Hello my beautiful people, and welcome back!

Well, hopefully this will be the last time you need to wait so long (at least for a while) as I finally managed to complete the first draft of my second book. Of course, there is still lots of work to do, and my time will still be split as I work on finishing that up. Still, there's a little less pressure since I don't have a self-inflicted deadline looming over my head.

If, by chance, you would like to check out my first book, which I would greatly appreciate, you can find it on Amazon under the name Consuls & Slaves. I would happily give you a link, but Fanfiction doesn't like those and so I hope you'll forgive the roundabout method.

Anyway, enough self-promotion, that's not what you're here for. You're all here for the next big fight. This time it's a battle of elven maidens! Lefiya vs. Filvis! Who will win? Who will lose? And most importantly…will everyone make it out alive? It's time to find out! Here we go!

I do not own Danmachi

The sounds of battle now echoed around them, but Lefiya barely heard them as she stared at her friend, in her new, monstrous form. The friend who was now her foe.

"Please Filvis," she begged, her broken heart echoing through her words, "please stop this. You're my friend and I know how good of a person you are. You're kind, intelligent, determined, and beautiful in both body and soul. Please. Please," she held out her hand, "join us."

Filvis's cold eyes did not even turn to the hand.

"No," she stated, her voice so icy it made Lefiya pull her hand back and bring it to her chest in a defensive and frightened manner, like a child that's had a snake hiss at it. "I am loyal to Dionysus-sama and will never abandon him. So save your breath, Lefiya, you will need it if you hope to merely survive our encounter."

Lefiya felt her broken heart turn to dust, but a soft hand on her shoulder made her turn.

"If you want to save her, we will need to defeat her first," Riveria stated, "only action can pull her from her path now."

Lefiya, hearing these words and feeling the conviction of her mentor, felt her heart mend as conviction reforged into a bright vessel, shining with strength.

"Yes, Riveria-sama," she replied, bringing her staff up in a battle stance, "you're right."

Despite the situation, Riveria smiled.

She's grown so much.

The High Elf turned to their opponent and raised her own staff.

"Let's begin."

Filvis was happy to oblige and charged at them, her sword poised to end both their lives.

She closed the distance rapidly, her newly combined power allowing her to do so in the blink of an eye. Her two fellow elves raised their staffs in preparation for her offensive, but just as she prepared to thrust at Riveria's heart, a presence suddenly appeared to her side.

"Don't forget me!" Tiona cried out as she threw a kick at Filvis.

The monster adventurer brought her arms up to block, but groaned under the might of the high-leveled adventurer's kick and found herself flying backwards, though she managed to land gracefully.

"Tiona!" Lefiya cried in surprise.

"Heya!" the amazon smiled.

"We can handle things here. You should help the lower levels against the monsters," Riveria told her.

"I'm sure they can handle the bugs and boomy goblins, especially with Red's awesome magic swords!"

Riveria sent a quick glance towards the Expedition and found that, despite the huge numbers of monsters, they were holding their own. Indeed, she watched as a wave of magical power erupted from one of the newly forged Crozzo magic swords.

It does look like they'll hold. For now.

"Besides," Tiona continued, "you guys are mages. Hand-to-hand stuff is where you're weakest, so if she tries rushing you again, you'll have problems."

Riveria and Lefiya blinked.

"Have you actually been listening to Finn's tactical explanations?" Riveria questioned.

Tiona raised her hand.

"A little," she signaled. "I still don't get most of it, but I did get that much. Besides," the amazon suddenly got serious as she turned to Filvis who had been wondering if this casual conversation was some trick meant to lower her guard, but who quickly tensed upon seeing the amazon's glare, "no one gets to hurt my familia." She raised her weapon. "I won't forgive you for making Lefiya cry and then I'm going to kick Dionysus's butt for what he did to Line and the others."

Filvis's dark eyes narrowed.

"You shall try," she said, before restarting her attack.

Tiona rushed to meet her, and the two clashed in the middle, their great strength sending shockwaves through the area.

Tiona swung her Blade Rolan down at the creature woman, only for Filvis to parry the blade and then counter-attack, slicing Tiona's shoulder.

"Aah!" Tiona cried.

Filvis moved to attack again, this time going for a killer blow, but a spear of ice aimed for her head, forced her to retreat.

She turned her head and found Riveria, staff raised high, staring at her with frightful intensity. Filvis would have moved to attack her if not for Lefiya's sudden appearance.

"Arcs Ray!"

Filvis jumped back as a barrage of light shot from Lefiya's staff and obliterated the area where the monster-elf now stood.

