It Was About Us

by Scapel

In the dark pits of the Dungeon, Gekai's premiere pit of overflowing darkness, untold riches, glory and power, the remains of a broken and twisted Hero are left. Is it to Gekai's misfortune that these dying remains are found by an errant tendril? Or would the chance given to the one that drowned in her justifications lead to brighter days?

11. Chapter 11 Seperate from the Whole

Loki the Trickster Goddess

I'd been intent on speaking with the old bastard for a while now, around about… a month? I'd tried a once before a few weeks ago, but Ouranos had been so pissed he'd actually ordered that red haired wolf woman to "carry her out". I had to applaud the sheer audacity that woman had of actually picking me up and carrying me outside.

If she hadn't carried me to a side entrance and had instead actually embarrassed me, I'd be pretty mad, but as it had been I'd gotten to cop a good feel. So I'd say we were even.

With the receptionist, that is. Ouranos had another thing coming. Well I was saying that, but my Familia was pretty broke right now, Finn had even organized a whole questing expedition to gather funds.

It probably wasn't a good idea to fuck around with the Guild right now. No problem, I could wait.

Saying that… this time I was speaking with him no matter what. I'd had a bunch of stuff to deal with recently and I was starting to get really curious about the Taylor gal.

More worrying was… Hermes. He knew something, I had no clue how, but that shady asshole had narrowed in on the "Guide" section of her name. No doubt he had somehow made a connection with Khepera.

It would make sense; Hermes had been one of the most involved with Gekai after the age of Heroes had properly started. I'd expect him to have seen Khepera before. If Taylor really did look exactly like Khepera he'd make the connection.

The question was… what else did he know?

Sussing that out of him was practically impossible, unless you were a cheater like the goddesses of beauty, Hermes mostly knew when to keep his mouth shut.

How annoying, I'd have to get some proper blackmail on him.

Thinking that I sauntered into the Guild's main building and passed right by the receptionists despite their outcry, one of the newbies tried to come over and stop me only to be held back by the wolfwoman. Looks like she knew I was serious this time.

I'm fairly sure I saw Royman rushing here from a distance as well. That kid had really let himself go in the last thirty years. I mean sheesh I'd never seen an Elf that fat before.

I kept my pace as he came near me, time for this whole spiel again. Not that I didn't enjoy messing with him, but didn't he get tired of trying to stop me from talking to Ouranos?

Seriously the only way I was getting stopped was if the big guy himself said so.

"Do not bother Royman, let her through." Ouranos's voice boomed out from his little prayer room in the depths stopping Royman before he could even open his mouth.

Oh? I suppose my little game must've been annoying to him if he'd stopped the charade this early.

I smirked and sent Royman an apologetic look.

"I'll play with you later, Royman." I said. The full body shiver he had was really satisfying as well.

Hmm… Today will be a good day.

I continued my now much more peaceful walk through the corridors until I entered the tunnel leading to Ouranos's little hidey-hole.

"Loki." The Big Guy greeted me before I could even step into the room. What an asshole, at least let me step in. That way I could disrespect him first.

"Hey, good to see you're hard at work as always." I greeted him back with a false smile. No matter how much of dismissive prick he Ouranos was, he also was a hard worker that set this entire "Age of Gods" thing up. Even I couldn't pick on him too much.

He bowed his head in slight thanks. You know that looked really odd when he was doing it from on top of an altar-throne.

"May I ask why you've come? After your last… indulgence I have little patience for your antics." He spoke calmly but the slight hint of sharpness in his tone told me just how angry he still was over that.

…Okay I had to admit hanging them by the light poles may have been a bit overboard, but it was really funny that time!

They were just some minor familia bastards anyways. Besides it had already been seven years! He should just get over it.

Naturally I didn't say that to his face, I still wanted some information out of him after all.

"Sure, sure. Just wanted to ask you personally about that Taylor gal." I'm sure my tone conveyed that I wasn't going to accept getting sent away empty handed.

Ouranos stared into my eyes as if checking my resolve. Man, quit it with the "Elder God" routine, we get it.

He sighed moments later.

"I do not know much more than you do, in fact I'd say I know even less." He admitted calmly.

I raised an eyebrow. "You have no clue why Aizu has attached herself to her so, then?" I asked.

Ouranos was silent for a moment then spoke.

"I understand that she's mistaken her for someone else, no? 'Khepera' I believe. That child is no longer with us, not in the mortal realm nor in the Heavens." He spoke with finality.

I didn't quite know what happened to the soul of that spirit, worst case scenario she was absorbed by the Dungeon. Best case scenario her soul had shattered and disappeared. Either way if Ouranos said she wasn't with us anymore that meant Taylor wasn't Khepera.

"Aizu says they look exactly alike, you sure there isn't any connection? Where did ya find her anyways?" Come on, give me something I can use…

The big guy thought silently for a moment.

"I cannot say, they do look very alike now that I think about it but such similarities occur naturally in the mortal world." He answered only one of my questions.

"And? Where the hell did you pull her out of?" I insisted.

"The depths of the Dungeon. I am unaware of the exact location but an informant of mine found her in the White Palace as they were looking for someone to help Astrea familia."

To help Astrea Familia… that must be when they were wiped out, around three months ago then? Found inside the Dungeon as well, just like Ais… Doubt there is a connection there, Ais's circumstances were very unique if there was something like that going on with Taylor, we'd have found her already.

"I'm guessin' you have no clue about her god either."

Ouranos shook his head almost regretfully.

"I have not been able to find whoever it was, all I know is that she doesn't have a god to rely on now."

But she had been getting stronger… or at least Finn thought so, and I was perfectly willing to bet all my possessions on his guesses. If he said Taylor hadn't been hiding her strength, she most likely wasn't.

That meant Taylor was getting stronger without Falna updates…

Had she broken past her limits like the Heroes of old? I'd say that was impossible but impossible was just the way the mortal realm worked.

Even then, that didn't solve the mystery of her origins. I'm still not completely convinced that there is no connection with Khepera but even if I disregard that all I can sus out is that she once had a familia, now doesn't and probably gets stronger in the more traditional method.

What a damn mess.

"Loki." Ouranos addressed me so I stopped my running thoughts.

"What?" I sent back.

"I shouldn't need to tell you this, I believe you are one of the few of us I can rely on to care about the children. Even so I must tell you this. That girl has gone through pain unimaginable to us gods. She has been through something we cannot relate, and it has torn her apart. I will ask that you not make it worse." For the first time in a while I properly felt the divinity of another god.

The only way to describe it was oppressive, this was the Great God of the Sky. This sort of pressure could only be matched by a mere handful of gods. Even so, I didn't flinch or falter.

It had always been my nature to stare into the eyes of those gods and tell them to fuck right off. But I held myself back. Ouranos was concerned. This old, callous but idealistic bastard was concerned like a protective grandpa.

I suppose Taylor really was a little princess then. How cute. Maybe I should've let that Sky Princess name past. It certainly felt fitting right now.

"I got it, it's not like I have anything against her. She's a good influence on Ais and frees up my other kids when she's babysitting. She's good with me." I reassured him.

His divinity faded and he nodded returning to his prayers. What a monster, to make another god, who are naturally deafer to the influence of divinity when in the mortal realm, feel pressured. Unimaginable.

"Well… keep up the good work then, I have other things to take care of." I turned and started walking the moment I said that. Not that Ouranos would respond to me with more than a thankful nod.

Hmm… Well it's good to confirm that Khepera and Taylor weren't the exact same person but other than that this hadn't really been all that fruitful.

How frustrating. At least I hadn't made more work for Finn. The next expedition was soon, and the questing expedition was sooner, wouldn't want him to die of overwork.

Now… What to do? There was that one Wargame going on right now, but it was between a bunch of F-listers and a basic field battle on top of that. Boring shit.

Guess I'll go pick up Aizu, I'd left her with Taylor when I was coming over here so she should be properly exhausted. I'd get to carry her back home again! Man it has been so long since I did that, she's been really shying away from me nowadays.

I fear she'll become like Riveria by the time she grows up!

Hope she's doing well in her training.

---

Ais Wallenstein Doll Princess

I-I'm going to die!

"Ais, keep going! It's just one more lap and we're done! I know you can do it!" Taylor called out from right behind me more than easily keeping my pace.

Just one more lap. One more lap around the entire city! Taylor knew what's best but this… was this how endurance was meant to be trained?

Riveria had once told me that her own physical training hadn't been very voluntary as it had happened whenever Hera familia caught sight of her and decided she needed to "have a fire lit under her" often quite literally. She'd apparently once been chased down into the lower floors in one go having spells fired after her all the while.

That actually explained why her own training methods were… less than enjoyable.

…Maybe this wasn't all that bad.

I kept running with heavy breaths. I was too tired to even attempt the phrases Loki had taught me. Just a bit more! A little further and I'll be done.

The stones of the great walls of Orario thunked and chattered as I ran. Taylor had said to keep my pace even but at this point I just wanted to get this over with.

