Hello everyone and welcome back!
Oh boy, do I have a doozy for you all today! A surprise awaits you guys in this chapter, something to really start the new year with a bang! Or…you know, crippling anxiety. I guess it depends on the person. But enough of my evil teasing, let's jump back into the story and see what's going to happen!
I do not own Danmachi
Everyone made their way into Hearthfire Manor, ready to finally get some rest after the near endless stream of conflicts they had been facing.
"Well…" Hestia tried, though she wasn't actually sure what to say.
"Yeah," Aisha agreed.
"Things have been quite hectic," Mikoto added.
"I suppose we should be used to it now," Ryuu stated.
"No one in the world could get used to the constant craziness we deal with!" Lili bellowed.
That actually caused a few people to chuckle, which only served to make Lili pout, at least until Bell began to affectionately stroke her hair.
"Hopefully now we'll finally be able to rest," he said, giving her a warm smile.
Try as she might, the prum couldn't keep up her pout with him patting her head and looking at her so warmly.
"Hopefully," she repeated, staring up at the object of her affections with adoration.
"It would be easier to get some rest if you weren't constantly finding trouble, Bell," Riveria joked, quickly making him blush.
"It's not intentional…well…at least the fight with Lancelot wasn't intentional."
That allowed for a few more laughs and the exhaustion in the air dissipated some, though everyone was still quite ready for bed.
"Well, whatever the case, let's not jinx ourselves by wishing for a rest out loud," Finn joined in.
"Quite right. Nothing will jinx you faster than revealing your wish," Mania added.
"If anyone knows jinxes, it's Mania-sama," Rei stated, getting nods from the rest of the Mania familia.
"Then let's all just head to bed and get some well-deserved sleep. You all are, of course, welcome to stay, I wouldn't want you all to have to head home in the dark and when you're just as tired as we are," Hestia said.
"Much appreciated, Hestia," Miach replied alongside the others.
Everyone began to split up, however, as they did, Mania noticed that one of her children looked to be deep in thought.
"What's wrong, Frandine?" she asked the black cat girl.
The chienthrope jumped as she turned to her goddess.
"M-Mania-sama! Um…noth-"
"Don't even try to say nothing, I know you all too well to be deceived by such an obvious lie."
Frandine was quiet for a moment, before sighing.
"It's…well…I was hoping to say something to Galadriel and the others as well," she revealed.
That surprised the goddess for a moment, but only a moment as she soon realized that she shouldn't be surprised at all.
"Because you admire them so much," she said with a sad, understanding smile.
Frandine nodded.
"They're all my idols. The stories of their adventures and heroics got me through my darkest days as a…as a slave," she swallowed. Mania quickly pulled her into a hug and began to stroke her head. "I've looked up to them for years," Frandine continued after letting Mania's soothing touch calm her down, "I wanted to be like them. To join the Hera familia and help make a new age of heroes. To stand next to them and to honor all those who had fallen. When I met Achilles I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest! One of my greatest heroes was right in front of me. The Olympian. The man who stood against the Black Dragon and lived. And the person who knew Briseis better than anyone! I wanted to ask him so many questions but…I was too shy…and things kept happening, so I never did."
"Oh, sweet girl, there's still time. In a day or two he'll be back on his feet and I'm sure he'll be happy to tell you all about Briseis."
"Do you really think so?" Frandine asked.
"I know so," the tiger goddess replied.
Frandine smiled, but only for a moment and her frown quickly returned.
"Achilles lived up to my expectations, actually, he was more than I imagined. Strong. Determined. Kind. Yet modest. I'm glad I could meet him, and I was so glad to meet the others too. Ajax, Imilce, Galadriel, all of them, but now…"
"Now you feel disappointed."
"More than that!" the young adventurer cried, "I'm angry! They attacked him, Mania-sama! They attacked Achilles! My hero! Your son! Briseis's best friend! They betrayed all three of us and Briseis isn't even here chastise them!"
Frandine threw her head into Mania's bosom and began to cry.
"It's not fair!" her muffled voice called, "they're supposed to be the best of us, but they did something so horrible!"
The black cat girl fell silent, except for her muffled tears of disappointment while Mania looked down at her and stroked her hair.
"You're right, it's not fair. Not at all. That's why," she gently pulled back, making her child look up at her, "I want you to tell them everything you just told me tomorrow. I want you to really give it to them. Tell them how they betrayed your belief in them. The trust of those closest to them, and spat on the memory of those no longer here to chastise them. Give them everything you have. Do you think you can do that for me, Frandine?"
Her child, with blood-shot eyes and a smile, nodded.
"Yes, Mama."
Mania smiled and kissed her forehead before pulling her into another hug.
"That's my girl."
Bell and Ais made their way up to his room and entered quietly. Once inside they began to undress and get ready for bed. Once that was done though, Ais went up to her lover and pulled him into a hug.
"You scared me today," she said.
"I'm sorry," he replied quietly.
She looked up into his eyes.
"I'm afraid that one day, you'll go off somewhere and I'll never see you again."
His heart stopped at the confession and he felt her tighten her grip on him, as if she worried he would disappear from her very grasp.
"Ais, that won't happen."
"But it could," she shot right back.
"Ais," he cupped her face, "I won't leave you. Not now, not ever. I promise."
Their eyes held for what could have been a millennia, one side trying to find any sign of doubt, the other projecting every ounce of reassurance he could. Finally, the reassuring rubies triumphed and the fearful and uncertain golden orbs calmed.
"Okay," Ais said quietly.
Bell smiled then kissed her.
"Let's get some rest," he whispered.
She nodded and the two climbed into bed, cuddling under the covers and soon falling into blissful sleep. Neither of them knew that tomorrow, such a scene would be impossible.
Outside the Hearthfire Manor, staring through Bell's window, stood a redheaded figure with cold, monstrous eyes.
Soon he will be mine, Ais Waldstein.
Revis stared down at the sleeping couple for a moment longer before turning and leaping into the air towards the Dungeon.
The next morning everyone made their way out of the manor and into the bright morning, their destination, the hospital to check on Achilles.
It began as any journey did, quiet and peaceful, with some small talk mixed in with the sounds of the morning. However, this did not last long as Orario, having once again become the victim of extraordinary events, was abuzz with the worried whispers and ever louder shouts of anger with that anger soon being directed towards one target. A certain white-haired young man now at the head of the Hestia & co. entourage.
Everyone took note of it immediately. The hostility and the fear. Those that knew of past events inched towards Bell, prepared to defend him should anyone be foolish enough to take action, while those that did not know grew ever more anxious and confused.
It was only a matter of time before a fool appeared with all the dark feelings in the air.
"Red Dawn!"
All turned to the voice, except for Bell who kept walking forward with Ais at his side.
The man, seeing that he was being ignored by the one person whose attention he wanted, growled and bellowed again.
"Hey! I'm talking to you, Red Dawn! I know you had something to do with what happened yesterday!"
Bell's friends and family glared at the man, furious that he dared to blame Bell for what transpired.
Yet still, Bell ignored him and continued walking, surprising many both within and without the entourage and earning him a confused look from Ais.
"Don't think you can just walk away from this!" the man roared as he moved towards Bell.
Many in the entourage grabbed their weapons, which gave the man pause.
"We all know this has something to do with him! All this shit does!" the man continued angrily, even as his nervous eyes turned towards the adventurers and their weapons, "ever since he came here it's been one thing after another! The Silverback. Those plant creatures. The Pleasure District. The monsters in the city. The explosion above the city. The tournament and his crazy transformation!"
The people around him began to nod, their fear and anger at all the recent events taking away their reason and compassion.
"Then he heads to Athens, bringing his trouble with him!" the man turned to the crowd, "they say that some crazy, monster adventurer attacked the city, tearing the Athena familia to pieces!" this was news to many and the fear grew at the reveal of the information, "but that's not all! Something else happened there too, isn't that right, Red Dawn?! Some other insanity!"
Bell continued walking, though Ais could feel him squeezing her hand more tightly.