The captain of the Dionysus familia had saved herself from Lefiya's spell, only for Tiona to reappear beside her, blade in mid-swing.

Filvis only had enough time to raise her own sword to block the amazon's attack, but ill-prepared as she was, she could not contend with Tiona's strength and her short-sword was forced aside as Tiona scored a slash across her chest.

The elf hissed, but her opponent wasn't done.

"Orrraaaah!" Tiona roared as she spun on her heel to power up a kick that crashed against the side of Filvis's head like a falling meteorite crashes into the earth.

Filvis flew once again, but this time she did not land gracefully, but smashed through stone boulders and skidded across the ground like a skipping stone across water.

Finally, her painful trip ended and she picked herself up as her body ached.

I can't fight all three of them for long. I need to even the odds, she recognized, her eyes immediately turning to the weakest link.

She ran towards Lefiya, her eyes boring into the younger elf, but keeping her other senses open for her other two opponents.

Tiona's warcry immediately alerted Filvis to the amazon's approach. Once the young berserker reached her, the elf quickly ducked under Tiona's swing, before sweeping her legs. As the amazon fell, Filvis grabbed her arm and threw her aside with all her strength, sending her dark-skinned opponent soaring over the battlefield and out of the elf-creature's path.

Not wasting any time, Filvis spun around to Riveria and threw her short-sword at the High Elf like a javelin. Riveria, ill-prepared for this attack, could only shift to the side enough to ensure it wasn't a lethal blow. The sword pierced through her shoulder, making the Nine Hells cry out in pain as blood spurted forth from her wound.

Her two main opponents dealt with for the moment, Filvis finally returned her attention back to her target and rushed forward, intent on killing her friend-turned-reluctant-foe.

I'm sorry, Lefiya. Good-bye, she thought as she prepared to thrust her hand into the Thousand Elf's skull like a spear.

However, the moment she placed her foot down before Lefiya, a magic circle appeared beneath her.

"Wha-?"

The circle exploded, hitting Filvis with enough magical power to send her flying back towards whence she came.

She crashed upon the ground, her skin and clothes scorched by the spell, but otherwise fine. The creature-elf picked herself up and found Lefiya standing in the distance with a magic shield before her.

"You are my friend, Filvis," the Thousand Elf called, "and as my friend I promise to rescue you. However," Lefiya tightened her hands around her staff, "I will not allow you to hurt my familia, and any injury you give them will be repaid in full."

Nearby, Riveria, who had healed herself, smiled.

She has grown so much.

"Yeah! Go Lefiya!" Tiona cried, having returned to the battle. "I knew you were a major butt-kicker!"

Despite the previous seriousness, the young elf could not help but blush.

In the distance, even Filvis could not help but smile at her former friend's determination.

I'm proud to see you've grown so much, Lefiya, but, her smile dropped, that only makes things harder.

She was just about to begin the fight anew, when a cold shiver ran up her spine.

Filvis turned and she froze.

She can't be.

In the distance, Alfia began to chant something that Filvis had only ever been warned about and did not ever expect, nor want, to see.

"FUCK! Everyone! Get off the floor! Get off-!" Finn called, before he was interrupted by the demi-reaper.

Now alerted that something was very wrong, Riveria, Lefiya, and Tiona turned to Finn then to Alfia, at which point, Riveria, like Filvis, froze in absolute terror.

"Oh gods," Riveria said, her voice sapped of all strength as she saw and heard the chant that had burned itself with her minds all those years ago.

"What is it?!" Lefiya asked desperately.

"Alfia is using Junos Angelos. The spell she used to kill the Leviathan," Riveria explained, terrifying both her underlings. "We have to leave the floor now!"

"Everyone's still fighting though!" Tiona pointed out.

And she was right. Everywhere, everyone was still fighting and, just like Finn, they could not break away from their enemies, who were either oblivious or uncaring of the threat that now loomed over them all.

"We'll help them break from their fight, but we need to do it now! We don't have much time!" Riveria shouted before immediately setting off to try and aid the nearest allies, Tiona following close behind. Lefiya, however, turned in a different direction.

Have we lost control of her? Filvis wondered as she watched Alfia continue the chant that, upon completion, would spell all of their dooms. Or has she gone completely insane due to being imprisoned in her own mind?

She had no answer but silence. Dreadful silence that promised nothing but death.

I suppose this is the end then. But as long as Dionysus is fine, I can accept it.

Suddenly, warmth surrounded her hand, surprising the elf-creature and making her turn.

"Come on!" Lefiya cried. "We have to run!"

