Heroes

by The Four Crosses

A powerful figure has returned to Orario seeking Bell. What does this person want? What will happen to Bell and all those around him? How will the gods react, and, more importantly, what will they uncover upon their return? (My not so grand return to Fanfiction is here!)

60. Achilles vs The Hera and Zeus Familias

Hello everyone, and welcome back. Well, quite a lot happened in the last chapter and you all are apparently very fond of the saying "this is some Alabama shit", haha. Anyway, I know there's a lot of you who are concerned about that particular revelation, but before we can get to that, we have to deal with the aftermath of Galadriel and the others learning about the fate of Zald and Alfia, as well as some other pretty big going-ons so let's get to it.

I do not own Danmachi.

---

Freya and her familia entered her room in Babel, where they found several lower ranked members already there, setting up food and drink and overall making it comfortable.

"Thank you, my dears," the goddess said, smiling at her children, who all blushed and happily bowed to her.

Freya took one of the prefilled glasses of wine and took a sip from it before turning to her familia.

"Well, your return was a bit more intense than I would have preferred," she began.

"Yeah, those stupid knights stopped us from seeing you sooner!" Gumi whined.

"And attempted to hurt all of you and my beloveds," Freya added, her tone growing darker, before she suddenly smiled again, "luckily, it appears they failed in their mission, though we will, of course, keep a close eye on them, especially Lancelot."

"Your wish is our command," Ottar replied.

"Always so loyal," she replied, smiling affectionately at her captain, "all of you," she turned to the others, "I could not wish for a better familia."

"Your praise is most generous, Freya-sama," Hedin stated.

"But well-earned. Now," she took a seat, "why don't you tell me all that happened on your little trip to Athens."

A sudden tension and uneasiness filled the room, which was not missed by the goddess of beauty, who looked between her familia.

"Did something happen that I should be concerned about?" she inquired.

Ottar stepped forward.

"Many things happened, my lady. Even before we arrived in Athens, events were unfolding that we did not foresee."

Her frown returned as she met her captain's eyes.

"Do tell."

Ottar began to detail all that happened, beginning with the Kraken's attack on the ship and subsequent attempt to take Bell.

"That is both surprising and upsetting to hear. To have a Herald suddenly appear after so many years and attempt to take Bell is not something that pleases me. However," she quickly added, "I am glad to hear of your efforts in defeating the creature and your part in Bell's rescue, Ottar. You have my utmost thanks."

"As always, I am eager to serve you, my lady," he replied stoically.

"Which, as always, I am glad to hear. Now, what else do you have to tell me?"

They continued the retelling, Freya quietly listening until it was revealed that Gumi was caught by Achilles during one of her rampages.

"That too, is upsetting to hear," she said as she turned to the colorful prum girl, who now shrunk back.

"I-I'm sorry, Freya-sama," Gumi said meekly.

"Your focus should have been with Haruhime. I gave you permission to unleash your wrath on the Rakians, but with the specific instructions not to be discovered and with the understanding that you focused on guarding my beloved sun."

"He came out of nowhere!" the prum cried, desperate to rid herself of her goddess's disappointment.

"You should have been more careful," her goddess replied, making her child's head bow. Freya looked down upon her for a few more moments before turning back to Ottar. "Any other, unfortunate incidents, I should be aware of?"

Hogni turned to Hedin, catching Freya's eye.

"Hedin? Did something happen?"

The light elf froze.

"W-Well, my lady…"

"Hedin attempted to remove Riveria Ljos Alf as an obstacle to you by arranging a marriage with Larfal. He however, failed, and did so in a humiliating fashion," Ottar stated, his tone controlled, but with enough anger to make most adventurers wet themselves.

"Did he now?" Freya asked, eying the light elf.

Hedin immediately bowed.

"I am so sorry for my failure, Freya-sama! I only wished to aid you!"

"I know." He dared to look up. "And I appreciate the sentiment, Hedin. However, not only did you fail, but you likely drove Achilles further into Riveria Ljos Alf's arms out of sheer protectiveness and possessiveness."

He bowed again.

"My sincerest apologies, Freya-sama."

She fell silent for a moment, letting him squirm for a few seconds before speaking again.

"Apology accepted, Hedin. But please, don't make failure a habit."

"I shall not, my lady!" he cried as he shot back up.

"Good. Now," she turned back to her captain, "what else?"

A terrible rage and fierceness filled Ottar's features, startling her.

"Athena attempted to claim Haruhime."

The glass in Freya's hand shattered.

"Pardon?"

"Athena and her vice-captain Agrippina Salamis, attempted to claim Haruhime, first through convincing her to leave the Hestia familia and then, when that failed, they drugged her using the animus flower."

Silence. Painful, wrathful silence filled the room as Freya's burning eyes stared into her captain's as her gloved hands tightened into bone-breaking fists.

"Athena dared to try and make Haruhime hers," she hissed as she slowly rose to her feet, "that...prude...tries to take my sun from me. That virginal bitch!" she screamed, "dared to use the animus flower against her. I'll-" she suddenly stopped, surprising her familia.

Freya took a few deep breaths.

"No. I will not," she said as calmly as possible.

"My lady?" Ottar called.

She turned and smiled at him.

"Jealousy will do me no good here. Besides, I saw Haruhime had returned with the others, which means you all managed to save her, does it not?"

"We did, my lady."

"Then I shall instead focus on that, and not on Athena, the conniving wretch that she is. However, I am now even more compelled to visit my darlings. Achilles, attacked by the Knight of Knights, Bell nearly taken by a Herald, and Haruhime drugged by another goddess. It is too much for me to bear. I will have to visit them after you finish retelling me what happened. I imagine my dearest Bell found more trouble, did he not?"

"He did, my lady," Ottar confirmed.

She laughed lightly.

"I knew he would. It's a part of who he is. Jumping into dire situations for others. It does worry me terribly, but it's why I love him. Well...part of the reason. He is unreasonably adorable, yet quite...impressive, in other ways as well," she said as she remembered a particularly delightful part of her beloved rabbit and licked her lips. "Now, what did my white rabbit get himself into?"

Ottar restarted the story, retelling his goddess what had transpired. When they arrived at the attack on Athens and the attempt on Bell's life, her joy disappeared.

"Battled an Evilus and a group of female-only assassins. I suppose I can't say that's too surprising," she said.

And there's no doubt who where those assassins came from, she internally sneered, you'd best hope we don't see each other for a very long time, Athena, and that when we do, I am in a particularly good mood.

"What next?" she asked.

Finally, they came to the Xenos, with Ottar informing her about all they had seen and learned before and after the rescue and Bell's rampage through Athens.

"My my, how brave of him," Freya said softly, smiling adoringly as she pictured Bell's face, "picking a fight with Athena and an entire empire just to save what most would only think of as monsters. He is truly remarkable," her eyes stared out at the city, finding Bell sitting in the Hearthfire Manor, looking worried.

I wonder what's going on there, she thought as she noted his features, before smiling, but I suppose that's even more reason to go and visit them. Hopefully Hestia will be in a decent enough mood to not deny me.

She turned back to her familia.

"Well this is a great deal to take in, I won't deny. However, I suppose it's not really all that surprising for Bell. Even so, I truly do wish he wouldn't put himself in quite so much danger. I worry about him."

She chuckled and looked out towards the young captain again before turning back to Ottar. However, when she did she found a disturbingly stern look on his face.

"What is it Ottar?" she asked.

"I fear...my lady...that the danger Bell Cranel will face will only increase from now on. And greatly so."

Such a warning was not lightly given by her captain, a fact she well knew.

"Explain," she ordered, her voice desperate and alarmed.

"There is one other major event that occurred while we were in Athens. In fact it was the greatest and most shocking event of them all," her captain stated.

"Don't keep me in suspense Ottar, tell me what happened," she pleaded.

"Bell Cranel...killed Ares."

The room fell nightmarishly quiet.

"What?" his goddess asked, as if unsure of what she had just heard.

"For reasons we do not know, Bell Cranel killed Ares."

"That...can't be so. It's impossible. Not only can no mortal kill a god outside extraordinary circumstances, but Bell would never kill anyone!"

"I was shocked as well, my lady," the boaz answered honestly.

"Shocked?! Do not speak to me of shock! The only one here who is shocked is I! Shocked to discover that you would lie to me, Ottar!" the goddess roared.

His eyes widened and for the first time in all his years of service to her, Freya saw her captain look at her with hurt in his eyes.

"I would never lie to you, my lady!"

"It has to be a lie! It doesn't make any sense!"

"Freya-sama, I swear-"

He was unable to finish as Freya rushed up to him and grabbed his face, forcing him to look into her eyes.

"Tell me the truth," she demanded as she poured Charm into her captain.

His eyes dulled and in a voice so calm and lifeless it made her heart stop, he said.

"I am, Freya-sama."

She dropped her hands and released Ottar from her Charm, causing him to fall to his hands as he regained his soul.

"This...this can't be," she whispered, as if too afraid to let the world hear what she had learned, "Bell...killed a god?"

"I…." She turned and found Ottar looking at her with tormented eyes. "I am sorry I allowed this to happen, Freya-sama. I will accept whatever punishment you deem worthy as payment for my failure."

Freya's heart stopped again as she realized what she'd done. Not a second later, she had her arms wrapped around her captain's neck as her gloved hands began to stroke the back of his head.

"What have I done?" she asked, horrified. "How could I have done that to you? My most loyal child? What kind of goddess am I?"

"You are the kindest, most beautiful goddess in the world," Ottar immediately answered.

"No," she replied back as she pulled away to meet his eyes. Her own were filled with tears as she cupped his face. "A kind, beautiful goddess does not punish her beloved child for being honest or for being nothing more than the bearer of bad news. Therefore, I am not a kind or beautiful goddess."

"That's not true!" Gumi cried as she and her familia jumped to their feet. "You're both! You're the kindest, most beautiful, bestest goddess ever!"

"I must agree, Freya-sama," Hedin joined.

