tied to it. All, but..."

Air fled from his lungs before he could finish his last statement, though I felt as if I knew what he was about to say. With his passing, I thought he was the last... until an old bastard proved otherwise.

But as I sit here waiting, I have been granted a chance to give my answer.

What makes up this world?

The Three Twisting Twines of Life, woven together into a fabric, are what make it up. Each thread is a representation of a collection of people, and the countless fibers making them up are of individual persons. Every twine is identical to the other in one fashion: length. However, differences can be quantified when one looks at the fibers; it is there that each of their uniqueness can be uncovered.

The identity of one of these twines is in its uniformity amongst its many threads—all mirror images. It inserted itself into the fabric a thousand years ago, starting with a single fiber before turning into the rope it is now. They have harkened everyone to a new era, for better... or worse. This is the twine of the deities.

In my search, I have encountered two: the old man and his wife; therefore, I have not much to say about the gods. But if they are considered good, then this world is doomed. However, I can't bring myself to support that idea, for it took just one mercenary group doing good to influence much. The average strength in this world has exploded past what it once was, perhaps due to this falna system. Coupled with the consolidation of strength inside that damned city, people can begin living without abiding by the idea of "might makes right". But, their effort has yet to raise a hero, let alone Hope.

For the second twine, you would find threads of endless length but of two separate types: those with glimmer and those without. This twine was the first to be woven into this world; existing since the time of fairies. They are said to be the favored children of the gods and beloved by all. This is the twine of the spirits.

Unlike what came to replace them, I have plenty to say about spirits. Their appearance is most elusive, for their forms can be anything. When they are in the form of people, even I struggle to discern them.

Glimmer is used to distinguish the two classes of spirits. Those lacking it are regular spirits, and those with it are referred to as Greats. Both share agelessness, fluid appearances, and rejuvenating blood. It is in their pure blood that differences start to arise. It will heal the gravest of wounds, but only that of great spirits will grant the drinker power beyond the mind. Of the great spirits, none were as grand as the greats of the classical elements: Fire, Earth, Water, and... Air.

The Great Spirit of Fire met her end during the time of Argonaut, though rumor has it her blood lives on in another. The Great Spirit of Earth and The Great Spirit of Water succumbed to their respective monsters, fueling them to become greats of land and sea.

The Great Spirit of Air is the sole survivor, survivor being the optimal term; for her current state, I refuse to call living. One day, you shall be set free; I regret that it can't be me. Fret not, dearest Aria, the one to liberate thee, will too be the one to become her source of glee. For the first time, I have a lead on he.

Last is a twine defined by fibers of different lengths, but never one that spans the entire rope. Here is the twine of all mortal life. It doesn't matter if one is a high elf or a dwarf, an amazon or a pallum; all races of people are here. Lives that are destined to end. A fact that all mortals should be content with. None of us should be straddled by the chain of immortality. None of us...

Alas, these twines don't exist unmanaged. Otherwise, never would there be a god that gets sent back to the heavens. Never would there be a spirit that gets absorbed by a monster. Never would there... be a child that gets prevented from leaving her mother's womb.

Each of those cases has had the fiber for the individual severed. The instrument to cut them is nothing but a pair of scissors; its blades are that of Mother Nature and Father Time. Those who make the trim are a force greater than the gods, at least when they are in our realm of existence. They are of many names: the Norns, the Weavers of Destiny, and the Parcae.

I know them as none other than the Sisters of Fate, dictating the paths we walk by manipulating our thread until they choose to cut it; that is if they decide to at all. But for as much power they have, they are not omnipotent. It is rare, but sometimes their blades dull. When it occurs, they must wait for one of us lowly beings to make the choice that will impact all. Furthermore, the sisters and their instruments will vanish one day.

In their stead, the Legendary Spirit of Light and the Legendary Spirit of Dark will supplant them as the strongest forces in this world. A pitched battle with no destined victor between them shall occur, each to beckon a new age. An Age of the Stars, driving shadows out of this world, or an Age of Damnation, plunging the world into forever blackness...

[End SoundTrack]

---

Atop the apex of the mountain range, encircling the city from afar, he sat with his legs crossed. The three large pouches with his possessions rested behind him; his cane lay on the ground to his left, while a vial of black ink was on his right. In his hands were the oversized journal and a quill crafted from a golden feather.

A long while has passed since the moon superseded the sun. As jets of cool air left their mark among those under the starry night, so did Wanderer leave his on the many pages in front of him. Every word to answer the question of his own befell the canvas; each stroke was as elegant as the last.

The journal's sheer size could qualify it to be seen as another weapon in his repertoire. But its dimensions have served its purpose well: cataloging information. Maps, sketches, recipes, and general knowledge about people and locations were to be discovered in the vast pages, enough to where one could label his journal that of the "All-Knowing".

The section he was carving words into was that of many questions. None were designed to seek an objective answer. Instead, they were tests of character meant to aid or, in some cases, supplant further analysis. This addition marks it as the penultimate question of the collection requiring his input. But as he went through the pages to reach notes written earlier in the night, the final question met his eyes.

"What is it?"

It was the very first of its kind that he asked of those around him. He racked his brain and shut his eyes.

"It is an idea. One that centers around... no. It's a...

Regardless of attempts, regardless of the passage of time, and regardless of revelations unearthed, he couldn't muster a response sufficient enough. It was futile, as it had always been. Akin to Zeus's struggle to move Wanderer's cane, the robed man's veins started surfacing, all to no avail.

Sigh. "I'm not destined to answer yet. But if not now, then when? Why can I not answer a question they could... that he could."

His eyes opened and attached their gaze to Babel.

"I know not when I will revisit this, but I will. I mustn't dwell on it now; there is much to review."

He flicked his journal and reached the section dedicated to the dungeon city, containing information from his stay with the god of the once strongest familia and a sketch from his vantage point.

"An initial sweep shows signs of self-sufficiency to a large or even complete degree. Further information as to whom those farms belong to will be unearthed at another time."

He peered down at one of the far-off entrances, seeing four guards huddled around the other.

"Eight ports of entry, all headed by no less than four level 2s. No sentinels along the wall, leaving them prone to those who can either leap over them or those with a workaround. I can tell they weren't designed for someone like me. But seeing them complete is..."

Passing him was a cool breeze, making his robe flutter and his sight shift to the moon. It was then his brows furrowed, and he reached inside his robe, pulling out his pocket watch.

"It isn't like you to be late, Ospin."

His mouth readied to whistle, but none came out.

"No. There is no inherent time crunch. There must be something that piqued his interest to investigate past the dungeon and a collection of documents."

After returning his pocket watch to the void, he sat motionless and stared at a blank page. Another gust of cool air came by, causing a statement to be rattled in his mind.

"Like an albino rabbit, huh?"

Much like a painter and his brush, he glid his quill across the page until there was a rough sketch of what he imagined the boy looked like. Due to lacking color, it resembled Meteria, having long flowing hair. Although his expression took after Alfia, eyes sharpened from how rare they opened. Setting his pen to the side, he held up the image.

"Our meeting will come soon. I am prepared to sacrifice the precious commodity of time to arrange your trials. For that price, I will have no remorse. I desire the best for her, and I will see if that might be you. Are you of glass, fated to break, or of clay, waiting to take shape? Are you to be the first in a long line of failures, or will you also be the last? To be the one the world needs? The one she needs? The one... I need?"

Several rolled-up documents entered his peripheral view from above.

"I was beginning to wonder where you were, Ospin."

He set the journal aside and grabbed the collection of papers carried in the eagle's talons before the bird perched at the edge of the cliff. Upon their unravelment, an official guild document caught his eyes. It commemorated a level-up for someone with white hair and ruby-red eyes.

"Bell Cranel has done it again, level 5."

Placing the flyer next to his sketch, he began comparing them. Bell's official depiction was less feminine than originally believed, having shortened, unmaintained hair. But one difference led to his fists clenching: the general expression carried in the portrait.

"I refuse to believe you've experienced the realities of this world when you can smile like that! I must introduce you to them, and then let me see your innocent nature stay! You are not-"

Screech!

Ospin's shriek snapped him out of the brewing inferno, taking control of his thoughts. A deep breath left the man, and the image was folded before placing it in the journal and shutting the book.

"Thank you, Ospin. To think I'm already affected at this distance..."

He shifted his sight to the rest of the records acquired; maps of the dungeon were next in the series.

"Before I look at these, does my knowledge of the dungeon's structure still hold?"

A slight nod from Ospin gave him confirmation, but a glaring issue arose when he started sifting through them.

"The lowest you could find was to the deep floors?"

Chirp.

He rubbed his head.

"All maps crafted by the familias of the old man and his wife must've been lost after their suicide trip. But wouldn't the guild keep records of them?"

His eyebrows arched down, focused to a point.

"Something is going on. I intend to find out what."

All the records were set down, and he looked at his bird.

"In hindsight, the dungeon as a base isn't the best location. As the staging grounds for the physical aspect of Cranel's trials, it's perfect. But it wouldn't be useful for the other parts, and I would like to not live there should he pass-"

A beak started pecking at his left thigh before flailing around the last map he hadn't looked at. Taking it from the eagle's mouth, it was revealed to be a rudimentary map of the city, all the districts in their respective quadrants. To the south of the circle was an 'X' to signify where they were. Inside the city were three markings: the number 1 inside the shopping district, the number 2 in Daedalus Street, and an arrow from the second location that pointed to the first.

"So this is why you took longer than anticipated? Well done. And if there's nothing left to discuss..."

From the shadow that was his robe, he pulled out his satchel and slotted the journal, documents, ink vial, and quill into respective slots. He returned the satchel to underneath his robe and picked himself up. A kick of his cane shot it up to his hand as he looked down at the city.

Sigh. "Then there's no point in delaying the inevitable."

Just as Ospin hovered over to the three sacks, Wanderer pointed his cane at him.

"Toss me atop the wall."

"..."

"The city is surrounded by a few klicks worth of flat land."

He smelled the air.

"Even if I could time the crash of my movement to that of the storm that is approaching, I'd still kick up a massive cloud that would be noticed."

Ospin tilted his head, seeing through the half-truth until Wanderer conceded.

"Fine. I wish to stand on the completed project. Now toss me."

[Start SoundTrack: Fate/Apocrypha—Where it begins]

He raised his cane to the sky, and seconds later, he was hoisted off the ground. His body swayed back and forth before he was thrown towards the dungeon. As he soared through the air, a single cry sounded in his head.

[DON'T LEAVE ME!]

A cry that turned into many the closer he approached. Louder and louder each one became with each passing second. He sneered as a sight overlaid onto the city. The walls were shattered, countless buildings were set ablaze, rivers of blood flowed free, the lid of the dungeon was blown off, and the Angel of Death had taken up the sky.

A moment prior to impact, he front-flipped and landed without a sound. His eyes shut, but it didn't prevent the mist from escaping the confines of the left side of his face as all screams in his head silenced for one: hers.

