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!)

84. Tiamat, The Queen of the Skies

Hello my dear readers and welcome back to this, our first chapter of the year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and New Year.

Well, we're coming back to a very big event, the arrival of Tiamat, the Queen of the Skies, and Herald of the One-Eyed Black Dragon himself! Are you excited, because I certainly am. We've got a big fight ahead of ourselves, but that's only the beginning of what I have planned for the coming year. You shall have battles. You shall have blood. You shall have emotion. And you shall have enough citrus to plant an orchard! But, I'm getting ahead of myself. Let us focus on this chapter first and then get to all the other plans.

Oh, and this story has finally reached over 1,000,000 views! Thank you guys so much for reading and all your support over these last four years.

I do not own Danmachi

---

Bell's eyes slowly fluttered open.

Huh?

He blinked a few times and realized he was laying down, but not on a bed.

Wait, I know this feeling.

He turned his head and found Mania's sleeping, but smiling face above him while her warm hand rested on his head.

His own soft smile grew as he looked up at his adoptive grandmother.

I should do something for her, he thought, as well as for Dad and everyone else.

He slowly began to pull himself out from under her hand, hoping not to wake her, but the goddess's body was hyper-alert to an unexpected movement and her eyes soon opened, allowing her to catch him in the act.

"Going somewhere?" she asked, her voice both warm and worried.

Bell's eyes turned back to her and he smiled, despite failing in his endeavor not to wake her.

"Good morning, baa-chan."

The warmth of his voice eased her wary heart greatly and she smiled more fully as she began to stroke his hair.

"Good morning. Did you sleep alright?"

"I did, thank you."

"I'm glad. You two have far too much stamina for me. Had to whip out my unbeatable lap pillow to get you and your father to sleep."

Bell's brow scrunched and he turned his head just in time to see Achilles's head rise from Mania's other knee.

"Haven't had one of your lap pillows in a while," he commented, his voice raspy and low from sleep.

"Well, you and Bell can expect more in the future," she assured him.

At the mention of his son, Achilles's eyes immediately shot down to Bell.

"How are you?"

"I'm well," Bell said as Mania finally allowed him to sit up. "Truly."

Achilles's shoulders shrank as the fear-induced tension finally dropped.

"Thank Heaven."

"Thank Heaven," Mania repeated, "but I'm more than happy to continue stroking your hair if you want some more rest," she offered, patting her thighs.

"No, thank you. Actually, I wanted to do something for you and everyone else. I figured I could make breakfast. I know that's not much after everything I've put you all through but-"

"Breakfast sounds lovely," Mania cut him off, not wanting him to travel down the road of negativity for even a second.

"It does indeed," Achilles jumped in, "it's been too long since I made my famous chocolate chip pancakes anyway."

Bell smiled.

"Those were very good."

---

The three snuck their way downstairs, doing their absolute best to be quiet.

As they entered the living room they were pleasantly surprised to see only a few people strewn out on the couches.

They must have gone to the spare rooms. I can't imagine they were all comfortable leaving Bell just yet, Mania thought as they tip-toed into the kitchen.

The two mortals and one goddess gathered their supplies and utensils and began their work and though it took some extra time due to their need for quiet, they soon had the lovely smell of breakfast wafting through the manor.

The first to wake up was Bete. Not only was he one of those who had taken a couch, though not without complaint, but his werewolf nose quickly caught the scent of breakfast, namely, the bacon sizzling on the stove.

The werewolf dragged himself into the kitchen, his nose raised as he happily consumed the delightful scents in the air.

"That smells good," he said as his eyes landed on Bell.

"Everything should be ready soon so if you don't mind waking up the others that'd be really appreciated," the Hestia captain requested.

Bete didn't respond for a few moments, enough for Achilles and Mania to stop and turn to the Loki adventurer. Finally, the werewolf spoke.

"Are you alright?"

Bell smiled, though there was shame in his eyes.

"Yeah. I'm sorry-"

"Don't." Bete commanded. "Don't apologize. Not about anything."

A few more quiet moments passed before Bell nodded.

"Okay."

Bete nodded back and turned around.

"I'll go wake up the others, though," his ears flicked, "it sounds like a few people smelled the food too."

Bell smiled.

"Then I'd better get back to work."

"Save an extra portion of bacon for me," Bete ordered.

"You got it."

Slowly but surely, the adventurers and deities began trickling in and, seeing Bell cooking and smiling next to his father and grandmother, happily grabbed a plate and filled it with bacon, pancakes, and other goodies.

As everyone smiled and ate and talked happily amongst themselves, Ais watched Bell. She watched him greet everyone, watched him flip the bacon in his frying pan, and watched as the corners of his eyes crinkled with laughter. She watched it all, feeling her own heart being restored with each little scene.

She made her way over to Bell. The others, sensing something in the air, all stopped and watched her approach her lover.

She did not say a word as she approached, but she did not need to as Bell sensed her even before the others had and watched as she drew nearer. However, unlike the others, who stopped before him, plate in hand, and smiles painted on their warm faces, she continued on until she was behind him. Having successfully flanked her former student, she attacked, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head into his shoulder blade.

"I'm so glad you're back," she whispered.

Bell's eyes softened even as his heart grew heavier.

I'm not back, not yet, but…I will be…soon enough, so there's no need to worry her.

"So am I," he replied before turning back to the bacon, reveling in his princess's warmth.

The others shared a few looks and soon the smiles returned and they continued on with their warm breakfast.

It was just as everyone was putting down their forks, their bellies full and their minds at ease, that a knock came at the front door.

Instantly, everyone was tense, for everyone knew the troubles outside the Hearthfire Manor had not disappeared. Yet, they also knew those troubles could not be ignored and so Ottar headed for the door. A minute or so later, he returned with Shakti.

"Good morning everyone, my apologies for disturbing you so early, but we have a minor situation that might be of interest to you," the Ganesha captain informed them.

"What is it?" Hestia inquired hesitantly.

"There is a group of children trying desperately to get past my familia. They claim they wish to see Bell-san," she gestured towards the Hestia captain, "and swear they only want to give him their support."

"It must be Fina and the others!" Syr cried.

"The children from your orphanage?" Hogni asked.

"Yes! They mean no harm, I swear!" the waitress declared.

Shakti turned to Bell.

"Would you like us to let them through?" she inquired.

Bell hesitated. While he would love to see Fina, Rye, and the other children, he was afraid they would reject him as so much of the city had and just as they had after he had saved Wiene. He knew his mind was still vulnerable and that a harsh rejection by the children could send him spiraling back into darkness.

What would Grandpa say?

"You can't run away from challenges, my boy! Whether it be some ruffian who wants to fight or some lady in need of a good wooing! You must accept the challenge and overcome it for that is what heroes do!"

That's what heroes do, Bell repeated as his smile returned.

"Yes. I'd like that very much," he answered.

"Very good," Shakti replied with a nod and a small smile of her own.

Shakti turned around and headed back while the others looked at Bell with a mixture of hopefulness and concern.

"We wouldn't blame you if you weren't ready to see anyone, Bell," Hestia said gently.

"I know, but I can't hide forever," he replied, giving her an uneasy, yet still warm, smile.

She and a few of the others nodded, and after a moment, she put on her best smile.

"Alright."

A minute later, there was a knock at the door and Shakti re-entered, however, as she turned to let in the children, they all ran right past her and into the house.

"Bell!" they cried.

The young captain took a deep breath and then called out.

"In here!"

Not three seconds later, the children burst into the living room and, seeing the adventurer, rushed him with such speed that one had to wonder if they were all secretly first-rate adventurers. Indeed, they charged Bell so quickly that he had no time to prepare himself and despite his own first-rate status, he soon found himself bowled over by the youths.

"Oof!"

"Bell!"

"Bell!"

"Bell-nii-chan!"

Rye and Fina were the ones closest to Bell, managing to claim his chest with the others piling on afterwards.

"Hey now, where did all your manners go! Let Bell breathe!" Syr ordered stepping forward.

The children immediately did as the waitress commanded, though the moment Bell sat up, they were hugging him again.

"I'm glad to see you all are doing well," Bell smiled as he moved his hands over their heads, stroking their hair affectionately.

"How are you, Bell?!" Fina cried, pulling her head from his chest so she could meet his eyes.

"We heard you were captured by those Evilus bastards!" Rye shouted.

"Rye!" Syr chastised, aghast at both his language and the subject he had brought forward.

She was right to be afraid for Bell's eyes fell and the light air in the room darkened a bit, which did not go unnoticed by the children.

"Are you alright, Bell?" Roux asked, her aquamarine eyes holding his gently.

"I-" Bell stopped as dark memories flooded his mind.

"Gospel. Lugio. Gospel. Lugio."

"P-Please just let me go home. M-My mother is sure to be worried sick about me."

Bell's hands tightened around the children as he fought to keep back tears.

No! Be strong. Be strong for them. For Ais. For Hestia. For everyone! Don't let the darkness-

A warmth on his cheek stopped his thoughts.

Turning his eyes, he found Roux pulling back from his cheek, then smiling sweetly at him.

"Syr-nee-chan told me that kisses are the best way to make someone feel better. Did it work?"

So innocent. So pure. So good. Such a small act, yet one so unquestionably wonderful that all Bell's dark thoughts stood no chance against it and soon, his smile returned, nay, his true, ten million valis smile returned.

"Yes. Yes it worked."

Roux beamed.

"Good."

"I'll give you a kiss too!" Fina declared before kissing his cheek, making the young man laugh.

A few of the others joined in and planted kisses on his face, making Bell laugh. The only exception was Rye who merely blushed at the scene, and stated they were all "weird".

"Come on Rye, can't you be a little nice to Bell?" Fina asked.

"I'm not being mean!" the boy defended.

"But you aren't giving Bell kisses to make him feel better!"

Rye's blush grew.

"You don't need kisses to be nice!"

"Then why don't you say something nice to Bell then?" Roux suggested.

Rye fidgeted in embarrassment for a few moments, in no small part due to the many, many eyes now focused on him, before he finally managed to reply.

"Your eyes are really cool now."

Bell blinked.

"My eyes," his hand moved up to one of his sockets.

"Yeah. The slits make you look powerful. Like a dragon."

The room froze once more.

"I…suppose they do," Bell admitted quietly as his hand clenched.

Fina, noticing the reactions, immediately turned on Rye and socked his arm.

"Ow! What was that for?!" the boy demanded.

"You made him feel worse!"

"No." Everyone turned back to Bell. "No, he didn't. In fact, I'm glad that he likes them. I…I didn't really like how my eyes looked now. I thought they were really scary, but if Rye thinks they're cool, maybe they aren't so bad."

"They aren't scary at all!" Rye proclaimed. "They just make you even cooler!"

The boys quickly agreed and even Roux joined in to add her own thoughts on his new appearance. Soon enough, Bell was smiling and laughing again as another weight was lifted off his heart.

"I guess I can learn to like them then," he said.

The children continued to chatter and bombard him with questions for a few more minutes before Mia stepped forward.

"Maybe you all should head outside and burn off some of the energy that's fueling your mouths. At this rate I think Bell's head will explode with all your questions and yammering."

"That sounds like a good idea to me," Bell said as he finally got up. "Come on, there's plenty of space in the back."

The children happily followed after him, with Syr joining them to help manage the rambunctious youths.

The adventurers and deities watched them depart with hearts significantly lighter than they had been an hour previous.

