With Bell and Lili, the two of them ran as fast as they could from their attackers. Bell, carrying Hestia over his shoulder, found it far more difficult to shake off the ambushers. Dividing his focus between combat and ensuring that their goddess was not placed in any danger at the same time was treacherous. Every movement had to be calculated, every step carefully placed. He could not afford to stumble, nor could he afford to hesitate. The added weight made his escape more taxing, yet he continued forward without complaint.
Luckily for him, Lili was there to assist him in his turmoil.
As they ran, they darted through narrow alleys, turning left and right in quick succession, heading north toward the Guild. Their footsteps echoed sharply against the stone pathways as they pushed forward without slowing down. The ruined buildings seemed to twist and turn around them, but they pressed on with urgency. Eventually, as they rounded another corner, they stumbled upon a handful of members from the Plutus and Apollo Familias waiting ahead.
Though confronted by the sight of enemies charging toward them, they were not deterred.
"Tch," Lili scoffed, clicking her tongue the moment she saw the figures blocking their path. "How cowardly you guys are. It's not enough for us to already accept your stupid declaration."
Without hesitation, Lili moved ahead of Bell, who still carried Hestia on his shoulder. She held her spear in an attacking position even while running, maintaining perfect form without losing control of her weapon. Her posture remained steady despite the speed of her steps. A sudden wind element began to coat the area around the spear's tip, forming a pointed edge of condensed air. The flow of wind tightened and sharpened, visibly gathering at the head of her weapon.
"[TEMPEST]," she chanted.
At her words, the wind element thickly coated the spear, swirling around its top as the blades became visibly sharper in appearance. The air vibrated around it, the swirling currents compressing into a focused force. Without breaking her stride, she lunged her spear forward, aiming directly at the enemy in front of them who had already drawn close.
Her spear struck the demi-human enemy, who had raised his sword in an attempt to parry the attack. Steel met steel, but it did not conclude as the enemy had intended. The impact released a powerful shockwave of compressed wind that erupted outward like a violent gust. The force hurled the demi-human backward before he could properly brace himself.
He collided heavily with his nearby comrades, who had been standing close together. The recoil from Lili's strike sent them crashing into one another, the combined force knocking them off balance. They were thrown to the ground, sprawling across the stone pavement, rendered unconscious from the impact.
Without sparing them another glance, Bell and Lili continued running north. Once again, they dashed through the alleys, weaving between narrow paths as they made their way toward their destination.
"Good job, Lili!" Hestia shouted, her voice filled with relief and happiness that the encounter had been settled without difficulty. "Keep going through this path and continue in this direction. We can arrive at the Guild if we just follow it!"
"Yes, Goddess!" Bell and Lili shouted in agreement.
Without slowing down, they continued along the path as their goddess commanded, swiftly maneuvering through the winding pathways laid out before them. Their footsteps echoed sharply as they pressed forward, keeping their pace steady. Bell maintained his balance carefully with Hestia on his shoulders, while Lili remained slightly ahead, guiding their route with urgency.
However, before long, they encountered more enemies from the Apollo and Plutus Familia members. This time, the situation was worse. Instead of just a handful, their numbers had grown to a dozen, spreading across the street ahead and blocking their way.
"Bell! Lili!" Hestia shouted desperately, her voice carrying clear warning. "Behind us! There's more on the ruined buildings!"
Bell and Lili frowned at the notion, momentarily overwhelmed by the escalating situation. Being surrounded from both the front and behind tightened the pressure around them.
Lili, who clearly understood her role between herself and Bell as the one primarily responsible for guiding the three of them safely to the Guild, quickly scanned their surroundings. Her sharp eyes caught sight of a narrow road that had not yet been occupied or blocked by the attackers.
"Sir Bell!" Lili shouted urgently. "Follow me! This way!"
Without a second thought, Bell followed closely behind her, entrusting the path management to the prum in front. He stayed right at her back while drawing one of his two swords with his right hand. The blade slid free smoothly, catching the light as he prepared himself. In case of any further ambushes, he was ready to use his sword's ability to conjure an attack that could almost guarantee wiping out any enemies who came their way.
