Hello peeps and welcome back.

So Bell and Ryuu have descended deep into the Dungeon, much like they did in the original series. However, though they are stronger than their original counterparts were in this situation, they face different and much stronger enemies who are even more determined to defeat or destroy them. Even so, neither Bell nor Ryuu is about to leave until the Juggernaut is destroyed and so they must continue their descent, even as their friends and loved ones rush to find them. Meanwhile the Juggernaut is licking its wounds and growing stronger. Soon, it will be strong enough to challenge "Typhon" once more and bring the traitor to its masters. Who will succeed? Who will fall? Let's find out.

I do not own Danmachi

"Phah!" Ryuu gasped as she finally managed to get her head above the bone-chilling water. "Ha…ha," she breathed deeply as she pulled Bell's unconscious body above the water. "I've got you…Bell…I've got you," she swore before she began to swim to the shore, not letting the rampaging waves or her injuries stop her.

Almost there. Almost there, she repeated in her head as she dragged herself and her unconscious captain closer and closer to the shore until, finally, she touched dry land and pulled herself and Bell out of the water.

"Ha…ha…ha," she filled her burning lungs with air until she could finally breathe steadily. Once she could, she turned towards the still unconscious Bell. She took in the sight of his pierced armor, and torn clothes, blood-soaked clothing.

She audibly gulped as she forced the bile climbing her throat back down before she slowly reached out her hand towards him, only to suddenly freeze.

What if he really is…

"No!" she cried. "He used the same magic he used against Tiamat. He wouldn't have been able to do that if he was dead."

But his injuries. He shouldn't have been using such strong magic after what the Juggernaut did to him.

"No no no! He can't be dead! I won't allow it!" she screamed, forcing aside the terrible thoughts as she reached out again, ignoring the way her hand continued to shake as it slowly approached the bloody clothes.

Her hand paused again, causing Ryuu to growl at herself and force her reluctant hand to grab the clothes and pull them back. To her surprise and immeasurable relief, she discovered that the wounds had closed.

The mermaid, she realized as she sent a silent word of thanks to the Xenos.

Slowly, her heart steadied, but even so, she had to take several deep breaths before she could finally reach out and check his pulse just to be sure that he was alright.

The steady beating sent a wave of relieved euphoria through every inch of her body.

"Thank Heaven. Thank Heaven," she whispered.

Unable to stop herself and unable to care at the moment, she wrapped her arms around Bell and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Thank Heaven. Thank Heaven you're still with me.

She let herself be happy that her captain was alive for a few, wonderful moments, before she finally remembered where she was and began looking around in all directions.

There was no sign of the expedition, the Juggernaut, or any other monsters, for that matter.

But that could change at any moment.

Gathering herself, Ryuu picked up Bell and gently carried him towards a crevice in the Dungeon wall where she set him down. She then gathered a flint and some fuel she always carried on her and started a small, but much appreciated flame.

I don't know how far we fell, but, she turned back to Bell, I will protect you and get you home safely, even if we've fallen to the very bottom of the Dungeon.

"If you were anyone else, girl, I'd flay you for what you've done," Alfia stated icily.

"I guess I should be glad I'm me then," Alise replied, doing her best to smile. The glare she received from the sorceress immediately told her just how stupid it was to joke at that moment.

"We can discuss punishments later, right now we need to focus on finding Bell and Ryuu before the Juggernaut does," Achilles pressed, receiving affirmative nods from many of those around him.

"You, Alfia, Galadriel, and I can rush on ahead and find them while the expedition continues its mission against the Juggernaut," Ottar suggested.

"No," Finn stated firmly, startling a few people around him. "Something's happening in the Dungeon right now and whatever it is, is causing my thumb to throb like crazy," as if to prove this point, the prum bit the finger. "Something tells me that things are about to get a lot harder for all of us, as such, we need to be prepared for anything. That means sticking together, no matter what."

