Hello dear peeps! We are back for the official 60th chapter. Wow, I can't believe this story has come so far, it's really astounding. I've said in the past that I originally thought this story would only be 50 chapters, yet here we are, 60 chapters in and nowhere near the end!
Anyway, enough rambling and self-congratulations, we have to find out what happened to Achilles and everyone else now that the battles are over. So let's get into it.
I do not own Danmachi
The bar was packed with people, all of whom were discussing the same thing. The apparent war outside.
"I saw them! It was the Zeus and Hera familias! They were all fighting Caesar!" one person cried.
"But why would they do that? Aren't they all old friends or something?"
No one had an answer as everything they could come up with didn't seem to make sense. That was, until someone in the dark spoke up.
"Maybe they were ordered to."
Something about the way this person said this caused the bar to go silent and for everyone to turn to him.
"Ordered? Who would order them to fight Caesar? And why?"
"Maybe it was Zeus or Hera," the speaker suggested, "or maybe it was the Guild. Doesn't really matter. As for the why," the man got silent, and a coldness filled the air, "maybe it's because of what happened to Ares."
The coldness grew and people began to shiver. Some didn't even want to ask the obvious next question for fear of what they would learn. Yet, for most, the answer was not simply wanted, but needed now.
"What happened to Ares?" a shaking voice asked.
"My sister's a member of the Athena familia, so she hears things occasionally. Things she's not supposed to." Ice crept into the audience's veins, but still they listened. "The war with Rakia just ended, but right before it did, something happened. Something that scared her. No...terrified her. More than anything ever has." Despite their fear, some leaned in, others pulled their coats and cloaks closer to themselves. "She said, on the last day, a pillar of light shot towards the sky, like a god had been sent back to Heaven, only this time, the god didn't make it. She said she and all of Athens watched as some dark, evil magic destroyed the pillar and then a roar, unlike anything she's ever heard - a roar so monstrous she fell to her knees - resounded through the air for miles. She told me it sounded like it was roaring in victory."
"W-What was it? What made the roar?" someone dared ask.
"She doesn't know," the man confessed, "but what she does know is that Ares is dead. Not sent back to Heaven, but well and truly gone, and that whatever made that roar, is the thing that killed him and that it's still out there."
"Make way! Let us through!"
The hospital staff jumped and turned to see a huge group of adventurers and Guild employees rushing in.
They quickly parted, allowing the adventurers through. It was then that they noticed that a few of them were carrying stretchers, the first of which contained the burnt, barely breathing form of Achilles Caesar.
Rushing into the nearest unoccupied room the adventurers holding the stretcher, made up of Bell Cranel, Ottar, Finn, and Gareth set him down as gently as possible and made way for Riveria who rushed over to her lover and began pouring her healing magic into him.
Don't you dare die on me. Don't you dare.
"Don't," she whispered as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes.
Her attention was briefly turned away from Achilles by a mass of muscle looming over her.
Ottar looked at his gravely wounded former mentor as he took out a health potion and poured it over him.
Steam rose from Achilles's body and, combined with Riveria's healing magic, it brought his body back to normal as his formerly burnt skin returned to its natural tan hew. However, both adventurers knew internally he was still gravely injured. As such, Ottar took out a second potion and lifted Achilles chin so that he could pour it down his throat. For a moment it appeared to take, only for Achilles to start coughing.
"Here," Riveria said, holding out her hand.
Ottar handed her the rest of the potion and she quickly poured the remaining contents into her mouth before leaning down and taking Achilles's lips.
Her lover tensed for a moment, but soon relaxed and began swallowing the potion, much to her relief.
That did not, however, mean she was about to relax as she immediately began to heal him once again with her magic.
"We can help."
Riveria turned again, finding Ryuu and Cassandra beside her.
"Thank you," the High elf replied, managing a small smile.
The two quickly joined her, pouring their own healing magic into the former captain.
The others watched on silently, hoping that Achilles would be alright. It was only when they heard more people headed their way that they turned.
"Where is he?!" Freya cried as she and her familia entered.
No one needed to answer as she soon found Achilles unconscious on the bed, the three women doing their best to save him.
He looks so weak. So helpless, the goddess thought as her heart entered her throat. However, she summoned her strength and turned to her familia.
"Go."
Immediately, several of her children rushed over and joined in the healing.
"What happened? Why was Achilles fighting Galadriel and the others?" she asked, her eyes not moving away from Achilles.
"They found out about Alfia and Zald," Hestia answered, "and they didn't take it well."
Freya turned to her, understanding how the two familias would take the news. Yet, a moment later, confusion and anger filled her eyes.
"But that doesn't explain why they would attack Achilles! I would completely understand an attack upon myself, but Achilles?! That makes no sense!"
"He defended Ryuu."
Freya turned to her beloved captain, finding Bell's red eyes staring calmly at her.
Too calmly, she realized, like he's somewhere else.
"He protected Ryuu from Galadriel who was overcome with grief," Bell further explained, "the others though, I don't know why they joined and we can't ask them yet as they're all unconscious."
