Heroes

by The Four Crosses

A powerful figure has returned to Orario seeking Bell. What does this person want? What will happen to Bell and all those around him? How will the gods react, and, more importantly, what will they uncover upon their return? (My not so grand return to Fanfiction is here!)

77. Everyone vs The White Dragon

Hello everyone! Welcome back! Well, it's finally here, the final battle of the Evilus War and the truth has been revealed. That's right, it's Everyone vs. The White Dragon. There's really not much more I can say than that, so let's the final battle of this arc commence. Let's hope everyone makes it out alive.

I do not own Danmachi

---

The battle was finally over. After six boss battles and 10,000 monsters, it was all finally done and the Expedition had won. It had not, however, come without cost.

Half the Expedition was dead, and not a single person was left uninjured. Several were comatose, some from Shiro's poison, others from injuries and trauma, such as Ouka and Naaza. Everyone was exhausted, physically and mentally, despite going through, easily, 100 million valis worth of potions to maintain their strength.

We've won, Achilles thought as he looked at those who had survived, so why…why does it not feel like it's over?

His eyes turned to Finn, who was currently being looked over by the medics and a very worried Tione. The Braver turned to him and the Father On High could tell that the prum desperately wanted to bite his missing thumb right now.

Something's wrong.

Just then, Ais reappeared, much to the relief of her familia.

"Ais-san!" Lefiya cried.

"Ais!" Tiona added as the two rushed over to her, followed quickly by Riveria.

"Are you alright?!" Lefiya questioned, her eyes scanning over her dear Sword Princess.

"I'm fine," Ais replied calmly as she looked over her familia members in turn. "Revis is dead."

Riveria nodded as the rest of the Loki familia surrounded the golden swordswoman.

"Good. I was getting sick of seeing that crazy bitch's face," Bete cursed.

"Bete," Tione chided.

"Don't, 'Bete' me! I'm barely keeping myself from tearing that elf-bitch apart, I was not about to accept sparing that green-eyed cunt after everything she's done!"

Ais's gaze turned and she found Filvis, or perhaps she should call her Ein now, sitting on the ground, bound head-to-toe in chains with over a dozen adventurers surrounding her.

"You managed to capture her?" she inquired.

"Barely! Poor Lefiya almost died to save her!" Tiona cried.

Ais's gaze shot to the elf who rubbed her arm.

"I…I just wanted to protect a friend," she confirmed softly.

"Some friend," Bete growled, only to receive a smack from Tione.

Ais's feelings were in chaos. Part of her was glad that Lefiya was evidently alright. Part of her wanted to tear Filvis apart for putting her friend's life at risk. However, she eventually decided on an entirely different emotion.

Lefiya suddenly felt a hand fall on her head and begin stroking her hair.

"Well done, Lefiya," Ais said with pride as she smiled at the maiden.

"A-Ais-san…" was the only thing the elf could say in reply as she blushed.

A few quiet moments passed before Alfia and the rest of the Expedition strode forward.

"You may have your touching moment later. Right now, we need to reclaim my nephew," the Monster of Talent stated.

"I wholeheartedly agree," Achilles seconded as his eyes bore down on the two remaining figures in the distance.

Every eye of the Expedition fell upon Dionysus –while Thanatos tried his best to hide himself off to the side– who, seeing that he was now the center of attention, began to applaud.

"Well done, great adventurers of Orario! Very well done!" he congratulated, chuckling menacingly. "I must say I am surprised to have lost let alone with so few casualties on your side."

"We lost half our people you bastard!" Raul cried, squeezing Ana's hand as he glared at the god.

"Indeed, only half. I expected at least three quarters of you to be dead, perhaps even nine tenths if you managed a victory. Then again…perhaps there's still time for that."

The dark words made many shiver and some even grabbed their weapons, but only for a moment as Achilles, Finn, and Asterius all stepped forward.

"Enough of your games, Dionysus," Achilles hissed.

"You've lost. Surrender now to face judgment," Finn commanded.

"Or don't. I will be happy to break you in half then drag you back to the surface as punishment for hurting my comrades and kidnapping my rival," Asterius growled.

Bolstered by the strength of these three entities, the others stepped forward one after another. First Ais joined them. Then the Hestia familia. Then the rest of the Loki familia and the Mania familia. Then came Tsubaki and Bache. Next came the Xenos and the Miach familia. Finally, all stood before the god, demanding his complete capitulation.

Dionysus watched as they all came forward and his smile grew to horrible, inhuman size, before he finally burst out laughing.

"HAHAHAHAHA! My my! Look how intimidating you all are! So much power! So much strength, both physical and in spirit! You truly are the greatest adventurers of your age! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The Expedition did not falter under his insane laughter, but merely tightened their holds on their weapons as they prepared to force their demands on the deity.

"However," Dionysus suddenly stopped laughing as his mad smile transformed into a confident smirk, "I will have to decline your request."

"Then I shall enjoy dragging you back," Asterius stated as he and the other Xenos stepped forward.

"Oh I'm sure you would enjoy that, my dark, horned friend. However…I have one final card to play."

Fists tightened and weapons were readied.

"And what's that?" Achilles demanded.

"The one I made using the Imperator Monstrorum, of course, dear Achilles Caesar. My great trump card," Dionysus turned, "you can come forward now…Bell."

Every heart stopped.

A bone-chilling scraping sound filled every ear and the air chilled as a new, insanely powerful presence suddenly appeared from the peaceful oblivion to sap away their courage.

"Introducing!" Dionysus proclaimed. "The new and improved Bell Cranel! Or…perhaps I should call him…the White Dragon."

The White Dragon appeared and the sight of his terrible visage made Haruhime fall to her knees, half the Expedition take a step back in fear, and several adventurers to soil themselves.

Never before had Bell's transformation ever been so complete and thus, never had it ever been so terrifying to behold.

His clothes and armor were all gone, leaving only bone-white scales to cover every inch of his skin. Those scales had also somehow become even more monstrous since they'd last appeared and now jutted out of the Dragon's body like daggers and the world's most horrid thorns. His hands and feet, if they could still be called that, had transformed into the long, flesh-tearing claws that flexed with impatience and blood-lust.

Held within his claws were the Hestia Knife and Hakugen, both of which somehow seemed darker and far more menacing in the Dragon's hands, as if they were tainted by the malice of his skill.

The White Dragon's body was hunched over, as though he was weighed down by his own desire for destruction and wrath, yet even so, it was clear that he had gained a good amount of muscle. While not on the level of Achilles or Ottar, there was no doubt in any mind that he held a strength that few, if any of them, could match.

From his back a long, pale tail swung back and forth menacingly. It almost seemed to have a life of its own as it slithered in the air looking for prey it could wrap around and crush with its ludicrous strength.

His mouth, which the Dragon wantonly displayed with growls and barely restrained snarls, was filled with razor-sharp fangs that seemed to radiate a vengeful gluttony that could consume the world.

Then there were his eyes. The dark scarlet of his irises was nothing new, but the malevolence behind them was even greater than his previous transformations, and the Expedition could feel its strength waning as they bore down upon them. What truly filled them with despair though was the now blood-red sclera that surrounded his dark irises like pools of gore and torment, separated only by a thin line of black.

Finally, there were his horns. They were even larger than before and more twisted and jagged, as if the Dragon hoped to impale an army of victims upon them.

"What is that creature?" Alfia asked, her voice sapped of strength as she gazed upon the beast.

"That's Bell," Achilles answered as sweat dripped down his neck.

"Bell?" Alfia's eyes shot to him, then back to the Dragon.

"It's his skill, Wrath of the Dragon," Achilles explained, "but it's never been this full or…intense before. Meaning," his eyes turned to Dionysus. "What the fuck did you put into the Imperator Monstrorum?"

"What else but monsters, dear Achilles. We fed him dozens of monsters of increasing power. We even gave him one of the Reapers. My did he scream at that injection. Oooh~" Dionysus shivered, "you should have heard him."

"YOU MONSTER!"

All eyes shot to Haruhime who had tears streaming down her face.

"YOU EVIL, WICKED CREATURE! HOW COULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO HIM! YOU FIEND! YOU BASTARD! YOU CRUEL PIECE OF SHIT!" she cried out as she tore the flesh of her palms with her nails.

Never before, and likely never again, would any of them see such fury and contempt from the young renard. The loathing she now pointed at Dionysus stunned and even intimidated them a little, despite the situation. The god, however, merely burst out laughing.

