Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Greatest Trait a Hero can have is…Luck?

[Border between the Empire and Dragon Valley-Walled City of Preblica]

"Run for your lives!" Shouts from civilians and adventures that were running for their lives from the terror of the One-Eye Black Dragon.

While everyone was running away flooding the streets below trampling over anyone who had fallen down. While one person was moving towards the dragon from the rooftops.

The young man was 167 cm tall, he wore a black shirt, a red salamander cloak, combat boots, gauntlets, and a sword on his hip. He had snow-white hair and sapphire blue eyes that were staring at the Tyrant of Sky down.

Despite his best effort, he was shaking in fear.

A body of pure black, wings like the night sky, and an eye of crimson red. The Dragon was a frightening vision, a horrendous sight, and its frame alone was enough to render his legs weak and make his mind lose focus. His size was massive, and enormous, easily reaching 18 meters in height and over 400 feet in length. It was so huge that it looked like a mountain, with a horrifying head with small black horns around it and razor-sharp teeth. It was honestly horrifying, so much so that he could even feel his legs start to tremble in fear at the sight of that beast flying above the city and spitting fire all over it.

Much to his shock, however, from his advantage point, the young man realized with no small sense of horror that the dragon was not the only thing that would cause panic in every man's heart. The city below, in fact, was another sight that would have made anyone pause, gods and mortals alike. The city had become a literal sea of flames and smoke, its ruined streets and flaming buildings and destroyed walls greeting his vision completely, stretching all around him as far as the eyes could see. The worst part? All of that had happened in less than five minutes. Five minutes had been more than enough for the beast to create such a massive amount of destruction and death.

'So this is the power that killed the Old Hag's Familia.'

Ashton thought with a grim look. He knew his chances of surviving were low and killing the dragon is impossible. Despite being one of the most powerful mortals on Tenkai he knew that he might die today.

'Meh, it's not like I was doing anything with my life.' Ashton thought as he put on his signature white mask with a red jewel embedded in its forehead. The area around the eyes had a thin crack that showed it has been through a lot of battles.

"Enchant - Boost Strength."

"Enchant - Boost Agility."

"Enchant - Boost Dexterity"

"Enchant - Boost Endurance"

"Enchant - Boost Magic"

A multitude of colors covered Ashton from head to toe. He felt himself grow stronger yet he knew it would not be enough to fight the dragon head-on.

Ashton pulled out his sword Iargúlta, a medium-sized sword made of silver with an elegant pommel. It was his most faithful companion, his favorite weapon, and the only ally that had never betrayed him before. For that reason, it was the one and only friend he could trust in this situation.

On the blade itself laid countless runes he instinctually knew along with what he learned throughout his 7-year journey. Iargúlta oozes out magical energy. Each rune was carefully carved to perfection onto his trusted weapon to make it the best weapon on Tenkai. It could carve mountains to dust, and split the oceans and sky.

Ashton broke into a sprint and charged at the embodiment of death.

Dragon and human clashed with a roar of the wind.

The air moaned and cried when the battle became a melee, with the Dragon lunging at the tiny human with its claws, forcing him to block the beast's massive paw with his blade and knocking him off his feet. Then, the Dragon brought its jagged fangs down toward the young man, forcing him to roll away at the last second and leap away. The dragon's head slammed on the ground, and Ashton tried to return the favor by slashing its nose with a lightning-fast swing. The black beast reared up onto its back legs, roaring with a bestial fury as the blade slammed against its face.

But the monstrous "Tyrant of the Sky" would not be hurt by such a futile assault. Much to the young man's shock, it held on with its sharp claws, stabbing them into the ground and then using its tail like a whip to force him away. The black tail slashed the air with an invisible speed, and Ashton barely managed to leap away at the last split-second, avoiding the slash by miracle. Then, the young man roared his rage and charged again, batting the Dragon's claws away and slashing it furiously on the neck and shoulder.

The monster roared and growled in rage, surprised by the speed of its opponent, but the attacks did no damage despite his speed and strength. Iargúlta was a fine blade, sharp and resistant thanks to its composition, but it wasn't enough to pierce the scales of the One-Eyed Dragon. Its armor was simply too powerful to be broken by his attacks.

For the first time ever, Ashton realized how a fly would feel while fighting against a giant. And it wasn't a good feeling.