"Don't push too hard. You'll fall!" Taylor said raising her voice to be heard over the wind.

I didn't listen to her and kept speeding up. At this point if these walls weren't made with Adamantium built underneath the stones I surely would've fallen through the floor.

As it was, I was about to reach my top speed at level four.

"Careful." Taylor said instead of stopping me.

I didn't pay attention to the knowing tone she had as I felt my heart soar. Almost done!

Right as I was passing the halfway point my foot got stuck on a shifted piece of stone and ripped it right out of its place. Normally I would've kept going but with how tired I was I couldn't dodge as the stone hit my other leg and threw me off balance.

I tried to desperately recover but my limbs were moving too slow from how tired I was. Oh no.

I saw the floor nearing my face and moved to protect myself against the fall as Taylor taught me but right as I was about to slam into the ground, I felt a hand latch onto the back of my clothes and stop my fall.

Taylor's steady hand gently pulled me back on to my feet and I stood up shakily. I followed along as she walked to the edge of the wall and sat down motioning for me to sit down as well.

I guiltily sat down. After a moment to let me catch my breath she spoke.

"I told you to pace yourself. Even with the reflexes of a second-class adventurer you can't always catch yourself when tired." She lectured softly.

I nodded silently. I should've listened to her… I'd gotten impatient again.

"Don't worry about it too much, we're here to work on your stamina and the problems you have with pacing yourself are just a part of that. While I'm here you can make as many mistakes as you want. I'll catch you and set you straight either way." Taylor reassured me as she handed me a water bottle.

I leaned against her as I accepted and drank. After she was sure I was drinking and resting properly she took out her own bottle.

I felt my eyelids almost falling shut as I leaned against Taylor's shoulder. The air was slightly chilly now that it was properly winter but even then, I felt warm underneath the sun.

Right as I was drifting off into sleep loud cheers came from inside the city.

The whine I made must've been noticeable since Taylor turned my way. She tilted her head slightly as she asked.

"Want to go and get those snacks you like before we continue?"

I felt my closing eyelids fly open. Jyaga Maru Kuns? Immediately an audible growl came from my stomach. I looked pleadingly at Taylor. She smiled and patted my head.

"Please." I said softly.

Taylor rose to her full height and extended a hand to help me up as well. I carefully took her bonelike prosthetic hand and rose. I didn't let go even as we started walking. It was a bit embarrassing, but I liked doing it.

…At least Taylor wasn't nearly as embarrassing as Loki was when holding my hand. She just silently walked. Though I saw a hint of annoyance visible on her face.

"Something…wrong?" I asked curiously.

Taylor turned my way with the annoyance gone.

"The war game. Bit annoyed at all the people watching it like a football game."

Football game? Some kind of… battle?

I tilted my head slightly.

"Do you not approve of War games?"

Upon hearing my question she made a conflicted face.

"It's better than fighting in the streets, and with the amount of adventurers and gods here fights are probably inevitable… even then fighting each other usually because some gods want a piece of property feels pointless to me." She answered.

I got what she meant. There were more Monsters to slaughter, so what even was the point of fighting each other? Every time I had to beat down a bunch of ambushers when I was alone in the Dungeon I had that thought.

Now that I think about it usually, I got ambushed in the streets as well. Nowadays people don't really try. Is it because I reached level four? Or maybe…

I turned to look at Taylor's tall form standing beside me laden with weapons and bandoliers full of magic items.

Hmm… was this what Loki meant when she called me a "dangerous cub"?

---

"Ais don't just stuff them into your mouth, chew properly." I chided as I paid the stall keeper for Ais's snacks.

The kindly old lady smiled gleefully as she watched my little student enjoy herself. With a word of muttered thanks Ais and I left.

I still had a lot to do, I was trying to spend some time with Ais since her familia had a short expedition soon and I was due to head down tomorrow morning with Fels coming along with me.

I'd already told Ais, and we were due to spend some time together for the rest of today. I'd already gotten everything ready.

Throwing knives bought from Toren's forge, a set of new grieves and gauntlets, some stamina potions on Sargon's recommendation and magic items such as flashbangs, smoke bombs, a few grenades I'd gotten out of the Guild's storage with Fels…

I'd intended on getting them by myself, but the moment Fels heard where the grenades were they'd come with me. Apparently because there was a "Great Evil" stored inside.

The so-called Great Evil had turned out to be a bunch of wedding gowns apparently belonging to Hera familia. Fels had personally cautioned me to not go near them because they were apparently cursed with frustration, wrath, regrets and apocalyptic will.

…Their words not mine. I'd felt nothing unusual from them and Fels told me they were almost impossible to destroy so I can't say I wasn't tempted to wear one even if they had looked a bit ridiculous.

Especially after I'd destroyed my last battle clothes. The tailor had been extremely distraught but also scarily determined to make me a better one. I'd tried to refuse but she'd been adamant. So much so that she'd basically been challenging me to destroy the next set.

She did not know what she was getting herself into.

Regardless the next set of clothes should be ready later today. Probably another dress but if it was as comfortable and practical as the last set, I was alright with that. It also meant I could hide some of my bandoliers inside.

As we were walking idly just moving around looking for a place to sit so that Ais could eat in peace, I heard something.

A battle.

My head turned that way immediately and Ais noticed. She tilted her head slightly to the side. One of her easiest to read tells.

"Someone's fighting in the streets over there." I said simply as I began moving. Ais hurried after me moments later still eating all the while.

She was a growing girl… though I doubt I'd ever had her sort of appetite.

A few turns later we were in a semi deserted street with few civilians around. But they were still there. Very much so in danger as a bunch of adventurers fought in the damn streets. The street was torn apart, and masonry was scattered everywhere from their battle. I couldn't see any wounded civilians, but the danger was definitely there.

Are they stupid? There was literally a War game going on right now, they would only need to wait until tomorrow to organise one.

There were at least twenty people fighting just in my vision alone. Probably more if what I'm hearing from the side alleys held. The strongest among them looked to be… around mid-level three. Going by the colours I'd guess there were two familia here.

They needed to be stopped.

"Ais, wait here for a moment. I'll stop them really quick." I told Ais and pushed away as she was replying.

"You're allowed to?" She had asked genuinely curious. Her familia must not have allowed her to step in on other familia's business. Thankfully I had no consideration of politics or anything else to worry about.

I nodded to her with a smile.

I headed towards where I assumed the two captains of the familias were fighting and appeared behind one of them, a cat woman with long blond hair. She was just about to stab her sword into the neck of the other captain, a man with bull horns.

My prosthetic arm latched onto her sword arm and held it still. The shocked grunt that came from her was quickly followed up by first a tug at her arm and then a glance towards me.

I met her eyes with a disapproving scowl and saw her eyes widen.

"Armsmaster!?" She uttered. I forced down the cringe, that name definitely felt wrong.

"I got you captain!" A chienthrope man shouted from the side as he swung an axe towards my head. Intent to kill.

These bastards hadn't tried a Wargame because killing was mostly forbidden in them. They just wanted to slaughter each other. I'd heard some familia did this sort of thing in the Dungeon but to do it in the streets where it could hurt other people? I was willing to let some things be as they were the rules of this place. But this sort of shit… I just wasn't inclined to let them carry on.

I casually side stepped the attacking man's axe letting his captain's hand go for a second to do so. I let the axe swing by where I was and then latched onto his arm to pull him close and bend him down. I knee'd him in the chest. harshly, not enough to break a rib but certainly painful.

As he was painfully gasping for breath I let go and grasped his clothes to throw him down onto the road.

He ate the freshly made gravel. The other side seemed to celebrate my appearance but the moment I saw them try to continue attacking I disappeared from the sides of the captains and appeared next to an amazon spearwoman about to finish off someone.

I laid her out with a punch to the jaw careful not to break anything. In the next moment she was laying on the floor eyes wide with shock. She tried to get up, so I kicked her in the stomach lightly.

Even as a person from both sides fell neither of the sides had stopped fighting. My scowl deepened.

In a few seconds I took down every single person I could reach that still continued to fight. Throws, kicks, punches. It took more effort to rein in my strength than to evade their futile attempts to resist.

"That's Armsmaster! Stop! Stop! We can't win against her!" The blonde cat woman shouted.

The few remaining fighters of her side stopped suddenly the moment they heard her a murmur of "Armsmaster!?" spread through the remaining fighters.

Even the bull person's side stopped fighting when they heard her. Good.

Though a single person was still trying. The bull person was reaching to pull a knife.

"You try pulling that shiv and I'll break your hand." I said neutrally.

He stopped mid motion, message received.

"Lay down your arms and start treating your wounded." I ordered. Seeing as there were a bunch of them still bleeding from each other's attacks they needed treatment, and I wasn't able to give it to them while also keeping watch.

"Ais, go and call Ganesha familia. I'll sort this out." I called out to her. She nodded and hurried away.

The two familias began treating their wounded awkwardly under my watchful gaze. Eventually the blonde woman asked me.

