Chapter Text
The vow had been made, and the path was quite clear.
The first part of the plan was easier said than done, however. Dardanus, Zald, and Alfia reached the room where Zeus and Hera were still debating.
Or at least, the Goddess was ranting, while the God was unusually calm.
He looked like an old man, with a white beard and fluffy, medium-sized hair of that same color. His eyes were a unique shade of blue and gold, which made him stand out even as a God. His build wasn’t muscular, but it was still robust. His image suggested a good compromise between strength and wisdom.
She, on the contrary, looked relatively young. Not an eternal teenager or young adult like most other goddesses, but she still appeared like a mature woman, with dark-purplish hair gathered in a chignon, and two strands of hair gently falling on the sides of her face. Her eyes were an iridescent green.
Those were Zeus and Hera. The patron deities of what, until now, had been the most powerful Familias in Orario and the world for a millennium. Now, they were just realizing that their power base had gone out with their Children.
When the door opened, Hera turned toward the trio of Adventurers.
«What is it now?!» She shouted.
The three Adventurers approached them. Dardanus then spoke up.
«Lord Zeus, Lady Hera… We formally ask you to prepare us for a Conversion.»
Zeus simply made an amused huff. Hera, on the other hand, stared at them with distraught, then started fuming.
«Conversion…?? Seriously?! After everything we’ve done, you just abandon us at the first sign of hardship?! How dare you be such ungrateful brats?!»
«Face it, old crone,» Alfia spoke up with a keenly cold voice. «You two cannot stay in Orario any longer. Meanwhile, we still have a job to do.»
«Who are you calling a crone, you witch?!» Hera roared back. «You wouldn’t have achieved a third of your abilities without me! Is this your repayment?!»
«I have no business with a Goddess who rants instead of mourning the death of her own Children!!» Alfia replied with barely contained frustration.
«What point is there in crying over another batch?» Hera replied in an angry tone, as if stating the obvious. «You are my Executive, and you will do as I command!»
«Oh, yeah?» Alfia rebuffed.
«You know all she has to do is step aside while the other Goddesses gang up and send you back to Heaven, right?» Zeus finally spoke up with a carefree attitude. «Are you sure it’s a good idea to threaten her?»
Hera flinched with frustration. «Shut up, you idiot!» She lamented, but she knew her Child knew that.
«Lady Hera, I strongly advise you not to test someone like Alfia.» Zald calmly said.
«Speaking of which, let’s get this out of the way…» Zeus pulled himself up from the desk he was leaning against.
He walked up to his two remaining Executives, who promptly removed the upper armors and knelt, exposing their backs. Zeus thus reached Dardanus first, and with a simple gesture of his hand, the Falna on the Adventurer’s back shone for a brief moment before returning invisible. The God then went and did the same with Zald.
«Done. Now go on to your next adventure, fellas! Tell Lygas and the others to come to me by the end of the day.»
«See, that’s how a proper deity behaves. Now stop being such a hassle and make up your mind, before I hand you to Freya myself.»
While Alfia distracted her soon-former Goddess, the men whispered to Zeus.
«Thank you for everything, old man. Also, about Meteria…» Dardanus started.
«Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her and the child,» The deity reassured with a smile. «But you guys don’t try to be strangers, all right?»
«Just make sure to behave, because Alfia is coming with you,» Zald warned.
«Speaking of which, I might need a distraction,» Zeus replied, still holding a serene attitude. «We don’t want anyone chasing after little Meteria or me, right?» he added, with his thumb clearly pointing at Hera, who was still scuffling with Alfia.
Dardanus swiftly reassured him.
«Don’t worry. I have an idea. But for that to happen… We’re going to need the help of Ouranos…»
«Fine, then!»
Their conversation was cut short as Hera let out a booming, begrudgingly resigned exclamation.
Alfia turned around and slightly lowered the back of her dress. Zald and Dardanus promptly turned the other way.
Zeus tried to peek in, but the two men instantly grabbed him and pinned him to the floor.
«There! Happy, now?! The others, too, can go to hell, for all I care!» She yelled before storming out of the room, leaving no hint as to where she was heading.