"I see," Freya replied, though in truth, she wasn't sure that she did. She could well understand the rage the Zeus and Hera familias would have felt at learning the truth about the events eight years ago, but the idea of them attacking Achilles because of it seemed ludicrous.
There's something I don't know, she reckoned.
However, whatever that 'something' was didn't matter at the moment. All that mattered was Achilles's survival and once that was assured, there was something else she needed to do.
Time passed and finally, the healers retreated from the former captain and let out breaths of relief.
"He'll be fine, but he'll need time to recover," Riveria said.
The shoulders of everyone in the room finally dropped and relief filled the air.
"Thank y-" Hestia tried to say, but wasn't able to finish as Bell rushed over to Riveria and hugged her as tightly as he could.
"Thank you," his muffled voice rang.
Though a bit surprised, Riveria soon smiled affectionately down at the boy and hugged him back.
"I wasn't about to let him go," she whispered.
He somehow hugged her a bit more tightly after hearing that.
Their hug lasted a few more seconds before he looked up at her, smiled, then pulled back. Bell wasn't done though as he immediately went to Ryuu and gave her the same treatment, before practically making Cassandra explode by giving her an equally tight hug. The three ladies thanked, he then went to the Freya familia, starting with Ottar.
"Thank you," he said, holding out his hand.
Ottar nodded and shook his hand.
Bell proceeded to do the same with the healers, who all shook his hand before returning to their goddess's side.
"Thank you all for your help," Bell said to everyone in the room.
"Happy to help, Bell-san," Finn said.
"What kind of friends would we be if we didn't?" Gareth added, getting nods from the others in the room.
"And it's not like you were sitting on your butt, Bell," Welf said with a smile.
"Lili did wish you would stop finding trouble though!" the young prum declared.
Bell scratched his cheek.
"I'm sorry."
"That does lead to a question I think a lot of us have though," Take said, "what was that golden light, Bell?"
"I'm not sure," he confessed, "it wasn't Argonaut, I know that since it activated after the gold appeared. And…it wasn't Wrath of the Dragon either. This felt…different. Wrath feels hot, like a fire, but this, this was warm and…gentle? Reassuring?"
He was clearly as confused by this new power as everyone else was. Luckily, there was one person who had a good guess of what it was.
"I think it was your newest skill," Hestia said with a smile.
"Newest skill?" Miach questioned.
"Yep. Indomitable Will. The skill he got after fighting Aiz Wallen-whatisit here," the goddess answered, gesturing towards the Sword Princess.
Bell's widened as, given his conflict with his more monstrous skill, he had actually forgotten his newest skill. He eventually turned to his lover, meeting her eyes and, after a moment, smiled.
"I guess that makes sense. A golden power from my golden princess."
Aiz blushed and bashfully turned away, though it was clear from her smile that she was very happy.
A few people chuckled at the romantic display, but it was not long before Hestia jumped back in.
"Alright, enough lovey-dovey stuff! We're still in a very serious situation, you know!"
Immediately, the romantic and amused air disappeared.
"We don't know why the others joined Galadriel in fighting Achilles, but there's no doubt the city's freaking out and I'm sure Ouranos isn't too pleased either," Hestia stated.
Something suddenly flashed in Bell's eyes, though no one noticed it as they nodded and silently agreed with Hestia's assessment.
"Well, it's not like Ouranos can punish you after it was the big guy who stopped Black Sun and the others, and if he tries I'll give him an earful," Loki vowed, stepping forward.
"Thank you, Loki," Hestia replied warmly.
Loki turned away, not wanting the chibi goddess to see her warming cheeks, though that didn't stop a few members of her own familia from seeing them and quietly chuckling.
"I will help too," Freya joined, "it's the least I can do to make up for what I've done."
Everyone turned to her, noting both her words and the tone she used.
"What do you mean?" Hestia asked.
Freya took a deep breath, placed herself before Hestia, and then, to the shock of them all, bowed.
"I am deeply sorry for all I have done to you and your familia, Hestia. I now finally understand how horrible my actions were and hope that, someday, I will be able to make it up to you, Achilles, and everyone else."
Everyone stared at the bowing goddess, unable to believe their eyes.
"Well…" Hestia finally managed after a long silence, "...add this to the craziness of the day."
Freya looked up to meet Hestia's eyes, her own amethyst ones brimming with apologetic tears.
The goddess of the hearth sighed and placed her hands on her hips.
"This really isn't something I ever expected to see and, truthfully, it freaks me out a bit. Perhaps more importantly, it doesn't exactly fix all that's happened. Not even a little bit."
Freya's tears slipped down her cheeks and her head fell again.
"However."
The goddess of beauty's head shot up, hope twinkling behind her tears.
"It is a start," Hestia continued, "you showed some growth after the tournament with your first apology and the letters." Many wondered what letters she was referring to, but kept silent. "But it looks like you've well and truly learned what your actions mean and all the trouble they have caused, which, strange as it is for me to admit, I'm glad for," she explained, a small smile growing upon her lips.
The hope in Freya's eyes began to shine brighter and she stood up, smiling back at her fellow goddess.