All around her, her familia denied her words, but she could not believe them.

This...this is why they have turned from me. Because, at my core, I am not what I claim to be.

Her eyes closed as her tears streamed down her face.

Suddenly, she was pulled into a hug.

Her eyes shot open, though she found she could barely see more than when they were closed, for she was wrapped up in the giant body of her dear captain.

"You are those things, my lady. That is the truth," he said with calm and absolute certainty.

"But…"she gripped his shirt, "I hurt you. I used my power against you."

"You were upset."

"That's not an excuse!" she pulled back and took his face in her hands again. "I finally understand, Ottar. I finally see, truly, why they've turned from me. The tournament was just the beginning. The beginning of my understanding, but now, knowing what I did to you, my most loyal, most loving child...I finally understand. How could they love me? Who could love someone so cruel and selfish?"

"You're no-!" Gumi tried to say, only to stop when Ottar suddenly raised his hand.

"Is that what you truly believe?" he asked his goddess.

"Yes," she answered.

"Then," he reached up and cupped her cheeks, his large hands nearly enclosing her whole head, yet remaining as soft as silk pillows, "be better."

"What?" she asked, not understanding.

"Be better, my lady. Grow. Learn from this, and your past experiences. Become who we believe you are and who Achilles, Haruhime, and Bell can love. Be Freya, goddess of kindness, beauty and love."

She stared up into his eyes for an age, his words echoing in her mind until, finally, she smiled, and let out a choked laugh.

"Do you never doubt?" she asked.

"Not even for a moment, my lady," he responded with a small smile.

She laughed again.

"Bless you, Ottar. Bless you," she pulled him down and kissed his cheek, pouring every ounce of her love into her lips.

"And bless you, Freya-sama," he said when she pulled back.

The two pulled away from each other, allowing for Ottar to pull out something and hand it to her.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Bell's response to your letter. I think you should read it now, my lady."

Her eyes widened as she turned to the letter. For a moment, she hesitated then took it and opened it.

Dear Freya,

I am honestly surprised that I am writing this.

Her heart squeezed with guilt and sorrow.

After everything that's happened. After everything you've done. Yet, here I am.

"And I'm eternally grateful to you for it," she whispered to herself.

I will start with your apology. An apology I do not think I can accept.

Her eyes filled with tears and her hands began to shake.

Even if you did not mean to hurt my father, even if Allen acted on his own, you, Freya, created the situation necessary for it to occur. Your obsession with me, my father, and Haruhime, has led to many painful situations and nearly cost us our lives.

"I'm so sorry," she wept, "I'm so sorry."

I know you have helped me in the past, Freya, so I know that you are not an evil person, but that is not a good basis for love.

"No. No it's not," she agreed.

It also hurts me to know that, despite all we've gone through that you don't seem to know me at all.

"W-What?"

If you did, you would know that I would never approve of you Charming Allen. Yes, I am enraged at what he did, and I doubt we will even be tolerant of each other, let alone friends, but I would never want someone's mind stolen from them, no matter what they've done.

Her guilt grew and the letter began to crumple in her hands.

That said, this does give you an opportunity to change.

Her heart stopped as hope was rekindled.

I know there's kindness in you, Freya. I have seen that, and, I will even admit, it has pulled me towards you in the past.

It...it has? she asked, her heart thundering as the revelation filled her with such relief and happiness her tears of despair turned warm and became tears of joy.

But whatever I felt or could have been in the past is now gone. Even so, if you truly wish to regain my trust, the first thing you must do is release Allen from your Charm. That is, however, only the first step. From there you must remember what I asked you on that night we had together. "Do you see me?". Only by seeing me for who I really am, not what you want or think I can be, will there be any chance of any sort of relationship between us beyond one of anger and distrust.

So, show me, Freya. Show me that you can really change. That you can really see me for me and that your desires won't overshadow the feelings of those you claim to love.

Please.

Bell Cranel.

She let out a deep breath and pressed the letter against her breasts.

There is still hope. As long as I grow and learn.

She looked out on the city and smiled.

I promise Bell. I will see you.

Still smiling, she turned to her captain and silently thanked him from the bottom of her heart. He smiled his usual, barely seen smile back and bowed.

"Allen," she called.

The catman immediately strode up to her and kneeled before her.

"Yes, Freya-sama?" he replied in the same, unwavering and lifeless tone he had used since the end of the tournament.

She lifted his chin, looking into his cold eyes before, with a flash of her eyes, the fire in his eyes suddenly returned.

Allen gasped as he returned to the world. He took a few moments to regain both his breath and his bearings, before turning back to Freya.

"My lady," he bowed to her again.

"I have released you from my Charm Allen," she informed him, "do you know why?"

"I do not, my lady," he answered.

"There are two reasons. The first is that I now recognize that it was wrong of me to do so, and as such, I apologize."

"There is no need to apologize, my lady! I failed you, I deserved to be punished!"

"Not like that," she replied, "but would you like to know the second reason?"

"Of course, my lady," the catman replied.

She held up the letter.

"Because Bell Cranel, the man you hate so much, asked me too."

His head shot up and she was treated to the somewhat amusing sight of his shocked face.

"I…"

"It's alright, you don't need to say anything," she said, "however, I do expect you to take this into account for the future, Allen. Bell Cranel, for all your scorn, asked me to release you. I hope that encourages you to reexamine your thoughts and feelings on him in the future."

Unable to find the words to respond, Allen simply nodded and bowed his head again.

"Good."

Freya turned towards the window and began looking out on the city.

Quite the eventful day, she noted, allowing herself a small smile.

"My lady." She turned to Ottar. "What of Bell Cranel and Ares?"

She had almost forgotten that after her moment with him, the letter, and Allen.

"I wish I knew what inspired Bell to take such an action, and how he managed it, I do not deny, but I suspect I shall only receive an answer on those questions from Bell himself, and he has much on his mind at the moment. However," she turned back to the city and put a hand on the glass, "I am sure it was for a good reason. Ares was a cruel fool, and Bell, for all the terrible power he holds, is neither of those things. If he decided to kill Ares there had to be a reason. As such," she turned to Ottar and smiled, "I will not let him fight the world alone. I shall be his shield and become the goddess you all think I am."

Her familia beamed at her and she felt a new, wonderful warmth fill her heart.

Yes. There is still hope.

Blinding light suddenly filled the room, forcing her to spin around.

Looking out onto the city, Freya searched for the source of the light, and was rewarded when another blinding beam of light lit up the city. She turned her eyes towards the source and found something smashing its way through Orario, heading in her direction.

Wait, her eyes caught sight of a very familia batch of electric blue, Achilles?

---

"Galadriel...calm down," Achilles said, his voice both commanding and pleading.

"I'm sorry, Achilles. But I cannot," the dark elf returned, her eyes filled with the darkness of wrath and loss, "we've lost too much," she gestured at the Imilce, Patroclus, Ajax, and Dido, "our family is gone. Butchered by a monster while we could do nothing, not even die beside them."

"Please...please don't say that, Galadriel," Achilles asked, now fully pleading with her, "I don't know what I'd do if I lost all of you too."

That made her pause a moment, for even in her anger and misery, she did not wish her old friend to suffer too. However, her pain was too great to be stopped for long.

"Our family, our world, is gone. And worse yet, the rest of the world seems keen on punishing us for merely existing."

"What do you mean?" Achilles asked, not moving an inch from Ryuu.

Galadriel chuckled darkly.

"You remember when I said I stopped Ouranos from doing something horrible?"

"Yes," he answered, not liking where this was going.

"After we were banished there were those who thought we were too dangerous to be left alone. To live our lives in exile in peace. So they wanted the Guild and the strongest familias to hunt us down and eliminate us, you most of all."

Shock and horror filled every soul in the room.

"They...wanted to kill us?" Patroclus asked.

"Ungrateful bastards," Ajax growled as his wife came up to comfort him.

"I suppose that's not surprising, even if it's disgusting," Dido spat.

"Who dared come up with such a plan?!" Mania roared.

"I think the original plan came from Osiris. He was looking for a chance to get his revenge on us, but there were many involved. It was a member of the Tlaloc familia who spilled the beans to me. And guess who was considering it in order to 'keep the peace'."

Achilles did not reply. His eyes simply remained closed as his fists tightened and tears squeezed through his eyes.

"That's right. Ouranos. It was only when I confronted him that he called it off."

"That's…" Achilles tried, but he could barely speak as his lightning danced across his skin, "I'm not sure I've ever been as angry as I am right now," he finally managed as his eyes opened and he meant Galadriel's gaze.

Everyone outside the Zeus and Hera familias looked at the former captain of the Zeus familia with worry and fear, terrified of what was to come.

"The...indecency. The injustice of such an idea. It's…" his bones groaned as if the very pressure of his rage would cause him to burst, "beyond comprehension… … but," he took a deep breath, "that is not Ryuu's fault."

A tidal wave of relief covered the other familias, but it was short-lived as Galadriel, looking betrayed, stepped forward, further closing what little distance there was between her and Achilles.

"So I'm to just accept my sister's death? To accept that, because of her and Zald's sacrifice Osiris, Tlaloc, Ouranos, and all the others got what they wanted? The further destruction of our familias? That through this girl!" she pointed at Ryuu, "and the others, that I have even less family than I already did!"

"You are to accept that Ryuu did precisely what Alfia and Zald wanted. They overcame. They saved Orario and prevented darkness from falling onto the world. They were heroes! Or will you spit on their memories by disregarding their final act?"

Once more, the dark elf fell silent, and for a few moments, the surrounding familia all hoped this would be enough. That her rage would not overshadow the wishes of her dearly beloved familia. That hope died when she looked back up to Achilles.

"I cannot accept this Achilles. I simply cannot. Too much has been lost without punishment for those that took it from us. Loki still happily peeks on her familia and gets drunk in her manor. Freya still sits atop of Babel, staring down at us all like we're ants. Ouranos still hides underneath the Guild. And our family is still broken. I'm sorry, Achilles, but I have accepted too much. We all have. Your love for Riveria. The Xenos. Your abandonment of us for another familia! I cannot accept anymore! Someone must pay!"