«Thank you for your cooperation,» Alfia replied in a cold voice. She was clearly not sorry in the slightest about leaving Hera behind.
After all that, while Alfia went to inform the few lower-rank members of the Hera Familia that their group was about to disband, Zeus and his men returned to their own manor. They still needed to inform their own Familia, after all.
Rumors and speculations about the return of the three Executives had already spread, and a discomforted atmosphere reigned among the few members who had stayed back.
An Elf stepped forward, his jade eyes expressed a composed concern, and his silky black hair somehow seemed just as nervous as it fluttered from his sudden movements.
«Lord Dardanus. Lord Zald…»
«Hello, Lygas,» Dardanus said cordially, but he didn’t even have the strength to attempt a smile.
«Is it… true?»
The century-old Elf was quite capable of hiding his own discomfort, but it was still clear that he was having a hard time processing the news.
Dardanus himself needed a moment before finding the strength to confirm everybody’s fears.
«Yes… Maxim… Herakles…Everyone else died.»
Terror and shock soon manifested on the faces of the five young recruits left to form the ranks of the Zeus Familia.
«The same goes for Hera Familia. Alfia is their last, if you exclude their recruits,» Zald added somberly.
After giving the lower ranks a moment to come to terms with the situation, Dardanus calmly stepped forward. «I know it’s a lot to take in, but there is little time to mourn, I’m afraid. We have a plan: We intend to ask Lord Ouranos to take us in and create his own Familia.»
Lygas and the recruits were confused.
«What…? You’re converting?»
«Zeus has already agreed to it…» Zald explained with a calm tone. «Our Familias are doomed, after this failure, but the problem is another one: there is nobody else who can oppose the Black Dragon.»
«We intend to train the next generation of Adventurers, whether they like it or not,» Dardanus added. «If you want to come with us, you’re welcome. If not, I still suggest you ask Zeus to prepare you for a Conversion.»
The two Executives left their subordinates with that indication, then returned to their own rooms.
Finally, Dardanus could take a moment for himself.
And as the tension that forced him to keep calm took a brief leave of absence from his mind and body, the man felt incredibly heavy. His heart started aching.
All at once, the thoughts of those who died slapped him in the face with unparalleled violence.
Herakles, Achilles, Iolaus, Maxim… The people he had known ever since he became an Adventurer at a very young age. His family, which had given him everything. The people with whom he had shared countless dangers and moments of happiness.
And amongst them all, the image of the woman he loved flashed in front of him.
All of that was gone, lost to the flames of defeat.
Dardanus sat at the edge of the bed, lowered his head into his hands, and started weeping.
The following day, two announcements took the entire city by storm.
The first was confirmation of rumors about the near-total destruction of the Zeus and Hera Familia, following their failure to end the last Great Quest.
But the other Familias barely had any time to realize what kind of opportunity they had in front of them, and the second announcement left them both flabbergasted and enraged.
All the remaining members of the Zeus and Hera Familias had converted to Ouranos himself, forming the Ouranos Familia.
Right in front of Babel, the Head of the Guild, Royman Marteel, was holding a speech to the populace, with Dardanus and the others standing behind him in an orderly fashion. The old Elf was speaking inside a voice-enhancing magical device.
«Citizens of Orario, I do not exaggerate when I say that we are entering into a new Era for our city. Unfortunately, the two most powerful Familias in our history have been destroyed by a calamity. And while they have still given us precious time, we are now at risk of becoming victims of chaos and unruliness.»
He then made a large swing with his arm, showing those who had just chosen to become the enforcers of the Guild.
«But fear not! For the last great Adventurers of those prestigious Familias have stepped forward to protect us from this calamity. People of Orario, from today onward, the Guild has elected Lord Dardanus as the protector of law and order. Please, welcome the first Executor of Orario!»
The murmurs rising from the crowd were mixed, though none were explicitly negative. Many were actually relieved that the last Level 7s left in Orario had decided to step up and protect the city from the inevitable fallout that was about to crash down on it.