"He'll be alright," Hades stated.

"I do believe you're right," Take agreed.

"Thank goodness," Freya whispered, wiping away a few joyful and relieved tears.

"Yeah. However, I just remembered something," Loki turned to her children, "Maybe it was all the kids running around, but I just realized I haven't updated any of y'all's statuses yet. Everything's been so crazy and busy and miserable that it's completely slipped my mind."

The other deities blinked, realizing that the trickster wasn't the only one who'd forgotten.

"I suppose we should all correct that," Hades stated.

"Yeah we should," Hestia agreed. "You all can use the spare bedrooms for privacy. As for me and my kids, we'll head up to my room."

"What about Bell-sama?" Lili asked.

"Let him have some more fun with the kiddos. Who knows, maybe handling that energetic bunch will be the push he needs for a level-up!" the hearth goddess joked, getting a few titters and giggles from the others.

"Alright, we'll meet up back here when we're all done then," Miach said, smiling at his own familia.

"Sounds like a plan," Hephaetus agreed.

---

"Since y'all need updating, I'll do it by rank, which means you're up first Finn," Loki decided.

Finn nodded and the two entered the spare bedroom where he removed his shirt, though it was a little difficult with only one hand.

"I talked to Hephaestus, she'll provide you with the best prosthesis to replace your hand. She even offered me a discount," Loki revealed.

Finn nodded.

"Thank you, Loki."

"No problemo. Now, let's see how much you've grown," the goddess chatted as she pricked her finger and unlocked his status.

The room glowed with divine power as Loki did her work and soon, she smiled.

"Congratulations Finn, you're ready to level up."

"Really?" Finn blinked in surprise as he turned to her.

"Mhmm, and something tells me that you won't be the only level 7 I'm getting today, assuming you want to, that is."

"Yeah," he replied with a nod, "I want to. I have things…no, I have people I want to protect."

Loki's eyes opened a sliver.

"Oh?"

He turned enough to meet her eyes and smiled. She quickly returned it.

"Ya know, everyday I'm glad that you were my first kid."

"And I'm glad you're my goddess."

"Really now? No plans on leaving me then when a better deal comes around?"

"There's no such thing as a 'better deal' in my case," he answered.

"Ah shucks, you're gonna make me blush," she joked before finishing his level-up and status. "There ya go. A level seven."

"Thank you, Loki. For everything."

Loki opened her eyes completely as she smiled then suddenly leaned down and kissed his forehead.

"You don't need to thank me for anything Finn. You're my precious child, and that won't ever change, even if you changed familias or I got sent back to Heaven."

"May that day never happen," he stated.

"Ya trying to get another kiss out of me?"

Finn laughed.

"No, one was enough. Besides, I don't want to make Tione jealous."

"Haha, yeah. I suppose I risked my immortal skin enough with that one kiss. Alright, get out of here and send in Riveria. I've touched your rough, masculine skin, now I want some soft, elven skinship to even things out," she lasciviously moved her fingers.

"I believe there's a certain swordsman who might have a problem with that," Finn warned with a smile.

"Ah, old thunderbutt can shove it, she's my elf when I'm updating her status!"

Finn chuckled.

"I'll send her in."

"Thanks Finn."

Finn exited the room and turned to old friend.

"You're next."

Riveria nodded, but before she headed inside, she asked the obvious question.

"How did it go?"

"I'm a level seven now."

His familia burst into congratulations and applause, which he thanked them for.

"Both I and Loki suspect I'm not the only one who will be making that announcement though. You two have faced a lot of challenges lately and your statuses no doubt will reflect that," Finn commented, looking between Riveria and Gareth.

"Hm, you might be right," the dwarf replied with a nod, "I just hope being a level seven will do something for these old bones of mine."

"I guess we'll see," Riveria smiled before heading inside.

---

"There's my favorite mama elf!" Loki exclaimed as Riveria walked over to the bed.

Riveria was about to chastise her goddess for the nickname, when she got an idea and smiled.

She lowered her eyes bashfully and placed a hand on her stomach.

"W-Who told you?"

Loki's smile dropped as she looked at the elf, trying to figure out what Riveria was saying.

"Told me? Told me wha-" then it hit her and her jaw dropped. "WHAT?!"

Riveria turned away as if embarrassed, but in reality she was doing everything she could to hold back her laughter.

"You can't be! You can't be!" Loki rushed to Riveria, who simply kept turning away so that the goddess never saw her face and the tears of laughter running down her cheeks. "I'M GOING TO KILL HIM AND CUT OFF HIS LIGHTNING ROD!"

Loki rushed towards the door, ready to geld Achilles only for Riveria to lose the last of her self-control and burst out laughing.

Loki froze, then slowly turned back to the High Elf who was now hunched over with laughter.

"You…you were fucking with me," Loki quickly deduced.

"Yes," Riveria gasped as she wiped a tear from her eye, "I most certainly was," she straightened her back as she smiled at the goddess. "And you should have known that. Do you really think I would be so irresponsible as to have an unplanned pregnancy?"

"Maybe not," Loki conceded, "but, in my defense, when you mix extreme amounts of stamina with decades of pent-up desire, things tend to happen."

Riveria blushed, but kept her head high.

"Yes…well…I've had my fun, I suppose it's time to update my status."

"Fine. But don't think you're getting out of this so easily. I'll have my revenge on you for that little joke," Loki warned.

"Given how much trouble you've caused me in the past, you should consider that my revenge for your many little jokes."

Riveria sat down and revealed her back to the goddess who quickly set to work.

"Hehe, now I've got something that even Freya's never had; two level sevens, and with a third well on its way!" the goddess boasted loudly.

"She still has Ottar," the elf pointed out.

"True, buuuuuut," Loki's hand shot out and quickly cupped Riveria's breasts, making the elf jump, "Ottar doesn't have such nice sweater puppies!"

Riveria spun around and slapped Loki hard enough to send the deity sprawling onto the mattress.

"Worth it."

Riveria quickly got dressed before turning on her goddess, eyes ablaze.

"Don't ever do that again," she ordered.

"Aaaw, but you have such a nice pair," Loki complained. "So big. So perky. So supple. So-"

"You'd better not finish that sentence."

"Or what?" the goddess questioned as she leaned in with a smile.

"Or else…" Riveria thought for a moment and soon came up with an idea that made her smile, "or else I will drag Achilles off to his bedroom at this very moment and have him make me a true mama." Loki's jaw dropped. "And!" Riveria quickly added. "We'll limit your visitations to the children."

"What?! You can't deny me access to your cute babies!" Loki sounded legitimately distraught.

"I won't. So long as you behave yourself."

Loki began to vigorously nod.

"I promise."

"Good," Riveria smiled. "I'll send in Gareth."

With that Riveria headed out, leaving Loki to stew.

"Damn you, Achilles, this is your fault somehow and I'll get you back someday," the goddess swore.

---

As expected, Gareth also leveled up to level seven, much to Loki's delight and the pride of the others. Tione was next, followed by Tiona and Bete. None of them managed a level up, but their statuses had risen drastically.

"Won't be long before you all overtake us," Finn commented proudly.

"I don't want to overtake you, I just want to stand by your side," Tione stated, latching onto his side.

"Ugh," Bete groaned, earning a glare from Tione.

"Well, I totally want to be a level seven. I'll be able to kick so much butt then!" Tiona exclaimed, earning a few laughs.

"I can't imagine being a level seven," Raul said, his mind overwhelmed by the idea.

"Maybe not now, but in time it won't seem so crazy," Ana said, giving him a peck on the cheek.

"Ugh, why is everyone so lovey-dovey today, it's making me sick," Bete bemoaned.

"Jealous much?" Tione asked.

"Of not being hitched up with you? Yeah right." That earned the werewolf an even harsher glare.

Before things could devolve into a brawl though, Lefiya spoke up.

"Where did Ais-san go?" she asked.

The others looked around and realized that their Sword Princess was nowhere to be seen.

"I think I can guess," Riveria said calmly before turning to her fellow elf. "Why don't you go get updated Lefiya? I think it's about time for you to level up as well."

That seemed to spark a fire in Lefiya as she nodded and raised her fists as if ready to take on the world.

"Oh, and if Loki tries anything, just tell her that I meant what I said," Riveria added.

"What did you say, Riveria-sama?" Lefiya asked.

The High Elf merely smiled.

"That's a secret."

Though the young elf now desired to know even more what her superior was talking about, she merely nodded again and headed inside.

"I'll go get Ais," Riveria said before heading down the hall.

---

Ais watched Bell and Syr play with the children with a conflicted heart.

"Valis for your thoughts?"

She turned and found Riveria now beside her and, after a moment, she sighed.

"I…I couldn't do anything to help him," the golden woman revealed. "My strength…my love, couldn't pull him from the darkness. Not like they could," she gestured at the children. "Not like Mania could."

"What a foolish thing to say," her mother-figure shot back, earning a surprised look from the young woman. "Do you really think that Bell would have been able to recover from the pain in his heart without you? Without knowing that you loved him? That you'd be there for him?"

"But it wasn't enough," Ais turned back to Bell, finding him smiling and laughing. "I wasn't enough."

"So?" Riveria questioned. "You think that means you failed?"

"Doesn't it?"

"Do you think I'm a failure?"

"What?" Ais looked upon the elf with confusion.

"My love, hidden though it was, wasn't enough to stop Achilles from fleeing Orario. From suffering for years alone. By your standards I failed him, and failed him quite terribly."

"That's different," Ais countered.

"In some ways yes, in some ways no. Maybe, had I confessed or even been his lover back then, things would have been different, but I suspect they wouldn't have been. The pain he felt was too deep. The defeat at the hands of the Black Dragon. His injury. The loss of his familia and his best friend. The realization of how Freya saw him. These are not wounds that one person can overcome, even through great love," Riveria's eyes turned to Bell. "Bell hated himself after he learned what had happened. I suspect a part of him still does." Ais's heart clenched painfully tight. "And he's afraid of himself. Afraid of what he's willing to do when wrath fills his heart. That hatred and fear mixed together into a poison so terrible that the love of one person could not siphon it out," the elf turned back to her ward, "but that does not mean you failed, it merely indicates the depth of his pain. He loves you, Ais. Deeply and truly. Please don't discount or doubt that for even a second."

Ais turned back to her lover again, only this time, he felt her golden gaze and his rubies lifted to meet her. Soon, his smile grew and, even from a distance, filled her with such warmth that it seemed as if she would never be cold again. With such warmth filling her, it became impossible for her not to smile and she was soon waving at him.

Bell happily waved back, before he was tackled by Rye and the other boys, making Ais laugh.

"Come," Riveria gently said, "let's leave them to their rough-housing. You still need to update your status anyway."

"Right," Ais said, turning away from her beloved captain with a strong heart.

The two headed upstairs where they found their familia celebrating once more.

"Ais-san!" Lefiya cried as she rushed over. "I leveled up! I'm a level five now!"

Ais smiled proudly and raised a hand to affectionately stroke Lefiya's hair.

"Well done Lefiya. I knew you could do it."

The elf beamed and began bouncing with joy.

"And she's not the only one!" Ana declared. "Raul's leveled up too!"

Raul scratched his cheek shyly, though it was clear he was immensely pleased

"It's hard to believe I made it to level five," he said.

"It's not hard at all. You've worked hard, Raul and have more than earned your rank up," Finn stated.