The enemies quickly gave chase. Those positioned on the ruined buildings began firing arrows downward, aiming to strike at least one of them to slow their progress. The sound of bowstrings snapping echoed above as arrows cut through the air toward them.
Bell realizing that he was the most likely target in the back, especially while carrying their goddess, made a swift decision. He bent his knees and launched himself into the air with Hestia still secured on his shoulders.
"Hold on tight, Goddess!" he shouted as he leaped upward.
The sudden movement lifted them above ground level, momentarily distancing them from the incoming arrows. Mid-air, Bell focused and began imbuing mana into his sword. The blade responded instantly, glowing with a white and blue hue that blended together in harmony. The light shimmered along its edge, growing brighter as he poured more energy into it.
A moment later, another colour joined the mixture. A red hue flame spreading through the blade as he infused his fire magic as well. The white, blue, and red intertwined along the sword, intensifying as the mana continued to flow through it.
He then raised his sword, preparing a strike toward the incoming enemies behind the three of them. His grip tightened as he steadied himself mid-air.
"[FIRE BOLT]!" Bell shouted as he swung his blade horizontally downwards in a powerful motion.
At the moment of release, a massive wave of light burst forth from the arc of his swing, surging toward the enemies at tremendous speed. The air itself seemed to split as the attack tore through it, rushing forward without hesitation.
The attackers were stopped in their tracks, panic immediately spreading across their faces upon witnessing such an overwhelming strike being unleashed toward them. Shock replaced aggression in an instant. They did not have the time to dodge as the attack moved far too fast to be evaded.
BOOM!
The wave of light collided with its targets, erupting into a massive explosion upon impact. The force of the blast shook the surrounding area as smoke and dust surged outward, blanketing a large portion of the street. The ground trembled under the intensity of the detonation, clearly demonstrating that the power behind Bell's attack was no child's play.
For several moments, visibility was obscured. Thick clouds of smoke and dust lingered in the air, slowly dispersing as the aftermath settled.
As the smoke and dust cleared from the impact site, the extent of the destruction became visible. Almost an entire block had been destroyed by the attack unleashed by Bell. Rubble and debris were scattered across the ground, the ruined buildings further reduced by the force of the explosion.
Lili, who had stopped in her tracks because of Bell's sudden leap and strike, witnessed the destruction caused by her comrade's reckless attack. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the aftermath.
'If this were in the main parts of the city, we'd be in more trouble than we already are right now,' Lili thought, contemplating the white-haired rabbit's decision to carelessly unleash an attack of such caliber. 'Thankfully, we're in the abandoned part of the city.'
Bell then descended and landed gracefully, Hestia still securely on his shoulder. Despite the explosive display moments ago, his footing was steady as he straightened himself. He turned his head toward Lili, determination clear in his eyes.
"Let's go, Lili!" Bell said with a firm nod.
Lili returned the nod without hesitation. "Yeah, let's go!" she replied, her expression equally determined.
Without wasting another second, they resumed their escape, heading north toward the Guild in search of safety. Their footsteps once again echoed through the narrow passages as they navigated the maze-like alleys of the ruined buildings. The path twisted unpredictably, but they pressed forward without slowing.
After weaving through several more turns and tight corridors, they eventually arrived at an opening ahead.
Bell, Lili, and Hestia carefully looked around their surroundings, searching for any sign that could lead them toward the path to the Guild. Their breathing had yet to fully settle, but their eyes remained sharp, scanning every corner of the open area they had just stepped into.
After a brief moment, their gazes landed on a path that led straight toward the main part of the city. An area far more active and populated, where many eyes would be present as witnesses.
"Look!" Hestia shouted, pointing toward the livelier district visible in the distance. "We can head there, and they'll have a hard time hunting us down. We would arrive at the Guild more easily!"