"Nameless Guide… Why are you doing this? It doesn't involve you at all. You have no reason to interrupt us." Her voice was fearfully respectfully but I heard the spite in it all too easily.

I pointed towards the torn-up pavement.

"Did you pay for this?" I asked her casually.

She looked confused for a second, so I waved my hand around to show all the damaged and destroyed buildings.

"Do you own all these buildings?" I asked again a bit more forcefully. They were lucky these were all that they had caused. If the fight had gone on longer some of them would've died and maybe even civilians would've been hurt. If that had happened, I would've beaten every single one of them to unconsciousness.

The cat woman carefully shook her head as if trying not to incite my wrath.

"Of course they don't, their familia hasn't owned jack shit in the last five generations." The other captain, the bull man spoke mockingly.

I sent him a glare which shut him up immediately.

"If your familia wasn't filled with thieves and rats who've done naught but steal from us, we would not be here at all!" The cat woman sent back.

Oh boy… this was some stupid blood feud bullshit wasn't it.

"Blood feuds, gotta love 'em. Always the most entertaining sort of feud." A suave voice spoke from a bit behind me.

I'd heard some footsteps, but they had been those of a civilian, so I'd not bothered. But now that I'm hearing his voice, I was sure this was a god. His divinity hit me moments later.

Yep, god.

"Lord Hermes!" An amazon treating the wounded uttered. I turned my eyes towards her to get her working again. She flinched and got back to work.

I didn't bother acknowledging the god.

"My, how cold… don't you want to know why they're fighting?" He spoke to me.

I shook my head, couldn't give less of a shit.

"Ganesha familia could sort that out, I have no interest in getting involved. The only thing that matters is that they keep it off the streets and without endangering others." I replied calmly.

The slick voice of the god hummed dispassionately.

"Well, I'll explain anyways as we are waiting." He cheerily replied immediately afterwards.

We?

"These two familias, Cathubodua and Menhit familia have been feuding for a couple hundred years now. All because one of Cathubodua familia's captains stole a Firebird drop from Menhit familia's captain. Their guild ranks haven't increased in all those years because they kept killing each other reducing their numbers even as they got stronger." Hermes spoke calmly almost as if he was narrating an interesting anecdote instead of the generations long blood feud this was.

Putting a stop to this bullshit just seamed even more justified now.

…Actually if they had been doing this for so long how had they not been punished by the Guild yet?

"You're thinking how the Guild hasn't put a stop to it yet, right?" Hermes commented as if he had read my mind.

I masked my reaction carefully as I turned to face him.

"Oh that's a scary look. But I'll answer your question regardless… They have been, the Guild just does nothing except for harsher missions and fines. They could but ideally these sorts of familias will keep exploring the Dungeon without totally killing each other making each other stronger all the while. Though this is the first time they've fought in the streets ever since Freya and Loki got in charge." He explained at a hurried pace.

The way he said it…

"Were these sorts of fights common before Loki and Freya climbed to the top?"

Hermes smirked as if he'd won. His eyes looked curious and calculative as he replied.

"Aha! I finally have your attention. To answer that question: Yes! Quite common and also incited by the top familias." He spoke smugly.

This guy was really getting on my nerves.

…But that time he was speaking off seemed like such a mess. Even if the fights were better contained than this that would make every day a nightmare.

…Wait that was just Brockton Bay.

To be fair we had less brutes running around. More of everything else though.

I suppose Wargames did have some merit to them, I really had been correct when I thought they were necessary with the amount of people itching for a fight.

The other option was even more of whatever this was. I knew very well how important damage control was but even then, these people had fallen into the same trap people back on Earth Bet had fallen into.

Thinking that people were reasonable.

They weren't. Sometimes you just needed to show how bad of an idea stepping outside the boundaries was.

Ais arriving with a bunch of Ganesha familia members shortly after finally ended my impromptu guard duty. Also pushing those thoughts into the back of my head.

I'd need to make sure these bunch got a proper punishment for this before I returned to training Ais. I had more important things to worry about so if these two familias could end up as examples that would be very ideal.

---

"Fels, are you ready to go?"

My question hung in the air as Fels quietly checked over everything they had brought.

A bit late to do that in my opinion. We were already on the third floor of the Dungeon inside of a side corridor. We'd rendezvoused here since Fels preferred to remain out of the public eye and I was a bit of a phenomenon at this point.

"I have everything with me, let's head to the ambush point quickly." Their overlapping voices came silently. There was anticipation there but not fear.

Fels wasn't a frontline combatant but with the Magic items they'd brought and the potential firepower they could provide with those gauntlets they were vital for this operation.

They handed me a fairly ordinary looking long cloak and I silently accepted. A new prototype of Fels's Reverse Veils, or at least a much more improved version compared to what they'd been using up until now.

I pulled it on over my gifted cavalry cape and the annoyingly white dress of the same make as my last one. I'd tried to at least change the colour to hide the blood, but the seamstress had taken it as a challenge. Apparently, this version was water and blood proof. I wasn't sure how it was still so breathable despite that but all I got in reply was a tired smirk from the drained looking woman.

It had cost quite a lot and even Fels had been stunned for a moment when they saw it. Apparently stacking this many enchantments on clothing wasn't usually done. Purely from an effort standpoint at the very least.

How that woman had made this in a few weeks was beyond Fels. I chalked it up to sheer competitive spirit. Shame it would probably get destroyed in a few weeks. My equipment tended to get put through quite the baptism.

"Carefull, the capes are sadly quite flimsy. Moreover even with the scent hiding items they can't mask us completely."

I nodded to Fels's invisible voice, with their cloak on I couldn't see them but when I paid attention, I could almost tell there was some sort of mass in their general direction.

Fels apparently could see right through it thanks to another magic item. They'd not had time to make another one.

Without another word Fels got moving with an easy pace through the Dungeon. With our scent suppressed and forms hidden none of the Monsters until the 28th floor should detect just the two of us. So it was more of a matter of following Fels's invisible footsteps.

Not exactly easy but my kinetic vision was absurd. Even their improved cloak powered by their magic made noticeable diffractions when moving, minute ones but to me they were still barely noticeable.

"Those responsible for the delivery are most likely to be on the 18th floor waiting until making the delivery tomorrow, we'll shadow them until they do and then wait in ambush." Fels reiterated the plan, and I hummed in approval.

Not much to debate there, we just needed to get this done. The specifics could be worked out once we got to the site of ambush. For some reason I couldn't shake the feeling we were being followed though.

…I hear nothing and see nothing. I can't even smell anything out of the ordinary just some monsters around us.

I'd stay on high alert just in case. Attacking us when we were hidden like this was practically impossible anyways if any stalker trying to follow us attacked, they would just give themselves away.

Then I'd take care of them.

The 19th to 24th floors of the Dungeon also known as the Large Tree Labyrinth were most likely the most complex sections of the great cavern up until the 37th floor. Essentially a series of different jungles built on top of root like bridges the complexity immensely shot up the moment you got here.

That meant it that if you knew your way around here it was a very good place for illegal and shady business. According to Fels most ambushes inside of the Dungeon that happened between familias ranked D and higher happened here.

Not all that surprising that the delivery was being done here.

Fels and I had already watched the people carrying the heavy looking reinforced crates over here but had let them go away for the Ganesha familia to take care of. Hashana and his familia was more than capable of taking on a few level twos and a single level three as our intel suggested.

Instead we'd taken positions among the branches of a particularly tough tree. Waiting for the recipients.

I heard something rustling from far away. Monsters? They didn't sound like the usual sorts in these floors. I alerted Fels and pointed in their direction.

"A lot of monsters, moving this way." I whispered.

My hands come

Hm?

Before I could even question that a bunch of brightly coloured flower like monsters stepped out the forest. Lead along by a woman with long almost crimson red hair dressed in simplistic armour and carrying a massive red sword. The sword itself oozed something black and wherever the black sludge touched smoked lightly.

Another person, a man, followed through. He had long white hair the colour of dust and wore nothing but some shorts and sandals along with a mask the shape of a ram's skull. I couldn't see any weapons on him.

"Tamers?" Muttered Fels.

I had heard of Tamers before but as far as I knew training Monsters especially in such numbers wasn't the easiest thing to do. Still that was the only assumption that could be made…

No it wasn't.

Can you feel them?

Because I felt it. A wretched feeling emanated from them, a disgusting mix of rotting flesh and violence embedded into them.

They are your kin.

Those two. They were the other Hybrids Fels had spoken of before. Seems they didn't recognise them probably because of the mask or something similar. Or maybe Fels just hadn't ever seen them in person.

"Other hybrids." I whispered back.

"Check the box, make sure all the parts needed are there." The red-haired woman ordered.

The man stared at her for a moment as if to defy her but thought better of it. As he was moving towards the crate, I felt Fels start getting ready to attack. I drew my own sword and a flashbang bottle; I'd have preferred the Nanothorn knife, but it would make too much noise.

