Hello good people! I'm back and here to deliver a new chapter for our story.
So, now that we've seen that up on the surface things are evolving and devolving, we are descending back into the Dungeon where our heroes rush to save Bell whose torment at the hands of the Evilus is about to get much worse and something that will shake the foundations of the world shall occur. But I shan't tease you anymore. Let us begin.
I do not own Danmachi
"Gospel."
His body shook with the tremendous power of the spell, as it inflicted terrible pain and made it feel as if his very soul was rattling.
"Lugio."
The explosion torn and burned flesh, sending a new kind of pain shooting through his blood and bone and filling the air with a foul stench.
"That's enough, my dear. The goal isn't to kill him, after all."
Alfia lowered her hand per Enyo's orders and the Evilus leader smiled as he watched Bell's head drop and blood drip from his mouth and a hundred different wounds.
"My opinion of you grows with each passing moment, Bell Cranel, or perhaps with each passing spell," Enyo chuckled. "Your resilience really is profound, but I must say you appear quite exhausted and quite…oh what's the right word? Agonized. Tormented." Enyo's smile grew under his mask. "Broken."
Hearing that word, Bell managed to find the strength to lift his gaze and glare at his masked tormentor.
"Hm, perhaps I was wrong," Enyo corrected, though he sounded just as delighted as before. "Yet I am still under the firm belief that it's only a matter of time," he turned to Revis, who had been standing guard during the whole torture session and looked even paler than normal. "Please heal you husband-to-be my dear. We can't have him dying on us, especially not with what I have planned for him today."
Enyo turned and departed, leaving Revis and Bell alone.
Never in her existence had Revis ever felt disgusted or guilty with what she had done. She had always been apathetic during her many horrible endeavors or even scornful of those whom she destroyed and fought. Yet at that moment, she felt a pit deep in her stomach that she very well knew was guilt, and the bile in her throat was undeniably, disgust.
She went over to Bell, and quickly lifted his head so she could pour a healing potion into his mouth. Half of it spilled out, but some made it through.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, taking a nothing healing potion and pouring it into his mouth, but like the first, half of it spilled to the ground below. Cursing, she quickly decided this wasn't working and so poured a third potion into her mouth then clasped her lips to his.
What she was doing couldn't be called a kiss. Not really. It held absolutely no romantic feelings, only desperation. Then again, it did contain a kind of love in it, at least on the part of the redhead guilt-ridden butcher, so…who's to say whether it could be counted or not?
Bell's eyes widened a bit as her lips claimed his and she forced the potion into his mouth. After a moment, he managed to swallow, with only a drop of the potion escaping this time.
"This isn't what I wanted," she said when she pulled back.
Though his wounds were now healing and his life was no longer at risk, Bell was far too exhausted to make a verbal reply and so spoke through his eyes.
Then why are you doing this to me?
For the first time, Revis's eyes filled with tears.
"I…I don't know," she answered, "I don't know."
He held her gaze for a few more moments, though the reason was up for debate. Maybe he wanted to discover if she was lying. Maybe it was because he didn't know what else to do. Or perhaps it was because he was so desperate for comfort that even staring into the eyes of the monster woman who now felt the crushing weight of guilt, gave him something to hold on to down in the dark abyss.
"Revis."
The redhead turned, finding Ein a few paces away.
"We're to escort him to the Imperator Montrorum," the masked woman stated.
Revis's eyes widened.
"You can't be serious."
"Of course I'm serious. Now help me with him."
As Ein moved towards Bell, Revis remained frozen.
I can't…I can't let him…
She turned to Bell, finding exhausted, but still beautiful red eyes once more upon her.
I can't…I won't…I will save-!
"What are you doing? Help me with this," Ein ordered.
Revis blinked, and like that her previous thoughts ceased.
She turned back to Bell, who held her gaze for a moment longer, before his eyes dropped.
Revis moved and undid his restraints before dragging him away with Ein.
The Expedition had reached the 49th floor and now battled a horde of fomoire.
"Kora!" Tione cried as she tore through another of the giant horned beasts.
"This is a lot easier than previous expeditions," Finn noted from the back lines as he watched the battle unfold.
"We've had quite a few level ups since then, as well as the addition of several heavy-hitters," Riveria replied from his side, "we also didn't have the benefit of Welf-san's magic weapons during previous expeditions," she added as a tidal wave of fire swept away at least a hundred of the hairy monsters.
"But it's not just that," Gareth joined, "they've gained confidence and determination. Their previous fears and anxieties no longer hold them back."
"True," Finn said as he watched Raul command the front line troops of the Loki familia, no hint of his previous anxiety and indecisiveness. He's growing, the prum captain thought, pleased, it probably helps that he's got 'help', he added with some amusement as his eyes fell to Anakitty who stood right by Raul's side.
A burst of electric blue and golden light turned his attention away from the amusing thought as his eyes fell on Achilles and Galadriel.
"Looks like they want to finish up here and get to the 50th floor," Finn noted.