[NOT YOU TOO! PLEASE!]

"To think I called this place home. It is a hell, tainting this world! All this city has ever done is take!"

He approached the ledge of the wall and opened his eyes.

"Just as I was told: this city will be the capital of evil-"

A gust of wind passed by, causing his hood to flutter over his visible eye. But when that eye reattached to Babel, half of the overlaid sight was gone. The right half of the city was as it appeared: the flames of disaster absent. It was as if the breeze he felt had extinguished them and prevented the memory from boiling over. The right side of his body twitched when the dark mists tried to encircle him.

"Nothing... Nothing changes. This city has bred and attracted the worst of people. And don't forget what it took from-"

Whoosh.

Wind flowed past him once more. This time around, it forced his black mist to return to which it came and forced his sight to see the here and now. Orario was neither a city in disarray nor was filled with decay. It was the opposite in every aspect, as tens of thousands of magic stone lamps illuminated across the city.

"They've washed away the sorrow... all the stains of time. To think that this is the same place..."

Boom!

The crash of lightning and its accompanying thunder forced him out of his head. He placed his left fist on his chest.

"Enough with sentimentalities. I am here for one thing: you, Cranel. Be thankful your grandfather persuaded me to allow you this chance. A chance to become Hope."

He readied himself to pounce forward when,

"What's so damn funny, Dormul?!"

What followed were the laugh of a dwarf and two sets of footsteps sounding from the nearby staircase. Just as the two reached the top of the wall, Wanderer covered the right side of his face with the overhang from his hood. In an instant, he vanished from the common eye as he embraced the shadows, upholding the status of the robe that absorbs all light.

"I've heard pretentious statements from elves, but yer must be boarding on insanity! HA!"

"Shut the hell up!"

The two who rounded the corner were a blonde elf with a prosthetic arm and a cackling dwarf on the verge of tears from laughter—both level 3s.

"If this whole adventurer thing doesn't pan out for you, you could always try the circus and tell your jokes! You must've lost parts of your brain along with your arm that day!"

"You're acting like you and the rest of Magni Familia aren't joining for the war game against Freya Familia!"

Wanderer's brows raised as he listened to the both of them while invisible.

"War game? Is that why Hermes hadn't written Zeus back?"

"Oh, we are." continued the dwarf. "After all, we are both in debt to Rabbit Foot and the rest of Hestia Familia, and I think it's time we pay it back! I'm just laughing that you'd think we'd do anything special."

The elf smiled and shrugged.

"I'm surprised you chose that as the reason and not because you got charmed and tricked like the rest of us. But I guess a dwarf like you is all fine with getting manipulated."

"You little!"

As the two continued to bicker behind the cloaked Wanderer, he shook his head.

"Well, doesn't that bring back memories?"

BOOM!

Another crash of lighting refocused the hooded man.

"Enough delay."

And he leaped forward onto a rooftop, heading towards his destination.

[End SoundTrack]

---

Pant!

Pant!

Parts of her clothing were slashed, and the skin underneath oozed blood. The crimson liquid either stained her clothes or was flung from her and landed in the puddles below. Dangling from her side was her left arm, ripped from its socket, while her right hand held onto an almost crumbling dagger, radiating an icy mist.

Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!

"Please just be rain. Please just be rain!"

Looking over her shoulder, her right hazel eye struggled to open thanks to a fresh scar running down it, but it still managed to widen and fill with terror. She struggled to get out breaths; her red spit kept clogging her airway.

Cough! "Damn it! Damn it!"

It was more than just rain slamming into the puddles filling the alley. They were of a group of four, ones that only continued to get louder.

Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!

They were kept in her sight, and she began squeezing the dagger while gritting her red-stained teeth.

"I'm sorry, sis. I know this was expensive..."

Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!

"But I won't be taken by them!"

Reaching a fork in the sidestreet, she slid to a stop and raised the dagger to the sky.

"Hyiaa!"

She slammed the blade down at them, sending out a wall of ice. It had cut her off from them but at a cost past monetary.

Ack. "Damn it! The handle must've...broken first! Ugh!"

Her face winced as the destroyed magic sword sent parts of the frosts back into her palm, turning her fair skin blue. After writhing at the pain, she managed to return herself to her feet and continued right down the junction. All her energy to run was zapped from her; the best she could do was a brisk walk.

ACKK!

It devolved into a limp when the gash on her thigh expanded. To join her inability to sprint was her inability to see from her right eye. A problem that was compounded by the storm-provoking black clouds to hinder the moon's radiance, and every magic stone lamp passed a certain point was shattered.

"I just need to get to a main road. Then... I'll know where I am."

Boom!

Her one "blessing" was when the drizzle turned into a full downpour.

"Please... let this hide my scent. Achoo!"

However, it was another hindrance for her as cool air mixed with the rain and caused her to shiver. These elements made it not surprising when she passed the turn she needed to head down.

"I just need to get home. I just need to get home. I just need to get home."

Her train of thought derailed when she walked face-first into a dead-end.

"Damn... it..."

Resting her back against the wall, she reached into her right pocket.

"Just... one potion. I only need the -"

When her hand went through her pocket, her labored breathing increased.

"No! N- Cough! No, no, no, no!"

Water entered her eyes when she saw the hole.

"Fuck! The others were in my cloak!"

She slid down the wall, resting against it. The thread of consciousness was tugged on, making her sight hazy. She leaned forward and left her mouth ajar; the collecting liquid fell on her shirt.

"Of all times to be the stubborn one, I had to pick now. Why didn't I listen to them...?"

From her left pocket, she pulled out a familia crest, the details of which were too faint to see given the current situation. She held it by the fingertips of the frostbitten hand.

"I just had to grab this on my way out... the only reason they knew I was there! This...damn thing!"

Despite wanting to throw it, she held it to her heart and gritted her teeth.

"No... I'm not going to live. But if I can get this back... I can make sure they, or anyone else, don't suffer from those bastards anymore! For you, sis!"

The crest returned to her left pocket, and she brought herself up, one leg at a time. Part of her shirt was bitten down on while she scuttled to her left and slammed her shoulder into the wall.

MMPPH!

Her face crushed at the pain, but with motor control gifted back to her left arm, she removed the hairband that held her brunette hair in a ponytail.

Pant. Pant. "This is going to suck!"

From her hip, she withdrew her kopis and tied it to her right hand with the band. A piercing screech would've been sent out had it not been for her shirt. She hunched forward.

Pant! Pant! Ack! "Time to get back home!"

When she was about to sprint back to the corner,

"There you are!"

Her blade pointed forward, and a gap in the clouds allowed the moon to illuminate the four. They all wielded weathered swords, had tattered clothes, and, worst of all, had a sickening smile shared between them.

Two stood on her left and the others on her right. Of the ones on the left, the one standing ahead of the other was a chienthrope, blinded in its left eye, with the other a human missing his left ear. Those on the right were both humans; the one closest to her had tanned skin, and the accompanying thug had a full goatee. A chuckle came from the latter.

"Hehehe. A two-use magic sword? To think that you'd use something so expensive on us."

His accomplice joined in.

Tsk Tsk Tsk. "I had a feeling we weren't squeezing what we could out of you folk."

They were prevented from getting closer when her blade pointed at them, but it led their allies on her flank to start moving up.

"Did you really think I'd lose your pretty scent?! Why don't you just make this easy? Handover the medallion, and come with us to discuss everything you saw."

She leaped back, preventing her from being encircled, and she entered the shadows.

"Over my dead body!"

The dog person walked toward her as the rest of his familia members stayed in place. He shook his head.

Grrr. "You don't know how lucky you are that we're under orders not to kill-"

Splash! Splash!

Clank!

In the small window that his guard was down, she rushed towards him, taking a swing at his midsection. His blade had just saved his life as he brought it over in time.

"You bitch! Did you really-"

In most cases, his partial blindness was offset by his sense of smell. This was not one of them. She punched the left side of his face, making him stumble back, and followed it up with a kick to his stomach, sending him into his companion. Both slammed into the wall and were knocked out.

Her sight twisted over to the remaining two on her right.

"Come on, you bastards! Scared to take me when I'm not off guard?!"

Both of the remaining assailants approached her, keeping their guards raised.

"All we were told is that we can't kill you."

"Meanin' that as long as your breathing, we can do whatever the hell we please!"

Her left hand joined the right in grabbing onto her kopis, and she forced out words through her gritting teeth.

"Go ahead and try!"

Both rushed at her. The tan-skinned one sent a thrust her way, carrying his weight along with it. It failed to connect when she twirled out of the way, achieving two things: shoving the attacker to the ground and taking a swing at the other.

Their blades locked, and her sight sent shivers down the second thug's spine. Within that glimpse of fear, the curved nature of her blade aided in cutting open his wrist.

Ack!

Splash!

The weathered blade fell from his grasp, and the last thing to fill his sight was her forward slamming into his nose.

Ughh!

Both of his hands held onto his broken nostrils as he fell. When he looked through his fingers, death approached in the form of her blade driving toward his heart. His savior, but her curse, was the tan-skinned member forcing his sword into her left shoulder.

"ACK!"

Chunks of cartilage flew out, and her instinctive swing was backstepped.

PANT! PANT!

"Hehehe! What's wrong?"

"Fuck...you... and your familia!"

She slammed her blade down at him.

Clank!

A double slash starting from the left and then the right came after.

Clank!

Clank!

Every time his blade rang out from blocking her strikes, it served as a reminder that her chances of getting home were slimming. Her one arm couldn't generate enough power to force an opening, and the exhaustion found its way into her swordplay.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

An upward slash was set loose.

Clink!

Her odds of getting out of this grew when a small piece of the weathered blade chipped off.

"It's breaking!"

Her strength was poured into wild strikes to ensure that he couldn't get a chance to do anything but stay on the defensive. She summoned as much might as she could muster, and it overflowed into her vocal cords. Two sideway swings were joined with a slam down.

"GO!" Clink! "TO!" Clink! "HELL!"

CRACK!

Splash!

The blade was severed from the handle, and she forced her kopis into his chest. However, only the very point of her blade made it in, as the one with a broken nose placed her into a headlock, dragging her back.

"Hit her!"

No time was wasted before the thug let forth a series of strikes onto her: right, left, right. His last punch knocked a couple of her teeth out. The twine of consciousness was close to being cut when her sight was filled with a swing firing straight at her. But thanks to the gash on the right hand of her restrainer, she managed to get her head out of the way enough for the punch to avoid her and hit the guy behind.

UCKK!

With her sword hand freed, she impaled the foot of the one delivering blows.

ACK! "You little-"

Her right leg rocketed upwards into his crotch.

Wheeze...

That was the last sound that exited his mouth before curling up into a ball, squirming at his damaged area.

Pant... pant...

She took a few steps back to lean against a wall; her sight bounced around the four moaning in pain. Not even the rain could cover the pungent scent of blood shared between everyone. The shallow puddles forming turned into a murky river. Her lip was bit down, spewing blood that added to it.

