Hello everyone and Happy New Year!
Well, we're back for the first chapter of 2022 and boy are we starting out big. It's time for the Evilus War and the great rescue operation to save Bell. However, before we can do that, we've got to see what happened with everyone else, including a certain big thunder daddy, as well as the aftermath of the attack, so let's jump into it and begin this year with a bang!
I do not own Danmachi
"Everyone get inside! Quickly and orderly!" Asfi ordered, her voice calm, but authoritative.
Civilians ran into the Guild, many of them screaming as the city was rocked by the sounds of battle and roar of monsters.
Speaking of which, Asfi quickly threw several needles at goblins attempting to ambush the Ganesha familia members helping her protect the Guild, before turning and throwing a knife into the brain of one of the giant scorpions, destroying it.
She did not have time to revel in her victories, had she suddenly become the kind of person to do so, as a scream snatched her attention, forcing her to turn.
Suddenly she was faced with a giant vine-like creature she had hoped, very much, to never see again.
"Oh joy," she growled to herself.
The viola quickly spotted her and not a moment later, launched its flower head at her, intent on consuming her.
Agilely dodging the monster, she reached into her pouch and, when the viola lifted its head again and opened its disgusting mouth, she threw a bottle into its awaiting orifice.
For a second, it appeared that the creature would attack again, but suddenly, to its dismay, the concoction in the bottle exploded, destroying it from the inside out.
With the monster now destroyed, Asfi allowed herself one brief sigh of relief, before turning back to the civilians.
"Get inside! Quick and-!"
She was prevented from finishing as the ground shook again and, suddenly, three more violas appeared around her.
"Shit. Protect the civilians!" she roared to the Ganesha familia, who quickly got between the terrified people and the monsters, even as their own fear seemed ready to overwhelm them.
Asfi grabbed several throwing knives and bottles, ready to do battle with the violas, but just as they were about to attack, a beam of fire magic shot at the middle monster, setting it ablaze.
As the middle viola screamed in pain, the other two turned, only to find themselves under attack from several adventurers who quickly tore them apart.
The ablaze viola finally burst into black smoke alongside the other two destroyed vine creatures, allowing Asfi to drop her shoulders and her rescuers to approach.
"Took you long enough," Asfi stated.
"Oh come on! Is that anyway to talk to the people who just saved yah! Especially when they're your familia!" Lulune cried.
Asfi ignored her complaints and turned instead to Falgar.
"What's the situation?"
"The city is nearly overrun with monsters, however dozens of safety points have been set-up to protect civilians. Most are based around familia headquarters, but others are located in sturdy buildings such as a church in Daedalus Street. All in all, we can expect some casualties, but nothing like what we faced eight years ago."
Asfi nodded.
"Alright, then get into position around the Guild. Until this mess is over, our priority is the civilians and staff inside."
"Right!" her familia responded.
The God of the Underworld watched as Uriel cut the monsters to pieces with her longsword while the vampire twins tore through them with their daggers.
"This is quite ludicrous," Hades stated as he watched the ladies of his familia, "this never happened while my oaf of a brother and Hera were leading the city."
"I shall take your word for it, beloved," Uriel said as she cut through another scorpion.
"It wouldn't be so bad if the rest of our familia was here," Laura said as she plunged her scarlet dagger through a goblin, before throwing it away so it didn't explode in her face.
"Quite right. I shall send word to them once the situation is under control," Hades conceded, "however, until then," he dodged to the left as a goblin, which had jumped from the roof of the hospital, attempted to plunge its claws into his neck. The god then spun around and grabbed it by the back of its head. The goblin attempted to squirm out of his hand, only to find the god's grip getting tighter and tighter until, with a painful cry, it burst into smoke.
Hades dusted off his hands, then turned his now shining eyes to his familia.
"We have work to do."
His electric blue eyes fluttered open.
What's all that noise?
He slowly sat up, finding the noise outside to only get worse as he began to focus on it. His focus was quickly diverted however as he heard what sounded like explosions coming from outside.
"That doesn't sound good."
Getting out of bed, Achilles pulled Dragonsbane to his side with his magnetism. He rushed to his window and opened the curtails, his vision immediately being filled with the sight of Orario under attack.
"Evilus," he growled as he took it all in.
He spun around and made his way out of the room, not caring for a moment that all he was wearing was a standard hospital gown.
Someone nearly ran into him the moment he opened the door.
"I'm so sorry! I just-! Achilles-sama!"
Achilles looked down at the individual, discovering them to be a member of the Ganesha familia.
"Secure the civilians. I deal with the monsters," Achilles stated calmly.
Not feeling any need to question the legendary captain, the adventurer quickly went back to escorting people to safety while those in the hallway parted for the ex-captain as he made his way outside.
He immediately found the Hades and Ganesha familias defending the hospital from the onslaught. Wasting no time, he activated his Lightning Steps and, in the blink of an eye, tore through the hundreds of monsters before them.
Stunned by the sudden destruction of the creatures, everyone turned to him and he practically drowned in their relief.
"I'll deal with the monsters, you all just focus on getting everyone to safety," Achilles said.
"Of course," Hades agreed, "be careful though, from what we gathered there are many new monsters that even those in Orario are unfamiliar with, including exploding goblins."
"Noted."
"The Loki familia is heading towards the Tower of Babel," Shakti quickly added, "they suspected that more monsters would be coming from the Dungeon and, given the current situation, I fear they were right."
"Thanks. Now," Achilles began to bounce in place as he allowed his lightning to begin pumping through his veins. More and more brilliant blue lightning began to crackle along his skin with each bounce until the entire buzzed with his power, "let's finish this."
No one even saw him depart, there was only a flash of blue light and he was gone. Had anyone had the foresight, they would have made sure to time The Father On High in how quickly he destroyed the remaining monsters.
For the record, it took him 58.96 seconds.
"We're almost there!" Finn cried as they rushed towards Babel.
"More monsters ahead!" Gareth cried.
"Yeah boy!" Sif cried as she prepared her warhammer.
However, she would not get the chance to use it as the monsters suddenly burst into dust before them as a bolt of blue lightning shot towards the sky.
"What happened?" Lefiya asked.
Finn looked around and noticed the blue lightning shooting up all over the city. He smiled.
"Looks like Achilles woke up," he said, turning to Riveria.
The elf watched the lightning as well, relief filling every corner of her body.
Thank Heaven.
"As glad as I'm sure we all are to have Achilles back in the game, we still need to get to the Tower," Tione cut in.
"Right. Let's keep moving. Achilles will catch up," Finn stated.
They all immediately began running again, heading straight for the Dungeon.
Just as they entered the plaza before the great tower, they found the Hestia, Mania, Miach, and Take familias rushing towards them, alongside Ottar. However, odd as that normally would be, it was who else was with them that really caught his attention.
"Glad to see you're all alright," Finn greeted, his eyes shifting between the Hestia familia and the five veteran adventurers who had begun that morning under arrest.
"We're here to help, Finn. I promise. And to begin making up for what we've done," Galadriel vowed.
He nodded.
"Good. Fighting you all is the last thing I want to add to my to-do list today," he replied, though his voice held not even a hint of humor.
"But you will be apologizing to Achilles once this is all over," Riveria cut in.
"Of course," the dark elf immediately agreed.
"Great, everyone's happy! Now let's get to the Dungeon to make sure no more of these bastards and freaks make it out!" Bete bellowed.
The now combined familias did just that, finishing there journey and finding, to no great surprise, that it appeared a battle took place in the plaza before Babel. However, it was not long before someone spotted something that shouldn't be there.
