Chapter 13: The Hero's Crucible
(Day 25 Night)
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The hour of the crucible draws near.
Three times fate will crash against the hero's shoulders.
For his foolish love has shattered the princess's ice prison.
A trickster's mistake shall bring despair to the descendant of lighting.
The puppets of the tyrant queens will unleash the bull of hell.
The remains of the blind lovers will be scattered in the labyrinth.
The rabbit's heart will melt as his nightmares become reality.
When victory seems certain and new love blossoms. Jealousy will entomb the prodigal son in the cradle of a newborn.
Salvation lands upon the rock fists of a father.
Embrace the half breed, Gather the cyclops' bulwark and beseech the star of destiny.
A world will hail a hero or despair at calamity.
"Shut the hell up Cassandra!" Daphne shot up from her bed wearing a white nightgown. She was at the limit of her friend speaking in her sleep.
"Huh what?" Cassandra sat up in bed. Her face extremely pale. Her body was shivering uncontrollably.
"You're talking in your sleep again. Stop, with the stupid prophecy crap."
Cassandra leans over to the window. "The hero's light illuminates the sky."
"It's almost 11pm at night. The sky is dark moron. Go back to sleep now." Daphne warns.
"Awww." Cassandra lies down in bed hugging a white rabbit stuffed animal. "Please be safe."
"By the gods, please tell me you're not talking about the sun eating rabbit. Do you know how ridiculous that sounds Cassandra?" Daphne shouted.
"The sun will fade when the rabbit jumps over the moon. I asked to be spared from his wraith." Cassandra warned hugging the rabbit tighter.
*FLOP*
Daphne threw her pillow at Cassandra's face. "Yeah, what about my wraith. Go to bed or I will make you jump over the moon." The red head started cracking her knuckles menacingly.
Cassandra buries her face for a few minutes until Daphne settle back in bed. She couldn't fall back to sleep. She stared out the window at the night sky. Her prophecy was terrifying her for the future.
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Within thirty minutes of capturing Eina, ten Ishtar familia members had made it to floor nine, with Hod carrying the unconscious Eina over his shoulder. She was covered by a large brown cloth and her wrists were bound. His smile was ear to ear in anticipation for the future. Two more Amazons were waiting at the bottom of the ninth floor stairs.
"Sharay. Fallujah. What's your report?" Samira asked as the group filed out into the floor.
"The big guy just packed up a huge cargo box. He's sleeping on floor fourteen alone. Monsters are two afraid to enter." The black long-haired Amazon in a an extremely skimpy green lingerie bowed her head.
"Ghee-Ge-Ge. Where's Aisha and the fox?"
"Everybody else is waiting on floor thirteen, near the entrance to our friends' home."
"Friend's Home?" Hod narrowed his brow confused.
"Need to know information." Samira leaned her head back to stare at the Hod. "It's a shortcut back home. Theirs one on floor nine too. We will take it on the way back up. Kill your little rabbit. Hold off on devouring the elf until we get back to Lady Ishtar. We will be back a little after midnight."
"Aww man. Okay." Hod pouted. "How are you gonna kill that freakishly strong boaz anyways?"
"Ghe-Ge-Ge. We have a few toys and tricks to make the foreplay more intense. We might even carry him back missing four out of five of his limbs." Phryne long tongue lashed out along her huge lips in anticipation.
"Ha-Ha well have fun." Hod laughed.
"Ghe-Ge-Ge. Let's move out." Phryne ordered. The twelve amazons quickly dashed across the floor and down the stairs leading to the tenth floor.
Hod found an empty dead-end room near the middle of the floor. Hod started destroying the walls around them to prevent any monsters from spawning nearby. He was humming a pleasant tune while keeping an eye on Eina resting unconscious on the wall. 'I can't wait to kill the rabbit and conquer Eina.'
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High above Orario, atop of Babel tower, Freya stood at the balcony overlooking the western road. She had felt something was off when she saw Riveria race through the city earlier that day. She focused her stare west for a few hours, when her beloved's blinding light was pulsing down the road at extraordinary speed beyond his level.
"Ara, Ara Bell. What has you in such a state? Did the enemy make his move with the half breed?" She stared at the determination and worry in his face as he raced toward the dungeon.
"Helun bring me the mirror."
"As you wish my lady." A young woman with long silver hair bowed and immediately left Freya's side to retrieve the divine artifact.
"Still, something feels off." Freya held her stomach uneasy. "Is Ottar even ready?"
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The city lights illuminated the night sky around Orario. Most people were in the bars, the entertainment district or walking home from a date. Those travelers unfortunate to be wondering the western road were greeting with a bizarre sight of a feral rabbit like adventurer, rampaging down the main road with all haste. Stunned onlookers were bewildered as to what was making him race to the tower in reckless abandonment.
'Why go for her? I don't understand, why didn't he go for me? I keep hurting Eina with my selfish behavior. I keep worrying her. I keep forcing things upon her in my ignorance. I REFUSE! I refuse to let the world lose her smile. Seeing her smile every day gives me hope.'
No other thoughts occupied my mind. Not the kiss, nor the argument with goddess or the soul piercing stare was gonna stop me from finding Eina. I blocked out every distraction and ignored the angry voices of people I ran past. Finally, I managed to get to Babel. I bolted past the guild personnel and down the stairs to the dungeon with my knives out.
The upper floor monsters only seen a white blur before they were erased from existence. I didn't stop my stride for a second as I raced through the dungeon, with a cloud of ash trailing in my wake.
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"Riveria."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Riveria."
"Lady Riveria open up please." Alicia and Ais were pounding on the doors of her bedroom for a while. A few hours ago, the whole familia was scared by high elf's reaction when she barged into the manor. A green blur to the lower levels but to the higher leveled people saw a crimson wide-eyed high elf. The stoic refined princess was in a confused state.
Riveria was lying on her stomach on her bed, staring at the back board with her face buried in a pillow. Her hair was undone and her uniform was ruffled. Her heart rate was beating rapidly. The naturally prideful elves had an aversion to touch, but to experience her first kiss in her long ninety-nine year lifespan with a young human male, made the princess feel fragile. "Why? Why? Why Bell?" She was trying to make sense of it all.
Sometimes thoughts of a romance between them drifted into her mind. Her lips started curling up into a smile until, Riveria centered herself and tried shake those feelings out of her head every time they came up. She couldn't sleep for fear of alternate reactions to the surprisingly bold kiss. "How could I have been so dumb? All the signs were there."
"Why did he do that?" She gritted her teeth and tried to force herself to get angry, but couldn't maintain it. She just laid their lost in thought scratching at her warm chest, trying to figure out how to address this in the future. "I don't want him to die."
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"Ais-pu, Alicia. What's the matter with Mamma bear?" Loki came strolling along the east wing from Finn's room.
"Not sure Loki. Lady Riveria has been locked up in her room since she got home." Alicia replied.
"Maybe she's sleepy." Loki dismissed with a shrug of her shoulders.
Ais shook her head. "Somethings wrong with her."
"Lady Riveria practically scared everybody in the manor by bolting up here at full speed, Loki. She looked distressed."
"Hmpf, curious." Loki reached into her pocket and pulled out a master key. She knocked on the door. "Mamma, I am coming into your room."
"Go Away!" The three women heard her shout from inside.