"There's... a chance now!"

The attempt to run faltered, and she was relegated to leaning against the wall with each step taken. She couldn't see anything past what her arm could reach: the moon's reflected rays hiding behind the clouds. But she didn't make it far before a hand wrapped itself around her neck. It tightened and lifted her off the ground.

"Hello again, dear."

A different type of shiver reached her back, not of frostbite or wounds but of unabashed terror. In the span of an eyeblink, she was thrown back into the dead-end wall. Black filled her sight multiple times while copious amounts of blood vomited out of her.

One "person" entered her sight in between the flashes of darkness. It was an elf whose pointed ears were the only elven-like feature of him. His twisted, sinister smile put those who she had knocked down to shame. Hanging from his right arm and dragging across the ground was a reinforced chain. Any of her blood that fell onto his left was licked up with a sense of enjoyment.

Mmm. "I always wondered when I'd get to tase yours."

He knelt to her, lifting her chin to force her to look into his eyes.

"You're quite the resilient one, aren't you?"

From over his shoulders, he looked at the four men on the ground.

"Slammed against the wall, hit in the stomach, shattered nose, and-"

Wheeze!

"A damaged manhood." He closed his eyes. "I'd even call you impressive-"

"Hiya!"

A desperate attack to take advantage of a blip of his weakness failed when two fingers stopped her blade. He shook his head and looked at her.

"I said you were impressive, not that you could bridge a level gap. And for that stunt..."

Her wrist snapped, the blade falling out of her grasp.

"Uck! Ugh!"

"Then again, in relation to those four, most would be. You have no idea how fortunate you are that most of my original familia was decimated, and we had to settle for this... lower-level lot."

From her pocket, he pulled out the medallion, holding it close to her face.

"Even though you knew we'd figure out someone took it, I understand why you grabbed it. This would've been a real headache, but now?"

Crunch!

The medallion was turned to dust in his hands while all she could do was watch.

"That issue has been resolved. As for the second matter..."

Her head was pressed back against the wall.

"Have you heard the phrase 'Do unto others only what you would do to yourself.'?"

A punch to her stomach forced out acid blood, and another to her face shattered her nose, spraying chips of bone out.

Aaagh!

"Seeing as you lack the same organs to bruise, I'll have to improvise."

After aligning his fist to her chest, two of her ribs were fractured from him letting loose a punch.

Nngh!

"Hehehe!"

Every sound, every face she made in response to her torment, fed into the smile. A sick and disgusting pleasure he took from it.

"If my memory holds, your familia was warned about snooping around our... less obvious side. Was that letter not read to you?"

"It was...I just decided that if it meant shining a light to expose you and your familia for what you really are, then I consider the consequences more than worth it! And before you ask, I'm the only one who didn't give a damn about your warning!"

Sigh... "You know... I always hated that damned motto of your familia. 'Shining a light through the darkness', well, some of us like to keep things in the dark!"

Crack!

Her head was slammed against the wall behind her, shattering the bricks and painting them red.

Argh! "Is... that why you lot... destroyed the lights around here?"

His eyebrow rose.

"Was that not your doing? Hmph. It doesn't matter."

The elf stood up and jammed her kopis into the wall.

"Since you chose to be difficult, I see this as most deserving ."

He wrapped the chain around her neck, yanked it tight, and tied it to the handle of her sword.

UGH! "What... are..."

"It's a shame that killing you would draw too much attention from the guild."

He pointed to the four men on the ground.

"But after they're done with their fun, I can imagine you'd want to end yourself. Hahaha! HAHAHA!"

"WHAT ARE YOU- MMMPPHH!"

His hand covered her mouth while he licked the blood off her face, savoring the taste.

"That is unless you give me what I want."

Her jaw was forced open by his thumb.

"I want to hear you squeal and beg for me to stop."

Crack!

A punch to her center cracked more ribs; the one to her liver forced fluids out of her mouth.

"S-Blehh...stop..."

"Louder."

All the digits on her left hand were dislocated. It was pursued by a blow, drowning her left eye in blood.

"S-S... Stop!"

That word fell on deaf ears as the elf took one of the weathered blades, pressing it against her forehead and running it down. It stopped at her eyebrow. Any hit with the palm of her hand against the cutting arm was useless.

His breathing sped up; his tongue licked his teeth. Joy was to be found inside his eyes, and his disgusting grin expanded.

"Louder!"

In its entirety, the blade cleaved through her skin and cut open her eye.

ACK! AHH! UGHH!

Through her blurred vision, she saw the elf licking the blood of the blade.

"Hehehe. Hahahaha! Now...for the final mother fucking time... SAY IT LOUDER!"

"STOP!"

"AHH! Ahh... hehehe."

He whispered into her ear.

"It's so fortunate that you have the will not to pass out. So many of the other saps that step out of line end up doing so, leaving no fun for me. But it is also fortunate that you thought you'd be spared from such a fate and that I wouldn't go back on a quid pro quo!"

Pop!

Her jaw was pulled from its hinge, and a rag from the elf's rear pocket gagged her.

MMMMPPHH! MMPPH!

She thrashed around while four shapes started rising from the ground. Those who fell first were locked in conversation with the elf as the latter two approached, sharing a snicker between them. When they got close enough, she could discern that it was the thug with a goatee holding her chain.

"Really, you should be thankful. At least we ain't after your sis-"

Sending a kick to his crotch was the most she could do. But even that kick faltered as it lacked any force behind it.

"Bitch!"

Slam!

One last punch to her face rendered her unconscious. Her body went limp while the two men ogled at it like it was some doll made for their pleasure. Her face was squeezed by the last of the four to go down.

"Since you wanted to hit him down there, we'll make sure to bruise all of yours!"

"..."

"I've waited so long for the chance to do this!"

A shallow cry was everything that could leave her mouth. But the moment the assailant undid his belt...

[Start SoundTrack: THE VENGEFUL SPARTAN |Ω| GOD OF WAR (2005)(LYRICS)[HQ]]

.

.

"M̶̨̫̠͎̪̖͇͑̇̒̇͛͝O̶̢͕͈̙͓̼̼̹͕̥̣͇̓̏̎̓͛̈́̍̊̓̒͗͘͝͝Ṋ̸̼͓̥͙̮̗̭̫͚̂̆̓S̵͕̪͂̋̋͌͊T̵̢̢̛͎̳͓̼̭̋̋̊͑̿́͑̚Ȩ̴̼̠̭̫̳̻̫͍̟̖̌͐̌́͆̅̐ͅR̵̨̹̬̤̤̱͌͛̎̌̒̍̇S̸̨̥͖̺͕̊͐̒̑̈́̓͑̒̑̚͜͠͝ͅ!̴̨̦͍̗͎̙̠͕̘̯̯̥̝̓͜͝ͅ"

.

.

ZOOSH!

Within an eyeblink, the whole section of the alleyway was flooded in black. The only thing to be illuminated were the thugs.

"What the hell?!" shouted the elf. He looked around him until he noticed the one that sought to use her first wasn't there any longer.

"Wait a second, we're missing one. Where is he?!"

"I-I-I don't know." responded the assailant with a broken nose. He tried to walk back to regroup with the others but stumbled.

Ugh! "Something's got my leg!"

"..."

"What?!" he saw their mouths moving, but no words exited. Unbeknownst to him, the blackened fog entered his ears, deafening him. He started kicking at whatever was ensnaring his foot.

"Let go, damn it!"

A final kick freed himself from it, and he pulled it closer to his face. It wasn't a rope or some other material one could find in a trap.

"Is this... someone's organs-"

"I thought this city abandoned such brazen acts."

The voice boomed down, managing to pierce through the deafened thug's ears. A ring was left in the hearing of all those present, but after seeing what his foot was trapped by, he started fishing around in the blackness, his hands scanning through the water until he felt a shoe. Dragging it up to see what it was, unearthed it as the lower half of his familia member.

"But I was wrong."

From the perspective of three, the moment their accomplice dropped was the last time they had saw or heard him. Half a minute later, the void removed itself from the alley, granting the remaining three a sight to behold. Crawling towards them was the upper half of the first of their members to vanish; his innards hung out.

"Help... me..."

Life exited the cleaved-in-half body, and behind it was the second to vanish; a gaping hole was where his head used to be.

"Who the hell did that?!" remarked one of the original four.

"Screw this!" yelled the other. "Let's get out of here!"

The pair tried to run but were stopped by their elven superior, grabbing them by the throat.

"Stop being cowards and kill him!"

They were tossed to the ground and picked up their weapons. Fear entered their hearts the closer they got to their mutilated comrades; neither was able to keep their blade steady.

"You and your ilk are of the same cloth. Pillagers... emboldened by the flames of greed. Someone must extinguish thy flame."

When the dog person and the one missing an ear reached their fallen members, their hearts sank at the better look they were granted.

"His... s-spine is missing. It must've gotten ripped out!"

"Shit, shit, shit! We're dead! We're already dead!"

"Calm down! They were off guard, we ain't. Whoever you are, show yourself!"

"Y-Yeah! You're a dead man walking!"

"It is interesting to see how the weak of this age are likened to those that came before. Quick dispatch atrocities, never ready to receive them."

The elf turned around and kept his site attached to the building tops, though the voice sounded like it came from all over.

"HAHA! Who do you think you are?! Someone trying to bring us to justice?! That's funny!"

"The time of justice has long since passed. You are to meet... vengeance."

Splash!

The sound caused the chienthrope to jump, although when he turned, he saw it was just the sword of the other. Picking up the blade, he handed it back to his accomplice, standing oddly idle.

"Come on, man. We can't start-"

A slight shove showed that the member wasn't frozen. The last of the human thugs was split clean in half down the vertical.

Splash!

His two parts joined the water below.

"While I draw breath, I will seek you and your kin as far as they may travel. To deliver you what is yours..."

"Fuck this! FUCK THIS!"

The elf turned to see the last of his subordinates run toward him.

"Destined Death."

A blade tore the head off the last of the original hunters and stuck it to the wall. His death marked the end of the elf's composure. Like an owl, his head was on a constant swivel. A black mist encircled him and made it physically damning to breathe. In a desperate plea, he turned his sight to the sky.

"WHERE ARE YOU!"

"Here."

Throwing a punch behind him led to his brain failing to process that he had been sent back to the end of the alley, landing near the woman. Every other second, his sight went black as he slid down the wall. From his mouth, blood sprayed out.

"I... PANT... I DIDN'T EVEN SEE HIM!"

Splash.

He just made out what was thrown in front of him.

"Wait, is that my..."

He peered to his right to confirm.

"He ripped off my arm? How? ACKK!"

Upon noticing the missing limb, the pain receptors fired into overdrive, and his body convulsed.

Splash.

Splash.

Splash.

Every step toward him carried weight. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, just the reaper coming to collect his soul.

"I outlived all the Knossos invasions from those Loki Familia dogs just to die here?!"

Splash.