"Isn't this your swordsman's weapon?" Patroclus asked as he held up Desperate.
"Yes," Riveria and the others rushed forward, taking the sword, "where's Ais?" she asked, her heart thundering in fear.
"Spread out!" Finn ordered.
Everyone fanned out fearing the worst, but only for a few terrible moments, as soon the Sword Princess was discovered by her mother figure. However, any relief she might have felt immediately burned away as she took in Ais's wounds and the way her body shook with silent weeping as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Over here!" Riveria called as she began to heal the young woman.
The others rushed over, with those that could heal immediately setting to work. Yet, just like Riveria, they found their fear only growing the more time that passed as, with her body slowly healing, Ais's silent weeping became ever louder.
"Ais, what's wrong? What happened?" Riveria asked gently.
"B…Bell."
Every heart stopped.
"W-What about Bell?" Welf asked, stepping forward.
The tears in Ais's golden orbs flowed even more freely as she choked on her sobs.
"W-W-What happened t-to Bell-sama?" Haruhime asked, feeling like her heart was dying in her chest.
"R-Revis…she…"
Bile filled the throats of those around her, preventing them from asking the question they so desperately needed answered.
"Ais…what happened to Bell?" Riveria asked, pleading both for an answer and for the answer to not be what they all feared.
"Revis…took him."
Everything stopped.
"What?" Riveria asked, hoping she hadn't heard right.
"S-She took him…into the Dungeon. A-A-And I…I couldn't…I couldn't stop her!" Ais wailed as she covered her eyes with her arm in shame.
Ice flowed down their spines as those words sank in. They had all feared the worst when she had said the young man's name. Now, they learned that what they feared was not actually the worst thing that could happen as the one thing they didn't even know they wished would never happen, had.
Oh gods. Oh gods! Riveria thought as it all sank in. Then, one very important other detail entered her mind. Achi-!
A burst electric blue made them all turn and, to their horror, they found Achilles only a few paces away.
"Is everyone alright?" he asked as he stepped forward.
By this point, Ais had been healed enough to sit up and, hearing Achilles's voice, she did just that, turning her ashamed, tearful eyes to him.
"Ais? What's wrong?" he asked.
She got up, and everyone was too stunned or unsure of what to do to stop her. The young girl stumbled and wept her way to Achilles and fell into his arms, where she began to cry into his chest.
"I-I-I'm…I'm s-so sorry!" she cried.
"What…what's going on? Why are you sorry?"
Suddenly, he found Ottar, Gareth, Ajax, Tione, Tiona, and Bete all holding him, grabbing his arms, legs, and anywhere they could grab.
"What the hell are you all doing?" he asked, now confused and alarmed.
"Achilles, we need you to be as calm as possible," Finn said gently, "this isn't going to be easy to hear."
"Easy to hear? What are you talking about?" Achilles questioned, more confused than ever.
He began to look around at those around him, hoping to receive some sort of answer and in doing so, he found one face in particular missing.
He froze and everyone tensed.
"Where's Bell?"
That one question could have given weaker adventurers heart-attacks. Those two words, which in normal circumstances could have been so innocent, now felt like a sword in each of their hearts.
"Ais," Achilles looked down at the girl crying in his chest, "where is Bell?"
She looked up, tears streaming down her beautiful face as her shame filled the father's gaze.
"R-Revis…"
The six adventurers holding Achilles suddenly found their bodies straining as he pulled against them.
"Revis…what?"
"She…"
"Sheeeee…?" he pressed as the adventurers found themselves breaking the stone beneath their feet in an attempt to hold him.
"She…she took Bell."
… … …
"What?"
None of those there had ever feared Achilles more than at that moment nor, at the same time, felt greater pity and compassion for him. It felt like their hearts had been ripped from their chests and a few even had to swallow vomit as the stress and anxiety tried to force its way out of their bodies.
"Revis…she said he was her mate…and took him into the Dungeon," Ais explained.
"Mate? What the fuck does that even mean?"
"Achilles," Finn tried.
"No, it doesn't matter what she fucking means, she's not touching him," Achilles growled, "now all of you are going to get the fuck off of me. I need to go get my son!"
"Achilles," Riveria jumped in now, "you can't."
"CAN'T! SAYS FUCKING WHO?! You?!" he roared.
Never before had he ever spoken to her like that, and it honestly hurt her. She understood why he was acting like this, of course she did, but the contemptuous way he was looking at her right now made her, for a moment, wonder if he hated her.
"Says us all. We all want to get Bell back, but we can't. Not right now!" Finn jumped in, noting how hurt Riveria looked.
"WHY NOT?! THE MONSTERS ARE TAKEN CARE OF AND I CAN TEAR REVIS APART!" Achilles screamed.
"The Evilus have new, powerful monsters that are powerful enough to take on even high level adventurers. It took Gareth, Sif, and I to take down one and Bete, Tione, and Tiona to take down another. We don't know how many more the Evilus have and getting yourself killed won't do Bell any good. We need to regroup, secure the city, then march into the Dungeon in force."
"And what happens to Bell in the meantime?! What's his fate?!" Achilles demanded, pulling on the adventurers holding him with such strength that even together they found themselves moving forward an inch.
Finn's fists tightened as his thumb throbbed in agony.
"Bell's strong. He'll survive."
Pure, utter hatred filled Achilles's eyes at that moment, built upon the pain of knowing what Finn was saying.
"Survive? They're going to torture him."
Ais froze and Haruhime's strength evaporated at those words, causing her to fall to her knees before she began to cry as well. Those around her tried to comfort her, but many were having difficulty keeping their own tears at bay.
Finn, for his part, simply held the father's gaze, accepting the rage and contempt in an effort to stop his old comrade from traveling down a path that could only get him killed.
"We will rescue him. I promise."
"Promise," Achilles replied lowly.
It all became too much for the Father On High. Everything he felt was tearing him apart inside and he closed his eyes, desperate to try and stop it all from overwhelming him, but he couldn't. Soon, tears streamed down his face and a terrible, soul-destroying groan reverberating from his throat.
"Back up," Finn said quickly, knowing what was going to happen.
"But captain-" Tione tried.
"Back up! Now!"
Immediately, they all jumped back, including those not holding Achilles, allowing him to fall to his knees and grab his head.
"REAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
A bolt of lightning shot into the sky, instantly filling it with black clouds that began to thunder and cry, with each clap of thunder echoing the father's agonizing pain.
Everyone made their way through the streets in painful silence as the storm raged above them, dragging themselves towards the hospital with nothing but defeat in their hearts.
None even had the strength to look up from the ground. It only got worse with each step towards the hospital as the knowledge of having to tell the others of their utter failure made their hearts sink to the very bottom of their feet.
Finally, the hospital came into view, and with it, the Ganesha and Hades familia.
"Ah, there you all are. We were beginning to wond-" Hades stopped as he took note of their expressions and the coldness which surrounded them. He looked amongst the adventurers, and, noting that one was missing, his heart began to thunder. "Where's Bell?" he asked.
No one answered and fear entered his glowing orbs.
"We'll explain everything inside," Finn said, stepping forward.
All Hades could do was nod and follow after the entourage, his familia and Shakti joining him as they all made their way inside.
The hospital was chaotic, as one would expect, but seeing the entourage entering, all fell silent and made way for them, allowing the adventurers and deity to reach the room where all the other deities had taken refuge.