Once again, the Dragon reacted with overwhelming power. Its roar alone made the air shake and the ground tremble, and the young man cursed and screamed in surprise as a shockwave generated by the roar slammed against him, throwing him away like – ironically – a fly. As he crashed against a building placed a few dozen meters away from the beast, Ashton spat a bit of blood from his lips and ignored the pain in his ribcage. All the while, the towering King of Monsters slashed and trashed and spat fire from its maw, destroying the city and killing everything along its path. If it weren't for his powers, Ashton would have been dead already.

Still, his survival did little to assuage his guilt. The young man could still feel the death and destruction around him, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. His mind was doing its best to shield him from the onslaught of negative emotions that this battlefield was drowning in, but his Divine nature simply could not ignore all these raw feelings echoing in the air. There was so much death already, as far as the eyes could see, and no matter how powerful and skilled he was, he had no way to save the people from the monster's wrath.

Ashton struggled to get up from the debris, his chest throbbing with pain due to the impact. His boots sunk deep into the muck that was equal parts mud, water, and blood; while fires that wouldn't be extinguished by rain licked the ground hungrily around him. On the right, corpses formed mounds that quickly began to resemble hills, and the screams of civilians and people hung desperately in the wind.

He hated it. He hated it all.

He hated it and yet his enemy seemed to revel in the death. For every soldier and Adventurer of the Empire that it killed, crushed, or burned; the Dragon's assault and onslaught only grew, relentlessly. Its pleasure and amusement could clearly be seen in its crimson-blood eye, followed by an aura of cruelty and enjoyment. The beast was killing and ravaging and destroying, finding great pleasure in doing so. It killed and devoured with a smile on its face and glee in its eye. Ashton couldn't understand how someone could love death so much.

But it was sickening. Rightfully so. He could not allow this beast to ravage and destroy as it pleased. He had to kill it, no matter what.

With a powerful battle cry, he raised his sword and charged again.

Metal clashed against scales, as the young man darted through the air like a living bullet. The Black Dragon blocked his charge with its claws, roaring and laughing as he pushed the small assailant away with its paw. The small human visibly struggled against its immense strength, his legs sinking into the ground as he desperately tried to push the gigantic enemy back and resist.

"N-no…I'm not…dead!" Ashton wheezed through his teeth, "I won't… allow y-you to keep…destroying lives of mortals…you have brought enough death to this world. It's time for mortals to reclaim this world." Ashton yelled out with conviction and strength.

At his declaration, the dragon roared as if mocking him to try to kill it. Ashton grinds his teeth together looking for any way to injure it.

The Dragon charged again, slashing at the human with overwhelming strength. Ashton leaped away and avoided the charge this time, unwilling to meet the attack head-on. His previous attempts had only proved to him that he could never hope to match the Dragon's attacks despite his Divine nature and his powers. Its strength was simply too much to be handled by a mortal body, no matter the race and level.

Yet, the beast did not relent. It kept chasing him and attacking furiously, destroying more and more of the city with each assault in an attempt to slash and bite the tiny human fleeing from it. There was no form in its attacks, nothing for Ashton to recognize or preempt. It was charging and slashing, and roaring like a mad monster, even attempting to spit fire on several occasions. The One-Eyed Dragon was fighting on animal instinct, and the only defense was instinct.

However, as he was desperately trying to avoid the charge, the young man made a mistake.

He leaped away from an incoming slash too soon, far too soon, leaving him at the mercy of the Dragon's second attack. Panic pricked at his mind, and as he flew in the air he looked over his shoulder to find the Dragon's tail whipping towards him at a lightning-fast speed. His eyes widened in horror and fear, and Ashton tried to block the attack with his sword, but it was too late.

The tail slammed against Iargúlta's blade with a powerful snap, and he paid the blow in full. The impact took all the air away from the young man's lungs, and he was promptly thrown away like a living arrow, sending him into the air for at least an entire mile, screaming in pain all the while. Eventually, he landed on the opposite side of the blazing city, crashing against the walls surrounding its borders with an explosion of dust and stone.

For what seemed to be an eternity, Ashton's world became darkness. Every sound disappeared all of a sudden, and when he finally took hold on himself and blinked to regain his sight, he found a deep gash in the side of his leg and one right above his chest, with blood pouring out of them. The pain arrived a moment later, and his eyes almost rolled back inside his head in agony.

