"You got hurt? Was it a monster? Where is it?" Ais asked All For One the moment he arrived at the sealed pantry entrance. She grabbed his arm and inspected it without his consent, a flicker of concern visible on her usually stoic face.
Keaks and Lulune were snickering behind him at the sight, the both having followed him. The rest of the Hermes Familia was likely not far behind.
All For One snatched his arm away. "I'm alright," he said dismissively. "Is this the pantry entrance?" he asked instead, shifting the focus to the current task.
Ais, still concerned, nodded. "There are multiple entrances. This is the main one," she revealed, placing a hand over the thick wall of what seemed to be plant and wood sealing off the passage.
"Multiple?" All For One muttered, turning to the two Hermes Familia members. "You two—your captain will be asking this anyway. How about you make yourselves useful and check if the other entrances are also sealed?"
"Hey, you don't tell us what to do!" Lulune protested with a childish pout, Keaks nodding in agreement.
All For One stared at them with an unimpressed look.
"Actually, do what he said. Lulune, Keaks—that's an order," Asfi's sharp voice cut in, snapping them both to attention.
"Ah! Asfi-chan, you're here!?" Keaks said with a nervous laugh. "Of course, we'll do it right now!" He ran off toward one side of the massive structure, Lulune doing the same in the opposite direction.
"These two are gonna kill me," Asfi muttered, stopping next to All For One and Ais as she too examined the seal.
A brief silence stretched between the three of them, while the rest of the Hermes Familia chatted casually.
"Captain! All the entrances have been sealed off!" Lulune called, running toward them after completing her inspection.
"Asfi-chan! Same here—everything's sealed!" Keaks returned shortly after, delivering the same news.
"How should we penetrate it?" Asfi placed a hand over her mouth, carefully considering methods.
"Concentrated fire," Ais said, casting a glance at All For One, who almost frowned.
What is this idiot doing, exposing her arsenal so casually?
Asfi clicked her fingers together. "Yes, that should work." She turned to the large, silent man in the horned mask and the small Pallum dressed like a stereotypical mage riding on his back.
Dodon and Meryl, All For One recalled. That girl Nelly had told him their names before the expedition started.
"Meryl, use your magic," Asfi instructed, waiting patiently for a response.
The girl, apparently shy, hid her face and muttered, "Do you want me to use the bigger one…?"
"Try. We need to finish the quest," Asfi said in an encouraging tone.
Meryl nodded, hopping off Dodon's back and running toward the sealed path.
All For One noticed Wallenstein's focus drift elsewhere. One of the Pallums from earlier—Pock—was talking about some useless topic he didn't care about.
What did catch his attention was the mention that Meryl was apparently a rare anomaly among Pallums—one of the few who had manifested the development ability Mage.
If only he wasn't in this group… he would've ripped that ability from her corpse. His hand already itched for it.
"Riwo Flare!" A blast echoed, and All For One's eyes snapped back to the now-open path ahead. The seal had been torn apart.
"Nice work!" Asfi complimented and led the way inside, the rest following closely behind.
"Ew… this place looks disgusting," Lulune said, then panicked as the hole behind them sealed shut, trapping them inside. "Oh shit, we're stuck!"
"Leave it. We'll just explode it again when we're done," Falgar said, his eyes scanning the strange walls.
"Say, guys… doesn't this mean we're practically inside a monster? The walls are literally moving a little!" Lulune said, sweat dripping down her face.
"Hey, don't make it creepy!" the familia protested in unison, faces twisting in unease and disgust at the implication.
They began marching deeper, All For One and Ais noticing Lulune sketching new maps and leaving behind magic stones—likely to mark their trail so they wouldn't get lost.
"You can draw maps? That's impressive," Ais said, genuinely admiring her skills.
Lulune looked sheepish at the compliment. "Oh, well, it's nothing!" she said, scratching the back of her head. "I wander a lot outside Orario with Hermes-sama, so I draw a lot of maps for those places," she explained, her hand already sketching the forked path ahead.
"How can you keep up with directions inside the Dungeon? That must be hard," Ais asked curiously. If it were her, she wouldn't even be able to distinguish north from south.
"A simple glance at an already drawn Guild map is enough to keep up with directions on each floor," All For One interjected.
"Oh? So you know which way is which, then?" Lulune asked, a daring glint in her eyes.
All For One pointed to his left. "North." Then he pointed to his right. "South, east, and west," he finished confidently.
"Damn it…" Lulune cursed. He got them right.
Ais clapped her hands, impressed by his awareness.
"Well… it's easy. You just need to not forget where is where," Lulune claimed—only to be quickly met with a chorus of debunks.
"No, it's not."
"I couldn't do it."
"Easy for you, maybe."
Multiple voices chimed in, Asfi among them.
Lulune sighed and began sketching more aggressively on her paper.
The rest of the journey passed without incident. It was so uneventful that All For One found his mind drifting elsewhere, silently wishing the day would end already..
---
"Intruders are spotted, adventurers," Revis heard that mask-wearing idiot announce, his tone maddeningly calm despite their defenses having just been breached.
She stood up without hesitation, eyes narrowing as she glanced into the magical orb that projected their surveillance. For a moment, her expression remained unreadable—until her eyes widened in recognition.
"It's her... Aria," she revealed, her voice cold but tinged with something harder to define.
"Her? But... that's the Sword Princess," her partner muttered in disbelief.