Galadriel shot towards Ryuu, her glowing fist poised to smash the younger elf's skull, only to be intercepted by the Father On High.

"Stop Galadriel! Your grief is overpowering you! You need to calm down!" he roared as he held her back.

"NO! Not until someone has paid for all that's been taken from us!"

She pushed past Achilles and attempted to strike down Ryuu again, only this time, she was stopped when Achilles grabbed her by the side of her head and sent her flying through the Hearthfire Manor's front wall and out into the dark streets of Orario.

Galadriel crashed into the street and bounced a few times before she managed to correct herself.

"I won't let you hurt Ryuu or anyone else, Galadriel," Achilles said as he made his way out of the manor, "I know you're in pain, but turning your grief into vengeance is not the answer."

"She took Alfia-onee-san from me," Galadriel said, her eyes full of nothing but rage and grief.

"No she didn't, but I can see that you can't understand that right now," he pulled out Dragonsbane, "so until you can, I will keep you at bay."

"You would fight me to protect her?" she asked in shock.

"I will restrain you to ensure you don't hurt someone who is just as much my family as you are," he countered, "and to make sure you don't do something you will regret."

Angry tears filled her eyes.

"I have done many things I regret, Achilles. Even if I end up regretting killing that girl, what's one more sin on the pile?"

She rushed him, gauntlets glowing with furious energy.

"Heaven forgive for this," he whispered to himself before charging to meet her.

---

All those in the Hearthfire Manor were shocked and horrified when Galadriel had attacked Ryuu, and even more so when Achilles had thrown her through the front of the manor.

After a few moments, enough sense returned to Bell that he turned and rushed over to his eleven companion.

"Ryuu, are you alright?!"

The others, having now snapped back to reality as well, quickly rushed over to her.

"I-I'm…" she was shaking and having difficulty speaking, "I'm alright, but...shaken."

"This isn't a safe place for you right now," Hades stated seriously, a dark expression filling his face, "and the same goes for you, Astraea. We need to take you somewhere safe."

"Galadriel's just having a hard time processing. I'm sure Dad will be able to-" Bell tried to reply, only to be stopped by a boom shaking the manor and the surrounding city.

They all quickly rushed outside and found Achilles and Galadriel battling each other in the streets, the force of their blows breaking glass and sending thunderous booms through the air again and again.

"I fear you are mistaken, Bell," Hades said, looking down at the scared and sad eyes of his great-nephew, "we must take Ryuu and Astraea somewhere safe and away from Galadriel."

Bell did not respond, he was too focused on the fight before him and trying to regain control of his chaotic mind.

"What about the Hostess of Fertility? Ryuu has lots of friends there," Lili jumped in.

"Are those friends capable of holding off someone of Galadriel's caliber?" Hades inquired.

"Yes," Ryuu answered, "most were previously adventurers, including Mia who was the captain of the Freya familia."

"That will do, but I will leave my familia with you as well, to ensure your safety."

Uriel and the vampire twins nodded.

They all turned back to Bell.

"Bell-kun?" Hestia called.

He finally turned back to them.

"Get Ryuu to the Hostess of Fertility and tell Mia and the others what's going on, they'll protect Ryuu," he said calmly, but authoritatively, "once Ryuu is safe, split up and head to the Guild and the Loki familia. Inform the Guild about what's going on and bring the Loki familia wherever Dad and Galadriel are fighting. If they finally settle into one spot, begin evacuating people away from them."

"Right!" his familia responded.

"And what will you be doing, Bell-kun?" Hestia asked.

"I'm going to try and intervene and restrain Galadriel or, failing that, make sure they don't hurt anyone while they're fighting."

"Alright. Please be safe," she pleaded.

He smiled at her and nodded. A moment later he, the Hestia familia, Astraea, the Hades familia, and the Hermes familia all headed out. However, they were so focused on their own missions, they failed to notice four adventurers who had stayed behind.

"So what do we do?" Patroclus asked, looking at his old comrades.

"This situation is shit, and it breaks my heart, but...I think we all know what we need to do," Ajax said.

They all shared a look and nodded.

"For the Hera and Zeus familia," Imilce said resolutely.

---

"We need four more beers and the house special at table two!" Syr called over the counter.

"Got it!" the cook called.

The Hostess of Fertility was just as busy as usual, with hungry and thirsty adventurers filling every seat and table.

"Chloe! Move your furry butt and get to table three!" Mia demanded.

"Nyeek! Okay Mama!" the cat girl cried as she rushed over to said table.

Mia shook her head, but hearing more people entering, she turned.

"We'll be right with y-."

She and the entire restaurant stopped when they saw the Hestia familia and company standing at the entrance, eyes and postures filled with worry.

Mia immediately made her way over to them, her eyes trained specifically on Ryuu.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Galadriel…found out about what happened to Alfia and Zald," Ryuu answered her.

A nervous, icy tingle crept up Mia's spine.

"Shit."

"That would pretty accurately describe the situation," Hades said, stepping forward.

Mia's eyes widened at seeing him.

"Hades-sama," she bowed.

The patrons, hearing the name, immediately tensed and a few even began to sweat.

"Hello Mia. I'd like to say 'good evening', but things are deteriorating quickly," he replied.

"What can I do to help?" the ex-captain asked, knowing they weren't here by chance.

"We need somewhere safe to hide Ryuu and Astraea while Achilles tries to restrain Galadriel," Hestia informed her.

"Achilles is fighting Galadriel?"

That piqued a great deal of interest within the bar.

"But then, shouldn't there be nothing to worry about?" Lunoire asked.

"Unfortunately not, young lady," Hades replied, "he's facing off against the Black Sun of the Hera familia. While his strength is incredible, she is undoubtedly a powerhouse in her own right. In a straight up fight, he would likely defeat her quite handily, but this isn't a straight up fight. There is much more going on, and I fear more will happen before this night ends that will make things much more difficult for Achilles."

No one liked how prophetic that sounded, but there was little they could do for Achilles right now. Ryuu, however, they could help.

"Ryuu and Astraea will always be welcome here," Mia stated, "and I will protect them with my life."

"So will I!" Syr said, rushing forward and hugging her best friend, comforting the elf with her warmth.

"We'll keep them safe!" Lunoire vowed.

"Definitely!" Chloe added.

"I don't know about the 'with my life thing', but I'll definitely help out, nya!" Anya joined.

That small joke eased some of the burden on the Hestia familia's shoulders and they all managed a smile.

"My familia will also be here to help you," Hades said as Uriel, Laura, and Leanna stepped forward.

"I'll also stay," Haruhime said, "my magic will be helpful if Galadriel manages to get past Achilles."

They all nodded.

"All help is appreciated," Mia said.

"I'm so sorry for all the trouble I'm causing," Ryuu said, as she bowed.

"Oh, don't you dare even start that. This isn't your fault at all," Syr said, as she playfully scolded.

"No it's not. It's not really anyone's fault, not even Galadriel. She's just hurting a great deal right now. Hopefully, once Achilles restrains her, she'll begin to calm down," Mia said.

"Let's hope," Hestia said, "then we'll trust Ryuu and Astraea to you. We need to rush over to the Guild and Loki familia and tell them what's going on so that we can manage this mess before anyone gets hurt."

"Go, we'll keep them both safe, I promise," Mia assured.

The Hestia familia and company rushed off, leaving Ryuu, Astraea and their guardians behind to pray that things would be alright.

---

Loki's office was deathly silent as Riveria finished explaining what had happened in Athens.

"That's...kinda crazy," the trickster goddess finally said.

"Kinda?" Tione asked.

"I was trying to play it cool, but okay, it's nuts!" Loki exclaimed, "The Kraken. Xenos. And the bunny rabbit killed Ares. Killed him! That's insane!"

Though Riveria wished her goddess wasn't quite so flamboyant with her response, she couldn't deny she was right.

"You're not going to order us to hurt him...are you?"

They all turned, finding Aiz looking both worried and determined, silently telling Loki she would not hurt Bell.

Loki's eyes opened a sliver as she met her favorite blonde's eyes, before closing them again and sighing.

"Nah, I'm not going to lay a finger on the rabbit's pretty white fur, Aiz-tan. I promise."

Aiz's shoulders dropped as the tension left her body and she smiled.

"Thank you," she said.

"Don't thank me yet," Loki warned her, "I'm not going to hurt him, and I'm willing to protect him for yah, but this is no simple thing we're talking about. Mortals ain't supposed to be able to kill a god at all, but there are some really REALLY strict rules in place just in case someone manages to. So, while I'm not going to hurt him, that doesn't mean he's safe. Not even a little bit. In fact, your bunny rabbit is in more danger than he's ever been."

All relief left Aiz's body as fear entered her heart.

"Is there any way to minimize the danger?" Riveria asked as her eyes stared at Aiz's worried expression.

"We might be able to if we can cast doubt on what happened," Finn suggested, "which certainly isn't impossible given that, from what you've told us, the only people who actually saw what happened are Achilles, the Ares familia, and perhaps some mercenary adventurers. Word is bound to get around, but the Ares familia and the adventurers aren't going to know who Bell is and will likely only be able to give a description of him. With a little effort we can create doubt on Bell's involvement."

"That won't be tough, you all were there and I can't believe it!" Bete shouted.

Finn, Gareth, Loki, and Riveria all noticed that Bete seemed to be taking this news more harshly than the others.

He doesn't like the idea of young Bell becoming a killer and doesn't want him to be in trouble, Gareth recognized, allowing himself a small smile, like a protective big brother.

"You may not, but many won't find it too difficult after what transpired during the tournament," Finn replied, "while the time away has helped calm things down, that isn't the same as restoring Bell's reputation. I'm actually not sure if it can be restored at this point. His defense of the Xenos was chalked up to him trying to get money from a rare monster. A bit underhanded, but in actuality, nothing that bad. This is the city of adventurers after all. However the scene in the Coliseum was much different. Worse yet, unlike his defense of Wiene, the entire city saw his transformation. As such, it will take time and something even bigger than his fight with the black minotaur to overcome his damaged perception."