Splash.

Splash.

"I'm dead... I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm-"

Cough...

An opportunity presented itself when the woman reminded the elf she was present. He picked up the blade cut from the handle, holding it to her neck. A grin of faux confidence swam to the surface.

"Hold it there, freak! Get any closer, and this bitch dies!"

Splash!

Splash!

Splash!

The blade pressed against her neck and caused the elf's hand to bleed from how hard he was squeezing.

"You think I won't do it?! I was already going to let these four have their way with her! Do you think killing is a step I'm not willing to take?!"

Death neither sped up nor slowed down. On the other hand, his mist poured out in waves, clawing at the skin of the elf and pushing out the air in his lungs. This was the power of the spirit of vengeance. He grabbed the sword thrown into the impaled head before kicking the head toward the elf. All pretenses of regaining composure were abandoned.

"I'll do it! I'll fucking do it!"

Splash!

Splash!

Splash!

"Get away! GET AWAY!"

Lightning struck nearby, casting light onto the figure. It was worse than being a monster, a demon, or the reaper itself; the brief flash showed the terror as a man wrapped in darkness. But with that slight hint of humanity, the elf grabbed a blade from his rear pocket.

"GO TO HELL!"

Out came a beam of concentrated fire, but the robed man held out his hand.

"He's absorbing it?!"

Creek!

It started to collapse bit by bit, the beam doing nothing but lighting the alley. Until...

Crack!

It fell apart in his hand; all of the magic was for nothing. An overwhelming sensation of fear, the same as the last of the four, ripped out all logical thought. He got up and tried to run past the 'man'.

To his surprise, he was able to get behind death but froze when the head and spinal collum of his familia member floated down before talons crushed it. Brain matter sprayed across his face as he looked at the bird holding it.

Ugh!

A hand went through his back, grabbing his spine.

"You dropped this."

Heat accumulated and bloated the upper portion of his body. It forced his eyes out of their sockets while his torso continued to expand like a balloon. And like a balloon, his body reached its limit on how much it could be blown up by.

"AHHH!"

Boom!

Fire sprouted up and vaporized everything above the waist, leaving only his legs before they fell.

[End SoundTrack]

Yellow sparks coursed through the robed man, turning blood and water to steam. Neither he nor the golden creature, who cleansed itself through a heat more accustomed to fire, revoked their attention from the woman.

"I'm not hearing a heartbeat..."

He approached her while holding a fist to force the mist back into him. In front of her, he knelt and placed two fingers on her neck.

"Her heartbeat is very weak, but there is one."

No effort was used to break the chain around her neck as he removed her gag. Her near-lifeless body collapsed against the wall while the shadowy figure stared at her multiple injuries.

"Any potion I have would end up causing further harm; if not, outright kill her. Hmm."

He flicked his head at the bird hovering in place.

"Heal her."

It flew over to the woman, perching on her shoulders from behind. Warmth exited the feet of the bird as his owner placed his hand on her jaw.

"This may hurt, but it will speed things along."

Her jaw was put back into place, and he replicated the same to her arms, wrists, and digits on her hand. When it came to her nose, he straightened it the best he could.

"There."

Life was injected back into her, the sign of which was a small wheeze leaving her mouth. Half a minute later, she tried opening her left eye, taking in a hazy image of the man. When a full minute passed, a very slight amount of motor skills returned to her.

"Are..." her voice was frail, likened to a person on their deathbed. "A-Are y-you healing... me? Is that what... that warmth is?"

"My eagle is, yes. I'm unable to administer a potion. Your level 2 body would've rejected it."

"How did you know I'm a... no, I don't care." she shook her head. While the clock ticked on, more strength reached her muscles.

Cough- ack!

Though her repairs were still underway, her face collapsed, and she winced at the pain. Soon, her nose allowed air to flow into her nostrils. Said air, carried the scent of death.

"Those five... they're-"

"Dead."

"Di-Did they-"

"No. None were granted the chance to use you."

He held her head still with his hand.

"Please stay still for your bones to fuse back together efficiently."

"O-Oh, ok." the lack of emotion in his words was confusing. There was no attempt from him to converse more than needed. In truth, he acted removed enough to where stoic wouldn't be an apt description.

But after some time, the parts of her that were separated from the rest of her skeletal structure started to merge back. The cuts scattering her body close. Her right eye was gifted back its usefulness; the scar and blood vacated the area.

"Do you have somewhere safe to go?" he asked while standing up, and he removed her sword from the wall.

"Y-Yeah..."

Amidst her struggle to stand up, the eagle lifted her off the ground, placing her down on her feet. Once it had, it floated over to the robed man while he handed her blade back.

"Go. And don't look back."

After grabbing her sword from him and sheathing it on her hip, she froze. Tears swelled up in her eyes, and she struggled to form a smile at him. Her body twitched as she failed to restrain herself, embracing the stranger. His robe muffled her words as she pressed her face into it.

"Thank you. Thank you so much! I thought that I...I-"

"Go."

Once more, he responded without any inflection in his words, something she wouldn't expect from someone who went out of their way to save her. Regardless, she nodded.

"A-Alright."

Letting go of the man, she ran past him and avoided the stray bits of her attackers sprinkled around. Looking over her shoulder, she shouted.

"Thank you!" the sound of her grateful tears lined her expression of gratitude.

When the splash of water accompanying her leave dwindled to nothing, he turned to the eagle.

"You still have blood on your talons, Ospin."

Shink!

It protruded its bloodied nails and retracted them. For Wanderer, he flicked his short sword and returned it to underneath his robe.

"Follow her. Make sure she gets to wherever she's going safely."

Chirp?

"I'll clean up here and then head over to Daedalus Street."

Ospin nodded and ascended into the sky, leaving Wanderer alone, the last living person in a place surrounded by death. His right hand clenched, taking in the sight caused by him and the bird.

[Start SoundTrack: Conquest - Sonic Adventure 2 [OST]]

"How could I have ever thought that this city has changed? It's no different than before, festering with monster-likes! The worst breed of evil!"

Left without Ospin to act as a limiter, the city started tampering with his mist. It escaping from his side in spats of intense fury wasn't new; Zeus discovered as much. But near Orario, let alone in it, was different. It desired to flow around him uninhibited, and with his anger blinding him, it continued to seep without his knowledge. By the time he noticed, an enriched purple had joined the stagnant air.

Hunching forward, he held the left side of his face.

"No..."

Squeezing his hand, most of the fog returned, and he began using the cane from inside his robe as a broom, sweeping the pieces of the five thugs to the back of the alley. But as he was, part of the haze that held out took the vague shape of a person.

[Congratulations, you saved one life. I bet you feel proud. But ask yourself, does that now save all those you failed to?]

Its voice taunted him, though he opted to ignore it, picking up the severed head to add it to the pile. That was until a section of the fog entered the head, making it smile.

[Does that now save your little-]

Crunch!

The head was crushed in one hand, and most of the remaining hazardous force entered back into containment. The last holdout collected behind him.

[No... I see. It wasn't about saving her; it was about killing them!]

"You're wrong."

Purple haze formed into a smile as yellow sparks concentrated on Wanderer's chest.

[Hahaha! You wanted to see the fear in their eyes! You enjoyed every moment of slaughtering them.]

"I enjoy nothing anymore."

[Oh really? Then why didn't you kill them in an instant, given her critical condition? Her heart was only just beating when you started to heal her!]

"!"

[You can't even fall on the defense of letting them spread fear. You left none alive! Or do you believe that woman is going to spread that fear? No, why would she fear you? You rescued her from a heinous fate. She won't fear you... she'd adore you. Her savior... her he-]

Lightning left his cane, breaking the smile and forcing it all back into him. He peered at the bloody stream at his feet.

"I've waited too long to even find a candidate; don't throw it all away now."

The piled-up parts of the five assailants caused the alley to start to resemble a monster's food storage. But the forces that sought to mock him were far from finished, approaching from a new avenue: memories.

[You yearn to bathe in the blood of your enemies... but you hold back!]

[How easily you ignore the loss of life when it suits your convenience, labeling all those you've felled as monsters... I'm told you see yourself as a method to save lives... Your weapon, a meer tool in that quest. Now, there's a pretty meme. Exquisite! It spared you the burden of all the lives you've taken. Absolved you of guilt when you enjoyed it, and you have enjoyed it!]

He dragged the legs of the elf to the pile as memories continued to be replayed inside his head.

[You can't fight nature. Wind blows, rain falls, and the strong prey upon the weak. Do you honestly think you and the rest of them can upend the nature of this city? You've been fighting for years, but this city isn't any closer to peace or order.]

[It's futile. In their wake, in yours, the better world you lot have fought for will turn on you. Why fight at all? Why risk your life for those who will persecute you later?]

For the final organ to join the pile, it was the one thing the five lacked: a heart. Wanderer began walking away, pointing his cane behind him while accumulating a charge in his chest.

[End SoundTrack]

"If the world chooses to become my enemy, I will fight like I always have."

He tightened the grip on his cane.

"Because of that promise-"

Splash.

"!"

Dispelling his built-up lightning, he brought his cane close to him and covered his entire face with his hood, embracing darkness again.

"Whose approaching now?"

Two people entered the alley. One was an elegant woman wrapped in a navy blue robe. Black gloves extended down to her elbows. She was peaking her head out from behind a large boar man. His height towered above all others, and on his back were two large great swords.

"The old man mentioned a boaz. Could it be...?"

Wanderer's eyes focused; his body remained stationary. Multiple sets of numbers were displayed in his mind as he stared at the demi-human.

"His power level is that high? He must be at the cusp of what a level 7 should be, and I have a feeling he's suppressing himself. He's reminding me of Zald and Alfia in that regard, although nowhere near the same extent. But that woman... does that make it her?"

When the pair got to the end of the alley, the woman stood at the boar man's side, crossing her arms.

"Ottar, do you think the woman that bumped into me caused this?"

"No, Freya-sama."

"So that is Freya? Not what I expected."

The goddess tried to get closer to the carnage but was halted by one of Ottar's arms sliding her back behind him.

"Please stand back, Freya-sama. Someone is still here." His gaze and voice pointed toward a weird anomaly in the water. "Come out."

Tsk. "This rain is offsetting my cloaking. I need to get out of here."

Wanderer's ears perked up, and he bounced his vision to the rooftops near him.

"She has support surrounding me. There are four on the building behind me, two on my right and one to my left. If her strongest disciple is with her, it's fair to believe that the rest of her executives would be her entourage."

Sensing their presence was the most he could do as those up top remained out of sight.

"I can't get a good read on any of their power. However, the old man didn't mention anyone else. Hmm. I can only assume the remaining seven to be equal to the boar."

His sight returned to the goddess, who had taken several steps back per Ottar's request. An... odd smile curled across her face.

"What are you smiling about? As long as you're down here, there's a limited amount of things he could do that wouldn't endanger you."

Ottar took one of the massive blades from his back, pointing it forward.