"YES! Yes I am very cruel, my cute little kitsune. Diabolically so! And guess what? That's not even the worst thing I did to him." The hatred in Haruhime's eyes roared to even greater heights and was soon joined by dozens of other contemptuous glares. "Not only did I torture him using his auntie there to hit him with spell after spell." Alfia's eyes widened at this information. "Lugio! Gospel! Lugio! Gospel!" he repeated as he held out his hands as if casting the spells. Soon, Alfia's eyes turned glassy and it was only the quick intervention of Galadriel that stopped her from breaking down. "But I also tried to feed him the soul of an adventurer!"

"WHAT?!" Achilles and several others roared.

Dionysus laughed with insane glee.

"I tried to give him the soul of an adventurer. Some young little fool we caught on the second floor. However, just as the soul was about to enter my dear pet here, he rejected and outright destroyed the machine," his hand floated above the Dragon's head and it was then that they finally noticed the crown situated upon his head and the three sickly green stones situated within.

That's how he's holding him. And even then, Achilles noted the way Bell growled as Dionysus's hand approached him, he seems to be resisting. If we can destroy those, or even just a couple of them, we might be able to release him, his eyes turned to Finn who, feeling his gaze, turned and nodded.

"Such a naughty pet," Dionysus playfully chided.

"He is not your pet," Ais stated, turning all attention to her as she stepped forward with rage and conviction. "He is Bell Cranel. Our friend. Our rival. Our brother. Our son. And my lover," she pulled out her sword and pointed it at the god.

The Expedition, though still shaken by the terrible visage and aura of the adventurer-turned-monster before them, felt courage reenter their hearts and they too unsheathed their weapons and glared at the deity.

"I don't know about 'friend' or 'brother' and he sure as shit ain't my kid," Bete huffed, "but I'm not about to allow you to fuck with bunny boy."

"You've hurt Bell enough, and now we're going to take him back," Tiona vowed.

"And make you pay for all you've done to him, to us, and to everyone else!" Haruhime cried.

The Expedition cheered their agreement and readied themselves for battle.

None of this did anything but make Dionysus smile grow and shake with sadistic glee.

"Then what's say we begin the real final battle?" he asked with madness dripping from his voice.

"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAAA!" Asterius bellowed as he instantly took up the challenge and charged straight at the White Dragon.

"First tier adventurers, attack! Everyone else, take cover and prepare a defensive position!" Finn ordered as Achilles and the high class adventurers and Xenos all made straight for the White Dragon.

"Aaaah!" Thanatos screamed before running for his life. Dionysus, laughing in evil joy, prepared to follow after his fellow god, but he had one final order to give.

"Kill them all, my pet. Unleash all that hatred and kill…everything."

The god retreated as the White Dragon's eyes roared with new cruelty and darkened like a bottomless pit of wrath.

"AWOOOOOORAA!" Asterius bellowed again as he reached his rival and swung his ax down at the pale serpent with all his tremendous strength.

The blow created a hurricane of wind that nearly sent Ryuu and everyone below a level 6, tumbling back, and the earth broke beneath the Dragon's feet and formed a giant cracker. And yet…the White Dragon was utterly unaffected, for he had easily raised his white blade and blocked the attack as if it was nothing. His hand did not even shake under the insane strength of the black beast, the great serpent merely raised its head.

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAR!"

Asterius's bellow was nothing compared to this roar. This was fury and dread mixed into a toxic mixture that seemed to poison the very air and even the great Xenos felt a shiver go up his thick hide as it pierced his ears.

The White Dragon suddenly batted away the bull's great ax then aimed his black knife for Asterius's heart.

CLANG!

Achilles parried the blade with Dragonsbane, but his bones rattled with the force of the attack and he gritted his teeth as the true difficulty of the battle before him sank deeper into his heart and mind.

The White Dragon turned his furious eyes to the former captain and suddenly lashed out with the Hestia knife.

The attack came so quickly that Achilles barely had time to block the blow with his sword and the force was so overwhelming that even had he been at full strength, he would not have been able to stop himself from soaring across the battlefield and crashing through mountains of stone.

The sudden attack, however, did open the draconian beast up for those that followed the Father On High.

Ais reached him first, with Finn close behind. They moved around Asterius – who raised his ax again to strike his great rival – and aimed for the jewels of his terrible crown.

One would think with three powerful entities attacking him at once, that the White Dragon would stand no chance or at least retreat. One would think that if they wished to be wrong.

The great serpent opened his mouth and unleashed a Firebolt like blast straight at Asterius's face, sending the irregular tumbling back as his fur and flesh burned.

His first opponent dealt with, the pale dragon turned his open mouth towards Finn's spear, catching it in his jaw and tugging it. The Braver, unprepared for such a rapid shift in fortunes, could do nothing to prevent himself from being reeled in. The White Dragon then attempted to cut off the top of his skull with Hakugen and Finn barely managed to turn his head away to spare himself a fatal blow, though his left cheek was torn wide open and his top teeth were cut from his jaw as if they were made of soft butter.

Ais was not forgotten in all this, and just before she could manage to pierce one of the jewels with her Desperate, the White Dragon's tail appeared and grabbed her arm, stopping her in place, before throwing her across the Dungeon like a discarded doll.

Asterius was the first to recover, and with eyes blazing with determination and the joy of battle, he threw a punch straight at his rival's chest.

The dragon managed to block the strike with his arms; his scales were utterly undamaged by a blow that would have leveled a stone keep, but he was sent back, his clawed feet tearing the ground to shreds as he moved.

The White Dragon growled and prepared to charge the black bull, when the presence of a werewolf appeared behind him.

Bete aimed a kick straight for the adventurer-turned-monster's head, knowing there was no holding back now. This was not the white rabbit or "tomato boy" though and, to the wolf's surprise, the dragon simply ducked his head then lashed out with his tail, batting the Vanargand of the Loki familia away like a gnat as the White Dragon turned his eyes towards the dwarf who now charged towards him and while two amazons who moved to surround him.

Instead of waiting for Tiona and Tione to reach him, the White Dragon charged, his terrible speed shocking the three members of the Loki familia as he suddenly appeared before Gareth, smashing into the dwarf's shield, sending him shooting at Asterius, who barely had time to catch the dwarf.

The bone-white serpent spun around and threw his two knives as the still stunned amazons. The insane strength of his enhanced arms and the ludicrous speed of his throw made it so that knives shot straight right through the flesh of the two young women at the same time, sending them tumbling backwards.

"Over here, ugly!"

Sneering, the dragon turned to two more amazons that were closing in.

Argana and Bache both shot a fist at the beast's face, only for their eyes to widen as he easily caught both of them.

Not sated with their shock nor the terror that quickly entered Bache's eyes, he dug his claws into their wrists as he bent their hands back.

"Ah!" Argana hissed as she and her sister were sent to their knees. He suddenly released them, only to grab their skulls and throw them both to the ground with such power that two massive craters formed under them.

The serpent opened his mouth in preparation for to blast them, but a great thudding stole his attention away.

"AWOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!" Asterius bellowed as he charged, horns first and sans weapons, straight for the dragon.

The White Dragon fired his Firebolt at the bull, and though it struck true, Asterius merely shook it off as he closed the distance.

Asterius's rival raised his claws to grab the bull's horns, but the force behind the charge was too great for even the White Dragon to simply stop and the two were soon flying and crashing across the battlefield.

The fearsome serpent growled and finally dug his heels in, stopping the bull's charge before pushing the black beast back. However, Asterius immediately threw a fist at his rival, which the White Dragon met with one of his own.

The force of their colliding fists sent booming winds shooting through the Dungeon, making the already terrified lower-ranked adventurers shriek.

The two rivals collided fists again and again, each matching the other blow for blow, but it soon became apparent that the White Dragon had the advantage in both strength and toughness. Noting this and the blood that dripped from Asterius's knuckles, the pale beast flattened one of his hands into a spear and shot it straight at the bull's heart. Just as it was about to tear open his enemy's chest though, a blue blade appeared before his eyes and the White Dragon had only enough time to meet the electric blue eyes of the heartbroken father of the Hestia familia, before he was flying through the air.

The White Dragon soared, growling with ever growing rage as wind whipped past his ears and pain echoed in his skull.

His wrath soon shifted focus when Ais appeared in the air with him, once more aiming her sword towards his crown.

The White Dragon was far from finished or even truly wounded however, and simply spun in the air, shocking the Sword Princess, before back-handing her back to the ground below.

Yet another assault soon fell on the dragon as lines of brilliant light suddenly crashed into his side, sending him tumbling back to the earth.

Blood literally boiling and eyes shifting, the snow-scaled monster soon found the originator of the attack.

Lefiya's body shook as all the White Dragon's malevolence fell upon her.

The White Dragon shot straight for the elf, dodging Achilles's sword, Finn's spear, Tsubaki's naginata, the kicks of both Argana and Bache, and smashing through a wall of ice that Rei had made as if it was made of paper. He wanted to tear the elf apart and he would not be denied.