"Captain," Raul was at a loss for words for a moment, before finally he smiled and bowed. "Thank you."

"Yeah yeah, we're all happy for you two," Bete rolled his eyes, "now would you get in there so that we can keep the line moving?" he said to Ais. "I don't want to be standing around here all day."

Tione punched Bete's arm, but Ais nodded and headed inside the room.

---

"Ais-tan!" Loki cried, rushing over to hug her favorite child. "I was wondering where you were! Why'd you keep me waiting?"

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking."

"Hm, well I suppose I can forgive you, if you let me touch that lovely skin of yours."

"No," Ais stated firmly.

"Aaaaw, come on! Why are all you girls being so mean to me now? Even Lefiya is denying my advances!"

"Good for her," Ais replied coolly as she revealed her back.

"So cruel!" Loki cried.

A few moments later, Loki stopped crying and began updating Ais's status.

"Well, you're not ready for a level up, but you did jump quite a bit, Ais-tan."

Ais took her sheet and began looking it over.

Agility is B, that's good, and Strength isn't far behind it looks like, but… her grip tightened on the piece of paper, I need to be stronger.

"What's wrong Ais?" her goddess asked.

"I need to be better than this."

Loki's eyes opened a sliver and she sighed before sitting down next to her child.

"You will be, but getting stronger takes time, even for someone as exceptional as you. Don't overwhelm yourself or worse, punish yourself because you aren't where you want to be yet. You'll get there, you just have to be patient."

Loki's mature moments were a rarity and whenever they appeared it was difficult, if not impossible not to take it to heart.

"I'm sorry," Ais apologized.

"Nothing to apologize for, Ais," Loki pulled her into a side hug. "You are one of the most awesome, determined, and skilled people in the world, and definitely the most beautiful!" Ais couldn't help but smile this time. "So don't let your worries drag ya down. Okay?"

"Okay," the young woman agreed.

"Good. Now, get dressed, I still have an entire familia to update and dozens of cute girls to ogle!"

---

"I'm so proud of all of you!" Hestia declared as they all made their way downstairs. "To think, not even a year ago, it was just me and Bell – not that minded –" she quickly added under her breath, "and now look! A level eight! A level five! A level four! And two new level threes!"

Welf beamed and Mikoto blushed, though she could not help but smile as well.

"Oh, did I hear that there's another new level three?" Take called from the living room.

The Hestia familia entered the living room with big smiles and found everyone but Loki already there.

"Ouka-san, did you level up as well?" Mikoto asked excitedly.

"Yeah, about time too. I would have been devastated if I failed to level up after this Expedition," the Take captain said, only to be immediately hugged by Chigusa.

"I'm just glad that you're here with me," she said as her arms tightened desperately around him.

The axeman smiled and pulled her into his arms, earning a few cooing eyes and affectionate smiles.

"And he's not the only one. Our captain has also made it to level three," Daphne stated proudly.

"Congratulations, Naaza-san," Lili said, smiling at her fellow ranged adventurer.

"Thank you," the doggirl replied, though her voice was far lower and less enthusiastic than the others.

There were a few worried glances between the adventurers and deities, until Miach pulled her to his side and began to rub her arm comfortingly. Soon enough, she closed her eyes and snuggled into him as some, though not all, of the pain in her face flowed away.

There were a few more tense moments of silence within the room before Tiona, unable to stand such negativity for long, jumped in.

"Well, not to brag, but I think we take the cake! We have three new level sevens!" she declared proudly.

That succeeded in turning everyone's attention and every eye shifted in surprise and awe towards the Loki familia.

"My my, even I have to admit that's very impressive," Freya commended.

"We'll be level sevens soon, Freya-sama!" Hogni and Hedin quickly vowed jealously.

"And we're almost level sixes!" the Gulliver brothers added, practically simmering in anger at being so much lower than their rivals.

"I have no doubt of that," the goddess reassured them, smiling gently to calm their frustration and envy.

"Then we'd best not slack off if we want to keep our edge," Gareth commented with a joking smile.

"Indeed," Riveria agreed, ignoring Hedin's unwavering eyes.

"We also shouldn't forget who else leveled up," Finn pointed out, turning to Lefiya and Raul, both of whom blushed in embarrassed glee.

"Oh well done you two," Haruhime congratulated.

"Well done indeed," Ryuu added, smiling at her fellow elf.

"Looks like I'll have to up my game," Aisha commented as the others gave their well wishes to the two Loki members.

"Seeing how you're all bragging, I might as well join in," Hephaestus stated, turning her smiling face towards her own captain.

"You too, Tsubaki?!" Welf exclaimed happily.

"Yep, finally a level six," the Cyclops proudly revealed, flexing her arm.

Everyone began congratulating her, making her beam and blush just the tiniest bit.

"Anyone else got leveling up news?" Finn asked.

"One more," Mania called over the excitement as she affectionately stroked the hair of her captain.

"Rei's a level five!" Geneve proclaimed as she latched onto him. "And we are officially dating too!"

That restarted the well wishes all over again, only this time with the added bonuses of their new relationship.

After a few more excited minutes, things calmed down, though everyone was still smiling.

"Well done everyone," Hestia commended. "Truly, there are few things as wonderful for us as seeing our children grow."

"I agree completely," Freya joined with a smile. However, that smile faltered as she continued. "However, I believe there is one rapidly growing child that we have not yet accounted for."

There was no doubt amongst any of the gods or mortals who she meant.

"I just wanted him to have some time with those children, but I think he'll have exhausted them by now, or they him," the hearth goddess joked, and though the joke did receive a few chuckles, everyone could tell they were a bit forced.

"I'll go get him," Achilles offered.

"No, it's alright, I'll get him. You all keep celebrating your wonderful successes," Hestia gently commanded before heading out of the room, all eyes following her as she departed.

---

"You can do it!" Fina cried excitedly.

She and the other girls were watching as the boys tried to pin a defiant Bell in a bit of boyish roughhousing that made the girls both roll their eyes and laugh.

"Come on, push!" Rye commanded to the other boys. They all roared and pushed harder on the adventurer who pretended to give some ground, before pushing back and sending them all to the ground.

"Haha, looks like the mighty adventurer wins this round!" Bell declared in an overly deep voice as he flexed ridiculously.

"Why you!" Rye cried as he and the other boys rushed to try and pin him again.

"Bell-kun!" The playing stopped as Bell's eyes turned to his goddess. "It's time to update your status."

His expression became serious and he nodded, more to himself than to her, and got up from the ground.

"Keep practicing you guys. One day you'll be strong enough to pin me," he told the boys with a half smile, before heading inside with his goddess.

Bell, Syr thought as she watched her beloved adventurer disappear into the manor.

Bell and Hestia headed up to his room, though he could feel the eyes on his back as they walked up the stairs.

They're worried, he thought, and he completely understood why, for he was worried too. A part of him might have even dreaded what was to come.

What if I have another skill, something even worse than Wrath of the Dragon? What if I'm ready for another leveling up? Do I really want to level up due to fighting everyone?

"Bell-kun." He snapped back to reality as Hestia's soft voice reached his ears. "I know you're worried, but I'm here. Whatever happens, I'm here."

It was such a simple reassurance, yet it was exactly what he needed and he smiled before pulling her into a hug.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," she replied as she hugged back. "Now," she pulled back, "shirt off, handsome."

He chuckled and removed his shirt before laying on his bed.

Hestia straddled his back just as she had so many times before and set to work.

Let's see. Magic: S. Very nice Bell-kun! She proudly thought. Dexterity: SS. Even better! Strength and Agility SSS! Wowzers! Look at you Bell! Such a little champion! Now that just leaves- her thoughts ended as she landed on Endurance.

SSSS

Hestia's body began to shake and tears filled her eyes.

How…how much did you have to suffer in order to get a stat like this?

A single tear slid down her cheek and, before she could stop it, fell from her skin and onto Bell's unguarded back, making him jump.

"Hestia?" he questioned as he turned to face her. Seeing her tears, his eyes widened in alarm. "Hestia! What's wrong?!"

She shook her head and wiped her eyes, before gently pushing him back down onto the bed and finishing her task. Once that was done, she got off him, allowing him to quickly flip around to face her.

"Hestia, why are you crying?" he pleaded.

"I-I'm s-so sorry Bell," she replied, her voice shaking as she did all she could not to cry. "I'm so sorry that you had to s-suffer so much."

Anxiety mixed with his growing confusion until she finally held out his stat sheet, which he quickly read. The moment he saw his Endurance he understood why she was crying.

SSSS.

His fists tightened around the piece of paper as the terrible memories flashed in his mind once more. His aunt's cold words as she unleashed her spells on him. The laughter of Dionysus as he or the Evilus cut his flesh. The sight of the nightmare inducing black machine and the pain of having monster after monster forced into his body.

Bell covered his mouth as the urge to vomit nearly overcame him but he just barely managed to hold on.

"I-It's…It's alright," he tried to say.

He suddenly found himself pulled into a hug and his head pressed into Hestia's chest.

"I-It's not alright a-and I'm so s-so sorry that you had to go through all that B-Bell. I…I would give…anything," Hestia could barely speak as her despair made breathing difficult, "anything! To go back and change what happened. T-To protect you."

"But that's not possible," he replied as levelly as he could.

"No it's-" Hestia's eyes widened. "Yes it is!" she cried, pulling back so she could look him in the eyes. "The Hourglass! We can use the Hourglass to change things! I'm sure Achilles will allow us to use it if we ask him!"

A deep longing, one that matched even his longing for Ais and desire to aid the Xenos, filled Bell's soul.

That…that might work. If it can bring Ais to this time, maybe it can send someone back or change things enough so that I won't get captured. And if I don't get captured, I won't suffer at Dionysus's hands. I won't kill Allen. In fact, we can all finish off the Evilus together and save so many lives. It's perf-!

But it wasn't. He knew that. Deep in his mind and heart, he knew it was far from perfect, for it was one thing to bring someone to the future, it was an entirely different matter to send someone to the past with the intention of changing it.

There's no telling how it will change things. Maybe it will only be for the good, but there's no way to know that and…his eyes clenched tightly, startling Hestia, as much as I hate everything that happened, I can't let my selfishness risk what I and everyone else fought so hard for.

"Bell?" Hestia called.

"We can't," he said, his voice filled to the brim with agony and desire. "I want…I want to so badly, but," tears pricked at the corners of his eyes. No. I've shed my tears. I need to be strong now. For her. For the others. For me. He opened his eyes. "But I won't risk everything we fought so hard for out of my own selfishness. I won't degrade the sacrifices everyone made for victory just because I might be able to stop everything from happening. I will live with my pain and my mistakes and spend every day of the rest of my life trying to overcome and make up for them."

Hestia's glassy sapphires stared into his equally glassy, but determined rubies until, to his shock, she leant in and kissed him.

It was a quick, chaste kiss, but one so filled with love and pride that it made his heart thunder.

"You have just made me fall in love with you all over again, Bell-kun," she whispered, cupping both his cheeks with her gloved hands. "You are so good, so wonderful, and so so strong. I will spend all of eternity thanking Fate for bringing you to me."

Bell finally got over his shock enough to smile.

"Likewise."

Hestia's smile grew a little bit more and she leant down and kissed his forehead.

"I guess that's settled then," she stated before pulling back. "Now, your stats clearly indicate you're ready for a level-up if you want it. I don't think anyone has reached level seven at so young an age and certainly not so quickly."

