After the magic circle teleported them, they find themselves in a much brighter room. Taking in their surroundings they can only describe themselves to be in some kind of water dome. The Walls and floor seemed to be made of water.
The only thing in the dome was something similar to gazebo except it didn't have any handrails and it is made of stone rather than wood. The gazebo was connected to 4 paths making a sort of crossroad. The end of each path led to a magic circle which was where Hinata and Seiji were standing on.
They then spot something on the floor of the gazebo.
"Is that a magic circle?"
"Does that mean we're at the end." The room did give a "You did it" vibe but...
"Huh, feels a little...easy." Hinata commented.
"What?!" Seiji was shocked by that comment. "We had to go a thousand feet deep to the ocean remember?" He reminded.
"Oh yeah, forgot about that." Hinata realized.
"Not to mention we had to fight ghost armies of two countries, and also don't forget that I got possessed! " He continued to recall recent events. Which actually made Hinata chuckle.
As they walked one of the the other teleporting circle had glowed. And out of the light were the rest of their allies. Once both group spotted each other they were all filled with relief.
Meld was the first to run to the pair "Hinata, Seiji, are you both ok?"
"Do you really have to ask?"
"Hm? Seiji, you seem really happy. Did something good happened?" Shu asked noticing the smile on the boy's face.
"Oh my, did you two get..heated?" Tio asked with disgusting smile which earned him a kick to the face by Hinata.
"Oh yes master. Kick me more!" He begged with maximum glee.
"I really need a new punishment." Hinata sighed. Punishment without violence or pain... she's gonna need to brainstorm.
"So you were saying Seiji?" Akira asked the boy.
"Well it's just that...back there...she got angry for my sake." Seiji bashfully said.
""Huh?""
Seiji smiled and placed both his hands on his cheeks. "It felt she was defending my honor."
"Right? Right? It felt amazing right?" Shu said remembering the time Hinata got mad for his tribe.
Meld was weirded out by the scene but soon cam to accept it. Realizing that only Hinata can make boys feel as if they are damsels in distress.
"Yeah, but...I kinda think I missed an opportunity to kiss him." Seiji's swooning was replaced with slumping. He can't help but still wish Hinata would've just come in closer,just a bit closer.
"Gah, I know that feeling. If only Meld hadn't gotten in the way." Shu complained, recalling the time after Miledi's labyrinth. All the while not noticing a looming Meld clenching his fist.
Akira walks to Seiji. "So you didn't run away?" Hinata wasn't the only one to notice Seiji's feelings.
"No, even Hinata said I should but... I didn't."
"So you're determined now?"
"I think I always were. But I fell into old habits after meeting all of you. But don't worry I won't be like that ever again." He promised.
"Hmph I still preferred you giving up." The vampire scoff.
"You afraid?"
"As if." Akira brings his face closer to Seiji. "Hinata will be mine, that's final."
"Hehe." Seiji only giggles at Akira's statement. "You can say that but...I now know Hinata cares for me. And it's only a matter of time before I become her special one."
"As futile as it is i will accept your challenge now."
"Hey come on now, we don't need to hate each other. We might be rivals but we can also be friends. In harems it's not weird if everyone still smile and have fun together."
"Hmm...even though we are adversaries, we can still be friends? Another concept from Japan." Hinata's world never ceases to be an interest to him.
"So what do you say, friends/rivals?" Seiji offered his hand. Akira and accepts and returns the handshake.
With that done they all go the gazebo and the magic circle lights up. This time however things are a bit different. The magic circle doesn't just automatically teach people ancient. It first scans the challengers memory to decide whether or not they had completed the labyrinth. In the previous labyrinth it never really mattered because they all experience ls the same things. But this time however they were separated. So both groups are now experiencing what the other one did.
Hinata and Seiji learned the others went through something similar to them. They too stopped a war between two countries. But instead of the sea, the battle was held in some kind of underground battle was apparently started after demons destroyed a human village.
But that fact was complete BS.
The village was destroyed by the church. They wanted an excuse to drive a whole race to extinction instead of admitting that they are just a bunch of racist assholes. Of course they regretted it but not because they felt bad. As if those lunatics has any form of a guilty conscience. They were losing...badly. So badly that of course they would turn to their so called benevolent god...and give him a proper sacrifice. They prepare hundreds of little girls and slaughtered every single one of them.