"Oh, I have to know now." Loki giggled. "Too bad I am coming in." She turned to the two blondes. "Give me a few minutes. Can you go find Eina for me?"
"Yes goddess." Alicia took off down the hall.
"Oh Ais. That's a nice jacket."
"Thank you." Ais smiled as Loki unlocked the door to Riveria's room.
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Creak. Bang.
Loki entered Riveria's bedroom and closed the door behind her. "Oh, it's dark in here." Loki leaned over to hit a switch to light up the room. Loki's eyes got heavy seeing the high elf being non responsive not caring about her appearance. "What's the matter, Mamma?"
"Go away Loki." She muttered with her face in the pillow.
"You know I am not gonna do that, Riveria. I want to know what's the matter with my girls." She walked over to Riveria's bedside. "I am gonna pester you until you give up."
"P-please go away." Riveria repeated in a stressed voice.
"Nope." Loki sat down on the bed. "Finn's finger has been hurting all day. He thinks something bad is gonna happen but Gareth wants to leave early for the dungeon. However, I am not letting you go in this state. So, I will ask again, what is the matter Riveria?"
"I am not feeling well."
"Lie." Loki rolled her eyes.
"I-I am not." She stuttered raising her head slightly.
"Not telling the truth anyways. You been doing that a lot lately." Loki snorted.
"What?" Riveria sat up a little and looked back at the goddess. Her eyes were watered over.
"You been lying a lot, especially whenever a certain rabbit is brought up." Loki giggled.
"K-knock it off."
"What happened? Did he finally gather the will to propose to you?" Loki rolled back laughing while holding her gut.
"Huh." Riveria eyes went wide in shock.
"He tries to hide it but the rabbit is pretty transparent with his feelings towards you." Riveria was speechless. Loki sat up and stared into Riveria's eyes. "Did you two go on a date?"
"N-no."
"Do you even know what a date is mamma?" Loki smirked.
"Yes, I do."
"Then what happened."
"I don't want to talk about it, Loki."
KNOCK. KNOCK.
"Excuse me." Alicia poked her head through the door.
"I thought I told you to give us a few minutes, Alicia." Loki stared annoyed at the blond elf who was shaken by the princess's condition.
"I am sorry Loki. I can't find Eina anywhere. Nobody I have asked has seen her come back."
Riveria shot up out of bed. "What?"
Loki stared at Riveria confused. "Is that why your upset? Did her parents stop her from coming back?"
"No, Eina was with me on the way back." Riveria eyes went wide like saucers.
"Then where is she Riveria?" Loki furrowed her brow seeing Riveria's distressed face.
"I-I was h-handling something private and she went into the city early." Riveria recalled getting suspicious stares from both women.
"You left her by herself!" Loki shouted.
"She went into the city with….." Riveria's face went pale. She jumped to her feet. "Find her immediately! We all went in the south entrance."
Before they could question further, Riveria charged out of her bedroom trailed by the Loki and Alicia to find Finn.
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"Aishaaaaaaaaa this is so boringggggggg. How much longerrrr?" An impatient young amazon complained leaning her head against the dungeon wall.
"We just found our prey, Lena. Calm down. We will capture or kill him, as soon as the frog gets here." The annoyed voice of the vivacious curvy woman responded to her subordinate. She was leaning on her great sword guarding a dead-end room leading to a hidden entrance with a bunch of other amazons.
"We been in this dirty dungeon all day trying to find Ottar. Is this even worth it Aisha?" Lena started playing with her hair.
"Don't worry Lena, we have a plan. Our benefactors lent us some of those anti-status whips. Haruhime will boost the frog and hold him down, while we break his arms and legs."
"Lady Aisha." A worried quiet voice from a veiled woman walked up to the mature amazon. She had a long blond bushy tail protruding out the back.
"Sorry adorable fox. As soon as you use your spell you will be taken back home." Aisha patted the veiled head of the fox.
"Okay." The fox's sad voice responded as she lowered her head. She slowly walked back to her guards.
Lena walks up to Aisha. "Why are we doing this again, Aisha?"
"If we can take down Ottar, it will weaken Freya significantly. Plus, don't you want a baby Lena? We can use him as a breeding toy." Aisha licks her lips.
"That gross frog will end up jumping in before me. She ruins every man she touches." Lena clenches her fists anger at their captain.
"True." Aisha smirks.
"Besides, I want Hod's baby." Lena looks down at her hands as she starts rubbing her stomach.
"Gross." Aisha rolled her eyes.
"What?" Lena looks up. Her eyes glazed over.
"Why would you want that pathetic little man's child?" Aisha leans her head back to Lena with a look of disgust.
"Hod's stronger than me, he's handsome and I love him." Lena crossed her arms and turned her head and pouted.
"Oh please. Lena, he's just using you as an easy lay. While he's trying to beg Ishtar to charm another piece of ass for him."
"Hod is just gonna buy my freedom from night work and marry me." Lena continued to block out Aisha's warning.
"Hod confessed under Ishtar's charm. What other evidence do you need Lena? Are you blind or deaf? Urrrghh." Aisha grabbed her head frustration failing to change Lena's mind over the last few days, until she remembered something. "Lena, I care about your well-being."
"That why won't you support me, Aisha."
"You would be much better off with this white-haired human male that runs the walls every morning."
Lena unfolded her hands and stared at the older amazon; her mind peaked with interest. "Wow that's impressive. How strong is he?"
"I don't know how strong he is, but I willing to bet there is no problem with his stamina." Aisha winked.
"O-oh." Lena smiled wide. "Surprised you didn't prey on him Aisha."
"I am not a morning person. Usually throwing out customers, so I can sleep longer. If I knew where to find him, I would track him down. He is attractive and has the determination of a real man." Aisha replied with seductive smirk.
"Hmmm. I don't know, white hair. I feel like I would be preying on Samira." Lena joked holding her stomach.
"Hah. You wish." The same woman interrupted their conversation and emerged out of the shadows with a dozen amazons trailing behind her. "We ready to take on the big guy."
"Yes, he's one floor down sleeping." Aisha responded.
"Ghe-ge-ge-ge. Good." The giantess smiled wide. "Samira your group will begin phase one."
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"Raaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwrrrrrr." A lone monster roared on floor fourteen.
BAM.
"Quiet!" Ottar spoke in a deep voice and smacked the cargo box to his right. Ottar rested his head against the dungeon wall annoyed at being inside that woke him up.
"R-." The box quieted immediately, sensing Ottar's strength.
"A few more days until I can see my lady again. Do your job and prove the boy is worthy of her love." Ottar buried his head back into his knees to rest once more.
Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.
The boaz ears shot up as he continued to rest his head. Footsteps in the distance could be heard through his heightened senses.
STOMP. STOMP. STOMP.
The footsteps got heavier and heavier until it was just a constant rumbling. Sounds of dozens of beings racing toward his position.
"Ugggh, I am trying to sleep." Ottar raised his head. He stood up, grabbed his weapon and slammed his fist down on the box. "Make a sound and I will rip off your horns and make you into a dog." The being in the box felt the overwhelming aura from the level seven and quieted out of fear. Ottar casually walked out into the open caverns of floor fourteen and stopped in the middle of the room.