«Is this some sort of joke?!»
A voice arose with scorn and indignation—the voice of a young male Cat person.
Soon enough, a group of Adventurers pushed their way through the crowd. The one who had spoken was a black-furred Cat person, wielding a spear in his right hand, and with his teeth tightened in an angry mood. Then came out a massive Boaz, a White Elf, a Dark Elf and four Pallum brothers.
Those were the most prominent members of the Freya Familia, one of the two major Familias after Zeus and Hera. Aside from their Captain, who had recently reached Level 5, the others ranged between Levels 3 and 4.
The Cat person, Allen, now pointed his left hand toward the stage.
«You guys have lost your entire Familias, and now you expect us to just listen to your orders?!»
«You want to call yourselves the defenders of the city? How laughable!» The White Elf spoke with a more composed, but no less vitriolic tone.
«Tis but a death song of those who are walking toward sundown,» The Dark Elf declaimed.
Then, the four Pallums began thrash-talking them with great coordination.
«You guys failed pathetically, and now you want us to follow you?»
«How disgraceful!»
«Step aside, old folks!»
«Your time is over!»
«Tell me… Did those runts just call me old?» Alfia calmly asked her two comrades.
Before she went off to murder them, Dardanus stepped forward and reached the edge of the stage, standing calmly in front of the defiant Adventurers. They, for sure, were not the only ones who were harboring those sentiments.
«You’re right, gentlemen. We failed to defeat the Black Dragon. But before we continue this conversation… Is there anyone else who would like to voice their opinion?»
«We do.»
Three more Adventurers stepped forward. Another Pallum with blonde hair and azure eyes, a Dwarf with brown hair and eyes, and finally, an elegant High Elf woman clad in jade green clothes, which mirrored the color of her eyes and hair.
Those were the heads of the Loki Familia, the other of the second most prominent Familias in the city. Of them, Finn Deimne, the Pallum, had just reached Level 5, but it was only a matter of time before Gareth and Riveria caught up with him.
Soon enough, both groups received the backing of the rest of their Familias, which showed up behind them. Loki Familia, in particular, had additional Level 4 Adventurers, like Noir Sachsen, Dain, and Bara.
«The three of you are certainly strong, Sir Dardanus,» Finn started speaking. «But why should we follow your lead? You and your Familias have outright bullied every single one of us since forever. How do you expect us to believe that you suddenly wish to be our protectors?»
«A most legitimate question, Finn Deimne. And to that I say… How about we move to the Arena?»
The crowd was completely caught off guard, including the Adventurers.
«If you think you can do without us, then prove it today. We will fight whoever wishes so.»
Nearly the entire city rushed to the Amphitheatron. Mortals and Gods alike were eager to witness whatever was about to happen. After all, when was the last time a single Familia had challenged the whole of Orario to impose its authority?
Thus, the remnants of Zeus and Hera were now standing at the center of the arena, with their weapons at the ready, surrounded by the Children of Loki, Freya, and other relatively powerful Adventurers who didn’t want to acknowledge the new Ouranos Familia.
The strongest were at the forefront of the opposing party. Meanwhile, Dardanus, Zald, and Alfia were leisurely waiting for them, their poses indicating that they did not even register them as a threat.
«Begin!» Royman shouted from the honorary bleacher.
The Freya Familia was the first to charge. True to their fame, they had no real coordination whatsoever, since their members were all in fierce rivalry to gain the attention of their Goddess. Therefore, the first to reach the enemy was Allen, their fastest member, who jumped toward Dardanus with ferocity.
Dardanus wasn’t even lifting his bardiche, instead using it as a support for his right arm.
All he did was move his left arm, grabbing the point of Allen’s spear when it was a few centicelches from his face. The Executor wasn’t even pretending to look like he was making an effort.
Allen grunted in surprise. The next moment, Dardanus just yanked the spear over his head. The Cat person lost all control and let out a rather pathetic yell as he slammed face-first into the sand.
It all happened in the span of two seconds, enough for Ottar and the Gulliver brothers to reach Zald, while Hedin and Hogni attacked Alfia.