"That's probably true but…" he paused, "I don't want to level-up yet. My last fight was against everyone and I don't want that to be how I reached level seven."

She nodded.

"I fully understand and agree with your decision. We'll just tell the others you're very close to leveling up."

Bell nodded.

"Thank you."

"I'm just doing what any good goddess would do for her beloved child, Bell-kun."

---

Bell and Hestia walked into the living room where everyone was waiting nervously.

"So?" Achilles asked.

"He's not quite a level seven, but he's very close," Hestia answered with a smile.

The smile eased them a bit, but their eyes all shifted to Bell.

"Guess I have a little more work to do," he added with his own smile.

That dispelled the last of their worries and the room filled with smiles.

"The fact that you're even close at all is still astounding. Not even a year as an adventurer and yet almost a level seven. Part of me is actually a little jealous," Finn joked.

"A little, I feel absolutely outclassed!" Ajax boomed, earning an affectionate slap on the arm from his wife.

"It just means we'll have to work harder to catch up," Patroclus stated.

"Or to keep our edge over him," Riveria added.

"Heck yeah! We've got a challenge! Who can keep up with Argonaut-kun! Count me in!" Tiona proclaimed excitedly as her sister sighed.

The easy air soothed Bell's heart. While Hestia had helped him through the dark memories of his torment, he still felt guilty about lying to the others and hiding the true reason for his still being a level six.

"Bell-sama?"

He turned and found Haruhime's emerald eyes looking into his own with curiosity and worry.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"...Yeah," he managed after a moment.

Her ears dropped a bit by the obvious lie.

"You know you can tell us anything."

"I know…it's just…sometimes it's not easy to reveal things, even if you believe it will help."

A few moments passed between them as the others chatted amongst themselves until Haruhime reached out and took his hand.

"You have never taken the easy route, Bell. That's what makes you special," she said, her voice quiet, though it somehow echoed in his ears. "It's what makes you a hero. It's what makes you my hero," she emphasized. "And it's why I love you."

"H-Haruhime," he replied as color filled his cheeks.

"Bell, are you done yet!"

Bell was snapped out of his stupor as he and the rest of the room spun around to a pouting Rye.

"I swore I was going to pin you, and I mean to keep my promise!" the boy shouted, pointing a finger at the adventurer.

Bell, despite everything that had happened with Hestia and Haruhime, couldn't help but chuckle at his child challenger.

"Alright, I'll give you and the others another try, but I'm not going easy on you this time."

"You…you were going easy on us?" Rye asked.

"Of course he was Rye. Do you really think you can pin an upper-class adventurer?" Roux asked, suddenly appearing at his side.

"Grrr, I won't accept you going easy on us! You'll go all out or I'll…I'll…I'll kick your shins!"

"You'll probably break your toes before you actually hurt him," the little elf pointed out.

"Shut up!"

The sight was so adorably hilarious that neither Bell nor the others in the room could help but laugh, which only made Rye's embarrassment all the worse.

"Okay okay, let's go outside," Bell said as he ushered the children out.

"Why don't we all head outside? It's a lovely day and it's a bit crowded in here anyway," Uriel pointed out.

The others were quick to agree and they followed after Bell and the children.

---

"Ah, nothing beats the feeling of warm sunlight on your skin," Alise stated as she stretched, several others following her example.

"I must concur. After being in the Dungeon for so long after reawakening, the feeling of real warmth is delightful," Alfia agreed.

"Speaking of which, Alfia, do you have any idea of what you're going to do now that you've returned?" Astraea asked. "You can't reveal your existence, the city would demand your imprisonment or execution should you be revealed."

"I have no intention of revealing myself or giving myself over to the Guild," the Silence replied. "I will keep myself hidden by whatever means I need to so that I can continue to watch over Bell and keep him safe."

The others nodded even though they knew that wasn't exactly a plan of action.

"I may have an idea that'll keep you hidden and near enough to Bell to watch over him," Mia said, piquing everyone's interest.

"Really?" Alfia inquired.

"We can go into detail later, but with a little work, what I have in mind should work well enough."

"And you don't mind helping me?"

"You're not the first fugitive I've helped out," Mia replied. "Besides, I don't want that boy losing his smile again, so if helping you makes him happy, I'm willing to swallow some disdain."

Alfia smiled and turned back to her nephew.

"Thank you."

For a few, quiet, warm moments, the world seemed to be set right. There was hope again for the future and the smiles came easily, especially for the young man currently laughing as he resisted the attempts of Rye and the other boys to pin him. But the world does not stop spinning nor do its malevolent elements stop moving so as to spare such tender moments. If anything, those malevolent forces revel in destroying them.

All of Orario was suddenly filled with the horrifying sound of sirens as they blared their chorus of fear and panic.

"A MASSIVE DRAGON HAS BEEN SIGHTED HEADING STRAIGHT FOR ORARIO FROM THE NORTH! THIS IS NOT A DRILL! ALL CIVILIANS FIND SHELTER! ALL ADVENTURERS REPORT TO THE WALLS IMMEDIATELY! I REPEAT, A MASSIVE DRAGON HAS BEEN SPOTTED COMING FROM THE NORTH AND IS HEADED STRAIGHT FOR ORARIO! ALL CIVILIANS ARE TO SEEK SHELTER AND ALL ADVENTURERS ARE TO REPORT TO THE WALLS IMMEDIATELY! THIS IS NOT A DRILL!"

Every single heart skipped a beat as ice filled every cell in their bodies.

It can't be, Achilles thought as a bead of cold sweat dripped down his temple.

He's…he's here, Ais thought as her body began to shiver in both fear and wrathful determination.

Suddenly, the Sword Princess turned and shot off towards the northern wall, leaving everyone else behind.

"Ais! Wait!" Riveria cried as she rushed after the young woman.

"Riveria! Shit! Everyone, to the north wall, NOW!" Finn ordered as he and the rest of the Loki familia rushed off after the two women.

"We need to get to the walls!" Alfia cried.

"We need to focus on getting everyone to safety!" Ajax bellowed back.

"No one will be safe if the Dragon gets past the walls!" Galadriel countered.

"Protecting the innocent should always come first!" Ryuu screamed and was soon backed up by Alise.

Everyone's so afraid they can't even think, Bell realized as he watched the chaos grow ever larger and more insane. If this continues we won't be able to make any decision and we'll…we'll all be annihilated.

"STOP!"

Every remaining adventurer in the backyard, as well as the deities and children, all froze and turned to Bell.

"We have to be as calm about this as we can be," Bell affirmed, ignoring his own nervous sweating and the way his hands wouldn't stop shaking. "We can't fight whatever is headed our way if we're disorganized and ill-prepared. Dad," Bell turned the elder adventurer, "grab your sword and join Ais on the northern wall. You're the best hope we have of holding off this dragon until more help arrives. Everyone else," the Hestia captain turned to the rest of his familia, "follow after him, grabbing as many adventurers as you can and sending as many civilians as you can to the Guild or wherever is safe. Lili, you are the exception to this," he turned to the prum who perked up at the commanding, yet still kind tone of her beloved captain. "I want you to grab everyone's equipment and bring it north. Dad's shield, Mikoto's throwing knives, potions, all of it. Grab as much as you can and head north. If you can't get it all, then go back, following the same instructions as I gave to the others about adventurers and civilians."

"I can help!" Cassandra cried, raising her hand.

"So can I!" Syr joined.

"Syr, you're a civilian," Bell replied anxiously.

"But I'm still a citizen of Orario and I don't want to just stand by while you and everyone else fights to protect us. Please Bell, let me help," the young woman pleaded.

As much as he wanted to deny her, he couldn't, and so nodded.

"Alright," he turned back to his familia. "I'll get the children back to the orphanage. They have a basement there where they can take cover. Once I've done that I'll join you all at the northern wall."

"Right!" the Hestia familia cried.

The adventurers all rushed off, with Achilles speeding back inside before shooting off towards the northern wall, Dragonsbane in hand not long after.

"Alright guys, I'm going to go get my weapons and then we're going to run back to the orphanage as quickly as possible, okay?" Bell told the children, doing his best to look and sound calm, even smiling as best as he could.

"Y-You'll defeat the dragon…right Bell?" Fina asked, her voice shaking with nearly unrestrained fear.

Bell turned to her, wanting to reassure her, though his own thundering heart made it difficult to answer.

"Of course he will!" Rye declared. "He took on the Black Minotaur, didn't he? And he's only gotten stronger since then. He'll totally kick that monster's scaly butt!"

"Rye," Roux chastised.

"What?"

Bell looked down at the boy, his eyes wide and his fear forgotten.

He didn't even doubt me for a moment.

His smile returned, but now it was a true smile without fear and full of heroic confidence.

"Yeah." The children all turned to him. "I'm going to beat that dragon no matter how big or mean it is. I promise."

Rye beamed as the others, including Fina all looked at the young man in wonder.

"You mean it?" she asked.

He gave her his ten million valis smile.

"Heroes keep their promises."

---

Ais raced towards the walls, her fist so tight around Desperate's handle that the skin began to break around her knuckles.

He's here. He's here. The day has finally come.

Jubilation mixed with rage and fear as she repeated those lost words over and over in her head.

The day has finally come. The day has finally come. The day I strike down that monster and free my mother. It's finally-

Then, finally, the realization hit her.

But I'm not ready. I'm not even a level seven yet. Will I be able to defeat him, even with help? A nervous sweat drip of sweat descended down her temple, only for a burst of fury to fill her veins. Of course I'm ready and even if I'm not, who cares! I will destroy that beast no matter what! No matter the cost, I will-

"Ais."

Her mind and body froze as the image of Bell's smiling face filled every corner of her mind.

"I love you," the memory Bell added, his wonderful smile making her heart lurch.

Please, she thought.

"Ais!

"Ais-san!"

"Ais!"

"Ais-tan!"

Images of her familia now joined Bell, filling her head with everything she had been so willing, at least subconsciously, to cast aside but a moment ago.

Please stop, she begged. But they didn't.

"Ais!"

"Ais-san!"

"I love you, Ais."

"Stop!"

Ais fell to her knees on the roof where she now resided and gripped her head.

"I…I don't want to leave any of you. I-I don't," tears filled her golden eyes, "b-but I have to do this."

"Never be quick to give up what you love."

Her eyes shot open.

"Fight as hard as you have to, but always keep in mind that the goal isn't to destroy your enemies, but protect the ones you love," the memory of Albert Waldstein told her, his smiling face looking down on her with the purest adoration.

"Papa," she whispered as she began reaching out towards the past image.

"Ais!"

The Sword Princess blinked and turned, finding Riveria suddenly beside her.

"Are you alright?" the elf princess asked. Initially this was only because her ward had suddenly stopped on top of some random roof, but seeing the red, glassy eyes of the young woman, Riveria became all the more desperate to receive an answer.

"I…" Ais turned, but noble Albert was gone, though his words still echoed in her mind.

"...protect the ones you love."

"Yes," she finally answered confidently, turning back to Riveria, "I am."

Though confused, the motherly elf did feel relief from the answer and her shoulders lost their tension.

"Good."

Suddenly, Achilles dropped down from the sky beside them, clad in his blue lightning and eyed them both.

"Are you two alright?" he asked.

Riveria turned to Ais and, receiving a nod from her ward, smiled and turned back to her lover.

"Yes, I think we're alright."

Though he knew there was something he was missing, Achilles nodded.