"Guard the pantry. I'm going to get her," Revis stated curtly, already turning on her heel. She didn't wait for a response—she had no intention of repeating herself.
Her partner sighed, stretching his fingers and cracking his knuckles as a sinister grin spread across his face. "Well, I suppose I need some warmth around my hands," he murmured. His wicked smile deepened as he began moving toward the pantry, eager for the coming confrontation.
---
"Beyond this point, the pantry should be right ahead," Asfi murmured to herself, sweat dripping down her face. She was tense, her nerves uneased by the calm that surrounded them.
Their pace was slow. Rushing into unknown territory was unwise, and conserving energy was key. Still, the lack of resistance unsettled her.
They were taking a short break before entering the pantry. It was vital to be at peak physical and mental condition for whatever lay ahead.
Asfi turned to All For One, who had joined her in scouting the path ahead, leaving Ais behind with the girls of the Hermes Familia.
"Now we just need to capture the culprits and we're done. The Sword Princess is still with us too," she said with a smirk—but it was more forced than confident.
"Perseus," All For One addressed her by her alias, his expression unreadable. "I hope you understand what lies behind this path." He pointed ahead, expecting her to grasp his meaning.
Asfi raised an eyebrow. "The pantry?"
...
Maybe he had given her too much credit. "We are being lured in. They are expecting us." Why is everyone a damn fool when he's around?
"Oh..." Asfi fell silent, her mind spinning.
The utter lack of monsters, the absence of any culprits—no resistance at all. The peaceful approach.
...
"Fuck," she muttered under her breath, realization dawning. How could she have missed this? It all made sense now.
Suddenly, the walls shook—lightly at first, then with rising intensity.
"Hey, what's that noise!?" Lulune asked nervously, her ears twitching as the rumbling grew louder.
Asfi's expression darkened. "Everyone, stay calm! I have a new pla—" But her words were cut off as an entire wall to their left exploded inward. Plant monsters surged out of the opening and charged directly at Ais.
"GERRRAAA!!"
"Gh!" Ais barely had time to deflect the first wave before bracing herself, her legs straining against the sudden assault. She noted their strength—definitely the result of consumption of magic stones.
"Sword Princess!" Tabitha, the closest Hermes Familia member to Ais, rushed in to help. Her whip was already in hand, ready to strike—until Ais's eyes caught a flash of something behind her.
"Get down!" Ais cried, alarmed.
But it was too late.
The Hermes Familia didn't fully grasp what had happened. One moment Tabitha, the black-haired Chienthrope, was there, ready to fight. The next—
Blood.
An explosion of crimson. Flesh and gore sprayed across the hallway.
As if the heavens had cursed her existence, Tabitha was gone—nothing left but blood and meat scattered everywhere.
Everyone froze.
Except All For One.
His eyes darted upward, his quirk alerting him to someone at the cave ceiling.
"O-Oi… Tabitha...? Where did you go…?" Lulune's voice cracked. Her eyes refused to settle on the grisly remains before them.
"Pathetic girl. You shouldn't have interfered," a new voice said from above.
Descending from the ceiling was a woman—covered head to toe in blood. Tabitha's blood.
All For One's eyes widened. She ran through her!? Impossible!
Ais's teeth clenched in fury. "You!" she shouted, her guilt swelling.
She launched backward, slicing through several Violas as she moved.
"It seems you're eager to finish what we left behind," the bloodstained woman said calmly. "Let's see if you're still as pathetic as last time, Aria."
She leapt toward Ais, sending blood and dust scattering.
Ais braced herself—but a last-minute Violas forced her to deflect its strike first. The delay allowed her opponent to land a brutal kick, slamming Ais toward the wall.
The wall suddenly teared open as if by command, swallowing both Ais and her attacker. The plant monsters then surged together, forming a barricade, shielding the new passage—and ignoring the Hermes Familia entirely.
"...W-Who the fuck was that!?" Keaks shouted, drenched in sweat, his hands trembling.
"Oh gods—Tabitha!" Nelly gasped, her hands covering her mouth as she finally registered the truth behind the bloody mess.
Some stared in horror. Others couldn't hold it in.
"Blaargh!" Lulune vomited, shaking violently.
"Haa… T-The Sword Princess... She's gone!" Her mind, unable to cope, latched onto a different thought—suppressing the trauma for later.
"Who cares, you idiot! Tabitha… Tabitha…" It was Eliliy—the enormous dwarf woman—tears flowing freely. "Oh, your perfect body is now a squash!" she sobbed, grieving in her own bizarre way.
Asfi stood frozen. Motionless. Shock etched into her face.
She had watched her Familia member be torn to a pile of meat and blood—and done nothing.
She had let the enemy separate their trump card from them.
She turned her haunted gaze to All For One.
'He was right from the start...' she thought to herself, disbelief echoing in her own mind.
Meanwhile, All For One's own thoughts were grasping at straws. 'How could someone move that fast? She was strong enough to rip through a presumably level three. Not even being spotted by anyone!'
His quirk had barely managed to catch the tail end of the movement—just enough to track the assailant. It wasn't teleportation. No. She had moved—moved at a speed that bordered on the supernatural.
He shook his head. "Perseus. We need to move. Now."
He turned to her—but saw only a shell of the woman he'd spoken to earlier.
"Andromeda?" he tried again. No response.
All For One sighed. And here he thought she could handle pressure.