Emerging out of a dark tunnel was a white-haired amazon leading a pack of lygerfangs. "Hey big boy. Want to play?" Samira ran past the towering boaz. The horde approached the yawning fearless Ottar with a greatsword resting on his shoulder. The lygerfangs noticed Ottar wasn't moving and started feeling his overwhelming aura. The front row came to a halt and started to backpedal out of fear.
"Weak."
Swish.
Ottar lunged forward with amazing speed. He swung is greatsword effortlessly in a wide sweeping arc that severed heads and split bodies in half with each swing. Within seconds the ground was littered with monster bodies. Ottar just stood there with his sword resting on the ground as the halls rumbled from every direction. Roars from of many different monsters lygerfangs, hellhounds, al-miraj and hard armoreds. Leading each pack was an amazon in skimpy attire shouting war cries, as the beasts nipped at their heels.
"A pass parade in the middle levels. How predictable?" Ottar stood there in the middle of floor emotionless, while four groups of monsters were bearing down on him.
The amazons ran right by him blowing kisses before quickly evading the packs of monsters. "You wish." Ottar raised his sword into the air as monsters got within attacking range of him. He slammed his blade down onto the ground. The shockwave from the power attack shook the ground underneath every one of them; throwing them off balance and killing some of the closer ones. Ottar jumped back up immediately and lunged at the nearest group of monsters.
A dozen hard armorers jumped off a ridge and barred down on him. Each of them rolled down the cliff at high speeds with their hard as steel shells protecting their soft bodies. It still didn't matter for an adventurer as strong as Ottar. His sword cleaved right through their shell, like butter. Each hard armored dissolved into ash as their soft underbellies were stabbed through.
With his unequipped bare hand, he stopped the last hard armored monster's movement. Ottar's massive hand gripped one of the quills on the armadillo like monster. He tossed the three hundred pound monster like a children's ball at a pack of hellhounds opening their mouths, preparing their range flame attack. The hard armored crashed against the hellhounds and shattered into a million bloody pieces, from the bone shattering impact. Their bodies dissolved into ash.
"Sharay use it." Samira shouted to a black-haired amazon holding a wand pointed at Ottar as he finished off a remaining pack of monsters. A black aura enveloped Ottar's body when the amazon finished her chant.
"A curse?!" Ottar crushed a Lygerfang's skull in his hands. "Hmpf, so you sealed my skills and magic. Interesting." He locked eyes with the amazon holding the wand feeling the backdraft affect from the curse. "Poor choice."
Sharay eyes widened in fear. She was weakened to a level two. Ottar bent down to his knees and jumped up to the cliffside where she was standing, within in a blink of an eye he was right in front of her face lunging in midair.
CLANG
The giantess Phryne Jamil intercepted Ottar's great sword with her dual battle axes. The sonic boom from their clash shook the walls of the dungeon and through Sharay on her back. Ottar was surprised by the dramatic change in toad's abilities. She was able stop his half force charge. The giantess was clad in an armor resembling a toad, she sent a flurry of blows that came close to matching Allen's strength and speed. Ottar was on the defensive, blocking each one of her giant axe strikes, completely confused how she is pulling this off. Phryne relied to much on offensive power and over extended herself, allowing Ottar room to land a devastated kick right into her armored gut. Phryne was sent across the floor into the dungeon wall.
Ottar stopped himself from charging as he saw dozens of shadows emerge around him. He ignored the weaklings and focused on monstrous oddity. "You finally level toad."
Phryne was quick to recover. Jumping to hurt feet. "Ghe-ge-ge-ge-ge. Just admit Ottarrrr, you were distracted by my overwhelming beauty and sensual thick curves." Phryne axes were in the ground as she rubbed her giant body in front of the boaz.
"Uggh." Ottar snapped back in disgust.
"Ghe-ge-ge. Stop lying to yourself Ottar. You were imagining yourself ravaging my poor body over and over." She blew a kiss from her ugly huge lips towards Ottar.
BLAARGH. BLAARGH.
Ottar bent over kneeling against his sword, as the amazons closed in around them. He projectile vomited in front of the giantess. Ottar wiped his face and stared up with disgust. "So, you're trying to kill me by making me vomit to death."
"GEH" Phryne stared enraged at the boaz. The other amazons started to chuckle around the room. Phryne picked up a large boulder and tossed it at the giant boaz.
BAM
Ottar effortlessly smash the boulder into hundreds of pieces with one punch. He was pelted by small rocks and a cloud of dust.
CRACK. CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.
Eight whips cracked and wrapped themselves around the distracted Ottar's limbs. Two barbed whips wrapped around his arms and legs, each held tight by two amazons. Ottar's level seven falna and sturdy ability prevented the whips from digging in deep. He noticed his body was getting heavier as if the whips were sapping his strength.
CRACK
Another whip was thrown around his neck. Aisha and Samira were holding onto each end. Every amazon holding the whips tight were all level three. Ottar was being pulled in five directions. Aisha smirked. "Congratulations Toad, even the warlord couldn't stomach that thought. You disgusted him into submission."
"GEH." Phryne sneered with rage. "Remember the last beating I gave you Aisha. Want me to smash in that pretty face?"
"Stop fighting and take out his legs already. I can't wait to conquer him." Samira said in a seductive tone.
The petite level two amazon Lena came out of the dead end that Ottar was sleeping. She was struggling to lift a giant cargo box. "Oh, ah. Woah this is heavy. What kind of treasures did you get for us hubby?"
Ottar ordered. "Put that down or I will kill you all."
"Those whips are sapping your strength, your skills and magic blocked by a curse and your surrounded by twenty hungry amazons lead by the beautiful and strong Phryne. Ghe-ge-ge-ge." Phryne started croaking like frog, laughing at the immobile Warlord. "Your choice whether we take your legs or your head."
"Like you could." Ottar ignored the frog and stared at the young amazon woman. "Put it down and you will live."
"Put a baby in me and I will give it you." Lena smiles while rubbing her stomach.
"Pfft, like I would want to catch something by touching one of you." Ottar grimaced in disgust. He took a deep breath and spoke in a calm monotone voice. "One."
"Huh." Each of the amazons started looking at each other confused.
"Ghe-ge-ge. Don't worry we will all take turns or do you only need me to conquer you." Phryne held her axes out stretched. Her long disgusting tongue was licking her lips. Ottar thought she was gonna catch a fly or a bad bat.
"Two." Ottar grabbed the whips with his hands; his biceps and triceps started to bulged as he flexed his arms inwards pulling the amazons holding his arms towards him. Each woman was struggling to hold him down.
Aisha and Samira couldn't keep his head back. "Hurry up Phryne." Aisha shouted.
"Three." Ottar had enough. His eyes went red as his features became more animalistic.
Every amazon stood watching in horror as the boaz beastified into the wild boar that made him stronger and more violent. Lena started running away with the cargo box in fear.
"Your skills are blocked by a curse." Phryne shouted in shock.
"It's not a skill you stupid toad. Cut his dam legs off now." Samira ordered at the top of her lungs, barely holding on to the whip.
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"Ahhhhhhhhhhh." Phryne lunged forward with her dual axes. She aimed to sever Ottar's legs with her boosted level six strength
Ottar's beastification was complete. The only thoughts were to defeat the enemy and retrieve the box. Ottar used all his strength to fling all eight women holding his arms toward the bulged eyed toad charging toward him. The group of amazons crashed against the toad, burying her massive frame under their bodies.