"I won't ask again. Come out."

The boaz lifted an open palm, readying it to give the silent order.

"Right on time." Wanderer leaned forward, the muscles in his legs tensing.

BOOM!

Lightning charted across the sky and lit up the alley once more. The roar of thunder made Freya stumble around while Ottar started to close his hand.

"There!"

In that infinitesimal window where sound washed over them, Wanderer sprinted forward. Time acted stationary; rain and the goddess remained idle. Reaching Ottar's side, the beast-man was halfway through forming a fist. But his eye had locked onto the robed man amidst zipping by him, the cover of invisibility slipping.

Thud!

Getting past Ottar didn't allow him to escape. A black cat had blocked him off, leaping down from his roof.

"So you're the quick one."

He hopped backward, avoiding the cat person's spinning spear, though it was to find himself in the path of a massive hand approaching his neck faster than the cat person's attack.

"He wanted me to think he was slower than he actually was? That's how he kept an eye on me."

He continued to back up; the space behind him diminished fast.

"No more."

Forcing the encroaching hand down, it served as a platform to send a dropkick to Ottar's face. His complete absorption of light was dissipating by the second, and by the time he recovered into a backflip, so did Ottar shrug off his attack. The only sign that he landed a hit was when a single streak of blood dripped out of the strongest adventurer's mouth.

ROAR!

Charging forth like a wild boar, Ottar slammed his greatsword toward Wanderer.

"You'd endanger her life-"

Looking past the rampaging animal, Freya had vanished from the ground level. She had been transported up to the building tops with the rest of her highest-level children.

CRASH!

Wanderer raised his cane to meet the great blade, and from the impact, a massive shockwave shattered the glass around the combatants on the ground and almost caught the rest of her executives off guard. The cloud of darkness was removed, leaving just the passive veil that was his robe. His one eye met both of Ottar's.

"I seek no quarrel with any of you."

The great blade stayed aimed at him even after he forced the demi-human back. Those on the roofs entered his sight. The four behind him were pallums clad in armor and carried either a greatsword, an axe, a hammer, or a spear. The pair to his right were both elves: one with a black longsword that reeked of a curse and the other a staff-sword hybrid.

"Those elves are both royalty."

Wanderer's sight affixed to the goddess, standing next to the cat person. He rested both hands on his cane.

"I don't want to fight."

"All evidence points to the contrary", she stated with a smug look on her face. Her gaze had been affixed on him the moment his clash ended.

Sigh. "I will say this once more. I have no qualms with any of you, so do not give me reason. Stand down."

"And who the hell do you think you are to be ordering us around-"

"That's enough, Allen." his goddess interjected. "Set me down there so I may speak to him... face to face."

Despite an initial desire to protest, she was helped back down into the alley, and the cat returned to his post. Each step she took toward Wanderer carried weight, not from herself, but the raising nerves of her familia.

The four pallums looked ready to break his body and pull it apart. The elven mage and his companion were prepared to rain down magic and cut him up. Allen and his spear desired the excuse to skewer his body. But for Ottar? He lowered his massive blade, though still kept it ready.

"Interesting."

When Freya reached the side of her strongest child again, she pointed at the carnage at the rear of the alley.

"I take it that is your doing?"

"It is, and I suggest you remove yourself from here before I dispose of it."

She tilted her head, placing a finger on her cheek.

"Oh? And why is that?"

"I have no reason to seek harm onto you, and lightning and water don't mix well. Leave... now!"

He gathered yellow lightning; it wrapped around his and climbed up the cane. All around, he sensed the impending attacks but continued to proceed. When it reached the hook, it stayed there for a few seconds before it was absorbed back into him.

"Why are you still here?"

Freya hadn't moved from her spot, choosing to giggle.

Fufufu. "I was curious. The same kind of curiosity about a woman with tattered clothing bumping into me is what led me here. So I take it what's behind you is-"

"The remains of those who attempted and failed to defile and kill her, yes. Tell me, is it that same curiosity as to your reason for staring at my soul?"

Her eyes and mouth widened at his unexpected statement.

"You could tell?"

"Yes. Any special reason?"

"Ara Ara. I was... but I just adore the various shapes and colors of them. But yours... is so... chaotic. It cycles between shades and is fighting amongst itself for the chance to form into a shape, but it never does. I've never seen anything like it."

"Yeah... there's a reason for that."

"You're not from here", stated Ottar after he wiped the streak of blood from his mouth, staring at the back of his hand.

"I was at one point. That... was lifetimes ago. This city is nothing but dead to me now. If I weren't searching, I'd never step foot inside this damned place again."

Wanderer flicked his head to the building tops.

"I take it they're the rest of your executives."

Freya clasped her hands together, and a gentle smile beamed his way.

"Correct, you are. The cat-person, as mentioned, is Allen, my faithful chariot. The light and dark elves to your side are Hedin and Hogni, my brave knights. And those four behind you are Alfrigg and his brothers, referred to together as the Gulliver Brothers. With Ottar down here, they make up my oh-so-amazing executives."

She held a hand out to Wanderer.

"But now that you know who they are, what is yours?"

"None of your damn concern."

"You watch your mouth when speaking to our goddess!"

The scream came from the spear user of the brothers.

"If it was up to us..." said the hammer user.

"We would have you..." continued the greatsword wielder.

"Killed for speaking like that!" finished the axe one.

Wanderer rubbed his temples and glared at them from over his shoulder.

"Word of the wise. When making statements like that, ensure you or your group is strong enough to follow through on it."

"Why you!" They shouted together, stopping when Freya held up her hand.

"Forgive them, will you? They, and the rest of my familia, are quite defensive of me. Be it my well-being or just how I am talked to."

Reaching inside his garb, he pulled out his pocket watch.

"Is that so? Because for a group wrapped up in an upcoming war game, none of you seem concerned."

She chuckled into her palm.

"Hehehe. Why would we be? Let all of the familias join Hestia and her cause; it doesn't change anything. We have no rival, no equal. We are the strongest familia in Orario."

"Current strongest."

"Excuse me?"

"Excluding perhaps Ottar, the might of your strongests still falls short of what Zeus and Hera were."

Her face turned serious, her smile dropping upon hearing the names of the exiled god and goddess.

"Oh? You know of them?"

"I met them. Their familias were fools, thinking that they were stronger than they actually were. They all paid the price for it."

"And what were your thoughts on the pair?"

"Zeus is a disgusting, unfaithful pervert, and Hera is a frivolous woman whose pride is only matched by her ego. In a way, they deserve each other. I'm unable to think about anyone stomaching either of them."

A small smile returned to her, one that she was hiding something behind.

"And here I thought you were a member of one of them; it sure would've explained your ability to land a blow onto Ottar. That... is no simple feat."

"I belong to no god, and you are only the third deity I have interacted with."

Upon hearing that, she bit down on her lip.

"Oh really?"

A gentle flick was all it took to unearth her entire face from her hood. The moonlight breached through the clouds, displaying her silky face and braided hair that hung out in front of her. If Hephaestus or Goibniu created faces as opposed to weapons, then hers would be referred to as their magnum opus. Standing a few steps from Wanderer, she tilted her head.

"Now that I've heard your thoughts on those two, I'd love the chance to hear what you think of... me."

"Seven out of ten. The same as Hera."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Seven... out of ten." Her eye twitched, and she walked back behind Ottar. When she had, Hedin spoke up, adjusting his glasses.

"You must be blind in both your eyes to not see the objective beauty of our goddess. Let alone to compare it to that woman."

"So I am told."

"Oi! You aren't in a position to say anything, patch face! Our goddess covers herself because of her looks, unlike you, who probably wants to hide that messed up to-hell face!"

Wanderer turned his sight to Allen.

"I would threaten to remove your ability to have offspring, but I believe your face and personality are doing a spectacular job in that regard."

"Hehehehe!"

TSK! Allen's grip tightened on his spear when a certain dark elf covered his face while laughing. But when Wanderer returned his pocket watch inside his robe, he tossed his cane to his right hand.

"I'm leaving."

"One moment. I'd like to make you an offer", stated Freya. "You said you were searching for something. Is that your greatest desire?"

"If it is?"

"Let's say... I can provide resources that would aid you. All I would ask in exchange would be that you join my familia and partake in the war game."

"I thought you were confident in your capabilities."

She held her hand to her chest.

"Oh, I am. My familia will not disappoint me; they never have. Although, that doesn't mean I won't tie up loose ends. Hence, my being out at this hour. And tomorrow, when all the gods gather to discuss who shall be participating in the war game, the final relevant threat to my Odr being mine shall be removed."

"That's a roundabout way of saying Loki Familia, but I understand your logic. I am a wild card you couldn't account for, and my ability to land a clean hit on your strongest child makes me a threat."

She clapped her hands together.

"Exactly! But think about what you get in return to help your search. Money? Not an issue. Information? I'd like to think I have it already; if not, I'd get it. Personnel? We are one of the largest familias. Just...give it some thought. Let me help you achieve that deep desire."

He closed his eyes, holding his cane to his chest.

"One of the two I am looking for is already in Orario. Hunting him down when it is needed will be trivial."

"And for the second person?"

"There is no information you could have on her or find."

"And how do you know that?"

"The same reason you don't know who I am. I reject your offer, but I can assure you that I will take no interest in this war game."

He opened his eyes, but instead of being distraught or disappointed, she smiled.

"I really do think you should... reconsider."

A purple light flashed in her gaze, and the hidden portion of his face lit up with a purple of its own.

"Did you just..."

CRASH!

His cane head met the flat side of Ottar's greatsword, sending out another shockwave that pushed Freya away from getting grabbed. His haze poured out in droves.

"Try to charm me again, and I will RIP your eyes from their SOCKETS!"

"HYIAAA!"

Ottar's swing sent him flying back onto a rooftop. Forcing his cane into the building top, he stopped sliding and was accosted by the Gulliver Brothers. Alfrigg was above him, while two of his brothers were on his left flank and the last one on his right.

"Taste her ice!"

All of the brothers that were on the floor were flash-frozen in place. Ice drove out of his hand and traveled through the roof to intercept them. Alfrigg was the sole brother not affected, thanks to where he was, but he was still accounted for.

Thud!

Ackk!

Wanderer fired his cane up, outreaching Alfrigg's spear, knocking him back and his helmet off. His attackers weren't finished, but neither was his preparation as he jumped back onto a different roof.

His haze traveled over to Hogni, creating copies of the robed man. When one was slashed down by the "dark edge lord", two more would take its place. Each time he would go to chant his magic, the haze would interrupt.

"What is this?" thought the dark elf.

Though his counterpart might have been distracted, Hedin raised his staff, readying magic.

"Fight eternally, immortal soldiers of lightning! Caelus Hildr!"

Spewing out of the top of his staff were hundreds of lightning orbs the size of a person's head. They all were targeting Wanderer. Instead of dodging just to be caught by a cat person, he fired volleys of swift icicles from his left hand at Allen, keeping the speedster occupied with the borrowed magic. With his right, he twirled his cane about him. Each time an orb came into contact with the cane, its charge was stored.

