Hello peeps and welcome back! Whelp, it's time. You've had tastes and teases, but the Evilus War has now arrived. Orario vs. Enyo. Chaos vs. order. Friends vs. enemies, and all that good stuff. But fear not, for I have at least a few more surprises waiting for you, one of which I think will make you both love and hate me. However, I have rambled on enough! Let the battles begin and let's see how many survive the onslaught!
I do not own Danmachi
They had finally reached the 59th floor. After all the time, struggle, and bloodshed, they had arrived at the entrance to what, for many of them, would be the most difficult battle of their lives. So far at least.
"It really isn't glacier territory anymore," Achilles noted.
"It may be returning to that state though, if this cold air is any indication," Finn replied as his breath turned to fog before him.
The leader of the Expeditionary forces turned to the coalition and took in their faces. He saw their fear, anticipation, their anger, and hidden deep in each of their eyes, their hope.
"Our final battle with the Evilus is here everyone. For most of us, this will be the most difficult fight we've ever faced," he paused as he moved his gaze over his comrades. "I see how scared some of you are, and I understand you completely. You have every right to be scared and that doesn't make you pathetic or weak or cowardly. It's only natural to be scared. I'm scared," he readily confessed. "Afraid of the battle to come. Afraid that I won't come out of it alive, let alone in one piece." Tione's eyes widened with horror, but he continued before she could say anything. "But more than that, I'm scared that I'll lose those closest to me. My friends. My family. Those who have taken a place in my heart, despite my best efforts," he turned to Tione now and smiled at her, easing her heart and making her smile in return. "That's why I'm going to fight like hell!" Finn declared. "I'm going to give this fight everything I have so that we can all return to the surface together, intact and victorious! But what say all of you? Will you fight like hell too? Will you join me and remind these bastards why Orario is the center of the word?!"
The Expedition cheered, raising their weapons high above their heads.
"Then get ready," Finn continued, "Tightened the straps of your armor, sharpen your swords and spears, count your arrows and your potions, and remind yourselves that this is the moment you earn you place in history as one of those who destroyed the Evilus familias once and for all!"
Another cheer shook the Dungeon as the fear of the adventurers turned to courage and their hope challenged their enemies to try and snatch victory from the jaws of their assured defeat.
His speech done, Finn turned to his favorite amazon who was striding straight for him.
"It looks like everyone's feeling bett-"
He didn't get to finish as Tione pulled him up off the ground and crashed her lips against his.
A few people cheered, a few whistled, most just watched on in amusement as the stunned prum was thoroughly dominated by the woman who loved him.
"Pah!" she sighed when she finally pulled back, only to immediately capture his wide eyes. "You are making it back alive and in one piece, Finn Deimne. And so am I," she vowed. "And when we get back home, I'm taking you and you're taking me, got it?"
Stunned as he was, Finn could only nod.
"Good," she said, before smiling and giving him another, more tender kiss and gently putting him back down. "Now we have something to look forward to."
She turned and practically skipped away while those around her chuckled or smiled at Finn.
"Looks like your time is up," Gareth joked.
"Geez, way to ease my concerns," Finn replied, even as he smiled affectionately at the retreating amazon.
"I'll have to make sure she drinks some contraceptive tea when we return," Riveria joined, pretending to be worried, but her smile immediately gave away her act.
"Gross," Bete grimaced.
"Oooh, am I going to be an aunt soon?!" Tiona asked excitedly, bouncing in place.
Finn sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"You're going to tease me about this the entire journey back, aren't you?" Finn asked.
"After all the teasing you did with me and Achilles? Absolutely," the elf immediately confirmed.
"I hate to ruin this lovely moment, but we have company," her lover called.
They all spun around and looked towards where the stone-faced was looking.
"Revis," Ais growled, her hand instantly falling to her sword as she spotted the redhead in the distance.
"And Ein," Achilles added, his eyes boring down upon the two as they stood at the entrance of the 60th floor.
"What are they doing?" Lefiya asked, gripping her staff tightly.
"My guess? They're offering us an invitation," Achilles answered.
"Then I say we accept and finally put these bastards down like the dogs they are," Finn stated.
A hundred hands tightened around their weapons, signaling the Expedition's agreement.