"You can't run from this Red Dawn. No matter where you go!" the man roared before once again turning to those around him, "something or someone killed Ares!"
Shit, Finn mentally growled.
Gasps and shocked looks filled the area as countless questions filled their racing minds.
"That's right…killed him! Not send him back to Heaven, but killed him! And guess who's the prime suspect?!"
Finally Bell stopped, his eyes filling with such horrible guilt that it was a wonder he didn't crumple in on himself.
"That's right, RED DAWN, it's y-!"
The man suddenly stopped as a terrible pain filled his stomach. He groaned and grabbed his gut, which began to grumble angrily before he suddenly, and quite literally, shit himself, right there in the middle of the street.
As everyone watched on in shock and confusion, Mania who was glaring at the man, spat.
Be silent you bastard.
She turned from the wretch and went over to her grandson.
"Come Bell," she said sweetly, giving him a lovely smile, "your father is waiting for us."
Surprised, it took Bell a moment to respond, but he soon smiled at her and nodded.
"Thank you, baa-chan."
"You're very welcome," she beamed.
The three, Mania, Bell, and Ais, restarted their journey towards the hospital, the rest of their entourage quickly following after, most giving the beshitted man a rude gesture as they passed or, in Tiona's case, laughing at him and telling him to go buy some diapers.
They arrived at the hospital and were immediately led up to Achilles's room.
"He's doing very well, though he has yet to awaken," the doctor informed them as they looked upon the sleeping Father On High.
"He's probably just catching up on some much needed rest," Riveria suggested with a smile.
"Which I cannot begrudge him at all, given all that's happened in the last couple of days," the doctor replied, "we'll keep an eye on him to be safe, of course, but I suspect by this time tomorrow he'll be up and about, good as new."
"Thank you, doctor," Bell said.
"My pleasure. Now, I must see to the other members of the Zeus and Hera familia who have not had the benefit of so many healers working to fix their wounds."
"Would you mind if we follow you doctor? We have a few more words we need to have with them," Mania said.
The doctor gave her a curious look, but seeing her determined eyes, he simply shrugged.
"As long as it does not hurt their recovery, then be my guest."
Everyone turned to Mania, who quickly gestured towards Frandine.
"Frandine has a few things she wishes to say to them, as someone who's looked up to them for years."
Everyone turned again, this time to the black cat girl who, though not a fan of being the center of attention, nodded.
"This ought to be good," Geneve said.
The entourage made their way into the room where the Hera and Zeus familia were being held."
"It appears you have more you wish to say," Galadriel recognized as they entered.
"Not us, just Frandine," Mania said as the chienthrope stepped forward.
The neko looked over the five great adventurers meeting all their anxious, worried, bitter, and interested gazes, before finally landing on Galadriel.
"I was born in a small village at the edge of what is now Rakia," she began, her eyes not moving from Galadriel, "we weren't rich, but we were happy, and I loved everyone there. Then Rakia came and took everything from me. My friends. My family. Even my freedom."
The coldness of her voice was unnerving, but no one dared interrupt.
"I was a slave for three years, from five to eight. I was beaten, spat on, starved, and nearly worked to death by the Rakians. So many days passed where I wanted to just die."
Hearts broke throughout the room and a few felt tears well-up in their eyes.
"But there was one thing that kept me going. One thing I held onto in the darkness. The stories about all of you."
Not a single one of the wounded adventurers failed to understand where this was going and their hearts began to thunder as shame crept its way into their hearts.
"The stories of you, your heroics, and all the good things you had done gave me hope. Hope that things would get better. That I would be rescued. And, guess what?" she smiled, "I was."
She turned to her goddess, who smiled brightly at her.
"It wasn't the Hera or Zeus familia that rescued me, but it was all of you that saved my spirit. That gave me the strength to live another day until the day came where Rei and the others saved me from the Rakians. Hearing what you all had done, about all the people you had saved, gave me the courage and will to stay alive. All of you are why I'm here right now."
They knew what was coming next.
"That's why it hurts so much that you all aren't the heroes I believe in."
A moment of silence fell over the room as her statement hung over them.
"You aren't the people who saved me. You aren't the heroes whose great deeds gave me hope at my darkest times. People like that don't hurt their friends, and they certainly don't do it because their friend was trying to protect someone."
The accusations kept rolling in, yet Frandine's voice remained steady, which in a way made it worse for the five adventurers.
"The heroes of my stories would have never done things like that. Achilles's comrades would have never done something like that. And Briseis's family would have never done something like that."
Imilce gasped at that, feeling as though a knife had entered her heart.
"My words may mean little to you, but I will tell you now that you disappointed me. You have disrespected my faith in you, and attacked my very concept of heroes. For that, I may never be able to forgive you. Not unless you change and become the people from my stories again."
The shame rolling off the five was suffocating, but no one left the room or said a word, for they wished to see what happened next.
Geneve stepped forward, placed a hand on the cat girl's shoulder, then gave her a smile before turning the wounded adventurers.
"Frandine's right, you five did more than just attack one of your friends or attempt to kill Ryuu," she said, turning to the elf before refocusing on the elder adventurers, "you spat on our picture of you. You disrespected our faith and all the hope you inspired within us."
"I told you yesterday, girl, we are only mortal. We can only accept so much punishment," Dido shot back.
"No you're not," Geneve immediately returned, "none of you are. Not to us," she gestured at the younger adventurers, "you are the inspiration that drives us. The goal that we wish to attain. You are the ideal. The heroes we pray for when darkness falls."
Ajax, Imilce, and Patroclus all bowed their heads, feeling evermore like failures as her words fell upon them.
"Yet here you are, chained up like criminals. This," she pointed down, "is where you failed. Not against the Dragon, but right here in Orario."
"How dare you speak to us about that! You do not know what it was like to lose your entire family to a monster then be punished for the loss!" Dido roared.
"Are they not your family?" Geneve asked, pointing at the others.
Dido looked at her comrades, who stared right back, before growling and averting your gaze.
"We've all lost something or someone," Geneve continued, "some more than others," she turned back to Frandine and rubbed her back, "but we all know pain and suffering, and even if our pain isn't as great as yours, even if we haven't suffered injustice as much as you, which is very debatable in a few cases, that doesn't make what you did right."
Ajax, Imilce, and Patroclus nodded, while Galadriel simply held the young woman's gaze.
"No it doesn't," Mikoto agreed, stepping forward, "you acted dishonorably. All of you. Worst yet, in your rage and anguish, you failed to take into account the feelings of others. People like Frandine-dono," she turned to the catgirl and smiled, "a young woman who looked up to you and who had her admiration viciously disregarded by all of you. And she is not alone," the beautiful easterling turned to her familia, "we all admired you. We looked up to you. Respected your accomplishments and even loved you as family, yet you did not care. You treated us as strangers and enemies instead of the friends and comrades we are."
Takemikazuchi smiled at his former child warmly.
You've grown so much, Mikoto.
"Yeah!" Tiona jumped in, "you guys are supposed to be the coolest people ever! Not a bunch of buttheads who attack their friends!"
Childish though the declaration may have sounded, it only further cemented the failure in their minds.
"We've all heard tales of your deeds," Rei continued to press, "Mania would spend almost every night telling us stories of everything you did. Sure, Achilles was the focus, as one would expect, but you all made appearances too. By the time we had met you all, it was like we already knew you in a way. At the very least, I don't think a single one of us thought of you as anything less than the greatest adventurers of an age, but that only makes all of this worse."
The Mania familia nodded.
"You're all imperfect, we understand that," Haruhime stepped forward, her gentle voice cooling the rising feelings in the room, "but you are all so much more than just people to us. You're our idols. Our friends. Our family. Our heroes. So please, please remember that from now on."
Imilce was crying now, feeling disgusted with herself while Patroclus did his best to blink away the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. Ajax didn't look ready to cry, but his head hung as only a warrior who is ashamed of themselves can. Dido stewed in her anger, but it was clear even she felt shame for her failings and was desperately trying to come up with some excuse to absolve herself.
