After I finished writing this, I red it over and realized some things that should be questioned are missing but writing it over is too tiresome. So yea
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The darkness in the tunnel started to thin out.
The weird green glow from the crystals in the walls gave way to a softer, cooler light coming from up ahead.
The air felt a little less heavy, though there was a faint burnt smell—like the aftertaste of strong magic still lingering.
Lefiya's boots scuffed against the stone, and Filvis's breathing came in weak, uneven rasps.
Aside from that, the only other sound was Zamasu's quiet, steady footsteps as he carried the unconscious elf.
Zamasu reached the opening first.
The tunnel spilled out into a huge cavern, way bigger than the tight hallways they'd just walked through.
Light filtered in from cracks high above, just enough to make out the wreckage.
Broken chunks of stone littered the ground, and the walls were torn up with deep, still-smoking gouges—clear signs that magic had gone off hard here.
Dark stains marked the floor and walls, some fresh, others older.
The air still had a faint hum to it, like the place hadn't calmed down after whatever fight went down.
Zamasu stepped into the cavern, scanning the place. His eyes flicked over exits, possible threats, and the mess left behind by the fight.
Filvis barely weighed anything to him, so carrying her wasn't slowing him down.
He didn't notice the blur.
Something shot in from the left — a blur of grey and black moving fast and silent.
A boot came for Zamasu's head, steel-reinforced and aimed to take it off.
Zamasu didn't panic. He tilted his head just enough for it to miss, the sole passing close enough for him to feel the air move.
His free hand came up, catching the attacker's forearm just below the elbow. No wasted motion — he stopped the strike cold.
There was a sharp crack — bone breaking.
A snarl of pain followed as Bete Loga came into view, his wolf-like features twisted in shock. The sudden stop threw him off-balance, and he stumbled forward.
His good arm clutched the other, the broken forearm hanging uselessly.
Zamasu didn't hesitate.
He moved in one fluid motion, sweeping his foot low and hard. His kick slammed into the back of Bete's knee, and another sharp crack followed.
Bete went down instantly, hitting the stone floor with a thud. A strained cry escaped him as he tried to roll away and push himself up.
His amber eyes locked on the calm, green-skinned stranger who had taken him apart in less than two seconds.
The ambush wasn't over.
Zamasu caught it before it happened — the subtle change in the air, the faint scrape of boots on stone.
Two more figures burst from the shadows near a pile of rubble: Tione and Tiona Hiryute.
Their faces were hard and furious, the kind of expression you only get from seeing a comrade dropped in an instant.
They moved together in perfect sync, every step and motion flowing like they'd rehearsed it their whole lives.
Tione went low, fast, and deadly, her twin daggers flashing as she drove a rapid series of strikes at Zamasu's legs and midsection — every one aimed to cripple or gut him.
Above her, Tiona came in with raw power. She'd jumped high enough that the air seemed to hang around her for a second, her massive Urga blade swinging down in a brutal vertical arc that could've split both Zamasu and Filvis in two.
It was a perfect pincer — speed and precision from below, sheer force from above — meant to crush him before he could react.
Zamasu sized up the attack in a split second. The daggers were annoying but not the real threat. The big swinging Urga? That was what he needed to stop first.
His goal was simple: keep Filvis safe and take out the danger.
He pivoted smoothly on his foot, slipping out of the way of Tione's stabbing daggers. Filvis swayed a little but stayed secure on his shoulder.
At the same time, Zamasu's right hand shot up — not to block the greatsword but to catch it.
Zamasu's open palm met the flat of Tiona's blade just below the tip.
The impact should've crushed his hand, but instead, it sounded like a huge bell ringing — a deep clang.
His arm didn't give way. He soaked up the force like it was nothing.
The stone beneath his feet cracked, spiderwebbing from how hard he planted himself.
Tiona's eyes went wide, totally shocked.
She was frozen mid-air, held back by something she couldn't push past. Her muscles tensed, veins popping, but the blade didn't move at all.
Zamasu's fingers grabbed the edge of Tiona's blade. With a quick twist and a burst of strength, he ripped the Urga out of her hands.
Tiona let out a shocked yell—more from surprise than pain—as the huge weapon was torn away easily.
Zamasu tossed it behind him like it was nothing; it clattered across the stone floor.
Tione, already back on her feet after missing her attacks, lunged again, snarling.
Zamasu didn't even fully turn toward her. Holding Filvis with one hand, his other shot out in a quick backhand strike.
The heel of his palm slammed right into Tione's chest.
The sound was a hollow thump, like hitting wet leather with a mallet.
All the air whooshed out of Tione's lungs. Her eyes went wide, fury replaced by stunned pain.
She flew backwards like she'd been shot out of a catapult, crashing hard into a pile of broken rocks. The impact shook her bones.
She lay there gasping, struggling to catch her breath, completely forgetting her daggers.
Tiona landed heavily too, off balance without her weapon. She stared at her empty hands, then back at the green-skinned guy who'd just disarmed her like it was nothing.
