Chapter 76 - The Golem

Author Note: As promised, here is your double release.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---Mael POV---

Advancing on the head section was a lot harder than I expected. The entire sky was filled with boulders, and I was having to bob and weave to avoid them. I had hit one before and quickly found out that they exploded quite violently when hit. As such I had to avoid them to not get blown out of the sky as I would certainly take more than a single hit. After a few minutes of dodging boulders, I managed to get through the bombardment and was able to blast a hole into the head.

Stepping inside, I was greeted by several Green Spriggans who weren't so happy to see me. Lashing out out me, they attempted to tear me apart only to have their branches burned away when they got close. Since the people below were getting bum-rushed, I didn't have the luxury of time to play with them. Swing Rhitta horizontally, I bisected all of them and quickly extracted their hearts so they wouldn't come back.

Following the magic supply further in, eventually I came into a large room where all the magic seemed to come from. Seeing a tiny plant woman, about half of Lily's height, floating on a crimson crystalline flower she stopped the moment I saw her.

"Hmm...how did you get in here?", the Spirit asked, "You don't belong mortal, wait a moment...you aren't a normal Adventurer."

"Nor are you a normal spirit.", I replied with a smirk, "Mind stopping your attacks on my friends below and talking this out like civil individuals."

"Unfortunately that isn't possible, I have a job to do and you are getting in my way.", she replied as hundreds of roots shot out towards me.

Unamused by this, I increased my heat and started burning the place to the ground. Acknowledging that I was a real threat, the woman got up from her seat and flew over at me. I was expecting a decent blow from her, but I didn't expect her to knock me for a loop. She hit nearly as hard as Kratos did which was surprising for a tiny woman like herself.

Sliding back a few feet, I stopped myself and cracked my neck. Forming a Cruel Sun around my right hand, I slammed it downwards onto her head and sent shooting through the giant. Screaming out in pain as she stopped part of the way down, I shot several Final Prominence down the hole she made aimed straight at her.

"Damn you!", she spat trying to close the hole.

Unfortunately for her my attack cut through the internal structure like butter. Realizing this, she merge with the giant and managed to avoid the attacks. Reappearing behind me, she hardened her skin and tried to pierce my chest.

"Full Counter.", I said as I used a nearby stick to perform the move.

Watching her own chest cavity explode out her back, she stumbled away wheezing heavily.

"You know more about the Dungeon than anyone else I know. Tell me what you know, and I will make this quick.", I threatened her.

"You...you are an Otherworlder, aren't you?", she said as her body regenerated, "As I said...I can't tell you that. If I told you all our sacrifices will have been for naught, and I can't allow that. Too many of us died for me to break my promise..."

"If you won't tell me, then I will pry it out of you by force.", I told her as I reached my hand out, "Soul Invitation."

Waiting for a small orb to appear out of her, nothing came out. Trying it several more times, I was at a loss for what this meant. Without a soul of some sort this Spirit shouldn't exist which meant this wasn't a Spirit at all.

"You're a golem...", I stated.

Not responding to that made me certain that was the case.

"Are you preventing us from advancing further or are you a test?", I asked.

"You can ask all you want, but I can't tell you anything regarding the Dungeon.", she said.

"Then tell me why the Gods of this world don't remember anything past 10,000 years ago.", I demanded.

When she didn't answer, I knew that meant it was linked to this Dungeon. I had a million questions, but I couldn't keep the people I came here with waiting for long.

"Is this Dungeon in anyways connected to the Titans?", I inquired

"Otherworlder, I can't tell you anything. You are strong, but I can't place my faith solely on you. If you want answers you have to find them for yourself.", she told me as a look of pain shot across her face, "Just get this over with..."

Granting her request, I obliterated her and the entire control center with one blow. Watching the room fall apart, I then felt the giant start to fall backwards. Knowing that this was far to heavy for Tatsumaki to hold up, I got the heck out of there before it collapsed. Grabbing the flower before I left, I leapt out of the giant as it started to fall rapidly backwards.

Landing nearby my allies, all of them looked exhausted from fighting and running. Falling on their backsides, they watched the Ents die and fall to the ground. Giving me a grateful look, everyone asked for a five minute breather.

"Good work.", I told everyone as I walked over towards the Goddess and Merlin, "Merlin, you know what this is?"

Showing her the crimson, crystalline flower, she studied for a moment before giving an answer.

"This is God's Blood.", she advised, "Can't you tell by the magic power it gives off?"

"I can tell that it has a lot of magical power, but I haven't actually seen a Philosopher's Stone before.", I replied, "This must have been what the Spirit was using to power the Giant."

"Ya get anything out of the bitch?", Loki asked.

