Ch14.The Fate Of All Fools

"My head…" Haru woke up in a weird room, something soft under his neck as his brain fog cleared up…

"Seems he's awake Lilith."

A man's voice spoke as Haru's brain righted itself in his skull from that weird feeling he just felt.

"What happened?" Haru mumbled out in confusion as his eyes slowly cleared away his blurry vision.

"Kukuku, A very bad man placed something inside you long ago,seems you must now overcome it my love." A woman's melodic voice rung in Haru's ears..

The man spoke up after letting out a slight cough, "Phrasing dear, we spoke about this." The man let out a chuckle as his beloved pouted.

"Don't ruin the mood Lucy!" The woman went back to gently running her slender fingers through Haru's hair as she hummed a song to him.

"Who are you?" Haru spoke up as he felt his body grow heavier by the second, like it was sinking below gentle waves.

The woman bent down and gently kissed Haru on his forehead as his consciousness began to fade.

"The one who loves you the most my baby." Haru heard her pained whisper in his ears as the woman named Lilith wrapped her arms around him.

A wet dripping sensation suddenly his his face as his eyes cleared just enough to make out the face of the woman.

"I DONT WANT TO GO!!!" Haru used his meager strength in an attempt to hold on to the woman as the realm his body resided in began to pull him back.

"PLEASE DONT MAKE ME GOOOO!"

Lilith and Lucifer couldn't hold back their tears as a gold light began to pull Haru back into the mortal plains and out of Liliths arms.

It only took a small glance, only one and Haru knew…

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"MOMMA!!!" Suddenly jolting up from a couch he was laying on, Haru felt like his heart was wretched from his chest.

The sudden rushing of feet was heard as a large group of worried faces appeared in Haru's blurred sight, it seemed his vision was still messed up…

"Quick Naaza, get some tissue!" Miach spoke in a worried tone as he approached Haru.

A second later, Naaza appeared and handed Miach a pack of tissue, Miach promptly strode over and knelt next to haru.

"There, there, it was only a bad dream." Miach used the tissue to wipe away the large amounts of tears that constantly streamed down Haru's pale cheeks, his large watery eyes hitting everyone in the heart as he grabbed onto Miach and gently sobbed.

Miach was at a loss, so he simply hugged the crying boy and rubbed his back soothingly.

After ten minutes, Haru finally calmed down, was it really just a dream? And if so, why was it so real?

"What happened?" Haru looked at everyone standing around, many with worried faces, some with confused ones…even a few that looked afraid?

Miach was the first to speak, "I came over with a resupply of potions as well as to take you out for supper with Naaza, but I found you on the ground with your head in Freyas lap, a few of her children were carrying an unconscious Ottar out of the shop."

[Ding]

Just as Miach mentioned this, an email icon appeared in Haru's sight…

Opening it revealed a plethora of notifications as well as a congratulations on his evolution?

Everyone watched as Haru's face went from sadness, to shock, to amazement, all in the span of one minute, almost like he had an epiphany.

'The hell is all this, the hell did Freya give me!' Haru began to freak out as the new titles and stats flooded his sight.

(AN: see auxiliary chapter for new stats.)

This was wild! Wait… the heck is with that age!

System, I think there's been an error…I'm not 8 billion years old?' Seeing the ridiculous number, Haru waved it off as an error with the system, maybe it shorted out somehow?

"Ehem!" A sudden woman's voice roused Haru, looking past the invisible screen, the boy remembered where he was and a blush of embarrassment covered his face.

"Sorry, just got lost in my own thoughts." Haru apologized to the green haired elf who kept staring at him through expectant eyes.

"No need to apologize, you've seemed to have gone through a traumatic experience, but forgive me for my impatience, we have much more important things to diss——" just as Riveria was finishing her sentence, a blonde blur sped past her.

*Shing*

"AIS!" Riveria and Bete both screamed out at the same time as a thin blade quickly made its way towards Haru's neck.

Almost faster then anyone could see a hand shot out and grabbed the blade with such strength that a small cracking sound was heard.

Ais, seeing her attack fail and hearing the strain on the blade, tried to pull her sword away, but to no avail.

"Ais!! The hell are you doing! Step back now!" Bete rushed forward to pull Ais, just as he began to pull her away a sound was heard…

*Creak* *Shatter* *Clang*

Both Ais and Bete fell back as Ais's sword snapped in two, the pointed end falling, clanging on the marble floor as a loud gasp was heard from the crowd of worried onlookers from Loki, Ganesha, Freya and Miach families.