"Ah! There you guys are!" Hestia greeted, "we were all getting a little anxious, including Nix here," she held up the rabbit in her arms, "he suddenly burst into the room a little while ago, looking for you, Bell-ku-"
It was then that she noticed not only the air around the returning adventurers, but that her captain was nowhere to be seen.
"Where's Bell-kun? Don't tell me he's still off fighting some monster or getting himself into trouble somewhere?" the goddess joked, hoping to get a chuckle or smile, anything that would indicate that the fear she was currently feeling wasn't necessary.
Yet, no one responded. They couldn't. They were trying their best not to choke on their own misery and sense of failure.
"Achilles," Mania gently called to her son, "what's going on?"
The deities all turned to the former captain yet, just like the others, he remained utterly, agonizingly silent, and his empty eyes refused to move from the ground.
"W-Where is Bell?" Freya asked, the shaking in her voice spreading to her body.
Finally, Ais stepped forward, only to immediately get on her knees before the deities.
"Bell," she choked for a moment, "was taken by Revis into the Dungeon."
Nothing.
Silence.
Agony in the form of quiet.
"T-That can't be true," Freya finally managed, her head turning to her captain, whose head bowed in shame.
"I am so sorry, my lady."
"Bell's been…" Hestia spoke, her body shaking as tears filled her eyes, "B-Bell-kun's been-"
She dropped to her knees and began to weep as her familia rushed to her side, though many of them were now crying as well.
"How…how did this happen?" Loki asked, her own eyes now open in shock.
"Something took Bell while we were fighting," Ryuu answered, turning away from her goddess, "we…we thought that he could handle it and so didn't follow."
"You abandoned him?!" Hestia cried.
The Hestia, Mania, Miach, and Take familias all looked like the shame would actually crush them, and they all fell to their knees, no longer having the strength or will to hold themselves up.
"Please don't blame them, Hestia-sama," Galadriel jumped in, hating the scene before her, "they were all fighting as hard as they could. In fact, had we not arrived when we did, I fear that they all would have been annihilated."
Hestia's anger immediately turned to dust and she turned back to her children and their friends. Seeing their bowed heads and tears, she realized how cruel she had been and her own tears returned.
"I'm sorry. That…I'm so sorry."
Her familia shook their heads, completely understanding how she felt, but finding themselves unable to voice anything.
"W-We have to get him back," Mania said as painful rivers flowed down her cheeks.
"Of course we'll get him back, Mania. I am not about to leave my great-nephew in the hands of those vermin," Hades stated, his eyes burning with despair and wrath.
"You can count on us. We won't abandon Bell," Hephaestus joined.
"No we won't," Takemikazuchi agreed.
"He is our friend and I owe him a great deal. I will not leave him to the Evilus and their plans," Miach added.
"We'll take him back, Hestia. And kick the Evilus's ass as we do so," Loki swore.
Hestia finally turned from her familia towards the other deities and though tears still flowed down her cheeks, she managed a smile.
"Thank you. All of you."
Suddenly, Nix jumped from Hestia's arms and bolted for the door where he began to desperately paw at it.
"He's trying to get to Bell," Lili said, remembering how the bunny acted in Athens.
That broke the already shattered hearts in the room.
Nix, oblivious to all that was going on behind him, continued to desperately try and get through the door that barred his way to his beloved owner. That was, until a large hand suddenly lifted him from the ground and placed him firmly against a strong chest.
Nix looked up and found that it was the Father On High who had captured him and began to squirm in an effort to escape. Finding he could not, he glared up at Achilles.
However, his glare immediately evaporated when he saw the father's cold, empty eyes.
The rabbit, now understanding that he wasn't the only one in pain, stopped squirming and, after a moment, a small sound of misery emitted from him as he snuggled into Achilles's chest.
Everyone watched the scene unfold without a word and even after Nix had stopped fighting and hid himself away into the father's chest, they found themselves silent. That was, until a certain sun princess, her heart burning, stepped forward.
"We will rescue him. Safe and whole."
There was not a hint of doubt in her voice or her eyes, which burned like green fire before them all.
Slowly, the strength of her voice and the fire in her eyes spread and determined smiles began to grow amongst all present and they began to nod.
"Yes. We will," they all agreed. All accept one.
Off to the side, Achilles remained silent, his eyes only staring down at the rabbit in his hand. However, he had not failed to hear the words around him and his other fist tightened as he made his own silent vow.
The feelings in the city, however, had not been rejuvenated by the strength of Haruhime's character. Instead, this most recent destruction only further created fear within the hearts of its citizens as questions arose. The longer those questions remained unanswered, the more the fear and anxiety turned into anger and rage. And when something terrible occurs, creating fear and rage, people try to find a reason for their pain. They attempt to find a scapegoat. Luckily for them, they already had one. Bell Cranel.
Word spread through the city like fire that the most recent troubles were the fault of the Red Dawn, though few could come up with a real reason why. Yet that mattered little. He was to blame. He had to be. The monster adventurer always was. Him and his crazy familia.
Mixed into this toxic concoction of emotions and blame, was an ever louder rumor about something that had transpired in Athens. Soon, the name 'Ares' and the word 'murdered' filled the ears of the city, pouring ever more fuel into the fire of ruin that looked to consume the mysteriously unseen adventurer who, just so happened, to have disappeared during the attack.
This was the air that covered the city when the Hestia familia and their allies were summoned to the Guild the next day.
"Did any of you get any sleep?" Hestia asked as she looked over her children.
"Nope. Not a wink," Aisha replied, stretching in the hope that it would get her blood flowing and wake her up a bit.
"Neither did any of us," Rei stated, looking over his own familia.
"I think all our minds were racing too much to even make the attempt," Mikoto added.
"I do believe you're right, my dear," Mania agreed.
The others nodded.
"Yeah. I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep again until Bell's back in my arms," Hestia said.
"We must remain strong. We're all worried, but we can't help Bell if we're exhausted," Haruhime said.
Again, her familia nodded.
"You're right," Welf agreed, before turning his head, "but where's Achilles?"
The Father On High still hadn't come down and it was really beginning to worry them all.
"I'll go get him. I'm sure he's just comforting Nix," Haruhime said, though her voice was anything but convincing.
She had just reached the bottom of the stairs when they all heard movement coming from the second floor.
A few seconds later, Achilles appeared, but not as they expected. Instead of his usual outfit, the former captain of the Zeus familia appeared before them in his full armor, his shield on his arm, hand on his sword, and his electric blue eyes shining behind his helm.
"Achilles? Why are you in your armor?" Haruhime asked.
He did not reply, only made his way down the stairs, passed her, passed the others, and went to the door, which he then opened.
"Achilles," Mania tried to call, but he simply exited, leaving them all in the now quiet entryway.
The others shared a look, their previous worry now even greater, before following after him.
They were all surprised when they found Achilles right outside the door, standing like a statue as he looked out towards the gate.
Wondering what was going on, they looked past him and found a crowd before their gates, and given the signs they saw and the angry shouts they heard, they quickly understood the crowd wasn't there to wish them well.
"They think we're at fault," Lili stated angrily.
"No," Geneve said as she looked at the signs, "they think Bell is at fault."
The sound of crackling and of a fist tightening around the leather strap of a shield, turned their attention away from the mob and back to Achilles, who, despite the crackling, remained just as agonizingly quiet as before as he took a step forward.
Achilles strode towards the front gate and opened it, his eyes boring down on the crowd as he waited to be let through.
The moment enough room opened he took a step forward and the mob began to scream.