The Expedition entered the 60th floor slowly and with eyes constantly looking for any danger.
Just as dark and miserable as I remember it, though now the cold feeling I'm getting is for an entirely different reason, Achilles thought as his eyes trained on the only people on the floor besides the adventurers.
Even from a distance, one could tell that Enyo was gleefully watching them, enjoying their cautious approach like he was watching a toddler stumble about with their first steps.
Beside him were Ein, Revis, Thanatos, along with perhaps a hundred cloaked members of Evilus, all of whom looked ready for the approaching battle.
Finally, the Expedition was within earshot of Enyo and stopped, quickly taking up ready positions.
"My, don't you all look impressive," Enyo began, his masked face sweeping across the force from above, making many shiver. "I'm actually worried we won't win against such an impressive force. You even have some…unexpected new friends on your side," the god smirked as his eyes fell upon the Xenos.
"You've managed to unite us all in our contempt of you," Finn stated definitely, "as well as our desire to rescue someone you stole from us."
Enyo laughed and applauded like a maniac, which only served to unnerve the Expedition more.
"You're right, Finn Deimne! You are absolutely right! I have no one to blame but myself," the madman readily agreed. "Though I feel I should note that it appears that those vicious rumors about Bell Cranel being a monster lover weren't completely untrue."
"Don't you dare insult him!" Ais roared, stepping forward with sword in hand.
"Ah, Sword Princess, Revis's great rival in battle and in love." Ais turned her gaze to the redhead and glared at her. Revis returned it with just as much viciousness as her hand tightened on her own sword. "I apologize if my words seem insulting to our dearly beloved Bell, but I am simply calling it as I see it."
"Enough of your games, Enyo," Achilles demanded, stepping forward.
"Oh, but my games are so much fun."
"Yeah, as much fun as termites eating their way out your stomach," the Father On High spat back. "But I suppose it doesn't matter. No amount of joking is going to save you, because I already know what's going to happen. You're going to tell us what your big plan is, we're going to deny and mock you before we move on to beat the living piss out of your friends there." Revis and Ein sneered, but Thanatos and the Evilus nervously backed up a step. "And then I'm going to remove that stupid mask from your face, break it on said face, and then I and everyone else here is going to make you wish the eternal ether never shit you out."
If Enyo was unnerved by his words, he certainly showed no signs of it. If anything, the masked man seemed even more amused than before.
"My, that sounds like quite the plan, though I must say it does sound very harsh on me," Enyo replied with his unrelenting malevolent playfulness.
"Do I look like I care?" the former Zeus captain asked.
"No. But perhaps I can save myself some of the future pain you wish to bestow on me."
Enyo grabbed his mask and cloak and suddenly tossed them aside, revealing his true identity.
"Dionysus," Finn growled.
"Astute as always, Finn Deimne," Dionysus replied, his deranged eyes now on full display. "Now you know my true identity so there's nowhere left I can hide, but that seems fair given this is meant to be the final, climactic battle."
"B-But…that would mean…"
All eyes turned to a wide-eyed and shaking Lefiya whose eyes now sat, unwavering, on the only one still wearing a mask.
"Yes it does indeed, Lefiya Verdis," Dionysus gleefully confirmed before turning to his right hand. "Ein, would you be so kind?"
Ein immediately removed her cloak and mask, revealing Filvis, though not quite as any of them had remembered.
"F-Filvis…san?" Lefiya called, her voice weak with horror, confusion, and shock as she took in her friend-turned-enemy's monstrous form.
"Yes and no," Dionysus stated, moving to his captain's side. "She is the Filvis you know, but also Ein. Both, however, are my dearest companion and most loyal servant."
"What have you done to her?" Finn hissed in disgust.
"I saved her," Dionysus said, his malevolent act dropping for a moment as his face turned painfully serious, "to be more blunt, let us say that she did not exactly 'survive' the slaughter that gave her that horrid alias."
None were quite sure how to take that beyond being even further unnerved.
"Doesn't matter." All eyes turned to Bete who strode forward. "Nothing excuses what you bastards have done," his eyes turned to Filvis. "I always knew you were a bitch, but I didn't think you were a liar and murderer too."
