Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

[Vol.3] Quest 258- Knossos, Part 2- Unveil

Quickly rushing and making their way through the man-made dungeon, Cirrus was making as many ways of escaping as possible.

“Still nothing.” Said Finn.

“They’ll come. If they don’t, then their dungeon to be even more beaten up.” Cirrus says as is ripping the wall with his hand, touching the Adamantite with his finger as he’s running.

“How are you doing that!” said Tione. “My hand is getting numb trying that!”

“It’s both practice and speed and here is the best way to try it out!”

They look up ahead to see several Evilus members with Violas.

“Then give me an example!” Tione shouted.

“Glad you asked!!” Cirrus grabbed the wall and flung a piece in their direction.

The piece strikes the inside of the Violas, and it dropped messing with the others.

“Wah!!”

In their movement, Cirrus quickly grab one by the head and used them as a meat stick.

“RAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!”

In what they could only describe as a bloody and brutal, systematic culling as Cirrus used their “meat stick” to full efficiency.

“Keep moving!” he said as he tosses what remains of a battered skull.

“Reminds me of the time you came down to help us with the monster stampede.” Said Finn.

“Were you this brutal?” said Tione, impressed by the sight.

“I hurb! S-sorry, this is really gruesome.” Said Lefiya, holding back from vomiting.

“How barbaric.” Said Filvis. “They are people as well.”

“Say that again when they try to fucking blow you up with a hug, elf,” Cirrus said with a bit of aggression, which she fully understood.

‘Such brutality… but they are both right.’ thought Lefiya as she holds back her vomit. ‘I can’t show them mercy or else I will die and… I can’t let that happen!’

As they rushed forward, they could hear the sounds of the door slamming shut.

“They took it the bait,” Finn said with a smile.

“Then get ready for combat.” Cirrus draws his spear.

They follow the path they laid out and they arrive at a surprisingly large room with Arbuda and the cloaked figure with a pink and purple mask.

“So you have come I see.” Said Arbuda. “Your last attack drained me considerably of magic, but now I regained my strength by continuously hunting for magic stones.”

The room began to freeze.

“Shame I wanted to turn you into fucking gas, but I guess a puddle of water will do.” Cirrus stepped forward, twirling his spear. “And your little rat is here? Did Revis bite the dust?”

“I am here to face you.”

‘A masked female, her voice is modified but… hmm… guess I take a page out of Freya’s book.’

“Is that so? Then let me bring in (Circe) to deal with you?”

From behind him, his magic circle appeared, and out came Circe.

“Circe, can you use your magic to look at her soul?” Cirrus under his breath.

‘I can, (A myriad vapors obscure the light.) [Atéleio̱tos Voyage].’

Her eyes shined like the sun being swallowed by the horizon.

“Why are you gazing at my soul, Circe?” said Arbuda.

Circe transformed back into her human form and glanced at the first group.

“I see….” A strong gaze fell on Filvis and then back to the masked person. “You and Filvis are one and the same.”

“!?” everyone flinched a bit.

“W-what are you talking about?” shouted Filvis. “We are on the same—“

“Magic,” Circe said. “You somehow have a magic that let you duplicate yourself, your soul is cut in half, one of light and the other...” She looks at the masked figure. “Of the dark, both broken, with cracks littered about.”

“Finn, it seems our plan must be executed,” Cirrus said.

“Understood. I’ll leave you to the retrieval,” Finn said, walking to the other opening. “Lefiya, you can stay or not? It’s your choice.”

“So that was your goal.” Arbuda made a grin. “Well, what do you say, elf?” she looked at Ein. “The jig is up.”

“F-Filvis…” said Lefiya, reaching for her. “I-it’s not t-true is—smack!”

Filvis struck her hand away.

“I am sorry Lefiya… but I will follow my god's will.”

Filvis walked towards Ein, walking past Cirrus and Circe.

“Lefiya steel your heart or leave,” Cirrus said as he gets into his stance looking at Arbuda.