"Asfi," he grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to look at him, "As a leader, you must understand that no casualty is inevitable."
He squeezed her shoulder tighter. "In order for some to survive... others need to perish." He finished, turning her to face the entrance ahead where it led to the pantry. "We need to continue."
Asfi's expression hardened, rage surfacing.
Though All For One saw it coming, his muscles were just too slow to react to Perseus's hand as it gripped his collar and lifted him up.
"How dare you say that!?" Asfi—apparently naive about the implications of his words—turned out to be an idealistic idiot. Her face was twisted in fury.
The exchange drew the attention of the rest of the group.
"H-Hey! Stop it! This is no time to fight among ourselves!" Falgar dashed between them, forcing them apart.
All For One massaged his neck, his expression unchanging. "Move or risk everyone dying. It's your choice." His tone was cold and logical—the same logic Asfi herself lives by.
But not this time.
This time she was too stunned, too shocked to think straight.
Though eventually, her logical side clawed its way back.
"Damn it…" she cursed, her voice shaking.
"Everyone! Head to the pantry immediately!" she barked, casting one last glare at All For One before taking the lead.
The Hermes Familia quickly pulled themselves together and marched forward, their expressions a mix of shock, grief, and uneasiness.
All For One followed behind as the last in line, his thoughts dripping with ways to salvage the situation.
That woman... If another one like her shows up, this expedition is done.
---
"They have finally arrived," the masked man from earlier said from his vantage point, looking down upon the advancing adventurers. "It seems Revis was able to separate the Sword Princess."
"Lord Olivas," a man dressed in ceremonial white robes called out, addressing the masked figure now revealed as Olivas Act—known by some as Vendetta, one of the high-ranking lieutenants of the former evil faction known as Evilus.
"You may engage with them," Olivas proclaimed, his voice filled with fanatic zeal. "Sacrifice your life… in order for her to be born!" His presence felt almost prophetic—if not outright deranged—driven by an undivine allegiance that bordered on madness.
The Evilus commander rose to his full height, stepping toward the edge of the cliff. Below him lay nearly a hundred Evilus members, all clad in the same white robes, their bodies poised for war, each prepared to give their lives for different reasons—faith, hatred, forgiveness, promises, or blind loyalty.
"My brethren!" the commander bellowed, his voice booming across the rocky terrain. "This is our long-awaited moment!"
He raised his blade high into the air, the steel catching the dim light like a symbol of their twisted crusade. "Bring death to those non-believers! Kill them all!"
A roar erupted from the gathered Evilus followers, their chant growing louder with each step:
"Kill them all! Kill them all!"
Their march toward the approaching Hermes Familia began—a tide of madness surging forward with lethal intent.
Back on his perch, Olivas smirked beneath his mask. "Now let's see if you can handle this," he muttered, clenching his fist as anticipation surged through him.
"And then," he whispered with twisted glee, "we can play together… alone." A dark chuckle escaped him, low and cruel, echoing faintly across the battlefield.
---
"They were really waiting, huh?" Asfi muttered, realizing she should have planned more thoroughly for this scenario as her gaze locked on the hundreds of enemies approaching their location.
"Forget everything for now!" she shouted to her Familia, drawing their attention away from the walls spawning the Violas monsters, the massive plant feeding on the pantry crystal pillar, and the jewelry sealed inside a cage.
Her eyes darted toward the vanguard—Falgar, Eliliy, Golmeth, and finally Pock and Pot. "Vanguard, advance and absorb the first hit from the enemy!"
She quickly considered the possibilities. Capturing an enemy for interrogation should also be a priority. Turning to the center guard—Keaks, Lulune, Jose, Suicia, Thane, and finally—
'No...' Asfi reminded herself grimly. There was no longer a sixth member of the center guard.
Shaking her head, she forced herself to focus on the present task. "Center guard, engage after the first wave is halted! Capture one if possible for interrogation!"
Her gaze turned to the rearguard—Nelly, Dodon, and Meryl. "Rearguard, stay back! Don't use any magic or magic swords. Nelly, make sure the potions are ready for emergencies."
She looked ahead again, eyes narrowing at the fast-approaching enemy.
"Now go! Don't forget your position!" she commanded.
Her order was met with a chorus of, "Yes, Captain!" and, "We'll kick their ass!"
All of this transpired before All For One, who merely observed the new enemy. One glance was enough to see the madness in their eyes—some had their hands inside their robes, likely preparing a last-resort attack.
His gaze especially lingered on the one stationed at the distant vantage point—likely the chain of command.
"Perseus," he said, stepping beside Asfi. But before he could continue—
"You should keep your mouth shut. I got this," Asfi cut him off sharply, fed up with his tone.
Unfortunately for her, All For One too had reached his limit with her naivety. His expression twisted into a scowl.
"Listen, you pathetic excuse of a leader," he snapped, causing her and the rearguard to freeze in shock. "You sent your people to die against that mob of zealots, and you expect me to follow behind like some expendable fodder?!"
He pointed toward Thane's direction—Thane, who, alongside Lulune, had just managed to subdue an enemy.
"Be witness to what your decisions are about to accomplish."
And as if on cue, the person Thane and Lulune were preparing to use Status Thief on suddenly pulled an igniter from his chest, screaming—
"TAKE THIS LIFE TO ERIS!"
BOOM!
A massive explosion engulfed Thane. The elf had shoved Lulune aside, saving her—but at what cost?