"Bell Cranel's safety is my Lady's top priority and therefore it is also mine," the boaz threw back.

"And how can you ensure his safety if you're injured, maimed, or killed?" the Braver asked.

The other members of the Freya familia bristled at this, but not Ottar. He knew Finn. He knew that he wasn't a fool and would never underestimate an opponent, especially not the captain to his rival familia.

Which means something is very wrong.

"Very well. We shall stick together, but if the choice is between saving Bell Cranel and destroying the Juggernaut, my choice will always be with my Lady," Ottar stated.

"I wouldn't expect it any other way, and it's not like you're alone in that position," Finn turned his eyes to Achilles and Alfia, "hell, I'll even put Bell and Ryuu's rescue as the top priority just so I don't have to waste time chastising my own familia," he turned to Ais and Tiona, the latter of whom smiled with a shrug, while the former look ready to rush off down the Dungeon all by herself, with only Gareth's strong hand seeming to restrain her.

"Then we should be off. The sooner we find them and destroy the Juggernaut the sooner we get home and the less likely we are to earn the ire of Freya or Mania-sama," Galadriel attempted to joke, hoping to pull Alfia out of the rage and fear she knew her surrogate sister was feeling.

Unfortunately Alfia remained completely unamused and ill-at-ease. She was not alone in this for the entire expedition had lost its sense of humor. Everyone knew full-well how serious the situation was and that they needed to act quickly, not only to complete their mission, but to overcome whatever new and likely terrible wild card had been awakened within the Dungeon .

"Let's move out!" Finn ordered.

The expedition gathered and continued their descent. They were all, to some extent, disheveled and alarmed by recent events, the Juggernaut alone being enough to unease even the greatest veterans. However, despite their shared anxiety, they were all determined to find their comrades, destroy their target, and overcome whatever the Great Labyrinth could throw at them.

They would need that determination for what they were soon to face.

The sound of crackling slowly brought Bell back to the world and his ruby eyes slowly fluttered open.

Where…?

Even in his disheveled state, he recognized the dark walls of the Dungeon, which prompted a flush of memories to pass through his mind, causing his body to tense.

His hand slowly moved towards his knife which, thankfully, was once more strapped to his side.

Wait? Wasn't I holding it?

He turned his head and found Ryuu stroking the fire that had returned him to consciousness.

Thank goodness, she's alright, he thought before slowly rising up.

The sound of his shifting immediately caught Ryuu's attention and she spun around.

"Bell!"

She rushed to his side and began to inspect him, ensuring herself that his healed injuries hadn't somehow reopened. Finding that they hadn't, she sighed in relief.

"I'm alright," Bell assured her as shifted to face her fully. "Where are we?"

"Somewhere on the middle floors, though it's impossible for me to say given I don't know how far we've fallen. If I had to guess, I would say the middle 30s."

Bell nodded.

"Has there been any sign of the Juggernaut?"

She shook her head.

"No. I didn't dare leave your side for too long, but from what little I've explored, there's no sign of it, but that could change at any moment, even with its injuries."

Bell nodded again.

"Then we need to be prepared."

"You can't mean to go after it?" Ryuu questioned in shock and trepidation.

"Of course I mean to go after it. My sin won't be washed away until it's destroyed and," he stopped as he remembered the dark figures, the torture they inflicted upon them, and their demands.

I have to learn more, and the Juggernaut is connected to them somehow. Even if it can't tell me anything, I have to destroy it to prevent those…things…from being freed.

"Bell?" Ryuu called, worried when he'd suddenly fallen silent.

He blinked and shook his head.

"Sorry, I just…got lost in thought," he took a breath then steeled his resolve. "I'm going after the Juggernaut, no matter what. I won't blame you though if you want to return to the surface."

Ryuu's eyes narrowed before she chopped his head. Hard.

"Do you really think that I'm going to abandon you down here to face the monster that destroyed my familia?" she demanded, baring her teeth to show her absolute contempt of the idea.