"By the power of the demon blade, bring eternal destruction. Burn Dain!"

Boom!

Wanderer's mist retreated inside him, and the lightning orb bombardment ceased, allowing Hogni the chance to close the gap. By the time the dark elf had cast his magic, the three Gulliver Brothers had broken free from their ice blocks, and so did Alfigg arise from the ground. To prevent himself from getting pincered maneuvered, the charge stored in his cane left from the hook. In the sky were seven orbs no larger than Hedin's.

Snap!

Instead of trying to kamikaze into any of the executives, lightning bolts from the orbs shelled their positions.

"He changed the property of my magic?!"

With every one of the prevalent threats pinned down and Ottar forced to remain in the alley with Freya, Wanderer brought two fingers to his mouth.

Whiste!

SCREEH!

He raised his cane above his head, and a golden blur started flying away with him.

"No way in hell you're escaping!"

Allen outpaced the artillery designated for him and started chasing down Wanderer. His swift response allowed him to close in, sealing the gap further when he leaped toward his escaping prey. He pulled back his arm, ready to throw his spear.

"DIE-"

For just a glimpse, the cat saw what carried his prey away before he was sent slamming into the ground with a directed wing flap of the massive eagle.

UGH!

Out of range, Wanderer looked up at his bird.

"Good work. Now, let's see what you discovered in Daedalus Street that will turn those caverns underneath that church into an ideal base."

---

[Start SoundTrack: Goblin Slayer Original Soundtrack - 13. Campaign Strategy]

There's a common belief that a force for evil, true evil, needn't win more than once for everlasting victory to be achieved. A valid statement. Anarchy, blight, chaos: the natural order of things that kept the world in overwhelming despair. It had been that way until some took it upon themselves to instill flames into this world. Of these fires, some blackened and only aided wickedness. But of those who have stayed true to their purpose, none was a greater force against the dark than the flame of hope.

Ever since that installation, the struggle to snuff out the light has raged for millennia. All it takes is a decisive enough push to plunge this world back into eternal hell. Yet, at every moment to decide it all, there has been someone to force a retreat: Heroes. Specifically, the three who capped off their millennia: Argonaut, Finna, and Albert.

The initial flames caused by an explosion have since subsided, but the embers of hope haven't. Each one of those heroes was capable of taking these embers and creating their own miniature explosion. But a flash is all they ever were. Their failures to become permanent fixtures in the night sky means all darkness must do is bide time. For as long as a "Happily Ever After" is never reached, that is all a hero will ever be.

But even in those three tales, the scale is tipping toward evil. Each iteration of a hero may have grown stronger, but so did darkness. Albert's failure to kill his mortal enemy highlighted as much. Soon, the embers of hope will be depleted, and the final flash of the last hero will not be enough. When that occurs, everything will truly die, for while evil can never disappear, good can.

In the case of the labyrinth city, the notion of evil never ceasing has never been more true. The campaigns against the Evilus dismantled them to near obscurity, but permanent etchings were made onto people and the city. The latter took the shape of Knossos, the insides lay ruin. Despite the impression of complete destruction, there were passages knowledgable only to the wiped out Evilus high command... and one group of dark elves.

It was in these massive halls The Conquerors regrouped. All their divisions stood in formation: the front was the elites, the middle was the mages, and the rear was the scouts. Ahead of the rectangle was the Commander, encircled by the three Top-Elites. His sight bounced back between them.

"Secure the entrances from Daedalus Street, the eighteenth floor, and this secret passage."

A nod from the three of them was followed by their departure to their respective points into the man-made dungeon. For the Commander, he walked down the divisions.

"Seven..."

He returned to the front, and his voice boomed out.

"Rest until further orders are issued. Dismissed."

"Seven. Seven. Seven..."

He turned down a passageway, his arms behind his back as he walked.

"Seven. Seven. Seven..."

That number kept bouncing in his head. Each step sounded it off, causing his hands to clench harder and harder.

"Seven. Seven. Seven..."

He stopped in his tracks.

"The four scouts, even the three mages, would've been considered casualties of war had I just..."

Two statements he made in that final moment, two that failed to flourish. "I won't let you get away", and "You won't live". The movements of his targets kept replaying in his mind and, worst of all, the view he held when the two entered that manor. He pulled out one of his double-bladed swords and stared at it. After a moment, he cut his palm and squeezed.

"Your deaths won't be in vain. Centi and I will ensure that."

His weapon returned to his hip, and his hand continued to drip blood when he entered the large chamber where the division leaders and Centi were. The Executive and Sorcerer leaned against pillars with their weapons at their side. The Captain leaned back on the wall further back from the others, his arms crossed and his face half-torched. His leader stood at the center, near a large pit, with his hands are his side.

"I take it that the entrances are being secured?"

"By the Top-Elites, yes."

His eyes honed in on the dark elf leader.

"His voice, his stance, and his aura are off. It only makes sense that his flair is far gone as well."

He moved to stand at their leader's side while Centi bounced his sight to his three division leaders, all sulking in their own right.

"All mission parameters were not achieved. We have failed in every regard-"

"YOU DON'T FUCKING SAY?!"

The outburst came from the person they'd least expect: the Captain. His words and tone shocked all those past his leader. A person the others considered a suck-up now was consumed with sheer rage. Eyes that wanted to burn the city down and hands ready to shred through the populace. Centi's hand stopped his second from advancing at the Captain.

"Go on. Feel free to vent your frustrations."

"FRUSTRATIONS?! My men and I were treated as jokes! If four of my men were required to be killed to complete our goals, then so be it! But they have died for NOTHING!"

The Captain started waving around one of his arrows.

"I crippled the bitch we were after, the petulant brat carrying her has his body riddled with these, and they still get away?! That shouldn't be possible! He's only a level 5!"

Throwing the arrow on the ground, he pointed to the left side of his face.

"And don't get me started on... on this!"

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The adamantite wall behind him was subjected to a series of punches; none left a mark on the wall until his knuckles started painting it red.

"THIS! Bang! FUCKING! Bang! GIFT!"

BANG!

His arms were bloodied, and his fists were on the verge of fracturing.

"I advise against using the walls here as a method to vent your anger. I'm not numbing your pain again." cautioned the Sorcerer

Tsk. "Whatever." stated the Captain as he turned around to face the rest of his fellow members.

"But to further add to Captain's point, Bell Cranel wasn't the only one to humiliate us. Viridan and her damn repertoire were more than a slight problem! Granted, she couldn't harm us-"

AHEM!

The magic user's gaze redirected to the Captain as the latter pointed to his grievous injury.

"Bell Cranel's magic was most of the strength of that beam, and her magic was unable to phase my mages by itself; my point still stands. However, being able to pierce the beam of four of them without a tool to concentrate her magic is... alarming. Couple her hold on concurrent chanting, and it felt as if she had a response for everything we could aim at her past physical."

Hehehe.

A snicker came from the leader of the elites. His smile held back a deep rage.

"The title she has is Thousand Elf; what else did you expect, Sorcerer? Besides, her grip on concurrent chanting and some of the magic she has access to can be explained with ease."

The grin dropped, and his voice loaded with his bloodthirst.

"The chant for the ice magic fired at me, and my elites ended with the phrase, "My name is Alf". Indicating..."

"Riveria Ljos Alf." finished the Sorcerer. "In terms of magic, she is sure to outclass me. But let her get within striking distance..."

He took the scythe and slammed the head into the ground.

"She'll be felled by my hand!"

A silence engulfed the room as the division leaders all spoke their minds. Their gazes returned to the center, but before Centi could speak, the one next to him stepped forward.

"I have something to say. And that is... I'm sorry."

The Commander held out his bleeding fist.

"When his execution was ordered, I was too slow in reacting. When they were in that final stretch, I-"

"Enough."

Centi placed his hand on his shoulder and stepped forward.

"The truth is that none of you have anything to apologize for. You all did your part magnificently. You all did beyond what was expected of you. The one who failed is I."

He closed his eyes.

"I underestimated him. I ordered his release. I ordered his healing. This force had everything it needed to succeed. What it didn't have was the leader that it needed."

His rapier was drawn, and he stabbed the ground in front of him, eyes snapping open.

"No more. No more laughter. No more games. No more mockery."

His aura, described as demonic, seeped from him.

"We have two proper options left. We either wait for however long it takes for another attempt on Viridan's life, or we take up Bell Cranel as our new quarry."

His rapier pointed into the air.

"All those in favor of eliminating Bell Cranel?"

"I!" screamed the Captain.

"I." announced the Sorcerer and Executive.

There was a short pause before the second in command spoke.

"...I."

"Then it is settled."

Sheathing his sword, he walked over to the Captain.

"I choose to continue trusting you and your men. Don't have your bloodlust for him make me regret it."

"Yes... sir."

"However you deem best, find him and report back once you do. And do avoid Ganesha Familia's patrols."

"What of the rest of us?" asked the Executive.

"Remain in Knossos until instructed otherwise. Be ready at a moment's notice should Captain or one of the scouts return. Do you all understand?"

"Yes, Sir!"

"You're all dismissed."

The division leaders trickled out of the room one at a time until all the remained was Centi and his second.

"Would it be best to assume you wish to converse with me?"

"Yes. The path you took to enter this room was created recently."

"What?! But that means..."

"Someone was able to remove the adamantine walls cleanly." Centi turned to his second. "How many do you know that are capable of such acts?"

"None..."

[End SoundTrack]

---

"Gramps! Gramps!"

A boy no older than seven stood in the doorway. A towel covered his white hair while his ruby-red eyes glittered with excitement. That very excitement defined his being; a massive smile arched across his face. He was the shining example of what innocence looked like.

He was nothing more than a kid with a passion for stories. One deep enough, it could bore to the center of the world. But not just any stories would do. It was only those that featured heroes which his passion burned for. And the two that came from the colossal book atop his grandfather's desk stoked the fire of that passion more than any.

Sitting at the desk was his grandfather, a grizzled old man with white hair and beard. Everything that came from him carried a sense of joy. Not a day could go by without his distinctive laughter, and his smile, at least in his grandson's eyes, never faded and now was aimed right at him.

"Ahh! I can see you finished washing up, Bell."

"Yes! Y-Y-You said you were g-going to read me another story about heroes?!" The energy stored in him was enough to get him to start stumbling over words.

"Haha!" The old man slapped his knee and held up the book. "Why do ya think I got this out?"

Bell's glee damn-near overflowed as he ran up to his old man and embraced his grandfather's leg. His sight shot up.

"And you said this one is your favorite of the big three?!"

"That's right! Don't get me wrong, Argonaut and Finna are fantastic stories, but this one feels like it's on a different level! Damn near brings me to tears every time I've read it."

Bell sprang up and down, only ceasing when he was held down by his shoulder.

"Whoa, easy there! Hahahaha! Don't think I've ever seen you this excited!"