"Which means that more people will be willing to believe that he's capable of killing Ares," Loki added.

"And the more people that believe it, the more enemies he'll have," Tione surmised.

The room fell silent again, but not for as long as Bete growled.

"We ain't gonna let anything happen to your rabbit!" he shot at Aiz, "but that doesn't mean I'm not gonna give him a good kick to the head for being so stupid and losing his shit!"

As shocking as it might be to believe, that actually helped break that tension in the air and allowed the others in the room to smile.

As I thought, big brother, Gareth said to himself with a big smile.

"Thank you, Bete," Aiz said, gratitude pouring from her.

"What are you thanking me for? I just said I was going to kick your rabbit on the head! And I'm not holding back! Not after the stupid stunt he pulled!"

The Loki familia laughed, but those laughs didn't last long as a bright light suddenly shone through the window.

"What the hell was that?" Loki asked as Finn rushed to the window.

His eyes scanned the dark streets of Orario, looking for a source to the light. He did not have to wait long as another beam of blinding light shone through the night, filling the city with such great light that, for a moment, it looked like high noon in the city.

"There's only one person who can unleash a light spell that powerful," Riveria said, her eyes full of worry.

"Yeah," Finn said as his thumb began to throb, "Galadriel."

"If Galadriel is shooting off magic like that, she's fighting someone strong, which means that's something's up," Gareth said.

"Then what are you all standing around her for? Get going!" Loki ordered.

A few minutes later, the Loki familia, armed and ready, rushed towards their gates, only to stop when they caught sight of familiar faces.

"Hestia-sama. Welf-san. Mikoto-san," Finn greeted, "I'm guessing you're here about Galadriel."

They all nodded.

"We told Galadriel and the others about what happened with Alfia and Zald," Hestia informed the Loki familia, who tensed at the names.

"And she didn't take it well," the Loki captain replied.

"No. She tried to attack Ryuu, but Achilles stopped her. He's currently trying to restrain her."

"Is Ryuu safe?" he questioned.

"We left her and Astraea at the Hostess of Fertility. They all promised to protect her. Haruhime, and the Hades familia are with her as well, just in case Galadriel gets past Achilles."

"Good. And where are Lili-san and Aisha-san?"

"They're on their way to the Guild to inform them about the situation and ask for their help in evacuating people away from the two."

"Good. We'll help create a perimeter as well. Do you know where they're headed?"

"I'm sure Achilles will try to force her somewhere with the fewest number of people," Hestia answered.

"Which, given the time of day, the direction they're headed, and how much open space it has, suggests only one place," he replied.

They all turned to the great tower that loomed over the city.

---

Bell ran as fast as he could through the city, doing his best to pinpoint where his father and Galadriel would end up. However, it was only when they were about to reach their final destination that he realized where they were heading.

The young Hestia captain burst into the open area around the Tower of Babel, his eyes scanning over the night-darkened stone and glowing lamps until he found them.

He felt both relief and terror upon finding them, glad he had finally caught up, but terrified by how powerfully they attacked each other.

Are they even holding back? he wondered anxiously. Luckily, or unluckily, he knew that they were. Had they not been, the entire area would have already been destroyed and the tower itself might have been knocked over.

I've wasted enough time. I need to intervene and stop them!

"Bell!"

He jumped and turned.

"Ajax! Patroclus! Imilce! Dido! What are you all doing here?"

"Our family is fighting, this is the only place we could be," Ajax answered.

Bell nodded.

"We need to separate them before they really hurt each other. The five of us should-"

"Bell, let us handle this."

The young captain stopped as he stared up at his 'uncle'.

"What? Why? I can help," he assured them, his voice holding a modicum of desperation.

"I'm sure you can, but this is a family matter and should be handled by family," Ajax replied calmly.

"They're my family too!" Bell cried.

Ajax smiled sadly.

"You're right. Of course you are. But this is really something that we Zeus and Hera members should deal with. Please, let us handle it. If you really want to help, head over to the Guild and set-up a perimeter around the tower so no one gets hurt."

Something felt wrong. Bell didn't know what, but something about the way Ajax talked and the way the Zeus and Hera familia looked at him was unsettling.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Ajax," he said calmly, but with undeniable strength, "I can't stand by and watch them attack each other. I will be getting involved."

Ajax sighed and nodded.

"I understand," he replied before his eyes turned to the side.

Confused, Bell turned as well, only to find Imilce standing before him.

Before he could even think to stop her, she blew a handful of powder into his face.

"What? What was…"

His eyes suddenly felt very heavy and his strength began to leave him.

"Don't fight it, Bell. It's Hypnos powder, it will just put you to sleep for a little while," Imilce informed him.

"But...why would you…" the Hestia captain was having a very difficult time staying awake, however, to the surprise of the older adventurers, he wasn't going down.

"He must have high resistance. Give me more powder," Dido commanded.

"I can't! If I give him any more there's a risk he'll fall into a coma!" Imilce cried.

"He's resistant to it, you fool! He'll be fine. Now hit him again!"

Imilce looked beyond reluctant to follow the command, but after a moment, she turned her reluctant gaze back to Bell, pulled out a tiny bit more powder and blew it at Bell.

"Sto...stop it," Bell's eyes rolled and he collapsed, only being saved from hitting the ground by Patroclus grabbing him and gently laying him down.

"I'm sorry Bell. We all are. But this is something we need to do," the swordsman said.

"Please...don't."

These were Bell's last words before he fell into slumber.

"There, was that so hard?" Dido asked Imilce.

"I-I have no idea when he'll wake up," the younger Hera member said, feeling terrible.

"We'll worry about that afterwards. For now, begin setting up the barrier. We can't have anyone else interrupting."

Imilce gave one final look towards the unconscious young man at their feet.

I'm sorry Bell. But we've lost too much. Tolerated too much. I only hope you can forgive us.

Imilce began chanting as the others strode towards the battle between the Father On High and the Black Sun.

---

Achilles blocked another beam of light sent at him from the dark elf before him before continuing his assault.

Galadriel threw a burning fist towards his head, but he quickly bashed it away before counter-attacking with a slash towards her neck. However, she blocked with her other hand, the sound of his sword scraping against her gauntlet creating the most terrible sound.

Galadriel then aimed an open hand towards his face and he quickly threw himself back as another beam shot out, blinding him as its heat burned his face.

At least it's not Solaris. She'd destroyed ten city blocks if she used that here.

Once the spell ceased, he shot back up, only to find his old comrade, turned adversary swinging a leg around with enough force to crack his skull.

Using his great speed, Achilles grabbed the leg then used Galadriel's own momentum to throw her across the plaza.

Though shocked at finding herself suddenly soaring through the air, Galadriel was not perturbed and gently glided through the air before landing gracefully on her feet.

She did not have any time to celebrate her safe landing, as Achilles was immediately upon her again.

Charging up her fist, she counter charged him, throwing her armored fist towards his face with enough strength to level a building.

However, once more, Achilles's superior speed was her undoing, as he showed her how graceful he could be as he twirled around her fist, grabbed her arm and pulled her off her feet. Not a moment later, his hand was on the back of her head as he threw her face first into the stonework of the plaza with enough force to shatter the stone and create a ten foot crater around her head.

He was far from done however, as he then grabbed her golden locks, pulled her off her feet, only to grab her face and throw her right back down into the ground, this time back first, creating a second crater.

As she groaned in pain, Achilles got on top of her and grabbed her throat.

"Enough Galadriel! You cannot let your grief rule you!" he roared.

"It's not just my grief…Achilles," she wheezed through her choking throat, "it's my rage too. And the pain of everything we've suffered. Alfia. Zald. Briseis. Me. You! How much have we lost?! How much more must we give before the world will leave us alone?" she asked desperately.

He let go of her throat as a great sadness joined this anger and disappointment in his eyes.

"We haven't lost everything, Galadriel, which is why you need to stop. Why you can't let all the pain make you do something you shouldn't and become someone you're not. I did and for 15 years I was the world's most pathetic creature. Nothing but pain, misery, and self-loathing. I don't want that for you. So please, please Galadriel, grieve as much as you need to, but don't go down the path you've currently set for yourself."

She wanted to agree. Truly she did. To agree to his desperate plea. This was her friend after all. He had watched out for her when she was not but a child. Taught her. Helped raise her. She owed so much to him and hated to see him like this. Yet...she couldn't. Too much had been taken. Too much had been tolerated. She had been silent for too long. And now...she needed to roar.

"I'm sorry, Achilles, but I can't. I won't."

Disappointment and rage filled his eyes as his hand reclaimed her throat and he growled.

"Then I will force you off this path, Galadriel Lothlorien. I will beat some sense into-"

Achilles was stopped when a mace smashed into the left side of his face, sending him flying towards the Tower of Babel.

Galadriel's eyes were wide in shock, before they turned, finding an unexpected figure above her.

"Ajax?"

"Hey Galadriel," he greeted, though none of his usual warmth was present, "looks like you're having a tough time," he held out his hand.

She didn't immediately respond, still shocked as she was, but after a moment, she grabbed it, allowing the big man to pull her up.

"What?" she stopped as she found Patroclus, Dido, and Imilce beside him. "What's going on?"

"You're not the only one who can't accept all that's happened, Galadriel," Ajax replied simply.

Nearby, Achilles had picked himself up and rubbed his cheek.

"Ajax?" he called, not believing his eyes. "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry Captain, but we're taking a stand. All of us," Ajax replied, gesturing towards the others.

"Patroclus?" The younger swordsman's eyes were filled with sadness, but determination. "Imilce?"

Her response came when she finished her spell.

"Mausoleum of Halicarnassus!"

A white dome suddenly fell over the plaza, ensuring that no one would be harmed by what was about to happen...or interfere with what they were about to do.