Bell rubbed his head, sighed, then shook his head.

"No. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have even suggested it."

"No you shouldn't have," she confirmed firmly. "If you're staying, so am I. I want to destroy the Juggernaut too, more than you know, but," her fury suddenly fell away as worry filled her eyes, "not at the cost of losing you."

The tender way she said this was not missed by Bell who stared into her blue eyes for a few seconds as a blush arose on his cheeks. He quickly cleared his throat and looked away.

"W-Well…if we're going after the Juggernaut, we should probably get some rest."

Ryuu nodded and it was only at that moment that she realized how cold and wet she was.

"We're both soaking wet. We can't stay in these clothes or else we'll risk getting sick," she stated.

"Um…what do you suggest then?" Bell questioned.

Ryuu's cheeks began to burn. Without a word, she stood up and began to undress.

"R-Ryuu?!"

"We can't stay in these wet clothes, Bell!" she quickly reiterated. "If we're to stay warm, we have to stay dry. There's nothing wrong or s-sexual about this. It's purely survival," she stated as calmly as she could before she continued her slow removal of her clothes.

Bell, for his part, was too dumbstruck to even turn away and, instead, simply kept watching her undress.

She has beautiful skin, he thought as her pale, silky flesh was revealed to him. He watched as a droplet of water descended to down her back until it reached her shapely rear. It was only then that he realized what he was doing and turned away, punching himself in the face for good measure. How could I look at her like that?! How could I think that? I love Ais! Despite his berating, his head soon filled with images of Haruhime and now…Ryuu, all three golden beauties tormenting his mind and pulling at his heart until, at last, he shook his head and forced himself to begin removing his clothes.

When he'd at last, removed everything, he took perhaps the biggest breath he'd ever taken in his life and turned around.

He froze.

There was Ryuu, standing naked before him. The only thing saving her modesty was her arm across her chest and her hand covering her maidenhood. However, this only made her more alluring and more beautiful as it, alongside the radiant blush, added an aura of innocence that both pulled at his heart and filled him with the desire to claim her.

Mine, the draconic part of himself growled.

"S-Stop staring," Ryuu commanded shyly.

Bell immediately jumped then turned around, berating his inner lizard while trying to calm his...other lizard.

"I-I'm sorry," he whispered, still too stunned to muster his voice.

"It's fine just…lay behind me."

Bell turned again and found Ryuu laying near the fire, her back to him.

Swallowing, Bell slowly moved over to her and laid down behind her, making sure not to touch her.

"We need to share body warmth if we're to stay warm like this," Ryuu told him.

He was about to argue with her when he saw the tips of her ears turn so red that they seemed to shine in the dark.

This is difficult for her too, he realized. With another deep breath, he scooched closer and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Is this alright?" he asked.

"You can…hold me a bit tighter…if you want," she weakly replied.

He swallowed then pulled her tighter against him.

"Yeah…that's good," Ryuu whispered.

"Hold the line! Hold the line!" Finn ordered as he ran up and down the ranks as the sounds of battle echoed through the air.

Once more, the expedition had stalled as a wave of enraged monsters had come charging at them enmasse.

"I'm getting really fucking sick of this! We don't normally face this much resistance until the lower flower and even then, it's not this consistent!" Tione bellowed.

The only reason so many monsters would be fighting us is because their masters have commanded it, Achilles thought as a shiver crawled down his spine even as the heat of battle raged. What could the Titans want with Bell though?

"Lugio," Alfia chanted, blasting away another group of middle-ranked monsters. "It doesn't matter how many there are or how often they attack, we will destroy them and rescue Bell and Ryuu. Each second passed and each monster dealt with only increases their punishment."

"Less talking, more fighting!" Finn ordered as he skewered a small dragon.

Ais was more than happy to follow his command and tore through waves of monsters, desperate to get to Bell and enraged that these creatures dared to bar her way.

Get out of my way. Get out of my way! GET OUT OF MY WAY!

She roared, then charged through the ranks of monsters, obliterating hundreds of them in seconds while the rest of the expedition, suddenly free from attack, watched on in amazement.

Finally, after nearly five minutes of constant slaughter, Ais finished off the last of the monsters and returned to the expedition, exhausted but eyes ablaze.

"Let's go."

Finn looked her over, then sighed.

"No. We need to rest, you most of all."

Ais spun around to face him.

"We need to get to Bell!"

"Ais, we just fought several very protracted battles. Everyone's exhausted, including you. We need to rest, heal, and check our weapons."

Ais would have argued, but Gareth's hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"It's just a short break, Ais. To catch our breath. Right Finn?" the dwarf asked, turning to his captain.

Finn nodded.

"Of course. It's just a break. That's all," he confirmed, even as he silently redefined 'break' in his mind to mean a couple of hours.

"See? Come on, let's go sit down Ais," Gareth ushered, gently pulling the young woman away.

Achilles watched the two leave before approaching Finn.

"She's not wrong. We need to catch up with Bell as soon as possible."

"The expedition needs to rest, Achilles. You've seen what we're up against. Not all of us have your endurance," the Loki captain replied tiredly.

"Finn." The serious way Achilles said his name made the prum look up into the ex-captain's eyes, and he wasn't the only one as Alfia and Galadriel turned to him. "We need to get to Bell. This isn't just the father talking, this is the former captain of the Zeus familia whose telling you something of the utmost importance. The masters of the Dungeon want Bell for some reason and we cannot, under any circumstances, let them have him."

"Masters of the Dungeon?" Finn asked, before realizing something. "The voices."

Achilles nodded.

"That was them. I can't tell you more, at least not without breaking your view of the world, but I can assure you that if those voices get Bell for whatever purpose they have for him, it will not end well for any of us."

Finn nodded.

"The expedition still needs to rest, but I can spare a few of our people to get a message to the surface to ask for reinforcements."

"Send it. Get as many as you can muster. Your entire familia. My familia. Our allies. Hell, demand that Ouranos send more adventurers, in this case, I'm sure he won't deny us."

"Ouranos knows who the voices are?" Finn asked as Alfia and Galadriel drew closer.

"Oh yes, he knows them very very well," Achilles answered. As well as any father can know his children.

Gareth led Ais off somewhere quiet then sat down with her.

"Alright Ais, I think I know you well enough to know you've got more on your mind than just Bell, so tell me what's going on."

Ais said nothing for a moment, though Gareth could see her hand tightening around her sword.

"I'm too weak, Gareth. I failed to save Bell twice now. Once with Revis and now with the Juggernaut," her eyes filled with tears. "He…he nearly…died again. The Juggernaut's claws-" she covered her mouth to hold back the bile, but could not hold back her tears. "I'm so weak, Gareth! And I hate it! I hate it so much! I want to get stronger. I need to get stronger! Whether it's by spending night and day in the Dungeon or training with Achilles and Lancelot-"

"Lancelot?"

Ais froze before her shoulders slumped. She was too exhausted to hide anything at the moment even if she thought she could lie her way out of the situation, which she didn't.

"He offered to train me. He said that, in terms of swordsmanship, he was better than Achilles and thus could help me in a way that Achilles couldn't."

"Quite arrogant of him," Gareth noted. Ais sighed and prepared for the lecture. "But not necessarily wrong."

Ais blinked.

"What?"

"Lancelot is a better swordsman than Achilles, as he should be since he specialized in that style of fighting. Achilles has always been an exceptional swordsman, but he's a sword-mage, and one with a flare for doing the unexpected, that's part of what makes him such a great captain and terrible foe. Achilles has always had a diverse style that incorporates whatever he needs for a given situation into the fight. That makes him dangerous and unpredictable, but necessarily means he never focused as much on his swordsmanship as someone of equal rank and near complete focus on that skill," Gareth explained.

"So…Lancelot has a point?" she asked.