"If you are trying to shame me, don't waste your breath. My loyalty to Dionysus is total."
"Tch, yeah, I won't waste my breath on a bitch like you. Besides, even if I wanted to shame you, nothing would be more shameful than all the lies you've fed Lefiya."
Filvis's eyes turned to her fellow elf, who had not turned away from her for a moment, even as tears streamed down her cheeks.
A tug pulled at Filvis's heart for, despite her earlier words, the sight of her one friend did make her feel a moment of guilt. A moment that she quickly squashed, or...at least that's what she told herself.
"Bete's right, which I'd never thought I'd say," Achilles stated. "It doesn't matter who you are or what happened before that 'inspired' you to become this, you've gone too far and we will stop you."
"You will certainly try," Dionysus replied, "but did you not wish to know my grand plan, Achilles?"
"Only so I could mock you and tell you how idiotic it was."
"Then I shall tell you," Enyo cleared his throat. "My plan was to make your son, our dear Bell Cranel, into the greatest monster in the world, the Monster of Armageddon, and then unleash him onto the world!"
For a moment, there was nothing. The "plan" was so outside what anyone expected or could fathom that their minds could not actually comprehend it for a moment, but once they did, they felt nothing but horror and rage.
"What?!" many cried from the crowd.
"What are you talking about you bastard?!" Welf roared.
"Bell-sama would never become that!" Lili joined.
"Yeah! Argonaut-kun's too nice, you jerk!" Tiona added.
"Why would you try to do something so cruel?!" Haruhime screamed.
"Because he was the perfect candidate, of course! I mean 'Wrath of the Dragon'? What more perfect skill could there be for my ends?" the god questioned.
"And how, precisely, did you plan on turning Bell into 'the Monster of Armageddon'? I doubt he was exactly keen on unleashing his skill," Achilles hissed as his blood began to boil.
"True, he was very reluctant. However, there is, or I should say, was, a means of making him into the perfect monster. An ancient device of great power that could combine him with other identities, increasing his power and malevolence until he was ready for his grand debut."
"'Combine with other identities'?" Achilles repeated as those behind him screamed and cursed at the Evilus god. Suddenly, the ex-captain realized what he meant. "The Imperator Monstrorum."
Both Dionysus and Thanatos were genuinely shocked.
"You know it?" Dionysus asked.
"I know many things," Achilles answered. "Many things I should not. Though I suppose that answer does give me some idea of why they called out."
Now Dionysus and Thanatos were legitimately stunned. No, they were scared.
"You…you know who that was?" Dionysus asked cautiously.
"Yeah. You and the others didn't do as good of a job as you thought in hiding the truth," Achilles confirmed.
Everyone not in the know on both sides was confused out of their minds, with only Finn eying Achilles as his mind turned.
He's not talking about the other Evilus. He's talking about all the gods. This secret is one they all share, he deduced.
Dionysus, after a few moments, began to chuckle. It was a small, genuine thing, and he smiled at Achilles, thoroughly impressed.
"Well done, Achilles Caesar. Finding such a secret must have been very difficult. Indeed, this is the first time I've ever come across someone who found out the truth about us."
"I'm a determined son of a bitch when I want something."
"Indeed. You may be the most determined individual I've come across. I see where Bell gets his willpower from." Achilles, Ais, and many others growled. "Though, saying that, I do have a question I would like to ask you."
"That being?"
"What are you willing to do in order to get your son back?"
"Easy. I'm willing to tear you and your army apart with my teeth," Achilles answered.
"That's not what I'm asking, but I suppose I should make myself a little more clear," Dionysus returned. "If I were to offer to return Bell to you right now, without a fight, what would you be willing to give me in exchange?"
The 60th floor froze as everyone on both sides looked back and forth between the mortal and the god, one side with shock, the other with shock and a tinge of hope.
"What is it that you would want in exchange for my son, who you just admitted was elemental to your big plan?" Achilles demanded.
"He was, but luckily for you, plans change," Dionysus replied as his evil smile returned. "Do you remember those items I asked you about?"
"Of course. That's not exactly something one forgets," the ex-captain spat. "What item or items in particular were you looking at?"
Finn and the others in the know knew he wasn't seriously considering making an exchange, he simply wished to know what Dionysus knew and wanted. Even so, the whole exchange was still unnerving.