"H-Heal!" he managed to stutter, placing a hand above the wounds. The spell managed to close the gashes and stop the bleeding, but his exhaustion remained in full. On the contrary, it was growing by the second.

As much as he hated to admit it, at this rate, he was surely going to get killed.

Heh, after so long of wanting to end his lonely existence his wish was about to be granted by the thing he hated the most. The monster ruined his happy life with his family.

Yet as he started losing his conscience he heard the screams of the people running for their lives. It reminded him of that night.

"Strength. Conviction. Wisdom. Magic. Forest. Druidry." Ashton intones as he starts pulling all the power he could from his divinity.

A magic circle appeared below me with the runes inscribed into it. Sowilo (ᛊ), Kenaz (ᚲ), Othala (ᛟ), Laguz (ᛚ), and Laguz (ᛚ).

As the dragon was about to unleash another blast of fire at me roots came bursting out of the ground. Within a millisecond the dragon to caged in tree branches. The dragon tried to escape his wooden prison. Yet no matter how many times he burned and slashed his prison it would regrow faster than it could move.

No one could even imagine that the One-eye Black Dragon could be held. Especially by a tree of all things.

Ashton stood up despite the tiredness and pain coursing through him. Ashton had to kill the dragon fast. The prison will only last a minute or two and after that, he dies and the dragon will continue his path of destruction.

As he started analyzing the dragon. Every story, theory, and the first-hand account he heard but the Dragon was too strong, and the glare it was sending him with its crimson eye was filled with malice and hatred―

…wait.

A small idea blossomed inside his mind.

Realization dawned upon him.

Its eye!

Looks like the Sword Champion's sacrifice won't be in vain!

Just as Ashton found the one and only weak spot the dragon had and broke free.

A terrifying, ear-splitting roar echoed from the beast's maw. But the young man wouldn't let himself be intimidated this time.

He steeled his resolve, cleared his mind, and brought the silver sword in front of him, pointed at the monster.

He had one chance. One moment. One shot. He could not afford to fail.

The air burned. The earth shook. The world paused.

And the beast was getting closer.

Ashton focused all his remaining energy in his legs, placing himself in a battle stance.

Then, the Black Dragon lunged at him with its maw open and a roar.

"RRRAAAAAAAAAWWWWRRRRRR!"

And he uttered one, single spell.

"Wind!"

No one witnessed it. No one saw it happen.

Because it happened faster than a man could blink.

The wind roared and raged around Ashton's frame, and a powerful and mighty hurricane covered his legs completely.

Then, the spell was released, and the young man was propelled forward like a living bullet.

Like a shadow flitting through a forest, the young man darted in the air and flew towards the Dragon, faster than any living being around him and lighter than a feather. In his hands, the silver blade of Iargúlta shone with a magical starry nimbus, glowing in the smoke and fire as he leaped forward. The boy dashed like a living arrow, flying through the blazing city and charging against the beast with a burst of wind.

However, the Dragon saw him coming and jerked its body, lunging forward as well and trying to counterattack. When the rumble of wind and fire echoed around them both, the black monster snarled and opened its jaws, painting the world in front of it with a torrent of red fire.

But Ashton dove forward, undaunted. For a moment, he lost sight of the Dragon and the world around him as the wall of flames slammed against him, swallowing him up entirely and enveloping him in an excruciating heat that almost managed to take his breath away. However, the wind around him roared and raged all the more, shielding him from the wrath of the fire for only a split-second.

Then, he came into view again, not far from where the Dragon's head hung above the world, darting out of the torrent of flames like an arrow. The high end salamander cloak was now burnt to a crisp, his body filled with flames, his armor and his masked was completely burned and ruined, but he did not notice. With three bounding steps on a rooftop, he leaped onto the beast's left forefoot, and from there flung himself towards the side of its head, trailing fire like a comet. Wind and air raged all around him as the Dragon widened its eye and roared in fury.

But it was too late.

"TAKE THIS, YOU DISGUSTING LIZARD!"

And thus, uttering a shout that could be heard throughout the fire and chaos, Ashton thrust Iargúlta into the center of the Dragon's great, gleaming blood-red eye and buried the full length of the blade within its gigantic skull.