Meanwhile, Bete was writhing on the floor, holding his broken arm and leg. A low growl of pain and frustration rumbled from deep in his chest.
Zamasu stood there, calm as ever, looking down at the three who were clearly out of commission now.
His silver eyes scanned them. They were the ones who attacked first — a threat that needed dealing with.
Without hesitation, he lifted his right hand, palm facing Bete, who was struggling to get up.
A tight ball of golden energy started forming in his palm, glowing and humming with raw power. The air around it got hot.
It was clear what was coming — Zamasu was ready to finish this.
NO! Zamasu, stop! Don't kill them!"
Lefiya's voice cracked, full of panic. She burst out of the tunnel, Forest Teardrop raised like a shield. Her face was pale, eyes wide, completely terrified.
She came to a sudden stop, gasping for breath, and stared at the scene — Bete beaten, Tione dazed against the rocks, Tiona disarmed and stunned, and Zamasu ready to finish it.
Zamasu slowly turned his head toward Lefiya. The glowing ball of energy in his hand didn't fade but paused for a moment.
His face was calm, he raised an eyebrow — showing he'd heard her.
"Why? They attacked first. Seems pretty clear to me they're the bad guys here."
He glanced at the injured on the ground. "Are these people with you? More trouble I should know about?"
Before Lefiya could say anything, Bete spat blood, glaring at Zamasu with fierce pain in his eyes.
"Who the hell are you? Where'd you come from? And what the hell did you do to Filvis?" His amber eyes flicked to the limp figure on Zamasu's shoulder, mixing concern with suspicion.
Tiona pushed herself up, her usual energy replaced by cautious confusion. "Yeah, who are you? And why is Filvis like that?" Her voice faded as she took in Filvis's bloodied clothes and unconscious state.
Tione, still catching her breath against the rocks, managed a weak cough, her eyes locked on Filvis with growing worry.
Zamasu lowered his hand a bit, the ki ball shrinking but still there.
"I'm Zamasu," he said plainly. Then he glanced at Filvis on his shoulder. "She attacked me first. She got hurt because of that."
Lefiya stepped forward, putting herself between Zamasu and the Loki Familia, but still watching him closely.
Her heart was pounding. This was the moment she'd been dreading but knew would come.
"He's telling the truth… about that," she said, voice shaky but steadying.
She looked at Bete, Tiona, and Tione, seeing their confused, angry faces.
"But… it's way worse than that."
She took a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. The words felt sharp in her throat.
"Filvis… she wasn't just here. She was defending Knossos. Against us." Lefiya's grip on her staff tightened so hard her knuckles turned white.
"The Dionysus Familia… they're not what we thought. They're working with Evilus."
The words hit like a punch.
Bete's snarl faded, replaced by shocked disbelief.
"What?!" he gasped, pushing himself up on his good arm, ignoring the pain in his broken leg.
"That's bullshit, shorty! Filvis? Evilus?"
Tiona's face twisted in confusion.
"Partners? But… Evilus are terrorists! They kill everyone! Filvis would never…"
Her voice trailed off, struggling to reconcile the idea of loyal Filvis working with monsters like that.
Tione pulled in a ragged breath, eyes sharp despite the pain.
"Explain, Lefiya. Now."
Her tone was low and steady—no room for panic, only demand for facts.
"What proof do you have?"
Lefiya flinched under their intense gazes — Bete's disbelief, Tiona's horrified confusion, and Tione's demanding scrutiny.
She gestured back toward the tunnel they'd just come through. "Proof? I saw it. I fought her. She admitted it." Her voice cracked.
"She called Dionysus-sama her commander. Said Orario needed to fall so it could be rebuilt. Knossos was just the start. She… tried to kill me to keep me quiet."
The memory of black flames, the other spells, and that desperate fight made her hands tremble.
Her voice rose, raw with fear and urgency. "She was fighting for Evilus. She was going to kill me because I found out. Ask him!"
She gestured toward Zamasu, desperate for them to believe her. "He saw it. He fought her."
Everyone turned to Zamasu. He lowered his hand, letting the ki blast fade away like the threat was over.
"She attacked me without warning after just a few questions," he said simply. "She said she was loyal to this Dionysus guy and that their plan involved getting rid of anyone who saw what was going on."
He shifted Filvis on his shoulder. "She was strong, but she couldn't keep up with me."
His straightforward explanation confirmed what Lefiya had just said, making it even harder to ignore.
Bete stared down at Filvis, his face a mix of shock, disbelief, and growing anger.
Tiona looked drained, like she'd just been punched. Tione pushed herself up, her expression serious as she tried to process everything Lefiya had just revealed.
The room felt huge, but also kind of suffocating all of a sudden.
The truth hit them like a heavy weight they couldn't shake off.
The friend they'd fought with, trusted, and even mourned wasn't who they thought she was — she was on the other side.
And now she was lying there unconscious, carried by some powerful stranger who had just taken down three of Loki Familia's best without breaking a sweat.
What started as a raid on Knossos just got a whole lot messier — and way more dangerous.
Chapter 45 end