"Well, I was originally thinking either Pandora's Box or Mjolnir," the god replied.
Called it, Achilles thought, only to be immediately proven wrong when Dionysus's smile turned utterly, abhorrently cruel.
"But then I thought of a better one. One that will serve my purposes in place of young Bell."
"That one being?" Achilles pressed, ice flowing down his spine.
"The Horn of the Dragon."
Achilles's eyes widened to inhuman proportions.
"ARE YOU INSANE?! YOU WANT TO BRING THAT THING HERE?!"
Everyone, even Filvis and Revis jumped at the strength and terror of Achilles's voice. The only exception was Dionysus whose smile only grew.
"Yes. To both," the god answered.
"Achilles." The horrified man turned to Riveria who was doing her best not to shake as she could practically taste the fear radiating off of him. "What is the Horn of the Dragon?"
Blood dripped through his fingers as his nails dug deeper and deeper into his palm.
"You remember that one item I spoke of before?" he asked.
A brief moment of silence passed before Finn spoke.
"The one you're terrified of."
Achilles nodded, though even that simple move looked like torture at the moment.
"Yes. That item, it," he swallowed. "As the name suggests it's," he stopped again, before taking a deep breath, all of which delighted Dionysus and frightened all others, even the Evilus, who wondered what could possibly so terrifying the living legend. "An eye wasn't the only body part the Dragon lost to Albert Waldstein."
Now it was Ais's golden orbs that widened beyond human levels.
"Y-You mean…?" she tried.
"Yes. The Horn of the Dragon is the horn of the One-Eyed Black Dragon, or at least the piece that Albert Waldstein knocked off, with all the malevolence and wrath of its owner in tow."
That certainly frightened them all, but it wasn't near enough for Dionysus.
"And do tell us all, Achilles, what is it that the horn is theorized to be able to do?"
Achilles's hateful eyes bore down upon the god, who met his gaze with continued, manic delight.
"The Horn of the Dragon has never actually been used, it's simply remained hidden and locked away with few even daring to make sure it was still where they had put it, and few actually needing to for all they would need to confirm it was still there is the cold, monstrous air that surrounds it."
"And what…theoretically…does it do?" Finn questioned, even as the rational part of his brain begged him not to.
"Theoretically…it can…summon the Dragon himself or even…command him to begin Armageddon."
As that soul-freezing revelation entered their minds and their souls, Dionysus's pleasure became too much and he began to laugh with unrestrained insanity.
"Precisely! The horn that can end the world, or so some have prophesied! The Horn of the Dragon! The Horn of the Apocalypse! The Call To End the World! Yes, all of these are one and the same and so I make my offer to you here and now, Achilles Caesar, father of Bell Cranel! Give me the horn that will allow me to call the great beast and command it to finally fulfill its purpose and I shall let your son go! I swear on my honor as a god and a man, the moment I have it, Bell Cranel shall be safe and sound in your arms…for as long as the world last's that is."
No reply was quick in forthcoming as most of the adventurers were either terrified out of their minds or staring in shock at the mad god. Finally though, Achilles replied.
"You already know the answer, Dionysus or whatever your name is. I listened to your offer out of curiosity, much to my regret, but you already knew I wasn't going to give you anything for Bell. Fuck, I wouldn't exchange a worm for Bell, not because I don't want him back, but because, after all you've done, I don't want to deny either myself or everyone behind me that chance to tear you apart limb from bloody limb and skewer you at the end of my sword, ass first!"
Dionysus's smile did not waver for a moment even as he nodded slowly.
"I expected that to be your response, but you can't blame a man for trying. I suppose that means negotiations have broken down and now it's time for the battle to begin."
Immediately, hundreds of adventurers and Evilus unsheathed their weapons and got into position.
"Oh! But before we begin, I should reveal the other surprises I have for you!" Dionysus declared with his constant, evil delight before turning around. "Would you be so kind as to join us my dear?"
Everyone tensed as they prepared for whoever was about to step forward, but nothing could have prepared them for the all-too familiar face.
"Impossible," Achilles said as his eyes widened, his jaw dropped, and his sword fell.
"It can't be," Riveria stated as her staff began to shake.