"He does. He's an annoying prick, but he's an annoying prick with a point. You could learn a great deal from him."

Ais blinked again.

"You're…not upset about him offering to train me?"

"Oh I'm upset. Sneaking bastard is obviously planning something, but the very idea of training with him is not, by itself, bad, as long as you're careful. The Knight of Knights doesn't make an offer like that without reason. What that reason is, I can't say. However," he smiled gently at her, "if you want to train with him, you should. Heck, you've already trained with Ottar, so it's not like this is the first time you've trained with a foe, just promise me that you'll be careful and keep your eyes and ears open."

Ais was stunned silent for she never expected that anyone in her familia would not onlyl accept the idea of her training with Lancelot but actively encourage it. Gareth, for his part, chuckled at her shock, then got up and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Ais, I understand how you're feeling, at least to some extent. You don't just want to get stronger, you need to get stronger. To defeat the Dragon. To save Bell. And to free yourself from all these fears in your heart," he tapped the spot right over her heart. "I want you to be free of that fear. To be able to smile without restraint. If letting that puffed up pretty boy train you helps you get closer to that freedom, then I'm all for it," he held up a finger, "as long as you're careful."

For the first time in what seemed like years, Ais smiled and hugged Gareth.

"I will be. Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied, patting her back. "Now come on, we do need to rest and I've got some good jerky in my pack that I don't mind sharing."

Hades descended the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last.

What could Ouranos possibly be summoning me for? He wondered as his heart grew heavier. The Titans? Chaos? Bell? He paused on the stairs and sighed, realizing that speculation would only drive him mad. Whatever it is...it cannot be good.

"Hades!"

He turned at the bottom of the stairs and found Hestia, Mania, and Astraea approaching him.

"We saw the Guild messenger leaving? Did Ouranos summon you?" Mania asked.

"He did, though about what I'm not sure," he replied as coolly as he could.

Mania's eyes narrowed.

"You're lying."

He blinked and was about to question why she would say that, when he saw the stone-cold eyes of both Hestia and Astraea staring at him. Their suspicions are growing and if they grow too great, the truth may be revealed. I can't let that happen. He forced himself to remain outwardly calm though his anxieties and the intimidating glares of three goddesses did not make that easy.

"I am not lying. I don't know why Ouranos has asked for me. It could be for any number of reasons. Whatever the reason, I'm sure it's important, so if you'll excuse me."

He tried to walk away, but Mania stepped in front of him.

"You're hiding something from us," she growled.

"Mania, I'm not hiding anything, at least nothing that you need to concern yourself over," he tried to reassure her, though he added a bit of power behind his voice in an effort to force her off her current path.

"Then why did you visit Persephone?" the Goddess of Curses questioned. Hades's eyes widened in shock. Mania smiled triumphantly and tapped her nose. "I'd recognize her floral scent anywhere."

Hades was on the back foot for a moment as the other two goddesses surrounded him. They mean to compel an answer, he realized as he eyed them. However, he hadn't remained the God of the Dead by being so easily forced into compliance.

"I was attempting to reconcile with her and, I'm glad to say, we were at least partially successful," he replied calmly, though with some genuine relief.

"A half truth," Mania recognized as her eyes narrowed again. "I want all of it."

"There's no more truth to tell, Mania. Now, if you'll excuse me," he brushed past her.

He nearly made it to the door when a certain Goddess of the Hearth called out to him.

"It has something to do with Bell, doesn't it?" Hestia questioned.

Hades stopped, then slowly turned back to the three goddesses.

"I have only Bell's best interest at heart, Hestia. That is all I have to say and should be more than enough for you and Mania."

With that, he turned and left the Hearthfire Manor.

The three goddesses stared at the door, more anxious, upset, and desperate for answers than before.

"What do we do now? We can't actually force him to tell us the truth. Even your curses won't compel him," Astraea stated, looking at Mania.