Lefiya's body froze as the White Dragon pulled back his claws, once more turning his hand into a spear, before aiming for her forehead.

The claw entered her flesh-

CRASH!

Galadriel's fist struck the White Dragon's jaw, but even as he growled at the blow, the beast tried to finish off his prey, pushing his claws forward, cutting a long gash across Lefiya's temple and finally slicing off the tip of her left ear, before he was finally sent tumbling across the battlefield.

Lefiya's shaking hand slowly reached up and touched her severed ear, her mind not even comprehending the pain as the death which she had so expected, was avoided by the narrowest of margins.

She moved her hand to her face and when she saw the blood, she collapsed to her knees.

"Lefiya!" Riveria cried as she rushed to her ward while, nearby, Filvis struggled in her chains, wanting desperately to go to her friend.

The young elf could say nothing, she simply latched on to the motherly High Elf as tears silently streamed down her face.

"It's alright," Riveria said as gently as she could. "It's alright."

However, as her eyes turned back to the monster she had, not long ago, thought of like a son, she was not so sure.

---

The White Dragon quickly recovered from Galadriel's blow, but his wrath, which had already been beyond mortal comprehension, was now truly suffocating after having been denied his prey. Luckily, the enemy who had so denied him, was rushing towards him.

Galadriel shot a beam of light magic at the dragon, hoping to stun him for long enough to get a solid hit in, but to her displeasure, but not her surprise, he merely growled as he took the blow.

The pale creature raised its claws and attempted to bifurcate her, but she just barely managed to twirl around his attack and aimed a fist towards his skull. However, to her shock, his tail immediately intercepted her, blocking the blow, before wrapping around her fist and throwing her against the ground with even greater force than he used on Argana and Bache.

Galadriel spat up blood, but still tried to shoot off another light spell at him. However, the dragon easily deflected her attack with a kick then brought his leg down on her chest, crushing her ribs and forcing more blood from her mouth. He raised his tail to pierce her skull, only for Dido to appear and throw her axes at him.

He didn't even bother to deflect these, instead allowing them to bounce off his scales as his contemptuous eyes turned to the Hera captain.

Though irritated by how little he was affected by her attack, it mattered little to Dido as she was simply the distraction.

Ajax and Patroclus just barely managed to reach the White Dragon before his wrath turned on them, and they used all their strength to crash their weapons into his back.

Even together, the two Zeus members could barely move the dragon, but they managed to move him just enough for Imilce's vines to wrap around Galadriel's body and pull her to safety. Once that was accomplished, they quickly retreated, allowing their heavy-hitter to step forward.

"Gospel."

Alfia's magic fell upon the White Dragon like a collapsing tower and even his strength and power found the spell to be jarring.

"Lugio."

The explosion sent the serpent tumbling back, but he was far from out of the fight, which Alfia was well aware of.

"Gospel."

He stumbled back.

"Lugio."

He groaned.

"Gospel. Lugio. Gospel. Lugio. Gospel! Lugio!" Alfia cried, tears streaming down her face as she watched her nephew suffer her blows over and over again, but knowing that it was the only way to save him.

And I will save you! She cried in her mind before raising both her hands.

"GOSPEL!"

The great spell's power crashed into the White Dragon and sent him shooting through the air like a ballista bolt until he finally crashed into a mountain of stone.

Alfia, exhausted by recent events and her heavy use of magic, dropped to a knee.

"Here." Alfia looked up to see Mia holding out a mana potion. The sorceress nodded her thanks, took the potion and drank it before rising to her feet again, ready, or as ready as she could be, to continue the battle with her nephew.

"That won't be enough," Achilles stated as he and the others, all of whom had been healed as best as they could be, joined the Hera and Zeus familia.

"I know," Alfia replied as she downed a mana potion, "but hopefully he's weakened."

Hope. A word one that should not be used when facing the White Dragon of Wrath.

---

The great pale beast rose from debris and stood, hunched over and claws flecking with the desire, no, the need to rip and tear.

Destroy. I'll destroy you all. Everyone who hurts me. Everyone who stands before me! Everyone! EVERYONE WILL DIE!

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAR!"

Many in the Expedition screamed as the roar shook the very Dungeon, making the walls reverberate with the power of his cry. Many of the lesser adventurers fainted from the force, their ears bleeding and only the quick intervention of the medics and healers preventing them from being permanently deafened.

Be silent you unworthy creature, Allen thought as he closed in on the White Dragon's unguarded back.

The pale serpent's cry suddenly stopped as he felt something pierce his scales and just barely reach his lung.

Turning his horned head, the dragon found a sneering feline attempting to push a spear further into his body.

Wait. I know you, the White Dragon thought, unperturbed by the assault as his mind filled with images from a past life, each more infuriating than the last. Yes. You are my enemy. You always have been. Since the first moment I saw you, you have tried to destroy me. It is time...to return the favor.

The beast growled, causing Allen to look up and meet its bloody eyes a moment before the dragon's tail smashed into his cheek, sending him shooting across the battlefield.

I WILL KILL YOU! I'LL TEAR YOU APART AND FEAST ON YOUR FLESH! The White Dragon roared in his mind, but before he could make good on his vow, Mia appeared and brought her greatsword down upon him.

He brought his arm up and blocked it, though the force did break the ground beneath him. Regardless, he cast her blade aside then tore through the armor covering her stomach with his claws, sending a spray of blood onto the ground and temporarily incapacitating her. His victory was short-lived though as the other adventurers rushed in to hold him back from his prey.

Get out of my way! He blocked a blow from a beautiful woman with white wings, who flew away as he attempted to counter-attack. Get out of my way! He brought his arms up to block a kick from an angry werewolf, while he used his tail to keep a prum with a spear and a lesser reptile with a sword away from his back. I will not allow my enemy…my prey, to escape ME!

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAR!"

The powerful cry stunned all the enemies around him, but what came next only added to the ocean-sized pool of dread and terror in their hearts.

The scales on the White Dragon's back suddenly parted and from these new gaps sprung forth two white wings. These were not wings like Uriel's at all though, beyond the color. Those were majestic and warm, gently coaxing all who saw them into her embrace. These wings, each twice as long as the Dragon's body, were powerful, fearsome, and promised not warmth and comfort, but annihilation and that their owner would consume all those who laid their unfortunate eyes upon them.

Using his enemy's fear against them, the White Dragon flapped his wings, sending them all flying with hurricane strength winds. His path now open, the serpent turned his eyes to his prey, finding the catman instantly, then shot off towards the feline, his new wings increasing his already mind-boggling speed.

Allen, by this time, had ceased flying and recovered, but hearing the roar and seeing the white blur headed right towards him, he took a defensive stance, with his silver spear before him.

With eyes of fury and murderous intent, the White Dragon reached his prey and smashed straight through the staff of the Vana Freya's spear.

The vice-captain of the Freya familia did not even have time to be shocked before the great serpent's fist crashed into his sternum. Blood shot from the catman's mouth just before he shot across the Dungeon again.

The White Dragon was not about to let his prey go though and flew after him, his homicidal intent now even stronger due to the scent of fresh blood.

Allen crashed through pillars of stone, tumbled across the 60th floor, before finally rolling to a stop.

Everything hurt and blood dripped from a hundred wounds of varying sizes.

"Bastard…freak, ugh," Allen groaned as he picked himself up, dismantled spear still in hand. "If you think…that's enough to kill me…you're a bigger…moron than I…thought, ugh," he coughed up blood. "Grrr. I still have to…convince my lady…you aren't worthy of her. Until that moment, I won't die!" he declared.

It was a proud declaration, filled with fire and determination, and it was one he fully believed. His statement though, and the vow behind it, were both completely, unquestionably, and horribly…wrong.

The White Dragon was upon him in the blink of an eye and the Vana Freya, proud and stubborn, aimed his spear towards the beast's eye.

The adventurer-turned-monster did not even flinch as he caught his prey's arm and ripped it off.

"Ah-?!" Allen's eyes went wide, unable to process the pain or what he was seeing and unable to realize this was the end.

The White Dragon, irritated at seeing the lack of response from his hated enemy, plunged his claws into the catman's stomach, grabbing his spin through his guts and lifted the catman off the ground.

Now the pain filled Allen's eyes, but even now he could not, or refused to scream.

Fine then, die in silence. A quiet meal is as good as a screaming one, the terrible, pale beast thought before opening his jaw.

The White Dragon pulled his prey towards him and sank his fangs into Allen Fromel's neck.

Allen's eyes widened as he finally let out a silent scream as pain poured through every nerve.