Finally there was Galadriel, who simply moved her glassy eyes between the young adventurers before finally landing back on Frandine.
"I-," she choked and had to take a moment to gain control over herself, "I promise to never fail to live up to your expectations again," she vowed.
"S-So do I!" Imilce quickly added.
"I promise too," Patroclus joined.
"I promise," Ajax stated resolutely.
Finally came Dido who, eyes closed and fists clenched growled out.
"I swear."
Frandine smiled.
"We'll all hold you to that."
They all made their way out of the hospital feeling lighter than they had in days.
"I think we really got through to them," Bell said, smiling hopefully.
"Indeed, it was clear they really took it all to heart, especially what Frandine said," Ryuu said, turning to the black cat of the Mania familia.
"I just said what I felt," she replied.
"You did a lot more than that, Frandine," Rei stated, "you stood up to some of the most powerful people in the world, forced them to really confront what they'd done, and I think you even changed them."
"He's right, Frandine-san," Bell agreed, "you did more than I did, by far. I just got mad and threatened them, you actually managed to make them reflect on their actions and grow, and you did it without anger, which, I think, makes you the hero of the day."
The Mania familia quickly agreed with him and the poor neko soon found herself practically drowning in praise, causing her to burst into a deep crimson blush.
Mania laughed before making her way over to her child and pulling her into a hug.
"You did very well, Frandine. I am so proud of you."
Frandine looked up at her goddess, happy tears in her eyes, before throwing herself into the hug and snuggling as deeply as she could into the tigress.
Everyone smiled at the scene, feeling the weight of everything slowly slipping away and peace fill their hearts. Unfortunately, these would be the some of the final moments of peace they would have for a long time.
Frandine pulled back, still smiling, allowing things to move forward.
"Alright, looks like things have finally calmed down, which I think is cause for celebration! I could definitely use a drink!" Loki declared.
"Careful Loki, you'll jinx us," Mania joked.
"Then unjinx us! We've had to deal with nothing but craziness for so long and we all deserve a break!"
The group laughed and many nodded.
"I don't think any of us can disagree with that," the goddess of curses agreed.
"Nope! We all need a break and a party sounds like a good way to release some stress. Besides, we've already dealt with powerful monsters, crazy deities, and douchey knights, what more could the world throw at us?!" Hestia questioned.
Everyone would have laughed if not for what happened next.
The ground began to shake and quake all across the city as a distant rumble grew ever closer.
"What's going on?!" Hestia declared.
"You just had to jinx us, didn't you?!" Lili declared.
Suddenly the ground all across the city broke open, revealing dozens, perhaps hundreds of viola and their vine-like tentacles.
"What are those?!" Rei called.
"Violas! Monsters controlled by the Evilus!" Finn declared as he took up his spear.
Which means they're here, Bell immediately recognized.
"We need to protect the city!" Miach cried.
"Right! Miach-sama, you and the other deities head back inside!" Finn quickly ordered, getting nods from the gods and goddesses who quickly rushed back into the hospital, allowing Finn to turn back to the other adventurers, "my familia and I will head towards the Dungeon as something tells me we can expect more company soon."
"My familia and I will head towards Daedalus Street. It's the most densely populated area and more monsters might use Knossos to enter the city," Bell joined.
"We'll join you there," Naaza said, getting a nod from her familia.
"As will we," Ouka said.
"And don't forget us," Rei stated.
"I'll head to the Guild and secure it as best as I can," Asfi stated, "the Ganesha and Freya familia are both there guarding Lancelot and his knights. I should be able to pull a few of them away to help fight."
"Good. Asfi-san," Bell turned to her, "once you're there, if possible, please send word to Hades-sama and ask that he heads to the hospital. A lot of people are going to coming here soon and I want them to be properly guarded."
"Understood. I will send word immediately," she vowed.
"We have a plan. Alright, watch each other's backs and don't do anything too stupid," Finn said, giving them all a smile before they broke off in all directions.
The Hestia familia and their allies arrived at Daedalus street soon after parting from the others and found it under attack from well over a dozen violas with screaming civilians running in terror.
"Our priority is rescue. Destroy the monsters when you can, but always prioritize saving people!" Bell ordered.
"Right!" they all responded, before jumping into action.
Bell, naturally, was the first to reach an enemy, going for a viola that looked ready to eat a group of children.
The monster had only just enough time to recognize his existence before he destroyed it, cutting its flowery head in two with a slash of the Hestia knife.
"Get inside! Quickly!" Bell called to the youngsters, who quickly nodded and ran inside.
"Thank you, bunny!" the youngest child called.
Despite the situation, Bell couldn't help but laugh lightly.
I suppose I'm just going to have to live with that title.
His amusement was short-lived as he saw something happening to a pair of the violas.
They began to hack and heave, like they wanted to vomit, which Bell soon realized was close to the truth as he watched a bulge slowly make its way up each of their necks.
Finally, the two plant monsters vomited out what appeared to be two eggs. Not a moment later, those eggs began to shake and crack, then finally burst opened, revealing what was inside.
Out of one sprang a scorpion creature with a spear-like giant tail. From the other sprung a half dozen plant goblins which began to shriek and cackle before going on the offensive.
Bell soon noticed that more of the violas began to heave and spit out eggs, and knowing that would only make things more difficult, he rushed into action.
He found one viola about halfway complete with another 'birthing' and rushed at it, cutting the vine creature in two at the spot where the bulge was, destroying both the viola and the egg.
Not about to sit on his small victory, Bell turned and found that a group of adventurers had joined in the fight. He watched as one cut down one of the goblins then, feeling Bell's gaze upon him, turned.
The man glared and spat.
"We can handle things here, Red Dawn."
Bell however, was not focused on his words at all, but on what was happening behind him.
"Look out!"
The man turned and his eyes widened in horror.
The goblin which he had so recently cut down, now began to morbidly expand and heat up. By the time the adventurer realized what was about to happen, it was too late and the goblin exploded, obliterating him.
"These things explode when they die!" Lili screamed.
"It appears so," Ryuu said calmly, though with disgust in her eyes, "so we must either deal with them from a distance or move quickly when we strike them down."
"You heard her. Sounds like it's your time to shine, Lil' Lili!" Welf declared.
"Why is this all on Lili!" she shouted back, before huffing and turning her crossbow towards a group of goblins, "fine! Lili will deal with them."
She sent a volley of bolts against the monsters, hitting them square in their foreheads. A moment later, they exploded.
"Good job, Lili-san," Naaza said as she unleashed a torrent of arrows, destroying another group of goblins.
"You're not bad yourself," Lili replied with a smile.
Seeing that they were now properly dealing with the exploding goblins, Bell turned to his familia's fox girl.
"Haruhime, can you repeat that multi-boost you did before?" he asked.
"Of course, Bell-sama!" she replied.
"Good, then give the others some help. Don't worry about me, I can handle this well enough at my current level."
She nodded and quickly began to chant. Soon golden pillars appeared in the sky above the adventurers.
Haruhime had become more adapt at the Kokonoe spell and now could summon five tails, meaning five pillars of golden light descended upon their force.
Two went to their archers, Lili and Naaza, who quickly thanked her before unleashing another volley of bolts and arrows.
One went to Rei who showed his appreciation by destroying a giant scorpion.
The final two went to Mikoto and Welf who used their new strength to tear apart a viola.
Bell was happy to see everyone working so well together and pride filled his heart as his familia showed what they were capable of.
Once more though, his joy was short-lived as he suddenly felt something wrap around his stomach.
He had only enough time to look down and find some sort of black, armored tentacle around his gut, before he was suddenly pulled away from his friends and family.
"Bell-sama!" Haruhime cried.
The others turned and saw the young captain being taken away.
"Bell!" Ryuu charged after him, only to be intercepted by several more violas, scorpions, and a small horde of goblins. "Get out of my way!" she roared as she tore through one of the violas, only for another one to appear beside her and smack her back down.
"Ryuu-dono, we must keep a level head!" Mikoto shouted, taking up a stance before the monsters.