Just like that, it was over.

Metal to the flesh, sword to dragon. Limbs trembling, entrails eviscerated. Blood splashed the young man's cheeks, hot and scorching, its source unknown. Regardless, he kept pushing the blade into the beast's head, roaring and screaming in fury as he desperately tried to keep his hold on the sword's handle. The world spun and moaned around him, the wind dissolving like nothing as an inhuman roar of pain spurred his desperation.

The Black Dragon bellowed and twitched, trashing around like the wounded beast it was and emitting an ear-splitting howl of pain that shook both heaven and earth. He slashed the air with its paws, spat fire from its maw like a living inferno, and then he flew into the sky with a howl of agony. It cried and raged and roared; trashing and writhing into the air like a snake, scratching its face and neck in pain as it desperately flew in the air, unable to see and feel anything but pain.

All the while, Ashton

screamed and fought to keep his hold on the sword, struggling against the bellowing wind raging against him and the beast's desperate trashing threatening to throw him away.

From the fire and smoke in the city below, the few remaining soldiers and survivors stared at the flying beast with wide eyes and incredulous faces.

Until, suddenly and quietly, it stopped.

Everything quieted, the world paused, and the Dragon stilled. Then, slowly and solemnly, the beast's frame slumped and stopped, liquid fire pouring from its maw as its massive body fell sideways toward the ground, completely devoid of life. Sheer silence began to echo around the world, and a dull hiss could be heard in the air as the monster fell towards the ground.

All the while, Ashton remained attached to the Dragon's head, desperate and unable to feel the world around him. The wind slammed on his body and billowed around him, putting out all the flames from his hair and body. An eerie silence descended around him, and the young man slowly opened one eye as he felt the power of gravity began to pull him downwards all of a sudden. He finally managed to grasp the situation just a moment before the Black Dragon struck the ground with its frame.

His face paled in incredulous horror.

"Oh shit… you gotta be fucking kid―!"

A powerful, ear-splitting crash echoed for miles and miles away.

The Dragon fell from the sky, crashing above a hill a few miles away from the burning city with a deafening shockwave and earthquake.

Ashton's world spun and rotated. His body was brutally trashed around as he felt his chest slam against the Dragon's scales.

Then, everything went black, and he could feel the world no more.

(***)

Meteria stared at her with her mouth agape. The disbelief was clearly visible on her gentle face.

"Y-You… You're pregnant?" she breathed.

For the first time ever since they were kids, her sister wouldn't dare to meet her eyes.

Sheer silence echoed inside the room.

Then, after what seemed like an eternity, the woman found herself wrapped in a bone-crushing hug.

"OhmygodohmygodohmyGod!" Meteria cried and laughed and jumped all while, bouncing on her legs like a little bundle of happiness. "I can't believe it! You're pregnant! You're going to have a baby!"

Alfia found herself blushing in spite of the shame she was feeling inside.

"E-Enough, Meteria! Unhand me at once!" she hissed in exasperation, struggling to break away from her sister's hug.

The woman with ashen-white hair finally released her, her face trickling with tears of joy. "I can't believe it! My sister is pregnant… I'm going to be an aunt!" she exclaimed, her face gleaming with glee.

Her sister donned a hand on her face with a groan, trying to hide her ashamed blush.

Sadly, it didn't work.

(***)

"Urrgh. Goddammit, why couldn't I have just died." Ashton groaned out in pain. He tried to move his head through all the pain but failed. The only thing he could see was the beautiful stars up in the sky.

He could not feel his arms and legs anymore, but he was painfully aware of the pain in his chest and back. Blood covered his body from head to toe, and while a great amount of it came from the Dragon, he was willing to bet that the majority of it was his. Even the grass around him was wet with crimson liquid, and the air smelled like the taste of iron.

Slowly, he managed to open his lips and gulp air. His mouth was dry and his tongue numb, but that simple gesture made his throat burn in pain as soon as air entered his body. His body twitched, and the young man slowly managed to move his head slightly to the left, gazing upon the world with tired, half-lidded eyes.

The Dragon's dead body lay lifeless about ten meters away from him, unmoving and yet towering above him with its shadow. Ashton's mind momentarily shut in stunned shock when realization dawned upon him. It had worked. The monster was dead. He had succeeded.

