Trial from a Deity

The next morning, thanks to the medical supplies that Bete brought with him from the surface, the Loki Familia planned to leave the Dungeon around noon after further investigating the monster that Ais, Tione, and Tiona found in the eastern part of the 18th floor.

However, the group couldn't find anything new and gave up.

While preparing to return to the surface, Bete, who had returned last night, heard a very troubling rumor and went to Ais and the other girls, "I knew about him coming here, but what the hell is going on about this Kisuke guy..." Bete's voice then became lower as the corners of his ears reddened, "...About him..."

Ais only tilted her head in confusion.

Seeing that she didn't get it, Bete continued, "Y-you know, that! That, uh... you know... About him peeking at you girls during a bath!"

Recalling the incident yesterday, Ais blushed a bit and nodded.

With his jaw slackened, Bete exclaimed, "What... the hell!!?"

He turned around and rested his arm on a pole while muttering, "That piece of garbage... So easily accomplishing what I never could!"

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around his neck, "Come on now, buddy~. You could do that too if you have enough guts~!"

Startled, Bete turned to his side and saw Kisuke grinning at him, "The hell? Get away from me!" Bete slapped his arm off.

"As feisty as ever I see~. But really, you only need guts! Don't be afraid, young man!"

Bete was instantly aggravated, "What do you know!? I wouldn't be able to get out unscathed if I were to do that!"

"What are you talking about? Look at me? Aren't I fine?"

Bete then looked at him from top to bottom and asked in surprise, "H-how?"

"Guts!" Kisuke answered with a very serious face.

However, Ais who had been listening to their talk suddenly warned Bete, "If you were to do that... I'll kill you."

Bete received another shock of his life and thought, 'What is this difference in treatment?'

After successfully messing around with the wolf boy, Kisuke returned to prepare for their ascent to the surface. After an hour, everyone was prepared and started marching after bidding farewell to Bell's and their rescue party since they decided to stay for a bit longer.

The Loki Familia easily dealt with the Goliath on the 17th floor and went on their way without hiccups. But before they reached the 16th floor, Kisuke used his Gigai to replace him and returned to the 18th floor.

Yoruichi also wanted to follow, but taking care of the unconscious girls was also important so she chose to remain.

When he got back, an incident had already happened where Lily suddenly disappeared.

'Hmmm... Over there, huh.' Kisuke inspected their camp sight and used his observational abilities to trace where they had gone. A few minutes later, he arrived on an elevated natural platform near the wall of the 18th floor. Kisuke could already see Bell Cranel arguing with the Adventurers around him who captured Lily.

Looking around for a few seconds, he found Hermes' and Asfi's hiding spot, where they could watch everything unfold, and sneaked up behind them.

Kisuke looked down and saw that the Adventurer who kidnapped Lily agreed to release her if Bell could win a duel against him, 'Proving your point by getting hold of the other party's weakness? You already proved otherwise.'

But then the Adventurer used his broadsword to create a small explosion on the ground, lifting up dust which covered Bell's view. Through the dust, Kisuke saw how the adventurer put the 'Hades Head' on and disappeared, 'Now that's just pathetic.'

A one-sided battle with Bell at the receiving end then started. The companions of Bell's opponent started cheering up and getting excited about Bell not being able to return an attack, 'I don't understand what's so fun about that. However, with this Cranel-san should be able to realize how cruel and underhanded Adventurers could be. In hindsight, this is really beneficial for him.'

Without realizing that Kisuke was already beside them, Asfi spoke up, "You have a vulgar taste... Do you really find this interesting to watch?"

"Pretty harsh, Asfi," Hermes replied.

Asfi sighed and continued, "You said that you wanted to see Bell Cranel's abilities with your own eyes... But was it really necessary to give them my helmet as well?" Asfi then looked towards Hermes with a serious expression, "Do you have something against that boy?"

"Hmm..." Hermes rubbed his chin and thought for a moment before replying, "I'd rather call it tough love. Bell-kun has no idea what the children can really be like. He might even find himself in a stickier situation than this in the future. Vulgar or not, I want him to know this other side of humanity." He then snickered, "Then again, I can't deny this is entertaining."

Asfi looked back to the ongoing battle, "And if he were to fall here?"

In response, Hermes just grinned maliciously, "Then he didn't have what it takes. That's all."

"Really harsh~," Kisuke said as he finally decided to reveal his existence.

Hermes and especially Asfi, shuddered when they suddenly heard someone beside them. Asfi then hurriedly secured Hermes to her side before taking a look at who was beside them, "Kisuke Urahara...?"

Hermes also frowned at his presence, but immediately recovered his smile and asked, "What are you doing here? And for how long have you been here?"

"I heard that you two were up to something interesting, but when I came, it turned out to be just some stupid and boring duel. Is this what you came down here for?" Kisuke replied as he continued watching.