Bell and Lili nodded at their goddess's words without hesitation. The logic was sound. In a crowded area, their pursuers would be far more restricted in their actions. Wasting no time, they prepared to move toward the path that would lead them into a safer environment.
However, just as they were about to take another step forward, a dozen people suddenly blocked their way.
Bell and Lili immediately stopped in their tracks. The abrupt appearance of the group forced them into an instant defensive stance. Their bodies tensed, instincts kicking in as they recognized the hostility in the air.
As they readied themselves, their eyes shifted toward the two figures standing at the front of the group. Two familiar faces entered their line of sight.
"You two," Lili said, recognition dawning on her face. "Cassandra. Daphne."
With their presence announced, Cassandra and Daphne stood silently at the forefront of the formation. Despite the tension in the air, neither of them made a move to attack the Hestians or their goddess.
"You should just give up," Daphne said at last, her tone carrying a mixture of solemnity and reluctant concern toward the Hestians. "Once Lord Apollo and Lord Plutus took a liking to a child, they'll follow and chase them to the ends of the earth."
Bell and Lili listened carefully to the Apollon woman's words, though their guards remained firmly raised. Neither of them relaxed their stance, wary of any sudden movement from the others behind her.
Daphne continued, her voice steady despite the weight of what she was saying. "From city to city, country to country, he will hunt you down everywhere until you give in."
The red-haired Apollon looked on with a begrudging expression. "That's," she said, a trace of anger rising in her tone, "how Cassandra and I were made to join Apollo's Familia."
"And that is how many of the Apollo and Plutus members were made to be..." Daphne finished, a sorrowful note lingering at the end of her sentence.
Silence hung briefly between the two groups.
"So," Daphne spoke again, her serious gaze settling on Bell and Lili, "will you just give up and surrender yourselves to us? I would rather not hurt the people who would join us."
____
Bell and Lili looked toward the two members of the Apollo Familia up front with solemn expressions. The weight of the situation pressed down on them, but neither of them wavered. Though the offer had been laid out plainly before them, both of them solidified their resolve.
"No," Lili said firmly, rejecting the offer not only for herself but for Bell as well. Her voice was steady despite the overwhelming odds surrounding them. "The Hestia Familia will claim victory, even if it seems hopeless."
Daphne looked at the Hestians with a blank expression. However, beneath that calm exterior, a sliver of frustration and regret could be seen flickering within her eyes. She let out a slow sigh, as though she had expected that answer all along.
"Yeah," she replied quietly, "of course you would say that."
Her expression then shifted, growing serious and resolute.
"Then," Daphne announced, her voice carrying authority, "Apollo members, Plutus members! Surround them!"
The moment her command was given, movement erupted around them. Members of both Familias stepped forward, encircling the Hestians from all directions. The space around Bell and Lili tightened as more figures appeared, cutting off every possible route of escape.
Then, five individuals stepped forward, positioning themselves near Daphne and Cassandra.
Bell and Lili's eyes widened the instant they recognized them.
"Y-You..." Bell said in disbelief, his voice faltering. "It's you guys..."
The five individuals were none other than the adventurers the Hestians had once saved in the Dungeon from two Minotaurs, back when Bell and Lili were both still Level 1. The memory of that desperate fight lingered clearly in their minds.
An elf man stood at the front, accompanied by a human woman and three prums. The elf appeared to be the leader of their group.
He stepped forward slightly and spoke, his expression heavy with guilt. "We're sorry it has come to this, Bell, Lili. But these are orders we can't ignore. Forgive us."
There was clear regret in his voice as he and his companions prepared themselves for battle. Despite their readiness, their faces betrayed the discomfort they felt about raising their weapons against the very people who had once saved their lives.
Seeing this, Bell's expression hardened—not in anger, but in resolve.
He gently set Hestia down onto her feet.
"Goddess Hestia," Bell said urgently, his tone firm yet protective, "hide somewhere quickly!"