The White Dragon growled in wrath and pride as his enemy's blood poured onto the ground below and into his awaiting mouth. He quickly tore off a chunk of the catman's neck and as a fountain of blood spouted from his prey's neck, he swallowed, savoring the taste.

As the White Dragon feasted, Allen's world began to darken.

NO! This can't be how it ends! Not like this! Not by his hands! Yet, despite all his internal cries and refusals, his eyes continued to darken. I've…I've failed her. I've failed my lady, he felt a knife enter his heart and tears of regret filled his eyes. I'm sorry, Freya-sama. All I ever wanted to do was…please you.

And thus, at the claws of the White Dragon, the vice-captain of the Freya familia, the Vana Freya, Allen Fromel, died.

---

In the distance, the Expedition, those who were still conscious, stared on in horror.

"Blaa!" Daphne vomited with Chigusa, Geneve, Kaios, Raul, Ana, and several others doing likewise.

Haruhime watched on with tears streaming down her face and her mouth covered by her hands as she tried to stop herself from hyperventilating.

The rest of the Hestia familia was not doing much better as they watched their captain-turned-foe commit his cannibalistic atrocity. Mikoto shook with disgust terror. Welf's body drained of strength. Ryuu's hand tightened around her weapon as ice filled her veins. And Lili, poor little Lili, felt her legs give out from under her.

Is this…really Bell-sama? She asked herself as her eyes zoned in on the blood dripping from his mouth which, even from a distance, she could tell, he consumed eagerly.

He's a monster, just as I always knew, Dido thought as fear ate away at her heart.

What did they do to you, kid? Ajax wondered.

Belluchi… Lyd thought, unable to think of anything else as he watched his friend do something so…monstrous.

I will tear your very atoms apart for what you've done to him, Dionysus. I swear to all the gods, light and dark, I will make you pay even if I have to storm Heaven so I can continue your torment, Alfia swore as she watched her nephew.

Bete growled as he watched, but this was to hide his own disgust and horror.

Stop it! Stop this, you stupid rabbit! Damn it STOOOOP!

Ais shook as her golden orbs took in the monstrous display before her.

He looks like...

Her body began to shake and tears filled her eyes.

A hand on her shoulder made her shoot around and she found Riveria next to her, though the elf's eyes were solely on the White Dragon.

"It's not him. Not really. This is Dionysus. His cruelty. His evil. His control."

The Sword Princess immediately took these words to heart, whether because she actually believed them or because they provided her with the excuse she desperately needed at that moment, Riveria did not know, nor did she even question it.

Let her focus all her contempt on Dionysus, the motherly elf thought as she stared at the pale serpent. Now if only I could do likewise.

The god himself watched all this with unrestrained delight, laughing as he took in the Expedition's horror and disgust with ravenous abandon.

"That's it, my pet! Kill them! Eat them! Let them all know true terror! Hahahaha!"

The cackling and command made the fear and pain in the air all the worse. However, there was one person, who suffered far more than anyone else at the sight before them. Someone whose very heart was ripped from her chest.

"ALLLLLLEEEEEN!" Anya screamed.

The catgirl rushed to save her brother, but was stopped by Chloe and Lunoire.

"Let me go! I have to save him! Allen! ALLLLLEEN!"

"You can't, Anya! You'll be killed!"

"I don't care! I need to save him!"

"Anya, please!" Ryuu begged as she joined her fellow waitresses.

"No! Let me go! I need to save him! I need to-!"

A terribly coldness fell upon them, silencing them and freezing them in place.

They slowly turned and found the dragon's eyes now solely on them or, more accurately, on Anya.

The White Dragon had heard the screams and wondered, contemptuously, if someone was interrupting his meal to attack him again. Instead, he found all his foes were still, except for a few in the distance, one of whom he realized was the source of the screams.

His scarlet eyes fell upon the screaming woman and he soon found, to his great displeasure, that she reminded him a great deal of his prey. Her cat ears, her spear, even her features had some similarities.

I shall consume you next then, once I've finished with him.

Wanting her to know of her impending fate, he opened his maw.

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAR!"

The Hostess girls all fell over, their strength stolen from them by the merciless fear the pale serpent inspired in them.

They were not alone as nearly everyone else was frozen in place by the thunderous howl. Even Asterius found his ax shaking some.

You are powerful in this state, Bell, but this is not the true you. As such, I will free you from this curse.

The great bull stepped forward.

"Wait a moment, Asterius." Bell's rival turned, finding it was his rival's father that addressed him. "Galadriel," the Father on High continued, his eyes pointed to the grotesque sight in the distance. "I need to borrow you gauntlets," he stated as he plunged Dragonsbane into the ground.

The Dark Elf, quickly understanding his intentions, removed her golden gauntlets and handed them over to him.

"Thank you," he said as the magic of the gauntlets increased their size to match his much larger fists.

He placed his hands into the armor then took a deep breath and began to bounce in place. Lightning began to pump and dance along his body until his eyes glowed with storm-like power.

"Hit him with everything and don't give him even a second to breathe," Achilles said to Asterius. Then he charged.

The black bull of the Xenos snorted and charged after him not a second later.

---

The White Dragon sensed a new presence rushing towards him at great speed and ceased his roar to find Achilles before him, fist cocked back.

Growling, the Dragon dropped Allen's corpse and shot a spear-like hand at Achilles's skull, only for the ex-captain to just barely dodge under it then smash his gauntlet-covered fists into the monster's face.

To the monster's surprise, the blow was so powerful it not only forced his head back, but cracked his scales.

The serpent growled and tried to counter, but before he could, another lightning clad fist crashed into his cheek, spinning him around.

"Owwwwooooar!" Asterius howled as he uppercut the White Dragon's chin, sending the flying snake into the air.

The White Dragon growled again and turned back to the ground. He opened his jaw in preparation to fire a Firebolt at the bull, only for two hands to grab his horns from behind, flip him around in the air, and send him crashing back down to the earth.

The serpent quickly picked himself up, his blood boiling at the relentless assaults, only for said assault to continue as Sif's warhammer crashed into his jaw.

The blow was nowhere near as strong as the previous ones, allowing him to quickly recover and aim his tail at the Thor captain's back. However, before it could pierce her heart, Uriel appeared and diverted the tail with her longsword.

The monster flexed his claws and prepared to tear her wings off, when Gareth reappeared and smashed his ax against the back of the dragon's skull, bending the beast over for Ajax who smashed his chin with his great mace.

Patroclus then came in and took a swipe at his leg, scratching his scales, but not even sending the adventurer-turned-monster to his knees. However, the White Dragon had had more than enough and with a tremendous roar, he flapped his wings, forcing the adventurers back and giving himself some breathing room.

Before he could attack though, a burst of fire suddenly exploded on his chest. It did nothing but turn his attention to Riveria, who met his crimson pools of hatred with determined forest-green eyes.

The serpent opened his maw and unleashed a Firebolt at her, only for Gareth to appear and block it with his body, though the blast did send him tumbling to the ground.

"Luminous Wind!"

A barrage of magic fell upon the dragon-adventurer, but where other monsters would have been destroyed or faltered under the assault, the dragon almost immediately turned to Ryuu and charged.

He was nearly upon the elf with her terrified eyes, when a new voice reached his ears.

"I don't think so, pale and scary!"

His eyes turned as Alise appeared and punched him with a fire-clad fist, sparing Ryuu from his attack, but diverting his attention to the newly resurrected Astraea captain.

He quickly lashed out at her, and even with her rapier and enhanced strength, she could not completely stop the attack and her torso was torn open, sending blood pouring onto the ground.

"Aaah!"

"Alise!"

The White Dragon moved to tear her in two, only for yet another punch, this time from the newly returned Caesar, which sent him flying and bouncing across the Dungeon.

I'm going to kill you all. Every last one of you! The dragon thought as he skidded to a stop.

"Owwwwooooar!"

The monster-adventurer's head shot around just as Asterius clotheslined him.

The great bull dragged his rival across the battlefield, smashing him through column after column of stone and rock before finally spinning him around and throwing him back the way they came.

It was there Achilles was waiting for him, fist cocked back and clad in lightning.

"Raaaaaaa!" the Father On High cried as he threw his fist as his son's crown, smashing the center jewel and sending the abused serpent through yet more stone.

---

In the distance Dionysus frowned as he watched the battle.

"I expected more, my little pet. And I still do. Much more."

---

The White Dragon slowly picked himself up, only now, he wasn't quite just the White Dragon.

"Wha? What's going on?" the voice of Bell Cranel said as his body ached and he tried to work his way through the terrible fog around his mind.

Images flashed in his mind. Images of a battle. A terrible machine. Of pain and…death.

"What…" he choked on his words. "What have I done?"

"Bell!"

He turned and found his father in the distance, hope radiating from his electric blue eyes.