"We've had enough, Achilles," Dido stated, "we've had enough of the world disregarding our deeds and punishing our failures. We're done accepting the fear and loathing of other, weaker, stupider beings."

"So what...are you all becoming Evilus now!" Achilles roared.

"No! Of course not!" Patroclus cried. "We're just sick of everyone coming after us!"

"And you think this will help?!" Achilles shot back.

"Maybe not," Galadriel confessed, stepping forward, "but it will show that we refuse to accept their scorn any more. We refuse to be gracious and patient because we couldn't complete a quest that none of them would dare take up. We're done being seen as both failures and villains."

Achilles's eyes bore into those of his old friends, staring into each of there's taking in their determination to go down the path before them. A path he would not allow them to travel.

"You are failures and villains," he growled, shocking them, "that is precisely what you are at this very moment. You have lost yourselves, just as I did," he lifted his sword, "but luckily for all you," electricity began to dance along his skin, "I am here to beat some sense into all of you and get you back on the right track."

---

"This way everyone, this way," Shakti called as calmly as she could.

"What's going on? What are all those bright lights and explosions?" a worried woman asked.

"Two adventurers are currently fighting in the plaza before Babel. They are contained there, but we're evacuating the areas nearby just for safety," the Ganesha captain replied.

"Do you know who's fighting?" the woman asked.

Knowing it was best not to reveal that two of the most powerful people in the world were duking it out, Shakti diplomatically replied.

"We are still getting the details at this moment. Regardless of who it is, however, we want to make sure no one is hurt."

The woman seemed willing to accept that and began quickly striding off, allowing Shakti to sigh in relief. Her relief was short-lived as she heard someone not too far away speak.

"I heard it was the former Zeus captain."

She tensed as another voice joined in.

"Seriously? He could destroy the city himself!"

"Who's he fighting though? Ottar?" a third voice asked.

"Nah, it wasn't him, I know that. Heard it was a woman, but that's all."

"Shit, whoever it is has to be crazy strong to take him on. Let's get out of here."

The three people quickly departed thereafter, leaving Shakti to her thoughts.

At least they're not sticking around to watch.

Her mind was turned away from her worry when Finn appeared before her.

"We're evacuating everyone north and west of the Tower for three blocks, just to be safe."

"Thank you, your help is greatly appreciated."

"It's not a problem. In comparison to the Xenos incident, this is downright peaceful," he joked.

She chuckled and nodded.

"Let's hope it stays that way."

Suddenly, a white dome fell over the area before Babel, startling the two.

"That's 'Mausoleum of Halicarnassus', Imilce's spell," Finn recognized.

"She must be trying to limit the area the two can battle," Shakti suggested.

The two headed towards the plaza, but what they found when they arrived wasn't Imilce and the other veteran adventurers trying to calm the situation down, but all five of them attacking the Father On High with their terrible might.

"What are they doing? Why are they all fighting Achilles?" Shakti asked, her voice drowning in confusion and alarm.

"I don't know, and I won't deny that that scares me," Finn answered as his thumb throbbed.

"Finn!"

The two captains turned, finding the executives of the Loki familia striding up to them.

"Is Imilce here?" Riveria asked, as she approached them. "Her 'Mausoleum of Halicarnassus' will help us better manage the-"

Then she saw it. Her lover, by himself, against five of the most powerful people in the world and people he called his family.

"What...what's going on?" she asked, her eyes watching in terror as Achilles dodged, blocked, countered, and attacked the members of the Zeus and Hera familia.

"I honestly don't know," Finn answered, knowing just how scared she must feel at the moment.

"They're angry," Gareth stated, stepping forward, "about all that's happened. About the destruction of their familia. Their banishment. The deaths of Alfia and Zald. Everything."

"So they attack Achilles?!" Riveria cried.

"He's accepting their pain," he answered, his voice as steady as stone, "allowing them to vent while also ensuring they don't hurt anyone...and probably also knocking some sense into them," he said, giving his elven friend a smile, in hopes it would ease her fear.

His attempt failed though as Riveria immediately turned and held up her staff.

"Flaming Flowers!"

Bursts of fire magic smashed against the white walls of the spell as the other adventures backed away. The flames did not disturb the dome in the slightest, making Riveria growl.

"Frozen Spears!"

Several icy projectiles flew at the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, but they too, failed utterly.

"Riveria, that's 'Mausoleum of Halicarnassus', it's borderline unbreakable. Adamantine would be easier to break than that spell. Don't waste your mana," Finn said.

"I can't do nothing! Not while he's in there alone!"

"Riveria, he's the strongest man alive, if there's anyone who can handle a situation like that, it's him," her captain tried to reassure her.

Just like Gareth's smile, his words failed, but even as she watched her lover take a cut from Patroclus, she knew there was little to nothing she could do for him.

"Damn it. Damn them."

A soft hand on her arm caused her to turn and she found Aiz now beside her.

"He'll be alright."

Something about Aiz's words was different from Gareth and Finn's attempts to calm her, though it took a minute for Riveria to realize what it was.

She actually believes what she's saying.

Riveria turned back to the fight, finding Achilles knocking both Patroclus and Ajax to the ground, before turning to face Galadriel.

"He'd better be or I'll kill him."

"Captain Shakti!"

Everyone turned again, this time finding a member of the Ganesha familia rushing towards Shakti looking positively possessed with worry.

"What is it?" Shakti asked as she laid a calming hand on her fellow adventurer in hopes of calming them.

"The...the knights!" he cried as he tried to catch his breath.

Everyone tensed.

"Lancelot?" she asked.

He nodded.

"With everyone...out helping with evacuations...there weren't enough people guarding them. They...they've left the Guild. The Knight of Knights and his followers are out in the city."

---

Bell awoke groggy and confused.

"Wha…? What happened?" he asked himself out loud as he slowly picked himself up.

As the blood began to flow again, memories flashed in his mind, causing Bell's head to shoot up and turn towards the Babel plaza, only to find a white dome surrounding it.

"What is this?" he asked as he approached it. He soon found he could see through the dome and what he saw on the other side immediately filled his eyes with horror.

"Dad!" he cried as his fist pounded against the spell.

There, in the middle of the plaza, was Achilles, battling the Zeus and Hera familia in a five-on-one match that would scare most Dungeon floor bosses.

"Stop! Stop! Please!" Bell begged as he tried to break through the dome, hitting it again and again, but finding it unaffected by his blows.

"That won't do you any good."

Bell shot around, finding, to his great shock, Lancelot and his knights occupying the entirety of the street behind him.

"That's 'Mausoleum of Halicarnassus', a near indestructible defensive spell. Trying to break through it is a waste of energy," Lancelot continued.

"How...how are you here? You're supposed to be locked up in the Guild," Bell said.

"This little commotion has occupied most of the Ganesha familia. What few they left behind to guard us were of little consequence," the Knight of Knights answered.

"Did…" Bell reached for his weapons, "did you kill them?"

"Of course not," Lancelot quickly answered, not even acknowledging Bell's action, "they were simply guards doing their jobs. A simple spell or swift hit was all that was necessary."

That was a great relief to Bell, who moved his hands away from his weapons. However, there was one question that still needed to be answered.

"What are you doing here?"

"We're waiting," the great knight answered simply.

"Waiting?"

"We weren't able to complete our mission outside the walls, but now Achilles and his foolish comrades are doing half the work for us. Once the fight is over we will wash over the survivors and remove them as a threat to the Holy Kingdom and the world."

And just like that, all his relief was gone, replaced by fear and shock.

"You're...you're going to try and kill them?" Bell questioned, his voice shaking, though not just with fear or concern, but with far darker emotions.

Lancelot finally looked him in the eye.

"Ah yes, I forgot I was speaking to a child."

"Have you forgotten, dear husband? That is no mere boy," Elaine informed her husband, "it is the monster adventurer we were told about and Achilles Caesar's son, Bell Cranel."

"Is he now?" he asked her, before turning back to Bell who had not moved an inch. "Ah yes. Yes it is. Well then, my apologies Bell Cranel, Dragon of Orario, but this is the end of the road for you as well."

Lancelot unsheathed his longsword and prepared to do battle.

"Someone's ending today."

Lancelot and his knights froze.

"But it won't be myself or my family," Bell finished as he unsheathed his sword and the Hestia knife, his slitted eyes pointed directly at Lancelot.

---

Galadriel's superheated fist crashed into his jaw, simultaneously cracking his bones and burning his flesh, leaving him to deal with the terrible pain as he was sent flying across the plaza.

He crashed into the ground so hard he flipped several times before he managed to get back on his feet, but he had no time to truly recover as both Ajax and Patroclus charged him.

Acting quickly, Achilles counter charged, crashing into Ajax with enough force to send him flying across the plaza and slam him into the dome keeping them inside.

He turned to face Patroclus, only to grunt as several needles entered his thigh, hip, and rib cage.

Turning, he found Imilce standing 20 feet away with several more needles in her fingers, all of them coated in poisons or substances that would weaken him.

Mind Fog, he recognized as his mind became clouded and he found himself unable to focus. That was until Galadriel appeared behind him and kicked him in the back with enough force to shatter dragon scales.

Achilles gasped as he was once again sent flying. He had only just enough time to recognize that Patroclus was in front of him before the younger swordsman used his own incredible speed to cut all four of his limbs, likely in an attempt to incapacitate him. Luckily for Achilles, Patroclus hadn't taken in his new level 8 status and so didn't, or perhaps couldn't, manage his attempt.

However, all luck seemed to abandon Achilles as Dido attacked him from behind.

The captain of the Hera familia flipped over Achilles, slamming both her axes into either side of his neck where the base meets the shoulder.

"Argh!" Achilles growled as Dido finished flipping over, turned and slashed him twice across the chest.

Having had quite enough, Achilles charged his lightning and counterattacked, slashing Dido three times across the torso, before booting her away.

He spun around to deal with Patroclus, but was rewarded with a glass bottle smashing into his face.

