Upon the next day, the recent events orchestrated by the Kaisers had cast a shadow of fear and panic upon the citizens of Orario. Thunder and flashes of lightning now triggered immediate anxiety among the populace. The Demeter Familia's Home remained surrounded by Hell Knights, guarded vigilantly, with the imposing Underworld Castle floating above it.
Within the Kaiser's Home, in the domain of the Elysium Garden, Zagreus stood before Meteria's grave. The Bloody Kaiser had his face revealed, bearing a solemn expression as he gazed down at the sculpted image of his deceased lover. Bell approached from behind, carrying an awkward and nervous demeanor.
"Melinoe told me that you wish to have a conversation with me," Zagreus said, fully turning to face his son. "What is it?"
"w-well… um… i…" Bell mumbled out as he looks a bit awkward and nervous at the same time. "i…"
Zagreus looks at his son for a moment and sees his nervous stature that made him close his eyes and sigh.
"Take a seat." Zagreus said as he waves a hand to a nearby stone bench. "then we shall talk."
"y-yes…" Bell nods before he went to the bench where he took a seat with Zagreus who sat beside him.
Both father and son had a moment of silence with one another as there is only the sound of chirping and squeaking from the many animals that lives within the garden.
After a minute, Bell straightened his back while sitting and nervously glanced at Zagreus who is already looking at him.
"what is it that you wish to talk to me about?" Zagreus asked his son.
Bell gulped once before he looks down while having a hand reach and takes hold of his locket that he takes off. The young man pressed the top switch once to open the cover to reveal the photo of his infant self with his mother and then press the switch one more time so that the secret compartment opens to reveal the photo of the two infants.
"t-this.." Bell said as he showed the photo to Zagreus who takes the locket and looks at the photo. "is that… do I have..a brother?"
Zagreus looks at the photo of the two infants for a moment before he closed the locket.
"no." Zagreus stated as he glances at Bell. "the infants in the photo isn't you. It's myself and my older twin brother, Helios. This is the photo of us on the day we were born."
"it's… you and… your twin?" Bell said with a bit of a surprised face. "i-I never knew you had a..t-twin before."
"that's because you were never told about him." Zagreus replied while looking at the locket in his hand. "before I gave your mother this locket, it was once my most prized possession. it was a gift that my mother gave me on the day of my birth. My older twin brother had the same identical one, but he gave his away to his beloved one like I did." He then gently caresses the gem upon the locket with his thumb. "We both had once decided that if we were to find our one true love that we will spend the rest of our lives with, we would give up this one memento of our mother as a sign of our love for them. This is the reason why there is a photo of our infant self in the locket."
"but how come you have…" Bell said while pointing his ear as if to ask his father why his ears are now that of an half elf while in the photo; it doesn't show.
"children who are born of the unity between human and elf have distinct features as a half elf, but there has been cases where a half elf child would have the appearance of a normal person but would begin to show elvish characteristics as they grow." Zagreus said while tapping a finger to his right half elven ear. "I just happen to be one of these half elves, and you could possibly be too once you've become more older."
"I see…" Bell said with a slow nod in understanding as he looks down while rubbing a hand to his right ear for a moment but he soon had a confused expression that made him look back at his father. "but if you have a twin brother. How come I have never heard or even met Uncle Helios yet? I've read all the Kaiser's stories up until now and not one mention about him. not even Aunt Melinoe and the others have ever told me about him too."
Zagreus looks at his son for a moment before he looks away
"I believe it's time you know that the Kaisers of Orario now only have 6 members remaining." Zagreus said while looking at Meteria's grave.
"6 members?" Bell said in a small whisper while receiving back his locket from his father. "But aren't you all known as the 8 Kaisers? what happened to Uncle Helios? And the last Kaiser?"
"Before I begin, you should know that the last Kaiser's name is Sotares, the Justice Kaiser. She's the last triplet sister of Makaria and Thalia while also being a former member of the Astraea Familia" Zagreus stated in while crossing his arms. "It's true that it would be strange that we would call ourselves the 8 Kaisers of Orario when there's only 6 members. This is all because Helios and Sotares have left the Kaiser Familia years ago."
"They left?" Bell asked with a confused voice.
"Bell, have you ever heard the story of Orario's Day of Chaos?" Zagreus said with a glance at Bell who looks at his father for a moment and then nods a bit dumbly. "tell me what you know of it."
"w-well… there was a time in Orario where evil gods came and wreak havoc." Bell spoke out while looking down as he imagines the city being filled with people screaming and are being chased by dark knights that are being commanded by evil gods. "many people died and it was only until 8 heroes stood up and fought the evil gods who they…" soon, the young man stops as he realized something that made his eyes wide as saucers. "8… heroes?"
Bell slowly looks at Zagreus who merely nods his head and then looks front.
"years back, there was a goddess named Lucifer. She was an evil goddess." Zagreus spoke out as the dark silhouette of a woman appears in the back of his mind. "unlike many other gods and goddesses, Lucifer had one thing that she favors when she descended to the Lower Realm and that's chaos and bloodshed." He then imagines a kingdom being burned to the ground as people were killing one another non stop while a goddess laughs in utter joy. "by her own hands, nearly 5 kingdoms had fallen and were forgotten in history."
Bell gulped as he couldn't believe that there was such a goddess who would do such a cruel thing for entertainment.