"Good," he turned gaze to Ais. "I know right now you are feeling so many dark emotions, but please Ais, don't forget everything you care about in service of revenge. Remember, the goal isn't to destroy your enemies, but protect the ones you love."

The young woman's eyes widened.

"What did you just say?"

Both Achilles and Riveria were a bit taken aback by the question and the shock that permeated Ais's features as she asked it. Even so, Achilles repeated himself.

"The goal isn't to destroy your enemies, but protect the ones you love."

"My…my father once told me the exact same thing," the Sword Princess revealed, surprising the two veteran adventurers.

"Did he…huh, how strange," Achilles replied, "it just seemed like the right thing to say at the moment. Almost…nostalgic in a way."

Just then, the rest of the Loki familia, as well as the Freya, Zeus, and Hera familia, as well as Uriel arrived on top of the roof.

"Are you all alright?" Finn questioned.

"Yeah, we're just making sure our heads are in the right place," Achilles replied calmly.

"Understandable. Unfortunately we can't waste any time. We need to get to the wall as quickly as possible. Even if this isn't the One-Eyed Black Dragon, we can't let this dragon get past the walls of Orario before the population has gotten to safety," the Braver stated.

"Right," the ex-captain replied, his eyes growing darkly serious, "let's go."

---

They finally arrived at the northern walls of Orario, finding dozens of terrified adventurers already present, with hundreds more rushing to join them.

"Where is it?" Achilles immediately asked Shakti who was standing at the center of the wall, looking out towards the horizon.

"There," she pointed while handing him a telescope.

Achilles took it and peered through the instrument, searching for the monster until, at last, his eyes centered on the great beast.

"Is it him?" Ais asked, doing her best to keep her voice level.

"No," Achilles said as his thundering heart calmed the tiniest amount it could, "but it's not much better. It's the Queen of the Skies herself. Tiamat."

---

Tiamat soared low across the plains outside the accursed adventurer city, licking her five lips as the scent of fear filled her nostrils.

"Delicious," she hissed to herself in delight.

She shifted her body and flapped her wings until she slowed to a stop outside the city, far enough away that she was at little risk of any missiles or spells.

I bet they're confused, she thought before using her long-ranged eyes to look at the faces of the mortals she would soon consume with fang and fire. Indeed, all those on the walls seemed confused by her sudden stop, making her heads chuckle malevolently. I suppose I'll be kind and reveal my reasoning, she continued, her viciousness and bloodlust nearly oozing out of her mind.

She raised all five of her heads and, with a power that cracked the earth beneath her and shook the putrid gods hiding away in Heaven, she roared.

The scent of fear grew exponentially, nearly drowning her in euphoria, even as she roared. She reveled in that fear as her five heads each created a different horrible noise so that she acted a one dragon symphony of terror.

Finally, Orario and the world shaken by her cry, she lowered her heads and looked back at the adventurers on the wall.

So much fear. So much dread. So much- her eyes fell on a single human on the walls, a man, who though afraid, glared at her with more contempt and determination than dread. Hm, this one's more powerful than the others, I will have to deal with him first if I'm to reach the prince. Luckily, she smiled, my servants will keep the others off of me while I deal with him.

The ground began to shake and the distant sound of a stampede rang across the plain. Those on the wall once more looked confused, but soon, their eyes were filled with the sight of a new horror.

Her grand horde of 25,000 monsters rushed to her side, teeth and claw beared and ready for battle and blood.

Once they reached her side and the vision of her army fully sank into the hearts of her foes, she gave the order.

"Kill them all."

25,000 monsters roared in unison, then charged straight towards the walls of Orario.

---

Bell moved as quickly as he could with the children through the chaotic streets of Orario.

"Is everyone still holding onto the person in front of them?!" he cried over the desperate crowds while looking back towards the children.

"Yeah!" Rye cried as he tightened his grip on Bell's belt.

"Good! We're almost there!"

Pushing his way through the terrified crowds, Bell finally saw the orphanage and, smiling in relief, he rushed towards it with the children.

"Oh thank goodness!" Maria cried as she rushed out, taking several of the children into her arms and hugging them tightly. "I was so worried! When that announcement came, I wasn't sure what to do! I didn't know if I should rush to the Hearthfire Manor or trust that you all would be taken to safety. I'm so glad that you're all here safe and sound!" she hugged them even more tightly before turning her eyes to Bell. "Thank you so much, Bell-san."

"No need to thank me, just get everyone inside and into the base-"

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAR!

The air vibrated with the terrible roars that seemed both so far away and yet far far too close.

That sounded like five separate dragons all roaring in unison. Is there more than one dragon or is it not the Black Dragon? Bell wondered before he found Maria and all the children shaking in unrestrained terror.

"It's alright everyone. It's alright," he assured them, grasping a shoulder here, meeting a frightened gaze there. "Everything's going to be alright. I won't let anything bad happen to you, I promise."

Rye was the first to meet his scarlet eyes.

"Y-Y-You promise?" he asked, his confidence from earlier gone as his voice shook so terribly that it practically broke Bell's heart.

"I promise," the Hestia captain repeated, holding out his pinky.

Rye eyed the finger before courage filled his eyes and he grasped it in his own.

"I-I'll get everyone to safety," the boy promised.

Bell smiled.

"Thank you, Rye."

"ALL ADVENTURERS REPORT TO THE WALLS NOW! WE CAN CONFIRM THAT THE DRAGON IS TIAMAT, THE HERALD OF THE SKIES! WE CAN ALSO CONFIRM THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF LESSER MONSTERS AT HER COMMAND! I REPEAT, TIAMAT AND THOUSANDS OF MONSTERS ARE OUTSIDE OF ORARIO! ALL ADVENTURERS REPORT TO THE WALLS NOOOOW!"

"Get inside!" Bell ordered before turning north and rushing off, knives in hand and desperate to save his city and all those inside it.

---

"Archers! Mages! Loose!" Finn commanded as the horde of monsters got within range.

All at once, over a thousand missiles and spells launched from the walls and towers of Orario at the incoming creature army.

The arrows, bolts, and spells found their targets, for it was impossible not to with such a compact mass of bodies, tearing through flesh or destroying bodies everywhere across the plain. However, it did little in the grand scheme of things for the horde just keep charging.

"Keep loosing your missiles and spells!" Finn ordered, "melee troops, get ready for combat!"

The archers and mages did as ordered and loosed an unrelenting barrage against the horde while the hand-to-hand adventurers all prepared their swords, axes, spells, maces, or whatever weapon they had.

Soon, the monsters had reached the walls as well as the northern gate and began battering against it or climbing the stones to reach the adventurers above and the city beyond.

"Get ready!"

The first monster, a snorting kobold, climbed over the walls only to be immediately pierced through the skull by Ais.

"Aw! I wanted the first kill!" Tiona cried as she tore through several Almiraj.

"That was already impossible since the archers and mages got first blood, moron!" Tione pointed out as she smashed the skull of an Orc.

"That doesn't count, none of them know which monsters they killed out there!"

"Would you two shut up and kill these things?!" Bete bellowed as he kicked a Killer Ant off the wall.

---

Achilles listened to the battle rage around him, but did not participate himself for his eyes did not waver even a moment from Tiamat.

What are you waiting for?

"Achilles!"

He finally turned his eyes and found Lili, Cassandra, and Syr at the top of the tower, Lili holding a very overfull backpack.

"Here!" Syr exclaimed as she held out his shield while Cassandra put down a bag of potions.

"Thank you," he replied, quickly taking the shield as Lili handed him the rest of his armor. Yet, even as he put it on, his eyes remained almost glued to the dragon in the distance.

Are you trying to weaken us? Are you afraid? Or do you just not think we're worth your time? He wondered as he put his helmet on.

---

Riveria raised her staff as Gareth, Finn, and a host of other adventurers kept monsters away from her.

"Sweep completely, bring close to the great war. Burn them through, Sword of Surtr - my name is Alf," she finished, her eyes aflame. "Rea Laevateinn!"

The skies darkened and massive columns of roaring fire fell upon the earth and the monsters below, destroying huge swaths of the horde and making thousands of them pause in fear.

Now I just need to do that a good twelve more times, the High Elf thought as she caught her breath.

---

Tiamat watched the columns of fire tear into her army with irritation.

I suppose I must enter the fray now if I am to succeed, not that I expected to succeed with these weaklings, they were only to test the strength of these adventurers, she turned her eyes to the city, and I find myself thoroughly unimpressed.

Raising her wings, she launched herself into the air as power filled her gut.

---

The adventurers cheered as they watched Rea Laevateinn destroy thousands of monsters. However, that joy ended in an instant as five blasts of magical power: one of fire, one of ice, one of lightning, one of poison, and one of darkness, blasted through the columns and then smashed into the walls of Orario.

Cries of alarm and agony filled the air as the walls and towers of Orario crumbled under the weight of Tiamat's terrible power.

The dragon herself, roaring in bloodthirsty victory flew through the smoke of war and ruin and towards the very heart of Orario, her ten eyes all pointed in the same direction.

There you are, my prince.

Before she could get to her king's son, however, she had someone to deal with. Someone who was currently heading straight for her.

---

Achilles, now clad in his armor and with sword and shield in hand, jumped straight at the Queen of the Skies as she flew towards the city.

The five headed beast seemed somewhat surprised by the action, but not enough to stop flying, which suited him just fine.

"Raaaaa!" the ex-captain bellowed as he swung Dragonsbane against her fire breathing head.

"Rooooooaar!" The dragon cried as her head was knocked to the side, allowing Achilles to sail down her neck and onto her back.

Twirling his longsword around, Achilles plunged the blade into Tiamat's before pumping as much of his lightning into her body as he could.

"Rooooooooooooooaaaaaar!" the regal beast cried in pain before using her giant tail to smack Achilles off her back.

The survivor of the Black Dragon managed to quickly bring up his sword to block the incoming appendage, but was soon flying across the plains outside Orario before crashing through dozens of monsters as he landed.

"She's going to be far tougher than the Kraken was," he admitted to himself as he casually disposed of the dozens of monsters around him trying to consume him.

With them dealt with, he activated his Lightning Steps and rushed back towards the Queen of the Skies, destroying as many monsters as he could along the way.

---

Accursed little creature, Tiamat thought after battering Achilles away.

She did not have time to revel in her small victory as two of her heads noticed more adventurers headed her way, this time it was a muscular boaz and a lithe woman with blonde hair.

The two heads unleashed a torment of darkness and lightning, the first against the girl, the second against the boaz. Both raised their weapons to block her magic, but found themselves driven back by her might and sent crashing into the buildings behind the wall.

Her victory was once again short lived as a mace-wielding man, a swordsman, a pale succubus, and a greatsword-wielding dwarf all took the other adventurers' places, each aiming for one of her heads.

Fools.

Each head filled with magical power before unleashing tsunamis of her magical power, sending each of the idiotic mortals crashing into either the walls or the buildings of Orario or else into the battlefield below.

"Arcs Ray!"

"Solaris!"

"Gospel!"

Suddenly, not one, not two, but three spells struck her at once, breaking her scales and bones, and boiling the blood underneath.

Screaming in pain, Tiamat turned towards the source, finding three women: one elf, one dark elf, and one woman clad in a cloak, but whose white-haired flowed out over chest all standing upon the walls.

Growling, the dragon summoned her power again and unleashed it upon them.

"Via Shilheim!"