"Thane!" Lulune cried, rushing to the remains of her comrade. Only a blackened skeleton remained.
She froze. "Oh g-god..." Lulune saw no movement. No breath.
Asfi stood paralyzed, hands trembling. "This..." she tried to speak, to think of a solution—fast.
"Listen to me, idiot—or we're all going to die!" All For One barked, showing no sympathy. His survival depended on theirs.
"You...!" Asfi snarled, gritting her teeth.
But he didn't flinch.
"Order a fallback. Now." His voice was cold and unyielding, leaving no room for argument.
Logically, this would be a catastrophic endeavor. And Asfi wasn't about to obey a stranger who wasn't even in her familia.
"I offer you this life, Master!" another crazed shout rang out—followed by another thunderous explosion at the vanguard.
"Golmeth!" Falgar cried out. Golmeth had taken the blast head-on. Thankfully not dead, but clearly injured.
"Grrr..." Asfi's eyes darted between All For One's cold expression and the rest of her familia. At this rate, they'd all die!
Swallowing her fear—and her pride—she finally shouted, "Fall back! Carry anyone who's injured—fall back, everyone!" Her voice nearly roared through the chaos. She cast a venomous glare at All For One.
He smirked. "Good girl," he mocked, earning a low growl from her.
Now... how to not reveal himself and still be their savior?
The Hermes Familia began their retreat, carrying their wounded—if Thane was even still alive—and Golmeth, who was limping heavily.
Asfi's eyes stayed locked on All For One's back, her nerves taut. "What now!? This was your idea!"
"Blessed of the light, blessed of the fire, bring forth a—" All For One began chanting, spouting nonsense to make it look like he needed incantations.
The idiots couldn't know he had chantless magic.
Asfi's eyes widened. "Your magic won't fucking work!" she cursed uncharacteristically. "We're doomed..." She scrambled mentally, desperate for a plan.
But All For One ignored her. He continued chanting his fake incantation, orchestrating his hands while stacking Hellhound and Light Quartz attacks—a brilliant fusion of blue fire and divine light swirling around his arm.
"Pretty..." Nelly whispered, Meryl nodding beside her.
The Hermes Familia fell back into formation. The enemy closed in, the narrow corridor leaving little room to maneuver.
"Captain, your next orders?!" Falgar called out, but Asfi didn't answer.
Why would she? Her sharp mind understood now what All For One was doing. She just had to wait.
"Enemies, die upon thy might," he concluded theatrically, concentrating all the built-up energy forward—merging multiple copies into one huge strike.
The sphere grew larger, flames dancing with crackling yellow light. It looked almost divine.
"Damn, the kid's really a mage..." Keaks muttered, awestruck.
"You don't say..." Lulune replied, equally astonished.
All For One felt his arm beginning to take damage, his magical output pushing beyond safe limits without a proper channel.
So he let it go. "Pierce," he said calmly—almost lazily.
SWOOOOOOOOSH!
Like a divine spear from the heavens, the sphere surged forward, transforming into a high-speed projectile—smashing into the corridor wall like a cannonball.
Upon impact, blue fire exploded outward, splattering across the Evilus soldiers.
"Aghhh!" Multiple zealots screamed, some accidentally pulling on their igniters—explosions rocked their ranks.
The light component pierced through the corridor walls, making the stone crack and collapse on the fanatics.
"The walls are falling apart!" a panicked voice cried.
It was a perfect storm. Explosions. Falling debris. Self-destruction. Chaos ripped through the zealots like wildfire.
In seconds, the so-called army of darkness was reduced to a scattering mob.
Asfi couldn't believe it. One single, calculated strike had reversed the tide of battle entirely in their favor.
"...He's dangerous," she muttered grimly. The psychological battle was clear—he had made it seem like divine wrath was upon them.
"Agh! Lord Olivas, help us!" one fanatic cried—only to be silenced by a massive chunk of fallen debris.
All For One turned to the Hermes Familia, head throbbing, arm screaming in protest and pain. The scorched smell was undeniable.
The energy toll was massive. He felt like passing out—but his quirk suddenly alerted him to the appearance of an ability behind him.
"Behind you!" Lulune shouted, panic in her voice. The entire Familia froze in shock and confusion.
All For One spun around, eyes wide—
CRACK!
A fist slammed into his chest, launching him back at inhuman speed. The shattering sound of bones echoed through the corridor.
He crashed into the wall—so hard, the impact sent a shockwave through the air. His body hung in the crater he left behind.
And then—he didn't move.
"Dammit, is he dead?!" Keaks yelled, horrified.
"You shouldn't have made such quick work of my pets..." the assailant said, cracking his knuckles with a smirk as he turned to the horrified Hermes Familia. "It's been a long time... Perseus." He laughed, pulling off his mask.
Asfi's eyes went wide. "Vendetta!" she snarled, disgust and fury mixing in her voice.
"The one and only." Olivas chuckled with mockery.
"Formation, ready!" Asfi barked, and her orders were obeyed instantly.
'That was extraordinarily fast...' she thought, glancing at the motionless Cranel—his chest bloodied.
'You saved us, I won't lie... but hold on tight,' she thought bitterly, praying the kid wasn't dead.
"I was looking forward to facing someone today," Olivas said with a twisted, maniacal laugh. "Let's see if you've improved."