"afterwards, her next target was Orario." Zagreus said in continuing the story. 'decades back, me and the other Kaisers were just ordinary adventurers like any other. But when Lucifer came and struck chaos to the city. that was when we decided to form the Kaiser Familia.' he raises his right hand and formed a very hard fist while his gaze hardens and his eyes glows when a flashback of his hands that holds the lifeless body of a violet haired woman who is covered in blood. "Lucifer caused pain and death to many of our friends and families who we all lost." The half elf pauses for a moment to take a breath and then let out a long sigh before continuing. "we Kaisers chased after her to make her pay for her sins and then…." he glanced at Bell. "I did the ultimate taboo that no mortal dared to do."
"the ultimate… t-taboo?" Bell spoke out with a confused expression.
"yes." Zagreus nods before he looks away and had a flashback image of his past self who wore a nearly wrecked bloody armor and wields a long shining golden sword that he thrust through the body of a silver haired woman. "I killed Lucifer with my own hands."
"y-you…" Bell stuttered out with wide eyes. "y-you killed….a god!?" he gulped and looks a bit taken back. "b-but that's a very strict rule! No one should kill a god! The punishment for doing that is death!"
"I know, but I didn't kill Lucifer and send her back to heaven." Zagreus said as his eyes glows even more menacing. "I killed that goddess and sent her to the afterlife."
"eh?" Bell made a confused noise as he didn't understand what his father was saying. "sent her to the afterlife? What do you mean by that?"
"How do you think I was able to give you your skill, Bell?" Zagreus said as he looks at his son while raising his right hand that spreads its fingers open before a ball of golden divine light appears floating upon his palm. "there's a reason why I'm currently the strongest Kaiser." He then grasped the ball of light into his hand that soon burst into sparkles. "and it is all because I killed Lucifer whose sealed Arcanum power I have taken away."
"y-you… you took a-away…" Bell stuttered out before he gulped loudly. "y-you took away… a god's divine power? But how?"
"a Skill." Zagreus stated. "unlike many other, I have a powerful yet dreadful skill that allows me to gain power through…" he pauses for a moment while glancing away. "….awful methods."
"awful… methods?" Bell spoke out.
"I can't tell you what it is, it's a Skill that I hate having ever since it first manifested 68 years ago." Zagreus said while looking at his right hand that in his eyes he sees is drenched in blood, but it is not in reality. "this Skill is the one Skill that allowed me to kill Lucifer and take away her divinity as my own." He then lowers his hand and looks forward while hardening the gaze of his glowing eyes. "in result, I am able to partially use the power I gain and use it as my own."
Bell looks at his father in total shock as he had read stories written about him, not one has ever mention of him killing a god and taking the power of the divine.
"a-and then?" Bell spoke out in a stutter and a soft voice. "what happened after you defeated the goddess Lucifer?"
Zagreus glances at his son for a moment before to the front.
"afterwards, gods began to fear me and the Kaisers as we started to protect Orario from dangers of any kind like the stories have told you." Zagreus said as his eyes stopped glowing. "Evilus, War crazed countries, bandits. every crime, and sinful actions that could be think of. We Kaisers act and protect the innocent while fighting the evil." The Kaiser closes his eyes and sighs before continuing. "Many worshipped us as heroes, but.." he opens his eyes and hardens his expression as his eyes are now filled with sadness and rage that are mixed. "..many sees us as nothing but monsters."
Bell made a small surprise noise as he looks at his father and sees how sad yet angered the look is in his eyes.
"There is a reason why there were not many information of Helios written in the story books of us Kaisers." Zagreus said as his eyes began to glow in a very menacing yet angered gaze. "It's because he was murdered decades back."
"m-murdered?" Bell stated in shock as he instantly imagined a man on the ground that has a pool of blood. "b-by who?"
Zagreus glance at his son and showed the anger and rage that burns within his eyes.
"The Goddess Freyja." Zagreus said in a venomous tone as Bell looks completely in shock to imagine that the top strongest Familia's goddess in Orario had killed a Kaiser. "she killed my brother."
"w-why would she…" Bell spoke before he gulped. "Why would Freyja-sama murder Uncle Helios?"
"Jealousy." Zagreus said while looking away. "my first Familia; the Hades Familia. the Familia that Helios and I first joined before forming the Kaiser Familia. our goddess; Hades-sama had a long and very hated rivalry against the Freyja Familia for years." The Kaiser then gets off the seat and stands up. "although it first began by the opposing side, that goddess was jealous of Hades-sama who was able to create a great Familia that is alike with Zeus and Hera while also having me and my brother who became Kaisers" The man's hands formed hard fists that just clenches tight. "all because of jealousy, my brother was killed because of it."
"b-but if F-Freyja-sama did such a thing. Why is she still in Orario and in the Lower Realm?" Bell said as he finds it confusing that the culprit who murdered his uncle would still be remaining in Orario. "why is she still here?"
"The incident happened in the Dungeon and there was no actual proof that there was an involvement of the Freyja Familia over it." Zagreus replied as he raises his right fist that just shake in terrible anger. 'but I know very well that it was that bitch who killed him. she had done many things to try and takes us down. She tried to get us banished, taken out, and even killed for years when we formed the Kaiser Familia.' his eyes began to glow more brighter while sparks of blue static started to dance around his right fist. "that bitch won't ever be forgiven!"
Bell had a nervous bead of sweat sliding down his right cheek as he looks at his father who is radiating a dark aura around his body that pulses.
Zagreus continues to unleash his power that pulses as this scared Bell because this is the first time in his lifetime that he sees his father in rage.
After a few minutes, Zagreus finally calmed down enough to the point that his power dissipated.