"S-Sorry! It's just that if it's your favorite, I want to see if it'll end up being mine as well!"

"Ha! Well, I'm confident it'll give Argonaut a run for its money!"

The book was held to Bell's face.

"But you want to know something special about this version?"

"You mean aside the pictures?!"

"Yup! This here is a one-of-one copy. No other version has got the details that this one has!"

"Really?!"

"Really!"

Had it not been for the old man's hand on Bell's shoulder, the kid would've begun sprinting about the place.

"Can we start reading it now?!"

"You bet!"

The towel on his head hung from the back of the chair, and he was lifted onto the knee of the grandfather. His old man's arms extended past him, and the book opened. Numerous illustrations of and blocks of text zipped by from the first two stories in the "Big Three". When a black page that covered the title and whatever illustration came with it, the grandpa cleared his throat.

Ahem! "I've read you the tale of Argonaut! I've read you the tale of Finna! But get ready for what I think is the greatest story in this here collection and history! I present to you A-"

"AHHH!"

[Start SoundTrack: Danmachi III OST - Hermes Concerns]

A not-so-muffled scream came from outside, managing to pour through the closed window. Bell's smile drooped down, the scream having caught him off guard. Unsure of what to do, he turned around to his grandpa.

"G-Gramps... w-what was that?"

He was hoisted down to the floor while the old man looked outside the circle window. A puzzled look with his eyebrows raised passed for no longer than a second. When he pulled the curtain to the side...

ROAR!

SCREECH!

GRRRRR!

Three different sounds shook their small home. Three different sounds sent shivers down their backs. Three different sounds, and not one of them sounded like any person or animal.

"G-Gra-"

Bell was dragged to a closet and was forced inside.

"G-Gramps?!"

In the face of what felt like the clutches of horror tightening its grasp on their little village, his old man continued to smile, rubbing Bell's head and kneeling.

"I need you to stay in here and keep quiet until I say you're good to leave. Okay?"

Shrieeeeek!

Bell ran up to his grandpa and hugged him.

"What ar-are you going to do?!"

"I'm going to see if I can help."

His grandpa's shirt wiped away Bell's tears, although the sniffles associated with them were still very present.

"Hey! Everything's going to be alright."

Sniffle. "How can you be sure?!"

"Simple!" he stood up, breaking the embrace. "Hope!"

GRRRRR!

That uncanny sound prompted him to leave. But right before the door shut, a wink and a statement were made to Bell.

"Just remember, never lose hope."

Click.

The only thing aside from Bell in the closet was darkness; the lights from the room turned off. Every new sound, muffled as they might be, caused his little heart to pound harder and harder. His chest started to physically hurt, and tears returned to the corner of his eyes. Gone was the gleeful wonder he carried, crushed by the despair of reality.

Sniffle. "Are those the sounds of monsters?"

ROARR!

The sound felt like a response to his question. It rattled the house and caused Bell to cover his ears.

"Gramps said everything is going to be okay." He tried to muster a smile. "Y-Yeah. Everything is going to be fine... please let-"

SCREECH!

"AHHH!"

Fear crushed his attempted optimism, but what would shatter it? The screams? The grunts and cries for help? No...

CRASH!

Something smashed through the window his grandpa was looking through. The sound of glass shattering indicated whatever broke the window was still inside. Letting his curiosity get the better of him, he peed through the crack in the door.

"Ah-" screamed out Bell before he covered his mouth.

A single glimpse at the creature was the most it took for fear to control him and abandon sense. Because of the stifled mistake, it started stomping towards him. He scuttled to the back of the closet, attaching his sight to the crack in the door. Holding his breathing, he didn't dare make a sound until a red eye looked through the same crack.

A quelled squeal leaked through his fingertips.

MMMMMM!

RO... ar?

[End SoundTrack]

After the strange ending to the scream, a 'poof' sound followed. Gone were the red eyes of the end, replaced by a rising black mist and the sound of a crystal bouncing on the ground. Several other instances of that sound were let out.

POOF!

POOF!

POOF!

POOF!

Clank. Clank. Clank. Clank.

On repeat, that series occurred until a wave of silence washed over the village. Despite the desire to see what occurred, he reminded himself of the purpose of his being there.

"Yeah! Everyone give 'em a round of applause!" yelled his grandpa, breaking the wave of silence.

"I should stay put. If everything's over, then it can't be that long until he comes to get me, right?"

His belief was challenged for several minutes until two sets of footsteps entered the room. A "HAHA!" confirmed that one was his old man. But as he awaited for his name to be called, it never was. His grandpa just began talking with someone.

"Ha! You really don't believe me, do ya?"

"Who is he talking to?"

Bell's curiosity reached its breaking point, and he tried to look through the crack in the door, but because of the angle, he could only see his grandpa handing the Book of Heroes to someone out of sight.

"Here you are! Feel free to check out Argonaut and Finna while you're at it!"

A couple of page turns later, the book was slammed back into his grandpa's chest, causing him to stumble back. A voice foreign to the boy spoke up, but only part of his words were heard.

"Leave... out..."

"Alright, alright. But I think everyone else would like a chance to speak with you before ya head out."

"Fine."

The two men left the room, and the boy slumped forward.

Yawn. "I guess I'll keep waiting..."

He rubbed his eyes.

"I'd like to meet that stranger... maybe... just a quick nap. Just so I can... rest my...eyes."

Each blinking interval became longer and longer. The distant conversation between his grandfather and the stranger became muffled. Seconds turned into minutes and the anchor that was his eyelids hoisted down, keeping them shut. After what felt like a few minutes at most, a view of the ceiling took up his vision.

Creek.

The floorboards made a sound, and Bell peered to the right.

"G-Gramps?"

Bell stood up on his bed while his grandfather looked over his shoulder, chuckling to himself and walking over.

"Hehe. I guess I wasn't as sneaky as I thought I wa-"

An abrupt hug from Bell made him stop speaking as the little kid tried to wrap his small arms around him.

"I-I-Is everything alright?"

Comfort was bestowed upon him by his grandpa's hand messing with his hair, slowing Bell's breathing.

"Yup! Haha! I said everything was going to be okay! What I tell you about hope?"

"To... never lose it?"

"Exactly!"

Bell looked up at the old man.

"G-Gramps, those were monsters! I saw one!"

"Yeah... they were."

"Is everyone-"

"Oh, everyone's fine, Bell! Haha! Remind me to tell you everything that happened when you're older! Especially about that 'stranger'."

His grandpa stretched.

YAWN! "It's getting pretty late. Heck, the moon is in the sky already! Goodnight, Bell."

When his grandfather turned to leave, Bell held onto his shirt, tugging on it.

"W-What about the story? After everything... I'd... like to read it."

The grandfather rubbed the back of his neck and showed a meek smile.

"Um, I don't think I told you, but this story is pretty long compared to the others. That's kinda why I told you to wash up early. I also got to correct some of the mistakes in the book itself, so... maybe another night?"

Bell sat on the edge of his bed and attached his sight to the floor.

"Yeah... that's okay..."

The greyed man threw his arms up.

"AH, WHAT THE HELL! I can't read ya everything tonight, but what I can do is give you the abridged version, and I'll show you the pictures you love! What do ya think?"

"Ummm... abridged?"

"Haha. It means a shorter version of the story; in our case, I think I'll focus on just one part of it."

Sparkles returned to Bell's eyes, and a much more restrained joy, thanks to his tiredness, resurfaced. He started bobbing up and down.

"Yes!"

"Then let me go grab the book!"

A couple of minutes later, his grandfather returned and pulled up a chair next to the bed.

"What parts are you going to read?!"

"Hmm. I think I'll tell you about the climax of his tale, but some context to start with."

The title page was reached, and Bell's little hands rubbed together, and his legs swayed back and forth.

AHEM! "I've read you the tale of Argonaut! I've read you the tale of Finna! But prepare to read a very shortened and condensed version of the tale of a hero who was around a thousand years ago! I present to you the abridged version of none other than Albert Waldstein, the Mercenary King!"

Turning the book to Bell, he displayed the cover art. It involved a person with black hair and a red scarf wrapped around his neck. Both of his hands rested atop a long blade that stuck into the ground. On his right was a green wind, and to his left was a purple/black wind.

"This is Albert Waldstein!"

Before the page could be flipped, Bell's hand got in the way and pointed to the weird patch of paper next to Albert.

"Why is there a taped-on piece of paper?"

"Oh, ummm... just a silly mistake that I chose to cover up when I was making this. Don't worry about it, really. In fact, I think it was, umm... one of my attempts to draw Albert. Again, best not to worry, alright?"

"Okay..."

His old man lifted a finger.

"Anyways, context! Albert started as a mercenary ever since he was a wee lad and had always been going solo. Diving into the dungeon, trying to make something of himself."

"Had means that changed, right?!"

"Haha! Yup! All that changed after his daring rescue of the Great Spirit of Wind, Aria. After the rescue, he came to the reality that continuing his solo life would be suicide, and he started recruiting his own band of mercenaries. Ones that would do proper good in the world. When I tell ya the full thing, you're going to see just how hectic the recruitment of some of these guys was."

His grandfather winked.

"And with how many women were in his group, I like to think he was making his own little harem. But in any case, he was no longer fighting the evils of the dungeon and the world by himself. And here are just two of the hot babes- I mean mercenaries that joined his cause!"

The illustration shown to the boy had two women on it; his grandfather pointed to the tan-skinned one, whose bosom was barely contained in her clothes.

"This right here is the Amazon Queen, Evelda. She makes other amazons look like elves in comparison to her... !"

"To... her what?"

"Hehe... you're not old enough."

His pointer finger slid to the elf.

"This stunning elf is the Queen of the Elves, Celdia. She's been referred to as a saint by the entire elven race, which is a bunch of crap if ya ask me!"

"Why do you say that?"

"Trust me, you'll know when I tell you the full thing."

The text was turned back to the old man.

"Regardless, after assembling the mercenaries, Albert would run into Aria again. A few dates later, they fell for each other and got married. Soon after that, they had a child that became their entire world. You know, I have to give Albert props. Having only eyes for one woman while being surrounded by a bunch of smoking hot ones makes him a far better man than me! If I were him, I'd-

"Umm, gramps?" Bell's head tilted. "I thought spirits can't have kids."

"Ha! Another full story secret. All I can say now is that Aria's a Great Spirit! And that will be important later."

Bell nodded, and the old man continued.

"Now for the actual climax of the story!" The pages were turned for what felt like minutes on end. But when Bell's eyes were getting droopy, his grandpa slapped the page.

Thud!

"Seven years after the birth of Albert's child, he and his mercenaries attempted to achieve their ultimate goal: reach the bottom of the dungeon. They tried on numerous occasions but always came up short for various reasons. But one day, they did it, for better... and worse. As they guessed, a boss waited for them. A single entity that has gone by many names, but it has one all recognize: The Black Dragon."