Filvis blinked, unable to believe what she was witnessing.

Has the entire world gone mad? She wondered. However, as she stared into Lefiya's desperate, but utterly genuine eyes, she realized that was not the case. She truly does still sees me as a friend…even now.

At that moment, Filvis felt her heart split in two. One side remained, as it always had, with Dionysus and whatever wishes he had. It demanded her loyalty and love remain with him. Yet, an equally loud voice now rose to challenge it. This new voice was built on the warmth, friendship, and compassion of the young elf before her. It did not demand like the first piece of her heart, but gently pulled her towards Lefiya and the hopeful world that lay in her friend's hands.

Could…could I truly abandon Dionysus and…have a new life with her?

Just as she was about to follow the words of the gentle voice in her heart, everyone's attention was turned back to Alfia and the dark elf now attacking her with deranged glee.

"HAHAHAHA! Take this!" Galadriel cried as she attacked Alfia.

Filvis and Lefiya watched the two Hera familia members battle each other for some time, too stunned to do anything else. Slowly though, their wits returned and, realizing that Junos Angelos had been averted and with it, a catastrophic disaster, they turned to each other.

"Do you still want to fight?" Lefiya asked.

Filvis did not answer immediately, she couldn't. Her heart was far too conflicted and she could practically hear the two sides shouting in her ears. She looked down and found their fingers were intertwined.

I…I can't. I can't throw everything away, even for her.

"It's not about what I want. I'm not sure it ever has been," she answered, her eyes filled with sorrow and regret and her body slumped in resignation. "It's about what Dionysus wants and my loyalty to him. Despite everything that's happened and everything that he is, he is my god and I do love him."

Lefiya nodded.

"I understand."

Her choice made, Filvis tried to pull back, but, to her surprise she found that Lefiya was still holding her hand. She looked back at her friend, only for Lefiya to suddenly pull her into a hug.

"Lefiya?" The Thousand Elf did not reply and for a moment things were quiet. However, Filvis began to hear what sounded like rustling. "What are you doing?"

Lefiya pulled back and before Filvis knew it and with their fingers still entwined, Lefiya punched Filvis square in the face.

This would have been shocking in normal circumstances, but Filvis had little time to contemplate anything beyond pain as Lefiya did not simply punch her as say, Tiona or Tione would, with their bare fists. Instead, the young elf had taken a page out of Riveria's book and added a magical enhanced knuckle to her fist. However, she had added her own flair to it. Whereas Riveria's knuckles were of a fire and ice spell, respectively, Lefiya had used her Thousand Elf magic to its fullest and added an individual elven spell to each knuckle. This meant that every time Lefiya punched Filvis with her knuckles, she was also hitting the elf-creature with four spells.

Lefiya finally let go of Filvis's hand and quickly added the second knuckle before beginning a barrage against the stunned and defenseless Banshee.

Over and over Filvis was struck, taking the full-force of the combined eight spells Lefiya had added to the two knuckles straight to her face, abdomen, and everywhere else the Thousand Elf decided to strike.

"Orrraaaa!" Lefiya cried, doing her best impression of the amazon sisters and punching Filvis with all her might, sending her friend-turned-foe into the air.

Now, as impressive as Lefiya's change in tactics and barrage of knuckle sandwiches had been, she wasn't a warrior, an amazon, nor was she a level 6, like Tiona and so the elven creature did not fly far, though Filvis did find her legs weak and was having difficulty holding up her frame after the battering she'd just received.

"Impressive, Lefiya," she complimented as she spat out some blood, "but it will take a great deal more than that to-"

"Flaming Flower!"

An explosion of flame burst from Filvis's chest, sending the Evilus captain shooting backwards.

"Luckily for Lefiya," Riveria stepped forward, "she has assistance."

"Got that right!" Tiona bellowed cheerfully as she rushed Filvis.

The elf had barely managed to pick herself up by the time Tiona appeared before her and thus couldn't dodge the incoming strike as it cut her from shoulder to hip.

"Aah!" Filvis cried, before quickly jumping back to avoid a second cut from the amazon.

Angry and desperate, Filvis immediately charged back in, twirling around Tiona's attack before punching the Amazon in the face, her increased strength sending shockwaves through her opponent's body. Not letting up, she quickly grabbed Tiona by her top and skirt, spun around and slammed her enemy down into the ground with a monstrous bellow.

"Sweep, holy staff of crushing evil!" she cried as she turned to Lefiya and Riveria.

Without her sword, she could not channel the magic as well, but she mitigated this some by pointing two of her fingers at Lefiya, using them to act as a replacement sword point.