With his hands free he grabbed the whip around his neck and pulled Aisha and Samira towards him with one yank of the whip. His elbows came in contact with their guts, knocking the wind out of both women as they collapsed on the ground.
Phryne jumped out of the pile of humanity and charged at full speed at Ottar. He dodged one axe and parried the other with his sword. Phryne started unleashing a flurry of axe chops, at the immobilized boaz. Every time he moved in combat with the enhanced Phryne, the remaining eight amazons holding his legs were pulled along with him.
BAM
Ottar sent Phryne flying against the dungeon wall once more; when his fist hammered her face. His skills and magic were still under the effects of the cursed magic, but he was slowly regaining control of the fight.
CRACK
Five whips came toward his face, not wanting to repeat his mistake, Ottar twirled his greatsword around severed all five whips. Aisha and Samira were able to roll away and gather their weapons. Phryne jumped back up and bolted towards Ottar. All three women were unleashing an onslaught of attacks that Ottar was able to combat with his perfect defense while still pulling the other women along with his legs.
Ottar was able to grab both Aisha and Samira, he tossed both women toward Phryne. The toad croaked and jumped over top of them, right as Ottar face planted before the Toad. The remaining amazons had raced to join their friends by grabbing the whips attached to his legs. His legs were pulled out from underneath him as all four whips were pulled wide with four level three Berbera on each end.
"Geh-ge-ge-ge." Phryne raised her axe high to chop Ottar's head executioner style.
BAM
Ottar managed to grab the blade with his outstretched hand and stop it. "Geh." Phryne croaked surprised before she hammered her second axe down. Ottar grabbed her wrist mid swing.
CRUNCH
Phryne's wrist was snapped. "Hy-hyeeeee. Gah." The toad croaked in pain.
Still holding onto Phryne, he dived and rolled forward. The amazons holding his legs were all pulled to the ground behind him as he threw the frog into the ceiling fifty feet above them. Debris started pelting the amazons all around the floor.
BANG. BAM. SWISH. SWISH.
Ottar jumped to his feet, reached out for his blade and quickly slashed the four remaining whips. The amazons stared up from the ground stunned and horrified as Ottar started cracking his knuckles. "Now it's time for a pain parade." The Berbera stared at Ottar trembling before his might.
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Lena ignored the fighting and found a secluded area. She was excited to open the box and find out what treasure was inside. "Come to momma. What do we have in here?"
She undoes the adamantite latches and opens the lid eager for the treasure. The first thing she seen, was the red glowing eyes of a two meter tall minotaur. Its furry muscular body was covered in scars from countless hours of training. The minotaur was enhanced with being trained by Ottar. Lena couldn't respond quick enough in her crouched position.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." She yelled out at the top of her lungs.
THUMP. GAG.
The minotaur's reacted immediately sensing a weak mortal. Its left hand found her neck and started strangulating her. RAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRRR! It roared directly into her face mashing is sharp teeth.
"Arrggh, arggh let ggggoooo!" Her wind pipe was being crushed by the massive fist choking her to death. Her small frame was easy for the minotaur to control. The bull stood up with his left hand grasped around Lena's throat, with his right hand it reached for the second greatsword that Ottar laid in his box for training. "P-ppleasse." She begged choking on her own blood.
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Aisha stumbled to her feet when she heard Lena. The roar of the minotaur was unmistakable. They all knew that they spawned three floors down. "LENA!" The older amazon forced her injured body in the direction of the scream, away from the group.
Ottar stopped his brutal beatdown of the Berbera when he heard the scream and then followed by the roar of the minotaur. Ottar quickly scanned the room and found the woman named Sharay. He destroyed her wand and knocked her unconscious to break the spell.
Ottar kicked Phryne into the ground, and tossed two amazons beside her, before chasing after Aisha.
Aisha sprinted across the floor to where she heard the scream. She froze up for a second when she was met with a grizzly sight of her young friend Lena being impaled through the gut with a giant greatsword held by a minotaur. The minotaur still had her neck in her hands. He crushed Lena's larynx. Her small body ripped in half as the bull tossed her aside, smiling as he gotten his revenge against an adventurer.
"RAAAAAAAAWWWWRRRRR."
"LENAAAAAAAAAA!" Aisha screamed at the top of her lungs. She lost herself in rage and lunged herself at the triumphant minotaur who was now worried about its life. "I will cut you to a thousand pieces." Aisha declared as she raced after the fleeing minotaur who was heading to the thirteenth floor.
Her revenge was continually thwart like the minotaur was under divine protection as the dungeon threw everything in front of her in hopes to allow the minotaur to escape. Aisha continued to race after the bull as it ran from her on the thirteenth floor. She finally caught up to it near the stairs leading to floor twelve. "I will kill you dam cow." She jumped and brought her blade into a downward strike above the bull's head.
BAM. THUD.
Ottar had caught up to them both and smacked the level three into the wall. He was exhausted from the lack of sleep and the effects of the curse weapons weighing on him. His beast form dissipated but came at a heavy price of his stamina. He looked up to find the minotaur and noticed it was gone. Aisha stumbled to her feet and started going after the bull again. She was instantly stopped when Ottar grabbed her shoulder and slammed her onto her back.
"I must kill it." Aisha begged with tears in her eyes.
Ottar just stared down at the beaten prostitute. "What did I tell you from the beginning, whore?" Ottar started limping away up to the twelfth floor. "Get eaten by a dam monster. I don't care."
"Lena." Aisha started crying as she stumbled to her feet.
The dungeon was ominously quiet as if to mock her, as she back tracked through floor thirteen. Aisha found the stairs just in time to see the rest of the Berbera limp up from floor fourteen. It took a couple of them to support Phryne's weight. Aisha was about to race back down to floor fourteen, but was stopped by the white-haired amazon Samira. "Aisha. Don't."
"Where is her body, Samira?"
Samira held on to Aisha. "We were too late. The hellhounds got to her."
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO." Aisha fell to her knees bawling her eyes out.
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The twilight manor was in an uproar. People were frantically searching the grounds for Eina. Loki familia was being organized into groups to scour the city for the half elf.
Riveria, Loki and Ais were making their way to the gate to check on Alicia's team before tearing the city apart for her. "Where is she? Where is she?" Riveria started gripping her head in panic.
"Time to confess Mamma." Loki ordered angrily. "What happened to make you separate from Eina?"
Riveria stopped in her tracks and took a deep breath. "W-we r-ran into Bell and his friends by the Seolo forest along the south road. They were doing a quest for Miach familia. Eina went back with them, so I c-could talk to Bell." Riveria responded nervously. Both Loki and Ais picked up on it.
"So, you ditched her to go on a date." Loki was outraged.
"No, d-don't be absurd. I-I just wanted to have a quick discussion."
Loki rolled her eyes. "So, you think she might be with Miach familia."
"I don't think they would keep her this late. I was hoping she would wait for me."
"Did you even look!?" Loki clenched her hands as she angrily stared up close into Riveria's eyes. "You ran full speed back here. You just left her in the southern district alone with an obsessive idiot on the lose!"
Riveria face went pale and she held her face. "P-please. Please just find her." The fragile high elf pleaded. Her demeanor completely shocked Ais and Loki.