"You dare foolish mortal!" A low ethereal voice that spoke with disgust and hate fell upon everyone's ears, a voice that shook their very souls, a voice that promised unequivocal violence.

A voice that did not match the face as Haru let the shards of the crushed Durandal blade slip from his fingers.

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(Dungeon/3rd floor)

"HELP!!" Just as he rifled through his pack, Bell heard a voice cry out from down the hall.

???

Without hesitation Bell ran to the noise, as he rounded a corner he came face to hip with a small girl in a tattered red cloak.

"Mister help me! Some adventurers attacked us and demanded all my groups stones!" The small girl cried as she heard a set of foot steps quickly coming from behind her.

Bell moved the small girl behind him as two shady men came out from the darkness, one wielding a set of daggers and another with a sword and shield.

"There you are you little bitch!" The man with dagger spoke through gritted teeth as he notice the girl behind Bell.

Taking a couple steps, the man stopped as Bell pulled out his knife.

"Not another step." Bell warned the man who gave him a distainful smile.

"You willing to die to protect that worthless runt?" The man took another step as the sword and shield man let out a chuckle.

"No, I'm not willing to die to protect her.." Bell spoke up causing the small girl to stiffen up and look for a way out of her situation.

The man smiled and spoke again, "Then move asi—"

*THUNK*

Before the man could finish his words a knife hit his face with great speed, buried to the hilt between his eyes.

"I am however willing to KILL to protect her." Just as Bell spoke the man with the sword and shield let out an angry roar and charged Bell.

Swinging his blade Bell slid under it by a hairs breath before rolling away, seemes those few lessons from Bete in the werewolf's spare time were real handy.

The man turned to continue his assault on Bell, "I'm going to skin you motherfu— grrk"

The man fell face first into the dungeon floor shocking Bell, a small crossbow bolt stuck in the back of his head.

"How stupid, turning your back on an enemy like that." The small girl spoke as she reloaded her small wrist mounted crossbow.

Bell however didn't hesitate, "the rest of your group!"

"All dead, there was five attackers, three were killed and these two were the last." The girl walked over and started to rifle through the dead man's pockets.

"Thanks for your assistance…" she ignored Bell while keeping her guard up, quickly taking anything of value.

"We should report this too the guild and bring back the others bodies…" Bell noticed the girl stiffened up at his words.

"No need, these scumbags are well known by the guild, all of Somas familia are…" the girls voice went quite as she mentioned the Somas reputation.

Bell looked closer at the girl..

"This isn't the first time for you is it?" Like a hammer to a nail, the girl stopped.

"No."

Bell thought to himself as the girl slowly began to back away from the the dead man she was looting..

"I tried to warn the group, that they were going to be attacked, they just laughed and said Somas junkies were no match for them…" the girl looked up Bell.

"You gonna kill me?" Bell was taken aback by her words… a face played in his mind… the reason he killed that man… was he had someone to go back too.

"No, I only killed that one because I knew he wouldn't let me leave… if you want out, I could help you?" Bell looked at the small girl who let out a small laugh.

Taking down her hood, the girl introduced herself.

"Names Liliruca, you are?"

Another sucker she could gain the trust of… this one made her feel a little bad though.

"Bell"

Bell smiled as he looked at the small girl, she was probably around Haru's age, she looked like a child, maybe he could nab Haru a new friend? If she did then Lady Freya and Loki would definitely her.

Plus carrying everything was becoming a hassle.

If that large bag on her back was anything to go by, she was a porter, just what he needed.

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"Fresh air!"

Bell looked at the small pallum, lily and he had stayed on the third floor a little longer, she was secretive yet helped him with tips and tricks.

"You ready Lily?" Bell began too walk towards babels stairs, excited to introduce Lily to Haru, his baby brother was always nervous that he delved alone and would always stuff his backpack with potions.

Bell didn't one hundred percent trust the girl, but he felt she deserved a chance at least.

"We're here!" After they finally reached the shop, Bell opened the door letting Lily in.

"Huh?" The sight that greeted them made Lily freeze in fear and Bells mouth hand open.

"Haru?"

With most of the Loki familia unconscious, and others almost in the same situation, Haru stood with his small hands wrapped around the slender neck of a clearly struggling Ais.

"This is the fate of all fools"

"NOW DIE"