"Where is he?!"
"Where's the Red Dawn?!"
"This is his fault!"
"Where's the White Dragon?!"
Achilles continued forward, and no one in the mob, despite their self-righteous wrath, dared to try and bare his way.
"Where is that monster hiding, Olympian?!" a woman's voice called.
Something about this call made Achilles stop. Whether it was the insult itself or simply that his very limited patience had expired, no one knew, but stop he did, then he turned to the woman.
"Ever since he's come to this city, the peace here has been destroyed! Monsters! Mayhem! Explosions over the city! All because of him!"
Achilles took a step towards her, the menacing of his crackling lightning growing with each passing moment.
"She's right!" a man cried, stepping forward, "Orario was at peace before him! For eight years things were peaceful. The worst we ever had was the occasional brawl in the street or familia wiped out in the Dungeon. Nothing like this! Monsters springing forth from the ground and tearing the whole city apart!"
Those in the crowd agreed, nodding and making their own collection of angry noises.
"So where is he?!" the man pressed on.
"Where's Bell Cranel?!" the woman demanded.
"Where is the monster captain?!" the crowd roared.
That was all the father could take.
The woman and man suddenly found themselves grabbed by their heads and lifted above the crowd as Achilles began to squeeze their skulls.
"Aaah!" the woman screamed.
"L-Let me, gooooaaaaah!" the man cried.
The mob watched in horror as the enraged Father On High squeezed their skulls tighter and tighter, and brought their brains closer and closer to the fate of becoming jam in his hands.
"Achilles! Don't!"
The father turned and found Frandine holding his arm while looking pleadingly into his eyes.
"Don't Achilles."
He turned again, finding Haruhime holding his other arms, her eyes just as pleading.
"This isn't what heroes do," Frandine said.
"And it's not what Bell would want," Haruhime added.
"Don't let their fear and anger turn you into something you're not."
"They're just fools. Don't cry because of fools, you'll be crying all day. That's what Ajax said, remember?"
"Haruhime's right. They're just fools. Fools and cowards. Their words mean nothing. But if you kill them here and now, that will mean something. It will go against everything you stand for. Everything your familia stands for. Everything Briseis stood for," Frandine stated.
The mention of his best friend gave him pause and, for a moment, he felt shame as her smiling face appeared in his mind. This allowed Haruhime the chance to raise her other hand and cup his armored cheek. Somehow, despite his helmet, he could feel her warmth, which soothed away his rage and grief for long enough for him to meet her eyes.
"Let them go Achilles. It's alright."
He slowly turned back to the two whose lives now, quite literally, were in the palm of his hands, before, with a bitter, resigned sigh, he dropped them and continued walking on, the crowd parting to let him through.
The Hestia familia and co. all sighed in relief.
"Well done, Frandine-san," Galadriel said, smiling at the young woman.
The black cat girl smiled.
"Everyone needs a reminder every now and then."
Galadriel, still smiling, nodded.
"Come on guys, let's get going. We need to get to the Guild," Hestia said.
They all quickly did just that, ignoring the mob beyond a passing glare and rude hand gesture.
They reached the Guild, finding that, like their home, a crowd had gathered, demanding answers, asking questions, and attempting to vent all their negative emotions. Luckily, Shakti and the Ganesha familia had opened a way for them all to get inside, and they quickly passed the crowd to enter the Guild.
"Good morning everyone," Eina quickly greeted, doing her best to smile, but everyone could tell she was having great difficulty putting on anything even half convincing, "the other familias are already in Ouranos's chambers."
The group nodded and turned towards the adjoining hall. It was then that Eina realized a familiar face wasn't amongst them.
"Where's Bell-kun? Did he stay home because of the people outside?"
The entourage froze, except for Achilles, who continued striding forward as if he did not hear the question.
"What…what's going on?" Eina asked as Misha, noticing the sudden tension in the air, strode forward.
In fact, the entire Guild had gone quiet as the employees stared at the adventurers and their deities.
"Bell-kun was…captured by the Evilus," Hestia informed her, "and taken into the Dungeon."
Eina's soul was ripped from her.
"W-What?" she asked as Misha stepped forward, not quite sure what precisely she was doing, but knowing she needed to be there for her friend.
"A woman named Revis captured Bell and took him into the Dungeon. Ais Wallenstein tried to stop her, but after all the fighting, she was too weak to do so. Bell is...now being held somewhere deep in the Dungeon," Hestia explained.
Eina's strength disappeared and she fell to her knees as Misha and several other Guild employees rushed to her.
"B-Bell-kun…" tears filled her eyes as Misha and the others tried desperately to calm her, to no avail.
"We're going to get him back."
Eina, with glassy eyes, looked up to meet Hestia's gaze.
"I promise, Eina-san," the goddess continued, "we'll get him back, and then you and I can both give him a proper scolding."
Eina, tears still in her eyes, laughed and nodded. Hestia, now smiling, hugged the half-elf and for a moment, all was quiet. Then, slowly, Hestia pulled back, still smiling at the young woman.
"Promise."
She retreated from Eina as the half-elf nodded and continued down the hall, the others following the goddess after a final quick glance to the Guild employee.
Eina watched them go. Once they were out of sight, she closed her eyes, clamped her hands together and began to pray.
Please come back, Bell. Please.
They made their way into Ouranos's chamber which was now almost filled to the brim with deities and adventurers. The usual players were there. Loki, Freya, Ganesha, Hephaestus and the other friends of the Hestia familia, but a few new faces were there as well. Hades was expected, but Thor and Kali were not. However, no one said a word on their inclusion.
"Now that everyone is here, we shall begin," Ouranos began, his voice even more serious than normal, "we have allowed the Evilus to exist for too long. It is time to hunt them down and end them as a threat to Orario. Loki," he turned to the sly goddess, "seeing as you're not only one of the leading familias, but more importantly, have the most experience with this new Evilus group, you shall lead the expedition."
"Got it," she replied.
"You will be joined by the Hestia familia, smiths from the Hephaestus familia, the Thor familia, and the remnants of the Zeus and Hera familias."
"You think you can keep me from joining this expedition, Ouranos?" Mania asked, glaring at the seated god.
"No," he quickly admitted, "these are simply the familia I'm assigning. However, given the severity of this situation and my own desire to see Bell Cranel returned, I will allow other familias to join. However, I suggest careful consideration before joining, Mania. This expedition will be traveling to the deep floors of the Dungeon. Deeper, perhaps, than has ever been recorded. You should ask yourself if you're willing to put your familia in such danger before assigning them to this task."
That did give Mania pause and she turned to her children, but found them all smiling.
"We're going, Mania-sama. No matter the danger. We're going to bring Bell back and kick those Evilus's asses for all they've done," Rei said while his familia smiled and nodded behind him.
Mania, despite knowing the danger, smiled and silently thanked him before turning back to Ouranos.
"Very well. The Mania familia will join the expedition."
"I volunteer as well," Hades called, "I have complete faith in the strength of my familia," he said as his three children stepped forward.
"We'll join as well," Asfi stated, causing everyone, including her god to look at her, surprised, "you were going to volunteer us anyway, I figured I wouldn't waste any time in waiting for you to do so," she informed Hermes, who smiled and tipped his hat.
"I will join as well," Bache said, stepping forward.
"Is that acceptable to you, Kali?" Ouranos asked.
"I'm not sure I could stop her," Kali replied with a shrug, "she wants bunny boy back."
"I'll come along too," Argana said, "I've never been into the Dungeon and I want to see what kind of fight it has in it."