Zagreus looks at Bell and sees how scared he is. The Kaiser stares at the frightened young man before he looks away and sighs while making his way to Meteria's grave that he patted a few times then started to caress.
"sorry… I still can't control my rage after all these years." Zagreus whispers softly.
Zagreus caresses Meteria's grave while Bell slowly calms himself down from the fright.
"u-um…" Bell mumbled out as he soon pauses for a moment before he continues. 'i-if U-Uncle Helios is gone because of… F-Freyja-sama..would that mean that..' he gulped. "would that mean that Aunt Sotares is..?"
"no, Sotares is still alive." Zagreus said as he caresses his deceased lovers' grave before looking at his son. "she is out in the world somewhere, we just don't know where."
"eh?" Bell let out a confused noise.
"When Helios passed away, Sotares left the Kaiser Familia one day without a word." Zagreus said as he looks away and had a sad look in his eyes. 'we believe that she had enough of protecting Orario. Losing Helios caused a terrible amount of pain not just for me but to all of us. Sotares must've felt that she had enough of fighting for people who one day might kill her and therefore left. She was never to be seen for years.' He then sighs. "but that is what we think. We don't know why she left the Familia and us."
"i-I see…" Bell said in a soft voice while frowning. "I think… I understand that.."
Zagreus looks at his son for a silent moment before he turns to look back at Meteria's grave.
"Bell. for your own sake and safety.." Zagreus said as he glanced at Bell. 'do not ever come near or be in contact with that goddess and her Familia. they are not heroes, comrades, or friends; the Freyja Familia are murderers who one day will be destroyed by us Kaisers' his eyes glows for a flicker of a moment. "if you do not heed this advice and warning of mine, you will learn firsthand why I'm called the Bloody Kaiser." He turns his head and show Bell his angered raging face that has pulsing veins growing around his eyes. "Do you understand?"
Bell quickly and rapidly nods his head as he was sure as hell that he didn't want to anger his father at all after witnessing the pulse of energy that he unleashed and how angered his face is showing.
Zagreus keeps up his angered face before it slowly disappears when the Kaiser turns to look at Meteria's grave which he continues to caress.
Bell looks at his father for a moment before he frowns and looks down.
"u-um..dad….about Aiz-san…" Bell spoke out. "i-I'm sorry that i was in denial on the whole… I know that you're just trying to look after me and…" he frowns even more. "I'm sorry…"
Zagreus looks back at his son as he sees his frowning down face and turns to look back at his lover's grave.
"don't worry, it doesn't matter too much for me." Zagreus said as he caresses Meteria's grave marker a few times. "it is now water under the bridge."
Bell looks at his father as he was about to say something when he notice that the Halo Ring that his father wears on his right wrist has its red gem glowing repeatedly.
Zagreus raises his right arm and taps two fingers of his left hand to the red glowing gem that soon turns green.
"Zagreus, we're ready on our side. Everything is prepped up and ready." Makaria's voice spoke out from. "we're waiting on you now."
"I'm on my way." Zagreus said before the gem dies down and turns back red. The Kaisers eyes glows before his helmet reforms upon his head and covers his face. The armored man then looks at Bell. "stay in the Underworld Castle, Bell. we are heading out for a moment." he then turns and started to take a few steps forward. "if you need anything, the Skeletal Servants will provide it to you."
"Where are you going?" Bell asked as Zagreus stops and then looks at his son for a moment before looking away.
"We are going to do what we Kaisers do best." Zagreus said as he began walking away while his eyes glows menacingly under his helmet's visor. "to protect Orario and destroy evil."
upon Orario, the citizens go on with their days with a bit of fear and fright as they were very cautious when the Kaisers would descend.
At one area, there is Miach and Naaza who are buying grocery at the market.
"Thank you for buying." The stall owner received money from Naaza while Miach takes the grocery bag into his hands.
"Thank you." Naaza replied before the Familia heads off.
The god and chientrophe walks in the street that isn't so crowded like it used to be.
"The Kaisers have done more than just property damage, huh?" Miach said in seeing how not so lively the street is. "fear just spreads uncontrollably in the city."
"and to think that they are doing this to protect the people…" Naaza muttered out.
The two continue their grocery shopping but soon stopped when they heard loud thunder that roars which cause many to stop in their tracks and some instantly screamed in fright.
"thunder?" Miach said as he and Naaza looks up and gets surprise when they see the Underworld Castle floating over their heads before moving straight for the Babel Tower. "the Kaisers are on the move."
Naaza and Miach watches the Underworld Castle as it now hovers and floats at the district area of the Dungeon.
At the area by the Dungeon's entrance. Adventurers look at the large ominous black castle that came floating above their heads before they hear the sound of bells that began ringing as it is a sign that the guild has something to be announced.
'to all Familia within Orario. This is an announcement by the guild.' Eina's voice spoke out in an echo as her voice is amplified by the magic mic that she is speaking through in a private room in the guild. 'a new rank of order has been decided by the guild and several new rules have been made for the adventures who must heed them.'
Every adventurer in the city looks at the Babel Tower as they continue listening to Eina's voice.
'as stated, Loki Familia and Freyja Familia have been stripped of their ranking. Their order of rank has now been classified as low ranking Familias and several of their privileges have been stripped. Following this, the Kaiser Familia is ranked first as the strongest Familia in Orario and has been given rights to rule over the city as governors. The guild will not interfere in the matter of the Kaisers and will not receive complaints of any kind regarding the Kaisers as well.'
"The guild won't interfere with the Kaisers' actions?" Ouka said as he and his Familia are out of their Home and are listening to the announcement. "Are they serious?"