"Lady Riveria." Alicia yelled out as she came running to the gate from the west of the twilight manor.
"Is she there?" Riveria was shaking in fear as she stared up with glazed over eyes.
"No Eina wasn't in her apartment."
"She's not in the manor." Ais responded
"Then that leaves the entertainment district." Loki gritted her teeth. She turned to Finn and Gareth each leading a group out of the grounds. "FINN!"
"What is your command, Loki?"
"I want every single one of you to search the entertainment district for Eina. If she is there, rescue her and BURN IT TO THE GROUND!" Loki's eyes formed slits out of anger.
"At once." Finn responded.
"Hu-hu-hu-hu." The erratic breathing of two small women were racing up the street to the twilight manor. Hestia and Lily ran as fast as they could manage across the city at night. "LOKI!"
"Urrrgh! I don't have time for this Itty-Bitty. Unless you know where Eina is located." Loki was at her breaking point and she did not want to deal with Hestia at this time.
"Eina. Bell…. Hu-hu-hu." Hestia was panting not use to strenuous exercise.
"WHAT IS IT!?" Loki barked.
"Miss Eina was captured." The battered Lily was just about ready to collapse. She was hunched over and breathing hard.
"Who?" Riveria stepped forward and crouched by the prum's side.
"A man named Hod attacked us. He knocked her out and gave Lily a warning for master Bell. Hu-Hu-hu." Lily was panting erratically from all the running across the city. Her injuries from were starting to get the best of her.
"Please tell us Lily, what happened?" Riveria spoke calmly trying to prevent a metaphorical knife from stabbing at her heart.
Lily stared up with tear filled eyes toward the high elf. "H-Hod told Lily to tell Master Bell, if he doesn't come alone to floor nine. She will never be seen again. T-two hoursssssss!" Lily collapsed into Riveria's arms. Elfy and Line ran up to take care of Lily.
"Goddess Hestia how long has it been?" Riveria stared with searing angry eyes up at the loli goddess.
Hestia was in tears. "Bell left immediately. Supporter said hour and half when she arrived a little after 10:30."
"It's midnight Itty-Bitty. Do some dam cardio!?" Loki yelled.
"Time to go. Floor nine immediately!" Riveria warned as she was ready to bolt to the dungeon.
"Arrghhhhhhhhh!." Loki kneeled over in pain to the surprise of everybody around her. Even Riveria stopped herself. A single tear fell to the ground from Loki's face. Loki raised her head showing her petrified face. "Mamma, somebody died."
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!" Riveria launched with all speed away from manor south in the direction of Babel. The Loki familia executives were stunned but responded by chasing after the high elf shortly after, with Alicia tailing them as fast as she could manage to keep up.
Lily was carried into the manor by Line and Elfy. Loki turned to Cruz, Aki and Raul. "I want patrols around the entertainment district until morning. Anybody gets distracted will be punished."
"YES GODDESS." The three responded and gathered groups of Loki familia members before racing to the south district.
After a few minutes it was only the two goddesses left in the courtyard with only a few guards around the twilight manor. Hestia started to get angry. "I swear I will never forgive you if Bell dies. He's always cleaning up from your mistakes."
"I never asked for it Itty-Bitty. If I find out he did something to Mamma. I will hurt him myself." Loki warned.
"What do you mean?" Hestia folded her arms at her chest.
"Riveria is never and I mean never this emotional or reckless. Something happened in the forest between them to make her blind to even Eina, who she cares about immensely." Loki fists were clenched in rage.
"Bell wouldn't do anything like that. He is an elf loving blockhead but he's too shy like a bunny. This is your fault washboard."
"My fault boobs for brains."
"Your women have been trying to seduce my bell from the start, messing with his mind and now one of yours is trying to kill my precious Bell out of jealousy. Bell doesn't even listen to me now. He just runs head long into a trap to save that half elf without thinking." Hestia pouted and turned away from Loki. "Your women are not deserving of him."
"Arrgh, that rabbit is too good for you." Loki replied grudgingly.
The Loki executives scared every person in the city as they raced down south toward Babel. Shutters opened wide, as townsfolk peered out their windows at the late-night disturbance. Riveria and Ais were in front. In less than two minutes they made it to Babel. Their midnight dash scared the townsfolk on the northern road. Without even stopping, Riveria jumped straight down the hole to the dungeon, bypassing the stairs. Ais followed after. With a giant crash both women landed and bolted through the floor as they heard five other crashes behind them from the other executives.
"I can't do that." Alicia stopped in fear.
"Miss Silvan what is going on?" A guild representative came up to her.
"Not now. Emergency." Alicia jumped down two flights of stairs then down again and again until she got to the bottom and raced after the ash cloud trail left from the executives."
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Hod was growing impatient pacing back and forth around the room waiting on the rabbit. He didn't know how much time passed, but he couldn't keep his eyes off the bound half elf in his grasp.
"H-Hod." Eina finally regained consciousness. She slowly opened her eyes to see the that her nightmare was a reality. She started trembling all over knowing she was trapped in the dungeon with a madman.
"Welcome to floor nine Eina? Hehe." Hod started laughing at the crying Eina.
"Please. Please stop this at once. I will beg Loki to reinstate you."
"I've gone little too far for that Einaaa." Hod flashed an evil grin mocking her by pinching his fingers together, that terrified Eina to her core. "Especially when I kill the rabbit in front of you."
"Why? Why Hod?"
"Easy I wanted you from the start, Eina. You kept on ignoring me and went after that weak little rabbit. He stole my moment to get you to fall for me and he stole my familia. I want him dead."
"My standards are higher than you Hod. I will never be with some deranged creep." Eina stated defiantly.
"You rather be with weakling." Hod yelled out in disbelief.
"Bell an amazing and selfless man. He only thinks about others. He saw right through you from the start. It was your own fault for attacking him in such a cowardly manner."
"Well, where is this amazing rabbit? I told his little prum supporter two hours. He's late." Hod held his hands up walking around the room to mock Eina. "Oh Bell. Oh Bell. See the coward left you here, Eina."
"Bell will come." Her lips trembled. She wanted to be saved from this madness but at the same time she didn't want Bell to die.
"Doubtful. He's probably sucking his thumb in his useless goddess's lap. No matter. No matter. I will take his girl. I will shatter your innocence and make you mine by devouring every inch of you over and over."
Eina's eyes were glazing over praying to avoid such a horrifying fate. She tried to put up a brave front. "I will never touch you. I will never be yours."
"Oh, you won't care about that in the morning. You will be eager to be ravaged by me. Not like you're in a position to fight back either. I got your nice little sword right here, Eeeeina." Hod stood directly in front of her patting his side where her shortsword was slung.
"N-nooooooo never. I would rather die."
"I have so many fun plans for the two us Eina. I can't allow that to happen." Hod chuckled.
"M-my father. Riveria. Bell will come for me." She said desperately.
"Oh, they won't know where you are Eina. I am not planning on waiting much longer. Either you will be my wife or I will sell you to the pleasure quarter. You won't want to be found after. hahaha." He started cackling maniacally.
"No please. Anybody HELP ME!"