"Then the Kali familia will also join," the god of the city said calmly.
"We'd like to join as well," Take said as he and Miach stepped forward.
"Take, Miach, this is going to be really dangerous. I appreciate the support, but you don't need to risk yourselves. We'll be fine," Hestia said.
"On the contrary, that is precisely what we must do. You're our friend, Hestia, and friends don't abandon each other in their time of need," Take stated.
Nearby, Mikoto smiled proudly and adoringly on her god.
"Precisely. Not only that but we both have debts to pay to your familia and Bell in particular. Besides, I doubt our children would forgive us if we forbade them from going," Miach added.
Hestia smiled and bowed in thanks to them.
"Naturally, my familia will be joining as well," Freya affirmed.
"No."
Everyone turned back to Ouranos.
"I beg your pardon?" the goddess shot back.
"I cannot allow your familia to join this expedition, Freya," Ouranos replied calmly, "we need at least one of the leading familias to remain within the city to ensure its safety. Your familia is on par with Loki's and thus is the most able to ensure security. More importantly, with Achilles Caesar joining the expedition, Ottar is the only one strong enough to defeat Lancelot Chevalier should he escape again."
"You think I'm going to just sit by and do nothing while my beloved suffers who knows what down in the Dungeon?!" she roared.
"I'm sorry Freya, but I forbid it and before you deny me, I will say that, were he here, Bell Cranel would ask that you stay too, in order to safeguard the city."
Tears filled her eyes as glared at the other deity.
"How dare you use him against me like that," she wept.
"I'm sorry."
The goddess of beauty closed her eyes, trying desperately to gain control of all the terrible emotions flowing through her, but to no avail.
"Did you wish to say something, Allen Fromel?"
Her head snapped up and she found her vice-captain now standing before Ouranos.
"You say you need Ottar and my familia to stay behind in the city, but surely sending one of us won't be too great a risk," the catman said.
"I cannot spare Ottar. Not with the Knight of Knights in the city," Ouranos replied.
"I'm not asking for Ottar, I'm asking for me."
Even Ouranos seemed a bit surprised by that.
"You? You wish to join the expedition?" the god asked.
"Yes. I'm not as strong as Ottar, but I'm strong enough to be able to handle the lower floors," Allen responded.
For a moment, Ouranos processed this, acknowledging that Allen would be of great benefit to the expedition and losing him wouldn't too greatly increase the risk to the city. Yet, he still had one question to ask.
"Why do you wish to join, Allen Fromel? As far as I was aware, you held naught but animosity towards Bell Cranel."
"I don't care for him. Not in the least," the catman quickly admitted, earning a few glares and growls, "I think him utterly undeserving of my lady's love." More growls. "However, my lady does love him, and is suffering without him. Not only that but," his teeth gnashed together for a moment, "I owe him a debt. A debt I'd very much like to pay off."
No one but Freya and her children knew what this meant, and the goddess herself simply smiled.
Despite all his contempt, he's still prepared to repay Bell for what he did.
Ouranos stared down at the chienthrope for a moment longer, before finally nodding.
"Very well. I shall allow you to join the expedition as well. But be warned, Allen Fromel, neither I, nor your fellow adventurers hold a great deal of trust in you and will be watching you carefully."
"Noted."
Thus, the expedition against the Evilus was born and the familias departed the Guild to prepare for the war that would decide the fate of not only Orario, but the world.
"Are you sure about this? That crossbow is generally for someone a lot bigger than you," the gnome said.
"Lili can handle it," she replied as she attached her new weapon to her arm and began to inspect it.
As she looked over the crossbow, the gnome watched her with worried, but experienced eyes.
"Does this have something to do with your captain?"
She stopped, then turned, her eyes burning with suspicion.
"Are you going to insult Bell-sama too?" she questioned dangerously.
"No," he quickly replied, surprising her, "I don't know the lad well enough to make a judgment and I'm old enough to know not to take rumors and nasty whispers to heart. However, I'm also old enough to recognize a young woman in love. In love and terribly scared."
Her fists tightened and for a moment she wondered if she should just pay for her new equipment and leave, but for some reason, she didn't and spoke up again.
"The Evilus captured him. He's somewhere deep in the Dungeon. Alone."
"I see," he said after a moment of quiet, "and you blame yourself?"
"Lili should have been there for him. Been there to cover his back," she said as her previously suppressed tears began to return.
"Lili, child, I suspect that if you fought whatever took your captain, nothing would have changed beyond this conversation being impossible."
She wanted to deny him. Scream that she could have helped, but she knew, under all her anger and misery, that he was right.
Her head fell.
"Lili." She looked up. "You're not at fault. More importantly, you're still here, meaning you can still do something," he smiled at her, "and I know precisely how resilient you are."
The smile burned away the pain and she could not help but smile.
"You're right. I am resilient and I haven't survived everything I have just to lose the man I love. I will get him back."
"That's my girl."
Ryuu finished explaining everything to them, leaving the Hostess of Fertility utterly devoid of noise.
"B-Bell," Syr sobbed as her body began to shake.
The other waitresses quickly hugged her, and Mia put a hand on her shoulder to give her a reassuring squeeze.
"So you'll be heading out tomorrow to get him back?" the matron asked, looking back to Ryuu.
"Yes. Tomorrow morning, at dawn. We all want to leave as soon as possible."
Mia nodded.
"Understood. Then you should head back home and get ready."
Ryuu nodded and stood up.
"We'll get him back, Syr. I promise. He'll be back in our arms soon," she vowed.
Syr looked up and, seeing the unshaking gaze of her best friend, she managed to smile and nod.
"I know you will."
Ryuu departed leaving the Hostess of Fertility quiet once again.
"Girls." The waitresses all turned to their mama. "Close up the shop and go get your gear."
They blinked.
"What?" Lunoire asked.
"We're not going to leave our favorite customer to rot in the Dungeon anymore than Ryuu or the others are. We're going to get him back," Mia stated.
The girls' eyes widened, before they all, simultaneously smiled, and Anya pumped her fist.
"Nyooo way we're leaving him! We're gonna get him back! And when we do I'm going to squeeze that perfect butt of his as a reward, nya!"
"I think Syr'll rip your hands off if you do," Chloe said.
"No, I would never do that. Now, a stern talking to, I might do," Syr said with a smile, "but just this once I'll allow it. But only after I and Ryuu get a handful first."
"Deal!" Anya agreed as everyone laughed.
"Then get a move on, we've got an adventurer to save," Mia ordered, and not a moment later, the staff was closing up shop, leaving only a quick explanation on a sign hanging on the doors that read.
Bringing back a friend.
Aisha stuffed a few more potions and weapons into her bag before throwing it over her shoulder.
"I think that's everything," she said.
"Are you really sure about this, Aisha? I know you like the bunny boy, but the deep floors are something else," Samira said with worried eyes, "I'm sure your goddess would understand if you didn't want to go."
"I'm not leaving the captain of my familia down in the Dungeon to be used by those bastards!" Aisha threw back harshly.
The other girls stepped back and, seeing their fear, she sighed.
"I'm sorry. But I need to get him back. No matter what."
"You're really in love with him, aren't you?" Lena asked.
"Yeah. Yeah I am," Aisha answered immediately.
The other girls of the Pleasure District looked at each other, then smiled.
"Then we'll help!" Lena declared.
"What?"
"We'll help you get him back!" Lena proclaimed.
"Don't be stupid. Not only is this dangerous, but your deities won't just allow you to join the expedition."