"You're right, unfortunately," Mania agreed, "but I won't stand by while my family is being put into unknown danger."

"So what will you do?" Hestia asked.

"I'll call in my own reinforcements," Mania replied with a smile. "It's been too long since I've seen my dear Eris and Nemesis anyway."

Hades entered the long chamber with trepidation as his recent conversation with the three goddesses replayed in his head.

Things are getting out of control and I'm not sure I'll be able to pull them back, even with Persephone's help, he thought as he continued through the Guild.

The God of the Underworld entered Ourano's chamber and walked to the bottom of the Guild god's throne. He was about to ask the dreaded question of why he'd been summoned, when Ouranos's booming, but unmistakably worried voice rang out.

"My children have attempted to take Bell Cranel."

Hades's eyes widened.

"They…actively attempted to take him themselves?"

"Yes. They gathered as much of their power as they could within the Dungeon and attempted to capture him in the middle floors while their pet distracted the expedition. It was only through my and Gaia's efforts…as well as the personal strength of Cranel that they were prevented from seizing him," Ouranos stated. There was the tiniest hint of surprised amazement in his words, though any such amazement was quickly quashed by a deep-seated fear. "However, it appears your father is personally leading the attempts to take Cranel."

Hades's eyes widened.

"Kronos is involving himself?"

"Yes, though I suppose it shouldn't be much of a surprise, given that Bell Cranel is the key to their freedom."

Hades's fear grew, but only for a moment, before his shoulders slumped and he sighed.

"I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise that you figured it out, given everything. You know the power of the Titans better than anyone but grandmother and the Titans themselves."

"I do, but that does not mean I was not as shocked as you no doubt were. Shall I assume that Aria is his mother?" Ouranos inquired.

Hades nodded.

"She is. I contacted her, Zeus, and Hera recently. They confirmed everything, including Bell's parentage."

Silence fell upon the chamber as the two celestial beings stared at each other.

"We cannot allow my children to escape Tartarus. A second war amongst heavenly beings will lead to untold devastation upon Earth and in Heaven, and that's assuming we were victorious, which I am not confident we would be," Ouranos continued, only to pause again. "It took a united front amongst all the gods, the Hekatonkheires, and both my and Gaia's power to defeat them and banish them to Tartarus while also restraining both the mortals and their monster allies. The Hekatonkheires are now gone, destroyed by Chaos, who himself is so powerful that he tips the balance into the Titans favor."

"But the mortals are now on our side," Hades pointed out.

"They are, which may counterbalance against Chaos," Ouranos agreed, "but both Gaia and I are depleted from restraining our children, and you gods are not as united as you were when you claimed Heaven, meaning my children still have the advantage. Should the mortals also learn of the Treaty of Orarios then the advantage they present may also dwindle or even disintegrate."

Hades sighed again, but nodded, knowing that his grandfather spoke the truth.

"What would you have of me?"

"Send your familia after Bell Cranel. Prevent his capture by the Titans at any cost," Ouranos stated.

Hades did not miss the elder celestial's wording.

"You mean bring him back to the surface, correct?"

Ouranos stared down at his grandson with stone cold eyes.

"If possible. If, however, there is a risk that Bell Cranel will fall into Kronos's hands, he must be destroyed."

Hades's fire and ice eyes glowed as his power pulsed through the room.

"I will not kill my grand-nephew."

Ouranos did not even blink.

"If Bell is claimed by the Titans, not only will he surely suffer at their hands until he becomes the key to their freedom, in other words, their slave, but an untold amount of suffering and death will be unleashed upon the world. Our lives, the lives of the other deities, countless mortals lives, our familias, all will suffer and know loss should the Titans manage to capture Bell Cranel. You must kill him if rescue is impossible. For all our sake."

Hades glared at his grandfather for a long time, his divine wrath pouring from him in waves until, at last, he relented, the images of his ridiculous siblings and beloved wife and lover forefront in his mind.

"Very well."

End of chapter.