"She's right. We won't do Bell any good if we get smacked around by these freaks," Welf added.
Ryuu growled, but knew they were right.
"Don't worry Ryuu-san," Rei said, taking a place beside her, "if there's anyone who can handle themselves, it's Bell."
Ryuu's rage and fear dropped and soon she was smiling and nodding.
"You're right. He'll be alright. He always is."
Bell found himself flying over entire city blocks until, suddenly, the monster dragging him, flung him in a seemingly random direction.
The captain of the Hestia familia soared through the air, but manage to flip himself around so that he landed gracefully on his feet.
He immediately got into a defensive stance as he prepared to fight the monster that had snatched him. Not a moment later, the monster landed before him, finally allowing him a chance to take it in.
The monster was anthropomorphic. It stood on two legs with two more arms, though 'arms' may not have been the right word as instead of the usual muscle, hands, and fingers, its right limb was shaped like a sword while its left was shaped like a knife the exact same length and shape as his own. The creature also had no visible face, instead its head, and indeed its whole body, was covered in jet black armor that looked strong enough to deflect the horns of a charging minotaur. All in all, Bell understood that this was no low-level monster before him, but something quite capable of killing him.
He pulled out his sword, and prepared to do battle when an all-too familiar voice called out.
"I see you have a new weapon."
Shooting around, he found Revis emerging from an alley, crimson blade in hand.
"Revis."
"Hello, my mate," she greeted stoically.
"M-Mate?"
I had really hoped Shiro was lying, he thought.
"Yes. Shiro informed me that she told you of my desire to claim you."
"She…she did, but," he cast aside how freaked out he was and got into a defensive stance, "I'm already taken."
"By Ais Waldstein, I am aware," she replied calmly, "however," she and the monster took up a stance, "that means little to me. You are the only being that's ever created desire within me, Bell Cranel. As such, I will have you."
His eyes narrowed.
"I sincerely doubt that."
"We'll never make it to the Tower at this rate!" Tione complained as she dodged a viola, then quickly cut it to pieces.
"That's probably the point!" Finn replied as he speared a giant scorpion, "they're probably bringing up the main force through there and don't want us interfering!"
"Then we need to get there as soon as possible!" Lefiya cried.
"You're right," her captain replied, turning to their favorite princess, "Ais, we can handle these things, you go on ahead and do what you can against whatever is coming out of the Dungeon!"
"Understood" the Sword Princess declared before cutting through another group of monsters. She then activated her Ariel and flew into the air towards the Dungeon.
"Are you sure that was wise, Finn? We don't know what will come out out of the Dungeon," Riveria said.
"True, but right now we just need someone to hold back whatever is coming until we can arrive in force. Ais is more than capable of that."
The High Elf didn't particularly like it, but she understood the reason and so simply turned back towards the horde of monsters, only this time, with even more determination.
Don't do anything rash until we get there, Ais, she silently commanded her surrogate daughter.
They continued fighting their way through the streets, destroying hundreds of monsters along the way, until they reached an open plaza.
The plaza was normally filled with stalls and acted as one of the city's many markets, but now, all that was there were destroyed goods, monsters, adventures, terrified civilians, and corpses.
"Let's give them some help!" Finn called as they all charged.
The Loki familia soon tore through the beasts in the plaza, earning a cheer from the adventurers and civilians.
"Take these people to safety," Finn ordered the other adventurers, "the Guild, a familia headquarters, or a cellar if you can't manage that. Just get them somewhere safe." The other adventurers quickly followed his orders, escorting the civilians out of the area. With them gone, Finn turned back to his familia. "Alright, let's go."
They all moved to continue towards the Tower, only for two, human-like creatures in black to suddenly appear before them.
"What the fuck are these guys?" Bete growled, eying them.
The creatures made no move towards the Loki familia, but all understood that they would not simply let them pass.
"Alright, you bastards want to get in our way, fine!" the werewolf growled before charging, Tione and Tiona rushing after him.
"Wait!" Finn cried.
The three did not listen and continued forward, with Bete reaching the left anthro-monster first.
He aimed a kick for its head, only to be shocked when it casually blocked his kick with its arm.
"REEEEEEEEEEEEEH!" the monster shrieked before grabbing Bete's leg and spinning like a top.
Round and round they went until the creature threw Bete with its terrible might back at the Loki familia.
Finn and Riveria had to dive to the side to not be hit by Bete's body, which proceeded to crash into the building behind them.
Tione and Tiona, seeing what happened to Bete, stopped their attack, which gave the right black creature the chance to charge.
The anthro-monster's right claws transformed into sickle like knives and slashed at Tione, who barely had enough time to bring up her knives to block the attack.
"Gah!" she groaned as the weight of the attack crashed upon her.
The creature, displeased by her defense, shrieked then quickly booted her across the plaza, sending her crashing into another building.
"You jerk!" Tiona cried as she attacked, only to be surprised when the creature's other arm came up and blocked her. "You…" she looked at the limb, immediately noting how it looked exactly like her Blade Rolan, "you stole my weapon! You really are a jerk!"
She reached back to punch the monster in the face, only for it to cast aside her weapon, leaving her wide open.
"Wha-!"
The beast moved to rip open her guts, but the young amazon was saved when a spear flew past her head and slammed into its armored skull. A moment later, Tiona was being pulled back by Gareth while Finn took up a defensive position before them.
"You guys really need to learn to listen to me," Finn said, his voice deadly serious.
"S-Sorry, captain."
"You're alright, that's what matters," Gareth said, "however, it appears we are dealing with monsters of a higher caliber," the dwarf continued as he took his place next to Finn.
"Yeah and worse yet," Finn turned, "they brought friends."
The plaza, which before had been scoured free of monsters, now found a horde of them making its way inside.
The scorpions and goblins they had been dealing with before were there in droves, but they weren't alone now as the caterpillars they were so familiar with now joined them, and it appeared from their gleaming armor that they had been given an upgrade.
"I hate those things," Tione growled as she dusted off the rumble.
"I don't think any of us are fans of them," Riveria replied, "but we will need to deal with them if we're to move forward."
"And those black creatures as well," Gareth said as he stared down the two anthropomorphic monsters, which began to transform before them.
The one that had nearly gutted Tiona held up its right hand as it transformed again, turning into a larger version of Tione's kukri knives. The other monster likewise transformed its limbs, turning one into a spear just like Finn's and an ax that was an exact replica of Gareth's.
"It appears we have fans," Gareth said coldly.
"Won't save them," Finn said as he took up a stance.
Ottar casually tore through the monster before them as casually as one would dust a piece of furniture.
"Secure the city," he said calmly to his familia behind him, not taking his eyes off the pathetic creatures before him, "and attempt to locate the Hestia familia. Their security remains the highest priority."
His subordinates immediately departed, tearing through all the monsters unlucky enough to cross their path.
It seems most of the monsters are now coming from the Dungeon, the boaz recognized, turning to the great tower.
Luckily, his lady had taken up residency in Folkvangr last night, meaning he did not need to worry about her security and could simply focus on dealing with this annoyance.
He took a step towards Babel only for a creature to appear before him.
The creature appeared almost like an armored human or elf, but Ottar knew immediately it was neither.
"You are stronger than the others," he noted, taking his sword off his shoulder, "but you are not strong enough to defeat me."
As if to challenge that notion, the creature's right arm began to transform and grow until it matched his own sword.
"A trick like that will not save you," the Freya captain replied just as calmly as before.
"REEEEEEEEEEH!" the black monster shrieked before charging.
A moment later, a shockwave shook the city.
Aiz slashed and hacked through hordes of monsters, barely even taking note of them as she headed towards the entrance to the Dungeon.
Almost there, she thought.
Then her eyes caught sight of a familiar creepy crawly.
Caterpillars. I really don't like caterpillars.
The giant bug saw her and spewed its poison at her. However, she was undeterred and, using her Ariel, she cut right through the venom and then through the caterpillar, sending it up in a puff of black smoke.
That must have come from the Dungeon. I need to hurry.
She turned, ready to charge forward when a group of different, but still familiar, creepy crawlies appeared before her.