"They will if we ask. I'm sure of it!" Lena declared.
"And if not, we'll just take a 'vacation' for a little while," Samira stated.
Looking over the other girls, Aisha found they had all already made up their minds, but tried one last time to stop them.
"This will be beyond dangerous. Even Freya's attack will be nothing compared to this."
"We know, but that's not going to stop us," Samira stated.
Aisha sighed again.
"You're all fools," she smiled, "but at least you're my fools."
Ajax leant down and kissed Antiope on the top of her head before silently wishing her sweet dreams and making his way out.
"Everyone asleep?" Polyxo asked once he closed the door.
"Yep. Asleep and warm in their beds," he responded.
"Good," she kissed his cheek, "I expect to see this scene for many years to come, you got that? You are not allowed to die down there."
He smiled sadly at her and nodded.
"I'll come back."
"You'd better, or I'll storm Heaven and drag you back down here just so I can yell at you."
The two kissed and Polyxo headed to bed, but Ajax, despite his own exhaustion, wasn't ready for bed yet, and so instead walked down the corridor until he found Galadriel's open door.
Walking inside, he found the other veterans all sitting or standing around the room.
"Seems I'm not the only one who can't sleep."
"I haven't even bothered to try," Patroclus said.
"Don't. It won't get you anywhere," Galadriel said.
"And it won't. Not until we make things right," Imilce spoke.
They all nodded, even Dido.
"We need to get him back. No matter what," Ajax said.
They shared looks between them, knowing full-well what he meant.
"Anyone want to make bets on who's going to die? Personally, I'm betting on myself. At least then I win either way," Patroclus darkly joked.
"You'll live. I'll personally see to that," Ajax responded, "you have so much life left to live. Me though, I've lived a good life. I found love and made a family. I won't die with any regrets."
"You can't leave Polyxo and the children behind Ajax!" Imilce cried.
"They'll be fine. Poly does most of the child care anyway. Besides, given recent events, they'll probably be better off without me," he chuckled, but it was a mirthless, miserable thing.
"Neither they, nor we believe that for a single moment, Ajax," Galadriel stated.
"No one's dying."
They all turned to Dido.
"If we all want to make up for what we've done, then death is off the table. Death isn't payment and if you all think it is, then you're all imbeciles."
The others shared looks before Patroclus and Ajax chuckled.
"Look who's being all optimistic," Patroclus said.
"I'm simply stating the obvious. If you call that optimism than you have a very warped sense of optimism," the Hera captain shot back.
Another round of chuckles before they all nodded.
"Alright, then I guess we'll all have to come back. Not like we Mama Mania would allow us to get off that easy. She'd probably create a curse to bring us back from death just to give us another round of curses," Galadriel joked.
"Yikes, that's a scary thought. I'm already living in perpetual fear due the whole 'stubbing my toe thing," Patroclus replied.
"Then, no dying," Galadriel said.
"No dying," they all agreed.
The adventurers all moved to leave only to, at the very same moment, slam their small toes into furniture or, in Ajax's case, the door.
The gods sat in the living room thinking on all that was to come, all except for Hades who was at a desk, pen in hand.
"What are you writing, Hades?" Mania asked.
"A letter to Zeus. He should know what's happened to Bell," the God of the Underworld answered.
"You know how to reach him?" Freya asked.
"I have always been able to reach him when I need to, and right now…" he finished his letter, "I need to."
A black hawk suddenly appeared out of thin air. Hades attached the letter to its leg then stroked its head.
"Bring this to my brother as quickly as you can."
The hawk nodded then fly off, flying straight through the walls and into the night sky.
After a moment of silence, Loki spoke up.
"Speaking of missing gods, where are the others? Getting ready for the expedition?"
"Yes," Hestia answered, "They're all getting ready."
The other deities noticed that the air around Hestia changed after that and it did not take long for them to figure out why.
"They volunteered to help, Chibi," Loki said, "they weren't going to take no for an answer."
"I know, but I still feel like I'm dragging them, and all of you," she turned to the others, "into this."
"Well don't," Mania said, "not only do we want to rescue Bell, but the Evilus need to be dealt with. Helping you is the only thing we can do."
"That's right!" Loki said, getting up, "I want those Evilus pricks gone so I can go back to peacefully drinking, peeping on girls, and teasing you!" Loki declared before taking two full handfuls of Hestia's chest.
"Loki!" the virgin goddess cried.
The others laughed, feeling that, despite what was to come, things would be alright.
Welf all but attacked the weapon before him. Again and again he struck the blade with his hammer, pouring everything he had into it.
"Welf." He stopped as a gentle hand fell onto his arm. "I know you're not in a good place right now, but you cannot blame yourself for what happened," Hephaestus said.
"Can't I? I should have been there for him."
"You were. You were protecting people just as he wanted you to. If you had tried to rush to his side instead of protecting others, you and I both know he would have scolded you in his own, gentle way," she countered, giving him a soft smile.
The smile, however, only served to break the dam holding back his feelings of failure and not a moment later, she saw tears growing at the corner of his eyes.
"Oh Welf," she pulled him into her arms, "you'll get him back. I promise."
"But how much is he going to suffer until then?" he asked.
"I don't know," she answered, "and I wish I could tell you that he won't suffer at all, but we both know that the likelihood of that is almost nothing." He desperately clung to her shirt. "But he's strong. Stronger than anyone his age has any right to be. Stronger than most of the gods I know," she pulled back and cupped Welf's tearful face, "so he'll survive. Not only that, but he'll become even stronger, just as you will in this adventure. You'll fight with everything you have to get your little brother back and when you've thoroughly kicked those Evilus's teeth in, you'll hug him with all your strength and he'll hug you right back with all of his. That's what's going to happen. I guarantee it."
That guarantee allowed him to smile again and he leant forward to kiss her. It was a short, chaste thing, but it made Hephaestus feel every ounce of love he had for her.
He pulled back and nodded.
"Thank you, Hephaestus."
"You're welcome. Now get back to work, Welf. The more tools you have in your arsenal, the sooner you get your brother back."
A few moments later, the ring of metal once again filled the smith as Welf and Hephaestus worked together to ensure the two brothers would be reunited as soon as possible.
"Do you think this is enough potions?" Cassandra asked her friend.
"Given we're going to the deep floors to fight who knows what, I'd say it's too little," Daphne replied.
Cassandra nodded and quickly grabbed more potions while silently hoping she wouldn't have to use them.
"Do you think they'll be able to handle this expedition? I can order them to stay if you think they're can't," Miach said, turning to his captain.
"Forgive me, Miach-sama, but I don't think you and I combined will be able to stop them from going. They want to rescue him, no matter what," Naaza replied.
He smiled, but only for a moment, before his expression turned serious again.
"And what about you? Are you sure you are willing to go into the Dungeon again?"
The dog girl looked down at her metal arm, flexing her fingers before nodding.
"I want to save him just as much as they do," she answered, before smirking, "well…maybe not as much as Cassandra."
Miach chuckled.
"She hasn't been very good at hiding her feelings has she?"
"No. No she hasn't," Naaza agreed.
A brief moment of silence fell upon them as Naaza's mind turned to something that she had been thinking about for a long time.
I don't want to live with regrets.
"Miach." He turned. "Can I speak with you alone for a moment?"
Confused, Miach held her purple eyes for a moment, before nodding.
The two made their way deeper into their home until they reached his room.
Once they were completely alone, he turned back to her.