"D-Dad?" he called back.

Joyful tears filled Achilles's eyes and the eyes of those near enough to hear the reply.

"Yes Bell, it's me! Everything's alright! You're alright! You just need to take off that crown!"

"Crown?" Bell's hand reached up and touched something on his head. "What's-?"

"DON'T YOU DARE STOP NOW!" Dionysus roared, his insanity turning to wrath as Bell froze. "YOU ARE THE MONSTER OR ARMAGEDDON! YOU'RE PURPOSE IS TO DESTROY! ANNIHILATE! TO MURDER…EVERYTHING! SO FULFILL YOUR PURPOOOOOOOOOSE!"

My purpose? The White Dragon reiterated as it reemerged from below to subsume Bell Cranel.

Your purpose, a new, dark voice growled from somewhere far away. That is your purpose. To destroy the traitors and this false world they've created. To turn it all to ash and free our masters.

Masters? The younger dragon wondered.

Free us, a horde of new voices echoed from a deep, dark place beneath his feet. You are the key to our salvation. Or savior. Free us and bring about a golden age or truth and justice. Brush aside these traitors and fools and fulfill your destiny. FREE US TYPHON!"

His purpose revealed and his confusion turned to conviction, the White Dragon's slitted crimson eyes turned back to his prey.

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAR!"

And just like that, the hope turned to horror as the Expedition realized the battle was not over.

"Looks like it's going to take more than one stone to free him," Finn stated as his hand tightened on his spear and his now-existent thumb throbbed.

The White Dragon, now free of doubts and filled with malevolent determination, turned that resolve on the one who had inflicted doubt upon him in the first place.

You first.

Using his great and terrible wings, the serpent shot at Achilles who, already knowing it was coming, prepared himself for the onslaught to come.

The White Dragon closed the distance in an instant and had Achilles not been the speed-demon that he was, he would have been completely unprepared. Instead, the level 8 near demi-god, swung his fist at his incoming foe, but the beast was unperturbed now and managed to parry the fist with its arm before countering with a mountain-breaking uppercut that sent the Father On High very high indeed.

Achilles grunted in pain as he soared up like a firework. However, he was not in enough pain to think that the onslaught was over and quickly raised his arms to cover his vitals. This immediately proved to be exceptional prudence as, not a second later, the White Dragon appeared before him and began to tear Achilles's flesh to ribbons with his bone-white claws.

Blood quite literally rained down from Achilles, but it was far from enough for the serpent.

I want pain. I want screams!

The pale monster grabbed the ex-captain's arms and, using its incredible strength, pulled them apart, exposing the fatherly man to the adventurer-turned-horror's malevolent gaze.

The White Dragon opened its maw and launched forward, intending on giving the survivor of the Black Dragon the same treatment as he gave Allen Fromel and, in doing so, finish the job the One-Eyed Great Beast had left undone.

Somewhere at the edge of the dark edge of the world, a cruel smile grew.

However, this was not the Olympian who had faced the One-Eyed Black Dragon and lost his best friend and most of his family, this was the Father On High who was stronger, wiser, and most importantly, was not about to add his son to the list of those he had lost.

Achilles pulled back just as the dragon's jaw slammed shut, denying the bone-white creature of destruction its meal. Then, as the beast recovered from his surprise, the father pulled back further, putting enough space between him and his foe to get his legs between them and kicked the serpent back down to earth, though he nearly dislocated his arms in doing so.

The White Dragon shot back down to the ground, but used its wings to correct itself and landed with more grace than any monster should be capable of.

However, the moment he landed: Ais, Bete, Patroclus, and Ray all shot at him from different sides, hoping their numbers and great speed would be enough to overcome him. It was not.

Reacting quickly, the White Dragon spun on his heels and let his long tail out to its full length. The whip-like appendage soon crashed into the ill-prepared Ais, its dagger-like scales tearing through her flesh and armor as it sent her flying, before moving on to her comrades, all of whom suffered similarly as the snowy monster dispatched them.

His slitted eyes soon turned back to the familiar and unwelcome sight of Asterius charging towards him. However, before he could move to meet him, a new, though familiar figure appeared to his side.

"Mo Fubuki!" Welf roared as he swung his second magic sword.

A tsunami of ice and snow rushed towards the White Dragon who was equally surprised and furious at this new assault.

The freezing tidal wave rushed over the adventurer-turned-monster and once it had passed, he discovered himself encased in ice from the neck down.

The dragon growled as it worked to get itself free.

"Owwwwwwooooooar!"

The serpent's eyes shot back to the charging black bull and he realized, in his irritation over the magic sword user, he had forgotten the irregular.

It was too late to do anything though as Asterius aimed his horn at the crown atop the serpent's head.

Crack!

The White Dragon growled as his head shot back, but to Asterius's disappointment, he had only cracked one of the jewels, not destroyed it.

He turned his head at the last moment to deflect the blow, he noted.

Had the situation been different, he would have rushed back in and finished his work, but the next part of the plan was about to be unleashed and so he quickly retreated.

Furious at his entrapment and the assault upon his skull, the White Dragon soon broke through the ice entrapping him and stood prepared to do battle, only to find that all his prey was now far afield.

"Rea Laevateinn," Riveria finished calmly as she stared out at the monster that had so recently been a kind young man.

I'm sorry, Bell.

Tornadoes of fire burst from the ground all around the White Dragon, making him look all around him before his cruel crimson eyes fell upon the Nine Hells, making her freeze.

This won't save you, he told her before the flames of her spell hid him from view.

Her heart thundered as she took a step back.

"Riveria?" Finn called, looking at her with worry.

"That won't be enough," she said, her voice nearly a whisper from the fear the bloodthirsty serpent had inspired.

Finn's hand tightened around his spear as his nonexistent thumb throbbed.

Shit.

"Um…guys," everyone turned to Tiona, "is it just me or…are the fiery tornadoes getting smaller?"

Everyone turned back to the battlefield and, as they watched, they soon found, to their shock and increasing horror, that she was right.

Slowly Rei Laevateinn was getting smaller, as if something was depleting it. That "something" soon revealed itself.

As the spell weakened more and more, it became clear that something was sucking up the very flames and it did not take long for the Expedition to realize that the spot where this was happening was right where the White Dragon stood.

Soon enough, the form of the White Dragon appeared and they watched, wide-eyed and silent as the grave, the beast consumed the fires of Rei Laevateinn until, at last, there was nothing more.

Raul fell on his butt as the spell was finished off.

"W-What is that thing?" he asked.

No one answered as no one could.

The White Dragon, its meal finished, finally turned its eyes back to the Expedition before blowing out a long stream of smoke.

"He is my rival," Asterius finally answered, stepping forward, a great ax in both hands. "And he is not the type to go down unless you are giving it your all."

"We've all been giving more than our all," Raul countered, too tired and too scared of the pale beast across the Dungeon to care that he was talking to a giant black bull.

"And yet…"

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAR!" The White Dragon charged.

"We must fight even harder," Asterius finished as he and those who still had any strength left, charged to meet the great threat.

Except for one.

---

This battle can't go on like this. He's too powerful. Too viciously determined to see us all eradicated before him, Alfia thought. We have to turn the tide somehow.

She watched the battle continue as she tried to figure out what they could do to finally subdue her nephew, but the more she witnessed his awesome power batter away his foes and shake the very foundations of the Dungeon, the more she realized how similar he appeared.

It's almost like we're battling one of the Great Beasts.

That's when she got an idea. An awful idea, but one that might just work.

No, it'll kill him. The Leviathan itself couldn't resist it when I unleashed it and I am stronger now than I was then.

She watched the battle continue with the White Dragon tearing flesh from bone, crushing all who dared to challenge him, and continuing on with barely a breath of pause.

He shows no signs of exhaustion. I, however, feel near ready to collapse. Perhaps, then, if I can use up enough of my remaining mana and hit him with only a fraction of its full potential, I can do enough damage to merely stop him. Ten percent should be enough. I hope it's enough, her fists tightened, and I hope beyond hope it's not too much.

"Riveria."

The High Elf turned to the Monster of Talent.

"I have a plan," Alfia began, her eyes not leaving the battle for a moment. "It's not a great plan, but I fear it's the only one we have if we want to survive. However, I need you to do three things for me: one, start pulling the others back; two, cover me as best as you can; and three, immediately put up your best magical defense once everyone's safe. Can you do that?"

Confused and uneasy by the requests, Riveria knew that Alfia would not make such requests if she did not believe they were absolutely necessary.

"Yes."

"Good," Alfia was prepared to end it at that, but suddenly stopped and turned to Riveria, "and tell Achilles, this is the only way to stop him. He has to trust me on this and allow me to enact my plan. No matter what. It's the only way to stop him. I…" she choked on her words before swallowing and finally finishing with, "I won't kill him. I promise."