"Considering the Kaisers' power and legends…" Takemikazuchi spoke out. "I doubt that they could do anything to stop them."
'Following that, the Kaisers have created new rules for Familia and adventurers that must be heeded. The rules will be given by Zagreus Kaiser of the Kaiser Familia. that is all.'
Eina stopped speaking as the announcement ended.
The adventurers at the Babel Tower look a bit confused from hearing the announcement, but their attentions were soon taken away when they hear loud rumbling from the Underworld Castle that made them look up and sees dozens of trap doors opening from where many Hell Knights came falling and landing upon the road.
The adventurers backed away upon seeing the silver armored knights that started to move in formation before each one got into lines of two then starts to stomp their right foot down on the ground while wielding their swords that they hit against their shields in a rhythm chant.
Everyone looks and soon realizes that it was as if the Hell Knights are doing a chant for the arrival of a king and that king is Zagreus.
Zagreus exited his home from the main gate that opens wide as he soon came jumping down and made a big crash upon the road.
Adventurers backed away as the dust blows away and soon reveals Zagreus who is down on one knee before he rises and his eyes glows menacingly under his helmet.
Zagreus began to walk as he walks in between the long line of Hell Knights that continuously did their chant. The Bloody Kaiser walks down the line as he went straight to the entrance of the Dungeon where a dark black throne was placed down by a group of four Hell Knights.
The Kaiser walked and arrived upon the throne where he turns with his cape fluttering around before he sat upon it with his legs crossed and his hands on the arm rest. Zagreus tilts his head to the side and leans against his right arm's fist.
Everyone looks upon the Kaiser as the Hell Knights stopped their rhythm chanting before they all went down to one knee and kneels to Zagreus.
Zagreus sits upon his throne as his eyes flashes for a moment and dozens of Divine Mirrors appears floating in the sky while also appearing everywhere in Homes, pubs, bars, and alleyways wherever there are people.
The Divine Mirror glows before showing the image of Zagreus who is sitting upon his throne at the Dungeon's entrance.
"my name… is Zagreus Kaiser." Zagreus spoke out as his voice echoed in Orario. 'I am the Bloody Kaiser and the Leader of the Kaiser Familia. I am the true King and Champion of this city. As of today, I bring you all this message.' His eyes soon began to glow menacingly under his helmet's visor. "Disobedience against us Kaisers and our rules will result in your immediate and painful death."
Thunder soon roars as a dark storm started to form upon Orario's sky. This very much frightens the citizens.
"There will be new rules implemented and must be heeded by every adventurer and Familia in Orario. Disobedience against these rules will result in banishment or death" Zagreus continues as the storm rages with lightning bolts flashing and thunder following. 'first, the Hell Knights; my Familia's Familiar servants shall be patrolling every inch of Orario while also guarding its borders. They will not harm those who they do not see as a threat and will attack if provoked. This rule applies to everyone within this city's walls, there are no exception.' The man then sat up straight on his throne. "secondly, any associates of the Freyja Familia who supplies them wealth, items, and information will be tracked down and will be permanently banished from Orario. Thirdly, every adventurer of every Familia will have their history and actions run down. Those who have been found guilty of committing various crime will be caught and then judged by the Kaisers; their fates are for us to decide….."
Zagreus continues to speak the rules that his Familia made; all very tyrannical rules such as execution for slave traders and supporters of Evilus, none are allowed to help and support the Freyja Familia in any way, and there was even a rule where Familias whose actions are against the rules will be marked black which means immediate death penalty by the Kaisers.
This goes on for almost an hour as Zagreus speaks out every single rule that was made by his Familia before he stops.
"we will not hear your complaints nor anything that is regarding our actions." Zagreus spoke as his eyes glows menacingly. "we Kaisers exist to protect Orario from the coming darkness."
"coming darkness?" Ryuu muttered out as she with the rest of the waitresses of the Hostess Fertility minus Syr were watching the screen. "is he talking about Evilus?"
"for over a century, my Familia alongside the great Zeus and Hera Familia have fought countless forces of darkness to protect the city. none has ever come close to bring chaos and death to Orario." Zagreus said in continuing his words. "This city had once prospered for decades but now has fallen of its grace when Zeus and Hera's adventurers failed to defeat the last Three Great Beasts."
His glowing eyes soon began to glow more menacing than before. The Divine Mirror began to show a live image of a black yet burning wasteland as flames burns everywhere and smoke flew to the sky that is dark because of a storm.
"that is…?" Naaza said as everyone looks at the burning wasteland but many had their focus on something large that is moving in a huge smoke field. "w-what… what is that?"
"is that… t-the…" Chigusa stuttered out as she nervously clings to Ouka's back. The big eastern man looking nervous as well.
The smoke soon blows away and reveals a monstrous sight that instantly scares many hearts that becomes traumatized.
Dark black scales that seemingly glows from the fire that burn in its surrounding, black sharp claws that seems to be able to tear through the very land and sky, long and sharp jagged reptilian teeth that could bite through anything, large pitch black wings that could blow away clouds, snaps trees like sticks, and tear down houses in a single flap, and an ominous single red reptilian eye that glows menacingly as if it sees through one's soul.
"i-it's so… it's so…!" Lefiya stuttered as she fell to her butt while looking extremely frightened.
"s-so terrifying…" Aki whispered as her tail stands tense with its fur puffed up.
Aiz merely stood still in silence as her eyes were wide and shaking upon seeing the image of the Black Dragon.