"Lethal force, then. We are not sure how dangerous they are." Fels spoke softly.

I nodded to confirm. I'd have preferred not to resort to killing just yet but if they were creatures similar to me and acted with things the voice called its "Hands" fair to say they were obeying its will. That meant they were dangerous, exceptionally so.

…And dangerous especially to Ais.

Aria…

As those thoughts were passing through my mind the man opened the crate revealing… a lot of complex parts.

I wasn't sure what they were, but it looked like the disassembled parts of a bunch of machines.

"They are here, the tools that will bring her will into this world are all here!" The man uttered with manic glee.

His companion didn't answer him for a few seconds instead she was scanning the area around them almost… looking for something. "Pack it up, we'll deliver these to Enyo quickly, the deviation is around here somewhere." She replied finally before her eyes locked almost directly onto my position.

Found you

Oh.

I signalled Fels and tossed the flashbang bottle the moment I realised the voice was trying to clue her in. I saw the red-haired woman's eyes widen but as I pushed off with my eyes covered and sword extended forward. The wind whistled and the air boomed as my hidden form departed from the tree line at the speed of sound.

Moments later the Flashbang exploded resulting in a series of pained hisses. For a singular moment I disregarded everything around me. The sound of Fels's gauntlets firing, the screeches of the flower monsters, the white-haired man… All to focus on my attack against the red-haired woman.

I pointed the tip of my sword right where I guessed her own magic stone was as I flew. But right as I was about to pierce through and kill her right then and there. Something shifted, my arm was forcibly moved upwards.

I tried to correct my course so the hit would land properly but my body kept getting stuck as I tried to move. Why?

You are a piece of me, only meant to hear my wails

I grimaced and moved my sword forcibly downwards so that at the very least it wouldn't miss. A heartbeat later the ominous black sword pierced through the woman's right eye and straight out the back.

Tch. That wouldn't kill something like me. But I didn't have time to finish her off. I spun and kicked her on the right side shoving her left and cleaving my sword out of her head. Gruesome as that looked, I could see her regenerating, even as she flew off like a ragdoll.

Even then I desperately moved back to avoid a probing slash from the white-haired man. He couldn't see where I was but didn't need to either. A series of wild slashes came from the wicked looking short sword he held; it was also dripping with that black ooze even if it wasn't anywhere near as potent.

I had no intention of being hit by that disgusting stuff. The voice, however had other intentions. It tried to lock up my limbs and force me into the swings.

Just let go, embrace me

I couldn't take the risk; I forcibly tore off an explosive from my bandolier arming it and chucked it towards the man and the monsters behind him. His eyes widened as he clearly recognised the explosive. He desperately dived to the side to dodge letting the grenade sail past him. That was fine too.

A moment later a bright explosion easily surpassing any normal grenade erupted sending shock waves through the air and burning the monsters Fels had been firing on to a crisp. I retreated slightly as the flowers flailed around desperately.

three of the five flowers they'd brought died almost instantly, the rest had been shielded by the corpses. They got to work immediately ripping out the magic stones of their dead compatriots and devouring them.

Tch, that's weirdly intelligent and troublesome.

I drew and threw a trio of the knives I'd bought finishing off another one. The landed a bit inaccurately but sunk deep enough to finally kill the brightly coloured monster.

I diverted my attention from them as I saw the white-haired man lunging my direction. I tried to bring my sword around…

A slight bit of pain will teach you well

But my arm wouldn't move. This was getting troublesome. I tried to backpedal but I needn't have bothered. A blast of pure force came from Fels's hidden form crushing into the white-haired man.

His form crumpled under the first blast but didn't yield. So another came. Crushing his bones which were surely on the level of a very new level five. Even then he didn't yield.

"For Her, I give this RAVAGED BODY!" He was shouting weird things into the wind. A cultist then? It didn't matter much. Fels sent a salvo of force blasts his way forcing him down onto his knees. Monstrous flesh tried to heal but even then under the constant barrage of blasts he couldn't move.

Fels can't finish him off. Or maybe they could but I doubted their mind reserves would last long enough. Those powerful gauntlets weren't without cost.

The flowers were trying to rush here to interrupt the bombardment and save the man. A glance showed that the red-haired woman still hadn't gotten up.

I pulled off another bomb and chucked it at the man's feet. With his body looking like a pile of well beaten meat his eyes still locked onto the incoming bomb.

"VIOLAS! PROTECT ME!" He choaked out through his destroyed windpipe and began rising back up forcefully.

The flowers dashed in as he dashed backwards away from the bomb. One of the monsters managed to get in the way as another violent explosion rung out.

Fels stopped firing. All right, death by stab wound it is. I dashed through the smoke and away from the now very charred corpse of a flower towards the off-balance man. I broke through the smoke only to find him almost completely healed.

He is my clay

Or rather… his flesh had shifted gruesomely to heal him into something resembling a human. But I could clearly see where his magic stone was almost poking out.

Gotcha.

He will break only to my desires.

With my invisible sword I pointed my sword straight ahead intent on finishing him right there. His head turned my way, and he muttered something. I didn't pay attention still running forward at max speed.

In that I felt something.

'Gotcha'

Childish laughter echoed in my head moments before I felt something go wrong.

My legs locked up suddenly throwing me down towards the floor. My eyes opened wide in shock as I was forced to catch myself with my hands.

Damn it! I struggled to stand up as the freezing suddenly got much worse.

No! No! The human looking mass grinned wildly.

"Oh my only Goddess! I feel your gifts! I see them and renew my faith!"

Dance! Dance and fulfil my wishes!

The creepy utterings of this bastard weren't the main problem. I heard something much more troublesome. Something big flying through the air.

I bit down on my tongue and the pain brought momentary clarity. I forced my body to fall backwards and barely avoided the blurring projectile.

Barely was the right word as it cut straight through my flowing invisibility cloak staining it with that black sludge. The cloak gave out revealing me but that wasn't the worst part, that disgusting stuff was visibly eating through the fabric.

The hell? Acid?

I tossed the cloak off without a moment of hesitation and caught myself with my hands as I was falling. I managed to get a glimpse of the red-haired woman rushing this way with considerable speed.

If you won't go along with my wishes…

With my legs still frozen I threw myself back and over with my arms. The flip wasn't the most graceful thing ever, but it got me the time to take out another flashbang and throw it.

The man still looked on in shock, but the red-haired woman covered her eyes with her arm. Tch, she was catching on.

I landed clumsily and brought my sword to bear followed by my nanothorn Knife being drawn out in my prosthetic arm. A flick turned it on, and the comforting hums came moments later.

I could feel my hands starting to struggle to move as well though the prosthetic was slightly better in that regard. Moreover I felt even less from my legs.

I'll break you into a doll that will

This was a bad situation, and I wanted out immediately. While the man was still stunned the red head drew her sword out the ground and came at me. Shit, that sword looked troublesome.

I had no time to have those sorts of thoughts as I was forced to parry and barely dodge a series of blows. No doubt about it when it came to sheer physical strength, she was ever so slightly weaker than me, and she had to respect the nanothorn knife.

A single proper hit and I'd cut right through her and her sword. So she was forced into playing it safe. Even with my legs locking up and hindering my movement I was still able to defend. For now at least.

With the explosions and sounds of magic items activating Fels was dealing with the white-haired man for now. How long would that last? No clue.

But as it was now this fight needed to end soon. I needed to make a play. As I had that thought I failed to divert away a slash and a soft gash was cut into my shoulder.

…Hmm?

As the red-haired woman retreated from my range I couldn't feel the wound healing. It wasn't deepening but the cut refused to heal over. Something was hindering my regeneration.

I needed to finish this quicker than I'd expected.

Why do you still struggle?

Right as she was coming in for another swing, I forced myself to step forward. It almost threatened to throw me off balance but even then, the sudden movement shocked her. Leaving the slightest opening for me to take advantage off.

First came a thrust from my sword aimed at her magic stone. She instinctively blocked it with the flat of her blade. But that was bait. The nanothorn knife flew solidly towards her neck, still not fast enough. My prosthetic was good but it was noticeably slower than my other arm.

Even though the woman had been caught by surprise she kicked me in the stomach and pushed off like I was a springboard. My knife sailed short and cut into her sword instead of her neck severing it off a few centimetres away from the hilt.

We both flew away from the confrontation only to catch ourselves with feet dragging into the ground.

Shit.

I didn't have much else left. But she'd been disarmed. With a disappointed glance she threw the sword down into the ground and glanced back towards her comrade.

She rolled her eyes and walked into the barrage of magic items and force blasts curtesy of Fels.

Chains of metal snaked to her legs, but she simply kept walking tearing them out of the traps placed into the ground. Poisonous gas blanketed her, but she didn't falter, mines were avoided before they triggered, and blasts of force struggled to do anything against her flesh only bruising slightly.

It was a reminder of just how much of a power difference there was between people of our level and the ones below it. She weathered the barrage of incredibly expensive magic items prepared and built up through months of stockpiling with minimal care.