With that chilling vow made, Alfia charged off to rejoin the battle, praying all the while.

---

The White Dragon was duking it out with Asterius, Finn, and Gareth when she arrived, slipping between the men to place herself before her bestial foe.

"Gospel."

Her spell slammed into the White Dragon's face full force, knocking him back, but doing little more than that, beside enraging him further, of course.

The serpent's crimson eyes fell on her and he moved to impale her on his claws, when Gareth and Asterius appeared on either side of him and smashed their axes into his skull and sternum, sending him flying backwards.

Trusting Riveria to fulfill her first role, Alfia continued her relentless assault.

The dragon, despite being struck with enough force to level a city block, righted himself quickly and saw the sorceress headed straight for him. He opened his maw as magic poured into his mouth.

"Ataraxia," she chanted just before he shot his Firebolt.

Her newly made armor negated his attack, to the monster's surprise, allowing her to close in and place her palm before his face again.

"Lugio."

An explosion hit him full force and he stumbled backwards, but quickly shook it off. He would have attacked again, but Bete appeared behind him and kicked him in the spine, before quickly retreating to allow the Amazon twins to come in. However, the White Dragon quickly lashed out with his tail again and knocked them both away, tearing through their flesh in the process. However, they provided just enough distraction for Alfia to come in attack again.

"Gospel!"

The White Dragon was now determined to devour the very bones of the woman before him and opened his jaws, revealing his dagger-like teeth as he prepared to bite off her head. This time though, he was prevented from his purpose by a magical mine going off right under his feet.

Thank you, Riveria, Alfia thought as her Silentium Eden deflected the magic.

The Silence charged again and began to unleash even more magic against her nephew.

"Gospel!"

"Lugio!"

"Gospel!"

"Lugio!"

The repeated use of her spells caused a terrible memory to emerge from deep within her mind and her vision was suddenly filled with the terrible image of her tortured and very human nephew. Seeing this, she froze, her hand held up helplessly as the crimes Dionysus had forced her to commit played out before her eyes.

Tears filled her eyes as the White Dragon, not about to let this opportunity go to waste, finally succeeded in plunging his claw through her gut and out her back.

"Gah!" she groaned as pain ripped through her.

"Haaaa," the White Dragon opened his mouth again to feast upon her flesh.

Clang!

Lyd sword smacked against the White Dragon's scaled head, stopping him from finishing his meal and pulling the two family members apart.

"Are you alright?!" Ray asked as she took a knee next to Alfia.

"I'm alright," the silver lady replied before she began to heal her wound. "But you all need to get back. I can't promise you won't get caught in the crossfire with this next part."

Confused as she was, Ray nodded, then ordered the other Xenos back. Luckily, Lyd had been able to quickly disengage from the pale beast, who, deprived of his scaly prey, turned back to Alfia.

I should have used enough mana at this point. Heaven above I hope I've used enough mana, the terrified aunt thought just before she began to chant.

"Blessing of the root of evil, curse of birth."

---

Riveria held up her staff as she used her magic as best she could to aid Alfia from afar, but given the distance, the power of their opponent, and the general chaos of battle, it was proving difficult.

I just hope this plan works, whatever it is.

"So what precisely is her plan?" Finn asked as the Expedition retreated, leaving Alfia behind with her nephew, but not without great uneasiness.

"I don't know, she only gave me the instructions I told you," Riveria replied.

"She said nothing else?" Achilles asked, joining the conversation, his eyes moving back and forth between his lover and his old comrade in the distance.

Riveria's hand tightened on her staff.

"She told me…to tell you…that this is the only way to stop him. That you have to trust her and that…she won't kill him. She promises"

Achilles's hand tightened on Dragonsbane as those around them looked at Riveria with horror.

"Why…in Heaven and on Earth, would she make a promise like that?" Achilles questioned, his voice demanding even as he knew the elf could not answer. Not that she needed to, they were all provided the answer not a moment later.

"Blessing of the root of evil, curse of birth."

Every head shot to Alfia.

"No," Riveria whispered.

"She can't be," Finn stated as his spear shook.

"ALFIA!" Achilles roared.

---

In the distance, Alfia heard her old friend call her name in horror and rage, but she kept chanting.

"My original sin that devoured half my body. Not hard. There is no purification."

The White Dragon, knowing a chant when he heard one and desiring to return his resurrected aunt to the grave, charged.

Alfia did not flinch, but instead charged to meet him, not stopping her chant all the while.

"There is no salvation."

The White Dragon tried to spear her skull with his claws, but she managed to dodge out of the way, though her cheek was torn open, and grabbed his arm before throwing him on the ground.

"The resonance of this heavenly sound is my sin."

The serpent's tail suddenly lashed out and struck her across the temple, sending her soaring across the battlefield. Yet, even as she flew and despite her blood flowing from her open wounds, she continued her chant.

"The trumpet of gods, the lyre of spirits. Melody of light, the seal of the sin."

She landed, tearing the ground with her heels as she prepared for the White Dragon to come for her.

She did not have to wait long, as the dragon was upon her near instantly and she barely prevented herself from being bisected from shoulder to hip by jumping back, but she could not stop her dress or flesh from being torn open as the ground was splattered with her blood. Still, she continued on with her chant, even as her very life seemed on the edge of extinguishing.

"Loved by the miniature garden, my destiny is shattered. I hate you."

Perhaps the White Dragon took this as a personal insult, for he roared and launched his tail at her, aiming to pierce her throat.

Instead of attempting to dodge the attack though, Alfia ran straight towards the snake-like limb, using her arm to deflect the blow just enough to prevent a lethal strike, though at the cost of nearly losing her arm, before punching the beast as hard as she could, which was enough to send him once more across the Dungeon. She then jumped as far back as she could and said.

"The compensation is here. Destroy everything with a proof of my sin."

---

Across the battlefield, Achilles, unable to believe what he was hearing, roared again.

"What are you doing, Alfia!" he demanded, though by now, she could not hear him.

He was about to rush in to stop her by force, when a small, frail, but desperate form clung to him.

"Please don't Achilles," Imilce cried, "you have to trust her!"

"She's going to kill my son!" he screamed back.

"No! She's going to stop him! She promised!"

"She's using Genos Angelus! That spell can't do anything but kill!"

He forced Imilce to the side, but was now blocked by Dido, Galadriel, and Riveria.

"You have to let her do this," Dido stated.

"Trust her, Achilles. She won't kill him. Not when she's promised," Galadriel added.

A part of Achilles would have been tempted to strike them both down for preventing him from saving his son, familia history be damned, but he could not do so with Riveria standing beside them.

"Have faith," his lover pleaded as gently as she could, even as her own fearful tears filled her eyes.

He growled at them.

"I will not stand by and do nothing while she murders my boy."

"Shit! It's too late!" Ajax bellowed.

And he was right, even as they all turned, the spell that Achilles had been so desperate to stop, was finished.

---

Please…please survive this, Alfia thought just before she completed her chant.

"Cry, holy bell tower."

"Everyone get down!" Finn ordered.

The White Dragon, having recovered from the Silence's punch, was about to continue his assault and slaughter the woman when the sound of ringing, both familiar and unknown rang from above.

Looking up, he found a giant, shining bell ringing above him. It pulsed with great magical power and his eyes narrowed.

Whatever trick this is, it won't save you.

He opened his maw to fire his magic at the bell, only for the ringing to suddenly stop and for the bell to burst into a cloud of energized dust. That dust swirled around in a dazzling display that bordered on hypnotizing, before descending upon him like a meteor shower.

The wrathful serpent had only enough time to widen his eyes before Genos Angelus crashed into him with a power nearly divine in its strength.

---

BOOM!

"Aaaah!" Haruhime and many others screamed as their world began to shake wildly and winds whipped past them at impossible speeds.

"Grrr," Riveria groaned as she held up her magical shield. I may have helped her, but I still can't believe she actually used this spell, and against Bell of all people, she thought as she stared at the barrage sent against her lover's son, nearly blinding herself in the process. Please be alright Bell. Please. For all our sakes.

Finally, the spell ended and an eerie calm fell over the 60th floor.

"Is she crazy?!" Thanatos cried as he picked himself up from the rubble that had fallen upon him.

"She may be indeed, to use such a spell against her own nephew," Dionysus replied, still smiling with glee, a smile that only grew as the dust slowly settled. "And it appears it was all for naught."

"Aaaaaaaaah!"

The scream grabbed everyone's attention and they looked towards the center of the battlefield where a shadow in the dust slowly revealed the victim of Alfia's spell.

"Aaaaaah!"