«Gospel.»
Following that coldly muttered word from Alfia, two powerful shockwaves shook the air. All the spectators could see were the two elven knights of Freya flying toward the edges of the arena and slamming into the wall.
At the same time, the Gulliver brothers landed in front of the rest of their Familia, their armor damaged.
The only Child of Freya still fighting was Ottar, but he was struggling to hold his sword high against Zald’s. The Level 7 was easily pushing the Boaz to his knees.
Then, with a swift movement, Zald pushed Ottar’s sword away and just punched the Boaz’s chest. The impact resonated like a ram crashing into a wall.
Ottar let out a painful grunt as he was sent rolling on the ground for several meders.
«Surround them!» Finn ordered to his Familia.
Their higher Levels promptly formed a curved line to draw the attention of the three Level 7s.
«Heed my words, oh paladins. You are the wall against darkness. Stand your ground!»
While the Loki Familia was deploying, Dardanus had already finished spelling out the words needed to activate his Skill Bastion of Light.
Except, it didn’t enhance his two peers: all the boost went to Lygas and the other recruits.
Loki’s battle formation implied that Finn and the higher Levels attacked Dardanus at the center, while Riveria was preparing one of her powerful Spells.
But while Finn and the others charged forward, a literal arm made of wood emerged from below and immobilized Riveria’s right arm, taking her completely by surprise.
And the frontal assault went as well as one would imagine.
Finn, Gareth, Noir, Bara, and Dain were all put on the ground by the Executor, who barely held his strength back.
Riveria was still trying to figure out what had happened when she found a blade aimed at her throat.
Lygas, her old royal tutor, was standing in front of her. He had a slight glow given by Bastion of Light, which had brought all his Abilities up to S-tier.
Riveria might have been growing her Level faster than him, despite having begun her Adventurer career much later, but that was only because Lygas had taken a lot of time to bring all his Abilities to a higher tier, even those that did not suit his role as a Combat Mage.
Combined with the boost and the experience he had gained with Zeus Familia, it meant Riveria was still outclassed, and she was shocked to see the murderous gaze in the man's eyes.
All the same, the other recruits of Ouranos Familia made short work of the twenty additional members of Loki Familia and the other smaller groups.
«All right, that’s enough!» Dardanus ordered.
The beaten Adventurers grunted in frustration.
Only the High Elf received better treatment. As the wooden arm disappeared, and Riveria’s legs gave up, Lygas promptly knelt and grabbed her waist, helping her to stand up.
«I beg you for your forgiveness, your Highness,» Lygas calmly pleaded.
Riveria, still shocked from the scare the man had given her a second before, was now struck by his gallantry. Lygas gently let her go and turned around, reaching his Familia again while the High Elf just stood there.
«Is that all you got?!» Dardanus then proclaimed loudly. He started pacing around, passing through the groaning and achey Adventurers. «If you can’t even lay a finger on a poisoned old man and a terminally ill woman, then what are you going to do when Orario is threatened?!»
«Luckily, many of you might have some potential,» Zald added. «While you work on that, we will make sure to give you guys the room and time to grow.»
«So you runts better start moving your sorry bottoms,» Alfia coldly admonished. «Because we will beat you into shape until you can finally take us down.»
«What the hell…?» Allen, not satisfied with the beating he had just taken, had already wobbled his way back to them. «I ain’t going to… need the work of some old timers!»
An instant later, a Gospel Punch threw him back on the ground.
«Stop yelling, you bothersome feline.»
Alfia had immediately reminded them why she was nicknamed ‘Silence’.
With that, the new status quo had been settled. Dardanus, Zald, and Alfia had now become the official protectors and nurturers of Orario’s next generation. Yet, by the end of that day, they had already gained a collective nickname that mirrored their harsh training methods.
That was how the Three Demons were born. And they would inaugurate the new era of Orario.
Meanwhile, with all eyes on the arena, nobody noticed an old man leaving the city with his ‘daughter’.
Coming up next month:
2 - The Demon of Silence and the Maidens of Justice