My little Guardian

And I simply couldn't move in to take advantage of it. My limbs refused to move, and when they did the crystal inside my chest tried to stop them from going any further. I was trapped. Even as I raged against it, I couldn't move.

It was so frustrating, so limiting that I…

I have your strings

Move! Damn it just move! I was Trapped. Trapped in my own damn body!

The red head picked up the dropped knife of her companion without sparing his charred and ruined yet still moving body a second look. She rose to her full height and caught another blast with an open palm.

Her eyes focused on something. I realised what was about to happen in moments.

"FELS GET AWAY!" I shouted as loud as I could to be heard over the barrage of magic items and blasts.

Fels still heard me and stopped their barrage to hide. But it just wasn't enough. The woman blurred forth stabbing into empty space with that knife revealing Fels's once hidden form.

My heart clenched.

No! Damn it! Move! For fucks sake please move!

My will tugged at my inmoving limbs. But nothing came except for a few stutters. For fucks sake, this can't be real. I grit my teeth in frustration, but I couldn't even properly do that.

Inhuman, childish laughter came from my tormentor. But I could do nothing against it.

My wide-open eyes watched Fels crumple away as a follow up kick sent them flying away. The shrouded figure crashed into a series of trees shattering their trunks violently. I couldn't see where their body stopped.

Gone

Had they fallen off a cliff? No… no Fels should be fine, they'd probably just been stopped by a tree or something.

…Definitely. Fels couldn't be dead.

If I could just move!

The red-haired woman sent Fels's way one last dismissive look before turning towards me. When I saw her blank eyes lacking even rage, I felt my own anger spike.

I'd kill her.

I'd kill this bastard. I'd tear her limb from limb and bury her so deeply even this accursed dungeon wouldn't unearth her for hundreds of years.

This wouldn't have happened if you'd grant me my wish

The red head walked slowly; she knew I couldn't do jack shit.

I saw her raise the dagger high aiming for just beside the stone in my chest. Even then I couldn't do anything.

Trapped.

Alone.

Afraid.

Helpless.

Powerless.

In that moment brief connection came. Fleeting. Almost completely muffled by the depths of the Dungeon. I felt everything all at once, visions of a roaring flame. Perspective getting closer to this world.

Every single structure that made us up was in front of me, every cell, every crystalline structure, every routine be it Human or Alien. The bugs around me didn't even register. There was too much.

Far too much. Passenger was coming on way too fast. My head felt like it was going to explode and the blood leaking out of my eyes was the least of my concerns in this moment.

[aslgkxx5d6/()sgghtje]

Something was speaking, no… someone. Someone was telling something to my Passenger. It took me the fraction of a moment to parse it. Or rather it took my Passenger a fraction of a moment to translate.

[Too much! Too fast! You'll shatter her soul... or, well, shatter it more than it already is.] Was the gist of it. But the sensation that followed was much more important.

It felt like my Passenger was caught by the 'scruff of its neck' and dragged back out by warm hands. The hands continued to drag until my passenger was 'in the right place'. Things stabilised; our connection had weakened a bit, but this was the right ratio.

We were where we needed to be. The mix had been forcibly adjusted by those warm hands, and we'd fit together somewhat. The pieces hadn't quite clicked right, a fault of the flawed initial connection…

But the connection was there. My Passenger had come. I-we were whole. Even if our parts didn't fit properly right this second, we were once again whole. My flesh, the flesh underneath my prosthetic bubbled.

Not right now, I can't afford my arm being missing for even a millisecond. My Passenger listened and the bubbling stopped. Even with this flawed connection, our thoughts were linked. It… no, they and I were linked.

What is this?

With precise movements I thrust my sword suddenly and barely caught the woman in the arm. She tried to punch into my chest with her hand, so I cut it off with my knife with a sudden swing.

Why are you…

I rushed in wildly. My technique didn't let up despite that. No, that's selling it short, so many of the flaws in it, inherent from my inexperience, were being covered. My Passenger was filling for my bad habits and muscle memory. Minor adjustments here and there.

On top of that I had relays to rely on, my awareness had bloomed. Even this deep down where there were nearly no bugs the few I felt over my clothes. The few I felt inside of Fels's robes…

They were enough.

The red-haired woman cut into my stomach with her knife, I couldn't stop that, and I hadn't tried. The pain was agonizing when it came. A red-hot feeling of burning and lacerations cutting into my insides at the same time threatened to make me falter, but I'd do her worse.

Sto-

The voice faded away in the midst of combat. Something spoke to me. I could feel my other half comforting me. Running its metaphorical hands over my suffering soul.

First my sword forcefully pierced through her right lung. Then the nanothorn knife bit into her chest scraping an entire section off.

She desperately retreated and the now almost fully healed man came to her defence. It wasn't enough. I tagged him with one of the gnats I'd had on me and dodged underneath his fist. A retaliation strike came without even a glance his way and pierced right through his throat. I kicked him off crumpling his chest cavity and dashed after the woman.

Even then as I was running, I realized something. My wounds. The wounds that hadn't been closing were being mended over. I could feel it, my Passenger was actively moulding my regenerative flesh into crystalline forms to cover over the bleeding wounds.

I appreciate it. Cover for me a bit longer, I know the connection is fading but I just need five more seconds. I felt eager affirmation from the other side. Almost basking in the connection.

Two steps brought me next to the red head and I forced a pair of flies to go into her eyes. Even though she flinched back she still swung the knife blindly. It was off target. I barely bothered dodging and the slash bit into my face slashing through my cheek.

Not a concern. The nanothorn knife cut straight through her still regenerating arm and I stabbed over and over at her heart, where I thought the magic stone was.

The wounds weren't deep, I didn't quite have the strength to pierce through her chest over and over again. But they didn't have to kill, just find the magic stone.

Her eyes took on a wild look as she swung her dagger towards my chest. That was a bit more dangerous, so it needed to be stopped. But I didn't have the time to stop attacking. I leaned forward and caught the disgusting sludge covered blade with my teeth much to the red head's shock.

It tasted horrible and I was fairly sure the sludge was melting through my mouth but I didn't care. I'd gotten my opening.

She was off balance. The nanothorn knife couldn't reach to her heart -where my own magic stone was- from this position. Even then she was in range. In less than a second, I brought about the knife and cut her straight in half through the abdomen.

Going by her screams it hurt badly. I felt my Passenger cheering me on almost like it was supporting a football team. That's the wrong sort of emotion.

[She's right you know?] Came the other voice speaking almost casually.

Was that a dejected feeling in reply? It shifted to a call for blood. That's more on point.

[I suppose…]

I indulged my passenger and stabbed into the woman's chest again with more powerful thrusts seeking to shatter the stone for sure once I found it. Even then I just couldn't touch the magic stone.

It must've been in a different place than my own. I shifted my strikes towards the centre of her chest but found that the flesh there was harder than the rest. Aha.

As I was desperately trying to stab through with my time running low, I felt something moving this way when it brushed against a stray gnat. Its eyes couldn't tell me much and there definitely wasn't enough of them to hear properly but I saw a glimpse of bright colours.

More of those flowers. I let go off the disgusting knife still in my mouth and made some space to dodge the first attack. As I'd expected the first lash like strike passed where I'd just been.

Without a moment of hesitation I cut through the limb and pierced the first flower's head. In a blast of ash it disappeared. Must've hit the magic stone.

Still, I'd wasted time. I could already feel the connection slipping. I needed to hurry up and finish these two but with the monsters I could hear coming… that was troublesome.

Time to risk it then. I had no more time to waste, my Passenger could only keep the connection for a second at most.

Right now the plan of tracking the Evilus members to their base or capturing them for information was out, but their precious cargo could be destroyed. I wasn't sure what the devices were but if we destroyed them we'd delay their plan and possibly get another chance to track them down. If we managed to get away as well then that was victory enough.

Though I would've like to permanently deal with these two as well… Still, I'd take what I could get.

I pulled off two more explosives from my Bandolier and chucked them at the crate this had all started over.

"VIOLAS PROTECT THE CRATE, NOW!" That annoying lunatic saw what was coming and ordered the monsters, he'd regenerated way too fast. Faster than expected. Even then I saw his form struggling to rise up.

His throat had healed. The boot shaped hole in his stomach from my kick? Not so much. Still I had to make a choice, ensure the crate was ruined or cripple the man so Fels and I could escape?

Finishing off the red head was also an option she was only a few meders away trying desperately to regenerate enough to be a threat. With her entire lower body and an arm missing there was no way she'd get up fast enough to chase Fels and I…

As I was trying to decide a spear was thrown from within the forest nailing a flower right in the face killing it instantly. More of the monsters tried to take its place to toss away the explosives I'd thrown. And a barrage of various projectiles, fire balls, an entire three trunk and even a sonic blast like those of the sirens came out the three line to stem their tide.

I wasn't sure who it was that was helping me, but as it was, I did not care. Instead moving to kill the red head. The white-haired man could be dealt with later.