A magic barrier appeared to protect the young elf, though it cracked under the weight of her poisoned breath. The other two women merely jumped out of the way of her ice and darkness breath, and she hit nothing but stone. This would have been infuriating to the draconic queen had she not heard screams of terror and pain shortly afterwards.

"Storm of the Divine!"

Tiamat had just enough time to turn her heads before the first accursed adventurer slammed into her body, cracking her scales and sending her poisonous blood down upon the monsters below.

"Rooooooooooooooooaaaaar!" she bellowed as the blade and its lightning once more pumped into her veins.

Enraged, Tiamat grabbed the adventurer and, even as he resisted mightily in her hand, raised him to her glaring eyes.

"BEGONE!" she screamed before throwing him with all her terrible might, sending him straight through one of the towers and several buildings, at least one of which collapsed.

I have wasted enough time here! I must get to the prince before these pests wound me gravely enough to prevent my escape with my beloved's son.

Gathering up her magic once more, the Queen of the Skies unleashed all five of her heads against the adventurers, blasting the walls, towers, and most importantly of all, the gates, opening the path for her horde to enter the city.

Contend with my lesser brethren, mongrels, while I rescue his highness.

Tiamat flapped her wings and turned fully towards the center of the city where the prince drew ever-closer.

With a hurricane of wind, the great dragon headed towards him, as adventurers screamed in alarm and pain as her army rushed into the city.

---

"Shit!" Finn cursed as he watched Tiamat fly into the heart of the city while also trying not to be blown away by the hurricane-like winds created by her flapping wings. He was soon distracted from this catastrophe by the screams of his fellow adventurers. Spinning around, he found the horde of monsters pouring through the obliterated gates and over the destroyed parts of the walls. "Fuck! Everyone level six and above, after Tiamat, we have to stop her from destroying the city! Everyone level five and below, find the most defensible locations and hold your ground! Raul!"

"Yes captain!"

"I'm leaving you and Lefiya in charge. Find the most defensible locations: towers, familia headquarters, hell a fucking casino if that works, I don't care! Get them there and then hold back the monsters! Funnel them wherever you can! Their only advantage is numbers, if we can take that away from them then most are weaker than goblins and can be easily dealt with! Can you manage that?!"

"Yes sir!"

"Good. Ottar, Riveria, Gareth, everyone with me!" the Braver commanded before rushing off after the Herald, the top tier adventurers right behind him.

"Cover the mages and archers so they can regroup on top of the buildings!" Raul immediately ordered. "Funnel the monsters! Use debris, carts, whatever you can find to limit their movements so that they can't surround us!"

Even through the chaos of battle the adventurers, including those outside the Loki familia, immediately fell into line, aiding the mages and archers in retreating, forming up into groups to guard each other and doing whatever they could to block off alleys and roads to funnel their seemingly endless foes.

"Keep fighting! Remember, you are fighting for Orario now! For your friends and family! Don't let these vermin pass!" Raul cried before, sword in hand, he charged into the fray.

---

Bell rushed towards the sounds of battle as quickly as he could, his feet barely touching the ground as he sailed over the buildings and through the streets.

If I used my wings, I could go even faster, he thought.

And just like that, he stopped.

No…no I will never use that power again. Never! I can't. It can only ever hurt people. Dad. Ottar, he swallowed as his hands tightened around his weapons. Ares and Allen. No, I can't use that power again, no matter-

All thoughts stopped as a sense of horrible danger crept up his spine and the sound of rushing wind filled his ears.

Lifting his eyes, he watched as a giant dragon, nearly as large as the entire coliseum, headed straight for him.

He watched as shutters were torn off windows and carts went flying due to the sheer force behind her wings.

She'll tear Orario apart at this rate, he realized before all his previous doubts burned away and his eyes regained their determination. This is no time to be worrying about my power. People need me, and I have a promise to keep.

Gathering up all his strength into his legs, Bell kicked off the ground and headed straight for Tiamat.

---

There you are, the dragon thought as all five of her heads watched her target head straight for her. Not even a hint of fear within him. He truly is your son, my king. However…I want to see what he is capable of, she thought as her heads smiled. I'm sure His Majesty won't mind.

With one giant flap of her wings, she shot towards the prince like a falling star, tearing apart the surrounding city.

---

Bell's eyes widened as the five-headed dragon suddenly increased its speed to an alarming rate. Within moments, the beast was upon him and even his own exceptional speed was no match for her.

Shit! He cried internally as he raised his arms just in time to block one of her titanic claws.

Bell soared through the city, smashing through the roofs of several buildings, shingles and stone tearing his clothes, before he managed to flip in the air and land on his feet, eyes immediately pointing back to the dragon.

She's even more powerful than the Kraken, and she's in the middle of Orario.

That realization made his heart sink and his hands begin to shake, but only for a moment as determination almost immediately replaced it.

This will not stand. I will not let it stand.

Gold filled the whites of his eyes and then began to flow through his veins.

---

He took that blow well, Tiamat thought as she drew closer, her claws tearing into the puny mortal dwellings and the street cracking under her tremendous size, yet he stands there, still as a statue. Why?

Wishing to test the prince more, she raised her poison head, intent on unleashing its breath and forcing him to act, when suddenly, her prince rushed straight for her.

That's more like it!

Her poison head, already primed, sent a shot of vile green magic straight at him, only for him to dodge out of the way and continue towards her.

Excellent! She thought as she reared her lightning head.

The bright yellow head sent out a storm's worth of electrical power, obliterating an entire building, but once more, the young prince dodged and wove his way through her attack and continued towards her.

Let's see how you take this, she raised her darkness and ice head.

This time though, her target did not sit idly, but raised his hand and shot a bolt of magic straight at her ill-prepared ice head, stopping its attack.

Tiamat unleashed her darkness head, flooding the street with corrosive shadow, but this proved pointless as the adventurer jumped onto the roof of a building and rushed the last bit of distance between them. Once he was in range, he jumped, daggers in hands, eyes pointed straight at her fire-breathing head.

Majestic, she thought as she watched him, enchanted by his glowing gold skin and ruby red eyes. They're the same color as his father's.

Smiling, she launched her scarlet head towards him, intent on sending him right back down the street he had come from, only for his left hand, shining with golden light, to come around and smash against her jaw.

Wha?

She was stunned by the power of the blow, feeling her scales not merely crack, but shatter under the force of the strike.

As her head fell to the side, her prince took advantage, plunging his black dagger into her crimson neck and letting himself fall down her body, tearing open her neck all the way to its base.

She cried out in pain as her four other heads all turned on him.

Reacting instinctively the four heads all blasted the completely unprepared young man right off her back – her own magic having no effect on her – and sent his badly damaged body shooting over the city before it crashed into a far off street.

I suppose I went too far with that one.

She rose back into the sky, intent on recovering her prince, only for a new, furious presence to arrive in the form of the adventurer from before.

His electric blue eyes pulsed with rage and strength as he crashed into her fire head, his sword biting into her jaw as he tore through scale, flesh, and bone.

She hissed and prepared to tear him apart limb from limb, when the boaz, the blonde girl, a dwarf, and a prum, suddenly attacked her other heads, cutting, spearing, and slamming them with all their might.

Wretched worms! I will not be prevented from fulfilling my mission, no matter how many of you there are! She roared in her mind before she began to do battle with the insects.

---

Bell crashed into the stone street and groaned as he slowly picked himself up.

"Ah," he hissed as he looked down at his chest.

It was an awful sight. Four different kinds of magic not pulsed painfully on his flesh, each one trying to inflict the most torment on him.

Doesn't matter, he thought as his eyes turned back to Tiamat, where he found her doing battle with the others, I won't stop.

He stood up when a familiar voice rang out over the chaos.

"Bell!"

He turned and, to his surprise, found himself before the Guild with none other than Eina rushing towards him.

"Eina, get back inside!"

"Not until I see that you're al…right."

Eina's gaze fell on his wounded chest and her stomach fell into her feet as she watched the different curses try and eat at him.

"I'm fine," he tried to reassure her after noting her gaze.

"You are a terrible liar, Bell Cranel!" she yelled, anger mixing with despair in the eyes that now bore down upon him before the half-elf suddenly turned and ran back inside.

Bell's heart clenched.

Why? Why do I keep hurting the people I care about?

He sighed and focused back on Tiamat, prepared to rush back into battle, when he heard Eina's quick steps headed back his way.

"Here," she said as she held out two potions. "One is the highest quality anti-curse potion out there and the other is the best mana potion you can buy."

"You're…not mad at me?" he asked.

"Of course I'm mad at you, you tried to pretend you're not hurt when it's obvious you are!" she screamed back before taking a deep breath. "Bell, I know you don't want me to worry and part of me does appreciate it, but you should also recognize that it's impossible for me not to worry about you. I was worried about you back when I was only your advisor, now that I'm in love with you, I'm terrified for you on a nearly daily basis!"

The words had spilled out before she could stop herself and both man and half-elf both found themselves blushing before she turned away and cleared her throat.

"Y-You should take those," she said, shyly pointing at the potions.

Bell nodded and poured the anti-curse over his chest before downing the mana potion.

He sighed in relief as the curses melted away and his strength returned.

"Thank you, Eina," he said, his voice so warm and filled with gratitude that Eina felt an overwhelming desire to kiss him at that moment.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAR!

The two spun around and discovered the great dragon was flaying in pain as the defenders of Orario continued their unrelenting attack upon her.

"They're winning," Eina stated with both awe and relief.

"But they still need help," Bell replied. "Thank you again, Eina, but now you need to get back inside and allow us to do our jobs."

She nodded.

"Rig-"

Her reply was cut off as tidal waves of wind rushed over them.

"Ah!" she screamed as she was lifted off the ground.

"Eina!"

Bell shot forward, grabbing the woman and pulling him to her chest as he fought against the wind.

Soon enough, the winds died and the two slowly turned back to the Herald. They watched as she slowly rose into the sky while the adventurers who had previously made her scream were rendered unable to do anything to stop her.

---

ENOUGH OF THIS! Tiamat roared internally.

Raising her wings, she flapped as hard as she could, raising herself off the ground and sending the adventurers scattering across the city.

The mighty dragon flapped her wings again, rising higher and higher. The accursed blue adventurer tried to stop her, slashing at her wings, and though he succeeded in wounding her once more, she smacked him back down to earth with her tail as her blood rained down on the city.

I will spare my beloved king having to deal with you creatures by destroying you all myself!

The Queen of the Skies rose higher and higher until she was higher than even the Tower of Babel, and then she gathered up all her power, all her magical might, filling her jaws with devastation before unleashing it down upon the city below.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

---

"Aaaaaaah!"

"Gods above!"

"Shit!"

"Fuck!"

"Take cover!"

"There's nowhere to take cover, it's destroying everything!"

Raul watched in horror as the Tiamat's attack tore through blood and stone alike and their defenses collapsed.

Heaven above, Raul thought before his eyes caught sight of an adventurer that was about to be slaughtered by a group of Kobolds.

The Loki adventurer charged forward, slashing the monsters to pieces before they or the adventurer could even blink.

"T-Thanks," the adventurer, who was even younger than Raul himself, said with a shaky voice.

"Regroup. Find as many adventurers as you can and form a circle. We can't funnel the monsters in this chaos so, for now, we have to focus on survival."

"R-Right!" the adventurer cried as they rushed off to find allies.

"Regroup! Regroup! Find anyone you can and form up!" Raul ordered.

The adventurers around him did as best they could, but the sheer size of the horde made things extraordinarily difficult, for no matter how many monsters they slashed, shot, burned, or crushed, there were more to replace them.

This is just like the 60th floor, the High Novice thought. A group of four goblins then attacked him, but were quickly dispatched. No, no it's not. These guys are a lot weaker and we have way more adventurers than before. We can do this!

"Hold fast! You are adventurers of Orario! The greatest warriors in the world! These surface monsters are nothing but small fries to you guys! Fight! Fight and kick these bastards' asses!"

Startling as it was for some of the nearby Loki familia to hear Raul of all people give a profanity-ridden speech, they, and the other adventurers, nonetheless cheered and began fighting all the harder.

Raul watched the counter-attack with a smile as his heart eased.

Yeah, we can do this.

Suddenly, he felt a kiss press into his cheek.

"You'll make an excellent captain someday," Anakitty beamed.

"Y-You think so?" he asked, getting a nod in return.

"Uh, guys?" They turned and saw a lightly blushing Lefiya standing a couple paces away. "This really isn't the time and place for that."

The two pulled apart and blushed.

"You're right," he admitted, "let's get back to the-"

A river of electricity shot over their heads and blasted the building above their heads.

"Look out!" Raul cried as he pushed Ana out of the way.

The debris fell upon him, crushing him under its weight.

"Raul!" Ana screamed as she rushed over to the pile of stone and brick.

She, Lefiya, and several other adventurers began to frantically pull debris off the downed Loki commander until, at last, Raul's filthy and bleeding face was revealed.

"Raul!" Ana cried.

"Let me," Lefiya jumped in as she began to chant.

Healing magic began to flow into the High Novice's body while the other adventurers watched on. This was still a battlefield however, and soon they were forced to take up positions around the young man and elven maiden as monsters attacked them with unrelenting fury.

"Die! Die you miserable bastards!" Ana screamed as tore monsters apart and tears slid down her cheeks.

At last, Lefiya's magic finished healing his wounds and Raul was able to sit up.

"Ugh," Raul groaned.

"Raul!" Ana immediately stopped fighting and wrapped her arms around him.

"I'm alright," he swore as he hugged her back.

"Aaaaaaaah!"

The adventurers all spun around as they watched as dark draconic magic tore through their allies and defenses like they were all made of paper.

"That thing is going to destroy the whole city!" one of the adventurers cried.

"The high levels will take care of it!" another tried to reassure.

"They can't even reach it! Look!" another pointed towards the sky.

They're right. It doesn't matter how many lesser monsters we destroy, if we can't take that thing out, we're doomed, Raul realized.

"Raaaaaaaaaaa!"

They all turned and saw the horde rushing towards them once again, their monstrous eyes filled with hunger and bloodlust.

But that doesn't mean we can stop fighting, the young adventurer thought as he got up, sword in hand.

"We have to keep fighting. The city can be rebuilt. Its towers and walls made stronger, but if we don't stop those monsters, there won't be anyone to live in these walls."

The others, though still utterly terrified, nodded and took their places next to him.

"We're with you, Raul," Ana promised.

"And I with all of you," he replied as the monsters drew nearer.

"AWOOOOOOOOOO!"

The howl echoed over the battlefield, freezing mortal and monster alike.

Bete?

Raul turned towards the source and found someone who was definitely not Bete.

The woman stood on top of the ruined gatehouse, her head raised high as her howl echoed through the city. The first thing anyone noticed was how utterly massive she was. Easily taller than either Achilles or Ottar, she seemed almost like a tower herself, especially with her rippling muscles, which she was evidently happy to display given the sheer amount of tanned skin they could all see. Her white hair, or was it fur, billowed in the whipping winds in a wild, but alluring manner.

The giant woman finally stopped howling and turned her glaring eyes at the monsters below before, with a growl, she descended upon them.

The monsters stood no chance as the giant werewolf tore through them.

She was not the only one though, for not two moments later, several other adventurers, all clad in dark clothes, appeared on top of the walls then joined the battle alongside the wild woman.

Who are these guys? Raul wondered.

Suddenly, a slash of magic white magic shot past Raul and the others and destroyed the monsters before them.

Spinning around, they were all shocked to see the Knight of Knights himself and his knights standing at the ready.

"Send these vile creatures back to the abyss from which they originated," Lancelot ordered.

"For the people!" a knight cried, earning a cheer from his comrades as they all charged.

"Don't look so shocked, boy," Lancelot said to Raul, even as his eyes focused on his knights, "my goal has always been to protect the innocents, wherever they are. I will not stand by as women, children, and decent men are under threat from monsters."

"T-Thank you," Raul said.

"Of course. Now, we should get back into the fight before Cerberus's battle rage gets completely out of control."

With that, Lancelot, gleaming sword in hand, entered the fray, where he would remind everyone what a real knight could do.

Raul's hands tightened around his sword.

"You heard him guys, let's save our city."

---

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Bell and Eina watched in horror as the dragon unleashed its fury upon the city, destroying building after building, neighborhood after neighborhood, life after life.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOORAAAAAAAAAA!" Bell roared as Wrath of the Dragon activated.

His scales appeared almost instantly as did his claws. His horns projected back from his temples like impaling stakes as his tail swung behind him. Finally, his long, bone white wings tore from his back and flapped with unrivaled strength and killer intent.

"B-Bell."

He turned his blood-red eyes and found Eina's terrified face.

Instantly, a regret so deep it practically crushed his heart overwhelmed him and his wings, tail, and head all shrank.

"I-I'm sorry."

Eina, realizing what she had unintentionally done and feeling her own heart squeeze at the sight of the man she loved brought so low by her, immediately rushed to him.

"You have nothing to apologize for!" she cried, cupping his scaled cheek and raising his head so she could meet his eyes. "You're angry; so am I! This," she turned to see the ongoing destruction, "is horrible. And I want it to stop. But I can't do anything to stop. However you can, Bell. You can. So please. For me. For you. For all of us. Stop that thing."

Wide-eyed but his heart warmed by her words, Bell stared into her emerald eyes for a moment before smiling.

"I will. I promise."

Before he even realized what he was doing, he leant over and kissed her cheek before turning back to Tiamat.

"Get back inside, I'll handle Tiamat," he assured her before taking to the air, making sure not to hurt the half-elf in the process. Not that anything could really hurt her at that moment.

Eina touched her cheek, not believing what had just happened even as her heart thundered.

Oh my, a blush rose in her cheeks. Oh my. I'm even more head over heels for him than I thought.

---

Tiamat blasted away at the city relentlessly, turning more and more of the proud settlement into ash and ruin.

Die you arrogant insects. You pigs to the slaughter! DIE!

She gathered up magic in all five of her mouths, intent on raining down one grand attack upon the city and all its residents.

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAR!"

Her heads barely had time to turn before the body of a white dragon slammed into her side, sending waves of pain through her body and breaking her focus enough for her to unleash her magic.

Her magic flew in five separate directions, three towards the nearby mountains, one towards the sea, and another towards the plains outside Orario. Wherever they landed, they exploded with horrifying force, yet did no damage to Orario or the people within.

The white dragon did not stop its attack and began plunging its blades into her side, spilling even more of her blood and sending more pain shooting through her nerves.

Agonized and enraged, Tiamat grabbed the beast and pulled it to her heads as she squeezed it with all her might.

Wait, her eyes widened as she realized who she was holding.

She took in Bell's draconic form with stunned awe, her ten eyes tracing his features almost as if she was in a trance.

He's even more magnificent than I thought. My king will be so pleased to see how he's developed.

---

Bell growled as he stared up at the dragon who, for some reason, was no longer squeezing him but merely staring at him.

Well, I'm not going to waste this opportunity!

Gathering up magic in his maw, he suddenly blasted her straight in the face of her lightning head, startling her into loosing her grip even further. He quickly forced open her claws then used them to launch at her shadow head, stabbing her directly in the right eye.

Tiamat screamed in pain and shook him off. He fell for a few moments, but managed to correct himself with his wings and shot back towards her.

So he can fly, Tiamat thought, upset by the lost eye, but still impressed. Very well, let's see how well you can fly, my prince.

Despite Bell's great speed and Tiamat's great size, the elder dragon managed to gracefully dodge his attack, causing him to overshoot her. With his back now presented to her, she shot her shadow magic at his back, making him cry out and stumbled through the air before he managed to correct himself and shoot back up towards her.

She smiled and flew higher, easily dodging his clumsy attempts at attacking her, occasionally sending counter-attacks, almost all of which hit, until they were above the clouds.

Once more, Bell flapped his wings as hard as he could as he aimed to bring down the dragon who had destroyed his city, yet once more, he missed as she flew out of the way, only this time, she immediately charged him and grabbed him in two of her paws, squeezing hard enough to make sure he could not escape.

"You have done well, hatchling, but you still have much to learn," she stated.

"You can speak too?" Bell questioned, not truly surprised, but still feeling the need to ask the question.

"Indeed I can. I am Tiamat, Herald of the great Black Dragon, Chaos, and Queen of the Skies. I am so very pleased to meet you, my prince," she announced as she bowed her heads.

"Prince?"

"Yes, why do you seem so surprised? Given who your father is, you cannot be surprised by such a title."

"My father?" Bell questioned as shock mixed with his great confusion.

Before he could delve any deeper, Tiamat sensed a great power suddenly rising at startling speed and heading straight for them.

She turned four of her heads down only to be blinded as Achilles, clad in his Call of Heroes spell, his heavenly wings shining like the sun, rose towards them like an avenging god.

"Let go of my son!" the father boomed like thunder before he cut off one of the limbs that was holding Bell.

"ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!" Tiamat screamed with all her heads.

Bell began to fall back down to earth as he was now stuck in the severed hand, alarming the Father On High.

"Bell!"

The father shot back down, passing right by Tiamat who, though in pain, turned her glaring eyes towards her maiming foe.

"You dare call him your son? I shall drink your blood and use your bones as toothpicks for the arrogance and sins you have shown this day," she snarled.

Achilles continued flying down as fast as he could and he was nearly to Bell, who had freed himself from the dragon's claws, when all five of Tiamat's attacks smashed into the ex-captain's back, sending him tumbling down to the world below.

"Dad!" Bell cried, unfolding his wings in order to rescue him, when Tiamat spoke again.

"He is not your father!" she roared. "He is an insect! A worm! A mere mortal whereas you and your father are so much more! Come with me my prince and you shall meet your true father!"

Bell, eyes afire and blood boiling, snarled.

"He is my true father!" he roared back before launching himself back at the Herald.

Tiamat, enraged at the response, met him in the middle, their bodies crashing against each other with such force that a burst of of wind parted the clouds revealing the city below.

Over and over they slammed into each other, Bell attempting to tear open her scales and Tiamat attempting to capture him in her remaining claws.

"Do you not know what you are?! What your purpose is?!" Tiamat questioned as she fired spell after spell at him.

Bell flew around the attacks and tried again to slash open the dragon's tough hide, only for her to fly out of range.

"I am Bell Cranel! Captain of the Hestia familia! Lover of Ais Wallenstein! Son of Achilles Caesar!"

"FOOLISH BOY!" Tiamat screamed before she spun her body around and slammed her tail upon Bell with all her might.

Bell's scales and bones broke under the tremendous blow and blood spewed from his mouth before he shot back down to the earth below.

---

Down in the city, the adventurers were finishing off the last of the lesser monsters.

"This is the last time Lili ever faces a horde of monsters! Do you hear me! The last time!" the prum vowed.

"I think I speak for all of us, Lili-dono, when I say I fully agree to that," Mikoto readily conceded as she leaned against her sword.

The other adventurers, those being the Hestia, Mania, Miach, and Take familias, all nodded as well.

"Well, at least we got some help at the end," Welf said as he turned towards the giant werewolf and black-clad adventurers.

"I still can't believe a woman that big exists, even in the Hades familia," Daphne commented. "I mean, she makes even Ottar look puny."

"True, but I can't say I'm not happy that she was on our side," Ouka stated, getting another round of nods.

Distant booms caught all their attention and they all began to look around, wondering if they had missed some monsters, but after a few more booms, they realized that they were coming from above.

All eyes turned towards the sky and though they could not see anything, the booms continued until, at last, a giant figure appeared through the clouds.

"There it is!" the giant woman named Cerberus snarled looking like she was somehow going to chase after the flying creature.

"But what is it doing?" Chigusa asked.

"It looks like it's fighting something," Aisha answered.

A feeling of dread filled them as they knew who was the most likely candidate for such a battle.

Suddenly, the dragon flipped and one final boom echoed over the city as a small figure shot towards the ground.

"Bell!" Haruhime screamed.

---

Bell did not know how long he was falling, for he and Tiamat had risen high above the city during their fight, but upon seeing the rapidly approaching city below him, he fought through the pain and opened his wings.

"Ah!" he cried as pain shot through his outstretched limbs, but he bit his lips and held his wings open, slowing himself enough to spin around.

I can't fly, but I can at least glide to a semi-safe landing, he thought.

He focused on the one building he could trust to be flat and wide enough for such a landing. The Tower of Babel.

Using his wings as best as he could, even as his blood flowed out of his wounds, he glided towards the top of the Tower.

Come on. Come on. Come ON!

He raised his arms just before crash landing into the top of the Tower. His scales broke off and his wings shattered and turned to ash as he rolled to a stop.

"Ugh," he groaned as every inch and corner of his body screamed in pain.

Get up. Come on. Get up.

Slowly, the young captain rose up until he was finally upon his feet again.

"Okay. Now I need to find the others and regroup. I clearly can't take on Tiamat by myself."

With this in mind, he dragged himself to the northern edge of the Tower and looked out. What he saw, turned his blood to ice.

Everywhere he looked, Orario was on fire, or covered in ice, or poison, or simply in ruin.

"How," tears streamed down his face as his draconic features returned, more terrible than before, "dare you do this. I will destroy you, Tiamat."

I can't let my wrath rule me.

He froze.

But…look at what she's done, he tried to respond.

And it's alright to be angry. To fight back, but I can't let it rule me. I don't want to be the White Dragon, his conscience reminded him.

Then what should I do? I'll need Wrath of the Dragon to fight her.

You'll need all your power to fight her, Wrath of the Dragon isn't enough. But in order to gather all your strength you need to calm down. Picture the flame, just like Mania said. Let its warmth fill you. Remind you that the world isn't all rage and darkness.

Bell took a deep breath and pictured the flame. He watched it flicker in his mind and remembered its warmth, the warmth of his friends and family.

That's it. Now summon all your strength, but focus it all on her.

Bell opened his eyes and turned his gaze to the slowly descending Herald.

His body began to glow with gold and light as bells began to ring.

---

Ungrateful child, I will have to discipline you our way to your father, Tiamat thought as she descended.

RING

What?

Her eyes turned to the Tower and found something glowing on top of it.

There you are, but what is happening to you?

RING

Confused as she was, Tiamat moved towards the Tower.

RING

RING

RING

RING

She floated down so that she was before Bell, taking all of him in.

The golden power from before was back, as were his scales and horns, but now bright white light shined from his skin as particles of light floated around him.

RING

RING

"It appears you have more tricks than I suspected, hatchling, but it will not be enough. I am taking you to your father now."

"No," he responded, "I am staying right here where I belong."

She growled.

"You seem quite resolved to disobey your father and I. Shall we test that resolve?"

"Let's."

Tiamat raised her fire, lightning, and ice heads as Bell gathered all three of his powers.

Then, as if a signal had been given, they fired upon each other.

---

"Rye, get back here!" Maria cried desperately.

"Bell needs us to cheer him on, just like with the minotaur!" the boy cried back as he climbed to the top of the church tower.

He finally reached the top and looked out on the city.

The boy froze as the sight of fire, smoke, and destruction filled every corner of his gaze.

"W-W-What?"

"Rye!" Maria grabbed onto the boy, initially hoping to pull him back downstairs, but she too found herself frozen at the terrible sight before her.

"W-Where's Bell? H-He promised to stop the monster," Rye said as his voice shook.

"I-I'm sure he's trying. Now come inside where it's safe."

Rye would have let her bring him back inside if not for a familiar ringing.

RING

RING

RING

RING

"There he is!" Rye cried, pointing towards the Tower of Babel.

He was right of course, but Maria was far more focused on the giant dragon that floated before the Tower.

"Rye, we need to get back inside now," she tried desperately, pulling the boy as hard as she could without hurting him.

"No! He needs us to cheer him on! Come on Bell, you can do it!"

"He'll be fine, Rye! Now please, come back-!"

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

"Ah!" Rye and Maria screamed as they were flung across the church tower, the woman wrapping her arms around the boy.

"W-W-What's going on?!" he cried as wind and magic continued to blow past them.

Maria could not answer, but to her, it felt like the end of the world.

---

Bell's triple combination crashed against Tiamat's triple breath, sending a near solid wall of magic power shooting across the entire city, shattering windows, sending debris flying, and even shaking the very Tower itself.

To Tiamat's shock, she found that his attack was quickly overpowering her own, despite using three heads.

Impressive, my prince, she begrudgingly admitted, but unfortunately for you, this isn't the sum total of my power.

Her poisonous maw opened and joined the three other heads in resisting his attack.

It did succeed in grinding Bell's attack to a halt, but did not turn the tide to her favor.

You truly are my king's son to hold back four of my heads, hatchling, however, she raised her shadow head and unleashed a torrent of shadow.

Bell's triple attack began to lose ground the moment the shadow breath was added and no matter how hard he tried, he could not regain the initiative. Soon, Tiamat's cruel powers began to lick at his body, inflicting pain and dread upon him.

I…can't…give up, he groaned internally as he tried to fight back, only to lose even more ground as all five of her breaths began to wash over him.

I'm…going to lose, he realized, a profound sense of failure gripping his heart as his eyes closed in shame.

"Do you know why heroes always win, Bell?"

His eyes shot open.

"Because they're really strong!" his past self replied with a big smile.

"Nope. In fact, some of them were quite weak in turns of strength, speed, and power," Zeus replied. "No, the reason they always win is because they always, ALWAYS, give their all. No matter the situation. Whether it's saving a princess or fighting a dragon they always give it everything they have. You see Bell, when someone gives a challenge everything they have, they win. Always. Because so few people are actually willing to give it their all. They get tired or hungry or are too worried about gold or their own lives to give a fight everything they have. But not heroes. They fight through their gripes and their fear and give their all. That's why they always win, no matter the situation."

"Okay grandpa, I understand! When I grow up, I'll give everything my all!"

"Haha, that's my boy."

Give it my all, Bell repeated himself as his eyes turned back to his enemy.

---

Almost there, Tiamat thought as she prepared to swoop in and capture her prize.

Then, before she could even fathom what was going on, the tide not only turned, but she found all five of her heads being pushed back as power surged from the adventurer before her.

WHAT?!

Bell's triple attack smashed through her breaths and crashed into her, sending her stumbling back.

After righting herself, she turned all her remaining eyes to Bell and was shocked at what she saw.

White scales broke from Bell's body and his horns, wings, and tail disintegrated. His body had lost all its fat, indeed, he looked positively emaciated, as if he had been starving for months. Yet, weak as he looked, exhausted as he clearly was, he looked up at the dragon with the most triumphant smile imaginable.

"What…what are you?" she asked.

She would never receive an answer as Ais, Ottar, Uriel, and Gareth suddenly appeared behind her heads and cut off every single one besides her fire breathing one.

Before she could even scream with her one remaining voice, Achilles, Finn, Mia, Bete, Tione, Tiona, Tsubaki, and Galadriel all jumped upon her body, slicing, piercing, and crushing her body to bits.

Tiamat fell from the sky as Bell watched.

"I'm just someone willing to give his everything," he said before he collapsed.

---

The moment Tiamat's body crashed into the ground at the foot of the great tower, Achilles raised his sword above his head and summoned his lightning. It shot down into his blade, washing the plaza with pale blue light before he spun it around and plunged it into Tiamat's heart.

"And. Stay. Down," he growled as he twisted the blade.

Tiamat, her remaining two eyes wide and blood flowing between her fangs, tried to reach her claws out, hoping to strike down the accursed adventurer. However, the other adventurers pinned her limb to the ground, denying her some level of revenge.

I am sorry, my king, I have failed you.

Thus, with that final thought, Tiamat, Herald of the One-Eyed Black Dragon, Queen of the Skies, burst into dust, leaving behind her one remaining skull and her glowing heart as trophies for the victorious adventurers.

With the monster finally dead, most of the adventurers collapsed in exhaustion and relief. Achilles was not one of them.

"Bell!" He activated his Lightning Steps and used them to run straight up the Tower, Ais and Uriel not far behind.

The worried father landed on the roof of Babel and immediately found his son face down on the stone.

"No no no!" he cried as he rushed over.

He picked Bell up as gently as possible, terrified by the state the young man was in, as were Ais and Uriel when they arrived.

"I need a potion!"

Uriel quickly pulled out a health and mana potion, which Achilles then gave to Bell.

The boy swallowed, to their immense relief and, after a few moments, his eyes flickered open and, seeing who was before him, he smiled.

"Good job guys," he croaked.

The three laughed, tears of relief and joy pricking at their eyes.

"Good job yourself," Achilles replied as he gently picked up his son and headed for the elevator.

---

Hm, pity, Chaos thought as he opened his eye. I actually thought you might pull it off, Tiamat, but I suppose I asked too much. Even so, it was a remarkable show and, he smiled, I am glad to see that my son continues to grow stronger.

---

End.

I'm so sorry this chapter took so long to get out guys, a mix of writer's block, general brain fog, multiple projects, work, and having to look for a new apartment (mine is raising the rent, fun right?) has utterly destroyed motivation and time for me this last month. I know I say this a lot, but I'll try to be better in the future and I hope you'll be forgiving towards me.

Anyway, that concludes this monster of a chapter. Not my biggest but still a doozy of a chapter. I certainly hope you guys enjoyed it. I know that the first part isn't the cool fight you were expecting, but I wanted to finally get around to updating everyone's statuses and show where, in general, they are. I hope you can forgive me for not going into too much detail, outside of Bell, that just seemed like it would take too long for an already loooooooooooong chapter.

With all that said though, please do share your thoughts with me. If you enjoyed it and would like to support me, please go to my profile where the links to my book and my SubscribeStar are located. Any support you guys show is greatly appreciated and gets me one step closer to me fulfilling my dream of being a full-time writer. Thank you.

Okay, well, it's that time again guys, so I hope you all have a wonderful say and I'll see you all next time. Bye for now.