Hestia hesitated for a brief moment. The thought of leaving them to face such numbers alone troubled her deeply. However, she understood that Bell's command was made with her safety in mind. Reluctantly, she nodded and moved away to find a safer place to hide.
Surprisingly, none of the surrounding enemies made any move toward their goddess.
Once Bell confirmed that Hestia had reached a relatively safe spot, he turned back toward the encircling enemies. Lili stepped closer to his side, her resolve just as strong as his.
Without another word between them, Bell and Lili assumed their battle stances, ready to face what was about to come.
<->
Back to where Aurelius was,
Aurelius stood firmly in place, staring down the captain of the Plutus Familia with caution and precise observation. His gaze was steady, unblinking, carefully studying every subtle movement and detail. He did not rush forward, nor did he provoke them. Instead, he allowed himself the time to observe.
His eyes then shifted toward the other three standing nearby. One of them he already knew, having received information about her from Hermes. The other two, however, were complete unknowns to him.
'By the looks of it,' Aurelius thought, taking advantage of the brief pause while none of his opponents had made the first move, 'Marcus over there is a tank. Judging by the heavy armour he's wearing and that big damn hammer he's wielding, he might also serve as a damage dealer.'
His gaze lingered briefly on the large man, taking in the thickness of the armor plating and the sheer weight of the weapon in his grip. The stance Marcus held suggested durability, but the hammer implied devastating force as well.
Aurelius then shifted his attention toward Leona.
'If I were to guess about Leona,' he continued internally, 'she might be the type of swordswoman who resembles Aiz. Though, of course, her true capabilities are still unknown.'
He carefully noted the way she positioned herself. Balanced, composed, and alert. Her posture suggested discipline and precision, though nothing about her movements revealed the full extent of her strength just yet.
Finally, Aurelius turned his head slightly toward the other two, who stood just slightly behind but beside the main pair.
'The prum might be one of those knight-type swordsmen. Him wielding that long sword further confirms it.'
The weapon's length and the way the prum held it hinted at a style centered on formality and structure rather than wild aggression.
'And that Japanese-looking woman is either a samurai or a kunoichi. Either way, she might be one of those types who lands a decisive blow or something. If she resembles the likes of Mikoto in her fighting style, than it settles the idea of it.'
Her stance was composed, controlled, and reserved, suggesting precision rather than brute strength. Whether she specialized in swift finishing strikes or calculated engagements, Aurelius mentally marked her as someone who could not be underestimated.
He continued staring them down, patiently waiting for any of them to make the first move. His breathing remained calm as his mind worked rapidly, predicting the kinds of attacks the four elite members of the Plutus Familia might initiate. He considered the likely order. Marcus leading the charge, others following to capitalize on any opening.
However, he did not get the chance to refine his mental strategy further.
Without warning, Leona and Marcus suddenly charged forward. Marcus took the lead, clearly assuming the role of the tank as he surged ahead. His heavy armor clanked with each powerful step, the hammer held ready to strike.
Leona followed closely behind him, her intentions not yet revealed. Whether she planned to strike from behind Marcus's cover or adapt to Aurelius's reaction remained uncertain.
Aurelius readied his stance, firmly planting his feet as he prepared to face his opponents and receive whatever attacks were thrown at him. His posture was steady, shield raised, body angled to absorb impact efficiently. His eyes remained sharp and focused.
He soon saw Marcus closing in. The captain of the Plutus Familia reared back his massive hammer, lifting it high with clear intent to bring it crashing down upon the Hestian captain.
'Predictable,' Aurelius thought as he watched the attack unfold. The motion was powerful, but clear and perceivable to his trained eyes. Without hesitation, he raised his shield upward to intercept the descending strike.
CLANG!
Marcus' hammer slammed against Aurelius' shield with tremendous force. The impact rang out loudly, echoing through the battlefield. The sheer weight behind the blow created a small crater beneath Aurelius' foot as the ground cracked under the pressure. Yet despite the force, Aurelius himself was not affected in the slightest. His body held firm.
