In the next few days that passed in Orario, a sense of normalcy returned after the disappearance of the Underworld Castle. Citizens experienced relief and peace, as no terrifying incidents occurred. However, a somber atmosphere enveloped a particular Familia, which appeared less lively and energetic.
The Hestia Familia remained secluded in their home for several days, raising concerns among fellow Familias. At the front gate of the Hearth Mansion, Takemikazuchi and Miach, along with their Familia members, gathered to check on the Hestia Familia.
"They've been there for how long now?" Takemikazuchi inquired.
"A week by now." Miach replied. "Something must be going on,"
"Hephaestus-sama is coming," Ouka informed Takemikazuchi, pointing to the approaching goddess of the forge.
Upon Hephaestus's arrival, she observed the lifeless Hearth Mansion and joined the conversation. "Hestia and her Familia haven't come out ever since?"
"Not even to buy groceries. Ever since the appearance and disappearance of the Kaiser Familia's Home, Hestia and her children haven't come out to meet any of us," Miach explained.
"We think that something bad might've happened," Takemikazuchi added.
"I see," Hephaestus nodded after absorbing the information. She then suggested, "Have any of you tried calling Hestia and the others?"
"We thought of just waiting for Hestia or anyone to come out," Miach replied. "but I believe we can't bother to wait since they've been staying in their home for almost a week,"
"I see." Hephaestus nodded before she turned to Takemikazuchi. "can your children go in and check on Hestia and the others? To see if they're home or not?"
"They can." Takemikazuchi said before he looks at Ouka and Chigusa who nodded to him before both swiftly entered the Hearth Mansion.
"While we wait for them to come back," Hephaestus said after watching how Ouka and Chigusa had jumped over the Fence. She looks at her fellow deities. "Any of you guys got any idea why they haven't been coming out?"
"Beats me." Takemikazuchi replied while shrugging his shoulders. "If Hestia and the others had gone out of the city, they would've told one of us, right?"
"I had assumed that Hestia was out somewhere with her Familia and had told you about it, Hephaestus. " Miach admitted before sighing. "But I guess I was wrong,"
"So, this means that Hestia and her Familia are out somewhere or they're just staying inside their home the whole time," Hephaestus concluded while cupping her chin.
At that moment, Ouka and Chigusa returned with worried expressions, prompting everyone to enter the Hearth Mansion. As they explored the Home, they find its' dimly lit interior, they discovered the Hestia Familia in the living room, their eyes red and expressions filled with sadness.
"Hestia? Welf? Everyone?" Hephaestus called out, receiving no response from Hestia, who sat balled up on the couch. The goddess of forge went to her friend and checks on her. "Hestia? What is wrong?"
However, Hestia remained unresponsive. The goddess of hearth just made mumbles that are incomprehensible and she then had a tearful outburst which shocked everyone, revealing the distress within the Hestia Familia.
Hephaestus and the others were left confused and concerned, prompting them to provide comfort and seek answers from their distressed friends.
Meanwhile, at the Underworld Castle, hidden within an invisible barrier and floating thousands of feet above Orario, Bell found himself in a large hot spring, enjoying a moment of bliss. Submerged in the warm water, he sighed contentedly, leaning against the tub's sides.
"Don't fall asleep in the bath, Bell," Polemos warned Bell while he along with Ploutos were taking a quick wash nearby. Both men displayed their scar-covered bodies, evidence of battles long past. "Ain't a good place to die drowning in."
"I know~" Bell replied, looking thoroughly relaxed.
"He turned into a slime," Ploutos chuckled, watching as Bell transformed into goo in relaxation. "Meteria was the same too, right?"
"She was," Polemos agreed while finishing his hair wash routine and standing up. "So was Alfia."
Draped in a towel to cover his modesty, Polemos joined Bell in the tub, followed by Ploutos, continuing their conversation. Bell had been staying with his newfound family for the past few days, learning about the Kaisers and seeking guidance from his father, Zagreus.
After the bath, Bell, feeling refreshed, strolled through the castle's halls. He encountered his father, Zagreus, walking toward the large gate at the end of the hallway.