It's no surprise that Akira, Shu, and Tio were sick to their stomachs watching it, Shu even had to hold back puking. However what was surprising was...Meld's reaction. Upon watching it he had kept a perfect stone face, as if he didn't care one bit. He was as composed as Hinata.
The three of them were concerned and asked him about it but he just kept insisting on moving forward. After realizing all of this and what Hinata and Seiji watched, everyone turned to the former knight captain with sympathy, even Hinata.
"Hmm..." Noticing everyone's gaze, Meld simply turns his own away.
They all realize that he doesn't wish to talk about it nor is this the right place or time to do it.
Once the scan was done they all learn a new ancient magic.
"Restoration magic." It apparently has the power to restore anything to previous or original state. In other words it can manipulate the time of anything and more than that...
"We found it." Akira exclaimed. "This is the power of restoration we need for Haltina."
"Wait, so you need to clear a volcano, a ruin that's in the bottom of the sea, and 2 other labyrinth to get into one in the forest? What's up with that?" That sounded unnecessarily complicated.
"I think it's better to not fuss over it." Meld suggested.
In front of them, a cube rose from the floor and tarts glowing. It was similar to what happened in Orcus and the party sees some sort of projection of most likely, Meiru Melusine. The projection was shown to be a quite busty woman. She had fins for ears meaning that Meiru Melusine was a merfolk. Which would make sense considering the labyrinth was located near Erisen.
"Please, don't cling onto the gods." The message began playing. " Don't rely on them. Don't grow accustomed to what's given to you. Struggle on, and grasp what you desire with your own two hands. Decide your own path in life, and walk down it with your own two feet. Remember, no matter how bleak things look, you'll be able to find the answers inside of you. Only you have those answers. Don't be deceived by the gods' honeyed words. Only when you live by your own free will can you find true happiness. I pray the path you walk will be forever showered in fortune."
Once Melusine disappears Hinata goes to the cube and picks up the coin that was on it, the fourth proof of conquest. Now they meet all the qualifications for Haltina. Shu was ecstactic about meeting back up with his family.
The happy feeling was cut short when the water level suddenly started rising. The walls around them also start spiraling as a hole in the ceiling opens up sucking them in. None of them were happy about this especially the ones who had cleared Reisen's labyrinth.
Akira had reacted fast and created a barrier to keep them all together. Once they were out, Hinata brings out the submarine, hoping to finally get out of this underwater nightmare.
But before they reach the submarine's entrance...
"Watch out!"
Meld pulls Hinata back as a long purple tentacle shot pass them hitting the submarine. They all grimace at a familiar creature.
"The sea slug?"
The powerful monster that gave them hard time from before. And now they were about to face a harder time. Because they were currently underwater they can't attack as efficient not to mention their movements are limited while the sea slug can swim freely. But that wasn't enough to make them surrender.
Akira enforces his barrier by freezing the water around it creating some sort of ice sphere. Meanwhile Hinata puts on her goggles and connects to the submarine to control it remotely.
The submarine kept firing torpedoes at the sea creature, Hinata even rammed the submarine to the sea creature. She didn't really do this to beat the monster because of it's regeneration ability. Also there was really no need to beat because they already got what they came for.
All that assault was nothing more than a distraction. While the sea slug was occupied, Akira manipulated the current to push their sphere up. But it wasn't fast enough. The sea slug bypassed the submarine and appears above them.
Akira couldn't change in the current in time and so...they were swallowed.
In the literal belly of the beast Hinata trued freeing them using the submarine. But the sea slug was smart and clinged onto the submarine melting a big hole onto it. With the submarine flooded it was no longer usable.
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" She shouted while angrily storing back the submarine. To make things worse, just like before the sea slug's body is melting Akira barrier and ice. "Meld, use the new spell to get us out of here!" Hinata ordered.
"Alright, just a moment!" Meld begins preparation while Hinata decides to buy him some time. She beings out her sick as hell railgun points it out of one of the barrier's hole and fires. A big part of the sea slug was blown to bits. However Hinata knew this was only temporary and that was a they needed.
"Cosmic Rift!"