"You really should focus on yourself Eina." Hod crouched in front of her with a wide evil grin. "I am tired of waiting. I want to corrupt a fairy now. I have been dreaming of these curves for so long." Hod started getting closer and closer.
BAM. BAM.
Eina tried kicking and screaming, landing a few along his chest and head as she continued to struggle for her life and break her binds. Hod gripped her legs and pulled her close. "Get off me!"
"No." Hod starts laughing as pulls her behind onto his lap. He tries to force his lips on her own.
BAM.
Eina head butted Hod's face making his nose bleed a little bit. "You bitch."
SMACK.
Hod used his level two strength and smacked Eina across the face, causing her great pain as she started crying and begging for help. "Your body will be mine." Hod wrapped his hands around the struggling Eina and unclasped her silver chest plate and pulled it off her. Tossing it to the side out of her reach. "Ho-Ho. They look amazing unprotected up close Eina. Time to take off this pretty little battle skirt and feel your soft skin." His hands grabbing thin air above her to mock her.
"NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
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.
.
SWISH
An arrow shot into Hod's outstretch hand and impaled him against the wall. "Arrgh." Hod screamed out in pain. "You cheap little coward."
I slung my next arrow and aimed it for Hod's skull. "I am not a coward. If you would of went for me, I would have given you a fair fight."
"Argh, Bullshit rabbit. You're always surrounded by upper tier adventurers. You try to take my woman and steal my familia." Hod ripped the arrow out of his hand and the wall in one swift motion.
SWISH. CLANG.
Hod spun the shortsword out of scabbard; deflected and destroyed the arrow sent to his head. "Like I am gonna let you make me into a pin cushion bastard." Hod was seething with rage holding Eina's sword outstretched.
I slung my bow and unhooked the quiver. I threw it by the entrance and pulled out my knives immediately to Hod's surprise. "I would have given you a rematch, but YOU HAD TO BRING THAT ANGEL OF A WOMAN INTO THIS!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, full of rage. Eina sat up with a trembling blush on her face. "Eina get away from him. I will take him down." Eina started rolling away.
"Like hell I am losing my prize." Hod leaped toward Eina.
CLANG.
I lunged forward at full speed and intercepted Hod reaching to grab Eina. Sparks flew as Hod barely managed to defend against my blades in time. Hod parried me with Eina's shortsword and his level two strength. I jumped back as Eina continued to distance herself to the other side of the room. "You will never have Eina."
"Oh, you think you can stop me little rabbit. I will kill you in front of her and take her as mine." Hod's smile widen as he spun the blade around playfully in his hand.
"I will not lose. Do not force me to kill you?" I bent down into a fighting stance.
"I am not gonna hold back this time." Hod boasted.
"Whatever?"
"You…." Hod charged blindly with an overhead vertical slash with all his strength.
CLANG
The blade was stopped instantly with both of my knives in a vice like hold above me. I wasn't straining as much as our previous fight.
BAM
I raised my right foot up into Hod's gut. He was winded by the powerful kick and was pushed backward, skidding across the floor. He was holding his gut surprised. "How the hell? You just started being an adventurer." Hod spit on the ground and stood back up livid from the greenhorn's counterattack. "You're only a no named greenhorn. You are not worthy of her."
"I know I am not, but NEITHER ARE YOU!" I yelled out loud, before charging at surprising speed that caught both Hod and Eina off guard. Our clash renewed with a full-frontal assault against Hod's swordsmanship.
'Oh Bell.' Eina's eyes watered over for a different reason hearing those words. She prayed for her hero's victory as she watched the flurry of blades connect in a deadly duel. 'Bell, I love you, more than you know. Please be safe. Please win.'
Hod was having difficulty tracking two weapons at this speed. He was trying to protect his core with outward strikes and parries. Hod deflected my right knife out wide. He went in for an opening and tried to impale my chest. I managed to deflect the shortsword with my left knife upwards to the right, as I back shifted. The sword cut a narrow cut against my chin. I dropped both of my knives and grabbed his wrist to Hod's surprised. I bent to the side unbalancing Hod and threw him over my shoulder to the wall.
I picked up my knives and sprang back up as Hod stumbled to his feet. "Dam slippery piece of shit." Hod reached along his belt and threw two throwing knives directly toward me.
Swish. Clang. Clang.
I slapped both knives out of the midair with inward uppercut slashes. Hod immediately lunged forward and thrusted the shortsword forward. I deflected with my right knife. Hod spun his sword around into a low sweeping attacked. I jump over his blade and kicked him in the face with my left foot and spun back to my feet.
Hod pushed past the pain and thrusted forward to impale. I backpedaled and defend by crossing my blades and forcing his into the dirt.
BAM
Hod punched me in the gut. The armor absorb most of the impact but my body still felt the recoil. "Arrgh dam armored pussy. I will crack you like an egg." Hod held his wounded handed in pain.
I ducked under his horizontal slash and leaped up from the ground landing a deep gash along his right arm with my left blade.
"Arrrgh, how the hell?" Hod grasped his arm in pain.
"Surrender. Throw Eina's weapon down and get to your knees." I ordered.
"Like hell I will, runt." Hod's bloody hands grasped two more knives. He threw one at me which I deflect with little effort. Hod used it as a diversion to find Eina. He was about to release the blade toward her petrified face.
"Firebolt." Red electric flame seared Hod's back. He screamed in pain hunched over. I grab the blade he through at me earlier and ran to block Eina's unprotected body from any projectiles. I dropped the knife at Eina's feet to allow her to cut her binds. "Whose is the coward now?"
"What was that?" Hod was patting his shoulder
"Fire." I shrugged my shoulders
Hod's blind rage was consuming him. He reached to his belt revealing four more knives. "Try to deflect all these, rabbit." Hod started rapid firing the throwing knives at both of us.
CLANG. CLANG.
Desperately I deflected the knives around both me and Eina as I started making my way forward.
CLANG
"Firebolt. Firebolt." My spell impacted the last knife blowing it out of the air. I charged forward with my knives in an upward strike. Hod was still feeling the effects of the magic blasting in front of him. His sword was outstretched. I dodged around the blade and sliced his right hand off and jumped and kicked him in the face sending him falling to the ground crying in pain as he held his hand."
With my free foot I kicked Eina's shortsword over to Eina who managed to cut her bindings with the throwing knife. She bent down and pried Hod's severed fingers gripped around the pommel and picked the sword up. "You will surrender HOD!"
"This is impossible." Hod was reeling from the pain as he desperately tried to stop the bleeding. "S-shut up. Like hell I will surrender." Hod stood up and ran out the room leaving a bloody trail.
"Eina are you okay." My eyes were strained trying to prevent my eyes from tearing up.
Eina ran up to hug me. "Yes because of you Bell." She was overjoyed to not be at the Hod's mercy. She kissed me on the cheek and pulled away to see my blushing red, speechless smile. "Let's get him, Bell."
I shook my head up in down. "Y-y-yes." I stuttered out making Eina smile wider. Eina hurried to pick up her armor and I equipped my quiver and bow before racing out of room after Hod. We followed the fresh blood trail across the floor.
The floor was surprisingly barren of monsters as we pursued the injured Hod. In his delirious state, Hod stumbled the wrong way and was in front of the floor ten stairs. "Dam it. Dam it. Dam it."