Blinding Darkness! he shouted internally as he lost his vision.

Though his vision was gone, his other senses were still active, which meant he could hear Ajax rushing towards him.

The former captain of the Zeus familia tried to prepare for his ex-subordinate's attack, but with the Mind Fog poison, the damage to his body, and all the pain he felt, he wasn't able to put up a proper defense, allowing Ajax to slip through.

"RAAAA!" the maceman roared as he swung his monster of a weapon in a reverse arc, slamming it into Achilles's chin with enough force to shake the Dungeon.

This time Achilles did not fly, but shot across the plaza like a ballista bolt. Wind ripped past his ears as he was catapulted high into the air as more agony rocked through his body.

Finally, he crashed into the roof of the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus.

"Kaaa!" he coughed as blood shot from his mouth.

And then, the Father On High fell, his broken body smashing into the ground below like a ragdoll.

Damnit, he growled internally as he slowly, agonizingly, picked himself up, while his vision slowly returned, damn them and their stupidity. Damn those that took so much from them. Damn me for not being there for them so none of this would have happened.

Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, but he quickly cast them aside. He could cry later, when he had finished this.

Achilles got back to his feet, but to his surprise he was not immediately attacked by his old comrades-in-arms. He soon found out why.

"Shit."

Galadriel stood before him, her hands held out as she finished her spell.

"Solaris."

Achilles had only enough time to bring up his sword to guard him before a tidal wave of sunlight shot towards him like the wrath of a cruel god.

"Aaaah!" he cried through gritted teeth as unbearable heat tore through his body.

His flesh burned, the hairs on his arms immediately ignited like kindling, and the most terrible smell filled his nose, yet he held firm.

Hold on. Hold on. Hold...ON!

More and more sunlight poured out of the dark elf's hands as she attempted to subdue her old friend.

Fall. Just fall already, Achilles. Please. I don't want to do this, she pleaded with him as she poured her mana into her attack, Please just fall!

Yet, despite her silent pleas, and the ever-increasingly worried eyes of her friends behind her, he did not. He stood and took her attack, bearing the pain and the power while not even shaking.

Finally, when Galadriel feared that he would actually die before submitting, she ended her spell, and the plaza fell silent.

"Fuck," Achilles whispered as every inch of him screamed and his skin smoked.

He turned his electric blue eyes towards his friends-turned-enemies, finding their eyes wide in shock, sadness, and horror.

He growled and took a step forward, only for his knee to buckle and him to fall forward.

The Father On High saved himself from falling with his sword, but then his body began to shake as his strength deserted him.

"No," he whispered, his very voice unable to muster the strength to even properly speak, "I...cannot...fall. Not here. I have...to win. For Ryuu. For them," he turned his eyes towards his friends," I can't let them become...this."

Yet, he couldn't move. Not even an inch. No matter how hard he screamed in his mind, he couldn't. Finally, he realized the truth.

I've lost.

---

"This is hard to watch," Tione said as the adventurers did battle before them.

"Tione," Finn chastised, knowing how their High Elven companion felt.

Tione, realizing her mistake, turned to Riveria.

"I'm sorry."

Riveria didn't respond, she simply continued to stare at the battle that she could do nothing to stop while her hands tightened even further around her staff.

Those around her watched as her already bleeding knuckles began to release even more blood, the crimson flow moving down her hands until it was either absorbed by her clothes or dripped down onto the ground below.

Finish this already, Achilles. You're strong enough to defeat them. You beat Bete, Tione, and Tiona, and that was before you were a level 8. Finish this and come back to me so I can chastise you for being so stupid!

She watched as Ajax's mace slammed into Achilles's jaw, sending him shooting through the air until he crashed into the magical dome and fell pathetically back to the earth.

He's...losing.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

But if he loses, what happens? They surely wouldn't...they wouldn't go that far.

She watched her lover drag himself back to his feet, her heart thundering as her fear began to overwhelm her mind.

Surrender. Just surrender Achilles. It's alright, we can take it from here. We're strong enough to subdue them, especially after you've fought so hard. Just surrender, it's okay. Surrender. Please. Surrender!

Her breathing became erratic as she silently pleaded with him, over and over, to give up. To just surrender and come back to her. Then she saw it...and her breathing stopped.

"Solaris," Galadriel called.

A beam of blinding and terrible light shot at Achilles, engulfing him in an instance.

"ACHILLES!" she cried.

She began to desperately pound on the dome, hitting it so hard that both her own familia and the Ganesha familia were afraid that she would break her own bones trying to break through the barrier and moved to restrain her.

"Riveria! Calm down!" Finn begged.

"No! He needs me! He needs help!"

"You can't help him, Riveria-san!" Shakti shouted.

"Yes I can! I can break through this! I know I can! I ca-!"

The spell ended, bringing silence to all of Orario.

Thousands of eyes stared down at the battle in the plaza, their eyes wide with shock and disgust as they took in the Father On High.

Riveria nearly vomited when she saw him. His burnt flesh, smoking on his nearly naked form. He barely looked human anymore.

She couldn't take it anymore and emptied her stomach on the ground, not that anyone could blame her.

"Achilles," she whispered as her tearful eyes turned back to her love.

She and the entire city watched as he took a step forward, some even cheered, thinking that great Zeus captain was ready to continue the fight, only for the world to go silent again as he buckled and fell onto his sword.

Riviera reached a hand out to him, wanting so desperately to rescue him. To heal his pains and whisper sweet words into his ears as held him in her arms.

"Fear not, Riveria Ljos Alf."

They all turned, finding Ottar now amongst them.

"He shall overcome. That is who he is," the boaz said with absolute certainty, "the Osiris familia. The Tlaloc familia. Countless Evilus familia. Even my own familia could not defeat him," he turned his eyes to the elf, "and not even the great Dragon could kill him. This is naught but a minor setback for one such as he."

He then smiled. Riveria wasn't sure she had ever seen him smile, but it was quite shocking to see him now smile at her. Even more shocking, it was actually reassuring and she found herself smiling back.

She nodded and turned back to the fight, just as a familiar voice rang through the night.

"DAD!"

---

Bell roared as he charged Lancelot again, swinging his sword at the great knight, who used his own to block the attack.

Lancelot grunted under the force of the attack.

How can one this young be so strong? he wondered. He did not wonder long as his eyes met the dragonic gaze of his opponent, that's right. He has this evil power within him. 'Wrath of the Dragon'.

His determination reignited, Lancelot prepared to counter-attack, only to be forced to dodge as Bell tried to embed the Hestia knife into his brain.

The Knight of Knights pulled back to dodge the attack, but despite his great speed, Bell managed to score a cut across his cheek.

Lancelot jumped back to distance himself, feeling his own blood drip down his cheek.

"Bless me, oh holy mother so that I may bring salvation to your children. Holy Light!"

Magic encompassed his longsword, and he charged.

Bell brought up his weapons to defend himself, only for his opponent to slip past his defenses and score a cut on his right leg and back.

"Aah!" Bell cried, before his burning eyes shot back to the knight and he attempted to cut his enemy down. However, his anger opened up his defenses, allowing Lancelot to once again slip past his guard and score a strike to his stomach and another to his back.

Hissing, Bell jumped back to distance himself from the Knight of Knights.

"You are powerful, Dragon of Orario, but you are naught but a creature of wrath and chaos. No matter how powerful you are, your utter lack of discipline and control shall be your undoing."

Bell growled, but even in his anger, he knew the Knight of Knights spoke true.

I'm letting my anger get the best of me again. I've become dependent on this skill, thinking that I can just overpower those I come across, but that's only been because those I've fought were so much weaker than me or were too shocked to effectively fight back, which is not the case here, Bell recognized as he looked upon Lancelot.

"Anger can be useful," Mania's words echoed inside his mind, "you can turn it into drive and perseverance, but you should never turn into a weapon of destruction, and never allow it to control you. Never lose your kind heart or let the love you have for others be overtaken by its malice," she had told him, smiling lovingly upon him.

Don't let it overtake you. Don't be controlled by it, Bell told himself as he began to take deep breaths.

Lancelot stared upon his enemy, expecting him to begin another onslaught. Yet none came.

What villainy is he preparing now? the Knight of Knights wondered as he prepared himself.

However, to his surprise, Bell closed his eyes for a moment and after releasing a deep breath, he reopened them, revealing that the dragonic slits had departed, leaving behind Bell's true, but no less determined eyes.

"What did you do, serpent?" Lancelot demanded.

"I took back control," Bell asserted, "I am not the monster you think I am, Lancelot Chevalier and I refuse to be the monster of your tale," the captain of the Hestia familia got back into position, "but that doesn't mean I'm about to let you hurt those I love. I will stop you, here and now."

Lancelot's silver eyes held Bell's rubies for a few quiet moments.

The wrath is gone, but power isn't, he thought as his grip on his sword tightened, that means he has control of this power, which means he calls upon it and is not is simply overcome by it, his eyes narrowed, which is worse. It makes him like those other creatures.

"You have only further proven your evil tendencies, creature," he stated, "the fact that you can control your terrible power means that you have intentionally used it against others, which is far more monstrous than simply losing control of yourself."

"I'm still working on it," Bell replied, "but regardless, I think it's pretty hypocritical for someone who dishonorably plans to strike down a weakened opponent to morally grandstand to me."

Lancelot's eyes filled with rage at that insult.

"I will cut out your tongue for that, serpent," he vowed.

"You can try," Bell replied, as he got back into position.

Lancelot was prepared to do just that, when, all of a sudden, the night was burned away.

Bell's head shot around as he turned back to the battle under the dome. However, he found he could not make out what was going on as the blinding light was making it difficult to see.

He could just barely make out Ajax, Patroclus, Imilce, and Dido standing behind someone, but it took some time for his eyes to adjust enough to see that it was Galadriel, thus discovering that she was the source of the light.

But...that means…

His eyes now shot to where the spell was being sent with all its burning glory, knowing that, hidden in the light, was his father.

