A Danmachi Fanfiction
Adventurer: A God's Grace
by: RandomReaderThatWrites
A/N: To answer a guest review: Yes this story does contain Bell, but it isn't solely about Bell. As the summary states, the story has 3 main characters. This means that it will focus on those three. However, what is the point of re-writing Bell's story for the fourth time when it is still the same?
Chapter 2: Banquet of Gods
"[Golden Apple of Discord], a [Skill] of two attributes." Eris, the Goddess of Strife, narrowed her eyes at the Captain of her Familia. "A [Rare Skill], one that creates a [Mental Link] between the Adventurer and the God. Riveria Ljos Alf knew about it..."
"From what Yannic told me." Ian nodded, feeling the air around them grow heavy. "However, not even our [Child of Discord] was able to get an answer about how."
"What is that trickster hiding in her Familia..." Eris mussed, sipping from the glass of wine that was officially always in her hand.
"Concerning Yannic." Ian continued, silently searching for allowance to continue to speak. Eris nodded. "While he is a strong Adventurer, shouldn't the boy try to be... more human?"
"Go on." the Goddess waved her hand around, looking away from Ian and out of the window of her room. Ian stood straight up before her, while the Goddess sat in her bed.
"Yanni is very silent."
"That is normal for him. Get to the point."
"His Social Skills are Nul." Ian deadpanned, his straight posture breaking. "The boy only focuses on the battle, never speaks and only mocks. Yesterday was the first time he talked long sentences without mocking for a while and only because it was in the middle of a fight. He is 16 now. Wouldn't it be better for him to live his life for once?"
The air was even heavier; it almost felt as if he was keeping the wall on his shoulders. "And why are you bringing this topic up to me, Ian?" his Goddess' voice was dark, and the room seemed to be tainted by the same color. "All that concerns the [Eris Familia] is the goal of the Dungeon's Deepest Floors. The Mysterious Familia, one of the strongest in Orario, the Darkest in Orario! The Familia of Strife. If a member can't deal with the outside, it is none of the Familia's concern! It is not what it stands for! We are the Familia that seek [Power], cause [Strife] and accept no [Weakness]!"
"My lady." Ian did not move, did not flinch. Eris took steps closer to him. Within arm's reach, she gently rubbed his cheeks with her thumbs.
"What I like about you Ian is your confidence. Your will to push forward and never give up, to never go back." Eris came even closer, their eyes staring into each-other. "Yanni is a rare case, one I am not ready to let go. If keeping him safe means keeping him hidden, I'm going to get my chances. You are the [Captain] of my children for a reason, Ian. Live up to it."
"Yes, my lady." he said, his voice quiet. "However, I may have found a person who has a different effect of Yanni."
"Who may that be?" Eris asked, her index fingers gently brushing along his jaw. "I have only seen Jess make him talk."
"… Ais Wallenstein."
The Goddess' nails clenched, a cut appearing on Ian's jaw.
[Ganesha Familia's Home]
"As always, this place has a weird shape." Loki, the prankster Goddess of her Familia, sighed at the giant Elephant-shaped building.
Today, she among many gods where invited to Ganesha's Banquet of the Gods.
'Banquet of the Gods'. Just as the name says, it is a meeting that only gods can attend. There is no set rule for which God sponsors it or when it is held, nor is there usually on objective. Just to make merry is the usual reason.
This night, that place of gathering is…
"I am Ganesha~!" a god with an elephant-shaped helmet on top of his head yelled excitedly. "Yeeeeeeaaah!"
He was the [Ganesha Familia]'s Presiding God. The Familia is highly ranked with a huge number of members.
"Oh, Loki-chan came."
"Such pitiful Goddess… Such glorious luck of breasts."
"I've never seen such a steep cliff."
"Idiot! That's what's good about her!"
Many voices from other Gods around the place came to Loki's ears, and she warmly smiled at their direction. However, when her face was out of sight, her lips formed a wicked grin. "Okay, I've got their faces." She whispered to herself. "When I go home I'll sink them." The male gods she left behind found themselves blushing at her smiles.
"Oh well, that shorty isn't here huh…" Loki muttered, placing one hand over her eyes as she searched for the loli Goddess. "I thought I would be able to laugh at how she is so poor she can't even afford a dress…" the Goddess continued. "I wonder if she lied…"
"Oi Loki! If it isn't Loki!"
Dionysus…
"Is this the Banquet Hall named: 'I am Ganesha'?" Hestia, the Shorty Goddess, asked no one in particular. "Whoa…" she deadpanned.
"Thank you for coming everyone!" the God in the center of attention started. "I am Ganesha, host of the 'Banquet of Gods'! I Ganesha am super-moved by the number of guests every year! Anyway, Blah blah blah…"
Hestia removed her attention from the Hindu God, and instead focused on chewing everything before her. She had to be careful to not eat the table too…
(How delicious! I must bring some to Bell-kun as a gift!)
"Oh my, the Loli Heavy-Plot is here." Hestia froze in-between chewing. Voices from the other Gods reached her.