"I don't like spiders either," she said out loud, staring at the four giant eight-legged monsters that now surrounded her, "and I have no time for you either."
Using her incredible speed, Ais attacked the spiders one after another, cutting them to pieces and splattering their disgusting guts all over the street and buildings. In less than five minutes, the giant spiders were nothing but pulp and gore.
"You're stronger than you were in Athens."
Ais turned and found a pale woman in a cloak and a black monster with two arms that looked weirdly close to her Desperate standing above her on a building.
"You're an Evilus."
"I am," the white woman said as she and the beast descended to the street, "I am called Shiro and you are Ais Waldstein, correct?"
Unnerved though she was by having her true name used, Ais nonetheless nodded.
"I am."
"Then I'm afraid you will have to deal with me and my pets before you will be allowed to move forward."
"I can handle you and that creature," the Sword Princess stated as she turned to the hutched over, irregular.
"Perhaps. Luckily, we are not alone."
The street filled with the sound of scuttling and soon, to her great displeasure, Ais found herself surrounded by a half dozen more giant spiders and thousands of smaller spiders.
"I really don't like spiders," she said before turning back to Shiro, "and I don't like you either," she added as she reactivated her Ariel.
"They just keep coming!" Ivanna cried.
"We can see that! Just keep fighting!" Krysta said as she fired her guns at the horde of monsters.
The combined familias had been fighting for what seemed like ages, destroying hundreds of monsters, from exploding goblins, to rolling scorpions, to giant spiders that shot out spikes from their backs, yet more kept coming.
"Lili's almost out of ammunition!" the prum cried.
"So am I!" Naaza added.
"Mikoto, Rei, you're with me!" Ryuu ordered.
The two immediately rushed to her side and a moment later they were rushing into the horde, cutting through the monsters as they sought out the missiles their comrades had unleashed at the horde. They managed to collect a couple dozen, but nowhere near enough to make up for those lost.
Rei was in the process of collecting another of Naaza's arrows when a giant scorpion appeared before him.
"Shit!" he cried as he attempted to defend himself.
However, just as the beast was about to skewer him, Geneve appeared, shining sword in hand and cut off its tail.
"You are not taking him from me!" she roared as it shrieked in pain, "Lightning Burst!"
Her spell shot out from her hand and crashed into the monster's skull, turning it into dust, and allowing her to turn to her captain.
"Come on!"
She took his hand and they quickly retreated back to their defensive position.
"Thanks!" he called.
"Fight now! Thank later!" she called back.
So he fought on, along with everyone else, watching as the monsters drew closer and closer and their exhaustion became greater and greater.
"We can't hold them back much longer!" Aisha proclaimed.
"Everyone, start making your way inside! We can limit their ability to attack us and funnel them if we get inside!" Ryuu shouted.
They began to retreat, those in the back making their way into the building behind them. However, the monsters, seeing their prey beginning to give ground, redoubled their efforts and those in front found themselves at their breaking point as those behind desperately tried to set-up some sort of defense while also providing the front cover.
"Shit. I didn't think this would be how it ended," Aisha growled as she cut through another swath of monsters, only to have one of the scorpions find an opening and impale her right shoulder.
"Ah!" the amazon cried as she fell back.
"Aisha!" Ryuu rushed to her side and killed the monsters around her.
"Hehe, guess you won't have to worry about me being a rival now, huh?"
Ryuu wanted to curse her for the poorly timed joke, but she had no time as another wave of monsters rushed at her and the amazon, intent on devouring them.
I will not lose another family. I will not!
She bared her teeth as she prepared to charge the horde, only for everything to stop as a beam of light descended upon the monsters.
Instantly, dozens of monsters evaporated, not even allowing the goblins the chance to explode. This was only the beginning as five figures dropped down and began to tear the monsters asunder.
"What…how? How are they here?" Lili asked as she watched the Hera and Zeus familia destroy the horde before them.
"I don't know, but I'm sure not complaining," Kaios said as he let his sword drop.
In less than two minutes the entire horde that had been so close to destroying the Hestia, Mania, Miach, and Take familias, was obliterated, leaving the five veterans to make their way back to the stunned youngsters.
"Are you all alright?" Galadriel asked.
"Aisha needs medical help," Ryuu said, turning to her fellow familia member, "and we're all exhausted."
"Understandable," Galadriel said as Imilce rushed to heal Aisha, "I'm sorry we're so late."
"How are you here at all?" Lili asked.
"When the attack began, the Ganesha familia was freaking out, wondering what mattered more; holding us or helping the people. Once we offered to help as payment for what we did, they were quick to agree," Galadriel explained before turning her eyes to Frandine, "you were right. We lost ourselves. We failed to be the people everyone looked up to, letting our grief and anger turn us into something terrible. While this doesn't make up for it, I promise we will do everything we can to re-earn our place as your heroes."
Frandine's eyes brimmed with joyful tears and not a moment later, she had thrown herself into Galadriel's arms.
"Welcome back," the cat girl said.
Galadriel smiled and stroked her hair.
"It's nice to be back."
"As touching as this moment is," Dido interrupted, "the city is still under attack. So if you're actually interested in reclaiming your status as a heroine, I suggest we hold off the touching moments until the city isn't under siege by a horde of monsters."
"Right," Galadriel pulled back from the young girl, "are any of you still able to fight?"
"After seeing all that? You betcha!" Welf said, taking up his sword.
"The Mania familia is always ready to help those in need," Rei joined.
"The Take familia doesn't back away from a fight, especially not when people need help," Ouka stated.
"We're not bowing out either," Naaza added.
Galadriel and the others smiled.
"Good, then let's go rescue our city."
Finn thrust his spear at the anthro-monster's head, only for it to dodge and attempt to bisect him with its ax arm.
Gareth quickly appeared by its side and slammed into it with his own ax, sending it flying across the plaza. However, it was far from defeated as it quickly righted itself and renewed its attack.
We're getting nowhere with this, Finn thought as he quickly checked his familia.
Bete, Tione, and Tiona were fairing no better against their own irregular, which seemed able to match them, despite it being a three-on-one fight.
Turning to Riveria and Lefiya, he found them sending spell after spell against the horde of monsters, yet, despite the hundreds slaughtered, their numbers did not seem to cease in the slightest.
We can't keep going like this. Something has to change or we'll be overwhelmed.
"Fire Flower!" Riveria called as she destroyed another scorpion, only to find three viola rising above her and Lefiya. Knowing what they were about to do, she quickly chanted a new spell, "guard us from the sun's cruel rays! Svalinn!" she cried.
Her spell came just in time as the three violas unleashed a huge cloud of poisonous gas.
"Arcs Ray!"
Light magic shot from Lefiya's staff towards the violas, crashing into them and obliterating them.
"Well done, Lefiya, but don't let up!"
"R-Right!"
The two elves continued to fight, shooting off spells as they dodged attacks from every direction, but they both knew they couldn't last forever.
At this rate I'm going to have to use Rea Laevateinn just so that we won't be annihilated!
She knew what kind of devastation she would bring should she use such a spell within the city's walls, but she was quickly finding that she may have no choice.
"Damn it!" she cursed, "Lefiya cover me!"
"What are you about to do, Riveria-sama?" the younger elf asked, noting the seriousness in her tone and eyes.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to use Rea Laevateinn if we are to be victorious here."
Lefiya's eyes widened.
"But that will destroy a huge part of the city!"
"I know, but if we don't stop these monsters here, they will wreak even greater havoc on Orario!"
Lefiya trusted her superior completely, but this just seemed like insanity. Yet, seeing the seemingly endless horde before them, she understood that they were truly out of options.
"A-Alright! You can count on me!"
I know I can, Riveria thought, a sad smile on her lips, I just wish I didn't have to count on you for this.
"The flame will soon be released. Creeping war, unavoidable destruction," she began.
The others heard her chant and turned their shocked eyes to her.
"Riveria! What are you doing?!" Finn cried.
She didn't stop. She couldn't.