"Dad!" Bell called out, running to Zagreus, who turned and welcomed his son with a hug.
Zagreus smiled a bit while patting Bell's head and stroking it affectionately.
After the brief reunion, Bell moved away as Zagreus waved him goodbye before heading toward the gate which brought him to the Lounging room where the other Kaisers are present.
"About time," Melinoe teased, sipping wine on a couch. "What took you so long?"
"Some things I needed to take care of," Zagreus replied, taking a seat at the center table. "Some important things."
"Just say that you had to tend your garden like always," Polemos added, sitting on a couch's armrest with crossed arms.
Ignoring his brother's comment, Zagreus tapped his finger twice on the table, and in an instant, the Kaisers disappeared, reappearing in a darkly lit chamber with eight thrones which each Kaiser taking a seat yet two thrones stayed vacant.
"Let us begin this meeting," Zagreus declared, sitting with folded hands
"What is there to begin with?" Polemos asks.
"first would be the matter of the sinners in Orario." Melinoe spoke out first as she is suggesting a radical proposal to eliminate the perceived sinners in Orario, starting anew for the sake of children like Bell. However, disagreements arose among the Kaisers about the ethics of such an extreme measure.
"as much as there's bad people in Orario now, there's still good people." Ploutos stated.
"even if there's only a few at the least and such." Thalia added in.
"Who supports Melinoe's proposal?" Zagreus asked and the notion was agreed by Thalia and Polemos who raised their hands. However, Ploutos and Makaria objected, resulting in a draw. "2 vs 2, a draw. Melinoe's proposal is withdrawn,"
"for goodness sake…." Thalia growls in frustration. "if we really wanted to bring back order in Orario, we just need to restart everything from scratch!" she then looks at Zagreus. "didn't you promise Meteria that you'll keep Bell safe? How is disagreeing with the best notion for his safety is ever going to bring it back, huh?"
"That matter is unrelated to the current matter." Zagreus stated before he turns and glares at Thalia with his eyes glowing menacingly. "and don't ever speak Meteria's name here. This is your only warning, Thalia."
"You've gone soft for her as always." Melinoe said with a glowing red single eye glare at Zagreus.
"enough." Ploutos called out as he put a foot down that made the entire chamber rumble for a moment. "All Kaisers must give a proposal on how we must deal with this matter. Do not oppose until all have given their voices. This means no bringing up sensitive emotional matters that can change such an outcome."
All the Kaisers looked at one another before they look to the front and just nodded their heads.
"good." Ploutos nodded while crossing his arms. "let's follow with the next course of this meeting."
"It is time to decide," Zagreus declared, his helmet reforming around his head as his eyes glowed menacingly. "Will Orario be given mercy or death?"
Back at the Hearth Mansion, Hephaestus and the others are with Hestia and her Familia as they managed to get them all to tell the group on what was going on with them.
"I see…" Takemikazuchi spoke out as he and the others look at Hestia and her Familia who were looking all sad and moody. "man… the Kaisers sure are brutal in everything."
"Especially the one who is Bell's own father." Miach added in with an unnerved face. "to think that Bell was the son of that Bloody Kaiser. This is completely unexpected."
"I thought that i was….doing the right thing…" Hestia muttered out as she wipes some tears against her right arm. "but i… I just hurt him instead!"
Hestia started to cry more as this made Chigusa and Naaza go and comfort her.
Miach and Takemikazuchi looks worried for Hestia as the two soon went to Hephaestus who is standing by the window while looking to be in deep mind.
"you got an idea on how to cheer Hestia up?" Takemikazuchi asked the goddess of smith.
"I don't think so." Hephaestus replied while shaking her head as she looks at her two fellow gods. "the fact that it was Zagreus himself who revealed the secret that Hestia and the others had on Bell is something we cannot deny but being the right thing to do." She then crosses her arms. "if he found out later than sooner, who knows how much of a heart break he would've had."
"but this was to make sure that Bell didn't get taken by any of the other gods, right?" Takemikazuchi added in with a hand raised to the side. "I mean, we all know how that child's personality is right?"