'We were followed yesterday? Well, if he can sneak up to Asfi this close, then that should be easy.' Hermes couldn't find any falsehood in his words but this also meant that he was a type of 'child' that could hide his true intentions with truths, "What do you plan to do?"

"Hmm... Nothing~. I just came here to confirm some things."

Hermes became intrigued by his words, "Hoo? Confirm what?"

Kisuke then looked towards Hermes for the first time and said, "To confirm whether or not this is Zeus' will."

Hermes' eyes widened slightly but he immediately recovered his poker face. However, he suddenly saw Kisuke's smile and realized that he already made a mistake. Due to how unexpected his question was, he ended up giving a reaction, 'Although he's also an amazing one to notice the minute changes in my expression... I guess he already expected it?'

While smiling, Kisuke continued, "I guess not~. So this is your own motive?" Without waiting for Hermes' reply, Kisuke looked back to the ongoing battle and saw that Bell was already turning the tide of the battle and blocking some punches, "Whew~. He can already feel his opponent's gaze and general position after just a few minutes. That's some talent, I must say. I guess this is what you could expect from Zeus' child."

At some distance, he also saw Bell's companions moving in while beating up the Adventurer's accomplices, "I guess this is about to end~."

Tipping his fedora hat, Hermes asked in a serious tone, "What do you want?"

Without looking at him, Kisuke answered, "I just don't want you to have the same idea against my girls... if by chance they also caught your attention."

"...You're here to warn me of something that could not happen?" Hermes' jaw slacked, 'Just for that, he revealed himself and the things he can potentially do?'

It was Kisuke's turn to tip his hat, "I'm pretty protective of my girls. I don't want anyone scheming behind them if I could have prevented it." He then looked towards Hermes and Asfi while letting out his killing intent, "It doesn't hurt to make sure."

Asfi shuddered and immediately grabbed Hermes with her left hand while her right hand pulled out a shortsword. But despite her intent to protect Hermes, Asfi couldn't help but shake in fear as she looked straight into his eyes, 'What is he!?'

Hermes patted Asfi's head to calm her down and looked towards Kisuke, "I promise. Is that enough?"

Kisuke then took back his killing intent, letting Asfi heave a sigh of relief. But she didn't let down her guard yet.

"That's enough." Kisuke smiled and went back to watching Bell who was starting to overpower his opponent.

"I'm surprised you believed me that easily." Hermes smiled wryly.

"You know what I'd possibly do... Besides, I don't want to be your enemy when we can probably work together in the future."

Hermes also looked back to the battle that was about to end, "Work together, huh. I'm not really looking forward to it."

The spectating group then noticed that Lily had already been freed thanks to Naaza finding her and the others from Bell's group also started gathering to match his opponent's group.

"I guess it ends here." Hermes turned towards Asfi, intending to instruct her to leave.

However, before he could give his command Kisuke suddenly said, "This kind of ending is kind of boring, don't you think?"

Hermes stopped and asked, "What do you mean?"

With a grin, Kisuke continued, "You can do something else to spice things up, right?"

"..." Hermes only stayed silent, trying to guess what he is referring to.

"Look. Everyone's already gathered here. Maybe you'll be able to see something more amazing if you let out a bit of it?"

Hermes then finally realized what he was referring to and with widened eyes, he said to Kisuke, "...You're insane and I'm very much surprised you knew about that." But a second later, a big smile appeared on his face, "But I like the idea."

Asfi was confused and asked, "What do you mean, Her- ?!" But before he could finish her words, Hermes suddenly released his Divine Aura, drowning her in his majestic presence.

Hermes released his Arcanum, revealing his divinity in the Dungeon. Those below the platform shuddered at this aura and tried to find it, but failed.

As he released his Divinity, he concentrated it towards Bell's opponents, making them run away in fear. However, he concentrated the larger bulk of the aura on Kisuke, wanting to get any reaction from him and also as a form of revenge for threatening a Deity.

But contrary to his expectation, Kisuke just stood straight with the same smile on his face, seemingly unaffected by his aura. 'I may have found a 'monster'.', he thought.

A few seconds later, Hermes took back his Divinity and sealed it again in his avatar. Moments later, Asfi recovered and grabbed his collar, "What was that for!?"

Chuckling, Hermes replied, "For this~."

A second later, the ground started shaking and the paths towards and from the 18th floor were sealed by landslides, "What's happening!?"

"The Dungeon is angry," Hermes muttered.

After a few more seconds, a giant monster appeared in the middle of the 18th floor. Asfi dropped Hermes and muttered in shock, "G-Goliath...!?"

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EDITORS

Alexander: Mad as ever. But I like it.

28th00: Well, this is one way to continue the Black Goliath fight from canon in Rivira without Hestia, plot armour works in the weirdest of ways, I swear! Hermes might even literally mean monster in regards to Kisuke, since Xenos are a thing he is very aware about. Kisuke's species should really just register as "Yes" at this point though, especially with the 'Plot Rock' where his heart should be.