"after the failure of Zeus and Hera's adventurers, we Kaisers had left Orario to avenge them." Zagreus spoke while everyone watches the first ever live image of the One-Eyed Black Dragon that had destroyed countless villages, cities, kingdoms, and killed countless lives. "be grateful that we Kaisers acted in time for that beast was heading straight for Orario."
"i-it was heading for Orario!?" Loki said in shock as her slanted eyes popped open in an instant.
"it doesn't matter if any of you believe my words or not, but the truth remains that this monster was by far the most powerful monster that the Dungeon has ever spawned centuries ago." Zagreus spoke as the Divine Mirror showed that the Black Dragon roars loudly and then spewed out flames upon the land. "we Kaisers could barely defeat it."
The Black Dragon continues to roar before it looks down with a terrifying glare as Zagreus and the other Kaisers stand before the monster. The image soon disappears as the Bloody Kaiser's armored face is revealed once again.
"We Kaisers have fought against that monster and drove it away from ever reaching Orario." Zagreus stated as everyone watches the divine mirror. 'We hunted that beast to end its life, but in our journey to hunt it, we learn that the remaining members of Zeus and Hera Familia were banished and betrayed by the very city that we vowed to protect.' His eyes glows even more menacing while the storm above rages uncontrollably. "for that, there can no longer be any mercy to be given by the Kaisers to all of you insolent fools."
Orario began to shake as a mighty powerful earthquake came and made many people panic.
"My Familia left this city to avenge our fallen comrades who were betrayed and banished by the very city that they loved and protected." Zagreus spoke out in an angered voice as his glowing eyes just radiates burning colored vapor. 'therefore, the lives that are in this city will be judged and punished accordingly to your actions for trusting the Loki Familia and Freyja Familia to take Zeus and Hera Familia's place.' He then rises from his throne. "many may leave the city and head out, but it won't matter. We Kaisers will hunt down every single pathetic maggot and cockroach in this city and wipe them off the face of this world. Whether you are a woman, a man, or a child, elderly or young, commoner or a noble, we Kaisers do not care. We will find each sinful person and when we do, they will be judged and punished….and we will start with the Familia of the world's ugliest goddess."
Zagreus raises his right hand and does a loud finger snap that echoed loudly.
The storm began to rage as thousands of lightning bolts struck down to the ground at the south border of Orario where a large shadow with glowing yellow eyes could be seen rising from the ground.
"w-what is that!?" Shakti, Ganesha, and dozens of their Familia members look at the south area of the city where they see a large black, white, and red metallic being that is 18 meters tall and is staring down at the Folkvangr with its glowing yellow eyes.
Many people in the city saw this large being which raises its arms up and was illuminated by a powerful lightning bolt that struck behind it.
"MAZIN POWER!"
Unknown to many, this large being is nothing more than a mechanical giant that has a pilot riding upon its head and that pilot is Polemos.
Polemos held a rod and a lever while glaring down at the Freyja Familia's Home.
"Polemos, unleash Mazinger Z's terror upon those fools." Zagreus' voice spoke out from a screen near the Arc Kaiser who nods.
"Breast!" Polemos shouted as his voice gets echoed by the large mechanical being whose red chest part is flaring in fire. "Fire!" a beam of concentrated fire was unleashed from the chest as it flew and directly lands upon the Folkvangr that gets incinerated and destroyed in a huge, humongous explosion that grew as a pillar of fire that soars into the air.
The citizens panicked once more as the shockwave from the explosion cause a heavy heat wave to blow out everywhere.
Before anyone could collect their bearings after witnessing such a devastating attack, the thunderstorm above became more powerful as the clouds began to swirl and created a twister that rages down.
Everyone though that the twister would come down and destroy the buildings in the city, but it stopped just before it could reach the ground because Melinoe who dons her armor has her right arm raised above her head as her hand is in the center of the cyclone itself.
"Gale!" Melinoe's eyes glows yellow under her helmet's face plate as the Blade Kaiser swings her right arm back before she swings it forward, creating a powerful gust of a slash that flew straight for the Babel Tower. "Vulnus!"
The gust slash flew straight as it tore and cut through the concrete building as it destroyed one-floor level which had everything torn to shreds.
Many see and flee from the scene as countless rubble falls from the tower.
"we Kaisers are not heroes who are to be respected, Orario," Zagreus spoke as he sat back upon his throne and crosses his arms. 'We are the monsters that should be feared.' The armored half-elf's eyes glow as a streak of black fire blazes around his helmet for a moment. "Remember that."
With that announcement sent and delivered to the public of Orario directly by Zagreus and the other Kaisers. fear began to cloud and terrorize the citizens of the city as the Kaiser's Hell Knights march every street and began to break into Familia's Homes, citizens' houses, bars, anywhere that has people that they beat up before taking away while the large mechanical being is nowhere to be found.
At the western district of the city, Hell Knights came marching upon the street while the citizens cower in fear.
"it's like an army…" Takemikazuchi spoke out as he along with Ouka and Chigusa are by the area and see how some of the armored knights moved away from the big group to go and barge right through houses before coming out with someone who got beaten up and arrested. "an army that never stops its march."
"aaaahhh!" a screaming shout was heard as Takemikazuchi and the others turn to see a bulky looking random adventurer who wields a large hammer that he swung and hits a Hell Knight that gets sent flying and crash down to a pile of crates in an alley. "you think you shitbags can take me! I'm Burg John! the Iron Juggernaut of the Aengus Familia! a level 4! No one can take me down!"