"that still doesn't mean that the others should've learned about it." Miach stated. "it was enough for Hestia to keep it a secret to herself, but Welf and the others should've not learned about it. knowing another adventurer's status is like knowing their very own weaknesses. This is a very dangerous and serious matter."
"then what should we do?" Takemikazuchi asked. "we can't just let Hestia and the others be like this forever."
"I don't know if we can do anything about this." Hephaestus replied while uncrossing her arms and place her hands on her waist. "Zagreus said that Hestia and the others aren't trustworthy. This means that he won't be allowing any kind of contact between Bell and them." She then tilts her head down and sigh. "if it was with any other Familia; we could help. But this is Zagreus and his Kaiser Familia we are talking about."
Takemikazuchi and Miach nods as the two sees her point.
Before the gods could continue to converse, there came the sound of heavy thunder roaring from outside.
"a storm?" Miach asked as Hephaestus went to the window and looks outside.
"not a storm." Hephaestus said as she sees the sky turning dark with black clouds that had countless flashes of lightning bolts raging around it. soon, she spots the Underworld Castle descending through the clouds while surrounded by bolts of lightning that flew everywhere. "the Kaisers have descended."
The Underworld Castle hovers at the northern east area of Orario as the citizens were in surprise and in fear to see it once again.
Many looks at the castle and saw it moving, all witness the Underworld Castle moving straight north of Orario.
The Loki Familia saw the Underworld Castle coming as this made many looked surprise and shocked.
"w-why is it coming here!?" Lefiya said in shock as she is at the front yard of her Home with a few other members of her Familia.
"I don't know, but I don't like it at all!" Tione stated as she takes a step back while looking at the Underworld Castle that soon came hovering above their own Home. "it's already right above us!"
"it's bigger up close~!" Tiona looks at the floating castle in amazement.
"This isn't the time to be amazed, Tiona!" Aki cried out.
Soon enough, the Loki Familia sees movement above as they soon saw someone falling straight off the Underworld Castle.
"someone is falling from up there!" Tiona exclaimed and everyone soon sees a black blur that came and crash within the Twilight Manor's front yard while causing dust to fly everywhere.
Everyone shielded their eyes as the dust blew out everywhere before it settles down a minute later to reveal Zagreus who is fully covered in his armor while down on one knee.
The Loki Familia looks at the Bloody Kaiser who soon rises and stands up straight while his eyes glows under his helmet's visor.
"K-Kaiser…." Lefiya stuttered out.
Zagreus stands and looks at the people before him while the other Kaisers came hovering down and stands at his side.
"Ensure that none enter nor exit until I say otherwise." Zagreus said as he glance his eyes at Makaria who draws out her Kaiser Blade and pointed the weapon to the Underworld Castle that began to let out loud rumbling noises.
The bottom of the Underworld Castle shakes before a large trap door open and a large, yet long pedestal came extending out.
The Pedestal has a large crystal glass like orb attached to its top. The orb started to glow white before it unleashed an energy pulse that creates a blueish white electrical energy barrier of a dome that grew and covers the entire area of the Twilight Manor.
"The heck is this?" Bete said as everyone looks at the barrier that now covers the sky from their sights.
While the Loki Familia's members were looking upon the barrier, Zagreus and the other Kaisers are walking to the Twilight Manor's front entrance.
The group heads straight for the front door where there are a few members standing around.
"move." Zagreus spoke out as his eyes glows. "or I will let Melinoe here give you all a reminder of what she can do to you fools in mere seconds."
They instantly look nervous and then frightened when Melinoe smirks and held up her right hand that she grips a few times to make bone popping noises.
Without a second of hesitation, they moved and make way for the Kaisers who continued walking and entered the Twilight Manor by destroying the front door with a magic blast from Zagreus.
The Loki Familia's members remained in their places as they couldn't do anything but stand with a dumb look on their faces.
Within the Loki Familia's Home, Loki is currently panicking as she is running around in Finn's office, making a huge mess everywhere.
"what to do?! What to do?!" Loki screams in a panicky voice while crying in tears. "the Kaisers are here! Zagreus Kaiser is here! What do they want?! What do they want~!?"