The One-Eyed Black Dragon was dead.

Despite the pain and his better judgment, a low chuckle escaped his lips. He immediately regretted it, for another pang of pain coursed through his body at the gesture. He wheezed and coughed in agony, fighting hard to remain conscious in spite of the exhaustion and pain. But still… he had done it. He had really done it. He almost couldn't believe it.

He had succeeded in the one quest that was considered impossible. He had slayed the Tyrant of the Sky.

He felt a sense of accomplishment in attaining vengeance for those who have died at the dragon's hand. Another part felt unholy rage since he had just proved that Bitch right.

No matter he was going to die, which was fine by him. He made the world a little better than it once was. Ashton dipped his finger in a pool of his blood and started painting a crude rune. He didn't want anybody to associate him with the death of the One-eye Black Dragon.

He would never allow himself to be remembered as a Hero.

I'll be joining you soon… Auntie.

Ashton closed my eyes and resigned himself to waiting for his incoming end.

"No. You shall not die today, Hero." A gentle voice entered his ears, and look up to see a familiar face.

A woman of stunning beauty stood next to his battered body.

"Th..e sword...princess?" Ashton said out loud in confusion. The woman was nearly a spitting image of the little girl he had seen seven years ago. The woman let out a wistful sigh.

"Albert would have loved that name. But no, I'm Aria the Great Wind Spirit and husband to Albert Waldstein" Aria said, and Ashton blinked at what she said. Albert...don't fucking tell me

"Sw..or..d champion?" Ashton croaked out while spitting up blood.

"Yes, my husband would have squealed at our little Aiz on getting a title similar to his own." The woman said as she looked down at me with great pity and sadness.

"You killed the Dragon, freed me, and avenged my husband. I can't let a brave Hero like yourself die like this. I have enough power to heal you before I lose my physical form." As Aria's hand begins to glow Ashton immediately grabbed Aria's hand to force them away from himself.

"Save it," Ashton said with a hoarse but resolute voice, "I don't need to be saved. You should go find your daughter because the last time I saw her she was basically suicidal." Ashton said

While he may have been exaggerating just a bit. Since he heard stories about how a Level 1 Sword Princess charged at a monster that killed plenty of high-ranking adventurers.

"You must have lived a harsh life," Aria said and Ashton let out a bloody grin

"You could say that," Ashton said mockingly

"Yet even more so, you deserve a chance to live. Divine Child." Aria said and Ashton eyes widened.

"H..ow!?" Ashton yelled

"If I could have a child why can't a God?" Aria said smiling as her entire being began to glow.

"Don't you dare!" Ashton shouted, but Aria wouldn't listen.

"Tell my daughter we will meet again. Even if it takes centuries, we will meet again." Aria said with a small smile

"Tell her that yourself!" Ashton shouted,

"I apologize for my selfishness, but you deserve to live a full life, Brave Hero."

Ashton couldn't resist anymore. His exhaustion finally slammed on him once again, even if a sense of warmth began spreading through his body, coming from the hand on his chest and making the pain disappear and his mind relax gradually.

(***)

"But still! You, pregnant?!" Meteria could not believe it, no matter how long she tried to process it. "You, who would always panic and get mad at every man's attempt to approach you? Who would always blush and stutter at the mere thought of something perve―"

"Enough already, Meteria!" Alfia cut her off sternly, blocking her mouth with one hand in a swift movement. Her sister could almost swear she saw tears of shame forming in her heterochromatic eyes. "I get it! It was a mistake! A moment of weakness on my part!"

Her eyes widened. "Mistake? What are you saying, Alfia! You're going to be a mom! What's so wrong about that?"

The woman's gaze fell, her fists clenched in a mixture of fury, and shame, and regret.

"…it shouldn't have happened," she hissed with a broken voice.

Meteria gasped, raising a hand to her lips. "W-What?"

Once again, her sister wouldn't answer, unable to meet her gaze.

A horrible realization began to blossom on the kind woman's face. Her brows furrowed in concern.

"Alfia… who is the father?"

(***)

[Labyrinth City of Orario-10XX]

It's been a whole day since the announcement of the return of the One-Eye Black Dragon.