"What is it you wanted to talk to me about, Naaza?"
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them she clenched her fists, then quickly closed the distance between them and cupped his face.
"Naaz-?"
She kissed him.
It probably wasn't a very good kiss, she reckoned, but she did pour everything she had into it. All her hidden love. All her appreciation. All her hope. Everything.
Miach's eyes widened as she claimed his lips and he knew that he should respond, but before he could, she pulled back.
"I don't want to regret anything anymore. I want to live my life the best I can and that means no more secrets and no more holding back. I love you, Miach."
His mouth opened and his eyes widened further before, after a moment, realization hit him, and he smiled.
"That would explain quite a bit."
She turned away and blushed, only to be surprised when he gently turned her head back to him and kissed her.
Now it was her eyes that widened, but only for a moment, as she soon fell into the kiss, closing her eyes and wrapping her arms around his neck.
This kiss was more passionate than the first, thanks largely to them both actively participating, yet it remained sweet and loving.
Finally, they pulled back and Miach laid his forehead against hers.
"I love you too, Naaza and, if you're willing, I'd very much like us to have a proper relationship."
She happily nodded, her tail wagging vigorously behind her.
"That does mean you'll have to come back to me. And in one piece," he continued.
"I promise," she said.
"We'll make sure of that."
The two jumped apart and found Daphne and Cassandra in the doorway. Cassandra was blushing, and hiding behind Daphne, though unbeknownst to the newly made couple, she was also smiling. Daphne, however, was positively beaming before them both.
"Thought it was funny that you two snuck off. Glad that you two finally confessed though. It was getting kind of annoying," Daphne announced.
The god and his captain blushed.
Mikoto made her way into the Take residence where she soon found Ouka, Chigusa, and the others preparing for the expedition.
"Mikoto!" Chigusa called, spotting her. She ran up to her best friend and hugged her. "How are you?"
"I'm alright," Mikoto said, though her voice did not hold its usual strength, "I'm ashamed of myself again, but I can't let that hold me back."
"You have nothing to be ashamed of," Ouka stated, "you fought as hard as anyone. We all wouldn't have made it back if you hadn't."
"I quite agree," Take called, catching their attention, "you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of."
"Takemikazuchi-sama," Mikoto replied, her voice quieter, "I'll…try to believe that."
"Good. Now, how can we help you? I'm sure with everything that's happening you didn't just come for a social visit."
Mikoto's cheeks suddenly gained a reddish hue, surprising the others.
Is she going to…? Chigusa wondered as her eyes widened and she silently wished her friend luck.
"A-Actually, I was hoping to speak to you, Takemikazuchi-sama. Alone."
The god was genuinely surprised by this, but after a few moments, he nodded.
"Alright. Then we'll head to my room."
Mikoto nodded and followed after him while Chigusa and the others all wished her luck.
They both entered the room and Take closed the door behind him.
"What did you want to talk with me about, Mikoto?"
She did not respond immediately, instead opting to take a few deep breaths while the god waited patiently for her to speak.
"I-I may be a part of the Hestia familia now, T-Takemikazuchi-sama…b-but you will always be my god," she began.
"I'm touched Mikoto. To know you still think of me as such warms my heart."
"You warm my heart too!" she quickly declared, startling them both. Her blush grew, before, after a few more deep breaths, she looked him straight in the eye and continued. "I planned to do this when I returned to your familia, but knowing what's to come, I feel I should say this now. I love you, Takemikazuchi. I always have and I always will!"
"Mikoto," Take whispered, his wide eyes staring into hers.
For a few moments, they just stared at each other, before a smile appeared on his lips and he closed the distance.
"I'm very glad to hear that," he said as he cupped her cheeks, making her eyes widen, "because I love you too," he leant down and kissed her.
Never, even in her wildest dreams, had Mikoto expected this. She had always anticipated a gentle rejection and hoped for nothing more than for the god to give a chance to earn his affections. To be faced with the reality that she already had them, and for him to be kissing her was unthinkable. Yet it was happening.
Take pulled back and smiled at her.
"I suppose that explains why you dropped that cake on my head."
Her blush returned.
"I'm sorry. I was jealous."
"No, it should be I who apologizes to you, for not seeing your feelings."
"Please. Please don't apologize, Takemikazuchi-sama. I should have had the courage to tell you sooner."
"Then how about we both don't apologize and simply do this again."
"Do wh-" she was cut off when he kissed her again.
This time she allowed herself to fall into the kiss, grabbing his clothes as she both gave her love and accepted his.
They parted again, both smiling adoringly at the other.
"I look forward to continuing this when you get back, Mikoto. But that means you have to come back to me. Do you understand?"
She nodded.
"I promise. I will," she promised resolutely.
"Good. Then here's another for your journey."
This time, Mikoto met his lips halfway.
The three watched as their princess swung and stabbed her sword at the air over and over again.
"She's been doing this all day," Tiona said.
"I'm not surprised," Riveria responded as she watched her surrogate daughter fight an invisible enemy, one she suspected had red hair and green eyes.
"Shouldn't we stop her? She needs to rest," Lefiya said, though her voice sounded more like pleading.
"We should, but there's no doubt she'll be resistant," Finn said, joining their conversation.
The three turned, finding Finn, Gareth, and Tione had joined them on the roof.
"How are the preparations?" Riveria asked.
"They're going well. The whole familia is working to get everything ready," Gareth answered.
"Good. This is likely to be the greatest fight of our lives," the High Elf responded.
"All the more reason to stop Ais so she can get some rest," Tione stated.
Riveria nodded and made her way over to the Sword Princess.
"Ais," she called, but to no avail, "Ais."
This time, the golden swordswoman stopped and turned to her.
"You need rest," Riveria said.
"I'm fine."
"That has never been less true than at this moment and you and I both know it."
Ais, after a moment, let her sword drop to her side.
"I was right there, Riveria. He was just out of reach. If I had just been a little bit stronger-"
"Do you think Bell's weak?"
The sudden question startled Ais who needed a moment to respond.
"No. Of course not. He's stronger than me."
"Yet he was defeated by Revis and that new monster."
"Yes."
"So, if Bell, who you just admitted is stronger than you, was defeated by them, why are you chastising yourself for not being strong enough?"
Ais tried to find a counter to that. She wracked her brain to find some way to make his capture her fault, but she couldn't and her sword dropped further as she fought to hold back tears.
"I want him back, Riveria," she whispered through barely restrained tears.
"I know. We all do. And we'll get him back. I promise," the elf vowed.
"Of course we're going to get him back!" Everyone's head shot around, finding Bete now with them on the roof and striding towards Ais and Riveria. "I still need to kick him in the head for all the stupid shit he's pulled! He doesn't get off just because the redhead bitch and her crazy bitch-ass friends captured his dumb ass!"
In another situation, the shouting and vulgarity might have made the situation worse, but here, it proved to be exactly what they all needed as they all smiled and a few even chuckled.
"Ya big softie," Tione said.
"Who you calling softie!" the wolf roared.
"Tsundere Bete! Tsundere Bete! Tsundere Bete wants to rescue Argonaut, Argonaut!" Tiona danced.
"Shut up!"
As Bete yelled at Tiona, Riveria turned back to Ais.
"See? We'll get him back."
Ais, after looking over her familia, smiled and nodded.
Within her room in the Hearthfire Manor, the sun princess prayed.