Her magic shot off at Lefiya, who raised her staff to defend herself.

"Svalinn!" Riveria cried, summoning her magic shield which appeared just in time to save Lefiya.

Filvis growled, but could not continue her offensive as Tiona, still energetic and eager, reappeared once more and attacked, forcing the Evilus member to dodge. However, Tiona wasn't about to let her get away again and continued her assault, forcing Filvis further and further back.

"Become a shield, holy grail of crushing evil!" she quickly chanted.

Her shield appeared and blocked Tiona's attack, but whatever respite she may have gained was immediately lost as Riveria's voice called over the battlefield once again.

"Frozen spears!"

A hail of icy javelins hurtled towards Filvis, forcing her to jump out of the way.

I can't take on all three of them, the best I can do is hold them while their allies are dealt with, but I don't know-

Feeling a familiar presence, she turned and was just in time to see Lefiya, sans staff, by her side, fist cocked backwards.

"Orrraaaa!" the young elven maiden roared, before embedding her fist into Filvis's chest.

The elf-creature felt the wind rush from her lungs as the blow cracked her ribcage and sent a quake of power and pain through her. That was only the beginning, of course, as the spells activated, hitting Filvis with four separate attacks, as if all the elven peoples of the world had joined together in their condemnation of her.

Which may not be far from the truth, Filvis mused before she was once more flying across the battlefield.

The Dionysus captain smashed into a boulder, spitting up blood as she did so, before falling to the ground like a sack of discarded potatoes.

I've lost, she recognized while pain echoed through her body. I'm sorry, Dionysus, she thought as she closed her eyes. Yet, even as she felt the great shame for herself and her own failure, she could not help but smile in pride at the success of the young elf across the battlefield. Well done, Lefiya. You have become a wonderful adventurer.

Off in the distance, Dionysus watched his captain fall with a heavy heart.

"Even you have been defeated, my beloved Filvis?" he whispered.

His head bowed and for a brief moment, he felt a twinge of regret. However, that moment passed and he soon looked back to her with a smile.

"Well…I know how prideful you are and how much it would hurt you to face me again after such a defeat, or worse yet, to be captured by our foes and be forever separated from me. Thus, I shall spare you such a fate," he said, before turning to one of his other tools and sending it an order.

For a moment, all was silent, as the three ladies of the Loki familia simply waited to see if Filvis did anything. Finally, their enemy slowly picked herself up and faced them once again.

"Surrender, Filvis. You are in no position to continue this fight," Riveria commanded.

"And yet, I shall," Filvis stated firmly.

"Filvis…please," Lefiya pleaded.

Filvis turned to and smiled.

"I already told you, Lefiya, I will not betray Dionysus, even for you. I will continue to fight for him and, if need be, I will die for him."

"How sweet."

Filvis's head shot around as she found the Demi-Reaper suddenly beside her. Even behind its armor, it was clear to Filvis that the Demi-Reaper was smiling with sadistic glee as its cold eyes held hers.

"Well, if you're okay with dying, then let's get to it~" the creature sang before swinging a blade at Filvis.

Dionysus…

"NOOOO!"

Just as the monster's blade was about to make contact, Filvis was pushed out of the way.

She turned her head and her eyes widened as she saw who had saved her.

"LEFI-!"

SQUELCH!

The Demi-Reaper's blade sank into Lefiya's stomach and through her body, and now jutted out like a pillar.

"Oh? Did you want to die too, little girl?" the Demi-Reaper asked, laughing in delight as blood poured down her blade.

"LEFIYA!" Riveria and Tiona cried.

"You bitch!"

Finn suddenly appeared behind the Demi-Reaper and, as the creature turned, he thrust his spear, tearing off the arm holding up Lefiya.

"AAAAAH!" the Demi-Reaper cried, before Finn used his spear to smash it across the face and send it flying back towards his companions.

"Riveria! Save her!" he ordered before turning back to the flying Reaper. "I'm going to tear you apart for this," he vowed before rushing after his prey.

Riveria immediately set about pouring healing magic into her ward as she and Tiona fought to hold back tears.

"It'll be alright Lefiya. You'll be alright. You'll be alright," the High Elf vowed as she poured all she had into the young woman.

"T-That's right! You'll be fine! You're so strong now! I-I'm sure…I'm sure you'll make it," Tiona said through tears.

As this all transpired, Filvis watched with wide eyes.

She…saved me. Even after everything. She saved me. There wasn't even a moment of hesitation. I wouldn't have survived if there was, tears filled her eyes and began to flow down her cheeks. Lefiya...why? Why did you do that?