"However!" Hestia quickly repeated, "there's still a lot you need to do if you want to even think about getting on my good side, the first and foremost being a lot of apologies, starting, first and foremost, with my three children."
Freya, smiling tearfully, nodded without hesitation.
"I understand," she said before turning her eyes to Haruhime who, though surprised by all that was transpiring, now met the goddess's eyes without fear.
Freya bowed to the renard just as she had to Hestia.
"I give you my sincerest apologies for all I have done to you Haruhime. My greed and possessiveness was unacceptable and I will do all I can to make up for my past transgressions."
All eyes in the room now turned to the golden fox princess who, not long after, smiled warmly at the goddess.
"Apology accepted, Freya-sama," she said, before approaching the goddess who stood up to meet her. Haruhime then took her hands and squeezed them reassuringly, "I look forward to our future meetings."
Happy and relieved tears flowed down Freya's cheek as she laughed, before lifting up Haruhime's hands and kissing them.
"So do I."
Smiles began to pop up amongst the other occupants of the room. True, most were still unsure, if not outright suspicious of Freya and her change of heart, but even those who still distrusted admitted to themselves that something had changed within the goddess. They only hoped that, whatever that change was, would be towards all their benefit.
Once Freya and Haruhime broke apart, the goddess turned to Achilles's sleeping form.
"I'll be sure to apologize to Achilles the moment he's awake," she vowed, getting some nods.
"Which leaves my trouble-finding captain," Hestia stated as chuckles were shared. She turned towards her captain, only to find his previous place now empty. "Bell?"
Noting her questioning tone, they all turned and found, to their shared confusion, that their favorite rabbit-like captain was nowhere to be found.
"Bell?" Aiz called as she looked around the room.
"He's not in here," Welf noted.
"Is he out in the hall?" Mania questioned.
Aiz, Tiona, and Ouka checked outside but found nothing but an empty hall and a few Ganesha familia members.
"Nope! Argonaut-kun isn't here either!" Tiona called.
Confused and worried eyes began to meet each other in the room.
"Where did he go?" Hestia asked.
Bell strode through the dark streets until he reached his destination, the Guild.
He made his way inside without fanfare, ignoring the huge crowd that had gathered there in response to all the day's events.
"The Red Dawn," someone called.
Quickly, attention shifted towards the young captain as he strode towards the doors that led to the backrooms of the Guild.
Bell? Eina thought as she watched her beloved adventurer.
"Red Dawn! What's going on?! You must know! You're familia is always involved!" someone bellowed.
Bell ignored them.
"Hey! We're talking to you, monster!" another person roared.
Eina's horrified eyes turned to the person and her fists clenched in rage.
I thought things had calmed down since the tournament, she thought, before admitting, no, I hoped.
Yet, Bell continued marching towards the doors, making no response to the increasing number of calls and demands from those around him.
Finally, he reached the doors and pushed them open.
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Finally, Bell turned as Royman rushed to him.
"I need to speak with Ouranos," Bell responded simply before turning back around, preparing to continue his journey.
"And you think that gives you the right to just stride right in?!" the elf questioned, his voice echoing through the now silent hall.
Bell turned again and looked down on the glaring elf. He then turned to the others in the Guild, taking in their stares and glares before turning back to Royman.
"I fought the Knight of Knights today and lived to tell the tale."
Dozens of jaws dropped, including Eina and Misha's who had heard rumors of Bell's fight, but had not had it confirmed yet.
"Not only that," Bell continued gesturing towards himself, "but I'm also standing here, completely fine. Given that," he turned back to the people in the Guild, "is there anyone here who wants to try and stop me?"
Everyone was stunned silent. Someone looked to the others in hopes of figuring out how to respond, while others wanted to call Bell a liar, but didn't dare as they weren't willing to risk being wrong. Still others, after a moment, held up their hands to indicate "Nope. I'm definitely not going to try". Seeing all these responses, Bell nodded.
"Good."
With that, he turned and continued down the hall, leaving Royman and all the others behind.
Finally, after a few more seconds in silence, everyone began to talk about what they had just heard and seen, some even rushing out of the Guild to go tell everyone else.
"Wow." Eina turned to Misha. "I knew that Bell Cranel was more than a cute face, but I think I finally understand why you have it so bad for him, Eina."
The half-elf's eyes widened, before narrowing into a glare as silently demanded that her best friend not become another rival.
Ouranos strode down the halls until he found the chamber that held the god of the city then, after a brief pause, he entered.
He found Ouranos in the same place he always was, sitting high above all those who entered the chamber.
"Bell Cranel," Ouranos's firm, unshaking voice boomed.
"Ouranos," Bell returned calmly.
The god stared down at the mortal for a few, eerily quiet moments, before speaking again.
"This is about Galadriel and the other Hera and Zeus members."
"It is," Bell confirmed.
Again, silence, as Ouranos stared down at Bell, wondering what was going on inside his head.
"I am sorry Bell, but I cannot show any leniency in this matter. I have taken a light hand with you and those around you as payment for your aiding of the Xenos and other noble actions, but this time I cannot. Galadriel and the others will be punished."
Ouranos expected an outburst of some sort. Pleading or an offer to take some of the punishment onto his shoulders. That would align with Bell's character and what Ouranos had dealt with in the past, however, that was not what happened. Instead, it was now he who waited in silence as Bell stared up at him.
What are you thinking, Bell Cranel?
Finally, Bell spoke.
"And what is to be your punishment, Ouranos?"
There were very few occasions anyone would ever see Ouranos surprised. Achilles's reveal of the Black Dragon being a Xenos being the first time in over a century he had shown the feeling. However, Bell added surprising the Guild god to his list of accomplishments as his question and the icy cold firmness in which he stated it was enough to truly stun the god.
"Pardon?" Ouranos eventually managed.
"What is to be your punishment for considering assassinating the remaining members of the Zeus and Hera familia following their defeat at the hands of the One Eyed Black Dragon?" Bell asked, his voice now burning with a smoldering anger as his eyes went from icy to boiling.
Ouranos took a deep breath.
"Galadriel told you."
"She did," the Red Dawn confirmed.
Ouranos nodded as he closed his eyes. A few more seconds in silence passed before he opened then again.
"I have a responsibility to Orario, Bell Cranel, and to the world at large. I pray every moment of every day to quell the Dungeon's power, but I also must act to ensure other dangers do not threaten the world. The Zeus and Hera familia posed such a danger as Alfia and Zald proved."
"You planned to kill the Zeus and Hera familia long before Aunt Alfia and Uncle Zald attacked Orario!"
Ouranos leaned back at the young man's roar and had he been given more time, he would have questioned the familial terms Bell used, but Bell wasn't about to give him time.
"You considered killing people who had spent their lives helping the world! Fighting to make it a better place, and you did it because they failed to kill something that no else would even consider trying to fight! You didn't just kick them while they were down, you ripped out their hearts!"
Tears streamed down Bell's face as he said this and Ouranos paused as a guilty tug pulled at his heart.
"It…had to be considered," the god managed after another deep breath, "those two familias were too powerful to simply let the survivors leave, at least not without considering all options."
"And have you considered all options with me?!"
Off, hidden in the shadows, Fels watched the exchange with a terrified gaze.
Is he asking if we…?
Ouranos too, understood what Bell was asking, but finding himself once again stunned, he wanted to make sure.
"Are you asking me if I have ever considered ordering your death?"
"Yes, that's precisely what I'm asking," Bell shot back, "I mean, if you were willing to consider it for Galadriel and the others, why wouldn't you consider it for me?"
"I do not consider you a threat to Orario or the world, Bell Cranel," the god said quickly, a tiny, hidden bit of desperation in his voice.
"Why not? I'm far worse than them!" Bell cried, "I'm a level six, soon-to-be level seven. I've risen through the ranks at a crazy speed. And," he paused and turned away, his fists clenching as he growl rumbled through his throat. He turned back, his now dragonic eyes holding Ouranos's gaze hostage. "I have a terrible power that turns me into a true monster. Why wouldn't you order my death?"
This time, the silence was long. Long and painful and filled with all the terrible emotions one can feel. Wrath. Fear. Shame. All of them mixed in a poison that choked all in the room, even the lungless Fels.
"I made a mistake."
Fels turned to the god seated on high, finding his head bowed and his body slumped.
"I should never have considered it," Ouranos continued.
Bell, who had been crying angry, bitter tears, gained control of them and wiped his eyes.
"No…no you shouldn't have."
Fels moved their eyes back and forth between the two, wondering what was going to happen.
"What would you have of me, Bell Cranel? Something must be done with Galadriel and the others," Ouranos stated.
"I will handle them, you can be sure of that," the Hestia captain avowed, "they attacked my father and tried to kill Ryuu. They have a lot to answer for, no matter the reasons. As for an explanation to give to everyone else, the truth will do."
"What is the truth here, Bell Cranel?"
"Galadriel and the others learned what happened to Alfia and Zald and didn't know how to handle their grief. My father restrained them at great cost to himself. I and my familia will handle their punishment, which I can promise will not be lenient."
Again, the god nodded.
"There will be complaints, but as long as I can assure the city that this will not happen again and that the instigators will face real repercussions for their actions, then that will do."
"Good. Then I'll head back to the hospital," Bell said, turning to leave.
He was about halfway gone, when he stopped and turned back to Ouranos.
"We can't let our fear rule us, Ouranos-sama," he said, "the world is a scary place, that's true, but if we let fear take hold of us, it will lead us to places we don't want to go. I've learned that all too well recently," he said, his eyes filling with pain and guilty before refocusing on the god, "I've been afraid for my family so much lately that I've turned to that terrible power over and over again. That power which, ironically, I was so afraid of that I didn't begin to learn how to control it until very recently. You, in turn, considered doing something horrible because you feared what Galadriel and the others would do. I won't say you were completely unjustified, given Aunt Alfia and Uncle Zald, but I will say that their actions do not make you right."
"No, no it doesn't, and I am glad now that Galadriel slapped some sense into me."
Bell smiled for the first time since entering the chamber.
"Sometimes we need a little help to remind us of what's right and wrong."
The young man bowed and departed, his feet carrying him with all haste back to the hospital where the next confrontation awaited him.
Bell made his way inside the hospital and up to where they were treating his father, but before he could reach the room, he was nearly tackled to the ground by a familiar golden-haired young woman.
"Oof. Aiz," he smiled, wrapping his arms around her.
"Where were you?" she asked, her voice muffled in his clothes.
"I was talking to Ouranos," he answered.
She looked up and tilted her head.
"Ouranos?"
"Yeah. But let's get back to the room so I can stop worrying everyone."
She nodded and the two made their way back.
Luckily, everyone was already there, having returned after their failed search to locate the young captain anywhere in the hospital. Naturally, the moment they entered, they all cried his name and rushed to his side.
"Hi everyone. Sorry for worrying you," he apologized.
"Worry?! I thought I was going to have a heart-attack! We had no idea where you were!" Hestia cried.
"Where were you?!" Lili demanded, the others quickly demanding the same.
"I went to go talk to Ouranos."
That silenced them as the obvious question appeared in all their minds.
"Why would you do that, bunny boy?" Loki questioned, opening one of her eyes in interest.
"Because I needed to talk to him about something he considered doing to the Zeus and Hera familias," Bell replied seriously, quickly earning knowing looks from his familia and everyone else that Galadriel had told, and earning looks of confusion from the others. "Also," he continued, "to ensure he didn't banish Galadriel and the others and that punishment would be put in my hands."
No one particularly liked the way he said that and worry once again began to worm its way into their hearts.
"And." Bell turned to his goddess. "Did you succeed?" she asked.
He gave her a small, reassuring smile and nod.
"I did."
The smile and nod helped ease them all a bit, but it did not dissipate the anxiety hanging above their heads, nor did it answer the next question.
"What do you plan to do, Bell?" Ryuu asked.
"There's something I need to do before I can answer that," he replied to the elf before turning back to Hestia, "have Galadriel and the others woken up?"
She nodded, fully knowing what her captain meant to do, and led him and the others out of the room.
They did not have to travel far and soon a room surrounded by Ganesha, Loki, and Freya familia came into view.
Seeing the approaching group, the adventurers stepped aside and allowed them in.
Bell entered, finding even more adventurers inside, including Allen, Bete, and Tione, all of whom were eying the now conscious Hera and Zeus members.
"Well," Ajax called weakly, "looks like our time's up."
None of his comrades responded to the pathetic attempt at humor and he sighed.
"If you think you're getting off with just an execution, you big oaf, you have another thing coming," Polyxo stated, her burning eyes boring down on her husband.
"No, I didn't figure I would. I know you too well for that," he replied, his apologetic, yet loving eyes staring up at his wife's fiery orbs.
"Your punishment and your fates are in Bell's hands," Freya revealed, her voice cold as ice.
"Are they now?" Dido asked, her eyes turning to the young captain. "Should we bow our heads for the ax now, or do you prefer the noose?"
"You're not being executed, Dido Barca," Bell replied stoically, "nor are you being banished."
That surprised the veteran adventurers, but it did not answer the question of their fate.
"Then what will you do with us, Bell?" Galadriel asked, turning his attention to her.
For a few, long moments, he did not respond, only stared into her eyes, as if trying to find something. Whether or not he did, only he knew as he finally spoke.
"I can't pass judgment until I know why you did it. Why you all got involved," he said, his eyes moving over the five adventurers, "I already know why you did what you did, Galadriel, at least for the most part," he continued, looking back at her, "but the rest of you, I truly don't understand. So you're all going to tell me. I'll start with you, Dido Barca. Why did you join the fight against my father? Was your hatred of me really that great?"
Those that didn't know of the adventurer's scorn for Bell were all terribly confused and alarmed and either turned to each other for answers, or glared at the wounded Hera captain.
"Believe it or not, my involvement had nothing to do with you," Dido answered.
"Then why get involved?"
"Let me answer that with a question of my own. How much are we supposed to accept?"
Bell understood what she meant, but did not answer.
"How much are we supposed to just take? How much punishment? How many insults? We were the greatest familias in history, but that didn't stop us from being banished by those two!" she pointed at Loki and Freya, "forced from our home after the decimation of our familias! Forced to wander and try to find a place in a world that thought of us as failures or worse, perfect beings who could take everything on the chin without complaint. But that's not the reality of things!" she now gestured to her companions, "we're people too! We hurt! We suffer! Yet everyone just keeps hitting us. Then we find out that we had more family out there. Had a sister and a brother who could have helped us put things back together, only for them to be ripped from us again! Worse!" she rose from her bed, making the adventurers around her grab their weapons, not that she was paying them any mind, "your putrid…traitor father protects that girl!" she pointed at Ryuu, "even after finding out the truth! Even learning what actually happened with Alfia and Zald! So, you want a reason, Bell Cranel, captain of the Hestia familia, White Dragon." A few of those behind Bell gasped at the name. "It's because your father turned against us, just. Like. Everyone. Else!"
The room went quiet, all eyes either staring at the heavily breathing Hera captain, or the eerily calm Bell.
"I see," he said, his eyes turning, "Imilce. Is that why you joined as well?"
"I-I…" naturally the shyest member of the Hera familia had difficulty after the display of fury from her captain and finding herself the center of attention, but after a deep breath, she nodded, "mostly…yes. However, it's not just that." Bell waited for her to continue and, after another deep breath, she focused her eyes solely on him, "I am the youngest member of the Hera familia. All the others were like big sisters to me, especially…" she swallowed a lump in her throat, "Briseis. She was the most important person in the world to me. I loved her…I-I still do. When you all were explaining to us what happened with Alfia and Zald and then when Galadriel told us about Ouranos's orders," tears filled her eyes, but she shook her head so she could continue meeting Bell's gaze, "I just kept imagining all of them. The Loki familia, the Freya familia, everyone! Attacking Briseis. Attacking her again and again, and it was like my heart was being ripped out!" she grabbed her chest as if afraid the organ was about to be stolen, "it hurt like nothing in my life ever has, except for learning of everyone's death 16 years ago," she turned her eyes back to Bell. "I love Achilles. He's my brother. My protector. The person who would tickle my sides just to make me laugh when I was having a bad day. I would die for him, if need be," she paused as a fire began to burn in her eyes, "but that's why I had to fight him. The Achilles who protected me, who loved me and my family above all else could not be the same person protecting one of those who destroyed part of that family," she turned to Ryuu, "he could not be the same person who was silently excusing everything that had happened and was letting those who had hurt us so terribly get away with it. I didn't know who he was, but he was not my beloved big brother. My big brother would not protect those who would attack my big sister," she finished.
Bell, again, made no indication that he was affected by her words, he only turned to Ajax.
"Ajax."
Ajax sighed.
"Those two have hit the nail on the head really. All the shit that's been flung at us has really pissed me off, and I was mad that Achilles wasn't doing anything to stop it. However, there are two other reasons I joined in. The first is that I was close to Zald. Hearing that the fucking pig over there killed him pissed me off to no fucking end!" he bellowed, glaring at Ottar who simply raised his chin, "but more importantly," Ajax turned to Bell, "there was a question in my head. A question that scared the life right out of me. What if the order had gone through and they found my family?" he stated, "what if Ouranos had agreed to have us all assassinated and some bastards found out where I was? I'm lucky compared to the others because I found a new place in the world," he turned to his wife, whose rage had fallen silent after hearing his question, "I found a woman to love and she gave me children who mean the world to me," he turned to his sons and daughters who smiled at him, despite the situation, "but that means I had even more to lose. So, Bell, you tell me; if that order had gone through, what would those grubby bastards have done to my family to get to me?" he growled, "that's why I did it. Because the idea that those I love could be targeted because of some prick in a chair filled me with such fury that I wanted to tear the whole thing down, and if Achilles was going to get in the way of that, well, I'm sorry kiddo, but he was going to have to deal with me."
Out of all the reasons presented thus far, this was most widely understood, even if everyone still thought the anger was misplaced or that Ajax was in the wrong.
"You didn't have to pick a fight with your friend to protect us, you big duffus," Polyxo said, even as she looked lovingly at her husband.
"Maybe not, but I'm sorry beautiful, if I think someone's going to hurt you or our children, I'm going to do everything I can to hurt them first."
She sighed and shook her head, though her eyes still held just as much love as before.
"Very well," Bell continued, once more turning all eyes to him as he turned his eyes to Patroclus.
"You are the one I understand least, Patroclus. You have said, on multiple occasions, that you love my father, and not in the same way as the others," Bell waved his arms at the bedridden adventurers, "out of everyone here, I figured you would be the one to stand by him."
Patroclus nodded solemnly.
"You're right. I love him. I'm in love with him," he conceded, "that's why…out of everyone here, my reason is the worst, pettiest, and absolutely the most pathetic."
Bell waited for him to continue, and after another few moments, he did, though his eyes did not dare raise from his bedsheets.
"Of course I'm angry like everyone else is for what was done to us, what others wanted to do to us when we were at our weakest, but that wouldn't be enough for me to turn on Achilles. If anything, it would make me latch onto him all the more in a desperate need to feel safe again. He always made me feel safe no matter the situation," he paused as a small, adoring smile grew, but it lasted but a moment before his expression fell again, "so…in order to do that to him, in order to fight him, I would have to be angry with him…no, furious with him.
"And what made you furious with him?" Bell pressed, his voice still painfully calm.
Patroclus's furious eyes turned, landing on a certain High Elf.
"You do not deserve him," he growled.
Riveria stared down the swordsman burning eyes, lifting her chin in defiance, silently saying that she fully believed she did, making Patroclus growl again before turning back to Bell.
"Seeing Achilles defend Ryuu against Galadriel broke my heart because I knew what it meant. It meant he was choosing all of you over us," he gestured at the others.
"It does not you stupid brat!" Mania cried.
"Mania."
The goddess stiffened, then turned to Bell who meant her eyes.
"Please. Let him continue."
After a moment to get over her shock, she nodded and they both turned back to Patroclus.
"Yes it does Mania-sama," Patroclus stated darkly, "that's precisely what it meant. The Achilles I knew would never have forgiven those who killed or had caused the death of his family, no matter the reason," his eyes turned back to Ryuu, "yet she's still alive," he turned to Ottar, "the boar is still alive," he hateful eyes, now an inferno of jealous wrath fell upon Riveria again and as strong as she was, even she could not deny she was intimidated by the power of his contempt, "and he's now your lover!"
Patroclus had almost thrown himself out of the bed with that roar and several adventurers pointed their weapons at him, prepared to intervene if he tried anything. However, he had no such intention, and even if he did, Achilles had beaten him far too thoroughly to manage such a feat.
"You! One of the people responsible for our banishment! He chose you! After everything you've done! After he finally let go of his obsession with that bitch!" he pointed at Freya.
The Freya familia was not going to take that lightly and prepared to cut out his tongue, only for both Bell and Freya herself to hold up their hands, instantly stopping them and allowing Patroclus to continue.
The young swordsman was now breathing heavily as his contemptuous eyes moved over those in the room, silently accusing all those who had taken a part, willingly or otherwise, in the destruction of his family.
Finally, he turned back to Bell.
"So, that's why I joined them. Because of everything done to us. Because I was jealous. Because it's not fair that after all these years together he chose you all over us. Because it's not fair," he stopped as his eyes filled with tears, "after all these years of pining for him, after wanting him for so long, that he chose her over me!"
With that, his head fell and he went silent.
The room was silent, with only the slow movements of the adventurers around Patroclus slowly pulling back echoing through the air.
"I see," Bell finally said.
Another moment of silence before the dark elf who had started it all raised her voice.
"So what happens now, Bell? Freya said that our punishment was in your hands, but that doesn't exactly tell us our fates."
The others in the room had forgotten that detail during all the confessions and now turned to Bell.
"Your fates are in my hands," he readily revealed, "I went to Ouranos myself to ensure that you weren't executed or banished."
"Did you now?" Galadriel asked while the others looked at him with great surprise, having figured that nothing would stop their banishment and that, if anyone would want them gone, it would be Bell.
Bell gave her a single nod.
"Well then. Thank-"
"DON'T YOU DARE!" Bell roared.
The whole room was thrown backwards and a few people even fell down at the force of Bell's cry.
Galadriel, for her part, looked at the young man with wide, scared eyes, her voice and strength having been ripped from her the moment he cut her off. However, it would only get worse for them all as Bell continued his tirade.
"Don't you dare thank me for this!" he pressed on and, to the horror of all in the room, white scales began to grow on his skin, his nails turned into talons, and, most terrible of all, two nightmare-inducing horns began to grow from his crown. "You don't get to be grateful! You don't get to be nice after everything you've done! You all attacked him! Your friend. My father!" his slitted eyes scanned over them, his fury building more and more with each one of their faces until smoke billowed from his mouth, further sending them all into the pit of fear. "You attacked him so that you could kill Ryuu!" He pointed at the elf, "you did more damage to him than Allen did and I was prepared to destroy the Freya familia for that!"
Freya shrunk at his words, her recent revelations and the guilt of her sins weighing her down like a mountain. However, she was pulled from her despair when she felt something take her hand. She turned and found Ottar beside her. He turned his head just enough to meet her eyes before silently telling her, It's not over, my lady. Remember your vow.
With his silent words now heard, she managed to pull herself out of the pit and smile.
Thank you, she replied, making him smile.
They both turned back to Bell, who had gone silent as his dragonic body hutched over and he clenched his fists as he tried to gain control of the destructive emotions whirling in his heart and mind.
"You all are my family and I love you," Bell continued, his voice low and menacing, but also so terribly pained and miserable that it brought tears to many around him, "but I now understand that it's possible to both love and hate someone at the same time," his blood-red eyes fell upon the Hera and Zeus familia again, his gaze like an executor's ax waiting to fall, "so let me make one thing clear," Bell's horns further grew from his crown, jutting backwards from his temple like spears ready to gore them, "if you ever try this again...if you ever hurt my father again or so much as misplace a hair on Ryuu's head again...nothing... absolutely nothing…in the world will save you from me. Family or not. Am I understood?" The White Dragon asked.
There was nothing any of them could do but nod.
Bell closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly his dragonic features retreated and, after a silent, tense moment, they disappeared, allowing him to open his eyes again.
"Good," he said. He took another breath and continued, "I don't know how precisely to punish you right now, but I will, you can be sure of that," he stated, "for now, we'll start with paying off Hestia's debt, which, last time I checked, still sits at well over 100 million valis."
The Hera and Zeus members simply nodded again.
"I'll continue thinking about what else I will have you do to pay for what you did, but whatever I do decide you all will accept immediately, am I understood?"
"Perfectly," Galadriel answered for them, having finally regained use of her voice.
"Good," Bell repeated.
Bell's orders given, the room went quiet again. However, it did not last long.
Suddenly, Mania stepped forward and clapped her hands. A dark purple energy surrounded the five veteran adventurers before quickly disappearing.
"What did you just do, Mania?" Hestia asked.
"I added my own punishment to the mix," the goddess of curses stated coldly, her frigid eyes staring down her son's comrades-turned-assailants, "starting with a little insurance policy."
None of the Hera or Zeus familia like the sound of that.
"If any of you dare to raise a hand against my son again," Mania continued, as she flexed her claws, "your heart will automatically stop."
The five tensed, but did not dare complain.
"Oh? You're all willing to accept that without a word? It seems I haven't gone far enough," Mania continued before clapping again, covering them in purple magic once more, "now you will never taste anything again. Every meal will be the same to you. Empty and soulless, and yes Ajax, that will include beer too."
"I suppose we deserved that," he replied.
"That and far, far more. Speaking of which," for a third and final time, Mania clapped, though this time she smiled evilly at them.
"What…what did that one do?" Patroclus asked warily.
"Oh, nothing too bad," she replied with sickening sweetness, "I just made it so that everyday, for the rest of your lives and no matter what you do, you'll stub your little toe…hard on something."
The room fell silent again as a few people shivered.
"I swear I will never make you angry, Mania-baa-chan," Bell vowed.
She beamed, before pulling him into her arms and snuggling into his side.
"Smart boy."
"So, have you learned what happened?"
"I have, Dionysus-sama," Filvis answered, "Galadriel and the other Hera and Zeus members learned about what transpired with Alfia and Zald. Learning of this, they attempted to assassinate Ryuu Lion, but Achilles Caesar intervened. In their grief and rage, they attacked Achilles Caesar instead, leading to the fight before Babel."
"I'm not sure 'fight' adequately sums up what happened there," the god said with a smile, "it was more like a six person war."
"Indeed," she agreed.
"And what state is Achilles in now? He appeared quite badly injured by the end."
"He has been healed and will survive, however, he will be out of action for some time. Potentially even days."
"Hm, how interesting," Dionysus said, his smile growing.
He paced the room for a moment, his captain watching his every move in silence.
"Achilles Caesar out of commission. The Hera and Zeus familia in the hospital under guard. The Ganesha and Freya familias busy holding the Knight of Knights, and Loki ensuring her big sister doesn't cause too much trouble, a city practically bursting with fear, and a rumor spreading through in the dark about a monster that killed a god," he listed off.
He suddenly chuckled darkly.
"It's almost too perfect," he turned to Filvis, "it's like the entire city is begging for something to happen. Like it wants me to do something."
"And what will you do, Dionysus-sama?"
"Well, I think it's about time we try out our new pets. A few adventurers in the Dungeon make for poor test subjects, but an entire city of them?" his smile turned cruel, "that would be a proper experiment."
Filvis nodded before remembering something.
"And what of Bell Cranel? His strength rivals even the strongest adventurers, his most recent fight with Lancelot Chevalier being simply more proof."
"Ah yes, the Red Dawn," the god remembered, though he did not seem displeased with the reminder, "he is a curious case, isn't he? Such a rapid rise. Such interesting actions. Such a terrible power," his smile grew again, "all hidden behind such a cute, boyish face," he fell silent for a moment before his smile once more grew, its size and malevolence practically splitting his cheeks, "Revis had an…interest in him…did she not?"
"She did, though I still find that such a foreign idea," his captain replied, looking weirded out.
"Indeed, it was surprising to hear her state her desire to have him. Even so, I see no reason not to reward her for her good service."
"You mean…?"
"Tell Revis that she's free to take her prize while the rest of the city is distracted, however, she is to bring him to me."
"Why?"
"Oh come now, Filvis, surely you can see how an adventurer with a power called 'Wrath of the Dragon' is the ideal candidate for our little 'program'."
After a moment to contemplate, she nodded.
"Indeed. If there's anyone it would take to, it would be him."
"Precisely. Besides, I'm also curious to see what kind of monster would be born from a union between Revis and her White Dragon," Enyo added with another dark chuckle.
Another bites the dust. And another one gone and another gone, another one bites the dust!
Anywho, that's it for this chapter guys. Sorry this one took so long to get out despite its size, I was having trouble finding the right words for a few scenes. There's a bit of advice/info for all you new writers out there, even if you have the motivation, sometimes you still just can't find the words. My advice, go for a walk; they get the blood flowing and some of my best ideas and worst problems have been worked out on walks.
Now, all that said, please tell me what you thought. Did you understand everyone's reason for fighting Achilles? Did you think they were stupid? Did you like Bell confronting Ouranos or think that it was a Gary Stu moment? And what do you all think about the Evilus being on the move again and their plan for our protagonist? Please share your thoughts and criticisms with me, I do very much read that and they help improve the story.
With that, I bid you all a fine farewell and I'll see you all, next time.