Seeing that his initial strike had not broken through, Marcus gritted his teeth and applied further pressure. He leaned into the hammer, forcing the weapon downward against the shield in an attempt to overwhelm Aurelius through sheer strength, compelling him to focus entirely on defending against the crushing force.
As Aurelius concentrated on holding back Marcus' hammer, a sudden presence entered from his left side.
His instincts flared.
Aurelius turned his head sharply to the left and saw Leona already in motion, her rapier poised to lunge toward the side of his stomach.
Though, Aurelius saw through it.
'You're a bit slow to make that move, woman,' he thought, tracking the swordswoman's approach with steady perception.
Reacting quickly, he chanted his sub-magic while raising his left arm, preparing to counter her strike with a decisive blow of his own.
"[POWER FIST]."
At his command, his left fist and forearm became coated in a golden, armour-like gauntlet that shimmered with condensed magic. The construct solidified around his limb, reinforcing it for impact. Without delay, he swung his arm toward Leona, confident that his strike would land before she could adjust.
However, it did not come to the conclusion the Hestian captain had intended.
Just as his empowered fist was about to connect, Leona suddenly blitzed past in a streak of yellow light. Her form blurred, vanishing from its previous position and slipping past his strike in a flash. In the next instant, she reappeared on the right side of the towering man, precisely where his right arm remained occupied by Marcus' hammer, which was still pressing firmly against his shield.
"?!" Aurelius reacted in alarm.
Seeing her move at such speed was a sudden shock to him. His eyes widened slightly as he caught sight of her rapier, now coated in a glowing yellow hue. The blade shimmered with concentrated energy.
'Shit!' Aurelius cursed inwardly.
Leona lunged.
Her rapier shot forward at blinding speed, so fast that even Aurelius could not properly track the motion. The thrust struck the right side of his stomach cleanly.
The force of the impact sent Aurelius several meters sideways, propelled in the direction of Leona's strike. His massive frame nearly left the ground entirely, momentum carrying him across the battlefield. Only his left leg remained anchored, digging into the earth and preventing him from being fully thrown off his feet.
The strain travelled through his body as he fought against the force. Quickly regaining control, Aurelius used that planted left leg to stabilize himself. Without wasting a second, he forced his right leg down as well, re-establishing his footing and returning to a balanced stance once more.
However, as his right leg was only halfway down toward the ground, the prum suddenly appeared directly in front of him. His long sword was coated in a dark blue-like aura, the energy surrounding the blade shimmering as he prepared to swing. The timing was precise, striking at the exact moment Aurelius was still regaining his balance.
Seeing this, Aurelius quickly lifted his shield again, intending to block the incoming slash even while still in the midst of trying to firmly plant his right foot back onto the ground.
The slash came through.
Aurelius successfully defended against it, the blade striking against his shield with force. However, the combination of Marcus' earlier pressure and Leona's previous strike left him slightly staggered from the imbalance of the aftermath. Though the blow did not wound him, the unstable footing made the defence less steady than before.
"Orihime!" the prum shouted, his voice loud despite its youthful tone.
Hearing the name, Aurelius briefly glanced around in that split second, attempting to assess the situation within that micro moment. His mind worked quickly, analysing the battlefield in the narrow window of time he had.
But when he turned his gaze back—
It was already too late.
The samurai, now known as Orihime, was ready to strike. She struck downward with her katana at swift speed, her motion clean and controlled. The blade descended with such sharp precision that it seemed as though it was cutting through the air itself as it fell.
The attack landed.
CLANG!
Orihime's eyes widened in shock at the result of her strike. Where a clean slash mark should have been present across Aurelius' back, there was instead nothing of the sort. Her katana had been halted mid-cut. The blade's edge pressed against the Hestian captain's back, friction grinding against him as sparks flew from the point of contact.
It was as if her sword had struck steel rather than flesh.
"How clever," Aurelius said, his voice calm despite the coordinated assault he had just endured. He was clearly acknowledging the teamwork and chemistry demonstrated by the four elite members of the Plutus Familia. "But this is not enough to bring me down."