Please be alright. Please be alright, he chanted in his head.

Finally the spell subsided, revealing Achilles.

"Dad," Bell said, his strength evaporating from his body.

He began to mindlessly walk towards his father, only to be stopped by Imilce's spell.

Snapped back to reality, Bell looked at the dome before he began to pound against it, trying to break through. However, no matter how hard he hit, it did not budge.

"Dad. Dad! Dad!" he cried as he hit harder and harder.

Finally, it happened. Achilles took a single step forward and fell upon his sword, his strength burned away under the onslaught of his old comrades.

"Looks like I won't need to kill him after all," Lancelot said in triumph.

Tears slipped down Bell's cheeks as he attacked the dome all the harder.

No. Nononononono. No! NO!

Unbeknownst to him, his eyes were once again slits, but this was not the only part of his transformation. In his desperation, fear, and anger at what was happening to his father, his white scales had reappeared, along with his claws. His horns had even begun to peek out from his temple.

He truly is a monster. A dragon of chaos, Lancelot thought as he watched in disgust as the beast attempted to break through the barrier.

That disgust turned to shock as cracks suddenly began to appear on the dome.

Impossible.

Though the dome quickly fixed the damage, the fact that the adventurer before him was able to crack a nearly indestructible spell was not something Lancelot took lightly.

He may be an even greater threat than Achilles, the Knight of Knights thought as his hand tightened upon his sword, he must be struck down. Here and now.

He took a step forward, only to stop as a cry shook the earth and sky.

'"DAD!"

---

"DAD!"

Achilles blinked, then slowly turned his head.

Far off in the distance he found a face that was both familiar and terribly foreign.

Bell?

The young man he saw looked like his son, yet the fear and tears in his eyes made him almost unrecognizable.

It is. That's Bell, but...why does he look like that? Why is he crying?

Of course, it did not take long for him to realize why.

He's crying for me. Because of me.

Guilt filled his heart and his own tears began to form.

He's scared for me. Because I'm failing.

"Achilles!"

He turned again, this time finding his lover. However, to his surprise, she was not crying.

"It's not over!" she cried.

What? he thought, confused.

"Don't give up! Don't you dare!" she ordered.

His confusion only grew at her command, unsure of what to make of it.

"Go get them you shitty old man!" Bete suddenly shouted.

"Come on! Kick their butts!" Tiona cried.

"It's not over, Achilles!" Gareth joined.

"Overcome! As you always have!" Ottar bellowed.

Slowly, more and more voices joined the call. Voices of friends. Strangers. People whose faces he could not even see. All telling him the same thing. Keep fighting.

"You can do it!" Welf cheered.

"Yes you can! Don't give up, Achilles-dono!" Mikoto added.

"Show them what the Hestia familia can do!" Hestia called.

High above the fight, watching from her room, Freya silently added.

You can win, Achilles. I know you can. Not because you're the Olympian or were the captain of the Zeus familia, but because that's the kind of man you are, because of the strength you hold in your heart, she thought as she tearfully smiled at her love.

Achilles took all this in, his mind overwhelmed by the support.

They're all behind me, he thought as his heart began to fill with new strength.

There was, however, one person whose support he would need if he was to win.

Turning back to his son, he found the young man looking out on the city with wide eyes.

Bell heard the calls just as well as Achilles had and was overcome with all the support sent to his father.

His despairing tears turned to joyful ones as his dragonic features retreated and he laughed.

They've all got his back, he then realized something, but I've remained silent. Everyone's giving him their support, but I'm just standing here.

He turned his ruby eyes back to his father and found the older man's sapphires pointed right at him.

Knowing precisely what to do, he smiled and shouted with all his strength.

"WIN!"

Smiling brightly, Achilles turned back to his old comrades, who were looking out on the surrounding city with slacked jaws.

Only when they felt his gaze, did they all turn back to him, tensing as they saw his smile and unwavering eyes.

"Looks like it's time for round two," Achilles said as he cracked his knuckles.

The five veteran adventurers got into defensive stances, reading themselves for Achilles's second wind.

Not that it will do them any good. Not now that I have so many people backing me.

He turned his sword around and plunged it into the ground, before taking up a new stance.

"Let's dance."

He charged to the cheer of the city.

---

Happy, relieved tears streamed down Riveria's face as she saw the man who held her heart renew the fight, ready to win it for all of them.

"You see? He is not one to be so easily defeated...even if perhaps some encouragement was necessary," Ottar said, clearly pleased, in his own stoic way, by all that had transpired.

Riveria actually chuckled.

"I suppose you were right," she admitted.

"Captain Shakti!"

A member of the Ganesha familia ran towards them.

"Report," the captain responded.

"We've secured all the gates as ordered, but no sight of the Lancelot Chevalier or any of his knights."

"Alright. Thank you for the report," the azure captain replied before turning to the others, "as relieved that I am for Achilles, we still need to find Lancelot."

"He's probably close by. There's no way he'd miss such an opportunity to take out his main target," Finn reasoned.

"That does seem likely, but that only narrows the area down, it does not give us a real place to start," she replied.

Luckily for all of them, something happened that would give them the precise location of Lancelot on his knights.

Once more the night air was burned away as light filled the city, only this time, it was not the blinding light of Galadriel's spells, but a warm, golden hew that dispersed the darkness.

Everyone in the city turned to the light, finding a wave of gold flowing down one of the city streets.

"That's probably the biggest 'X marks the spot' the world has ever seen," Finn joked.

Not a second later the adventurers were all rushing off towards the source of the golden wave.

---

Bell laughed in relief as his father began the fight once more.

Which reminds me.

Bell turned back around, finding Lancelot looking out towards the plaza with a frown.

"Looks like you were wrong," the Hestia captain stated.

The Knight of Knights turned his eyes back to him.

"You think some cheerleading makes any difference?" he spat.

"I think it makes all the difference in the world," Bell answered, still smiling as he retook his fighting stance.

Disgusted by the response and enraged that Achilles had somehow managed to renew himself with nothing more than some verbal supplements, Lancelot more than happily retook his own stance.

"You delude yourself, serpent. The result will be the same regardless of you and the other cheerleaders."

Lancelot attacked, moving to strike off Bell's head.

Bell quickly brought both his sword and his knife up to block the strike, before countering with the Hestia knife, aiming for the knight's throat.

Lancelot jumped back then attacked again, thrusting at Bell's skull, only for the Red Dawn to lean back and let the sword fly harmlessly over him.

Bell raised his hand and cried out.

"Firebolt!"

The spell crashed into Lancelot's face, doing little actual damage, but distracting him long enough for Bell to attack again.

Bell lashed out, cutting the Knight of Knights across the chest with both his blades, leaving a nice red X across his chest.

"Husband!" Elaine cried.

"Father!" Galahad called.

"Sir Lancelot!" the other knights shouted.

The Knight of Knights heard none of their cries as his focus was entirely on the enemy before him.

You dare mar me with your claws!

Raising his sword above his head, Lancelot, his eyes burning like fire, struck down with all his might.

Bell barely had time to bring his blades up to block the attack and when it made contact, he was immediately sent to his knees at the force of it. So great was the strike, that when Bell's knees hit the ground, the stones cracked underneath him.

"You will perish here and now, serpent," Lancelot growled, "and then I shall turn to your so-called father and destroy him as well, freeing the world from the tyranny of the old familias and bringing forth a new golden age for all the world."

Bell's arms shook as he used all his strength to hold back Lancelot's blade.

"What? Nothing to say now? No great promise or evil curses to spew?" the knight mocked.

Suddenly, Bell's blades stopped shaking.

What? Lancelot thought as he found himself unable to push the Red Dawn further.

Then Bell looked up, and Lancelot found that his eyes once more changed, but not in the way the knight had expected.

Instead of blood red, dragonic eyes, the whites of Bell's eyes had turned gold while his rubies began to glow warmly.

"I won't let you hurt anyone," Bell said calmly.

Lancelot watched as the gold of Bell's eyes began to spread, running through Bell's veins like liquid gold, filling his face, then his neck, then his chest, arms, and finally his whole body began to glow with a beautiful golden hew.

Then, to his even greater shock, he found Bell pushing him back. He tried to redouble his efforts, but no matter how much strength he forced down upon Bell, he could not break through.

What is this power?

Bell managed to rise back to his feet, shocking all the knights behind Lancelot who had thought their lord was on the cusp of victory.

"This ends now," Bell said.

The golden energy that filled Bell's body suddenly filled his weapons as well, making them shine in the night. Then, as if moving a hot knife through soft butter, Bell cut Lancelot's longsword in half.

As the eyes of the knights of the Holy Kingdom widened in shock, Bell shifted a foot back and swung his blades of his right shoulder.

Then, just before he swung, the familiar ring of bells filled the young captain's ears. He smiled then swung with all his might, sending a wave of golden energy through the street.

Lancelot and all his knights were sent flying down the street as the golden light encased them and lit up the night with its wonderful brilliance.

The Knight of Camelot didn't know how far he flew before he finally crashed down onto the pavement.

What by the grace of Hygeia was that?! he thought as he picked himself up.

He finally found that he had been sent three whole city blocks down the street by the attack, and that, somehow, despite his knights being scattered around the city, no buildings had been damaged, instead, it appeared as if someone had covered them all in the most beautiful gold leaf.

"What kind of power can do such a thing?" he asked himself.

He did not have long to contemplate as Bell suddenly appeared before him, sword and knife in hand.

"Surrender," Bell demanded.

Lancelot glared at him as he picked himself up.

"Do you think that you have defeated me because of a little light show, serpent? I shall admit you surprised me with that power, but it shall not happen again," he raised his sword, only to be reminded of its current form and curse, "this was a gift from her royal highness, Queen Guinevere. You shall pay for damaging it so."

Bell got in a stance again, prepared to continue the fight, only for a familiar golden-haired young woman to suddenly appear in front of him.

"You shall not touch him," Aiz swore.