Because she is your friend, her own mind echoed back.

That's right. She's my friend. My dear, beloved friend. And now my savior. And… the tears now poured down her cheeks as her heart, once divided, now combined into a new, absolute loyalty. And she'll die if I don't save her!

Filvis jumped to her feet, garnering the attention of Tiona, whose tearful eyes now burned with hatred.

"Don't you dare come near her! This is all your fault! You and your bastard god!"

"The blades of the Demi-Reaper are coated in poison unique to it. I, however, have the antidote."

Tiona froze and Riveria, who had been ignoring the Evilus captain to prioritize saving Lefiya, finally looked up.

"Is that the truth?" she demanded.

"It is," Filvis swore.

Riveria's burning eyes bore into Filvis's blue orbs, looking for any sign of falsity.

"Save her," the Nine Hells finally commanded.

Tears in her eyes, Filvis nodded and rushed to Lefiya's side.

Dionysus watched all of this in painful silence.

Have I truly lost you now, my dearest Filvis? He asked silently as he felt the heart which he thought had been shattered long ago, break.

Filvis quickly pulled out a vial of white liquid and uncorked it before bringing it to Lefiya's mouth.

For a moment, nothing happened, but then Lefiya began to violently spit up the potion and a mouthful of blood.

"Shit! If she can't swallow the potion, the poison will spread!" Riveria cried.

Filvis, her heart thundering with desperation, tried to figure out how to administer the potion to her dear friend. Coming up with an idea, she quickly poured the potion into her mouth and kissed Lefiya, pouring the potion in the wounded elf's mouth.

Lefiya began to spasm and tried to force her off and reject the potion, however Filvis held firm, cupping her friend's face as she resisted all attempts to knock her off.

I won't let you die on me, Lefiya. Not now. Not when I finally understand. I am your friend. And you are my friend…and so much more.

Finally, with no other option, the barely conscious Lefiya swallowed the potion and Filvis released her.

The taste of blood, of Lefiya's blood coated Filvis's mouth and immediately upon realizing that fact, she vomited.

I'm so sorry Lefiya, she thought as her tears returned.

"It's working."

Filvis turned back and found Lefiya's wounds beginning to mend thanks to Riveria's magic and the young elf's breathing returned to normal.

Lefiya's eyes soon after opened.

"Riveria-sama?"

"Yes, Lefiya, I'm here," the elder elf replied, smiling through tears.

"Tiona?" Lefiya then asked, turning to amazon.

"Lefiya!" Tiona cried as she hugged the elf, who groaned in pain, but returned the hug as best as she could.

Filvis watched this all with a relieved smile, but feeling eyes on her, she turned and met Riveria's gaze.

"This doesn't change things. You still have much to answer for, especially to Lefiya," the Nine Hells stated.

"I know," Filvis returned. "And I will spend the rest of my life, however long that is, repaying her for all she's done for me."

Riveria nodded just before Lefiya noticed the third person with them.

"Filvis?"

Her friend smiled.

"I'm…I'm glad you're alright, Lefiya. Though I wish you hadn't done what you did."

Lefiya suddenly became very serious, startling the three other women, before the young elf arose, despite their objections, and made her way over to Filvis.

"I wasn't going to lose you. And even had I died, I wouldn't have regretted it."

Tears returned to Filvis's eyes and she shook her head.

"Please…please don't-"

Lefiya cut her off with a hug.

"You're my friend, Filvis. And friends protect each other."

Tears streamed down Filvis's face as she returned the hug, whispering apologies over and over as Lefiya softly stroked her hair and reassured her that everything was alright. It was a brief moment of peace in the middle of a war, but for the two young elvish women, it was a lifetime of friendship and love brought together in a single, wonderful moment.

End.

Well, another pretty quick chapter. I hope you guys don't mind these little chapters too much. Since they're individual battles they don't have as much substance as other chapters, though I do try to make them as fun, intense, and detailed as possible. If, however, you think I can do better, feel free to tell me, along with any suggestions you may have.

That brings us to the usual spiel. As always, please tell me what you guys thought of this chapter. Love it? Hate it? Wish that someone had actually died? Share all your thoughts and criticisms in the reviews for I do read them and they have, many times, helped improve this story and address issues I wasn't even aware of.

Anyway, that's all for now guys. Next time it's the Battle of the Commanders. Finn, Gareth, Allen, Mia, Uriel, Sif, and Tione vs. the Demi-Reaper. I hope you're all excited!

With that, I bid you all a fine farewell and I'll see you all next time. Bye for now.