"Then we should probably give them some space," Gareth said with a laugh.
Finn quickly agreed and ordered a retreat, the horns blaring across the battlefield.
Hearing the horns, the Expedition troops all pulled back, except for Achilles and Galadriel who had finished charging up.
"Storm of the Divine!"
"Solaris!"
Electric blue and gold mixed together in a hurricane of magical power, slamming into the remaining fomoire, disintegrating them in a matter of seconds.
"Geez," Ivanna said, her cat tail flicking back and forth, "I really wish those two would give us more warning before they did stuff like that, if only so we can cover our eyes."
The rest of the Mania familia laughed, along the Hestia familia, Ajax, and Patroclus.
"Overkill is part of the Zeus and Hera familia charm," Ajax joked.
"Still, I can't imagine having that much power. It's kind of freaky to even think about," Daphne said as she looked out on the now empty battlefield.
"Those two are unique, even for our familias, there's no shame in recognizing their power as the monstrous thing that it is," Dido affirmed, managing to actually get a smile from the Miach familia member.
"Quite right. However, those 'monsters' have cleared a path for us, and I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm quite ready for to wash off all the monster filth," Uriel said, checking over her clothes and frowning.
"You've all earned your rest," Finn said as he, Riveria, Gareth, and the rest of the Loki familia approached.
"Then what are we waiting for? Achilles and Galadriel sure aren't waiting for us," Welf pointed out.
Indeed, the Father On High and Black Sun were already continuing on, causing a few, like Haruhime, Cassandra, and Wiene, to rush after them while most everyone else chuckled before heading off.
The ladies of the expedition had all gathered into one combined, giant tent. The reason for this was due to a suggestion from Uriel, who thought having some "fun girl time" would help relieve some of the stress the expedition had created. Most were quick to join, the first being Tiona who excitedly agreed immediately. There were a few exceptions, of course. Argana didn't join them and even if she had tried, would have likely been prevented by the others. The Hera ladies also didn't join, because they didn't think they were worthy of such comradery after their recent actions, at least not yet. Riveria didn't join them either, making a comment along the lines of "Spending all night with a bunch of hyperactive young women is not my definition of 'stress-free', before heading to join Achilles in their tent. Asfi had also initially refused, but after Geneve pointed out that having so many women on guard would decrease the likelihood of them being peeked on, the captain of the Hermes familia decided to join.
After a quick bath in a nearby pond and stream, the ladies of the Expedition sent up their combined tent and began to chat and gossip. Some, like Daphne, Cassandra, Haruhime, and Wiene, were unfortunately too tired to join in on the fun and quickly said their good nights, Wiene snuggling up to her 'mama' to many a coo and 'aaawww'.
"So, Anakitty-san, it seems you have your eye on young Raul-san," Uriel teased.
"W-W-What?!" the poor catgirl shriek.
"She totally does!" one of the Loki familia girls said.
"She has it for him, bad!"
"Guys!"
Many of the ladies laughed as Anakitty tried desperately to make them stop.
"You shouldn't hold in your feelings, my dear," Uriel continued, "and I'm not saying that because this expedition is dangerous. If you care for him, you're only denying yourself happiness or relief by not telling him."
"I…I guess you're right, but it's still…hard…you know?" the catgirl responded shyly.
"No, she doesn't know," Laura said, her blood red eyes staring at the young woman, "she's a succubus. Holding back isn't in their vocabulary."
"You make me sound so vulgar, Laura," Uriel responded, "however I won't deny the truth of your words."
"So you're a succubus?" Lili joined, pointing at Uriel. "And you two are vampires?"
"That's correct," Uriel answered.
"Yeesh, Lili didn't even know you guys were real," the prum stated.
"Oh we are very real, but I can prove it to you, if you want," the succubus said, her voice suddenly getting sultry as she reached out and stroked Lili's cheek.
"W-What?!" Lili jumped back. "Lili doesn't want that! The only one who gets to touch Lili like that is Bell-sama!"
"What?" Ais said as she and several other women turned their now burning eyes towards the prum who, to her credit, glared right back.
"Please don't start a fight in the tent," Asfi pleaded, pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Alright, alright, let's calm down," Geneve called diplomatically. "We're all on the same side here. No need for a fight. In fact, why don't we play a game?"
"Whatcha got in mind, Geneve?" Krysta asked.
"Well," Geneve thought for a moment, before her eye caught an empty bottle, "how about," she picked it up, "truth or dare, spin the bottle addition?"
"Really?" Tione questioned.
"Eh, why not, it could be fun with the right truths and dares," Aisha said, "who knows, maybe someone'll dare you to go ravish that captain of yours."
Who the heck would dare that? Several ladies thought.
However, that suggestion did the trick and Tione's eyes immediately lit up.
"Let's do it!"
The girls soon gathered around in a big circle.
"As the one who made the suggestion, I believe I reserve the right to spin first," Geneve said before spinning the bottle.