Before Burg could do anything else, two Hell Knights rammed their shields against the man from both sides, sandwiching him.
"aggh!" Burg shouts in pain as he drops his hammer before he gets chains wrapped up all around his body. "guh?!"
"They t-took down a l-level 4 that easily?" Chigusa jawdropped in surprise as she and her familia watches the Hell Knights grab Burg and then drags him away. "they're so strong…"
"hey! Look!" some random person shouted out while pointing at the sky as this made everyone look at where he is pointing, and they all instantly saw Hermes Familia's Captain; Asfi al Andromeda flying above some houses where Aisha Belka; the Antianeira is jumping while carrying her Podao Zaga on her back.
"that's… Perseus and Antianeira?" Takemikazuchi is baffled in seeing two of Hermes Familia's adventurers who are retreating to somewhere. "Why are they?"
"Takemikazuchi-sama! Look!" Ouka exclaimed as he pointed at the rooftop where several Hell Knights are chasing after the two. "they're being chased!"
Asfi and Aisha runs and flee from the Hell Knights that continues to chase after them while throwing nets, and bolas.
"hurry!" Asfi exclaimed to Aisha as she dodges the flying nets and Bolas.
"easy for you to say!" The Antianeira shouted. "I don't have wings on my feet!"
The two continues to be on the run before Aisha accidently steps into a chalk drawn magic circle that instantly glows when she entered it.
"what the!?" Aisha looks in surprise before chains springs out from the magic circle and then wrapped all around her body. "t-this is!?"
Aisha drops her weapon and falls to the rooftop as she struggled to get free but that caused the chains to wrap tighter to the point that it nearly suffocated her.
"Aisha!" Asfi shouted before she felt a dark presence appearing behind her. She turned and is met with Melinoe who is hovering behind her. "B-Blade Kaiser?!"
"didn't you know that the sky is my jurisdiction?" Melinoe said before she lunges her right arm forward and then grabs Asfi by the neck. "but I guess brats of that useless pervert Hermes wouldn't know considering how dumb that god really is."
"agh..ugh!" Asfi grunted in pain as Melinoe grips her neck to the point that she is choking.
Melinoe looks at the Perseus' pained expression for a moment before she swings her around and then throws her down which caused her to crash straight through a pub's roof and into the building.
"agh!" Asfi coughs out blood because of her harsh crash, she tried to get up, but Melinoe came and stomps her right foot down onto the Perseus' chest, forcing her down.
"ugh!" the Perseus looks in pain at the foot pressing down right above her heart before to the Blade Kaiser whose eyes glows menacingly red.
"you should've known better that the pathetic god you serve was someone whose order you should've never followed." Melinoe said as she put more pressure down onto Asfi's chest making her gasp in pain. "because of your foolishness, you'll be paying the price."
Melinoe grinds her foot down as Asfi starts to scream in pain.
Two Hell Knights soon came in as one has Aisha hanging over its shoulder, the Antianera still wrapped and chained while unconscious.
"Take this piece of shit away from my sight." Melinoe said as she takes her foot off and then walks away.
A Hell Knight moved forward and grabs Asfi then turns her around while pulling both of her hands back so that they could be cuffed. The Perseus' weapons and magic items were then confiscated while she gets taken out of the pub.
Melinoe exited the building before she spreads her wings and then flew into the air while the Hell Knights keep on moving and arresting people that they beaten up.
"When will this madness stop?" Ouka muttered as he and the others see Asfi with Aisha getting taken away.
"they won't stop until everyone who had committed a crime has been caught." Takemikazuchi said in seeing the large number of people being taken away. He looks and soon made a surprised yet confused noise when three Hell Knights came and pointed their spears at the Takemikazuchi Familia. "w-what the?"
"Kashima Ouka, Captain of Takemikazuchi Familia. you are under arrest for your crimes." One of the Hell Knights spoke in a mechanical robotic voice. "resist and we will be forced to use violence."
"w-wait a minute! Why Ouka!? He didn't do anything wrong!" Chigusa cried out as she and the others look terribly confused.
"Kashima Ouka's Crime is that he conducted a Pass Parade to the members of Hestia Familia within the Dungeon a few months before. His actions had endangered the lives of Bell Cranel and his companions who had nearly died." The Hell Knights spoke in unison as their eyes glows under their helmet's visor. "for that, Kashima Ouka shall be arrested and judged by the Kaisers."
"but that's!" Ouka spoke out but Takemikazuchi quickly steps in and stops him.
"but that's already old news!" the eastern god stated out. "Hestia and the others already put things aside and we're all good! why do you still need to do this!?"
"it is by the orders of the Kaisers." The Hell Knights spoke out in unison before they went into action.
"w-wait! Please! Ouka!" Chigusa cried out as two of the Hell Knights pushed her and Takemikazuchi back while the last one arrested Ouka's arms behind his back then takes him away. "Ouka!"
At another part of Orario, a large group of Hell Knights busted into Mia's pub and they surrounded the building along with everyone inside.
"t-this is bad-nya…" Chloe muttered out as she looks nervously scared. "we're outnumbered-nya."
"thanks for the obvious observation." Lunoire stated while having cold sweat on her shaking fists. She then glanced at Mia. "hey… what should we do, Mama Mia?"
"I don't know." Mia replied with a nervous and tensed look. "I doubt we can fight our way out of this."
"should we not try to escape instead?" Ryuu whispered. "I believe I can buy you all some time to escape."
"why escape-nya!?" Anya exclaimed as she flips her skirt quickly and wields a pair of dagger knives. "if we all work together, we can take them down-nya!"