---
"Arcs Ray!" Lefiya finished her chant, launching a magical arrow at the approaching group of monsters. The arrow exploded on impact, finishing them off in a burst of violent magical light.
"Impressive. You are truly powerful," Filvis complimented, a smile gracing her face as she dispatched the last of her own foes with elegant precision.
Lefiya rubbed her staff sheepishly, a warm blush coloring her cheeks. "Thank you, Filvis-san!" she said brightly, smiling at the elf—who, to her joy, smiled back.
Bit by bit, Lefiya had managed to close the distance between herself and Filvis. The distant elf now spoke more freely, cooperated without complaint, and seemed especially more open toward Lefiya.
Lefiya was happy to have made another friend—but even happier that she could prove she wasn't afraid of Filvis's supposed "curse."
"You think the Sword Princess is really here?" Filvis asked, her tone skeptical as they regrouped.
"...She is," Lefiya answered, glancing downward, her expression darkening. Bors and a few other sources—people they had to pay to spit out what they knew—had confirmed that Ais was headed with another group deeper into the dungeon. It matched what her letter had mentioned, at least.
If it wasn't true... Heavens help those people, because Bete isn't going to be easy on them.
Some of them also mentioned that a white-haired adventurer was with her.
Lefiya's stomach twisted. 'Why is he with her?' she thought bitterly, already knowing exactly who they meant.
"Die!" Bete roared nearby, his expression twisted in annoyance as he charged through the monsters surrounding him. Blood splattered across the stone floor, his movements as savage as they were efficient.
"Tch, quit chatting, you lousy elves, and let's go already!" Bete scowled, heading straight toward the pantry's entrance. "Ais better be done with her shitty quest by now," he added with an irritable grunt, clearly annoyed with the entire ordeal.
Filvis and Lefiya exchanged a brief glance. Both nodded.
"Remember what I said—I'll protect you while you cast," Filvis reminded her, already stepping in stride behind the werewolf.
"Yes! Thanks again, Filvis-san!" Lefiya replied, her heart pumping with a mix of excitement and uneasiness.
She really didn't want to meet that human right now...
But that wasn't going to stop her from helping Ais-san.
---
"How dare you show your foul face after all the death you and your organization have caused!" Asfi said from behind the formation the Hermes Familia had just assembled, her face twisted in disgust. But beneath that disgust, she was desperately trying to assess the situation.
There was a magic stone in the center of Olivas chest, but how was that possible!?
"Asfi... T-Thane is..." Nelly, beside her, called out with a cracked voice, snapping Asfi's attention to her.
The scorched remains of Thane—the elf who loved to imitate Hermes-sama—now lay across Nelly's thighs, his chest no longer rising.
She didn't have to finish. Asfi understood.
Thane was dead...
"Hehehe." Olivas chuckled maniacally. Time had done nothing to wash away his madness. "Oh, Perseus. You always had that sharp mind," he sneered as he began walking forward, sending chills down Asfi's spine. "Just like now—you're trying to form a strategy by keeping me busy." His wicked smile widened.
Asfi's eyes widened in alarm. "Vanguard! Raise your shields!" she ordered frantically.
But Olivas had already vanished—only a trail of disturbed dust revealed his path. He appeared just before their formation, smirking at Asfi, hands raised for a strike.
"Stand still!" Falgar ordered. He knew what would happen if they didn't; he had already seen the inhuman strength and speed behind this monster.
"I'll tear you apart for her—as a sacrifice!" Olivas bellowed, arms whipping out like blades as he sliced through Falgar and the other vanguards' shields.
"Gha!" Falgar and the rest were sent flying into the center guard, the formation scattering with a single strike.
Olivas's eyes locked onto Falgar, the war tiger trying to reorient himself, hands rising like a spear ready to pierce.
"You parasite!" Asfi leapt into action, knowing what would happen if she didn't. This monster would pick them off one by one.
Her hand reached into her bag and threw her specialized vials—containers of highly explosive liquid she had crafted herself. They were strong enough to take down a middle-floor monster.
BOOM!
The vials exploded on impact with Olivas, smoke and flames rising and clouding the area.
"Make up a defensive line, now!" Asfi shouted. The vanguard obeyed swiftly.
"Yes, Captain!" they cried, faces tense.
Asfi reached into her bag again, sweat dripping from her face.
'I can't do it!' she thought bitterly. She knew what needed to be done. Their enemy was overwhelmingly fast and powerful—Asfi knew he was toying with them.
'In order for some to survive, others need to perish.' Cranel's words echoed in her mind. She rejected them with every fiber of her being. Survival be damned—she had already lost two members of her Familia. Their deaths were not going to pave the way for more!
"Explosive liquid? Consider me impressed," Olivas said mockingly as the smoke cleared, revealing him completely unscathed.
"You'll be surprised, you scum," Asfi shot back in a taunting tone, trying to shift his focus to her only.
Her hand gripped something special in her bag. "Everyone stay back—don't interfere!" she commanded.
She was the fastest among them—a Level Four specialist in high-speed tasks. Logically, she had the best chance.
Olivas chuckled. "Oh, this reminds me of that pathetic display seven years ago." He walked toward her lazily, as if she were no threat. "There was you... that ugly war tiger over there—Falgar, was it?"
Falgar gritted his teeth, his hand tightening around his sword.
Olivas cracked his knuckles and licked his lips. "Only this time, the Astraea Familia isn't alive anymore to save you! Hahaha!"