A warp gate appears inside the sphere and everybody enters t thing they knew they were falling in the air headed straight towards the waters they were in moments ago. Tio quickly transform to his dragon form and they all land on his back.
Meld had unleashed the latest addition to their ancient magic collection, spatial magic. Due to it's complications, he still needed sometime to cast it. Even Akira cannot cast with such ease.
Everyone was smiling with relief, when suddenly...
*Splash*
Their smiles drop as they see a massive tidal wave behind them. The wave was much taller than how high Tio was flying. Tio quickly charged forward trying to get away from the wave. Akira and Meld attempted to blast the wave apart with Wind magic but with ended with no result.
Shu then noticed something. "Guys look! The monster, it's inside!."
He points to the wave and true his words they can see a silhouette of the sea slug. Knowing that the wave was gonna get them. Tio turned back and Akira created another barrier as they are caught by the wave and put in the exact same position as before. With the only difference is that now the sea slug was much bigger from before, it must've gathered it's other goo substance to grow in size, about 20 meters to be exact.
"It can regenerate, melt mana, and control the sea, hat the fuck is with this thing?" Hinata asked in disbelief.
"Uhh can you kiss me?" Everyone stared at Shu upon his request. "I-I'm not joking. Seriously, I want to kiss you before we die." He explained.
"Then I also wish for a kiss from you master." Tio joined.
"Stop it, both of you!" Meld smacks them both. "Stop talking as if we were about to die. Hinata will figure out how to deal with that thing. The rest of us will try to hold it back."
"Huh?"
Meld simply smiles at the girl. "Don't worry, I believe in you." The other guys felt the same as they all look at Hinata with confidence.
Hinata didn't really know how to feel. The feeling of being depended on was something foreign to her. But either way, Meld was right, they've gone through way too much just to be killed by some sea slug, so she just had to think.
Think!
Think!
Think!
Hinata realizes that the monster never really regenerated, it just kept gathering goo to replace it's destroyed body parts. Just like how it gathered itself to get bigger. So if they blow this entire body up, they might be able to get away
But, how do they blow it up? They can't use fire magic because their underwater. The also can't use torpedoes because the submarine's broken.
So just need a way to create a massive underwater explosion...
"Brain blast!" Hinata exclaimed.
"Brain what?"
"Where have I heard that before?"
"You got a plan Hinata?"
"Yeah but I need a couple of minutes."
"Don't worry we got you covered."
Hinata immediately pulls out all the materials she needed. She activates two different skills, the first Riftwalk, not only does it increase her speed it also increases her senses. The second is Limit Break, the same one Meld used in Reisen to increase her base stats.
She was using Transmute like there was no tomorrow. However things still seemed dreadful. Due to their very limited means of attack, there wasn't actually much they can do against the sea slug and it's large size. Soon it was above them and ready to swallow them one more time.
Hinata internally cursed, she was hoping to completely finish what she was building but beggars can't be choosers. She readies to fire what she had hoping it be enough, when suddenly...
*Crash*
The party's eyes widened when they saw the sea slug getting knocked away by a massive group of fish.
"It seems you're in a bind Hinata."
They turn to the owner of the voice.
""Rhiiman?!"" Hinata and Shu gasped.
The others were more confused than surprise seeing the odd...fish?
"What are you doing here?"
"Oh, well I was just swimming around when I sensed a familiar mana, then I saw you fighting a devourer and thought I'd help. You said you needed a couple of minutes right? Well hurry up, I can't hold it off for long."
"R-right." Hinata continued working on her invention. Shu walks to Rhiiman. "Uh, Rhiiman did you call that thing a devourer?"
"Yup that thing's been around since ancient times. Those things are more of disasters rather than creature."
"And those fishes, are they also your doing?"
"Yup, I'm using my telepathy to control them. Even if they don't have mana I can still control them." The guys were dumbfounded, to think such a weird looking fish can do something so powerful. They might be regular fishes but their sheer number managed to keep the devourer at bay.
"Done!" Hinata exclaimed. "Meld get ready to open a other warp gate, this time open one inside that thing's stomach. Despite the odd request, Meld nods and prepares to once again use spatial magic.