"don't be a fool, Anya!" Mia exclaimed with a stern voice. "these are the Kaiser's Hell Knights! They are as strong as a Kaiser!"
"we don't know if we don't try to beat them, right?!" Anya exclaimed as she went and dash in to swing one of her daggers at the Hell Knights. "eat this-nya!"
The cat girl went on the attack before getting intercepted by Ploutos who appeared and grabbed her face.
"you cat people sure are getting annoying no matter what the era is." Ploutos said as he grips Anya's face very hard with his right hand
"ugh-nya?! W-who!?" Anya grunted as she drops her daggers and grabs Ploutos' arm which she begins to grip and claw at. "l-let go-nya! It hurts-nya!"
"that's the point of this position, cat brat." Ploutos said before he swings the cat girl around and then proceeds to slam her straight to the wooden floor that cracks and breaks.
"Anya!" Ryuu cried out before she gasps when the Hell Knights wields their spears and pointed the sharp pointed tips at her and her fellow bar maids.
"I want everyone here to be quiet and to comply with my orders." Ploutos said as he pulls his hand away from Anya's face as the cat girl had passed out in an instant to his action of slamming her through the floorboards. "I ain't like my siblings in terms of their brutality, so I am going to give you all this one chance and one chance only." he punches his fists together in front and causes a spark of electricity to crackle and dance around his arms that gets coated in blue lightning while his eyes begin to glow yellow. "come nicely with your body and lives intact or come half dead instead."
Mia and the others just look nervously scared as they sweated and tensed up.
Everywhere in Orario, the Hell Knights along with the Kaisers arrested many people; from men to women to even children who gets taken away to a large black swirling portal that sucks in anyone who walks in.
Makaria and Thalia supervise and watches the Hell Knights drag the people that they caught into the portal where they instantly disappeared into.
"Please! Help!" 'I never did anything wrong!' "The fucking hell is this!?" many people cried, screamed, and even cursed as they get dragged into the portal by the Hell Knights, but none heard their plea for help.
"so noisy…." Makaria spoke out as she scratches her ears. "and here I thought that rodents' screeches make my ears hurt back then."
"Rats, cockroaches, maggots, and worms. they are all alike with one another, Makaria" Thalia stated while tapping her staff once in making the rings jingle. "they're noisy and annoying as they should be."
"I guess so." Makaria replied while crossing her arms before she raises a hand to the side to catch the tip of a spear thrown at her. "huh?"
Makaria and Thalia turn to look at where the spear had come from as they see a large group of black armored adventurers of many races surrounding them.
"Seems that the bitch's maggots are very impulsive…" Thalia said as she turns her head to the other side and sees that there are more coming. "And annoying as always."
"that's an obvious reaction after Melinoe-nee and Polemos-nii busted their bitch's Home and throne." Makaria said as she pinches the spear's blade before the weapon shattered and became dust. "Although, I thought that they would strike at midnight rather than now."
"Should I call for the others?" Thalia asked while raising her staff and then leans it to the side. "or should I handle this?"
"nah, let Polemos-nii handle this." Makaria said while waving a hand side to side before she crosses her arms and shrugs. "He did say that the bitch's maggots are his prey just like that useless clown's worms are yours."
"true." Thalia replied as she raises and then slams the bottom of her staff to the ground. "but we might get stuck with Zagreus telling us to clean the mess Brother Polemos always make with those maggots."
"right….didn't think about that." Makaria said as both are ignoring the fact that the black geared adventurers are coming close around them. "it's going to be a very messy place."
Makaria and Thalia stand in silence as the black adventurers close in even more before they stopped when they heard a very powerful roar of thunder from above. One of them looks up and made a surprised noise as Polemos is hovering above the air, the Arc Kaiser wields a large and long tomahawk that he leans against his right shoulder while his eyes glow menacingly yellow with lightning flashing behind the background.
At the north part of Orario things there are as worst as the other parts of the city. the Hell Knights roamed every part of the street and took away anyone who the Kaisers have deemed to be a criminal or someone who has done a sin.
Upon the rooftop of a building, Zagreus stands and watches the armored knights marching and busting into houses and buildings before coming out with someone they beaten up and taken into custody. He watches everything as he even looks at one Hell Knight dragging a man away from a woman and a crying child.
"don't even think about it, Zagreus." Melinoe's voice spoke out as Zagreus slightly turns his head to the side to see the Blade Kaiser floating down and standing beside him. "That man is a former assassin who had come here to start a new life free of sins." She then crosses her arms. "But nothing is ever free in this world."
Zagreus looks at the Blade Kaiser for a moment in silence before he turns his head to look back down.
"How is the progress?" Zagreus asks.
"Going steady." Melinoe replies while crossing her arms. 'we're almost done rounding up the maggots, roaches, and worms in the city. we might be done in another hour.' She then hears thunder as she looks south and sees lightning striking down to one spot by the Babel Tower. "or two hours if Polemos helped hastened it."
"Tell Makaria and Thalia to clean after him," Zagreus said. "The blood of that bitch's maggots would linger longer than any other maggot's blood and I have no desire to smell it upon the next day."
"I think they already know though," Melinoe replied while raising both hands up and doing a shoulder shrug.
Zagreus made a small huff sound in return before he crosses his arms and looks down to see a group of random adventurers shouting and cursing as they were dragged in a large net by three Hell Knights.