The White Dragon cried as he rolled on the ground, blood pouring from his body as he thrashed.

Though it was difficult to tell in all the dust and debris, one could see that Genos Angelus had done more than simply break one of the crown's stones –which it had managed to, though only the one that Asterius had already damaged– it had severely broken the body formed by the Wrath of the Dragon skill. Nearly the entire front of the White Dragon's body was now devoid of its draconic features. Its scales were smashed or obliterated, its talons torn asunder, and its wings had been turned to ash. However, this was no cause for celebration, especially in Alfia's case as she now had to watch as her nephew, whose face was now plainly visible, cried out in torment.

"It hurts! It hurts!" he screamed as he gripped his body and rolled about, hoping it would somehow stop the pain.

The sight was too much for Alfia who soon had tears streaming down her eyes.

"What have I done?" she whispered before collapsing to her knees.

"Alfia!" Galadriel and Imilce cried as they rushed to her side.

"What have I done?" she repeated, not even noticing the others around her.

"You have committed a sin I will never forgive you for." She finally turned and found Achilles next to her, though the man refused to meet her eyes. "But…" his jaw clenched, "you did it to save him."

"There had to be another way," she whimpered.

"Perhaps there was," he replied coldly as blood squeezed through his fingers, "but we can't change it now and I refuse to let this opportunity, so terribly paid for, go to waste," he replied as he tightened his hand on his sword before charging at his son.

The White Dragon continued to thrash about until he heard the sound of something rushing towards him. Looking up, he found the Father On High rushing towards him, sword in hand.

Horrified and enraged at the idea of more suffering, the White Dragon arose and shrieked. "NO MOOOOOOOOOORE!"

The shriek was shrill and painful to hear, as if done by a child. So awful was it, that it stopped Achilles in his tracks, given the serpent time to charge him.

The former captain barely had time to raise his sword before the dragon's fist crashed into it, sending the father flying back to the Expedition.

"No more no more no more NO MOOAAAAARRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAWR!"

The roar shook the Dungeon, but the fear it inspired was nothing compared to the terror that next sound created in the hearts of the adventurers before him.

RING

Every heart stopped.

No, Haruhime thought.

RING

"We have to stop him!" Finn cried as everyone who could, rushed towards the monster-adventurer. Even Lili began to loose bolts at him, though they were so weak the serpent didn't even feel the need to block them as they bounced off his human hide.

Achilles and Ais were the first to rejoin battle with the White Dragon and swung their swords at him in hopes of finally putting an end to the battle before the dark bells stopped ringing.

However, the White Dragon, furious and terrified after the ordeal Alfia had inflicted upon him, quickly parried their blades with his arms, the weakened scales cracking under their blows, but managing to deflect them regardless. He then lashed out, punching Achilles in the gut then grabbing Ais's face and throwing her back towards the Expedition.

RING

Uriel and Ray appeared next, pushing their wings to the limit in hopes of stopping the the serpent before he could unleash his hellish attack.

Their attempt met with disaster as neither were as fast, even now, as the Father On High or the Sword Princess, which allowed the White Dragon to cut off one wing each from the ladies, sending them tumbling to the ground as they screamed in agony.

RING

Bete tried next, backed up by spells from both Riveria and Lefiya, but even with their help, the werewolf was simply tossed aside as the bells kept ringing.

"Mo Fubuki!" Welf cried as he attempted to once again trap his little brother in ice. This time though, the White Dragon jumped away to safety before briefly battling Bache and Argana, both of whom were rewarded for their foolish attempt to stop him with broken ribs, courtesy of a double kick to their torsos.

RING

RING

"Shit!" Achilles cursed as he realized they wouldn't be able to stop his son in time and that their only hope was to prepare a strong enough defense to take on whatever the pale serpent sent their way. "Everyone fall back to the Expedition! Fall back!"

The attackers, fearing there was nothing else they could do, fell back to make as best a defense as they could against the obliteration to come.

The White Dragon watched them go, but did nothing to stop them. They would all be dead soon enough.

I will kill you all. I will kill you all. I will kill you all! I WILL KILL YOU ALL!

RING

RING

RING

---

"Down every potion you have left! We have to be as strong as possible for this!" Finn ordered.

The remaining Expedition did as ordered, drinking ever vial they had left in the hope that it would be enough to spare them from what the White Dragon was about to unleash against them.

"Haruhime, use your boosting. Give as many of the high leveled adventurers a boost as you can!" Lili ordered.

Haruhime immediately began chanting and soon, several golden columns fell upon Achilles, Ais, Finn, Gareth, Riveria, and Alfia.

RING

RING

Achilles finished his potion and threw to the ground before he began to chant.

"Storm of the Divine!"

Power poured into his blade and he took up his position before the Expedition.

He was soon joined by Ais, then Galadriel and Alfia, and even Asterius took a place beside them as they summoned all their strength for the attack that would decide their fates.

Briseis, if you're watching over me, I need your strength now more than ever.

In the back of his mind, he heard a lovely, but serious voice reply.

I'm always here for you, Achilles, and I always we be.

He righted his position and wrapped both hands around Dragonsbane.

And then…the ringing stopped and the most terrible silence any of them had ever heard fell upon them.

---

"Time to die," the dragonized Bell growled, having gained a full, five-minute charge for his Dark Argonaut. He took a deep breath.

"Here it comes," Achilles said in the distance as he and all those that remained of the Expedition readied their weapons, their spells, and their hearts for the most powerful attack they'd ever seen.

"STORM OF ARMAGEDDON!"

A beam of fire and lightning shot from the White Dragon's mouth straight at the Expedition.

Heaven help us, Finn thought.

I'm not dying today, and definitely not at your hands, Bell Cranel, Bete vowed.

Is this the end? Uriel thought as she held her longsword as best as she could as pain and fear shook her soul.

I did not come back from the dead just to be returned to my grave by my own nephew, Alfia stated to herself.

Not today. Not today. Not today, Rei thought as he held Geneve's hand.

Yeeees! Destroy them all my pet! Destroy them ALL! Dionysus mentally commanded.

Bell, Ais and Haruhime thought as they stared at the poor man across the Dungeon who they knew was in so much pain right now.

The blast drew ever-closer, until it was finally upon them, at which point a small, yet strong voice cried out.

"Mausoleum of Halicarnassus!"

A dome of magic appeared over the Expedition just before the Storm hit and took the spell head on.

"Ugh!" Imilce cried, falling to her knees even as she held out both her hands.

"Imilce!" Patroclus, Ajax, and Dido cried as they rushed towards her.

"M-Mana," she pleaded as blood dripped down her nose.

They all quickly placed their hand on her shoulders and poured what little they had left into the young woman, but she soon found it was not enough.

The Storm of Armageddon had nearly broken through her nearly indestructible spell the moment it had made contact and it was only by pulling from the rest of the dome that it survived, yet even then and even with the additional mana, it was weakening at an alarming rate.

"I-I…" blood now poured from her eyes and ears. "I-I can't-"

Finally, she could take no more and her arms dropped as her eyes closed and she fell into a coma.

The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus was shattered not a second later and the Expedition knew this was the moment that decided their fates.

Those who made up the frontline of the Expedition: Achilles, Ais, Galadriel, Gareth, Finn, Alfia and Asterius, formed a wedge in the hope of diverting as much of the attack away from the Expedition behind them. To aid with this, Riveria, Lefiya, and all the spellcasters, including the released Filvis, formed magic shields around the spearhead, pouring every last bit of mana they had into the defense, hoping to Heaven that it would be enough.

However, the magic shields, being little in comparison to the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, were immediately shattered, leaving only the great warriors to hold the attack at bay.

"RAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Achilles, Ais, Galadriel, Gareth, Finn, and Asterius roared as they all swung their counter-attacks at the Storm of Armageddon. Each swung from below or towards the side to divert the attack, but even with these measures and their extraordinary strength, it was not long before they were all overwhelmed together.

BOOM!

The Storm of Armageddon exploded with furious and insane power. Power so great that the part of the spell that was deflected up, tore through the four floors above them, leaving a giant hole that led all the way to the 55th floor as smoke and debris shot up from the lower floors to the world above.

And then…nothing.

---

Silence. Delightful silence.

"Ha…haha…HAHAHAHAHA!" Dionysus laughed as he began to dance. "MAG…NIFICENT! AHAHAHAHAHA!"

The White Dragon, enraged by the noise behind him, but too depleted to do anything about it and too glad his battle was over, simply looked at the cloud of dust in the distance, waiting for it to clear and reveal the annihilation of his prey.

The dust began to clear, but instead of finding nothing but ash, bone, and a giant crater, a series of shadows appeared, making the dragon growl, though he could only manage to do so weakly, having finally come near to the end of his great power.