"Stop." Me an Eina cornered him. My bow was aimed at him. Only choice for him was to go deeper or through us. "You are beaten Hod. If you surrender we will heal you."
"As if." Eina muttered.
"Shut the hell up." Hod defiant to his last.
STOMP. STOMP. STOMP.
Me and Eina went pale in the face seeing the demonic shadow rise from the tenth floor. Battle scars on its body enhanced the sheer terror the minotaur emanated from its mere existence. The bull from my nightmares had come to life. We both noticed the huge greatsword it was carrying, that wasn't a landform.
Hod turned around hearing the stomps and seeing our faces. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh." Hod's pitiful scream echo throughout the halls.
"Raaaaaaaawwwwwrrrrrrrrrr." The minotaur raised its greatsword above its head. With one swift moment, the petrified hod was cleaved in two by the greatsword. From head to groin Hod's body was split in half.
Hod's voice was quieted as his body stood there for a second. Then the next second both halves peeled apart at fell at the feet of the bloodthirsty minotaur. A wet squelching sound was heard as his body fell to the ground like slabs of meat in a puddle of blood.
"Rawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr." The minotaur celebrated its second victory with a mighty roar.
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.
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"Bell. Bell. BELLL!" Eina's eyes were full of terror and tears. She was shaking my near lifeless body, as I was unable to move or think.
My world stood still. My heart beat drowned out Eina's desperate pleas to run. My face was pale, the nightmare beast had shown itself before us. It was mocking us by slowly crushing Hod's body under its massive weigh, as it approached. I had never seen death like this before. This wasn't someone passing away from old age at my village. This was a grisly massacre that happened in a blink of an eye.
There was no way Eina was going to be able to outrun the minotaur. I wasn't going to leave her to die to save myself.
"Bell. Bell. Bell. Please listen to me. We need to run." Eina begged me to move. She knew how terrified I was and how hopeless the situation seemed.
"Go." I replied not shifting eye contact for a second.
STOMP. STOMP.
"Go with me." Eina begged
"Eina run. I-I will c-catch up." I replied not even believing my own words. "I don't want you die because of me."
"Bell!"
"GOOOOOO!" I shouted at the top of my lungs. Eina slowly backed up. Her heart breaking all over again. "Please." I strained my panic face toward her.
The minotaur had enough fun playing with its food. It lowered its massive body into a crouch, ready to charge. Eina dropped her armor and ran away with tears in her eyes.
BOOM. Swish. Swish.
The floor shook from the impact of it kicking off the ground towards us. The first arrow impacted its right shoulder. The minotaur bit the arrow apart and destroyed the next with its horns. As it was about to gore me, I dodged to the right, but was thrown sideways by the bull's outstretched arm.
The bull stopped and spun around as I aimed my hand at its face. "Firebolt. Firebolt. Firebolt. Firebolt." I desperately cried out my spell over and over. The spell barely did anything against the minotaur's tough hide. It was just a minor annoyance to him as he continued to walked through each spell.
CLANG
"Rar-rara-rara." The minotaur swings its blade upwards breaking my guard and back down. I tried to deflect each attack that glanced off my knives. I dodged on of its punches and fell to one knee. The bull raised its greatsword into the air intent on splitting me in two.
I was able to bring my blades up in time to catch the attack. My body was cratered into the floor from the impact. It was far stronger than Hod, little chunks of my knives started fragmenting off of my blades. "Firebolt." I tried to get up by disorienting it with my magic but was bull backhand punched me in the gut, throwing me ten feet, landing on my back.
The minotaur didn't allow me to rest. It jumps into the air with a two-handed downward slash intent on gutting me. "Rawr." The shadow of death came crashing down from above.
BOOM
I rolled right to avoid the blade crashing down beside me but was pinned under its body. It reached out with its hand and grabbed me by the neck. Squeezing hard around my throat with one hand against the ground. I released both of my knifes and tried to pry his fingers off with my right hand. The bull was smiling ear to ear seeing me fail to break free, as it sat up and brought in its sword.
"Firebolt. Firebolt." I raised my left hand shot the spell point blank at its face. It shook its massive head. The blasts were enough to disorient the bull and it loosened its grip on my neck. I found my right knife by outstretching my hand gripped the pummel and landed a narrow gash along its neck.
"Rawr." The bull roared in pain. With its right hand it batted the knife out of my hand, it went flying into a nearby wall. It stood up and stabbed its sword down into my left shoulder pauldron. The armor piece shattered it didn't stop the blade but it redirected the blade upwards into the dirt, still creating a deep gash in shoulder.
"Ahhhh." I gritted my teeth in pain. "Firebolt." I sent another one at its face. I grabbed its outstretched arm and rolled over top it bringing my foot around into its jaw. I continued rolling to the left picking up my other knife along the way and ended jumping up right against a dead-end wall. I cursed my bad luck as I was cornered with only one weapon. The bull jumped up with sword in hand and came charging with a powerful horizontal slash. I caught the blade with my knife.
CRASH
The blade shattered. The momentum from its attack was lessened allowing me a second to grab its arm. I kicked my feet against the wall and toppled over top of its head. My hands found its horns, my feet battered its skull as I kicked of its head making to get out of its reach.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWRRRRRRR." The bull was angry that it kept on escaping. It saw that I was weaponless and heading for an exit out of the giant room. The minotaur gripped a nearby stalagmite and ripped it out of the ground. The bull aimed toward me and throw it like a javelin.
BOOM
My back burned as I tripped over a rock. The wall exploded upon impact above me, pelting my body with shrapnel. "Rawr." The beast started charging with a renew purpose to end the rabbits escape and dine on its innards. The great sword came crashing down from above. I was able to roll back upon my shoulders push off my hands to my feet just in time to avoid the devastated impact on the ground. I stood up leaning against the wall weaponless and in pain.
"Rawr." The bull roared in triumph to boast cornering the rabbit and stopping his escape. It noticed the knife made of its kin impaled in the wall.
BAM
The minotaur punched the wall and pulled out the knife. "RAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRR!"
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.
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"Dam it. Dam it. Dam it." Freya was biting her hand out of frustration watching the fight on her divine mirror. She was able to locate us on floor nine. She witnessed the incredible fight against Hod, but the minotaur was another story. She saw the Bell's soul was dimming as fear consumed his heart.
"My lady is everything alright." Hedin asked standing guard next to her.
"No. Not only did that half elf get away, but my Bell is completely terrified of the bull. I was hoping the death of the half elf would ignite the fire in his soul and distance him from Loki. He is frozen in fear, barely able to fight at his best."
"I will go save him." Hedin offered.
"DAMN HER!" The goddess stood up out of her throne seething with anger causing Hedin to stop.
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Eina's mind was consumed with fear. She was racing across floor nine with tears rolling down her face, as she heard the sounds of battle and that terrifying roar behind her. Within a few minutes she had reached the stairs leading to floor eight. As she reached for the wall, she stopped forcing herself from going up. "No." She stood their staring at the stairs leading to her salvation.
She shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes. "No. No. No. What am I doing? I can't let Bell die for me. I can't let the man I love be torn from this world. I refuse." She clenched her sword pommel tight and turned around and carved an iron tusk in half that spawn nearby.
Love was battling the fear in her heart. "I must save him from himself." Eina started running back to the battle at the end of the floor. She focused only on what was in front of her as she started concurrent chanting her spell.