After she was done, she brought out the 120 torpedoes she just made around Akira's barrier. Putting on her goggles, she launched them all, because all of those torpedoes were controlled through the goggles like her drones were. Seeing it, the devourer tries blocking them with it's tentacles. However, because of Hinata controlling it, she was able to make most of the torpedoes avoid it.
The ones that that made it through had pierced the devourer's body. However none of it exploded, unlike the torpedoes she before. Instead, from where it was pierced the devourer's body started to be covered by a black substance, which started to spread to all over it's body.
"Hinata, what is that?"
"It's liquidated flamrock or to be precise, it's basically tar." Every single one of the torpedoes was filled with it. "Meld is it ready?" She asked while preparing a grenade in her hand.
"Yeah." He opens the warp gate. And after pulling the pin Hinata tosses it in. "Close it." Meld follows her order. And then in a matter of seconds.
*BOOOM*
The tar caused the grenade to start a chain explosion. Blowing the devourer's whole body, the explosion even reached the surface.
Once it was over Hinata falls to her knees, the aftereffect of Limit Break kicking it. The others check on her and they all take a breather, for real this time.
"Hey! Next time you're gonna make an explosion that big, warn me next time."
They were joined by the voice of a grumpy old man.
"Hehe, sorry Rhiiman." Hinata chuckled. "But seriously though you saved our lives." Even she can't help but grateful to the fish...Huh, never thought she would say that. The same goes for being swallowed by a sea slug.
"Well, you did do a good job dealing with the devourer. And don't worry about it, I was just paying back the favour. Let's consider it fate, you were fated to free me from that aquarium and I was fated to help you here."
"Fate huh? I wonder about that." She can't really say she believes in fate.
Meanwhile Seiji leans over to Meld and whispers a question. "Uh Meld, is it weird that she gets along with a fish way better than most of humanity?"
"Uhh...well at least she's making friends, I guess." It might be odd, but to be fair, can the rest of can really be considered normal human being?
"Well anyway, see ya later. If you have kids of your own in the future, why don't you let them play with mine. Now if you'd excuse me I need to get back to the wife, later."
"Bye Rhiiman." Hinata and the rest smiles and wave as the the man fish swim away. But honestly, kids of her own? As if that-
"WAIT, HE'S MARRIED?!" They all suddenly realized.
After that, they all got on Tio's back and they fly back to Erisen.
Once they reached Erisen, Rome and Moku welcomed them with happy faces and open arms. After they got back all they did was eat the food Rome had cooked for them and went to sleep.
The next day was focused on relaxing. Hinata was fixing the submarine. And the others had hung out around Erisen with Rome and Moku.
But then...at night.
Hinata opens the door to the living room of Rome's abode. There, someone was waiting.
"Hey Meld."
"Hi, so what did you want to talk about?"
"I'm gonna be straight...how are you feeling?"
"Well now...are you actually worried about me?" Meld asked in amusement.
"It's not just me." Everyone had been worried about Meld and had actually asked her to check on him. When the others tried Meld just shrugged them off even after they got back to Erisen. So they asked Hinata to have a one on one talk with him.
"What is it that you're all worried about?" Meld asked as if he was playing dumb.
"About the things shown in Melusine."
"..."
"The massacre, the framing of the demons, all the sacrifices. "
"..."
"All of it was done by the church, by the humans."
"..."
"There were two other teleportation circles. Each of them probably showed some other fucked up shit that's just as bad or worse than what we saw."
"..."
"Doesn't it bother you?"
"Now why would I give a crap about that?"
"Huh...?" Hinata couldn't process what she just heard.
"The church's misdeeds had nothing to do with me right? So were you all worried I felt guilty about it?"
"Uh..."
"Or were you worried that I didn't feel it was right to fight the demons anymore because humans were in the wrong?" He pats Hinata on the head. "Don't worry about that one bit, ok?"
"What is happening?" Hinata was starting to wonder if this was actually Meld. He had a breakdown in Orcus and yet now here he is casually ignoring something as bad as that.
"Hinata, I'll admit, what I witnessed in Melusine shook me to my core. But...none of it matters right now." He stated. "I knew my race's history had a grim secret behind it. I realized that in Orcus, and Melusine has given clarity on it. If humans wish to learn from their mistake, they must first realize what that mistake is in the first place."