"The horn of battle sounds aloud, the cruelty of conflict will envelop all."
"Shit! Everyone group up!" Finn ordered.
The others broke away from their fights and prepared for Riveria to finish the spell that none of them wanted her to finish.
Heaven forgive me, the High elf thought.
"Come, crimson flames, the- ah!"
Her spell ended as a sharp pain entered her leg. Looking down, she found a pale spider biting into her leg.
She squashed it quickly, but it was already too late as its poison entered her bloodstream.
Riveria fell as her magic circle disappeared.
"Riveria!" Finn and Lefiya rushed to her side.
"I'm…sorry."
They looked down upon her with worry, but they could not worry for long as the monsters drew closer.
"You bastards. You think you can hurt my familia and get away with it?" Finn growled as his eyes burned, "I'll show you what happens to those who mess with the Loki familia!"
He held up his spear as he began to chant.
"Magic spear, penetrate-"
"Give 'em hell!"
A wave of arrows and spells suddenly fell all around the Loki familia, obliterating hundreds of monsters and bringing silence to the plaza.
Once the smoke cleared the Loki familia watched as dozens of adventurers appeared all around them.
"Hey guys. Looks like you could use some help," Sif greeted with a smile.
"Sif? What are you all doing here?" Finn asked.
"My goddess offered our help as an apology for all the trouble we caused you guys, and your goddess agreed. So here we are. Speaking of which," she quickly tossed Lefiya a vial, "an antidote for the princess there."
Lefiya looked down at the vial before quickly uncorking it and bringing it to Riveria's lips.
"Now then, let's play!" Sif declared as a warhorn blew, causing the Thor familia to charge.
"I'm sure Thor will be holding this over Loki's head for years," Gareth said with a smile.
"Maybe," Finn agreed as his own smile grew, "but you know what? I'm actually looking forward to her chewing us out for it."
Gareth chuckled.
"It certainly beats being monster food."
"Definitely. Now, let's finish what we started.
Finn and Gareth rushed back into the fray with Bete, Tione, and Tiona following soon after.
"Are you alright, Riveria-sama?" Lefiya asked as they rushed off.
"I am, thank you," the elder elf replied as she picked herself up, "now, why don't we help everyone finish the fight?" she said with a smile.
Lefiya eagerly nodded.
Finn and Gareth charged the black human-like creature fully intent on finishing their fight.
It met them furiously, stabbing its spear limb at Gareth's head, only for him to bash it to the side with his ax. Finn then came in with a thrust of his own, attempting to pierce the monster's throat, however it quickly jumped away and prepared to counter-attack.
"Don't forget me, ugly!"
The creature turned its head just in time to find Sif behind it, warhammer already in mid-swing.
Not a second later, the warhammer smashed into its spine and sent it flying back towards Gareth.
The dwarf, seeing his opponent flying back to him, brought a leg back, lifted his ax over his shoulder then, with an earth-shaking yell, swung the ax in an arc, crashing it into the monster's chin and sending it flying into the sky.
The monster cried out in pain as it flew, but its cry were cut short as it found the prum captain of the Loki familia above it, spear in hand.
"No one hurts my familia," he stated before throwing his spear with all his might into its chest, sending the monster crashing back down to earth like a meteor.
Dust filled the area and the three adventurers waited for it to clear. When it did, to their shock and annoyance, the monster was still breathing, though it was pinned to the ground.
"This ugly bastard is stubborn," Sif complained.
"Indeed," Gareth agreed as he strode towards the beast, ax in hand.
Seeing the dwarf approaching, the nightmarish creature turned its head, opened its jaw and shot a spear towards him.
Gareth, being far faster than his appearance would have one believe, easily dodged the attack and cut off the spear from the creature, causing it to shriek. Those shrieks would end the moment Gareth cut off its head.
"Be silent," he said.
With their irregular defeated, the two leaders of the Loki familia turned to the subordinates, finding that they too, had gained the initiative.
"I've had enough of you, asshole!" Bete bellowed as he used a magic weapon to ignite his boots, "time for you to die!"
He charged, dodging under a slash the monster sent at him using the arm modeled after Tiona's weapon. Bete then kicked the irregular in the chin with enough force to crack its armor and send it flying. However, like its brethren, it did not fly for long, as Tiona appeared behind it and with a cry sent it right back down to earth.
The monster crashed into the ground, but quickly picked itself up, only to find Bete charging it once again.
It brought both its arms up to block the kick towards its head though the ground broke beneath it from the sheer force.
"I'm not about to lose to you, dickhead. That shitty old man had far more fight in him than you and we almost kicked his ass!"
Bete twirled in the air and landed another kick to the monster, knocking it off balance. This provided an opportunity for Tiona to charge, knives in hand and ready to cut off its head.
The black beast was far from done though, and thrust its bladed hand at her skull, intending on skewering her brain.
Tione bent backwards, allowing the anthro-monster's knife arm to fly over her harmlessly.
Not content with simply dodging, she quickly brought up both her own knives and cut off its arm, making it shriek in pain.
The monster distracted, Tiona managed to bring her Rolan under its other armpit and severed that arm from its body as well.
The irregular now well and truly 'disarmed', Bete, with flaming heel, charged forward and with a kick that could have leveled a mountain, removed the monster's head from its shoulders and sent it flying towards the center of the city.
The now headless corpse fell to its knees then burst into black smoke.
The three victorious adventurers, finally rid of their foe, worked to regain their breaths.
"Told you that you were nothing compared to that shitty old man," Bete mocked.
His familia smiled.
"Looks like we're all done here," Sif said.
"It appears so," Finn agreed, "but there's still a lot to do. We need to get to the Dungeon and seal it back up before more monsters can enter the city."
"Sounds like a plan to me," the Thor captain replied.
As they discussed their next course of action and regained their breaths, none of them noticed that the first irregular had not burst into smoke and that its head was now turning on its own towards them.
The irregular's mouth opened as it prepared to send a spear into Finn's skull.
Splat!
The Loki and Thor familias shot around, finding Bache and Argana now standing over the corpse of the black monster, which only now burst into smoke.
"It appears that beheading these creatures does not necessarily kill them," Bache stated.
Realizing what had happened, Finn nodded.
"Thank you."
"Is that all you have to say handsome? Surely you can show those who saved your life more appreciation?" Argana said with a smile.
Riveria quickly jumped in, not wanting a fight to break out between the co-captain and Tione, especially not when they still had a city to save.
"We still have work to do."
"She's right," Bache agreed, "we can talk about thanks and showing appreciation later."
Argana frowned, but let it go.
"Then let's get going! We still have monsters to slay and a city to save!" Sif declared.
Ottar had had quite enough of this creature.
The beast before him had, as he predicted, not been nearly strong enough to defeat him, however, it had blocked his way and scored a few hits upon his flesh.
"My patience is over, creature," he stated, his usual calm gone.
The captain of the Freya familia took his sword in both hands and began to chant.
"I call forth the rage of battle to help me destroy my enemies and steal away their lives."
The monster, understanding this was not beneficial to it, charged, intent on killing the boaz.
"Let them tremble under the might of my sword. Let them fear the sound of my coming," Ottar continued without fear.
The anthropomorphic irregular was inches away from him, a mere moment from cutting him down, when Ottar finished.
"Fierce Charge of Mortality!"
A burst of dark red magic sent the monster flying back.
It quickly corrected itself, but this mattered little. The fight was already over.
Ottar appeared before the irregular and before it could muster any sort of defense, cut it in half from its left shoulder to its right hip.
"As I said, you were not strong enough to defeat me. Though I will commend you for holding me for so long," the boaz said as he returned his sword to his back.
A moment later, the night-like creature burst into smoke, allowing Ottar to continue forward towards the Dungeon.
Ais fought with everything she had. She had to, there was no chance of victory if she did not.
Her foes attacked her relentlessly. First Shiro, then the irregular, then the spiders, then the creature again, then Shiro with her spiders, it was an unending onslaught, no matter how many spiders she destroyed or how many wounds she managed to score on the Shiro and the beast, they all just kept coming.