"Earth split asunder. Sheen of iron. Upheave the very rock and stone beneath my toe. Gnome, Incarnate of the land." Eina continued running through the floor as fast as she could.
Two irontusks blocked her path back to bell. "Ooooooinkkk." They started charging toward her. She skirted the cave walls in front of them.
BOOM
The boars closed in on her. "Rain down the missiles." Eina jumped against stalagmite and kicked off the dungeon wall as the rock formation was shattered underneath her feet. The boars were disoriented from the impact as they were pelted by stone. Eina dived with her sword downwards into the chest of the right boar shattering the stone. Eina landed against the fat boar body and kicked off it just as it disappeared to ash. She rolled along the ground and impaled the other irontusk in the skull as it turned to face her. "and extinguish the light." She took a deep breath focusing her mind on her mission. She ripped out the shortsword from the irontusk's skull and turn towards the loud roar of the demonic bull.
She jumped up and charged forward to the explosion. She entered the room to see a Bell bleeding and weaponless cornered by the bull. "Eina." My heart stopped seeing her come back.
"Midgard's Twilight!" Eina screamed at the top of her lungs. She focused a lot of mind into her magic. Giant mounts of rock rose from her feet, just as the minotaur turned to face her.
"Firebolt." I sent a blast at the back of his head to disorient the bull and jumped out of the way.
The earth magic was flung at the bull with devastating force. The first one impacted its greatsword and shattered but the remaining caught the beast's right arm and tore it off. Its gut was pelted with shrapnel. "Rawr." It screamed out in pain at loosing its arm. The greatsword fell to the ground at its feet.
The minotaur ignored me and locked eyes with Eina. It winded up its arm to throw the knife at her.
BAM. BOOM.
Seeing its intention to kill Eina. I tackled the bull from its armless side, as it released the knife. The knife shattered against the wall beside Eina. She fell to the ground with minor injuries from flying rocks. The minotaur's free arm was pinned up against the cavern wall.
BAM. BAM.
I started pummeling the bull's face over and over. "Die already." The fear in my mind boiled over into anger for trying to hurt Eina. I kept wailing at its head with its arm pinned. It was thrashing around with its horns and hoofs to kick me off. It freed its arm from the wall and tried reaching out for me. I rolled off its body and picked up the great sword.
SWISH.
With one clean moment, I brought the greatsword down and severed its head from its body. The minotaur's body went limp. My armor was mostly intact. My body was too tired to hold the massive blade. I released the sword with a clang on the ground. I took a few steps backward fell to the ground exhausted. "Ah its over." I sat up just as Eina ran over to me.
"Bell are you okay." Eina came racing over to check on me.
"Yes, Eina."
"Sit still let me heal you." She ordered as she propped me up.
"Okay Eina. T-thankyou."
Eina rubbed her eyes and held her hand out. "Respond to the contract, light of the forest. Follow my order and heal the wounds of those that seek your Mercy. – Dio Luna." My wounds started to heal over.
"Thankyou."
"Anytime." She smiled toward me. "Bell."
"Yes, Eina."
"Forgive me."
"Huh." I stared up at her confused.
THUD.
Eina tackled me to the ground and started kissing all over my face. *Muah* *Muah* *Muah* Her curves enveloping my body.
My heart was beating like crazy, under the heavenly assault of her lips and body. My face was red as the flame was roaring in my chest. "E-Eina." I managed to stutter out.
She stopped and sat up. Her beautiful emerald eyes meeting my red eyes. "Bell, I love you."
My eyes went wide. My heart was pounding. I just stare at her speechless. Slowly my face curled up into a smile. "I"
"EINA!"
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The jade haired high elf came rushing into the room right when Eina confessed. She just stared at our bodies intertwined on the floor. "Bell." Riveria stopped across the room wide eyed and speechless. Her mind was spinning at the sight of the both of them celebrating their hard fought battle with a moment of intimacy.
The rest of the executives came racing into the room. "Whew. Their safe." Gareth muttered as he stopped to rest.
"Dam get it girl." Tiona yelled out in her energetic voice, making the both of us blush a deep crimson. Gareth and Tione laughed alongside her.
Finn rested his spear against his shoulder. "Good, glad you're both safe. Where is Hod?"
Eina pointed behind her at the floor ten entrance without turning around. "That creepy bastard is over there."
"I think I am going to hurl." Tiona ran to the wall and crouched down.
"How!?" Finn questioned before seeing the body of the minotaur.
"Is that a freaking minotaur?" Bete yelled out completely stunned.
"Yes Bete." Eina responded standing up. She reached out for my hand and helped me up. "Bell defeated Hod and he away ran right into the minotaur. We took it down." Eina smiled affectionately at my blushing face leaning my head forward embarrassed and trying to avoid Riveria's stare.
"Dam no wonder you jumped on him." Tione walked up and put an arm around Finn's shoulders. "Should we leave those two alone, Captain." She giggled staring down at the wide-eyed Finn.
"Ah, Ah. Um." Finn was at a loss for words.
"Ha-ha." Gareth started busting out laughing. "Son you are something special. Ha-Ha-Ha."
"Hu-hu-hu." Alicia came panting up behind the executives. "What did I… miss?" Alicia stopped cold seeing the grizzly sight and seeing Eina holding on to me.
Riveria took a deep breath to calm herself. "Seems like the crisis has ended. I am glad you both are safe." Her jade eyes squinted to lock on to mine. "I see people continue to underestimate you, Bell."
Eina felt my body tense up as she held onto my hand. She stared at my wide-eyed worried expression. "Bell."
.
.
.
"NOOOOOOO! NO. NO. NO." Freya gripped the mirror in anger. Her body and mind were full of anger when she seen the half elf Eina kiss and confess to him. Loki familia was praising him. "This can not be! Dam that half elf trying to take my Bell!"
"My lady, yourrrrr g-glowing." Hedin and Helun were forced to the submit and grovel in the presence of her divinity expelling from her body.
Freya glanced at her body glowing purple. She was unknowingly focusing her divine powers onto floor nine through the mirror. She let go of the divine mirror and stared with worried eyes at her love. "Oh no. What have I done!?"
.
.
.
Boom. Boom.
The entirety of floor nine started rumbling. The floor was shaking as the roof was cracking open in front of the executives. "What is going on with the dungeon?" Tione yelled out.
"Earthquake. An evil one." Ais was wide eyed staring at the familiar occurrence.
CRACK. CRACK.
The cracks were getting deeper in front of Loki familia and above the floor ten entrance where Ottar was watching. The roof started to collapse. "Eina, forgive me." I gripped her tight.
"What?" Eina's eyes went round like saucers in fear. With all my strength I threw her towards the Loki familia executives.
Bam. BOOM!
The roof gave out as soon as Eina landed in Riveria's arms. Every member of Loki familia was forced to retreat backwards to avoid being crushed by the collapsing roof. Even Ottar was buried by collapsing rubble and thrown down into floor ten.
COUGH. COUGH.
"BELLLLLLLLLL." Eina and Riveria were the first ones to rush towards the collapsed rubble.
"RRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWRRRRRRRRR!" The mighty roar of a newborn monster echoed throughout the floor.
"What is that!?" Eina stared into Riveria's eyes.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"