What the boy saw wasn't what he had expected. Instead of a dragon, as the name suggested, it looked more like a... fog. A formless foe. Something that had a mouth and eyes of fire.

"That... doesn't look like a dragon."

"Well, I did take some creative liberties, but when I read you the full thing, you'll see the actual design. But the reason I wanted to show you this is that I don't see it as a monster but as the collection of all evil, hence it being a formless fog. But anyway, the battle was in Albert's favor. His group prepared countless times for whatever horrors could be tossed their way. Or so they thought."

A few pages were flipped.

"The dragon pulled its most vile move yet: a black wind, the very same you saw on the title page. It increased everything about it. It tore through Albert's ranks, forcing the survivors to retreat. It was then the dragon showed its true desire: escape. More and more of his forces were shredded as they tried to make it back up or at least delay it. An example of the latter was Celdia. On the 60th floor, she unleashed all of her magic in the form of glaciers to slow its progress."

One page turned, and the grandfather sighed.

"The only person to make it back to the surface was Albert, and he began to seek out Aria. You see, she commanded wind, the green kind on the title page. It, too, increases a person's abilities, and it was seen as Albert's only chance against the beast. But, even with her magic to enhance him, their fates were sealed. It was a battle, not to win, but to protect the city and, most importantly, his daughter. Maybe that's why, even while being outclassed, Albert landed this!"

The artwork showed Albert shouting as his sword was coated in an explosion as it landed in the Black Dragon's eye. Bell's eyes widened at the determination lining the Mercenary King's face. After admiring the image, the book was closed and set on his grandpa's lap.

"As I said, Albert's fate was sealed. He paid the ultimate price for jamming out its eye and driving it from Orario. The Black Dragon was renamed to the One-Eyed Black Dragon. As to what happened to Aria and their child, it remains unknown."

"He... doesn't kill the Black Dragon?"

The old man nodded.

"Yeah..."

"Th-That means it's still out there?!"

"Yeah, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. Something tells me that wherever it is, it'll be staying there for a long time."

Bell rubbed his hands while a somber look lined his face.

"Gramps, why do... why do all these stories have sad endings? It's not just the big three; many of them end in tragedy."

Sigh. "That's the thing, Bell. Stories that end on a good note just don't exist past creations in our heads. The ideals that form a hero in our eyes are what ends their story. There hasn't been someone yet to disprove that."

Bell formed small fists, and his ruby eyes filled with a vastly watered-down version of what Albert had in his.

"Then... I'll become a hero! I'll be a great one, and I'll make it so that mine ends with Happily Ever After!"

A smile ear to ear formed on his grandfather's face, and he held onto Bell with his left arm.

"That would make me so proud! I can already see it now!"

His right arm panned across the room.

"Bell Cranel, my grandson, the strongest hero to ever live! Just imagine the hot woman to become your wife. Or better yet, a harem where they would fawn over you."

The usual perverse comments made were ignored, though they did enter his mind, and Bell's eyes continued to sparkle. That was until black spots started to form in his sight. He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was just tired, but the spots didn't fade.

"What is-"

Walls started crumbling around him, and they started falling into a black void that was opening up. His lungs were taking in the air faster than normal, and his eyes watered. He turned to his grandpa, but he was no longer there. The void kept consuming everything present until nothing was left aside from his bed... until it was devoured as well.

---

[Start SoundTrack: Separation Theme - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword]

Nothingness. A word to describe where he was, inside a void of never-ending blackness. Nothing to feel. Nothing to see. Nothing to smell. Nothing to taste. Nothing to hear.

Which way was up, and which way was down? Was he floating, falling, or drifting through space? Did the concept of direction even exist? The only thing he knew for real? It was surreal.

Most would strive to be able to reach this sort of getaway, isolated from everything; some would kill for it. A paradise where one can be left alone to focus on whatever issue plagued their mind. Despite this perfect chance to become at ease with himself, ease was something he couldn't bring himself to be at. Resting his hand on his chest, he looked around.

"Did I die? Is... this what death looks like?"

To his surprise, an image from the past formed, panning across the sky like it was a comet. It was his seven-year-old self sitting upright on his bed while saying, "I'll become a hero!". That phrase was joined by "End in Happily Ever After", and both echoed through the vast sea. Together, they made a slight smile appear on Bell's face.

"I guess I was dreaming. Hehe, I haven't changed much. But ... where am I? Am I still dreaming? But why do I feel wide awake? And... the one with Gramps... I've never had that before. Why did I have it now?"

His memory vanished from the sky, but the voice and words still permeated through the great abyss. It was until the laugh of a werewolf boomed from behind him, drowning the inspired child.

"HAHAHA! He's just some lousy little peon much weaker than you! He's got no right to even stand next to you!"

Bell's smile vanished, and a serious look took over his face.

"I haven't changed in the sense of my desires, not strength."

He stared at the palm of his hand.

"I know I'm weaker than her, but I've gotten stronger." He tightened his fist. "I'm close. I just have to keep pushing on. I will be strong enough to-"

His vessel of thoughts slammed on the breaks, for the world changed around him. Transforming from a void to Orario, one that he was overlooking from the sky.

"Another memory? But when is this?"

He leaned forward, and his eyes widened with his mouth opening.

"This is during Monsterphillia!"

The exact moment he was watching was when he pushed Hestia through a passageway, locking the door behind her.

"Bell-kun, what are you doing?! Open this door right now!"

[You should escape. I'll buy time for you.] said his level 1 version, smiling.

Black flames torched the scene, causing the current iteration of Bell to flinch back.

"Ack!"

Their quickness to rise was matched by their speed to fall, returning the void to a state of nothing.

He recognized what this void was trying to do, and he gritted his teeth as a result.

"I thought I wasn't strong enough, but I was! Now, I'm stronger than I ever have been!"

In direct response, the abyss shifted back to the labyrinth city, the same location but at night.

"If this is the same spot then this should be the Xenos incident with me and Weine!"

Sure enough, there he was, dragging the monster girl with him. He guided the Vouivre through the passage, locking it behind her like he had done with Hestia. Through the bars, he gave Weine the occulus.

"What about you, Bell?"

[I'll stay here. I want to talk to Ais-san, and I'm sure she'll come here.]

He patted her head and watched her run down the passage. His thought at the time was said aloud.

[I'm still as weak as I was back then.]

Black flames came to consume the scene, and some remained when the void returned.

"ACK! What is with this fire?! It burns, but... it isn't hot."

White flames entered his eyes and placed the fires to rest when his gaze met them.

Pant. Pant. "Even if I were as strong as I am now, I wouldn't been able to stop Ais if she wanted to get to Weine. But I'm close... I'm-"

To continue toying with him, the scene changed to Twilight Manor for him to see himself fall to the ground, arrows lodged into his body. His thoughts at the time echoed aloud.

[We... made it. You... made it. I... I kept my promise.]

Flames took this scene away as they now encircled him. Glaring at a portion of them quelled it but failed to disperse any. Blood started leaking from his lip from how hard he bit down on it, the taste lingering in his mouth.

"I can't lose hope. Like Gramps said, never lose hope."

Inside the ring of fire, an image of Ais appeared, her back turned to him. It was as if his desperation to hold on to what so many had abandoned manifested her. He reached out his arm, inches away from touching her back.

"Ais-san!"

Before he could touch her, Bete's words came back, increasing in volume.

"He's just some lousy little peon! He's just some lousy little peon! HE'S JUST SOME LOUSY LITTLE PEON!"

Ais erupted into black flames, and the ring of fire rose into massive columns. His white flame began losing its effect while all the pillars moved inward. They were now causing his flames to dwindle, and hope started to slip.

"Nothing has changed! I haven't changed a bit! Even after all this time! The village, Monsterphillia, the Xenos, The Conquerors! I'm always relying on someone else to save the ones I care about!"

Only the embers of his white fire remained. The pillars of a burning blackness were mere inches away.

"I want to be able to fight beside her. I... I want to be able to protect her... to protect everyone. But... I..."

One word was all that he was away from, having the fire scorch his skin. But while his mouth struggled to articulate it...

"Bell Cranel."

[End SoundTrack]

[Start SoundTrack: Follow Fi - The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword]

The voice was foreign to him and sounded of both man and woman. In the announcement of Bell's name, the flames of ruin were cast aside. He spun around and saw a mysterious being outlined in a golden shell with warm rays radiating out, shining through the darkness.

"Who... who are you?" asked Bell, his eyes quivering at this marvelous being.

"So you are the one he seeks."

"What? Who seeks me?"

It floated towards him, hovering above when it got to him.

"You are so young. A boy like yourself shouldn't be thrust into this position. A boy like you... should be living a simple life, isolated from the dangers of the world with family."

A hint of sorrow lined the figure's words, and a cape sprouted from each of its arms. It leaped back, the golden fabric fluttering.

"I see now that the world's cruelty knows no bounds, neither ceasing nor dwindling. Alas, a new age must be achieved so that the beauty of this world can be perceived."

"Wha-What are you talking about? Who are you even?"

It began springing around him, a small golden circle forming with each bound.

"Countless years I have spent waiting to speak with the one he would deem worthwhile. Through those years, I have collected the power to arrange this meeting. But even so, I still can't reveal who I am, for its will binds me. But I can tell you this, Bell Cranel."

It stopped, and its wing-like cape was absorbed back into its shell.

"Your future will be paved with blood. Your body will be broken. Your mind will be shattered. Your ideals will be questioned. And in the end, the desire for death to take you will be contemplated. All shall occur, though I ask you to be strong. To be what this world needs. To be what she needs, Bell."

"S-She...?"

"Ais, of course." I am aware of your feelings for her; we are in your mind, after all."

"Huh?! I... I-" Bell's half-hearted attempt to deny it ended when the figure placed a hand over its chest and hunched forward.

"All this energy for just a few minutes of conversation? I suppose I am connecting to you by mind, not that I would be able to do this face-to-face."

The golden figure pointed at him.

"Know this: those flames of black, the fire of despair, don't become a victim to them. It has already infected so many and is close to consuming all of her."

It stumbled forward as it approached Bell.

"The idea that good will arise to stop evil is fading. The embers that light the matches of heroes prior? I feared they were gone. That was before I saw it in your eyes, that white flame to rebel against the Dark. Even his stubbornness will see that ember of a flame long extinguished, waiting to be lit once more."

It reached right in front of him.

"When Oblivion is to be faced, none but the ones atop everything will decide it all. Should it be the Legendary Spirit of Light or of Dark? None will know until one claims victory- ugh!"

It slumped forward, being caught by Bell. It panted as its glow started to fade, and the shadows of the void began to enclose them.

"I'm... at my limit. Once I go, you will be left to govern the path you'll take alone. To quote the shell of a once great man, "This world needs something greater than a hero; it needs Hope". Ackk! My time is... up. Embrace your destiny... save this world from calamity. But first... you... must..."

It used the final bit of energy had it to place a finger in between Bell's eyebrows.

"Awaken."