Circe could see the utter pain on her face, the sense of betrayal leading to her heart breaking as she has lost a person she called a friend.

“… No… YOUR LYING!!!” shouted Lefiya from the depths of her heart. “YOU HAVE TO BE FILVIS!!!!!” tears streamed down her face like a river.

“…” she said nothing as she stood before Ein and she removed her mask to show skin as pale as a dead body, eyes dulled and black. “(At the end of illusion, the spirit returns - forming an unbreakable bond) [Einsel].”

A dark light covers them and when it fades away, Filvis was whole once more. Her hair grew to the floor and her eyes were now dark blue with dark lines around her eyes like that of a predator in the savannah. Pale root-like veins covered her body and even her face and her skin turned a bluish-white as though she had hyperthermia.

Lefiya crumpled even more at her sight. She felt as though her world was ending here and now.

“… Good, it seems we got your god in our hands now,” Cirrus said with a smile.

“He is—“

“In one of Demeter’s homes outside Orario? We know. Did you think we wouldn’t find it strange that Dionysus sent none of his children beside you? Or why he diverted Loki’s attention away from the possibility of the Guild having dealing with Evilus? And even, in turn, suspecting Hermes for his work? All so he can slow Loki and his Familia’s investigation.”

The look on her face was strained.

“… When did you know?”

“When Loki told me she didn’t trust the Guild and, by extension, Ouranos. Now if you didn’t know.” A massive grin appeared on his face. “I am one of his children and right now the remaining members of the Artemis and Loki Familia, along with the Ganesha Familia, have him in custody.”

“!?”

Lefiya and Filvis shook from his words.

“I have known Hermes and Ouranos for a long time to think they were untrustworthy as to work with Evilus was a very, VERY stupid choice since I know full well who they are.”

“… To think we messed up from an unthinkable possibility of you actually being his child?” Filvis drew her wand and short sword. “I should thank you for making my weapon, Circe.”

“Too bad it’s nothing as close as Cirrus has.” Circe turns back into her bird form.

“Lefiya, you must make a choice. You can either die here or—"

“I will fight.” She said, getting up. “But… I won’t kill her. I need to know why.” She said with a stern face.

“Then get ready.” He holds out his hand to her. “(Exousía, Adorn: Ceryneian)!!!”

His armor covers her as she looks at Filvis with a stern look.

“Yes!!”

Back on the surface around the time, Cirrus was talking with Filvis.

“Seems Filvis was the proof we needed.” Said Nox, sitting down while looking at Dionysus with Loki, Artemis, Hermes, and Ganesha around him with Demeter.

“… How did you know?” Dionysus said, looking down, ashamed.

“You got involved, Dionysus.” Said Artemis. “And you made an accusation of saying Ouranos had a hand in it. Too many gods it would be enough to suspect him, but you didn’t have one crucial piece of information.”

“… And that is?”

“The Sword of Ouranos,” Hermes said, glaring at him. “The only child he had in the last millennium who worked with him, Cirrus Zephyr.”

“!?” Dionysus froze up a bit. “H-he… I thought that was mere rumor…”

“Unlucky for you, it was true, and that sword in question made me realize you were playing me like a damn fiddle,” Loki said.

“… Dionysus…” said Demeter, sadden.

“So Dionysus, you will tell us everything you have been up to, and from there we will question your sole child,” Ganesha said. “It’s surprising to find that you had all your children converted to Penia.”

“To think you even used her.” Said Artemis. “It was good we kept an eye on you and all your Familia.”

“You should have really changed the scent of your wine; Ai could quickly track its origin from your home.” Nox said.

“… Fine,” he said, still looking down. “I’ll… I’ll explain just please… don’t hurt Filvis…”

“Well, it seems she’s going to fight Cirrus and her elf friend Lefiya; do you have any words to stop her?”

“… I told her to fight until you no longer can…” he said with a pained expression.

“… Cirrus seems you need to bring her in alive.”