With that, Aurelius spun around. Now that both of his legs were firmly planted on the ground, his balance fully restored, he moved decisively. Using the momentum of his rotation, he delivered a powerful shield bash toward the samurai woman.
Orihime, caught off guard by how unexpectedly fast the titan-like man was despite his size, did not have enough time to react properly. Panic flashed across her face as she struggled to decide on the correct course of action.
Just as Aurelius was about to make contact—
A white blur of light suddenly zipped through the air.
The streak of yellow light reached Orihime in an instant, striking her and carrying her away from the path of the incoming shield. She was pulled clear just in time. Aurelius' shield, meant to strike the Plutus samurai, instead met nothing but air as his arm extended fully forward.
Though the attack missed its intended target, the force behind it did not simply vanish.
A powerful shockwave erupted from the swing, surging forward in a straight line toward the nearby wall of a ruined building. The wave slammed into the structure with tremendous impact.
The wall was torn down from the force, collapsing under the strike as debris scattered outward.
____
Orihime was gently set down by the streak of light, which was revealed to be Leona. The swordswoman steadied the samurai as both of them turned their attention toward the wall that had just been struck.
They frowned in anxiousness, a trace of fear surfacing in their expressions as they witnessed the aftermath. The absurd sheer power produced by the Hestian captain was not something that could be ignored. Even though the strike had not landed on Orihime directly, the destruction it caused made it clear what would have happened if it had connected.
The prum, not wanting to become the next immediate target, quickly backed off, putting more distance between himself and Aurelius. His small frame retreated several steps as he tightened his grip on his long sword. He too frowned, unsettled by the overwhelming strength behind that single shield bash.
Aurelius then shifted his gaze back toward the three elite members of the Plutus Familia. His brow furrowed as he noticed something was off.
One of them was missing.
'Where did that damn Marcus go?!' he thought sharply, instantly alert at the absence of the Plutus captain.
Before he could sweep his eyes across the battlefield to locate the missing man—
A sudden hit landed behind him with extreme force.
The impact was devastating.
In a rare moment, Aurelius spat out a bit of blood from his mouth as the blow connected cleanly. The sheer power behind it sent him flying forward into a ruined building in the distance. His massive frame crashed violently into its walls, and the structure gave way upon impact. Bricks shattered and collapsed around him as dust and debris filled the air, engulfing the area where he had been thrown.
The place where Aurelius had been standing moments ago was now occupied by Marcus.
His hammer glowed with an orange-gold hue, exuding an intense aura of power. The weapon radiated energy so strongly that its presence alone felt heavy.
The reason he had suddenly appeared behind Aurelius was simple. Marcus had silently crept up behind the titan-like man without drawing his attention. He had patiently waited for the perfect opportunity to strike, and when Aurelius' focus shifted, he seized it without hesitation. The result was the devastating blow that had just been delivered.
Seeing Aurelius sent crashing into the building, the four elite members of the Plutus Familia allowed themselves a brief moment of relief. Their shoulders eased slightly as they believed they had secured victory.
Then—
They heard the sound of rubble shifting.
Their eyes immediately snapped toward the destroyed wall.
Through the settling dust and broken debris, a large figure slowly rose.
Aurelius stood up from the wreckage.
At first glance, he appeared as though he had taken no damage at all. His posture was steady, his presence unchanged. However, the blood he had spat earlier told a different story. Even so, to the Hestian captain, it was nothing more than a minor setback.
"Very nice!" Aurelius said, a manic smile spreading across his face as he stepped forward out of the rubble. Bits of debris fell from his shoulders as he moved. "Your teamwork and individual strengths are impressive! Care to show me more of what you guys can do?"
The four members of the Plutus Familia felt sweat form along their skin as they stared at him. What they had believed to be a decisive strike had failed to bring him down. Nervousness crept into their expressions, their earlier relief quickly replaced by tension.
The Hestian captain was still standing.
And he looked eager for more.