As I was moving the explosives finally set off. I heard the loud boom but couldn't see the result with my back turned.

I had to hope it worked.

Regardless my sword thrust forth at the furious woman still struggling on the ground. I couldn't pierce through the tough flesh in the middle of her chest but cutting her entire head should do as well. She batted aside the first thrust with her sword and tried to retaliate with her halfway regenerated arm. I kicked at her mercilessly and crushed the flimsy appendage. Again I kicked or more like stomped onto her catching her on the chest. My sword flashed by in an amateurish slash. With unsatisfactory results as I failed to completely cut through her neck getting stuck in the middle of it. Damn it.

I pulled my sword out roughly shredding more of her neck. I was about to go for another thrust when I got an almost shakingly sorrowful warning from my Passenger. The connection was cutting out.

…I couldn't risk it, Fels's life depended on me. I backed off and turned to confirm that the crate had been destroyed only to see a very odd scene.

A lizardman. A very familiar Lizardman that suddenly brought me all the way back to when I had been descending for materials to make my arm. An intelligent Lizardman that had slipped from my mind simply because how much of a mess everything had been.

It had seemed so minor back then that I'd focused on everything else.

As it picked up a few of the ruined devices and parts then sent me a genuine fucking thumbs up I rethought that unconscious decision. As I was running, I sent it a thumbs up as well. With that it dashed out my vision supposedly to get away from the incoming mass of flower monsters. I… I could process that later. It wasn't the weirdest thing I'd ever seen anyways.

It looked like the devices they'd been here for were completely annihilated.

That's done then, time to pick up Fels. I holstered my knife and pulled out some smoke bombs. Limited as the number of bugs were I could still find my way around inside the smoke and Fels was still marked by the few bugs on top of them.

I scattered the bombs and dived right into the resulting cloud. Expanding the bugs I'd carried on myself around to a loose sphere I navigated the treacherous forest ground and managed to reach Fels unaccosted.

I didn't wait or ask for permission as I picked Fels up and I heard only a faint groan in reply. Their body felt worryingly light and thin, but I had no time to question that instead running away at full speed.

So long as the two of us could get away today was… a partial win. You had to take what you could get.

As luck would have it the connection cut in that very moment. The sudden jolt that went through my head almost made me fall. For a second, I struggled to get my feet underneath me properly. If I hadn't already left behind the smoke cloud I definitely would've fallen.

Thankfully my body didn't freeze up again. Rather I couldn't feel the influence of the voice at all. It was still there but it had withdrawn to the depths again. Had my Passenger scared it off? Hopefully it wouldn't come out of its hole.

I wouldn't bet on it though.

---

"I can move on my own, Taylor. You don't need to carry me along." Fels monotoned as I continued carrying them up the Dungeon and away from the ambush spot.

They'd woken up just a few minutes prior and had immediately cast a spell on themselves. One I hadn't seen them use before. A healing spell. I hadn't even known Fels had proper spells. I'd suspected they did but since they'd refrained from using them for Astrea familia never actually seen them. Why didn't they use it before?

To hide maybe? Fels's identity was supposed to be a secret.

It didn't matter. I'm sure had the situation been worse they would've.

"You got stabbed by that weird weapon and kicked so hard somethings must've broken. Let's get to a safe place we can treat you then I'll let you go." I answered.

Fels sighed before speaking again.

"The cursed blade went right through me, otherwise I doubt I'd be alive." Fels admitted.

Right through? Like overpenetration?

Seeing my confused look Fels simply took their hood off.

…That's a skull.

Fels was… undead? I couldn't see anything but a skull and the spine connecting it to the rest of the body. I didn't know how to react to that. So this was why Fels was so light…

I moved my head right and left trying to see if there was anything underneath. No… it's just more bones.

Oh…the blade went right through them since they were nothing but bone.

I simply nodded my head. Today was just one thing after the other.

"So how does this work exactly?" I found myself asking idly, mostly to fill the silence more than anything.

"My flesh aged away and turned to dust as I aged." Fels deadpanned. The jaw of their skeleton opened and closed but still it looked very odd.

Hmm… I think there was a trope like that. I remember my mom not being too fond of Greek myths but loving that one…

Which was it again?

Ugh… This might not even be my missing memories to blame, it has been so long since then.

Whatever.

"Ah…" I intoned simply instead of asking.

I got the feeling Fels rolled their eyes as they pulled up their hood back on.

"So you're fine? Nothing too much of a problem?" I said as I finally began to slow down slightly near a small opening with very few trees around.

Once we stopped Fels gratefully got out of my arms and stood up before dusting off their robes.

"My ribs still broke from the kick, and I have only barely managed to keep them in one piece, I most likely will need to spend some time. Sad to say my cloak has been lost, so I'll need to take shelter in a nearby safe space for a while." They began explaining as they pulled out a mind potion and somehow began drinking.

…I wasn't sure how that worked but sure.

"Want me to escort you there?"

Fels thought about my question for a moment but quickly shook their head.

"It's occupied by some comrades, who take their privacy seriously. I'll introduce you to them soon but for now it's best you don't show up unannounced." They said before pulling out a map from their robe and beginning to plot their course.

I hummed idly.

"Then I'll head up to report that we haven't managed to find their base in the Dungeon. But before I go there's something you'll want to know."

Fels raised their head up from the map sending me a questioning look.

"Someone helped us during the fight. A Monster. A really intelligent one at that and I think there were some othe-" I stopped in the middle of my words as Fels began rubbing their forehead like they had a migraine.

"You know them?" I drawled.

Fels nodded.

"I'd been planning to introduce you to them, but it seems things went badly enough that they intervened." Fels replied.

Ah. Well…I suppose they are those allies Fels had been speaking off.

"So… it feels kind of wrong to ask this, but they are sapient, right?" I asked slightly awkwardly. I couldn't help but feel a bit put off that I was asking this.

Fels stared at me blankly.

"I shouldn't be surprised but you seem exceptionally accepting of this." They said instead of answering my question. So assumed that was a 'Yes.'.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"You can only see so much in life. Exceptionally intelligent and friendly monsters aren't that out of the ordinary."

Besides, I was much… much weirder. Friendly and Intelligent beast or Alien-Supercomputer-Monster-Human mixture?

Not even close, is it?

Fels nodded distractedly.

"I'll introduce you to them properly some other time, they'll want to gather their scattered members to meet you. But Taylor, you have to absolutely keep this a secret. No one besides you, me and Ouranos know of their existence. And it will be disastrous if it got out." Fels insisted.

So this was the Guild's big secret? Or more likely only one of them.

Compared to what the Cauldron had been hiding this is pretty tame. And that was going by what I remembered they did… I remembered a good three morally atrocious operations. I would bet that there were at least two more I didn't remember.

The "Flesh Garden" , the manipulation of the entire United States Government and the PRT, Numberman's entire operation…

I was sure they did something worse too…

Regardless, if this was all this was pretty minor. Keeping it secret didn't hurt anyone… that is if these monsters weren't going out of their way to attack adventurers. I doubted Ouranos and Fels would ally with them if they did though.

"Of course, I won't say anything to anyone." I reassured Fels, who nodded in relieved manner.

Just as I was about to head off Fels spoke again.

"Taylor, one of the hybrids we fought. The white-haired man, that person was Olivas Act, an old higher up in Evilus. When you're going up warn Rivira of his survival and tell the guild to put up the bounty on his head back up."

I nodded curiously. If Fels was telling me about this that guy had to have been pretty important. Or at least done something so terrible he specifically was important enough to mention.

"Not the red-haired woman?" I asked.

Fels was silent for a moment.

"Warn the Loki familia if you see them but otherwise, I will handle information about her. Olivas with the strength of a level four is one thing but if people learn there is a member of Evilus that can at least partially match you then traffic into the Dungeon will stop. We can't let that happen." Their words left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I knew how this sort of stuff worked.

I had very painfully learned how to manage the public over the course of my carrier. If it was something most people wouldn't ever encounter there was no point in making them afraid of it needlessly.

Still leaving that red head around wouldn't sit right with me. I needed to be stronger; I needed to get better at resisting the voice. I absolutely needed to finish that thing off.

…Especially since she was a danger to Ais. Much more so than the other hybrid.

I couldn't allow that to stand.

---

Filvis Challia the Forsaken

My insides were shifting again.

Painful and nauseating it was something I'd become used to.

The flesh inside of me would scream and laugh reverberating against themselves shaking and disturbing my organs. Sometimes it wouldn't stop for hours on end.

Whenever it happened all, I could do was hide away in a corner or around a fire and wait for it to pass. It's all my fault. It's because I'm filthy, a mockery of the elven people. So much so that even my own body mocked me.

Can you be a little less melodramatic? Your pathetic self-pity is souring my mood.

Shut up Ein. I'm not in the mood for this.

Has your brain rotted so much that you forgot we're the same person? Neither of us is in the mood for this 'Filvis'. In fact… take her back, I have to go speak with Enyo.

Wait!