"panicking won't do you or us any help, Loki!" Riveria said as she looks concerned and worried with Finn and Gareth. "all we can do now is…"
"is what?! we can't do anything~!" Loki cried out while pulling on her hair. "they're the fricking Kaisers for crying out loud!"
Before long the door to the room was slammed open and caused Loki to scream in terror and fear then hides under Finn's office table.
"please don't kill me! please don't kill me!" Loki cried out as she hides shakingly.
Finn and the others turn towards the door and began to look nervous and frightened because Zagreus came walking in with the other Kaisers behind him.
Zagreus looks at the three executives of the Loki Familia as his eyes glows menacingly under his helmet's visor.
"do not let anyone in until I say otherwise." Zagreus said as his glowing eyes glance at Makaria. "Silence them if they so as much try to speak to you."
"in what way you want them to be silenced?" Melinoe stated as she raise her right hand and grips her fingers a few times, making loud bone popping noises.
"in the peaceful manner as possible." Zagreus replied in a stern voice at Melinoe before he turns his head to look at Makaria. "keep her in check."
"got it." the Mage Kaiser replied with a nod.
Zagreus nods back before he walks to a couch and sat down with Ploutos, Polemos, and Thalia standing behind while Melinoe and Makaria went outside, close the door, and stands guard in front of it.
"scram, maggots." The two female Kaisers turns and glared at a corner with murderous aura that made a bunch of Loki Familia members who are hiding in the hallway, to scram in fear.
Meanwhile inside the office room, a tense and silent atmosphere is present as Finn sat on the couch across from Zagreus while having a nervous and tensed look on his face. Riveria and Gareth are near the Pallum as they are standing behind the couch, both are looking just as nervous as the Braver because of meeting Zagreus and the other Kaisers who came barging in their own Home.
Loki is just hiding under Finn's office table as she is silently praying that she won't ever get harmed by the Bloody Kaiser.
"we don't intend to bring harm to you all." Ploutos said as he crosses his arms and looks at the trio executives. "we Kaisers have only come to this Home to have a conversation."
"a c-conversation?" Riveria whispered
"why did your Familia did it?" Thalia spoke out as the trio made a noise in response before they look in fear because the Saint Kaiser has vein marks growing around her neck up to her cheeks, her hands gripping the handle of her Saint Cross very tightly, and her eyes were glowing red and menacingly under her blindfold. 'Why did your Familia banish my Familia and that of Brother Polemos's Familia?' the Saint Kaiser started to have a darkish green aura surrounding her body that began to flare in power. "why?"
The Loki Familia began to shiver in fear as an ominous pressure fell upon their bodies.
"speak now or be silent." Polemos stated as the Arc Kaiser's eyes were glowing a light blue color while having discharge of electricity dancing around his whole body that were getting stronger by the passing second. "the fate of you stinking maggots and the rest of the worms in this Familia will be decided by that choice of yours."
Finn's lips quivers and shake as words were getting stuck in his throat because the ominous pressure is preventing him from speaking too well.
"i-it was…." Finn spoke out in a stuttering voice. 'it w-was… f-for..' he grips his hands on his knees as he took in all her courage and resolve to look straight Zagreus but seeing his glowing and menacing eyes, his fear returned and cause him to look down. "i-it was… f-for…"
Zagreus looks at Finn who is shaking in fear to his gaze. The Kaiser watches his attempt to speak but his power is causing his fear to obstruct it.
"it was t-to ensure order upon O-O-Orario." Riveria spoke out as everyone turns their attention to the high elf who is looking down with a frown. "Orario was in a state of chaos when Zeus and Hera Familia lost against the Black Dragon and when the Kaiser Familia left. We tried to keep the peace, but the goddess Freyja ensued a War Game that resulted in the defeat of the Zeus Familia who is banished…"
"and?" Polemos spoke he turns his attention towards Finn's office table that shreds itself to pieces from a jolt of lightning and turns into a pile of black dust while revealing Loki who is shocked that her hiding place is gone and she now looks terrified at the Arc Kaiser who is glaring down at her. "Did this pathetic goddess do the same because it was entertaining for her boredom?"
"no.." Riveria shakes her head. "we didn't initiate a War Game against the Hera Familia…" she pause and frowns even more. "they were the ones who initiated it against us."
"What?" Thalia said as she turns her attention to Riveria who tensed up because of the Saint Kaiser's glowing glare.
"The goddess Hera came to us one day, challenging us to a War Game." Riveria spoke out. "we've told her that we didn't want to do it because we didn't want to enrage you and your Familia," she then frowns even more. "but…"
"that's a lie!" Thalia said while growling as she grips the handle of her saint cross harder and tighter. "Zeus was a fool at times, but not Hera! She is a more resilient and strategic goddess! If she was going to initiate in a War Game against this pathetic Familia….she would've done it in a way that would've ensured her total victory!"
"I know….but she wished for the War Game and we accepted it because.." Riveria spoke softly.
"Because you were greedy for fame and wealth like this pallum here?" Ploutos said as he looks down at Finn who tensed up. "we know very well what you maggots been doing over the past few years while we have been away." He then glances at Loki who let out a frightened squeak. "each story and tales we hear, just makes us more pissed and angry."
"n-no! we didn't want to do the War Game at all! we!" Riveria instantly cried out, but a heavy gust of air blew out and her eyes widens in shock because Ploutos is holding back Thalia who is gripping the hold of her Saint Cross that is swung back and had nearly been swung forward to hit the high elf.
"Why are you stopping me?" Thalia said as she slightly turns her head towards Ploutos who grips his hold on her arms. "this Familia deserves death!"
"we came to have a conversation, not a fight." Ploutos said as he glance towards Zagreus' direction. "right? Zagreus?"
"indeed." The Bloody Kaiser replied as Polemos who stands behind him, is held in place by black chains that came out of dark swirling portals below his feet. The Arc Kaiser wielding his tomahawk that has electrical discharge coating its entire body "if you two wish to kill them, you can do it when I allow it." he turns his head and glance his glowing eyes at Thalia's direction. "right now, there can be no blood spilled in my presence."
Both Polemos and Thalia growls angrily as they glared at Zagreus for a moment before they clicked their tongue and slowly ease themselves.
When both Polemos and Thalia move back and had their weapons confiscated by Ploutos, Zagreus crosses his arms while his eyes glows menacingly towards the Loki Familia members.
"now do you understand just how much anger you fools have lighted within my brother and sister's soul?" Zagreus stated as he glares at the trio executives while a dark fire like aura surrounds his body. "your actions in the past, enraged two of my siblings who are vent on destroying your Familia and slaughtering every member who bear your Familia's mark on their backs."
Finn and the others started to look very tense as Zagreus stood up and glares down at them.
"I feel nothing but pity for those who joined you Familia who have done nothing but committed sins and cause pain. They would be hunted and slaughtered by my family whose trust you have betrayed." Zagreus continued while he slowly raises his right hand to the side. "there is no mercy to be given for the likes of you. Your actions and decisions in the past will lead to your imminent death by the hands of Polemos and Thalia whose only wish right now is to exact justice and vengeance for their Familias whose trust were betrayed by this city and you bastards." he raised his right hand near his head before he formed a gripping hard fist that ignites in black flames. "so i shall ask you this one question before they destroy you all, Loki Familia. Why did you betray our trust?"
The Loki Familia members became tense as the flames on Zagreus' burning right fist grew large and soon formed a blazing silhouette of some sort of demonic monster that is laughing maniacally.
"Answer my question with truth and honesty, Loki Familia." Zagreus spoke out as his eyes glowed more menacingly under his helmet. "it may or may not spare your lives in the process."
No one spoke a word for a few minutes that is filled with silence, they were all tense and unnerved because the dark aura shrouding behind Zagreus' back grows and forms the dark silhouette of a monster with a single large red reptilian eye.
"w-we…" Riveria spoke out first as everyone glanced at the High Elf who took a step forward and faced Zagreus. 'we didn't betray your trust,' the high elf's expression started to frown sadly. "when your Familia left, the chaos grew too much and then the Freyja Familia decided that it was time for them to take control. They challenged Zeus Familia to a war game and became the victor. we had to do it too even when we didn't want to, we had to take Hera's place in order to bring order to the chaos that grew in Orario while also preventing the goddess Freyja from gaining too much power. We knew that if she grew too strong… it would enrage you all for the day you would return. We…" she looks down and her right hand grasps a part of her uniform, "we tried to do what you would've done if you were in our place."
Zagreus looks at Riveria for a moment before the black flames on his right fist grew large.
"You could've done so just by taking the ranks. You could've taken them in and sheltered them until we returned." Zagreus said as his eyes glows menacingly under his helmet. "But you just did it by banishing both of them from Orario."
"We didn't want to banish them, Zagreus!" Riveria spoke out with a pleading look to the Kaiser. "We told Loki that there would be consequences, but she!"
The high elf was cut off mid-sentence by Zagreus whose glowing glare turned towards Loki who squeaks and started to shake in pure terror.
"it shall always be the gods or goddesses who made a Familia do foolish action." Zagreus said as he gets up from his seat and takes a few steps forward to get near Loki who is looking pale and extremely frightened. "but for this matter; a completely idiotic one." The Kaiser raises his burning right fist as the black flames started to spread to his shoulder. "tell me. How much greed must you gods have to satisfy your boredom? How much pain must you create for the mortals who have died during the time of darkness?" he stops in front of Loki and glares down at the goddess with glowing enraged eyes. "How much hatred must you make before I destroy you all?"
Loki could only make weird frighten noises as she looks extremely terrified by Zagreus who soon grabs her neck with his left hand and then held her off the ground.
"listen to me very carefully, clown." Zagreus spoke out in a growling voice. "you are indeed very lucky that my hatred is more focused on that bitch than to you, but that doesn't mean I won't destroy you one day. I plan to let things go and see where you screw up, only until then will I destroy you." The Kaiser then held his flaming arm near Loki that is terribly close to her face. "until then, you will do what we say until we decide whether we should pardon you or not. Do you understand that? little clown?"
Loki merely nods her head rapidly in response as to reply that she is fully cooperating with Zagreus' demands.
Zagreus looks at Loki as his eyes glows more brighter for a second before dimming, the Kaiser dropped the goddess harshly before turning his head to look at Finn and the others while the black flames on his right hand shrinks and dissipates.
"just because it was your goddess' idea to banish Zeus and Hera Familia from Orario, it doesn't mean anything other than the fact that one of you took benefit from it." Zagreus said as he focuses his glare on Finn. "and you know that I am very well talking about you, pallum." Loud roars of thunder rang out from outside as flashes of lightning bolts cause illumination of light. One flash of lightning strikes near the window of the office room and made the Bloody Kaiser's eyes become more menacing when his body gets shadowed for a split second "learn to put limits onto your greed. It might spare your life from the terror of being hunted by Melinoe in the future."
Finn gulped while sweating as Zagreus glares down at him before he turns and looks at Riveria.
Riveria looks nervous from seeing that Zagreus is looking at her direction, but he soon looks away while crossing his arms.
"I shall give you all a five-minute head start." Zagreus said as his glowing colored eyes flashes and his body shrouded in the dark aura and a coat of black lightning. "run like the cowards you are."
The Loki Familia members look a bit confused for a moment, but they soon realize that their entire Home is shaking and rumbling.
"The entire building is going to collapse!" Finn exclaimed as he sees the ceiling is cracking and pieces of it are falling above their heads. "We need to get out of here!"
Finn along with Gareth who has Loki over his shoulders began running out of the office room while Riveria stands behind and is looking at Zagreus who remains standing in his place with the other Kaisers who look calm.
"Zagreus…" Riveria whispers while frowning towards the Bloody Kaiser who looks back with his eyes glowing more menacingly.
"Riveria! Hurry!" Gareth shouted out as Riveria just stays standing in her place.
"Gareth! We need to get out now!" Finn exclaimed to the dwarf who looks at the pallum for a moment and then to the high elf before he decided to follow the Braver in escaping the Home.
"Cowards to the end." Thalia said after seeing how Finn, Gareth, and Loki had fled.
"But not all of them." Ploutos stated as he and the other Kaisers watch as Riveria stands before Zagreus with a sad frown on her face.
"I never betrayed you…" Riveria whispered as she looks down while tears began to form in her eyes. "I always believed that you would come back like you promised. I always believed in you.."
She started to shed her tears as she begins to cry in front of Zagreus who looks down at her while uncrossing his arms.
"yeah… I know" Zagreus whispered as he got closer to Riveria while raising his hands near her face before the ceiling collapsed.
Outside, the Loki Familia members were looking in shock and baffled as their Home came crumbling down from an unknown reason.
"w-what the heck happened!?" Tiona said in shock.
"Captain!" Tione cried out as she sees Finn along with Gareth and Loki evacuating their Home from the front door that collapsed when they went through it.
"Captain! What happened in there!?" Raul exclaimed as everyone asks the same question.
"This is our punishment from the Kaisers." Finn stated to his familia members. "our punishment for enraging them."
"What do you mean by that?" Tione said in confusion that is shared amongst the members
"Wait a minute! Where is Riveria-sama?!" Lefiya cried out as she and the other elves don't see the high elf with the group.
"She stayed behind." Gareth said after dropping Loki off his shoulders as he and many others turn to see their Home now crumbled into a pile of dust. "She stayed behind with the Kaisers."
Everyone looks at their destroyed Home as dust blew out everywhere but soon started to settle down and revealed the Kaisers hovering in the air.
"t-they're floating in the air?!" Raul said with a shocked face.
"look!" Alicia cried out as she pointed a finger at the Kaisers or rather to Zagreus who is carrying Riveria in his arms by bridal style.
Zagreus hovers in the air as he looks at Riveria who is unconscious in his arms. The Kaiser looks at her for a moment before he turns to look at the Loki Familia members while slowly descending from the air and stands upon the ground.
"Riveria-sama!" Lefiya cried out as Zagreus slowly kneels and place Riveria down to the ground before he stood up and floats away.
The elves in the Loki Familia gathered to check on the high elf who is just unconscious and asleep.
"This is your one and only warning, Loki Familia." Zagreus calls out as he hovers in the air with the other Kaisers at his side. The group looking down at the familia below them. "follow our orders obediently. if you try to act against our rules, we will ensure that your fate will be worse than death."
The Kaisers instantly glares down at the Loki Familia with their glowing eyes that were menacing and threatening.
The Loki Familia instantly felt shivers go up and down their spines when the Kaisers glared at them.
Zagreus glares down at the Familia but his glare is more focused on Aiz Wallenstein who is looking tense at the Kaisers.
The Kaiser Familia continues to look down at the Loki Familia before they started to fly upwards as they head straight for the Underworld Castle that stops projecting its energy barrier and began to ascend to the dark and cloudy sky where it disappears a second later.
Within the Underworld Castle and in the Domain of the Elysium Garden. Bell is present within as he is in the middle of watering the flowers and plants that surrounds his mother's grave.
Bell has a happy smile on his face as he sees that the white roses that he is watering were radiating white sparkles everywhere. The young man continues to water and tend to the plants in the Elysium Garden with the many Skeletal Servants that were also tending the animals and insects that are living within.
As the Rabbit boy waters the flowers, he caught sight of Zagreus walking into the scene as the Bloody Kaiser's helmet expands and deforms to reveal his face to his son.
"dad, you're back." Bell said as he knew about his father leaving the floating Home temporarily to visit the Twilight Manor. "How was your visit to Aiz-san's Home?"
"it was…" Zagreus spoke out as he paused for a moment while walking to a patch of white lilies that he gently caresses. "…productive in a way." The Kaiser gently raises one of the lily flowers before caressing its small petals. "I've met this Aiz Wallenstein who you respect and adore, but she is someone who you should have never met, Bell."
"w-what? why?" Bell asked while having a confused expression towards his father who turns to look at him. "What do you mean by that?"
"Bell, she was using you." Zagreus stated in as he faces Bell directly. "it's a very common and old trick that many veteran and dark sided adventurers would do in taking advantage of rookie adventurers like you were once back then. She was merely using you to learn about why and how you can level up so fast."
"A-Aiz-san would never! I mean!" Bell retorted as he looks frantic to his father.
"The fact that you are defending her so much means that she has trained you for quite a period of time, and therefore makes you trust her more" Zagreus stated in as he hardens his gaze a bit. "she 'trained' you out of good will to help you grow. why would she help to train you if there is no benefit for herself? isn't that strange already, Bell?"
"that's…." Bell spoke out but he soon pauses and looks down with a frown. "that is true, but…"
"Bell, you cannot deny the fact that she was using you by offering to train you." Zagreus stated as he went and gently placed a hand to Bell's right shoulder. "This Aiz Wallenstein… she doesn't see you as a friend, she sees you as nothing more but a tool to be used in achieving her goal. It'd be better if you accept that as the truth soon so that you'd be prepared in facing reality."
Bell looks at his father for a moment before he looks terribly sad and soon stormed off.
Zagreus watches Bell leave as the Kaiser let out a sigh before he turns to look at Meteria's grave.
"truly…..it is difficult to be a father to a child" Zagreus said as he went and gently caresses his deceased lover's grave marker. He then sighs while the clouds started to cover the sun and create shadows that grew and give shade to the Bloody Kaiser who is soon revealed to have a companion who mysteriously appears floating behind him. "you were truly a great mother for him. Even if it was only for six months, that child loved being with you more than myself" Transparent glowing white hands snakes around and placed themselves upon the Kaiser's shoulders before they intertwined around his neck. "I wished I had chosen a better path that would've allowed you to have the happiness that you deserved with him…" the Kaiser raises his right hand and holds the transparent white arms that hugs him around the neck "….Meteria."
Floating behind and holding the Kaiser close in a hug is a transparent yet glowing white silhouette of a woman with long wavy hair, wears a white sun dress with the bottom just radiating white sparkles, and is barefooted. Her face is unseeable as there are only a pair of pure white eyes, no nose, nor mouth. With the name of his former deceased love did Zagreus speak; this mysterious female companion of his seems to have a distinct similar appearance to that of Meteria herself as if she is her very own spirit.
Zagreus holds the white woman's arms and gently caresses them as his companion slowly began disappearing when the clouds that blocks the sun moves away and sunlight rays down upon the Kaiser who is now alone once more.
The Bloody Kaiser stays in his place as he turns and looks back at Meteria's grave marker that he patted a few times before caressing it.
Meanwhile somewhere in a dark chamber, the mastermind of Evilus' remnants; Enyo stood as he is looking upon something before his aide; Ein came to his side.
"what is it?" Enyo said.
"6 Kaisers have gathered, Enyo." Ein reported. "Melinoe Kaiser, Polemos Kaiser, Ploutos Kaiser, Makaria Kaiser, Thalia Kaiser, and finally Zagreus Kaiser. We have reports saying that the Kaisers are all gathered in the Underworld Castle and have just destroyed the Loki Familia's Home."
"I see." Enyo replied. "then? anything else?"
"The followers have given out word that the Kaisers might find out about the secret entrances in Daedalus Street." Ein stated. "moreover, there has been shadows following some of our supporting financers. They believe that it is one of the Kaisers."
"already on the move against us after returning, huh?" Enyo said as he looks to the side. 'tell Thanatos to pull in all of his followers. We cannot spare any chances that one of them might screw up and get caught by the Kaisers.' He then looks back to the front. "if that happens, our secrets would be revealed and those monsters would come to hunt us."
"Are the Kaisers really to be feared?" Ein said. "they are only 6 adventurers."
"do not treat them as if they are normal people." Enyo stated out as he holds a black opened book that he closed. 'the Kaisers are monsters in human flesh.' The masked man then turns to the side. "especially the one who is entitled as the most strongest being in this world."
"the Bloody Kaiser…" Ein spoke while imagining Zagreus in his mind.
"it might be time for us to hasten our plan." Enyo stated as he started to walk away. "the destruction of Orario is very near after all."
That's a wrap!
Bye bye