"Ensure that every single maggot, roach, and rat in this city are captured by the time the sun rises on the next day." Zagreus said as he uncrosses his arms and turns around while taking a few steps forward "I'll be heading to the meeting with Ploutos and the others."
"don't try to fool me, Zagreus." Melinoe stated as she turns to look at Zagreus who stops in his track. 'I've known you for almost a century. I know you will try to help Loki Familia after what Thalia did to a few of their members.' Her eyes glow yellow before it became red. "don't forget that Meteria's Familia is that of Hera and those backstabbing bastards caused her to live in pain. It's time you show your loyalty to one side, Zagreus."
The Bloody Kaiser looks at the Blade Kaiser for a moment before he turns his head and waves his cape around him then disappears into thin air.
Melinoe looks at where Zagreus disappears before she turns and continues to watch the Hell Knights taking the captured citizens away.
At the area by the guild, there is a lot of commotion because there are dozens of adventurers from different Familias along with their patron gods who are gathered there and are under strict supervision by Polemos and an army of Hell Knights that didn't allow anyone to enter nor leave.
"what's going on here?" Takemikazuchi asks as he had been dragged to the guild with Chigusa.
"Takemikazuchi." Miach called out as he and Naaza went to the eastern war god. "You were taken here as well?"
"yeah, right after the Kaisers arrested Ouka and took him away." Takemikazuchi said.
"Why was he taken away?" Naaza asked in a confused voice.
"they said something about what Ouka and the others did in the past." Takemikazuchi replied as he was about to explain the details when the loud roar of thunder rang out from the sky and cut him off. "what the?"
Everyone looks up and sees the Underworld Castle floating into the scene as the dark castle hovers above their heads.
Polemos looks at the Underworld Castle for a moment before to his side as Zagreus appears.
The Bloody Kaiser stands beside the Arc Kaiser and looks at the large number of people that have been gathered.
"how many?" Zagreus said as he crosses his arms.
"68." Polemos stated while holding out a piece of paper for Zagreus to take and read its content. 'that includes the ones who haven't started a Familia but also excluding Hephaestus Familia, Demeter Familia, that brat Familia, Bell's Familia, and that bitch's Familia.' he crosses his arms. "but we have a few gods who we couldn't find at their Homes at all."
Zagreus reads the paper as it contains the name of every god and goddess in Orario. He read each name before he grips and burns it in blue flames.
The Bloody Kaiser looks at the crowd in front of him as his eyes soon glow and flash brightly.
"make them go quiet." Zagreus said as parts of his armor expanded. "their voices are annoying my concentration."
"BE QUIET!" Polemos shouted out as his voice roared so loudly that the air trembled and shakes while causing many to cover their ears.
The crowds of gods and their captains went quiet as none spoke a word.
Zagreus looks at the large group with his glowing eyes that began to burn vapor while blueish black flames began to burst from the expanded parts of his armor.
"Bunch of worthless gods and fools," Zagreus spoke out in a deep yet dark voice as the flames began to rage upon his armored body.
The Bloody Kaiser swings his arms to the front as he grips his hands together before pulling them apart in creating a black ball of fire that swirls in between his palms.
"w-what is he doing?" Chigusa cried out in fear as everyone looks scared of what the Bloody Kaiser is doing.
Zagreus holds the black ball of fire that floats upon his right hand while still glaring at the large group.
"die in the eternal darkness that you fear, pathetic mortals and gods." Zagreus said who raise his right hand and the black ball of fire floats into the air above.
Everyone looks at the small burning object as it flies and now floats above their heads before it suddenly exploded and creates a black flaming portal that appears in an instant.
"w-what is that?!" Takemikazuchi said in surprise as everyone looks at the portal that was burning while sucking in the air.
"w-what's going on?!" a random god shouted out as he is floating off the ground. "what's happening!?"
This situation didn't just occur with one god, it happened with a few other gods and Familia captains.
Screams began to echo as they all float off the ground and gets sucked into the black burning portal.
"what's happening to them!?" Naaza said in a shocked voice as she, Miach, Takemikazuchi, and Chigusa were looking bewildered and baffled to what was happening.
"h-help me!" some random god screams as he along with many others flies into the portal and gets sucked right into the darkness within it.
The black burning portal continues to suck in gods, and Familia captains before it stopped and disappears into black dust.
"is that all of them?" Polemos said as he looks at Zagreus whose burning armor began to die down its flames while the expanded parts began to shrink.
"that is all of them." Zagreus replied as he let out a long sigh in his helmet before he turns and began walking away. "deal with the rest."
Polemos looks at Zagreus walking away before he turns to look at the remaining gods and mortals in the group that is no longer so large in numbers.
"all of you who are still in this world can consider yourself lucky." Polemos said as he crosses his arms. "you are free to go, you got no sins to be punished by us."
The Hell Knights instantly place away their weapons and began to march away in formation.
Polemos turns and began to walk away with the Hell Knights.
"u-um…!" Chigusa's little voice cried out just loud enough for Polemos to hear as the Arc Kaiser stops and turns his head slightly to look back at the timid looking kunoichi. "w-what… what just happened? W-what happened t-to everyone who flew into that… portal?"
"they're dead." Polemos said in a nonchalant voice as this caused many to look shocked and baffled. 'those gods, goddesses, and Familia captains were either Evilus supporters and financers or a bunch of worthless shit that needs to be thrown away.' He then turns around and walked away. "anyone like them deserves nothing but to be killed by us Kaisers"
Polemos leaves as everyone left behind just looks baffled and extremely scared beyond words to know that the Kaisers have just killed nearly 20-30 people in just a single action.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye