- You and Arashi sat down on the cold stone floor of the dungeon. Both of you are exhausted from fighting hordes and hordes of Mercer's mutations. Dirtied after all flesh and blood from the monsters splatter on your clothes while fighting -
"Couldn't they just poof into black smoke just like the other monsters!? It's sticky, and it stinks!" You whined, removing all the mutation that remains off your armor.
"You do know they'll get dirty again once we get back into the battle, right?" He asks you with a know-it-all smile. You smile back at him, confusing the man.
"You do know those are still alive, right? Keep that on for too long, and it'll eat you whole." You inform. Arashi immediately stands up, removing every chunk of mutation flesh that stuck to his body.
"Really!?" He asked with concern. You just laugh at him as you picked up one of the chunks of flesh.
"No, I'm just messing with you." You said while laughing. He becomes furious, which made you laugh more, "Calm down, don't be so tense. I'm trying to lighten the mood here... after all, one of us might not make it." You said with a mischievous smile.
"What's that suppose to mean!?" He asks angrily. But his words fell on deaf ears as he sees you already walking ahead, "Hey! Don't ignore me!" He shouted as he ran after you.
[With Vonika]
- Vonika sits down on a chair behind the counter, waiting for a customer to enter the shop. She fiddles with a glass beaker as she waits. Though, the peace was broken by a voice -
"Vonika! This is Mercer. The Godkiller and his accomplice are nearing my location! You need to get here now!" Mercer shouts. Vonika holds her ear in pain as she removes the creature attached to the side of her head.
"I-I don't know Mercer... these people are just living their lives peacefully... I don't think-" Vonika reasons, a regretful look on her face, but Mercer interrupts her.
"Listen, Vonika. What you did last night was smart. We could've been caught. I have already made and hidden a Mother-type mutation deep inside their dungeon. You only need to bail me out of here, I'll make sure Ares will commend you for this, and maybe your mother will finally accept you as her daughter!" Mercer's voice can be heard through the creature. He seems nervous and in fear. Vonika looks down, contemplating.
[With You]
- The enemies are getting powerful and many. But you and Arashi pushed through. Using only your scythe, you preserve your energy for the battle against Mercer. As the last mutation fell, you were faced with a tall gate made from stone and flesh -
"Would you do the honors?" You asked, giving a smile to Arashi. He nods with a serious look on his face.
"Of course." He said, walking in front of the gate. He musters all his strength and punches it. Opening it.
- Mercer sat on a throne made of flesh inside. A cocky smirk on his face as he sees the two of you enter. Arashi grits his teeth as he marches ahead -
"You son of a bitch! How dare you infiltrate Orario and try to disrupt the peaceful lives of the people!" He shouted as he marched. You looked to the side and saw many glowing red eyes. You pulled Arashi back as he failed to notice it because of his anger.
"Don't! Look at the sides. I've fought this guy many times, and he does not fight fair!" You exclaimed. Arashi looked on, wide-eyed at all the red eyes piercing through the darkness.
"Oh, Boo Hoo! HE DoEsN't FiGHt FaIrLY! Says the guy who literally summons creatures to get the upper hand. We ain't different, Godkiller! Don't you bring that heroic shit in here!" Mercer shouted as he stood up. He signals his creatures to come closer, and they all walked forward, showing you a variety of different mutations.
"This bastard made a whole family down here. You sure we can take this?" Arashi asked with a doubtful look. You smile at him.
"Don't tell me you're backing out now, pussy!" You mocked. He gave you a fake smile, hiding his anger.
"Just askin', don't wanna see you unconscious again, and I certainly don't wanna haul that deadweight up this dungeon either." He barked, "Stand back. I'll do the first wave." He continued with a smirk as he walked forward.
"Roullete." He stated. He looked down at his arms and saw electricity surging through them, "Oh! this will be fun." He continued with a sly smile, popping his knuckles as he walks forward.
"Engage!" Mercer commanded. A few hunters and juggernauts ran at Arashi, but they all were immobilized as he punches them, sending waves of electricity through their bodies as they fell, spasming in pain.
- Mercer signaled the others, and more mutations started swarming him. Arashi glares at the creatures. He quickly grabs his sickles while dodging from a hunter's pounce. The monsters all attack at the same time, Arashi can still manage as he slashed all around him, those who got hit died immediately because of the electricity buff -
"That all you got!" Arashi taunted. Mercer growled at the insult, hi whistles, and the monsters suddenly change. Their precise attacks became reckless blows, full of strength and power.
- Slowly, Arashi got overwhelmed by the sheer number of mutations. You were about to step in and help, but you hear him shout in anger. An explosion of electricity boomed at his location. The monsters immediately fell. Unfortunately, you also got hit. You felt the electricity go through your whole body as you try and endure it. Thankfully, you were strong enough to stay on your own two legs -
"This guy's skills are all destructive." You mumbled as you recovered from the electric shock. You saw Arashi panting heavily in the middle of all the dead mutations. You smirked at Mercer, but he just smiled back, confusing you.
- The ground started shaking, and 3 snake-like creatures sprouted from the ground, their spiked jaws splitting open, showing a long tongue equipped with sharp teeth. One of them used it to try and grab Arashi, so you warped beside him and quickly shoved him away -
"You like my new pets? They're called hydras! You're the first ones to test them in action. You should feel honored, fighting against Rakia's soon-to-be war weapons against any kingdom that tries to get in our way!" He stated with a prideful tone.
- The hydra behind you tried to capture you using its jaws, but you summoned Oni. The creature bites down, but Oni using his superior strength, held the two spikes open. It struggled to get out of the Oni's grip, but Oni snaps the creature's neck before pulling out the weaponized jaws -
"I'm not kidding anymore, Mercer." You stated as you walked towards him, "Many innocent lives are at stake because of you. And I won't let any of that happen just to fill Ares' lust for war." You continued, brandishing your scythe. He looks behind you and sees Oni stabbing the hydra's jaws into the other two, killing them.
"I ain't kidding either, Godkiller. This is not just about Ares' lust for war, He is a just leader, and he is wary of the other Gods. You think they will willingly help us without any ulterior motive!? I don't believe they came here out of boredom. Ares showed his already, making him more trusted than any of the God here." Mercer argued as he motioned all the Gods above.
"Not because one God is a tyrannical warlord doesn't mean the others are! The Gods in Orario already showed their motives... well, most of them. It's to live life like humans, have friends and family, enjoy the food here, experience life." You argued as you remember how Hestia acted on the occasions that every member of the Familia go out and enjoy themselves.
"And how do you know this!? Gods don't always show their true colors when someone is with them." He persistently insisted, not believing any word you said.
"Because I've been living with one, dumbass! And why don't you go ask Vonika the same? She'll have the same answer, you'll see!" You shouted, trying to get your point into Mercer's thick skull. He looked behind you and smiled.
"I would, I really would, Godkiller. But I think Vonika has some more pressing matters to do." Mercer spat. Just as the last words left his mouth, you felt a cold breeze. You looked down and saw your legs start to freeze. You tried to move but couldn't. You could only look behind in anger and sorrow as you saw Vonika standing there. You looked back and glared at Mercer as your whole body gets frozen.
"Poor Godkiller, he actually thought you were on his side. Never thought someone so powerful could be so gullible and easily manipulated." Mercer laughed as he motions Vonika to come closer. She followed... reluctantly. Mercer pats her on the back as he continued to laugh.
"You did good, Vonika! I will make sure Ares will hear of it!" Mercer complimented as he shifted his hands into hammerfists, ready to shatter you.
- But Mercer was surprised when cracks started to appear all around your body. Pitch-black smoke started seeping out as the ice also turn into a dark color. Vonika was in shock at seeing this. She remembered the dungeon incident with Lili -
"Mercer run!" Vonika shouted as she grabbed Mercer's arm and started running. Mercer was confused, but as more cracks appear, he felt fear and started running also.
- The compressed ice finally shatters, releasing the smoke as it covered the area. Nothing can be seen throughout the whole floor. Vonika and Mercer got out. Panting heavily from exhaustion and fear. They see a bright orange glow pierce through the smoke, and it started getting more intense -
"Mercer, block the way!" Vonika ordered in fear. Mercer, using his hammerfists, punched the supporting stones of the entrance. They gave out, and the rocks started falling, covering the gate.
- They hear the monster's shout of anguish as it clawed through the stone. Its bright orange glow seeps. And can be seen through the cracks and crevices. Both of them started walking back as they try to ignore the shrieks. Vonika looked down as she felt sorrow in the shouts -
[With Freya]
- Freya looks down on Orario, once again trying to find an adventurer worth going for or another beautiful soul wandering around. She stared at the dungeon entrance, trying to catch Bell going in or out of it. But something shined through the dungeon, a light that could almost pierce through the heavens. She saw your soul once more, more vibrant and intense. She stared in awe once again -
"Such a beautiful soul!" She exclaimed as she focused her stare, mesmerizing her, "Wait! No, no, no!" She sadly muttered as she saw the different colors start to merge, leaving a dull dark fiery orange.
- Just as the color showed itself. A wave of bloodlust, sorrow, and anger boomed through the dungeon. Every God felt it, and some high-level adventurers. It was so intense that Ganesh Familia and some other Familia's are instantly ordered to temporarily close the dungeon and escort those still inside to go out. Until the one emitting the bloodlust is either dealt with or disappear on its own -
[With You]
- You already morphed back. You sit down in sorrow and regret beside an unconscious Arashi. The only thing in your mind is that Vonika betrayed you and tried to kill you -
"The one time I did the right thing is the time I got kicked over." You mutter. You needed to release some anger, so you quickly summoned Nurse and commanded her to teleport Arashi to the 18th floor.
- You started your trek from your floor to the top, killing anything that got in your way. You can still feel the anger not decreasing a bit. You felt as if you can turn again. You tried and willingly morphed into the monster you called The Entity. No facial features, eyes, mouth. There's not even any body shape. It's just a mass of dark shadow that stabs and pulls things closer to absorb them alive or dead -
"Let's keep our bloodlust on as warning!" You said as you continued going up. You can feel those closer to you. You can see their soul, an outline of their body, many started to flee, but two stayed on floor 11.
"Dumbasses!" You muttered as you quickened the pace, wanting to see who those two foolish adventurers are. You saw the white outline of the other person's soul, "A pure one, eh? Let's taint it with blood!" You growled, accelerating.
- You reached the 11th floor, it was covered with mist, but you can still see the outline. The two adventurers drew their weapons, their bodies shaking slightly, but he manages to confront you -
"This mist is blocking everything! This wouldn't be a fair fight." You said with a deranged smile. You summoned spikes and spun in a circle at fast speeds clearing the mist, giving you and the adventurer enough space to battle.
[With Bell]
- Bell and Welf went to the dungeon after Welf created his new weapon from the minotaur horn. Lili couldn't come with, because the gnome who gave her a place to stay is sick, so she decided to take care of him -
"So, how'd you liking the new weapon?" Welf asked as they walked down the dungeon, going straight for the 11th floor.
"It's awesome! My weapon, made from a minotaur horn! How do you blacksmiths even do it?" Bell happily said as he admired the weapon, "I'm sure (Y/N) will also be amazed by this!" He continued. Welf stared in confusion. Bell's party members are only Lili.
"Who's (Y/N)?" Welf asked. Bell smiled proudly and answered that you are the famed and feared Godkiller. Welf stared in shock at what he just heard.
"The Godkiller is your Familia member?" He asked, surprised. Bell sheepishly rubbed the back of his head and answered yes.
"Yeah... wait? How come you didn't know? A note was sent to all the Familias that the Godkiller is in Hestia Familia." Bell asked, scratching the side of his head in confusion.
"Oh, well... I kinda just stay in my shed almost all of the time, trying to make some top-gear that I can sell." Welf answered, "So what's he like, the Godkiller? Is he strict? Evil? Short-tempered?" He asked.
"No, he's nice. Except for that short-tempered part, he gets irritated easily. There's also another member, Vonika Divad. She currently works in the Blue Pharmacy." Bell answered. Welf thought about the name. it seems so familiar.
"Vonika? Do you mean Veronika? How'd she end up here in Orario?" Welf asked, remembering the times he still lived in Rakia.
"No, her daughter Vonika... Wait, you know them?" Bell asked, surprised that Vonika knew someone in Orario, considering she was a soldier in the Rakia Kingdom.
"Yeah, we used to have a business partnership. The Divad family is known for making the best potions, and ours is well known for the magic weapons and armor." He answered. Bell's eyes shine at the word magic weapons.
"You can make magic weapons!? Can you make me one!?" Bell asked, almost jumping up in joy. Welf looked to the side in uncertainty and sighed.
"I can't, Bell. Magic weapons are too destructive, I've tried to reason with my family, but they just wouldn't listen. I've cut ties with that skill, and I hope I won't make one again." Welf reasoned. Bell noticed how uncomfortable he is about the topic, so he decided to change it.
"Well, I'm sure (Y/N), and Vonika would love to meet you!" Bell tried to cheer him up. Welf smiled at that and imagined how his first meeting with the Godkiller would be.
- The Godkiller sent fear across Rakia kingdom before, as news returned that he was killing Ares' soldiers as well as hunting the God himself, not much is known why. But the people stayed in fear. Until Ares returned to Rakia, claiming that he defeated the Godkiller and didn't kill him out of mercy. People's fears were lessened that day -
"I just couldn't believe that someone like the Godkiller would just stop his hunt and settle down in Orario as an adventurer." Welf said. Bell laughed at it, agreeing at his statement.
"Yeah... but we had some problems with him lately." Bell said in a sad tone. He wanted to show (Y/N) his new feats, but he's nowhere to be found.
"What's the problem?" Welf asked. Worried for Bell for how his tone immediately shifted into sorrow, unlike his cheerful one.
"He's been gone for 3 days now. No one knows where he is. I'm starting to get worried for him." Bell continued, his tone getting sadder as he continued to think about the possibilities.
"Don't worry, Bell. He's the Godkiller! I don't think anyone can take him down." Welf reassured. Bell looked up and smiled at him, "He's bound to come back eventually. Oh, look! We're here." Welf said as he gestured to the 11th floor, the same mist he saw yesterday.
- As they walked deeper into the floor, suddenly, many adventurers sprint past them, shouting and screaming in fear. Then they felt it, the bloodlust coming from the lower floor. Bell advised Welf to leave immediately, but he stayed with him -
"What the hell is that!" Welf asked in fear as he saw the silhouette through the mist, its pitch-black body with little bits of fiery red glowing through it. But Bell already knew who it was.
"(Y/N)?" He asked, walking towards the beast. Welf grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
"What are you doing, Bell! That thing will eat you alive!" He said to Bell. Bell shoved his hand off and looked at him.
"That's the Godkiller, Welf! That's (Y/N)! I think he's stuck inside that form! We need to help him out!" Bell reasoned as he tried to get closer to it again. Spikes immediately protrude through the beast, and it did a spinning slash, clearing the area of the mist.
"We need to fight him out of there!"
<><><>
Welp, this is chapter 34. Bye!
Yeah... I felt horrible for our mc, but it needs to be done. I've been reading our past chapters, and I saw a plot hole with Vonika's disappearance and recruitment, so I tried to fix it. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Bye!
Don't worry, @TheTrueHandSanitizer. Arashi is still not out of the action.