The people and Adventurers were unavoidably shaken. Luckily for them, the earthquakes and the seismic tremors that had plagued the city for almost a whole day had ended two hours ago, and even the monster's screams coming from the Dungeon had suddenly halted roughly at the same time. But on the other hand, this fact alone had not been enough to reassure the people and ease their worried minds.

After all, ever since the news had reached the citizens' ears, an air of tension and fear had enveloped the city completely, plunging it into a state of endless terror and alarm.

The news of the Black Dragon's return, roaming free on the world once again.

Finn Deimne didn't like to admit it, but he was scared.

The Loki Familia along with every combat-capable Familias are being sent to their certain death.

While he knew he had to put on a brave face to boost morale it was pointless since everyone knows the outcome.

Death.

The expressions of everyone-from the Gods, Civilians, and Adventurers-knew it was a suicide mission yet they had no choice.

As soon as the news about the Dragon's attack on Preblica had reached the Guild and the city, Ouranos had decided to withdraw his previous order and call back the expedition inside the Dungeon. The earthquakes had halted, after all, and it seemed that Orario was not under threat for the moment. Now, instead, the orders were more severe. Much, much more. A contingent of Adventurers, the best of the best, had been ordered to leave Orario as soon as possible and head towards the Empire's territories, with one and only goal ahead of them: to hunt down the most famous and feared beast of the entire planet.

And slay it.

It was impossible.

If the Zeus and Hera Familias had multiple Level 8s and 9s how could they fight it with one Level 7 and a handful of Level 6s?

The answer is simple, none.

The only solace in this situation was that only Level 5s and higher are being sent. That means Raul and the other Third and Second Class Adventurers of their Familia had to remain here, with Lefiya being the only exception, and only because of her gifted powers in magic. But the rest of the Executives members had been ordered to depart and join the quest, and there was nothing they could do anymore. They could not refuse a direct order from the Guild, and from Ouranos.

Raul, Alicia, Rakta, and the others had wept. They had tried to protest and say that they wanted to go as well… but to no avail. Finn did not fault them, nor he had tried to stop them. In spite of everything, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

This will be the last time they will ever see each other.

It was saddening. Loki was trying her best to remain composed by doing her usual antics but everyone could tell she was scared. Lefiya was crying non-stop her friends and mentor are being sent on to their deaths. While Tiona and Tione tried cheering her but failed.

Finn looked towards his fellow executives, who compared to him, were doing a good job of hiding their fear. Gareth had spent the last few hours trying to cheer up the younglings and impart to them those that could most likely become his last teachings, and Riveria had done the same with a solemn face and a gentle smile all the while.

Finn look at Aiz, his sugarcoated daughter with worry.

Unlike everyone who had faces of fear or acceptance, Aiz's face was devoid of everything other than hatred.

Avenger, Aiz's strongest skill, increases her attack power against monsters, especially dragons.

Finn knew the origins of the skill was because of the One-eye Black Dragon taking her mother from her.

Fighting the Dragon meant more to her than what Finn and the others could ever hope to understand, and none of them had expected to face this challenge so soon. Not even her.

But that did not stop her Familia from trying to cheer her up.

"Aiz, things will be alright," Tiona said, trying to coax her out of her current state. It didn't work as she continued to stare off into space.

The Amazoness turned to her sister who gave her a sympathetic look, but shook her head. There was nothing they could do. They had tried everything so far, to no avail.

Bete, however, barely liked to admit defeat. He growled and walked over to Aiz, standing before her. "What's your deal, huh?" he spat with a sneer. "You've been even more quiet than usual. Don't tell me you're actually scared of that lizard?"

The glare the blonde sent him was absolutely withering.

"Bete!" Tione called. "Shut up! It's not that simple and you know it!"

"What's not simple about it? All she's done ever since learning our new quest is doing nothing but mope, as if we're about to face a death sentence," he growled back. "Who cares about that monster! No one's seen the thing for years, but I'm definitely not scared of it. He won't be the end of us, and you all know it!"

For once, Finn decided to let him vent and watch, and only because he knew that this was Bete's own way to try and cope with the stress he was feeling right now. Werewolves were an extremely energetic race, and they often needed to vent in stressful situations. Bete especially.

In the end, however, Riveria decided to cut in the discussion before it could escalate. "Enough," she ordered. "I know this is a stressful situation, but we cannot be at each other's throats right now. Things are already getting tenser by the second, and we need to keep calm and focused. If not, things will surely go down in the drain. Is that clear?" she finished, her eyes focusing on Bete and Aiz.

The werewolf growled, but relented with a scoff. Aiz remained completely still.

Finn sighed.

"This has to stop," he said as well, addressing everyone. "I know there are some who disagree with this order," he glanced at Loki and Raul. "And some who are happy to fulfill it," he stared pointedly in Aiz's direction, and this time the girl lowered her eyes a bit under his commanding tone. "But whatever the case, we have to work together," he said, looking at each and every member of the Familia.

"You all are the best of this Familia. Its pride and joy, and its protectors. Right now we've been assigned one of the most difficult mission we've ever received and you need to treat it as such. That means no fighting of any kind, especially not personal attacks," his eyes finally fell to Bete. "Am I understood?"

Everyone but Bete nodded, as he knew he was being singled out.

"Tsk. Yeah, yeah, I got it," he grumbled with a snort.

"Good. Then make sure you're all prepared and ready for the journey. It will take a long while to reach the lands of the Empire, so don't forget to bring everything you need. We'll exchange our goodbyes in ten minutes, when it is time to depart," he ordered.

Everyone moved to follow the orders, without uttering a single word.

While the others were occupied doing their things and checking their weapons, potions and stuff, Finn sighed and pinched his nose, sitting over a wooden box near the walls of the city with a weary expression. For a while, he just sat there, immersed in a deep silence, his hands folded together in front of his face and his expression devoid of emotions, ignoring the noise of people and Adventurers all round. He remained completely still and alone for what seemed like an eternity.

That is, until Loki approached him.

The goddess of mischief said nothing, and did nothing. She just sat next to him on the box, with an unreadable expression on her face and a worried aura surrounding her frame. Finn could not miss it even if he tried.

A few moments of silence passed between the two of them.

He smiled in her direction. "What? Came to say your parting words?" he joked slyly, trying to lift her mood.

It didn't work. "…you brat."

Loki tried to say something but failed. In the end, she could not say anything. She just stood there, silent and worried, and for once Finn allowed her to remain like that. They both knew what this mission represented. Not only for Finn and his ambition but for everyone here. For their Familia. For the world. And they also knew what consequences it could bring. It was good to be optimistic, but the cold, hard reality was usually a hard pill to digest. Sugarcoating the situation with encouraging words was meaningless when the enemy they were about to face was the King of Monsters itself.

So… words could not express what was going through their minds right now. It was simply impossible.

Eventually, Loki exhaled a shaky breath. Slowly, tentatively, she patted the pallum's shoulder with a clenched fist. Once, then twice. She kept her eyes closed and her head pointed to the world ahead, unable to look at him in the eyes.

"…make sure not to die out there, you hear me?" she grumbled with a low tone, trying her best to sound commanding. "I know you're smart, but don't let that pride get over your head. I still want to see if you'll manage to fulfill that dreams of yours. So come back in one piece… with everyone too."

Finn smiled a bitter smile. He answered with a sharp nod of the head.

"I'll do my best," he promised. "You take care of the others, and don't drink too much in our absence. I'd like to see you sober when we'll return."

If we ever will.

That poisonous thought remained unspoken. But it crossed their minds all the same.

In the end, the dreaded moment finally came.

The air suddenly grew quiet. The crowd of people and Adventurers became silent and solemn. The whole city of Orario seemed to pause. Finn openly narrowed his eyes and resigned himself with a sigh with the others when he saw the Freya Familia Executives step forward amid the crowd, looking as stoic and unfriendly as ever. Ottar, Allen, Hogni, Hedin, the Gulliver brothers and the others… all of them were here, led by the goddess of beauty herself.

Finn watched as Ottar and the others kneeled in front of their goddess, a few meters away from the gates. Freya took her time to speak with each and every one of them, walking from one child to the other and caressing their cheeks while the crowd watched them in silence. She looked stunning and mesmerizing as ever, but also confident and worried at the same time – which was weird, considering that she was Freya – but unfortunately, the blonde pallum couldn't discern what she was saying.

Because at that moment, his own Familia had begun to gather around him as well, wearing tense and concerned expressions and preparing themselves to exchange goodbyes with each other. Even Aiz looked sadder than usual as she glanced at Raul and the younger members of their family, who were already crying as they hugged Lefiya and the others who were about to depart. Finn felt a great deal of sadness as everyone turned to him at that moment, even Loki herself, and he swallowed his fear for a moment and forced himself to do his duty.

Thus, as the Captain of the Loki Familia and the representative of one of the strongest factions of Orario, he inwardly steeled his mind, grabbed his spear, and prepared himself for what he knew was coming.

"Aiz-san!"

A loud and desperate cry grabbed their attention all of a sudden.

The Loki Familia paused, turning around towards the crowd of people on the left, only to see the tear-stained face of Bell Cranel who was being currently held and restrained by his fellow Familia members, attempting to run towards them. Everyone was confused and surprised by that scene, for they were not expecting to see the Rabbit Foot in this occasion. But knowing the friendly and unexpected relationship between him and Aiz, Finn and the oldest members of the Familia knew it was bound to happen.

Much to everyone's surprise, however, Aiz did not spare him a single glance.

Bell didn't seem to care. "Aiz!" he continued to scream, desperately trying to break free from his companion's hold. "Please wait a moment! Aiz-san!"

"Ohi, Bell! Stop it, will you? Don't be reckless!" Welf hissed as he held him firmly with his arms.

"Master Welf is right! Please stop it, Bell-sama! You can't go!" Lily cried in turn.

"Bell-dono!" Mikoto pleaded as well, flanked by a teary Haruhime who looked completely lost and scared.

Next to them, Hestia was watching him with sad eyes, looking as sad and uncertain as he was.

But Bell would have none of it. Finn watched as he broke free from his friend's grasp thanks to his strength and skills as a Level 4 Adventurer, and quickly dashed in direction of the their Familia, screaming all the while with an expression mixed between sadness, desperation and hopelessness.

"Aiz!" he panted, stopping right behind the Sword Princess and staring at her with wide eyes filled with concern.

Aiz turned to him slightly, her eyes wavering for a split-second. Then, she turned around swiftly, her golden bangs shadowing her eyes, and did not look back at him.

"…goodbye, Bell."

The white-haired boy widened his eyes in desperation.

"AIZ-SA―!"

Everything suddenly halted when the gigantic gates of Orario were opened with a loud snap.

Finn's head turned to the sight ahead, his eyes narrowing slightly as he noticed that something was off. The gate wasn't supposed to open until two minutes later, as it had been ordered by Ouranos. The others were not ready to depart yet. In fact, Freya had not finished talking with her children yet. Even Hephaestus was still exchanging her goodbyes with Tsubaki and the rest of her Familia behind them, crying and hugging her children with obvious sadness at the idea of having to let them go.

Besides, the Ganesha Familia and the guards looked perplexed as well, since this was not their doing… which meant that the gate had been opened from the outside.

Finn's mind paused. He paid no mind to the sadness that hung in the air around him, his mind already running wild with thoughts and speculations. If the guards outside had opened the gates now, before the scheduled time, it could only mean that something had happened.

He shared a glance with Riveria and Gareth, and given by their furrowed brows, they seemed to have reached his same conclusion.

Once again, the Braver's intuition was proved true immediately.

A man was running through the gates, a human guard. He had wide eyes filled with tears, and a white letter was grasped in his hands.

Finn, Loki, Bell, and the entire crowd of gods, Adventurers and common people stared at the man as he ran inside the city with a mad pace, his tear-stained face gleaming with disbelief and an idiotic smile filled with joy on his lips.

"It's over! It's dead!" the man was screaming at the top of his lungs, unfazed by the looks everyone was throwing at him. He waved the latter in his hands, leaping and jumping in elated disbelief as the Ganesha Familia ran toward him to stop him. "The Empire has sent another letter! The King of Monsters has been killed!"

Everyone widened their eyes with bathed breaths. For once, even the beautiful Freya and the stoic Ottar assumed a shocked expression. Finn and the others felt their mind shut for a moment as well.

The Braver shot a glance in Aiz's direction, noticing all too well her wide, incredulous eyes…

…while the guard fell on his knees in front of Ganesha, rising his arms to the sky with a bellowing cry of victory.

"The Dragon is dead!"