They all watched as it slowed down and landed, interestingly enough, on Anakitty.
"Alright, Anakitty-san, truth or dare?" Geneve asked.
"Well…I guess since you guys already know my biggest truth, I'll go with dare," the black cat responded.
"Perfect. I dare you to go confess to Raul."
Anakitty's eyes widened as the other ladies cheered. The poor girl tried to get out of the dare, but the others wouldn't have it. Luckily for her, after some reassurance from Uriel and a very deep breath, she got up and left the tent, the others, naturally, following after.
The ladies of the Expedition followed and watched from a distance as Anakitty approached Raul's tent and she called him out. He soon appeared and asked her why she was there. She fumbled for a while before suddenly bursting out with it.
"I like you! Will you please be my boyfriend?!"
The ladies were quite amused by this and the stunned look on Raul's face. Unfortunately, he was so stunned, he didn't reply and Anakitty, thinking it was a denial, turned to leave. However, just as she was about to make a run for it, he grabbed her arm, making her turn.
"Y-Yes. Yes! I will! I mean…I like you too! I'll be your boyfriend!"
The ladies smiled as faces of the newly-made couple burned like beacons in the night. In time though, Raul suggested they take a walk together, which Anakitty shyly, but happily agreed to, taking his outstretched hand and getting nice and close to him.
"Looks like our work here is done," Uriel said.
The ladies returned and sat down.
"Now, since Anakitty's gone, who should go-?"
Everything stopped when Cassandra sat up and screamed.
Daphne, Haruhime, Wiene, and everyone else who was asleep shot awake and all eyes turned to the wide-eyed and terrified prophetess.
"Cassandra! Cassandra, what's wrong?!" Daphne shouted, pulling her into a hug.
"I-I-I saw something…terrible!" the poor girl cried, holding onto her friend for dear life.
"Shhh. Shhhh, it was just a dream," Daphne said gently as she stroked her head.
"Perhaps not."
All eyes, including Cassandra's, turned to Uriel who looked down on the crying girl with a serious look.
"What do you mean, Uriel-san?" Haruhime asked.
"In my time with Hades-sama, we have talked about many strange and rare abilities. My beloved Hades prides himself on his knowledge on the strange, unique, and unknown. One of those unknowns was an ability few knew of. That of prophetic dreaming," the succubus explained.
"What's that?" Tiona asked.
"Dreams that can see the future or possible futures," Leanna explained.
"So you're saying you think Cassandra's dreams might not just be dreams?" Lili asked.
"Given what Cassandra-san has revealed to us in the past, I think that may be the case," Uriel said, taking a knee in front of the still crying girl. "Can you tell me what you saw?"
Cassandra looked very hesitant, but after some reassurance from Daphne and Naaza, and a tight hug and smile from Wiene, she managed to speak.
"T-There was a dragon. I-It was h-huge…bigger than any monster I've e-ever seen. A-And powerful."
"That's good," Uriel said, giving her a smile, "and what was this dragon doing? Was it sleeping? Flying?"
"I-I-It was…i-it was," Cassandra began to hyperventilate, and it took a few minutes for Daphne, Naaza, and Uriel to calm her down enough to finish. "It was attacking Orario."
The tent fell deathly silent.
"You're sure?" Uriel asked.
Cassandra nodded.
"I-It…was on the tower of Babel and roared over an ocean of fire and ice."
The ladies shared looks between themselves, afraid and unsure what to do or even think.
"I see," Uriel said, her own body tense with fear, "thank you, Cassandra. You're a very brave girl."
"Please. Please don't let this happen. I already failed Bell, I can't fail here too."
"You have failed no one, my dear," the succubus replied gently, taking the young woman in her arms, "but I will do all I can to prevent this future. That said," she pulled back, "I believe Finn and the others need to hear this. Do you think you're strong enough to repeat it to them?"
Cassandra's eyes filled with fear again, but once she felt Daphne and Naaza's hands on her shoulder, she managed to regain enough courage to nod.
"Thank you."
Uriel, Cassandra, Daphne, and Naaza left the tent, followed by Tiona, who wanted to help comfort the girl, Tione, and most importantly of all, Ais, whose fists were now so tight that blood dripped from her fingers.
"That is very troubling to hear," Finn said after hearing what they all had to say.
"Indeed," Gareth seconded.
Riveria would have also agreed had she not been focused on Achilles and his bone white knuckles.
"I-I'm sorry," Cassandra weakly said.
"Why are you apologizing, young lady?" Gareth asked.
"Y-You all already have so much to worry about and I-I'm just making things worse for you."
"That's not true at all," Finn quickly said, giving her a smile, "if Uriel is right and you have the power of prophetic dreams, you've given us an extremely important warning that we can use to better prepare. If anything, we should be thanking you."
Cassandra was shocked. Only Bell had ever been so open with regards to her dreams, so seeing the Loki familia smiling and thanking her was a bit much to take in.
"Y-You're welcome," she whispered.