He lunged for her throat, bloodlust gleaming in his eyes.
Asfi immediately threw down smoke bombs, engulfing them in thick smoke.
"Tch!" Olivas clicked his tongue. "This won't work!" He waved his hand, clearing the smoke instantly—only to find nothing.
Olivas raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Where have you gone?" He scanned the area, unable to pinpoint her.
"Hey, you ugly-as-hell creep!" a voice called from the Hermes Familia formation.
It was Keaks, flipping him the middle finger. "How about you face someone on your level!"
"Yeah, you freaky bastard!" Lulune joined him, pulling her tone out in a taunting manner.
"Quite eager to die?" Olivas sighed tiredly. "I suppose I could spare a few Violas to play with y—!?"
His words died in his throat as a blade pierced his heart from behind, narrowly missing his magic stone and sending blood sputtering from his lips.
"Hahaha! Good job, Asfi!" "Way to go!" Keaks and Lulune cheered, waving toward where Asfi was supposedly at—invisible behind Olivas.
She was wearing the Hades Head, a special magical item of her own making. It rendered the wearer invisible—a closely guarded secret of the Hermes Familia.
"Die, Vendetta. Your age is over," Asfi said coldly, believing she had triumphed over the ghost from the past. The blade she was using had been layered with the venom of the Poison Vermis monster—a highly toxic monster.
"Your little toys never cease to amaze me, Perseus."
Olivas suddenly headbutted backward, shattering the Hades Head and concussing Asfi in one brutal motion.
"Gha!" Blood spilled from Asfi's head as her invisibility wore off, but she quickly backflipped away, eyes locking forward—only to see nothing.
'Where did he go!?' she panicked, scanning the area.
"Behind you."
Asfi's eyes widened. She turned—
"Ghuahua!" Blood poured from her mouth. Something was lodged in her abdomen.
"ASFI, NO!" Falgar and the others screamed, horrified.
Looking down slowly, her eyes locked onto... a fist.
Olivas had driven his fist straight through her stomach.
That'd leave a mark...
Then came the pain.
"AHHHHHHHH!" she screamed with all her might. The burning sensation was unbearable. Her insides twisted from pain, her vision blurred.
"aaa..." Her scream dwindled, her breath lost to tiredness and blood loss.
"Ah~" Olivas exhaled with bliss, his wound having healed thanks to his regenerative factor. "Such a melodic scream."
Olivas ripped his hand out without mercy. Asfi dropped to the ground, clutching her abdomen as blood began pouring freely from her wound.
"Agh..." Tears slipped down her face.
"Delicious~" Olivas licked his bloodied hand, savoring the taste.
"ASFI!" Keaks broke from the formation, rushing toward her.
"Keaks, wait for us!" Falgar and the others followed, determined to save their captain.
"No... stay back..." Asfi called out weakly, blood pouring from her lips. She had to do something—or everyone would die.
"Ah, such a strong bond between you all, Hermes Familia," Olivas mocked in a gentle tone.
He raised his hand. At once, an army of Violas rose up, encircling the group.
"GERRRAAA!"
"Oh fuck, it's those monsters again!" Lulune shouted, drawing her blade. "THEIR MAGIC STONE IS IN THEIR MOUTH!" she cried to warn her Familia, having learned that information from her own encounter with them at the 18th floor.
"You heard her!" Keaks echoed, firing an explosive vial from his slingshot into a Viola's mouth—killing it.
"Focus on one at a time!" Falgar commanded, stepping into the captain's role. His posture was confident, but it was obvious it was a façade to not let the others fall into despair.
As the vice-captain, their survival depended on him now that the captain was compromised.
Despite the chaos and their low morale, the Hermes Familia adapted fast. They took out the Violas remarkably quickly, pressing forward with pure teamwork.
"You've trained your dogs well, Perseus," Olivas said, watching them clear the monsters. "I think it's time I test them myself."
"No..." Asfi rasped, helpless as she watched him move toward her Familia.
The remaining Violas backed away, giving their master room.
"YEAH, YOU FUCKERS! RUN AWAY!" Keaks shouted. But his nerves were fraying. Asfi was still down and bleeding—they had to save her.
Olivas strode forward calmly.
"You!" Keaks pointed at him, eyes blazing.
"Keaks!" Falgar called out, voice steady. "We do this together!"
Though outclassed, they moved forward, unwilling to leave their captain behind.
"Hya!" Falgar leapt with an upward strike. Golmeth, newly recovered via high potion, swung down.
Olivas caught both blades.
"Shit!"
He easily tossed them, hurling them back toward their allies.
"You seem to think this is a fight," Olivas said coldly. "I'm merely toying with you." He smirked. "So come forth—my toys!"
Keaks gritted his teeth and reached into his bag. He pulled out something familiar: Blue Bliss, the strength-enhancing drug.
"I'll show you the toy!" He shoved every pill into his mouth. His body began to twitch instantly, muscles tightening rapidly as the magical pills began supplying his muscles and veins with their properties.
"Keaks, wait!" Lulune cried to him—but he ignored her, dashing toward the enemy in a blind fury.
"Ho?" Olivas raised an eyebrow with interest, lifting his hand, sending a silent command to a few Violas to intercept this worm.
"GRRRRR!"
Keaks loaded his slingshot. His hands trembled. It was likely suicidal to take so many pills—but he didn't care.
"Take this, you bastard!" He hurled vial after vial towards olivas himself, avoiding the Violas jaws with stunning speed and reflexes—nearly matching Asfi's.
BOOM!
The bombs exploded against Olivas—but he didn't flinch; these seemed even weaker than the ones Perseus had thrown.
"Is that all you've got?" he said with a disappointed sigh.
"Fuck no!" Keaks grinned cockily, throwing rocks now, having run out of vials.
"Annoying," Olivas muttered, raising a hand to order the Violas to finish him off—but he felt his body freeze.
"...What?"
"That's fucking it!" Keaks shouted triumphantly. "I know what blade Asfi used to pierce your heart—and the smoke from those bombs? They were both poisoned!"
He dashed in. "Eat this!" He kicked Olivas in the face with a powerful blow, actually staggering him.
"It was only a matter of time before it took effect!"
"Guys! Now—finish him before he recovers!" Keaks called out.
The others, stunned by the turn, moved in without hesitation.
"Get him!" Falgar ordered, and they all obeyed.
Olivas stood up weakly, his body's regeneration trying to adapt to the poison as fast as possible, when a massive shield slammed straight into his face.
"I'll eat you for protein!" It was Eliliy, the dwarf woman, with a furious expression on her face.
"Hya!" "Take this!" A swift combo of mace and hammer from Pock and Pot Struck his face, making him stumble further.
"This is for Asfi!" Lulune slashed at his chest, then quickly retreated to a safe distance, her strike leaving Olivas bleeding.
A dual slash came at his back from the quiet elf, Suicia.
"You should have stayed dead!" Falgar also managed to stab him through the stomach, his weapon plunging deep.
...
"You worms." Olivas's icy-cold voice sent chills through the Hermes familia, his injuries healing almost instantly—his regenerative factor finally adapting to the poison.
Keaks's eyes widened. "Falgar, get away!" With his temporary boost, Keaks managed to reach his vice-captain at an extremely fast pace—impressive, given his level.
He pushed Falgar away, his sword slashing open Olivas's stomach, but it didn't matter, for it regenerated again.
Unfortunately for Keaks, he wasn't fast enough to escape the inhuman hands that grasped his head. "Agh!" Keaks cried out in pain.
"Keaks!" Falgar called out to his familia member, his tone alarmed.
Olivas's enraged expression locked onto Keaks's terrified face. He said nothing—only began to slowly squeeze the adventurer's head, setting off alarm bells in Keaks's mind.
"Ahhhh!" Keaks couldn't shake off the grip, so he began punching Olivas's chest—right at his magic stone—in a desperate attempt to make him let go.
"Help him!" Falgar cried out to the others rushed to their friend's aid, but they were quickly stopped by the Violas.
Olivas squeezed harder, his twisted expression unchanging.
"FUCK!" Keaks screamed, punching and punching, not even aware of the pain in his hands, not feeling his fingers break—then his hands, The sheer force he used against Olivas, amplified by his boost in power, was enough to actually damage the monster slightly—not enough for a critical hit, but enough to leave a small mark. Blood began to spill from Keaks's eyes and nose.
"LET HIM GO!" Falgar, being the only one close enough to reach them, stabbed through Olivas' back, then climbed around him, choking him—but it was for nothing. Olivas didn't even flinch, and to Falgar's horror, he was witnessing his friend's death front and center.
"AHHH!" Olivas gave a final, brutal squeeze. What was once Keaks's head exploded in a pile of blood and brain matter, the gore splattering across both Olivas and Falgar.
"Nooo!" Falgar cried in rage, but his fury was short-lived. Olivas grabbed his arm and slammed him down on the ground.
"Now," Olivas said in a chilling voice as he pulled Falgar's blade out from his back, the earlier playfulness gone.
He calmly wiped keaks blood from his face, "playtime is over."
He suddenly lunged for Golmeth who was busy dealing with a Violas. The full plate armor he wore made avoiding the impossibly fast Olivas just that—impossible. Olivas' hands closed around his head.
"Golmeth, no!" Lulune cried as Olivas ripped off Golmeth's head like a vegetable from soil, flinging it aside as the armored corpse fell limp. A satisfied smirk spread across Olivas' face.
He turned to the center guard of the Hermes Familia, casually waving his hand. "Finish them off."
The Violas monsters moved as one, encircling them with terrifying numbers.
"You bastard!" Eliliy, the dwarf woman, rushed at him like a speeding bull, her twin shields ready to crush him.
"You oversized pig!" Olivas sneered with disdain. He met her charge head-on, driving his hand in a wide horizontal slash. The sheer force kicked up a burst of dust.
Eliliy collapsed in an instant, her body cleanly cleaved in half. Blood and organs splattered the battlefield.
"Monster!" Falgar shouted, having recovered from the earlier slam. With fury in his eyes, he hurled himself at Olivas—only to be literally slapped aside. His body flew through the air and crashed against a nearby wall with a heavy thud.
"I'll deal with you and Perseus later," Olivas said dismissively, cracking his neck with smug satisfaction.
"Riwo Flare!" A blazing storm engulfed Olivas. The fire came from the rear guard—unleashed by the Pallum mage, Meryl. A glowing magic circle marked her as the caster.
Dodon and Nelly stood on either side of her, magic swords drawn and ready.
"That's why I hate mages," Olivas' voice echoed from within the flames. Then, suddenly, he burst forward, body still ablaze. "Always a nuisance—even back then with the Organization."