I need to focus on Shiro. She's the one controlling the spiders and probably that monster as well, she reckoned, her eyes pointing towards the pale woman.
Sword in hand, she rushed towards Shiro with all the speed she could muster. A giant spider and a wall of smaller spiders attempted to stop her, but she quickly tore through both, spewing out the giant spider's innards and splatting hundreds of smaller spiders with her Ariel.
She drew closer to Shiro, who looked impassively towards the Sword Princess, but when Ais was just a few inches away, the black anthro creature smashed into her from the side, sending her crashing into one of the nearby buildings.
"It appears you aren't a fool," Shiro commended, "at least not enough of one to not recognize that I am the one controlling the spiders. However, you should know that, even if you slay me, this beast shall not stop attacking you. It shall only stop when either I command it to or it is slayed."
Ais picked herself up out of the rubble.
"Then I shall destroy it too," she replied before charging again.
Once more she cut through waves of spiders, both great and small, and drew closer to the Evilus woman, this time however, when the irregular moved to intercept her, she dodged under its sword-like arm and cut it across its stomach before sending it crashing to the ground with a kick.
With nothing else standing between her and the pale, spider mistress, Aiz charged, but when she moved to cut the woman down, Shiro revealed just how monstrous she truly was as her jaw unhinged, revealing rows of terrible teeth, and before Ais could stop her, she shot dozens of needles out towards the Sword Princess.
Most of the needles were blown away by Ariel or batted away by Ais herself, but several managed to get through her defenses and pierce her flesh, filling her veins with toxins.
Immediately, Ais began to weaken, providing Shiro the opportunity to bring forth a terrible, spider leg from her back and send it crashing into Ais.
Ais smashed into the ground, slowly picking herself up as blood dripped down her wounds and poison continued to flow through her veins.
She desperately shook her head, before quickly reaching into a side pocket she had and pulling out an antidote which she quickly drank.
"That will not do you much good. My poison is unique and even the best antidotes will have trouble counter-acting it," Shiro stated as she approached alongside the irregular and her army of spiders.
"I just…need it to work…well enough…for me to defeat you," Ais answered.
"My my, Revis was right. You are a tough one."
Instantly, the fog around Ais's mind lifted.
"Revis?"
"Yes. You had to know we work together, no? She's the one who assigned me the mission to fight you."
"Why didn't she come fight me herself?" Ais questioned.
"Because she had other matters to attend to. Collecting her mate and all that."
"Mate?"
"Yes, mate. I suppose I'm revealing too much, but it really matters little. By this point she should have already captured Bell Cranel and be on her way back to the Dungeon."
Ais's world stopped.
"W-What name did you just say?"
Shiro did not fail to notice the change in Ais's tone and looked down upon the Sword Princess curiously.
"Oh that's right," she realized, "I forgot that the others mentioned you had previously claimed him. Well, I suppose you have my sympathy then. Revis has laid her claim on him and not even Enyo was inclined to deny her what she wanted, or in this case, who."
No response came from Ais and for a few moments, Shiro wondered if the shock had made her go mad. Finally though, she figured she might as well be rid of the golden swordswoman and head back to the Dungeon and so signaled for her spiders to feed upon her. However, none would get to enjoy such a feast as Ais had not gone mad at the revelation, she'd gone berserk.
A hurricane of black wind suddenly burst from Ais, sending the spiders flying, scattering, and splattering across the area and forcing back both Shiro and the black armored creature.
"What the?" Shiro called, her squinting eyes pointed towards where Ais stood.
"No one is taking him from me," came a dark voice from within the black whirlwind, "Not you. Not Revis." Shiro's eyes widened in terror as she saw the furious Sword Princess emerge from the black wind. "NO ONE!"
Shiro knew, instinctively, to bring up her arms to defend herself, but it did her no good. Before she could even comprehend what had happened, both she and the irregular had been cut to pieces by the rampaging Sword Princess who now stood behind them.
"No one," Ais repeated as the diced up corpses of Shiro and the irregular fell to the ground.
Not a moment later, Ais jumped into the air, desperate to reach the Dungeon before she lost yet another loved one.
Bell fought the two creatures like a hero of old. Had there been anyone there to witness it, they would have surely recorded it in the annals of heroes like the deeds of the Argonaut and the Sword Hero. But there was no one in that back alley, deep within Daedalus street, just Bell, Revis, and the terrible creature that attacked him with relentless fury and reckless abandon.
Bell groaned as he blocked another strike from the irregular. The monster had copied his own weaponry, turning its hands into replicas of his knife and sword before immediately going on the attack. However, despite copying his weaponry and being extraordinarily powerful, the monster could not copy his skill or experience. Had it been a battle between only Bell and the beast, there would be no question of who would be the victor. However, this was not the case, and as Bell batted away the monster only to have Revis immediately take up the attack, he realized that he was slowly losing the fight.
I have to turn things around! I can't let myself fall into her hands!
Bell eyed the green-eyed Dungeon woman with anxious, but determined rubies.
"You do not need to be afraid, Bell. I have no intention of hurting you," she said.
"That would be a lot easier to believe if you didn't have the sword," he replied before using his great strength and speed to bring her sword down, then send her flying across the alley with a punch.
He could not enjoy his small victory though as he was forced to immediately turn to the monster, which shrieked out its terrible cry as it renewed its attack, sending him crashing through a building.
Revis picked herself up and spat out some blood, her cheek aching from the force of Bell's attack.
He's even stronger now, she thought as she turned her eyes to the battle before her, which means he's even more worthy.
Rushing back into the fray, she found an opening in Bell's defenses and cut him across the side, making him cry out. He moved to counter her, but the anthro-monster quickly slashed him across his shoulder with its replica dagger.
Not wasting the opportunity, Revis grabbed Bell by the back of his head and slammed him, face first, into her knee, shattering his nose, then kicked him as hard as she could in the stomach, making him cough up blood as he went flying through several buildings.
Bell finally stopped more than a block away, his body in agony, and blood dripping down dozens of cuts.
The wounds and knowledge of what awaited him should he lose, filled him with rage, which he quickly attempted to quash.
Wait. No. I can use this. Let the anger out, just keep it under control. Use it. Don't be used by it.
Taking deep breaths, he sank himself into the anger and called forth the wrath.
Use it. Don't be used by it. Use it. Don't be used by it, he chanted. Finally, he felt it, the power of his skill rushing through his veins, filling him with fury and power.
Alright. Now just keep control, he growled in his mind as his dragonic eyes fell upon the two creatures approaching him.
"This can all be over now, if you just-" Revis tried, only for both her and the irregular to be grabbed by their faces and slammed, skulls first, into the pavement.
"Did you really think it was over?" Bell asked, his crimson eyes boring down upon her.
There it is. His power, she thought.
She had little time to revel in any sort of pleasure as Bell quickly lifted them back up and threw them back where they came from, both Dungeon denizens only stopping when they crashed into a wall.
Bell quickly went on the offensive, intent on ending the fight and subduing them both, starting with the irregular.
He charged, sword and knife in hand, ready to decapitate the beast, only to be shocked when it opened its mouth and shot a spear towards his head. He managed to dodge, but this split second gave the monster enough time to transform one of its feet into a hammer and boot Bell in the chin, sending him flying into the air.
Bell groaned as air whipped passed his airs, but soon, he heard something behind him and turning his head, he found Revis with sword raised.
Her blade cut through his armor and scales, though only enough for a flesh wound, and sent him shooting back towards the ground where he crashed.
Groaning as he picked himself up, he was given no time to recover as the irregular creature attacked, cutting both his legs and nearly sending him to his knees. It tried to attack again, sending both its bladed arms down upon him like an executioner's ax, but he managed to summon forth his strength and forced the monster back. Moving quickly, he slashed it across its chest with his sword and knife, then kicked it down a nearby alley, only to have Revis then appear before him and kick in the face and send him flying across the alley once again.
He skipped across the city pavement until finally, and pathetically, crashing into a wall.
The pain was now excruciating. Unknown number of bones were broken. He bled from nearly every inch of his body, despite his scales, and if things continued as they were, he would indeed fall into the hands of the redheaded woman now striding towards him.
NO! I WILL NOT BECOME HER PLAYTHING! I WILL NOT SURRENDER MYSELF TO HER! I WILL NOT FAIL!
Bell turned his dragonic, furious eyes towards Revis, his horns growing upon his crown as his wrath grew beyond control.
"RAAAAAAA!" he roared as he threw himself at the Evilus woman.
Revis barely had time to bring up her sword to block his attack and soon found herself tearing through the stone pavement as Bell pushed her with all his terrible might.
Growling, he pushed into her blade with both hands, bringing her sword dangerously close to her own body as she resisted as best as she could against her vicious, so-to-be mate.
So great was the strength of the two combatants that the sword began to give way to the Hestia knife, the black blade slowly cutting its way through the sword, shocking the red-headed butcher.
Then, to the shock of both of them, the creature appeared behind Bell and cut down into the base of Bell's neck from both sides.
Bell's eyes widened as the bladed arms of the anthropomorphic monster cut through his scales and flesh. Had it been anyone else, they would have been beheaded, but Bell's scales and high dexterity saved him from such a fate. However, that did not take away from the pain, which coursed through Bell's veins like fire.
His eyes soon lost their shock and pain, and were filled with wrath once more, built upon the injury inflicted upon him and his desire to avenge the grievous wound.
Roaring once again, Bell quickly cast aside Revis's weapon before punching her in the face with enough force to send her flying down the alley.
The swordswoman gone, Bell grabbed the monster's sword-like arms and pulled them from his flesh, then flipped the creature over and slammed into the pavement.
The creature cried out in pain, but Bell was far from done with it, and soon he had lifted the monster and thrown it against one of the buildings.
The anthropomorphic thing slumped against the stone building, but was soon lifted up by its neck courtesy of Bell's clawed hand. Not a moment later, Bell began to wail upon the beast, punching it over and over again to vent all his outrage at all the injuries the monster had given him.
Finally, his blood boiling, Bell pulled back, took a deep breath and then, like a true dragon, unleashed a torrent of molten fire upon the creature, which screamed in terrible agony as the fire washed over it like the waves of an ocean.
Only when the creature's smoking flesh filled Bell's nose did he relent in his roasting and close his jaw.
The creature, in pain and weak, made no move against him, which pleased Bell in his current state.
"Firebolt," he said, pointing his hand towards the Hestia knife.
The fire engulfed the blade, elongating it with its glow and power.
Bell flipped the blade in his hand and prepared to thrust it into the monster's head.
Then a sword appeared out of his stomach.
Bell's eyes dropped down and he found the familiar blade of Revis jutting forth from under his ribcage. Slowly turning his head, he found its owner staring at him.
"I'm sorry, my mate, but you are too powerful to subdue in any other way."
Bell, as if finally realizing what was happening, began to cough up blood. His legs weakened and he nearly fell over twice as he retreated from Revis and the monster, only to finally fall as the Hestia knife fell from his grip.
"You will not die. I will ensure that," Revis vowed as she picked up his weapon.
He tried to reclaim his knife, reaching out for the knife his goddess gave him, but finding his strength evaporating more and more by the second.
"Sleep now, my mate," Revis said as she reached into her pocket, "when you wake up, your new life will begin."
She threw some powder into his face and, try as he might, Bell could not resist the effects of it and his eyes rolled up and he fell backwards.
Revs caught him before he hit the ground and lifted him into her arms, staring down at him for a moment before turning to the monster.
"I have what I want, we're heading back to the Dungeon."
The creature made no reply or complaint, simply stared at her, before she jumped into the air, heading for the Tower of Babel and the great Labyrinth underneath.
Please be alright. Please be alright. Please be alright, Ais chanted in her head over and over again as she headed for the Dungeon.
She pushed with all the strength she had left, but she knew all too well that she could barely muster any of her usual power, the battle with Shiro, the anthropomorphic monster, and her use of the black wind having drained her of nearly everything she had. Yet she pushed on, begging her body to keep moving so that she could save her love from the fate the pale spider had revealed.
Finally, with her lungs burning and body shaking, she reached the plaza before the great tower, and what she saw made her heart stop.
There, held within the arms of her foe, was a bloody Bell.
The crimson warrior, as if sensing Ais, turned her head and found the wide, golden eyes staring horrified at the scene.
Turning to the monster, she quickly handed the defeated hero over to it and said, "go."
The monster, with Bell now in its arm continued on, carrying the unconscious Hestia captain towards the Dungeon.
"NO!" Ais cried as she charged forward, aiming straight for Bell. However, she would not reach him as Revis intercepted her, kicking her in the stomach and sending her flying back towards the edge of the plaza.
Ais slowly picked herself up, finding even returning to her feet a terrible challenge.
"It appears Shiro and her creature did their job," Revis said as she stared down at Ais.
"I killed them," Ais growled.
"Which was expected," Revis replied calmly, "they're job was only to delay and weaken you, giving us time to take my mate."
"He's not your mate," Ais growled, though her voice was weak and shook terribly.
"He will be soon enough, I will make sure of that. None have ever made me feel desire since I gained this form and he an are alike. More alike than you are with him."
Rage and disgust filled every inch of the Sword Princess and she rose to her feet, intent on tearing the beastly woman apart.
"You know nothing about what Bell is like."
"I suspect I know more than you do," Revis said, her voice still painfully monotone, yet containing just enough confidence for Ais to hear.
The confidence in Revis's voice further fueled Ais's rage and disgust and soon, black wind began to swirl around her.
"You will not take him from me," she vowed darkly.
Revis eyed the Sword Princess calmly before taking a defensive position.
Ais's fist tightened around Desperate before, with her wind whipping around her like a storm, she charged.
Revis did not move an inch as Ais approached, she simply held Ais's furious gaze and her stance.
Ais closed the distance in the blink of an eye and moved to impale the creature woman through her cold, black heart.
"YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM!" she roared as she thrust.
Then, in another blink of the eye, two of the black monsters appeared from behind Revis and cut Ais from shoulder to hip, leaving a horrible red 'X' across her entire torso.
Ais's black wind dispersed as her eyes widened.
W-Wha…?
With the attack ended before it began, Revis shot her free hand out and grabbed Ais by the throat.
Ais choked and tried to break free from the creature's grasp, but the green-eyed woman was too strong, and she too exhausted and weak. She lifted Desperate in an attempt to cut her captor down, but the moment she swung, Revis countered, batting Ais's pathetic attack aside and sending Desperate flying away.
"You have failed, Ais Waldstein," Revis said coldly, "and part of me thinks I should kill you right here and now. However," she smiled, shocking and terrifying Ais at the same time, "I think it will be more amusing to keep you alive. To have you know that you failed to reclaim your mate and for you to know that, when next you see him, he'll be mine."
"N-N-"
Before Ais could finish, Revis slammed her into the ground, shattering stone and making Ais cough up blood.
"Until we meet again, Ais Waldstein, failure and former lover of Bell Cranel," Revis said, still smiling as she turned to leave.
"N-N-oo," Ais tried, but even speech was nearly impossible now, and so she was forced to watch as Revis walked away, took Bell in her arms, then continued into the Dungeon.
All this she watched, unable to move. Unable to cry. Unable to do anything but stew in her own failure. A failure that was made complete when Revis and Bell disappeared into the darkness of the world below.
Tears streamed down her eyes as her heart broke.
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLL!
Well…this chapter is a lot different from last Christmas, isn't it?
Sorry guys, I know this isn't the Christmas present you wanted, but I was really excited to do this chapter, which is why I pounded it out so quickly, and I really want next year to start with the war against the Evilus being in full-swing. I have A LOT planned for this arc, including many very big fights that I'm excited about. As such, I hope that the anticipation for all that's to come will allow you to forgive me for this terrible betrayal.
If not, well, I understand, and still wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. With that, I will bid you all farewell and I'll see you in 2022. :)