"That said, you have given us a lot to think about. I also think it would be wise if you went back and got some more rest. The same goes for the rest of you," Finn continued.
Cassandra nodded and she, Uriel, Tione, and Tiona all departed, the last of whom wrapped her arm around the shy young woman to make her feel better.
"Ais," Finn turned to the only person who hadn't left, "you should get some rest too."
"Do you think it's the Black Dragon?" Ais questioned, not even caring to acknowledge her captain's statement.
Finn sighed.
"That seems very likely," he conceded.
"I can return to the surface," she volunteered immediately, her voice harsh and her eyes filled with hatred.
"No," he shot back just as quickly, "not only would sending you up all 50 floors by yourself be dangerous, but we need you down here to stop the Evilus and rescue Bell."
The scorn in Ais's golden orbs evaporated in an instant as she remembered why she was there and was soon replaced by guilt.
"Ais, we know how much fighting the Dragon means to you," Riveria jumped in, seeing the guilt, "but Finn is right. It would be dangerous to go up by yourself, even with your strength and speed, and we do need you down here. Besides, it might very well be that what Cassandra saw is connected to the Evilus."
That actually made Ais feel a bit better as, if Riveria was right, they could hit two birds with one stone.
"That does seem possible," Gareth agreed, stroking his beard, before turning to the only one who had been quiet the entire time, "what do you think, Achilles?"
The Father On High, now the center of attention, sighed and took out his pipe, lighting it and taking a drag before speaking.
"I'm not sure what to think. Naturally, I'm extremely concerned about Cassandra's dream, or vision as it may be, but, as Riveria suggested, it may very well be that by stopping the Evilus we will prevent her prophecy. It's also important to note that, from what she told us, Cassandra's vision, in the past, have been heavily symbolic. A rabbit jumping over the sun. Riveria pointing a sword at a storm cloud. A white dragon eating a warrior's heart. These all proved true, but they weren't directly what happened. That may be the case here as well. The dragon may not be an actual dragon, but a symbol of something else."
"Do you think it may be symbolizing Bell again?" Riveria asked, making Ais tense.
"No. Cassandra's visions evidently portray him as a white dragon or rabbit, and she made no mention of this vision 'feeling' like Bell as they did in the past. Still, it could be symbolic of someone else. Who, I don't know, there aren't exactly many people who could rightly be called 'dragon-like' in the world. We should also remember that Cassandra doesn't have an exact timetable for her dreams," Achilles replied, receiving nods. "It might be that this 'dragon' won't appear for a week, a month, or a year. Now, her previous visions seem to suggest the scenario will come sooner, rather than later, but that seems to just suggest to me that we should finish up the Evilus as quickly as possible and get to the surface," he took another drag. "All in all, I don't know what to think or make or what she's told us. I'm not discounting her, far from it. From our few interactions, I haven't known Cassandra to be a liar. But that doesn't make it any easier for us to figure out what to do. However, all that said, I'm not leaving the Dungeon until Bell is safe and sound."
They all smiled and nodded.
"Then I guess that settles it," Finn said, "we'll destroy the Evilus, rescue Bell, then return to the surface as quickly as possible and prepare for whatever is headed our way."
Bell was dragged down even deeper into the Dungeon, having little strength to move, let alone resist his captors or attempt an escape.
Where are they taking me? He wondered, lifting his head as much as he could to look up at Revis.
Feeling his gaze, she turned her green eyes down towards him, revealing them to be filled with guilt before she turned away.
Does that make me feel better or worse knowing she can feel that? He asked himself.
"Ah, there you are! The man of the hour!"
Bell turned and found himself in a large, dark, open area of the Dungeon, surrounded by hundreds of people in cloaks, the god Thanatos, Alfia, and of course, Enyo.
"Welcome, welcome, Bell Cranel!" Enyo declared as he approached the tormented adventurer, smiling underneath his mask. "Oh my, you look awful! Alfai, how could you be so cruel, and to your own nephew?!"
The white-haired lady of the Hera familia said nothing in reply.
"Tsk tsk, we must be better hosts. Let me offer you my sincerest apologies, Cranel-san, as well as a once-in-a-lifetime, nay, once-in-an-eon, opportunity as compensation!"
Not needing a reply, Enyo made a flourish of his cape and pointed towards something behind him.
The structure or machine, as Bell eventually figured out, looked a little bit like a castle, with three black, tower-like structures connected together by pipes and machinery. At the base of the three towers were three glass rooms or capsules. The left and right rooms appeared empty, but the middle had a chair in it, and something about that chair sent a freezing chill up Bell's spine.
"Do you like it? We call it the Imperator Montrorum, it's how we made our newest monsters, including the Reapers," Enyo explained, turning back to Bell. "Would you like to know what the secret ingredient is for Reapers?"
The cruelty and gleeful insanity flowing from Enyo's tongue was one of the most horrible and terrifying things he had ever dealt with. He knew that Enyo wasn't actually asking, but still, Bell tried to pull away from him.
"Oh, he looks quite interested, wouldn't you agree?" the masked Evilus asked, turning to Ein and Revis. "Well, seeing as you're so eager to know, I'll tell you. The secret ingredient is… adventurers."
Bell froze.
"W-What?"
The air radiated with Enyo's monstrous merriment.
"Adventurers, Bell Cranel. People…just…like…you," Enyo repeated. "Well, not just like you, they weren't nearly as strong or as fascinating, but they were certainly adventurers. All…oh how many was it? Ein, how many adventurers did we use up?"
"I lost track after 100, Enyo-sama."
100? Bell thought, his skin turning ice cold.
"Well, I think it was at least double that, but I suppose it doesn't really matter," Enyo continued, turning back to Bell. "Most, as we expected, did not survive to become our newest creations, but a few managed to make it through, including a rather foul-mouthed level four. I almost miss his vicious tongue. Then again, as you've seen yourself, the Reapers have quite vicious tongues themselves."
He burst out laughing, Thanatos and a few others joining him.
"Anyway," Enyo said after he calmed down, "I suppose you're wondering what you're doing here. Well, it's quite simple, Bell Cranel. You are here to fulfill our goal."
"W-What…goal?"
Enyo reached up and grabbed Bell's face with both hands, pulling him up so that each could only see the other's eyes.
"The goal of creating the Monster Of Armageddon."
He threw back a stunned Bell and lifted his arms high above him as if praising a god.
"The Monster Of Armaggedon! The ultimate monster! A beast that no one can stand against! A monster with more power and fury than even the Great Beasts and will not dally in its duty like the Black Dragon has!" The deranged figure spun back to Bell. "That is why you are here. You, Bell Cranel, the White Dragon, were the perfect candidate for this undertaking. With your strength and that monstrous power inside you, you shall rise from the Dungeon as a true dragon and lay waste to the world!"
Bell, horrified, shook his head.
"NO! No I won't! I will not! I refuse!"
"You don't have a choice."
Ein and Revis began dragging Bell towards the Imperator Montrorum. He immediately began to fight back, slowing the two to a crawl, even despite his current weakness.
"Still so strong and resistant," Enyo commented, in no way displeased, before turning to Thanatos, who quickly sent his followers to aid the two monster women.
The Thanatos servants grabbed Bell by his ragged clothes, arms, neck, and legs, and attempted to drag him to the machine.
"NO!" Bell screamed.
He managed to free one of his legs and kick two of the Evilus away, before battering another three across the Dungeon as he freed his other leg.
"As entertaining as this is, the end of the world waits for no one. Alfia, if you would please."
The silent woman strode up to Bell and moved behind him.
"A-Aunt Alfia. Ple-."
She put him in a chokehold and lifted up off his feet before continuing towards the device.
Bell's eyes filled with tears as he drew closer to the machine, but he could do nothing but fidget and wiggle as his brainwashed aunt entered the machine and threw him into the chair.
He immediately attempted to jump out, but Alfia slammed him back into the chair by his throat while Ein and Revis clammed the restraints down on his arms, legs, and head. They then injected two needles into his arms, both of which rose to the ceiling and then disappeared in the framework of the monster machine.
"There we go," Enyo said, "let's begin." A goblin was ushered forward and entered the capsule to Bell's left. "We'll start out small and work our way up so you can get used to that tingly feeling."
"NO! Stop! Stoooop!" Bell pleaded. "Auntie! Please! Please wake up!" Alfia did not even flinch.
Bell was now unashamedly crying. He didn't want this. He wasn't sure if there was anything in the world he wanted less than this.
I don't want to become a monster.
His eyes turned, looking for anyone who might help him, but it was a sea of indifference or sadistic joy, except for one.
The guilt Revis now felt was immense, as was the feeling of betrayal.
This isn't what I wanted, her eyes turned to Enyo, this isn't what you promised.
Feeling a now familiar gaze, she turned and found Bell's eyes pleading with her.
Please. Please help me.
He's…asking for my help.
A fire filled her heart and her fists clenched.
Smash Alfia's tiara first, then take out Ein. Once they're subdued the others will scatter and I can move on to resc-
"Begin," Enyo commanded.
The machine burst to life, making a noise so dreadful most of those there had to cover their ears. It was like the screams of the damned, mixed with the roar of a dragon, an ironic twist that no one but Enyo himself could enjoy. Still, they all watched as the room containing the goblin suddenly turned bright as lightning filled it, destroying the monster.
With the goblin now dead its black dust filled the capsule, but only for a moment as in the blink of an eye, it was sucked up into the machine and began to move through its pipes.
Knowing where it was headed, the Evilus all turned to Bell who didn't know what was going on or what was about to happen. He finally learned when he saw the processed black dust travel through the tube connected to his left arm.
"Wait! NOOO!"
The black dust flowed into his veins, and the pain began.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!"
"I'm impressed he still has such a capacity to scream after what Alfia did to him," Thanatos said.
"Indeed, he never ceases to impress," Enyo replied gleefully.
The pain soon passed from Bell's body, but the feeling that something was…off…did not.
"Stop. Please," he begged.
"Oh, but the fun is just beginning, Bell," Enyo replied, signaling for another monster to be sent in.
Bell, seeing this, tugged on the restraints with all the little strength he had left.
"No! Please! Stop!"
They did not, and another monster was destroyed and its essence and power were injected into his body.
Over and over they did this, with ever more powerful monsters being forced into Bell, the last of which being one of their newly made Reapers. This injection had been the most torturous of them all, and Enyo had been forced to stop the procedure in order to ensure Bell's heart to not give out. However, even as Revis poured a healing potion down his throat and the Evilus members healed him, the Evilus leader could not stop himself from smiling at the sight before him.
Bell's dragonic features had begun to appear after the third monster was destroyed, but now, they were displayed for the whole world to see.
His eyes, closed as they were, had taken their dragon form. His hands and feet had become fearsome claws, covered in jagged, flesh-tearing scales. His horns jutted back from his crown, but were now longer and more terrible to behold. His tail had also made a reappearance, puncturing through the chair and swinging wildly behind Bell in a desperate attempt to free him. Even his tongue had changed to that of a serpent, not that most would have been able to see that feature.
"My my, how handsome you are now," Enyo announced. "So…inhuman," he laughed. "I think you're finally ready for the final step."
Final…?
Bell managed to look up and what he saw made his heart stop.
"Please. Please let me go!" the young adventurer asked as he was dragged towards the machine.
"We found this newly-minted adventurer on the second floor," Enyo explained to Bell who could only stare in horror. "He was so excited that day. Sure he would become the next greatest adventurer. Someone like Ais Wallenstein, Achilles Caesar…or Bell Cranel."
The young man, finally noticing Bell, looked at the Red Dawn in shock.
"Bell Cranel? What…what are you doing here?"
"Let him go!" Bell roared. "Let him go!"
"Oh I'm sorry, Bell, but I can't do that. You see, the Reapers revealed something very important to us…you can't make the ultimate monster without consuming the souls of mortals."
With a flurry, the young adventurer was dragged to the room to Bell's right.
"W-What's going on?! What did he mean by that?!"
"Leave him alone! Leave him alone!" Bell roared as he struggled all the harder on the restraints.
"P-Please…please let me go. I-I'll give up being an adventurer. P-Please just let me go home. M-My mother is sure to be worried sick about me," the adventurer cried as he was thrown into the room.
None bid him or Bell any heed.
"Let's get this party started," Enyo called.
Then, to Bell's horror, a bright light filled the room, followed by a quick, terrible scream.
No.
The machine began to churn.
NO.
He turned his eyes and something coming down the tube connected to his right arm. Unlike the monsters, this 'something' was bright white, and immediately Bell knew what it was. The adventurer's soul.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
A tidal wave of power erupted from the Imperator Montrorum obliterating the device and throwing back the horde of Evilus, including Revis and Alfia.
The Dungeon fell silent as the dust cleared and, slowly, the Evilus picked themselves up.
"What the Hell was that?!" Thanatos cried.
"I don't know," Enyo replied, turning to the now destroyed machine, "but it appears that the wonders really never cease when it comes to Bell Cranel."
They all turned and froze at the sight before them.
Bell stood outside the destroyed machine, naked and glaring at them with such murderous intent a few Evilus actually fainted.
Well…naked may have not been quite accurate for Bell was now clothed head to toe in his white scales, his tail swishing back and forth menacingly as his blood red eyes bore down upon Enyo like a rampaging Monster Rex.
"Magnificent," the god said.
Suddenly though, Bell's eyes rolled up in his head and he collapsed, his dragonic features retreating back into him.
Revis rushed to his side and immediately checked if he was alive. Finding him breathing, his heart pumping, and his body warm, she sighed in relief, before taking him into her arms. Then, to the surprise of her 'comrades' she strode off with her mate in her arms, leaving them all behind.
Enyo chuckled.
"Young love."
He dusted himself off, then turned to the others.
"Well…I think that was a great-"
The Dungeon suddenly began to quake, the very walls seeming to come alive as the Evilus were thrown about.
"What now?!" Thanatos cried.
The answer to this question was something neither he, Enyo, nor any god or mortal could have ever expected.
"LIBERATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!"
The quaking stopped, but the shaking in their bones did not.
"That…" Thanatos turned to Enyo. "I-It can't be."
Enyo could make no reply, for he could not believe it either, or perhaps he refused to believe it. For if it was who they thought it was then something beyond their power was in play.
What are you, Bell Cranel?
Achilles stood outside his and Riveria's tent, smoking to calm himself.
Could it really be the Dragon? He wondered.
His hand tightened around the hilt of his sword, that was until he felt a soft hand wrap around it.