Filvis, my favourite doll…

I shivered as the voice came out of nowhere. I usually threw her off to Ein like most of my more negative feelings but seems she'd gotten too angry at me.

There is someone coming, another like you

Another like me? Another disgrace, another piece of filth. I'd only ever met Revis and that was by proxy by Ein. If this one was anything like that disgusting facsimile of a person…

Ugh… But this is what I deserve isn't it?

Ahahaha…

Filvis, stop thinking for a second. Better yet destroy your frontal lobe, I'll finally have some peace for an hour or so that way.

Ein's thoughts immediately broke me out of the incoming pity spiral.

I bit back the tears already forming at my eyes.

This one rejects us; she won't let you reach the world where you belong

Someone going against the spirit's wishes? Pointless.

She won't fulfil my wish; she won't let me have Aria

I bit back a grimace as my insides began moving about even more intensely. The pain was so intense that I almost missed it when rustling came from the nearby tree line.

I drew out my sword and immediately stood up thinking it was some monster that had come wandering up from the floors below. What came out was a woman. Or rather the other Creature.

Tall, taller than the average by far and with a straight posture so confident you could feel it radiating off of her. Curly black hair went down just past her shoulders and brownish green eyes that seemed to go right past me and stare into my soul.

She wore an embroidered, white battledress with some sort of undersuit underneath it and a white cavalry cape made of silk. Her clothes were dirtied and stained with what I recognised were the cursed fluids of the prototype weapons Thanatos had distributed.

Despite all that she didn't look filthy. She looked elegant, downright regal. Purely from her bearing. Even the wretched 'smell' that all Creatures carried was different. Rusted Iron, by no means pleasant but compared to the rotting flesh and blood that the rest of us 'smelled' of it was definitely more preferable.

Why?

Why is she like this? Why does she get to hold her head high? She's just as filthy as me so why doesn't she bend her neck!?

I felt my hand shaking even as I was just staring into her.

The woman looked at me oddly for a second before speaking.

"Sorry, I usually camp around here so I wanted to check out who the fire belonged to." She explained with neutral expression though she eyed my sword carefully. Though she was much stronger than I was without Ein by far she still kept her eyes on my sword.

She hadn't realised, the dress commissioned by Lord Dionysus had worked. I almost let out a sigh of relief as I sheathed my sword.

Only then did I recognise the person in front of me. That new high-level adventurer that had been the talk of the entire city. Nameless Guide, Armsmaster. The exotic hair should've clued me in, but I'd been too shocked.

Isn't it just that you're a bit slow?

I let Ein's insult pass as I sat back down next to the fire.

"Leave, I have no interest in speaking to you." I told Nameless Guide with a cold voice even though I would very much like to know why she was so…

…so much more ordered, so much more composed and stable than I was. The desire to know was so great that even the voices inside of me had shut up for once simply observing the woman.

Instead of taking offence at my tone she simply looked at me questioningly before shaking her head.

"Regardless, I told Rivira but might as well tell you too. Olivas Act was spotted in the Great Tree Labyrinth. The bounty on his head is back up but be careful, he'll probably have Evilus support."

Olivas…Act!?

Olivas…Act!?

Ein echoed my thought immediately without a moments delay.

I could feel the rage bubbling inside both of us.

Why hadn't Enyo told us? Why? No we knew why. To keep us obedient without issue, they knew we would go out of our way to kill Olivas if we learned of him.

Ein, wrap up your business. Make sure Enyo knows nothing.

Oh? So rare to see you decisive for once 'Filvis'.

I didn't bother answering that even if the sudden onset of sadistic eagerness I felt coming my way told me just what she was thinking of.

As the woman was turning to leave, I called out to her.

"Stop! Olivas Act… tell me more." I requested and begged in equal measure.

Nameless Guide turned back my way silently. I saw a glimmer of curiosity in her eyes but that disappeared the moment she saw my face. Replaced by understanding.

"A grudge? It seems that way." She idly commented as she walked up to the fire. She didn't seem approving but regardless of that she motioned to ask if she could sit down.

I nodded my head, and she sat down cross legged. She was silent for a moment, and I felt both my and Ein's frustration build up.

Ein was listening in as well.

"Before I tell you anything I must warn you that Olivas is dangerous, much stronger than you are from what I can tell." She spoke cautiously as if trying to carefully direct me away from this course of action.

Olivas…if I brought Ein back, I could easily overpower him regardless of whatever paltry strength he'd gathered.

Find Aria…

"I encountered Olivas act on the 21st floor along with other Evilus members. It is likely that he's around there somewhere, but I can't give you an exact location." She continued still observing me carefully.

He can't be in Knossos; I'd have found him already. He was likely deep inside the dungeon. Hidden somewhere around one of the pantries in the deep floors.

"You should know that he's tough and has a regeneration skill along with a high level five comrade."

Revis… if she was with him and if he had a regeneration 'skill' he must've been a monster as well.

Hmm… yes, he is! A loud little puppet

Tch… it didn't matter, if need be, I'd kill Revis too. They could be replaced. Enyo's plan didn't need them.

Enyo… he was lying to me.

Enyo was lying to us. Did he not love me? Or was this a form of the gods's love?

Their plan will result in salvation, 'Filvis'.

It will… right? If everyone is like me… then I won't be filthy anymore.

But that disgusting woman over there with her noble bearing is something to consider as well…

Ein?! You thinking that…

We're both thinking that aren't we? Regardless… if that woman works against Enyo, she will eventually become a problem. Enyo is the only one here for us, we have nothing else. We aren't like her, we're filthy.

…

I nodded my head at Armsmaster as she simply kept staring at me. A few moments later she spoke.

"Don't get yourself killed for revenge, it's always meaningless." She said simply.

Both of our anger boiled over, I didn't even bother sending the anger at Ein. Just let it burst out.

"What the hell do you know!? That bastard… he's the reason for everything! It's all his fault! If he doesn't lie at my feet with his skull shattered open, then all those he killed will never rest!"

Armsmaster was silent for a moment after my outburst silently staring at my eyes. Her stare was piercing, analytical… inhuman.

"Revenge is poor motivation to kill." She said simply.

I grit my teeth in anger. As if! Revenge? Avenging my comrades… and my tainted soul was poor motivation!? This arrogant, foolish idiot with that piercing gaze. Yet the words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat when I saw her eyes.

No pity, none at all. She'd seen people like me before. How many had she seen that she was able to simply understand everything I was thinking? It was all I could think of when I saw that gaze.

"Olivas doesn't matter. Monsters like him don't matter… They simply don't factor; they are something to be gotten rid of. It's not about them; it's about the people." She spoke with absolute conviction.

An oath to herself? No more like an ideal she kept to religiously.

No wonder…

Hahaha…

No wonder she can keep her head high even when stained. She's not like me, she's not as superficial. Not nearly as flimsy and wavering.

Disgusting…

Beautiful…

Arrogant and unsightly.

This… ah I see. I see why she can resist Her voice.

Is this what my ancestors felt when they were called out as cowards by Wishe?

I hate it…

I don't want to see this. Why show me this? Why when I finally decided on something? When I finally heard my Lord's words?

I want to gouge out my eyes. I don't want to see this shadow of a Hero being cast onto me.

"I've told you what I wanted. I will warn you again one last time, don't hunt Olivas by yourself. With that… I suppose I'll leave you alone." She spoke as she stood up.

I couldn't do anything but watch her back as she left back into the forest.

My insides didn't shift again that entire day.

---

The hollow-eyed girl had been a walking corpse.

That was all I could say to describe her. From her demeanour to her pained eyes everything told me she was already dead. Or well… dying might serve better in this case.

I'd tried to dissuade her, I just hoped she'd listen and refrains from hunting. With her meagre level two or so of strength… she'd lose that fight.

I was optimistic. She'd seemed a bit more… self-reflective than most I'd seen like her. Or at least I thought so.

Hopefully she'd listen. Regardless I couldn't afford to linger on her for long, our failure today to find the hidden base of our enemy was a major problem. We didn't exactly have a lot to follow up on.

Well I had one thing. Back when I'd been pursuing Evilus among the many casinos of Orario I'd heard whispers of some foreign nobles buying "something exotic" from Evilus but when I'd mentioned it to Fels they'd been very evasive about it eventually telling me they'd look into it themselves.

Maybe this is just me connecting everything I knew to a secret I'd just learned but I'd definitely say that intelligent monsters were "exotic". It'd easily explain why Fels had been so evasive back then.

Unlike rare materials and other contraband which can easily be snuck out through Babel monsters especially intelligent and strong ones were much more noticeable. That meant they were sneaking them out through somewhere else.

I doubted that path and their actual base was connected… but it could still let me trail them especially if the other hybrids weren't involved this time. It was worth pursuing once I reached the surface.

I wish I still had Lisa around to solve this, things were so much easier when I could always rely on her to point me the right way.

…?

Lisa…?

Lisa!

Brian.

Aisha.

Rachel.

Alec.