Lancelot was taken aback by her sudden appearance, but once more, did not have much time to think as the entire street was suddenly surrounded by Orario adventurers.

"Drop your weapons!" Shakti ordered.

Lancelot looked around, finding that he and his knights were well and truly surrounded by the adventurers of the Dungeon city.

They must have seen his attack, he realized, shifting his eyes back to Bell and Aiz.

"You have fiendish good luck, serpent," he stated.

"What did you call him?" Aiz demanded.

The Knight of Knights turned to the Sword Princess, his silver eyes meeting her gold.

"Serpent. For that is what he is, Aiz Wallenstein," he answered.

"Take that back."

"Why? Do you not know what he is? What power he holds?"

"I know that he is the man that I love and that no one is allowed to hurt him!"

That took the knight aback.

How did such a creature earn the love of such a beautiful maiden? he wondered as his eyes moved between Bell and Aiz.

He soon felt disgust fill him.

Such a serpent does not deserve the love of anyone, yet alone someone whose beauty matches Guinevere's.

"I do not know what tricks or means he has used to deceive you, Sword Princess, but that creature does not deserve your affection."

Aiz was prepared to gut the Knight of Knights, but was stopped when a spear appeared before her.

"Oh boy, that is not a wise thing to say to our beloved princess," Finn stated as he strode towards Lancelot, "she's rather fond of Bell there."

"Only because she does not know what he is."

"We've all seen Bell's skill," Finn shot back, "and yeah, he's pretty scary, but, personally, I'd be far more scared of what Aiz would do to me if I dared to insult her favorite rabbit."

Lancelot's brow scrunched before he turned back to Aiz, finding her eyes even more ferocious than before.

Such fury...for that creature?

His eyes turned to Bell, finding himself all the more confused.

Even were he not a monster, what could he offer one as beautiful and skilled as her?

Searching Aiz's golden orbs offered him no answers.

"Lancelot Chevalier, if you do not drop your weapon at this very moment, I will take that as an act of hostility and treat you as such!" Shakti's roar snapped him back to reality.

"You heard her, Sir Lancelot. Drop it," Finn ordered, pointing his spear at the silver-eyed warrior.

Lancelot glared, before turning his gaze to his broken sword. His rage burned anew at seeing his weapon and he turned one final glare towards Bell before finally dropping it.

"Smart move," Finn said as he, Gareth, and Shakti all moved to arrest him.

Lancelot said nothing as he was taken into custody, he only stared at Aiz and Bell. It was only right before he was taken away that he spoke again.

"This is not over, Dragon of Orario. For you, your father, or your allies."

Bell made no reply and simply watched the knight be taken away.

Once he was gone, Bell turned towards Aiz.

"Thank y-"

He was pulled into her arms before he could finish.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

He smiled and wrapped his arms around her.

"Yes."

"Good."

"That is good to hear." The two parted, finding Riveria and the others a few paces away. "Though would you mind telling us how you ended up in a fight with the Knight of Knights?" the motherly elf inquired.

"I swear it wasn't my fault this time," the Hestia captain quickly said, feeling Riveria's motherly gaze boring down upon him.

"Oh really?"

He began to sweat.

After staring into his nervous eyes for a few more moments, she sighed.

"Alright, I'll believe you, but honestly Bell, you are a trouble magnet."

He shrunk.

"I'm sorry."

"Hey guys."

They all turned to Tiona who pointed her finger.

"It's just Big Daddy and Gally left."

Immediately, all attention was back on the fight that was the source of all that had transpired that night and, true to her word, the only two still standing were Achilles and Galadriel.

---

Achilles began with Imilce.

Pushing himself as hard as he could, Achilles shot by Galadriel and the others, grabbing the shy young woman and dragging her away from the her allies.

Shocked as she was, Imilce quickly tried to use her needles against him, only for him to catch them midair and send them right back at her. This ultimately meant little as Achilles then proceeded to chop the back of her neck, knocking her out.

Achilles quickly put her down, before turning to the others who were rushing towards him.

A sudden golden light stopped everything.

Achilles turned and found a wave of gold behind him where Bell had once stood.

Bell?

He didn't know what was going on, but he didn't like it, and he turned back to his comrades, even more determined to finish the fight.

The four remaining Hera and Zeus familia had also quickly gotten over their surprise and restarted their attack.

The first to reach him was Galadriel, who threw a shining fist as his head. He dodged it by a mere inch, the heat burning his cheek as it passed by.

He quickly reached under her arm to grab her face before throwing her back at the oncoming adventurers.

Patroclus was the unlucky soul to be on the receiving end of her flying body, and soon were both flying towards the other end of the plaza.

Ajax was next, swinging his great mace in a wide arc. Achilles ducked under the swing, then launched a fist up into the man's jaw lifting him off the ground.

Achilles wasn't done with the maceman though, and quickly spun on his heel to kick Ajax in the gut, launching Ajax like the maceman had launched him not long ago.

Then came Dido. She sent a flurry of strikes and slashes at him with her axes, but he masterfully dodged and weaved through them, before finally managing to grab both her arms. He then pulled her into a headbutt, rattling her skull. He followed this by taking her axes away and using the blunt ends to slam her, skull-first, into the plaza.

By this point both Galadriel and Patroclus were back on their feet and rushing him. He threw the axes at them, with Galadriel managing to batter hers away, while the one sent at Patroclus managed to slice his arm.

Achilles met Galadriel in the middle, spinning around her punch, and elbowing her in the back of the head.

As the dark elf bent over from the force of his hit, Achilles rushed towards Patroclus who tried to cut him with an overhead strike, only for Achilles to dodge, grab his arm, then chop him in the throat.

Patroclus grabbed his throat, allowing his former captain to yank his sword from him, before grabbing the boy's head and slamming him into stones below.

Two down.

Ajax and Galadriel appeared at the same time, Ajax in front, Galadriel behind.

Achilles quickly spun Patroclus's sword in his hand and threw it down into Ajax's foot, literally stopping the Nemean Lion of the Zeus familia in his tracks.

The foe before him stopped, Achilles quickly ducked and spun around, narrowly avoiding Galadriel's strike again.

This time, he grabbed her by her hair and belt, lifting her off the ground and throwing her at the pinned Ajax.

Both tumbled away just as Dido made her reappearance.

She came high, axe raised over her head as struck down. She managed to cut him across the cheek, but in doing so, she had overreached herself, leaving her open to Achilles's lightning clad fist as he descended upon her like a thunderbolt.

That's three, Achilles thought as Dido crashed into the ground.

Ajax and Galadriel were just picking themselves up as he turned his attention back to them. Not wasting the opportunity, he charged, reaching Ajax in the blink of an eye.

Ill-prepared as he was, Ajax tried to attack his old captain, only to receive a crippling gut shot that bent him in half. The Father On High then swept his feet out from under him, got on top of him and began to wail on him, using his Lightning Steps to increase the speed in which his fists fell on the poor husband and father.

That's four, the ex-captain thought as he looked up, which leaves…

Galadriel was on her feet and, to her shock, found that she was now entirely alone.

How? How is this possible? she asked herself as turned to her old friend.

She took him all in. His burnt skill, her bleeding wounds, his nearly naked form, but most importantly, his determined, unwavering eyes.

"You really are a stubborn asshole," she said.

"Yeah I am," he said as he closed the distance between them, "especially when my family is involved."

Her fists tightened as angry tears filled her eyes.

"Do we really mean so much less than them now? Have you really just set us aside and moved on?"

"No," he answered immediately, "you are just as much as my family as they are, and you'll always be. That's why I need to stop you. To stop you from hurting yourself, as you try to hurt them."

"They destroyed our family! All of them! We could have picked up the pieces after the Dragon! Restarted. Grown. Learned from our past failures. But they wouldn't let us!"

"Some of them, you're right," he agreed, "some were too cruel, too stupid, too greedy, or too ungenerous to give us the chance to pick up the pieces. But not all."

"So what? Are we supposed to just accept all that they've done?! All the injustice!"

"No, but you are supposed to ensure that you don't make more injustice."

Her head fell as tears slowly dripped down her cheek.

"She was my sister, Achilles," she wept, "Alfia was my sister. In all the ways that matter. And now she's gone."

"Physically, yes. But not in your mind or in your heart."

She laughed, it was a weak thing, but it was genuine.

"How poetic," she replied as she met his eyes again.

"It's the truth."

Silence fell over them as they simply stared at each other. Soon however, her eyes dropped and she shook her head.

"The truth is not enough. Reason and hope aren't enough. Not after everything. I'm sorry Achilles, but I can't just forgive-"

He punched her in the stomach, stopping her.

The force of his strike was so great, she couldn't even gasp, she merely bent over as her eyes widened. Within a few seconds however, the last of her strength evaporated and her eyes slowly closed.

Achilles caught her before she fell and gently laid her down.

"You will be able to. In time. For now you need to grieve. To rage and cry," Achilles told her quietly, "that's why, whatever comes, I'll protect you. I won't abandon any of you ever again."

"There's my big guy."

He turned and found a familiar face smiling at him.

"Nice to see you, Briseis," he said with a smile as his eyes turned glassy.

"I knew you could do it," she said.

"Beat up our two familias?" he asked.

She chuckled and shook her head.

"I knew that you could find yourself and get back on the right track."

"I appreciate your confidence, but I really wish you had been here with me along the way," he said as his smile dropped.

"I know," Briseis said with a sad smile, "but you're going to be alright. I promise"

His smile returned just before his eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed.

The last thing he heard before darkness fell over him was the distant call of his name and "DAD!"

---

Woah boy, that was a biggun!

Well, there it is folks! One more chapter down, and quite the action packed one, I do doth believe.

You know how it goes. Tell me in the reviews what you thought. Did you like the fights? Hate that the Hera and Zeus familia turned on Achilles? Wondering what the heck that golden power Bell used was? Share all your thoughts and questions in the reviews.

With that, I will bid you all a fine week and a very Happy Thanksgiving. So, until next time, have a good one everybody!