"It's alright," Riveria soothed, softly rubbing his hand until he let go of the sword, "It's alright."
He smiled softly at her.
"I'm sorry."
"If you're apologizing for 'worrying me', you don't need to, I understand how you feel or, I understand as best as I can," she replied.
Achilles pulled her close to him and took a few moments to enjoy her warmth.
"So much is happening," he finally said quietly, as if afraid the world would hear him and send more against him. "The Evilus. Ares. This prophecy. Bell," he looked down at his lover, "and I don't know what to do."
"You keep fighting to protect what you love," she stated. "You take on the challenges of life as you always have, only now," she pressed herself against him and smiled, "you do it with me by your side."
His fear turned to adoration and he leaned down to claim her lips.
Riveria wrapped her arms around his neck and fell into his embrace, letting all her own fear and anxiety wash away through the love of her Achilles.
They pulled away and he pressed his forehead against hers.
"Thank you. I love you," he whispered.
"You're welcome. I love you too."
The world is often cruel, and tender moments are often ruined by all manner of events. Some comedic in nature, some born of jealousy, and some are ruined because a major event occurs. This last was the most accurate to what happened next, for what transpired would be remembered by those who experienced it for the rest of their lives.
The Dungeon began to quake and shake with terrible force, greater than anything either of them had ever experienced.
"What's going on?" Riveria asked, holding onto Achilles.
"I don't know," he responded, holding her just as tightly.
Then, he received an answer.
"LIBERATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!"
Achilles's eyes widened to inhuman proportions.
It can't be.
The quake ceased and all was quiet.
"What…who was that?" Riveria asked. She turned and found Achilles wide-eyed and sweating. "Achilles? He turned to her. "Do…do you know who that was?"
He swallowed, not wanting to lie to her, but also desperate to protect her from what he knew.
"Yes," he conceded, "unfortunately I do."
He pulled away from her as the rest of the Expedition began to stumble out and ask the obvious questions amongst themselves.
"Achilles…who was that?" Riveria questioned.
His fists tightened as he stared at her with terrified and miserable eyes.
"We need to get to the Evilus as soon as possible. Things have just taken a step down a path none of us are prepared for."
Freya rang the gate bell and waited patiently for a reply.
"Hello?" came Hestia's familiar voice.
"Good afternoon, Hestia. I was wondering if I might visit."
"Freya? Well…I suppose so."
"Thank you," the goddess of beauty replied.
"No problem. Now, where is that stupid button?"
A second later the gate opened, allowing Freya and Syr to enter.
Hestia met them at the door, though it was clear she was surprised to see Syr.
"Hello Hestia. I hope you don't mind that I brought Syr with me."
"I guess not, though I am curious as to why. Is she a member of your familia?" the goddess of the hearth asked.
"In a sense. And the reason I brought her along is that she's been terribly worried about Bell. As such I thought it might do her some good to spend time with people who love and care about him."
"If my inclusion would be a bother I understand," Syr added solemnly.
Seeing the sad state of the young woman before her, Hestia couldn't find it in her heart to turn her away.
"I would be a very poor goddess of the hearth and home if I turned away someone from my own door," Hestia said with a smile.
Syr's eyes lit up and she bowed.
"Thank you, Hestia-sama."
"Don't mention it."
"Grand. Though, I did bring a little bribe along with me just in case you needed some convincing," Freya beamed, holding up a basket.
"Well, I hope you brought enough for everyone," Hestia said.
"Of course."
Freya and Syr all entered the Hearthfire Manor and made their way into the living room where the others had gathered.
"Good afternoon," Freya greeted.
"Good afternoon," they all replied.
"What brings you here, Freya?" Hades questioned, seriously.
"The same thing that, I suspect, caused that cold tone. Aphrodite," she answered.
The others frowned and Hestia tensed for a moment.
"You heard she was here?" the hearth goddess asked.
"I saw her from Babel. Given you two were never particularly close and the reactions everyone is having, I'm guessing it was not a friendly meeting or merely catching up between old acquitances."
"No," Hestia shook her head, "it wasn't."
"It's okay, Hestia. We're here for you," Hephaestus said.
Hestia smiled at her before turning back to Freya and taking a deep breath. "She wanted me to give up Bell."
"What?" both Freya and Syr asked, eyes filled with shock.
Hestia sighed.
"She argued that Bell could only do damage to me and my familia. That he was a danger to me, the city, and himself and that, as such, I should send him away. She even used Artemis against me."
"That…that…worthless strumpet!" Freya roared, jumping to her feet. "How dare she spit such vile! I should-!"
A hand on her arm stopped her.
"Freya-sama," Syr gently called, "remember what you said. Remember who you want to be. Remember your promise to Bell."
That piqued the other deities' attention, though that was nothing in comparison to seeing Freya suddenly calm down and nod before resuming her place on the couch.
"My apologies," she said.
"It's fine," Hestia replied, quite surprised, "though I am curious what promise you made to Bell."