"So what? Are you saying that it was a learning experience? That's it?"
Meld suddenly brought his own face closer to Hinata's. "Hinata, read my face. I do not intend to drag the past to the present. I only intend to learn from it, to realize the truth. What my ancestors did cannot be atoned with our actions. That is why i will my live the same from before."
"..." Hinata was stunned.
" Well...am I telling the truth?"
"You knew I can do that?"
"I noticed when you did it with the guys and what you said about Shimizu. But you've actually been able to do that before coming to Tortus, didn't you?"
Hinata was looking for the face of a liar.
She never told anyone, but t a single glance, she can tell when someone's lying or not. That's why she believed Akira, Shu, and Tio's crazy ass stories. That's also how she knew Meld meant his promise.
"When Seiji told me what happened, my theories were confirmed. But...I assume it's not something you wish to talk about."
Hinata stiffened. She started to rub her shoulder. "It's something I learned the hard way."
The first time she learned can do this was...
"Very well, then let's get back to the topic at hand."
"Alright, so... you're saying that you're fine and nothing's changed, like at all?"
"Well, I realized that the conflict between humans and demons aren't what it seemed after Orcus. But Melusine has given me a new view on it." He goes to the living room window and looks at the moon. "Instead of vanquishing the demons...perhaps I should try to make peace with the demons."
"What?! Peace? You're kidding right?"
"Hehe, that was quite the reaction." It's not everyday he sees Hinata flustered. "Don't worry, I won't get my hopes too high. I won't think twice about killing when I need to. I know I can't hope that all demons will ever be open to that idea, like the bastard that hurt you."
Hinata gagged at hearing who he was referring to. Safe to say everyone wants payback on that guy.
"The same can be said about humans, like maybe a certain pope you know."
Hinata gagged again, she knew who he was referring to this time, pope Ishtar, the head of the church and the one who welcomed her and her class when they first got here. It took less than an hour for Hinata to be wary of him. After all...she saw his face.
"With all of these obstacles, my desire seems quite impossible doesn't it?"
"...Yeah, it does."
"Well that's fine..." He turns back to face Hinata. "If there's one thing Hinata Nagumo has thought me, is that the impossible can become possible."
"I thought I taught you what cringe and memes are, along with how to drive of course."
"Hehe. Anyway, if there's even one demon who wishes for peace with humans, than I don't see why I shouldn't try it."
"...Whatever floats your boat."
"So, why don't we talk about you?"
"Huh? Talk about what?"
"About Moku."
"Oh..."
"Hinata, you have grown fond of him, admit it." Especially after that time they were a clothing store, and the guys all swapped clothes at Moku's request.
"Ugh, not to the point where I'm ok with being his mother. I never even wanted kids and I haven't changed my mind about it!"
"Why don't you talk it out with Rome?" Meld sighed. He can see just how bothered she is. He hates to admit it, but maybe it was a mistake to give her that kind of punishment. "Whatever you decide to do, I'll follow it. I'll talk to the others as well, now why don't you go back to bed, it's pretty late."
Hinata said nothing as she went back to her room. Meld resumed watching the night sky. He contemplates what he just said. All he could think was how it seemed so out of reach
The demons were a challenge enough. But then there's the church, along with the rest of humanity who didn't know the truth of themselves. He didn't even know if the royal family would be open to it. He kept thinking of who would be on his side, one name popped up.
"I wonder how Kuzeli's doing."
In the streets of the Heighligh kingdom. Two robe hooded figures are seen running down the alleyway. They come to a stop a the end. The taller figure perks out and looks left and right for any signs of kingdom soldiers.
The irony...
"Uh...uhm.." the shorter one tried talking. "Is this really the best course of action...Kuzeli?"
Kuzeli thinks back to the talk she and Meld had back in Horaud.
"Kuzeli, if you witness anything and I mean anything strange revolving the church then you need to...get out of the kingdom, and please try to find me."
"Yes, I am sure...Princess." If what she said about Aiko was right, then this is the only way to save her. He might be the kingdom's last hope.
Yes, I just put a Jimmy Neutron reference in this fanfic, I also made a reference to the other OVA I once mentioned. Fun fact, this chapter and the last were supposed to be one, but I hadn't realized it had gotten so long, so I decided to split it like this.