"No, she was tight lipped about everything pertaining to the Dungeon. That said, her silence confirmed that the God's are tided to the Dungeon a lot more than I initially thought. Not only that, the reason you can't remember past 10,000 years ago is also tied to this place.", I told them.

Surprised by that, they didn't realize how intertwined they were with the Dungeon. Thanking me for the information, they asked what our next step was.

"I think we can call our expedition here. The Ent corpses should fetch a high price along with these Spriggan Hearts.", I stated showing them the six I had, "As for the flower, I am going to keep that as it's too dangerous to sell."

Agreeing to end the expedition here, everyone gathered the Ents they wanted then I opened a portal to the Surface.

---Earthland---

Dropping the Familia Teams off, the Goddess, Otherworlders, and the Fairy Tail women returned back to my mansion to wash up. Having not had a proper shower in days, all of the women were eager to get cleaned up.

"So this thing is a Philosopher's Stone?", Sirzechs questioned, "It's quite different from the one I know."

"Agreed, it is very detailed.", I admitted, "I don't know why someone would make something like this."

"Is it true you can resurrect someone with them?", he inquired.

Knowing where this was going, I told him I would bring his parents back myself. Telling him to never use a stone for that purpose, I said that people brought back this way aren't always the same.

"I have seen people use them before, and it creates a twisted homunculi instead. They are incredibly difficult to kill because they will have a fragment of the stone in them.", I said.

"Duly noted.", he remarked handing it back to me.

Bringing him some of Minerva's herbal tea, he graciously accepted it while we waited for the women to return. Nearly an hour later, the women came back with relaxed expressions on their face.

"Ah...you forget how nice a warm shower is.", Freya sighed with a smile.

"Ishtar, can you please setup the meeting with your slaver associates? I want to figure out where Brokkr is so I can get more details on the sword I have.", I told her.

"Of course, I will get that taken care of.", she agreed.

Thanking her, I went upstairs to shower really quick. While I was in the shower I decided that going out to eat would be nice as we had been cooking all week. Making that suggestion when I got back downstairs, everyone was onboard for that.

"Fish and chips!!", Millianna shouted.

"I could go for anything with a nice cold beer.", Loki admitted.

Understanding that sentiment, I suggested either the Hostess of Fertility or the steakhouse in the capital. Knowing that the food was excellent at the hostess, the majority of the women voted for it much to Millianna's disappointment.

"Don't worry, I will take you there next time.", I promised her.

Telling me I was the best boyfriend ever, she gave me a kiss on the cheek with a smile on her face. Opening a portal to the Hostess of Fertility, we headed inside to eat.

---Orario, Hostess of Fertility---

"Waitress, another beer please!!", Erza shouted with a smile.

"More Fish and Chips!!", Millianna added.

"Coming right up!", Mia said.

Seeing the pile of plates on the table, Sirzechs patted me on the back with grin. Telling me this was another reason he didn't want a harem, he said things got really expensive when you had many mouths to feed.

"Hey...don't you fill his head...with bullshit...", Loki spat, "I like being with...with him! Don't you...ruin it!"

Loki was barely able to sit up, let alone talk right. Having been limited to a mug a night for the past five days, she was overdoing it tonight to compensate. Being rambunctious and loud, Hermes showed up with his Familia to join the celebration.

"Congratulations on making it to Floor 59!", Hermes cheered.

"Yeah!", everyone shouted in agreement.

Noticing that he was staring at Irene, I grabbed his arm and shot him a death glare. Snapping out of what he was considering, he immediately backed off understanding his life would be prematurely ended otherwise. Getting back into a celebratory mood, the celebrating went well into the night and I ended up taking everyone home as they were too plastered to do it themselves. Dropping the Deities off at their respective homes and the others at their residence, I took the Fairy Tail women home and got them in bed.

---Earthland---

Turning to got get some water, Irene grabbed my arm with a serious look. Asking her what was wrong, she asked me a very straightforward question.

"What the Goddesses said in the Dungeon...have you slept with them?", Irene asked me.

"I have, not Hestia and Ristarte though.", I admitted.

"You have a house full of women ready to do it, and you just ignored us!", Irene pouted.

Assuring her I wasn't ignoring them, I said that I had been waiting on her to be ready and waiting for the others to hit sixteen years old. Glaring at me, she said she had been waiting on me to be a man and take charge for a while now.

"Wait...you said you-", I started to say.

"I say a lot of things, but you don't pay attention!", she huffed, "I would have been happy to do it during the trials!"

Seeing that she was visibly angry with me, I felt bad for making her wait. Deciding to make it up to her, I gave her a deep kiss and said I would set something romantic up for us. Giving me a happy smile, she motioned that there was something else she wanted. Asking her what it was, she barely got the word bucket out before I watched her puke.

'It's going to be a long night...', I thought.