"Well, it wasn't quite to him, at least not directly," Freya explained, "but I've come to realize after…a recent failure of mine…that I have been acting horribly. More so than I understood even after the tournament. As such, I promised to be better than I was before and be someone worthy of Bell, Achilles, and Haruhime's love."
The deities looked between each other, shocked at this development, but soon finding that shock turning to relief and even happiness.
"Well that's good to hear," Hestia stated, "in fact it's a major relief!" she joked, earning a few laughs. "However, don't think I'm giving up on Bell just because you've turned over a new leaf, Freya. I'm still his goddess and I fully plan to have him, you and Ais Wallen-whatisit, be darned!"
Freya laughed and nodded.
"Then may the best woman win."
The air now light and friendly, Miach stepped forward.
"I see you brought some treats, Freya. What do you say we open them up and-"
The ground began to shake and the manor rattled with enough force to send many items tumbling and smashing to the ground.
"Get away from the chandelier!" Take shouted.
Everyone rushed away from the mass of light and crystal, fearing it would fall under the might of the shaking barrage. However, the quake soon subsided and they all began to look at each other.
"I don't remember there ever being an earthquake in Orario," Syr said.
"I don't think that was an earthquake," Hades warned darkly, "I think it was something else. Something…darker. And hidden deep."
This only served to confuse the young woman, but the gods all understood immediately what he meant and it filled them all with a cold terror.
Ottar stared out at the city from the tower, waiting for more reports to come in.
At that moment, another messenger arrived.
"The targets in the Horus familia have been crushed and their headquarters is in ruin, captain," she informed him.
"No deaths?"
"None, sir. But they won't be able to operate at full capacity for weeks at minimum, and that's if their members don't flee the city."
"Good. Continue operations in your sector."
"Sir!"
This was the plan Ottar had come up with. To break the strength of those familias who sought Bell Cranel's destruction and humble those who might think to rise against his lady.
The plan had been fairly simple. The city had been broken up into sections with each of the remaining executives taking a section. They would then send out squads of their familia to destroy the operational capacity of the targeted familias. No killing was allowed, but that, in a way, would only serve their purpose as the survivors would no doubt tell the whole city of what had transpired.
Of course, the Freya familia had to keep their identities a secret so as not to face reprisal from the Guild or other familia. They would still be the obvious culprits, especially after the Ishtar familia's destruction, but the goal was to simply maintain enough doubt so that the Guild could never definitely prove it was the Freya familia.
"Sir!" another messenger appeared. "The Shiva familia's headquarters are burning and its members are broken and beaten."
"Good. Move onto your-"
An earthquake stopped him as the tower began to sway, alarming his subordinate, while he waited for it to pass.
"What was that?" the underling asked once the quake had stopped.
"Hm," was Ottar's only immediate reply.
Something's wrong. I can feel it in the air.
"Change of plans. Return to your section and inform Hogni to pull back to Folksvangr. Tell him to send out messengers to the others to do the same. Our priority now is to secure Freya-sama's safety."
"Yes sir!"
With the messenger gone, Ottar looked back out towards the city.
"Something's happened," he said to himself, before turning towards the Hearthfire Manor and rushing to his lady's side.
The whole city was in a panic and, for once, Ouranos could not claim to be in a much better state, not after what he'd heard.
"LIBERATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOR!"
"Why? Why do you all cry out now?" he asked as nervous sweat dripped down his skin.
He tried to cast aside his fear and focus on praying, but he soon found his task far greater than ever before, not only because of his state of mind, but because, like Orario, the Dungeon was in an uproar.
They heard their masters' call.
He tried again, praying desperately to soothe the Dungeon, but to little effect.
"I cannot do this on my own," he realized.
He closed his eyes and gently called out.
"Gaia."
"I'm here, dear husband," a gentle, motherly voice replied immediately.
He instantly felt as if a mountain had been lifted from his shoulders.
"I am sorry to call on you, my dear, but I need your help," he said.
"I know, and I shall give you all my assistance, but I fear that our combined power will not be enough to hold back the coming storm."
That filled him with a fear that he had not felt in eons.
"What has happened? Why do they all call out now?" he asked her.
"You already know the answer, my love, you just don't wish to say it." Ouranos made no reply, for she was right, he didn't want to say it. "Yes, dear husband, unfortunately what we feared has come to pass. It has been made and worse yet, they have found it. The key to their freedom."
End.
Well, have I succeeded in upping your anticipation? I hope so as I've been looking forward to writing this chapter for months. Our mystery has now deepened, with more clues to the truth being revealed while the world literally quakes with the power of new, unknown, and powerful beings.
All that said, please share your thoughts on the chapter. Again, it's on the shorter side for me, and I'm sorry for that. I don't expect to be keeping with this trend of sub 10k word chapters, but I hope none of you feel like I'm gipping you or anything as I would hate that. Whatever the case though, this chapter has come to a close and as such, it is time for me to bid you a fine day or evening. So, until next time, bye for now.