"No way," Patroclus whispered.
"I-I-It's…" Imilce couldn't finish.
"A-Alfia-nee-san?" Galadriel called.
"Alfia?" Lili questioned before, seeing the shocked and horrified eyes of the veteran adventurers, she realized what that meant. "That's…Bell-sama's aunt."
"This…can't be real," Dido tried to say, unable to believe her own eyes.
"Oh, but it is, Dido Barca. It is very real," Dionysus smiled in vicious euphoria. "Here, standing before you having returned from death is none other than the Silence herself, the Monster of Talent and former executive of the Hera familia, Alfia!"
Those who hadn't known who she was felt their souls freeze as the truth was revealed. Not a single adventurer didn't know about the event eight years ago or Alfia's part in it. How the great sorceress had nearly killed Riveria, Gareth, Ais, and the Astraea familia, and only after a fierce battle was she finally overcome and Erebus captured.
"What trick or abomination have you created, Dionysus?!" Achilles roared.
"I have created nothing, Achilles, and in all honesty, I was just as shocked when we found her deep within the Dungeon, comatose and looking as if not a day had passed since the Great Feud."
"You actually expect us to believe that?"
"Well," Dionysus's smile somehow turned more sadistic, "it certainly seems someone believes it's our dearest Alfia."
Achilles's shot around and found Galadriel stepping forward, reaching a hand out towards her returned big sister.
"Alfia…is it truly you?" she asked, her voice shaking with emotion.
Alfia did not respond. She did not even twitch at the call or the sight of her beloved little sister.
"W-Why aren't you responding to me, Alfia?" Galadriel asked. Still nothing. "Alfia! It's me! It's Galadriel! Your annoying little sister! Your cute little knife ears! Your candy thief! Please talk to me!"
Alfia's cold eyes simply continued to bore down upon her, breaking Galadriel's heart and making Dionysus burst out laughing.
"Oh what a delightful face you're making, my dear Black Sun. It's giving me shivers. I wonder if I can get a few more," he said as his eyes shifted targets. "Ryuu Lion."
The elf, who could barely keep calm as her old opponent stood before her feeling even more powerful than before, jumped at suddenly being addressed, but managed to throw a glare at the god.
"What do you want, you fiend?"
"I have a few questions for you, if I may."
"What could you possibly want to ask me?" she hissed.
"Well, firstly," his smile grew, "you were a member of the Astraea familia originally, yes?"
Something about that question filled every corner of her being with dread, even more than the appearance of Alfia.
"Why?" she demanded.
"A yes or no will do," he threw back.
As all eyes watched on, she tightened her hand on her wooden sword before answering.
"Yes. I was."
"And your captain was Alise Lovell, correct?"
"Keep her name out of your putrid fucking mouth!" Ryuu bellowed.
He chuckled darkly.
"It seems you've missed her dreadfully," he turned, "well don't keep her waiting, child. Your old friend wishes to see you."
Ryuu's heart stopped.
No.
Time slowed as another, all-too familiar face walked forward.
"Finding one fallen hero was quite shocking, but imagine how stunned we were when we found two!" Dionysus called, his voice echoing through the Dungeon. "Re-introducing the captain of the Astraea familia, Alise Lovell!"
There she was, just as Ryuu and all those who knew the scarlet adventurer remembered her, from her long red-hair tied into a ponytail, to her armor. The only thing that was different was the blank expression on her face and the tiara on her head.
"What have you done to her?!" Gareth roared, stepping forward, ax poised to strike.
"Nothing! Absolutely nothing. She, and dear Alfia both joined our ranks because they wish to join us in our great crusade to bring down this old, corrupt world and usher in a new one!" Dionysus proclaimed.
"LIAR!" Ryuu roared as she shot towards Dionysus. However, she was immediately intercepted by Achilles.
"Ryuu! Calm down!"
"No! He's done something to her! Alise!" Ryuu cried as she desperately tried to break free of his hold.
"And he's trying to get you, Galadriel, and all of us to attack irrationally! Breathe!"
She continued to fight him until the Hestia familia ran to them and worked to calm her down. They weren't the only ones as Ajax, Patroclus, Riveria, and Ais had to restrain Galadriel from trying to get to Alfia as tears streamed down her face. Nearby, Dionysus and the Evilus watched with delight.