Theo!

Holy shit… I remember!

Did my Passenger have some of my missing memories? Did they -or she? Or whatever.- pass them over to me when we briefly connected?

Was I still missing anything?

My…high school?

Nada…

My daily routine… it was running, that was why I had chosen to train Ais by running. It was my own routine.

Some things were still missing. Much less than before, were those permanently missing or would I also get them back when I properly connected with my Passenger?

That thought made my excitement die down slightly. There was no way to know what exactly I was missing even if I ran through everything in that came across my mind, I might've forgotten the entire terminology that would lead to the gap anyways.

Was this worth worrying over? I had more immediate concerns and I'd been running with a way worse memory situation for about three months now. Concerns about my identity…

Well they didn't measure up to all the other concerns flying past my head these days. I was who I was. I just had to try to be who I wanted to be, thee person I'd wished I was when I was talking with… Contessa.

I banished my self-reflection into the back of my mind. Practical concerns first, philosophy can wait for the surface.

For now I needed to find someplace to make camp. My usual spot was occupied by that woman clad in white, so I needed another spot. How lucky that Loki familia was just descending on their way to the 39th floor around where they'd be doing quests to gather money. I could see their flags and tents on top of a nearby cliff.

I doubt Finn and the other executives would mind if I camped near them, besides I could warn them about the red-haired woman and Olivas Act as well.

With my course set I continued walking through the forest picking up fruits on the way as I came across them, I hadn't eaten yet after all… well I'd eaten magic stones from monsters on my path but the stones on these floors just weren't very filling anymore.

I wonder how Lady Astrea and the girls are doing?

---

Ryuu Lyon the Beloved of the Forests

"The Wall! The Great Wall has been breached! A Great Dragon comes!" The maddened runner raved even as I was treating his wounds.

"Noah Heal." With my healing magic cast the man screaming with a hoarse throat finally fell silent as he was taken by exhaustion.

I left him in the care of the healers around us and left the room to meet with Alise and the others.

"It's certain, isn't it?"

Kaguya asked the moment she saw me leave the room.

I nodded cautiously.

Lady Astrea sighed with worry tinging her voice.

"The city must be evacuated." She spoke with certainty.

None of us countered her.

"Girls, I'll leave you to handle the organisation of the defenders. I'll recommend that you send the weaker ones away with the civilians to protect them but other than that…"

"We can't rely on the people here, even the two-level three's here… they aren't much to look at." Lyra finished for Lady Astrea.

None of us said anything in response until Alise finally broke the silence.

"Well good thing we're here, the city still has hope this way." She claimed confidently.

Seeing that none of us interrupted her she began walking and kept talking.

"We'll need to meet it outside the city to give the evacuating people time to get away, the warriors of this city along with their gods will go with the civilians except for the general and the champion. Lady Astrea, I'm assuming you won't leave the city no matter what we say?" Alise questioned without even looking back.

Lady Astrea smiled pathetically. "I've got total trust in you girls, and I want to see your fight with my own eyes." She admitted.

Alise nodded acceptingly.

"The two-level threes will stay as your guards then and all the other warriors will go to protect the evacuees. I'll ask you to stay in the fortified citadel and watch us from there Lady Astrea."

Lady Astrea simply accepted her words and the rest of us gathered around her.

"We'll need to hold out until Loki familia, or the Education District can reach this place. Killing the big dragon heading our way should do it." Kaguya added.

Lyra cracked her neck and stretched a bit. "Not even a month and a half after Udaeus, when did we become such a trouble magnet?" She commented sarcastically.

"It's more that we keep running towards trouble, no? We've been doing this the entire time." I responded.

"It comes with the territory of being the familia of justice." Said Alise proudly.

I suppose that was true.

This was who we were after all. They'd called out of fear from growing dragon numbers, and we'd come. This sort of unexpected challenge… it wasn't unusual for us.

Just another battle on the path.

…

Time to show these people that just because Hera and Zeus familias aren't around anymore doesn't mean that Orario has come to a standstill. There is hope yet, the Hero the world yearns for might not have emerged just yet, but we were still here to try to become that Hero.

---

Loki the Goddess of Mischief

In the very core of my being I am someone who adores life. It's as simple as that. I like living, I like fucking about with other people, I especially like it when I can bait out reactions from them that are 'out of character'.

Now that mostly comes with the territory, but I like to think even beyond my domains and core as a goddess I am inclined that way. If I wasn't I'd be like that boring loli-goddess who does nothing but stare at a campfire all day.

So understandably I think it's perfectly reasonable that I siphoned off every single alcoholic drink locked inside the cabinet in Riveria's room into other bottles and replaced the contents with coloured vinegar.

Did it smell bad when Riveria tried to open one to give it to me as part of her rationing plan? Well… yes it did. Arguably it was all in good humour. Especially when she got so angry she tossed me out of the window.

If she hadn't caught me by the scruff of my neck, I definitely would've gone back to Tenkai… But still, it was pretty funny.

Long story short… I definitely didn't deserve being locked inside my room! Seriously I can't open the damned door! Even my other children weren't letting me out…

'Lady Riveria said she'd turn us into a funeral pyre if we let you out before you're done. Sorry Loki.' Was what I'd gotten from Elfy in response to my complaints.

What the hell was up with that!? Riveria was supposed to be the cool and calculating character, so why was the entire familia afraid of her physically?

Well it was because of her 'training' with Ais, which neared the things she'd gone through because of Empress and the rest of that insane familia.

That's entirely Aizu's fault for calling her a 'hag' though.

As I kept scribbling with my thoughts running a mile a minute, I felt something odd.

…Something shifted. It almost felt like someone up above turning their gaze onto the mortal realm. Not in the 'let's see what's going on!' way either, more like 'oops all divine relics!' way.

Before I'd realised it the pen in my hand was lying on the desk and I had stood up to stare out of my window.

Somehow what I saw wasn't what I was expecting. Our little Guest… wasn't so little anymore. Millions upon millions of smaller 'stars' were orbiting around the main one spreading far and wide, covering the sky. The entire mass was slowly approaching this world, and a feeling of pressure was looming.

Oi, oi… Isn't this bad? Somebody needs to step in here. I have no clue what the actual fuck it's doing but it's almost trying to descend here. Badly might I add.

I couldn't exactly use my Arcanum right now, if I tried and got sent back most of my kids would be trapped in the damned Dungeon without Falna. So intervening myself was out of the question.

I ran my gaze around the city trying to see if anyone was stepping in. But I couldn't feel Divinity from anyone else either. Fuck!

I turned my eyes back at the sky watching if anyone else would step in… None of the gods above had noticed. Or I thought so, until she came.

Fire. Simply put, divine fire. The purest most primal sort of 'warmth' there was. Fire came and wrapped around the 'stars' turning the night to day. Moments later the mass was pulled back. It was closer than it had been if ever so slightly, but still safely in Tenkai.

The millions of smaller 'stars' began to coalesce back into the main one and the divine fire retreated out of mortal vision. I had no doubt it was still there if only because I knew its goddess well. That lazy, useless Loli couldn't help but hover over people.

Still to think I'd owe her like this… how distasteful. Ugh! I'm glad she's saved our asses, and I didn't have to get banished but still!

Showing off like that too, where does she get the right!

I spat out the window. Eh screw this. No way I can stay coped up in my room after seeing that!

I moved towards my desk and opened a hidden compartment to retrieve three valuable items. A finely made rope, a pair of climbing gloves and a bottle of high-quality wine.

Pulling on the gloves and binding the rope into a hidden hook on my window I grabbed the wine in one hand and began rappelling down the window with the other.

I'll accept whatever punishment came out of this, right now I needed to see what the other gods and the children were saying. Bet that sex-for-brains goddess knows something too.

I uncorked the bottle to take a swing and stared into the sky again. The lightshow had passed, even the Guest was back to its usual stance. It seemed to be… sulking.

What are you a child!?

Actually it was a child… still you don't get to sulk after almost triggering the Dungeon! Ugh! Bet those asshole Dragons in the Valley are about to get uppity again as well. Might need to send Finn and the rest that way.

…Well at least it's better than being locked in my room.

---

An: GliffAnger

Olivas Act Rest in Piss Bozo Pack Watch 100. You won't be missed.

With those out of the way welcome back to another chapter of this story. This chapter provides many things such as: QA fucking up and being rescued by Hestia, Taylor losing what little respect she had for Orario's Familia, Encountering the cursed gowns that would definitely lead to an end of the world scenario if Taylor ever for some reason put one on, Taylor having a really lacklustre reaction to the existence of the Xenos, Filvis being mad jealous of Taylor and having the most imposter syndrome of imposter syndromes…

Anyways, I know some people won't be happy with QA fucking up the connection. All I want to say is "The Rule of Threes". This connection isn't the same thing QA did with Taylor before, it's different and therefore when QA tried the original formula the world almost got Khepri 2.0. Thankfully Hestia was around to pull her back and show her the right formula.

The next time it will stick.