Please let Bell be alright. Let us reach him as soon as possible, heal his wounds, and take him home. Let us hug him again. Let us laugh with him and eat dinner as we did before. Let him feel warm and safe again. Let me take him into my arms again and give him all my love. I care naught if I am but his concubine, just let me hold him again. Please, whatever power cares to listen, let me be with him again.
Haruhime's prayer sung through the Heavens that night, for no deity or higher power could deny the wish of such a loving soul.
Morning came and the army amassed at the Tower of Babel.
Over a hundred adventurers stood before the Dungeon's entrance, ready to descend into its depths to finally bring the war to the Evilus, destroy them, and rescue Bell Cranel.
Before them all, his armor gleaming in the morning sun, and still as silent as a crypt, stood Achilles, waiting for the order to descend.
"Achilles. Please. Talk to me, honey," Mania tried. Yet he remained silent, the only sound she heard being his hands tightening around his sword and shield.
She stared up at her son saddened that he was in such pain, yet knowing there was little she could do to help him now.
He needs Bell back in his arms. Only that will ease the weight on his heart.
She leant down and kissed his hand.
"You'll get him back, Achilles. I know you will. And once he is, neither of us will ever let him go again."
She turned to leave, only to be stopped when she found her hand clasped in her son's.
Turning back to him, she watched as he raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.
Thank you. Mom.
She smiled, the weight on her own heart easing away.
"Stay safe. And come home."
He nodded.
"It looks like we're about ready to go," Finn said.
"Not quite," Aisha said, "I'm expecting some more company."
Before Finn and the others could ask the obvious question, a voice rose through the morning air.
"Aisha!"
The adventurers turned, finding a group of amazons and scantily dressed women heading their way.
"So you actually managed to get permission?" Aisha asked them.
"Yep! Took a little convincing, but we got it!" Lena declared with a smile.
"I really hope you all know what you're getting into."
"I don't think anyone here really knows what they're getting into."
Once more, everyone turned, finding another unexpected group before them.
"Mia?" Ryuu asked, "Anya? Chloe? Lunoire? What are you doing here?"
"And here I thought you were the smartest of my girls," Mia replied, holding up her great battleax, "we're going to help you rescue Bell."
"That's right! We can't just leave bunny butt down there by himself! Especially not when you and Syr want him so badly!"
Ryuu blushed lightly, but after a moment, she smiled and bowed to them.
"Thank you."
"We came here because we wanted to, no need for thanks," Mia responded, before she smiled, "but you're welcome."
"I won't come to save you if you bite off more than you can chew."
This time, it was Allen who spoke, who received glares from most of those around him, and a surprised look from Anya.
"Allen? What are you doing here?"
"What does it look like, idiot? I'm coming too."
Before she could further question him, he strode off, leaving his sister to her unanswered questions.
"Anyone else want to suddenly pop up?" Finn asked, looking around, "good. Then it's time."
He strode to the front of the army, which formed up before him while, in the distance, a crowd watched in silence.
"Today, we go into the Dungeon to bring the war to the Evilus! We will strike them in the heart of the operations, wipe them out completely, and bring back our friend and comrade. This will not be an easy expedition. We will face challenges greater than anything we've faced before. So we must stick together. Trust in yourselves and your comrades. Fight hard. Fight smart. Fight as one. Do that, and we'll make it home, safe, sound, and victorious," he raised his spear, "for Orario!"
The army raised their weapons.
"FOR ORARIO!"
For Bell, his friends and family added in silence.
Thus, the might of Orario descended into the Dungeon to bring the war with the Evilus to an end and bring back Bell Cranel.
Bell awoke with a groan.
Where…?
His eyes slowly regained their focus and he found himself seated on the ground in what appeared to be some sort of room.
He tried to get up, only to find both his arms were lodged deep into some, plant-like wall that refused to let him go.
"You're finally awake."
He turned to the familiar voice.
"Revis."
"Hello, my mate. I'm sorry for the injuries I inflicted on you, there was no other way to subdue you. Are you alright?"
"Where am I?" he demanded.
"You're on the 60th floor of the Dungeon."
"The…"
"You are safe though," she continued when he fell silent, "this is our domain. No one will hurt you here."
"Well that's probably not true."
They both turned, finding a smiling, pink-haired woman approaching.
"What do you want, Valletta?" Revis questioned.
"I wanted to see who this person that you dragged all the way down here was," the psychopath replied as she drew nearer to Bell, smiling cruelly the whole time, "hm, he doesn't seem like much."
"He's stronger than I am and far stronger than you," Revis bit back, irritated at the insult to her chosen one.
"Really? Then why don't we let him out of the wall and see what he can do?" Valletta replied, pulling out her sword.
"That would be most unwise."
Enyo entered the room, but was not alone. Beside him were two figures. One, Bell recognized as the masked creature, Ein, the other, was a tall man with purple hair wearing a dark cloak who he had never seen before.
"How are you, Bell Cranel? I trust Revis wasn't too rough with you?" Enyo asked.
"What do you want, Enyo?" Bell asked.
"Ah, straight to the point. I can appreciate that. Well, you see, I was hoping that you would join our little…family here."
Bell stared at the masked figure for a moment, his rubies boring down upon the figure.
"You know that's not going to happen."
Enyo chuckled and nodded.
"Yes. Me simply asking wouldn't turn you, of course. And I doubt the usual means would convince you either. You aren't paricularly interested in valis. You aren't a womanizer, despite the many lovely ladies around you." Bell glared at the entity as he tried to pull himself from the wall. "And you're not sadistic like Valletta here, so offering you blood won't intrigue you either." The pink-haired woman's smile grew. "However, I think with a little…convincing, you may change your mind."
Valletta licked her lips.
"Nothing will change my mind," Bell shot back, "just as nothing will change my mind about being your mate," he said to Revis.
"Give it time, Bell," she replied.
"Yes, time. Time has a way of changing things. Even deities can change given enough time," Enyo said, almost dancing before them all, "but you mortals are far less resistant to the effects of time than we gods are," he gestured towards the purple-haired man and himself.
"I can already tell you that you'll just be wasting your time by trying to turn me."
Enyo burst out laughing.
"Ah, he can banter too! I knew you were special Bell. Ever since the tournament where you turned into that terrible creature."
Bell did not respond, not that Enyo minded.
"But fear not. You shall see our way of thinking soon enough, after all." Bell could feel him smiling maliciously under his mask. "Nothing breaks a spirit as quickly as unrelenting, tortuous pain."
Suddenly, Bell felt something pierce both his arms and inject something into him. Not a second later, his eyes widened and he screamed.
"There it is!" Enyo cried as Bell screamed in agony, "Scream! Scream all you want Bell Cranel! Give us your sad song so that we may dance! Let us see how long you last. How long you can play your Melody of Misery."
Bell continued to scream as the others watched on.
Valletta was positively enraptured by his pain and soon her hand descended towards her waistline as she listened to Bell's cries.
Ein and Thanatos were indifferent, simply listening for a time, before turning to leave.
Enyo continued to dance, laughing to Bell's horrible song.
Lastly, Revis watched as her mate cried out his pain and, for the first time in her existence, she felt what she would later realize was guilt and regret.
And there it is! The first chapter of 2022 and the first chapter of Bell's captivity!
I hope you all enjoyed yourselves. If you did, or even if you didn't, please share your thoughts with me as I do love to hear back from you all.
With that, thank you all again for joining me in another year. I've got quite a few big things planned for this in the next year and hopefully I'll be able to keep churning out chapters for you all to keep you happy and entertained.
Anyway, that's all for today, so I will bid you all a fine farewell and a most Happy New Year!