As Ryuu calmed down, Achilles looked back to the two resurrected women, trying to figure out what was going on.
Did they both somehow survive their ordeals? Neither of their bodies were ever found as far as I know, so it's not impossible, but Dionysus said he found them comatose in Dungeon, his eyes narrowed, which suggests they had something to do with it, though I can't possibly imagine their motives.
He continued to scan over the two, before his eyes fell on something peculiar.
Wait…Alfia never wore a tiara, he focused on the tiara, then realized that the stone placed at its center was the same color as the stones from the Evilus's monsters. That's it!
"Ryuu!" he shot around to the elf. "Did Alise ever wear a tiara?"
Confused, Ryuu looked back to Alise and finally noticed the tiara, which only increased her confusion.
"No. She never did. We sometimes visited jewelry stores, mostly so she could tease me about boys, but we never bought anything, especially not something that flashy."
"That's what I thought. Alfia never wore anything like that either."
Galadriel, hearing all this, stilled and slowly she, and all the rest realized what he was saying.
"You're controlling them," Achilles accused.
Dionysus was silent for a moment, before he burst out laughing once again and began to applaud.
"Well done, Achilles Caesar! Well done indeed! It seems Bell also gets his brains from you!"
"He figured out what you've done too," the father stated.
"He did indeed, he even managed to smash dear Alfia's tiara," Dionysus confessed as he approached the Hera familia member. "If this little stone here is destroyed, the control is broken and these two will be freed into your caring arms."
"Dionysus! Why are you telling all this?!" Thanatos questioned desperately.
"To give them hope," the other god immediately answered. "To make all our guests feel like they have a chance to free their dear friends here so that their hope can be destroyed before their eyes."
"You think we won't free them?" Ryuu spat.
"I think you, Ryuu Lion, and all your dear companions will try. You will fight with everything you have and make a great spectacle, but ultimately, yes, you will fail, and I shall delight in watching your hope shatter before you. After all, these two are hardly my last surprise." The god waved his hands and a moment later, the ground began to shake and the Dungeon echoed with the sound of thousands of pairs of feet marching in their direction.
The Expedition remade their formation trying to prepare for what was coming, but they could never be prepared for the sight of thousands of monsters suddenly appearing before them, all hungry and eager for blood.
"The attack you all participated in was merely the advanced party. The scouts to test the strength of Orario. This," Dionysus pointed behind him, "is the real army. 10,000 monsters all ready to devour you and swallow Orario whole. And of course," he gestured again and a monster stepped forward, "every good army has a general."
The 'general' had clearly once been one of the Reapers, but had been fed one of the Evilus jewels, combining its great and terrible power with that of a demi-spirit. Like all previous demi-spirits, it took the appearance of a long-haired, plantlike woman, however, the bottom half of her face was covered in the Reaper's black armor while much of the rest of her body was covered in the same, pitch-black protection. However, even with her mouth covered, they could all tell she was smiling. The demi-spirit also carried two long, curved swords which seemed to pulse with power.
"Our dear Spirit Reaper-chan will lead our forces to the surface and bring Orario to its knees once we're finished with all of you," Dionysus stated as if what he had said had already passed into history.
"That's not happening," Finn stated, stepping forward. "We will stop you, Dionysus. You and all the Evilus, and rescue Bell from your clutches."
"My my, you sound almost as confident as me, Finn Deimne. You actually have me a little worried."
"You should be more than a little worried, you prick. A lot more."
Once more, all eyes shifted to Achilles who placed himself before the Expedition.
"You think because you have a lot of monsters, you'll win?" the Father On High questioned. "You think that because you brainwashed Alfia and Alise that we aren't going to tear this army apart and break you in half for all you've done?" Achilles pointed Dragonsbane at the god. "My prophecy remains the exact same as it did before, Dionysus. Not a thing has changed. We, the adventurers of Orario, are going to fight you. We are going to win. And assuming any of you aren't reduced to dust or pulp by the end, those that survive will be dragged back to the surface so that we can continue punishing you for all you've done. Then, when we're done with you, all of us, including Bell, are going to continue on with our lives like you never fucking existed. That…is what's going to happen, you demented son of a bitch."