"Now, Dodon!" Nelly shouted. Together, they unleashed their magic swords.
Strike after strike of impossibly hot flames battered the charging Olivas. His body sizzled and cracked, taking serious damage.
"Tch. Violas," he muttered, dodging a blast. His body was beginning to regenerate.
"Look out, Nelly!" Meryl shouted from behind.
A group of Violas monsters surged at them from the flank, their speed inhuman.
"Ahh!" Nelly screamed as one of the creatures clamped its jaws around her arm, twisting and thrashing until it tore clean off. Her body was sent flying—toward the direction where All For One had been thrown.
Dodon used his magic sword to burn down the surrounding Violas. Then he turned to Meryl and nodded—a silent message passed between them.
'Go check on Nelly.'
Meryl's teary, terrified eyes grasped that message. She turned and ran to where Nelly had landed.
Dodon faced down another wave of Violas. He took them down easily, though his magic sword shattered with the last foe.
He wanted to look back—to check on Meryl, to make sure she was alright—
"You shouldn't get distracted," came Olivas' voice behind him.
A sharp, monstrous hand pierced through Dodon's bag and back, the claws digging into his spine.
"Ghr…" Dodon grunted. Even in pain, he barely made a sound.
"Pathetic," Olivas said coldly. He began to squeeze.
"Heh…" Dodon suddenly chuckled—an unexpected sound that made Olivas pause.
"Is something funny, you worm?" he demanded.
Dodon, barely conscious, reached for a string inside his bag. "Go fuck yourself," he muttered beneath his mask—and pulled.
BOOOOM!
The explosion was immediate—an unimaginable purple blast shook the entire battlefield. The remaining Hermes Familia members stared wide-eyed as the shockwave hit, while the Violas monsters turned instinctively toward the blast.
The remaining Hermes familia, breath ragged, had a moment to catch their breath.
"And I'm the crazy one," Olivas muttered with disgust as the Violas tried—unsuccessfully—to devour the flames, drawn by the thick magical energy radiating from the blast.
Olivas' arm was scorched, and his hand had lost several fingers, which now twitched and struggled to regenerate. His energy, though immense, was clearly being drained.
No trace of Dodon remained.
Dodon—freak of nature that he was—had always been a mystery.
No one knew his race or what he even looked like beneath the mask. But he had a strange knack for carrying highly flammable magical liquids, including a small tank of Asfi's personal compounds.
He had known he wasn't the strongest. But as a rearguard, as a bodyguard—he wanted to go out in blazing glory, causing as much damage as he could.
Surrounded by the Violas inside the purple flames, which gave him an almost demonic presence, Olivas turned to the remaining members of the Hermes Familia.
Lulune. Jose. Pock and Pot—the only remaining vanguards. And finally, the quiet elf, Suicia.
This was all that remained. A struggling, broken band.
"You m-monster!" Lulune cried, tears of fear streaming down her face. Her legs threatened to give out. In her eyes, this was the end.
"Now now," Olivas said mockingly. "I'm just following her wishes." He stepped forward. "Violas, devour them." He waved his hand, and the plant-monsters obeyed.
"GRRRRKKKAAAA!" They lunged forward.
The Hermes Familia survivors could do nothing but defend. To hesitate now was to die.
"Ah~ my beautiful," Olivas turned to the Viscum that was draining the crystal pillar's nutrients. "I can hear you, my everything. My life, my death. My ultimate goddess!" He spoke like a religious zealot, a maddening gleam in his eyes.
"Soon! Soon I, Olivas Act, will show the sunlig—!"
FWOOOSH!
A massive beam of light struck him from behind, searing his flesh and staggering him mid-sentence.
Olivas turned slowly toward the source of the attack, his face twitching with rage—until recognition dawned.
A smirk stretched across his face. "So... you're alive?" he said. "Impressive that you want to die twice today."
He chuckled like a madman, the battlefield burning behind him.
---
The end
---
You thought this was gonna be one of those wholesome fics where Hermes Familia makes it out alive, But it was me! The author who loves killing characters for the sake of action!
Notice the Omni-man references?
Honestly, I wiped them out because I was sick of forcing myself to give every single one of them a tiny moment to speak. This is my revenge.
Anyway.
This chapter was supposed to cover the whole arc, but it got way too long, so I split it. Expect the next part... Idk, maybe next week?
Olivas is more sadistic and a bit stronger than his canon self. Think I wrote him well?
Now you might be thinking: "What the hell is this!? It's long as hell and AFO got one-shotted!"
Hear me out, bruh—he's still a Level 1, barely matching Level 2 thanks to his Arsenal. You really thought he had a shot at Olivas?
Hermes Familia was basically cannon fodder to wear Olivas down a bit.
Also because I hate writing a lot of characters together.
So, do you think AFO can win? Try to guess what'll happen, and maybe you'll be right.
Also, yeah, it's long.
I was actually coping with some real-life shit by just writing and writing and writing—You get the picture.
Originally this was a 20k words chapter.
1 week of endless editing later, I manage to squeeze it into around 14k.
So readers, know that 6k words of content is lost forever.
Did you know I really like writing motion and action a lot? I hate when characters just stand around talking like they're NPCs in some RPG.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed it and I didn't disappoint. Stay tuned for what's next!
One more thing: did you know I started a new fic called "The Emperor's justice" which is a danmachi crossover with Warhammer 40k?
It's a side project.