The forms became ever more clear until finally they were revealed.

All those who had taken the brunt of the blast looked to be little more than smoldering corpses.

Achilles, Ais, Galadriel, Gareth, Finn, and Asterius were all burned terribly. Their clothes and fur had been nearly completely reduced to ash and their modesty was only saved by the terrible blackness of their burnt flesh. Their weapons and armor all glowed white hot as they slowly cooled, thanks, in part, to the arctic coldness of the 59th floor, flowing down from the gaping hole above them.

All of them collapsed together, Achilles, Ais, and Asterius only managing to prevent themselves from falling face first by using their weapons to stop their falls.

"W-We survived," Ais said as she tried to both catch her breath and fight through the agony that radiated through her entire body.

"Barely," Achilles whispered, his voice weak from exertion and pain. "But," he looked up to his son, "it looks like he's on his last legs as well."

Ais looked up and could see, even from a distance, that the draconic Bell was indeed, having difficulty standing up, which relit the fuel in her heart.

"Then…ugh-ah!" she groaned as she stood up. "We need…to finish this."

"Ugh," Achilles tried to stand, only to fall back to his knees. "Damn! I'm not sure…we can. We've used up the last of our potions and," he turned around and looked at the Expedition which was doing little better than them as they tried to recover from the attack. "I'm not sure there's anyone who has the strength to fight him."

"I do," Ais immediately replied, but her own body seemed to reject this as her legs began to shake, nearly sending her crashing to the ground. "I-I will…if I can just get some assistance. A single potion. That's all I need."

"We're out, Ais. You know that. No one has anything left. We've used everything for this war," Achilles replied as a terrible sense of failure gripped his heart.

Ais's desperate gaze looked over the Expedition, hoping to find someone who could give her a potion, or heal her, or do anything that would allow her to finish this battle and save her lover. Finally, her gaze fell upon the one person who could help her now. The one other person who, unbeknownst to both of them, had also earned a place in Bell's heart.

"Haruhime!"

The golden fox, exhausted from her spell usage, in pain, and barely able to hold onto her modesty, turned to the Sword Princess.

"Yes?"

"I need you to use your boosting magic on me!"

Achilles and those still conscious, turned to her and then to the renard who looked shocked at the request.

"I-I can't. Not so soon after a previous use."

"Yes you can! I know you can! You just have to push yourself!" Ais shot back, her desperation and hope refusing to allow the fox woman to deny her.

Haruhime shook her head.

"I'm sorry! The spell has a cool down."

"Then push through the cool down! You can do it!"

Haruhime continued to shake her head, now with tears streaming down her eyes.

"I-I'm sorry. I wish I could, but I-"

"What about Bell?!"

The name of her beloved savior made Haruhime freeze.

"Can you do it for him?!" Ais begged, pointing at the distant dragon who was very slowly making his way towards them while Dionysus watched on with toe-curling sadistic euphoria. "Can you do it for him?!"

"I-I-" Haruhime looked towards the White Dragon and, to her surprise, he stopped and turned his gaze towards her.

At first, she felt nothing but the all-consuming wrath of the beast, but soon, to her shock and joy, she felt his gaze calm and turn warm, as if he recognized her.

No, because he does recognize me.

"Can you do it?!" Ais demanded startling the renard back to reality. A moment of silence passed between them, Ais's glassy golden eyes holding Haruhime's emerald ones. "For Bell?"

Haruhime felt her heart thunder in her chest as courage and determination filled her soul once again. Her fists tightened as that courage and willpower turned into strength.

"Yes," she said without fear or a hint of dishonesty.

Ais smiled.

"Then let's save him."

The two women with determination in their eyes and love in their hearts, turned to the man they knew was so desperately trying to break free from his wrathful prison and return to them.

"Grow," Haruhime began. "That power and that vessel. Breadth of wealth and breadth of wishes." Golden light appeared above Ais's head, which caught the attention of the mentally torn White Dragon.

"I will not let you-" he tried to say, his malice once again reborn due to the chant. However, as he stepped forward, he collapsed as exhaustion and pain drained away his immense strength.

Haruhime continued unafraid, even as she stared at her beloved's broken, but still terrible form.

"Until the bell tolls, bring forth glory and illusion. Ugh!" her body was suddenly filled with pain that wracked every corner of her, from her ears to her tail.

"Haruhime!" Ais cried and for a moment, the White Dragon froze.

Haruhime, Bell thought as fear for the young fox-woman allowed him a brief return before it was squashed by the rage within him.

The golden fox gritted her teeth and turned her eyes back to her beloved captain and continued. "Grow. Confine divine offerings within this body. This golden light bestowed from above. Into the hammer and into the ground, may it bestow good fortune upon you. Grow!"

A beam of golden light fell upon Ais, filling her with its great and loving power.

"Go!" Haruhime cried. "Go Ais Wallenstein and save Bell!"

Ais tightened her hand around Desperate and nodded before turning back to her lover and shooting straight for him.

The Sword Princess closed her eyes and called upon that power that only love could bring forth.

"Venti de Familia et Amor."

White gold power surrounded the daughter of wind and heroism, further empowering her alongside the renard's magic and her own determination.

I will save you! Ais vowed as she closed in to her foe and her lover.

The White Dragon though, was not quite done, and even now, drained and in agony, he still held power, which he used to summon the Hestia Knife back to his hand so that he could meet Desperate in the clash that would determine whether Bell Cranel would be saved or Ais Wallenstein would die.

CLANG!

The blades crashed together with awesome might, sending most of those who had remained standing, falling onto their backs and tumbling to the ground.

Haruhime groaned as her pain intensified more and more the longer she held her spell. Soon, blood dripped down her nose as the stress on her body became near unbearable.

I must hold! I will hold! Bell needs me and I will not fail him! She screamed in her mind, even as blood began to flow from her ears and eyes.

She suddenly felt a hand on her shoulder and with it, a new source of mana. She turned and found Achilles beside her, but his eyes pointed at the ongoing fight.

"Hold on for just a little longer, Haruhime. Just a little longer."

A second hand grasped her other shoulder and the golden fox turned, this time finding Riveria beside her, adding her own mana.

"Ais will win. Just hold on a little longer."

Haruhime turned back to the battle and tightened her fists.

"I will hold as long as I need to."

---

"Grrrrrrrrr," the White Dragon growled as the two blades screeched against each other.

"Arrrrgh," Ais groaned as she pressed her blade ever-closer to the final jewel in the monster's crown.

"I…will not be defeated by you," he vowed. "My purpose is to destroy you all…and the, grrrrr," he growled as he pushed back against her sword, "putrid, treacherous world above!"

"No!" she screamed back as she halted his black blade. "Your purpose is to return home with us! To laugh with us! To bring light to our lives! And to love us with every fiber of your being! Just like it's our purpose to love you! Just like it's my purpose to love you, Bell!"

The White Dragon's eyes widened as all the malice disappeared and recognition filled them.

"Ais?" Bell asked.

His strength disappeared with that question and Ais thrust her blade into the final jewel, destroying it and Dionysus's control over him.

The mind-control gone and his wrath turned to dust, Bell's transformation broke from his body and with it, the last of his strength, causing his eyes to roll back into his head and for him to fall.

Ais caught him, though she found even lifting him into her arms extremely difficult.

You're safe now, Bell. I promise. I promise, Ais swore as she pressed her cheek against his.

---

Thank goodness, Haruhime thought before she fainted.

Achilles quickly lifted her into his arms, though he found it nearly as difficult as Ais did with Bell.

Well done, Haruhime. I have never been so proud of you as I am now nor more hopeful that I will one day be able to officially call you my daughter, he thought as he pressed as fatherly kiss to her forehead.

---

"W-W-W-We've lost!" Thanatos cried in shock and horror.

Dionysus sighed as he closed his eyes and rubbed his temple.

"It appears so. A disappointment to be sure, but at least we got a good show. Now then," he opened them to find Alfia and Asterius glaring down at him with the promise of torment in their eyes, "I guess it's time for my punishment to begin."

---

Done! Woooh! Thus concludes the Evilus War! That was quite the ride, wasn't it? Lots of death and near misses, but Bell has finally been rescued and most of our heroes will be able to return home, though many not in one piece. Still, victory has been achieved and now they can all head back to Orario and to home. However, home may not be as welcoming or, indeed, as safe as they think. Just because the enemies below have been vanquished does not mean that the ones above are suddenly gone. But that's for the future, for now, please tell me what you guys think! Love the chapter and the arc? Hate both? Wish more people had died? Wish no one had died? Tell me in the reviews.

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That brings us to the end of this chapter and this arc, so, until next time, bye for now, my lovely readers! :)