The speech and the vow made within it, rejuvenated the Expedition, and their eyes all began to burn with the confidence and determination needed to fulfill his promise.
"My my, quite the prophecy, Achilles. I wonder if it'll come true," Dionysus replied, unperturbed. "Oh, but silly me, I forgot I had a surprise just for you. An old friend wished to see you again."
"What old friend?"
Dionysus turned to Revis who pulled out a whistle and blew.
The sound the whistle made was a dreadful thing. It sounded like a scream and turned the blood of those who heard it to ice.
Once the whistle ended its terrible call, Achilles looked around him, expecting one of the monsters to attack or something to appear.
"What the hell was-?"
Achilles would never finish that sentence as a giant black scaled claw broke through the ground beneath him and grabbed his whole body, before dragging him down to the floor below.
"Achilles!" Riveria and many others cried.
"I believe that was as good a signal as any! Let the war begin!" Dionysus ordered.
With a roar so terrible there was no way the adventurer's could not feel fear, the monster horde and the Evilus charged.
"Shit! Adventurers of Orario, for everything you hold dear, for all you hope to do, fight! Fight with everything you have!" Finn ordered.
The Expedition roared back and thus, the great battle of the Evilus War had begun.
Achilles suddenly found himself flying through artic air as the clawed hand that had captured him flung him across the 61st floor.
Being a level 8, he managed to correct himself mid flight and land on his feet, sliding across the snow for a good 30 yards.
"Alright, who the fuck are y-"
His heart stopped.
"No. I-I-It can't be."
Before him, its blood-red eyes shining with pure malevolence and its body as black as a bottomless pit, stood a dragon of titanic size.
"N-No. Y-You can't be here. Y-You can't," Achilles said, his body shaking with such dread that he felt vomit rising in his throat. Instinctively, he took a step back. "H-How…how are you-?"
It was then that he noticed that two red eyes glared at him.
"Wait," he inspected the dragon and soon realized that, for all its fearsome size, it was nowhere near as large as the One-Eyed Black Dragon nor was its aura nearly so malevolent. "You're not him," Achilles's eyes darkened and his hand tightened around Dragonsbane. "You're just a cheap knock-off."
That infuriated the dragon and it roared before it suddenly unleashed a tsunami of black fire.
Achilles quickly activated his Lightning Steps and dodged the attack, appearing before the Dragon and kicking it square in the jaw, sending it tumbling backwards into the Dungeon wall.
"No. You're nowhere near as strong as him," Achilles said out loud as the Dragon picked itself back up. "But I suppose that means you'll be good practice for my rematch with him."
Both his hands gripped Dragonsbane as the imagine of Briseis filled his mind.
He with roar that resounded even in the Heaven's, he charged.
And done.
Alright so, technically, I kind of lied last chapter as the battle only just started in this chapter, so for that I truly apologize. However, to make up for it, I'll reveal to you guys a few things. First off, the next few chapters will be nothing but battles. No drama. No loving-dovey scenes, no political stuff up in Orario, and no lemons. Just good old fashioned battle and blood! Secondly, to make up for my lie from the last chapter, I will tell you what battles are coming up so you can get excited for what's to come. So, the battles, as I have them at this moment are:
Ryuu vs. Alise (The Gale vs. The Scarlet Harnel)
Galadriel vs. Alfia (Battle of Sisters)
Lefiya & Riveria vs. Filvis (You're My Friend)
Finn, Gareth, Allen, Mia, Uriel, Sif vs. demi-spirit Reaper (Battle of the Commanders)
Ais vs. Revis (Aim For The Heart)
Achilles vs. lesser Black Dragon (Call of Heroes)
Expedition vs. monster horde (Overwhelmed)
Everyone vs. ? (?)
These may change a little, including their names, depending on what I want to do, but we'll all have to wait and see with that. Overall though, I hope it makes you very excited for what's to come and that you'll forgive me for taking so long and for this short chapter. Things never really go to plan when it comes to my writing and what initially seems like an easy project suddenly becomes impossible when I actually sit down to write.
Anyway, that's all for this chapter guys. Do tell me what you thought, as always and I'll see you next time. Bye for now.