"What, she's still alive?"
"Speaking of which, I saw her working part-rime at a street kiosk."
"Heard she was patted by a guest on the head."
"As expected of the Loli Goddess."
Of course, after making such actions, it would be very eye-catching. Regardless of which attendees were quietly eating their meal, even if it was different from their appearances, the Gods' eyes were very sharp.
It was like she was being played, but Hestia decided to ignore them, and completely did not care about it. She was shoving food down her mouth, while constantly chewing.
"What are you doing, you…"
"Mugu? Mmmm"
A powerless voice reached Hestia's side.
Turning around, what entered her eyes was red hair and a pure red dress that almost seemed like it was burning.
Hephaestus…
"Just why did I attend this?" Eris, the mischievous Goddess, deadpanned at the building-structure.
"Welcome! I am Ga- Blah Blah blah" the sounds of the Hindu God's words were shut down by the Greek Goddess' mind.
That was quick…
Her black silk dress flowed behind her with every step she took, even though the breeze wasn't strong. Her night-black hair waved behind her back, as her golden eyes pierced through the environment around her.
"I need to find something interesting, or I'll burn this place down…" Eris muttered to herself, sighing.
"Now now, that isn't the right thing to say in such place." Another Goddess told her, suddenly appearing behind her. Eris didn't need to look at her to recognize said Goddess.
"… Aphrodite." Eris muttered through grit teeth.
"Hasn't it been a while?" another Goddess asked, her voice coming from the same place as the previous one.
"I wish it had been longer." Eris replied, turning to look at the two fellow Goddesses. "Athena…"
Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Beauty, alongside Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom, stood before the Goddess of Strife. Both of them in beautiful dresses characteristic of their affiliations and Familia.
"Now, show some more love, will you?" Aphrodite said, looking at the other Goddess in disapproval.
"Tartarus isn't exactly a lovable place." Eris countered, frowning at the Goddess of Love.
"That again?" Aphrodite started to laugh. "It was thousands of years ago. Forget it already."
Eris crossed her arms under her chest, looking straight at Athena's blue eyes, ignoring the golden haired Goddess.
"Why exactly are you here?" she asked.
"Oh? For the Banquet and all that." The other answered.
"I am not a fool, Athena." The black haired Goddess' frown deepened. Athena ran a hand through her beautiful brown hair. "I know." She replied. "Thus, shouldn't you also know of what is going on in [Rakia]?"
"Tch!" Eris bit her tongue, her hair slightly elevating as the air became heavy.
"Ne, it looks kind of useless to ask her now…" Aphrodite said to Athena, who continued to stare into Eris' golden orbs.
"Think about it." She said, waving goodbye to the fellow Greek Deity.
[Orario, Training Plaza]
Near the dungeon, surrounded by giant walls was the [Training Plaza], created a few years ago for adventurers who wanted to train before or after entering the dungeon. It had a large clear field in the center, appropriate for any type of sparring or training. To the sides, there were various tools, pharmacy and weapon shops, selling items needed after or before the training.
Through the wooden door that was the entrance, two [Children] came through. Despite looking young, it was obvious that they were [Adventurers].
"Yanni, why did you want to come here?" Jess, the blue-haired Elf-Swordwoman, asked her comrade. "We have a training hall at home too."
Yannic didn't answer and instead stayed silent. He unsheathed his Katana, [Fall], turning to face Jess.
"You wanna spar?" she guessed, though Yannic's lips were still locked. "Couldn't you have said so before? We could do this at home too, you know?"
"The [Familia] would be watching." Yannic spoke for the first time. Jess smiled at that. "I want to spar with you in a more private place."
"A [Public] place?" Jess deadpanned.
"Less people." He countered. She groaned.
"What are the rules?" the Elf asked, unsheathing her twin swords, [Moonlight].
"No [Magic], no [Skill]. Only our muscles and weapons." The Human answered, removing the strap that held his Golden Sword from his back His armor was missing, bandages visible under his shirt. Jess herself was clothed in casual wear, consisting of blue jeans and a red shirt, a golden belt around her waist, keeping her swords' sheath.
"Your [Skill] is always active." Jess deadpanned, pointing the tip of her right sword at his golden eyes.
"… I have nothing in defense…" Yannic said, making the Elf laugh. Inside his Familia, everything was dark, mostly because of the type of [Familia] they were.
But there were some [Rare Cases], like [Rare Skills]. They were brighter, illuminating the path for the others. But that wasn't something to be fooled by. Such Adventurers were still able to destroy an average one.
[Banquet of Gods]
"Tch!" Eris gritted her teeth harder, her heels literally creating cracks on the floor. Every other deity that looked at her would shrink in fear of the sight before them.
Few meters away from her stood four other Goddesses. One of them was leaving the small group, her silver hair making Eris widen her eyes.
With lighter steps, the Goddess of Strife walked towards the group of the three remaining Goddesses.
"Hephaestus." She called to the first one, a red haired Goddess. "Loki..." Her voice was a bit lower on the second name, remembering what the Captain of her Familia had told her. "… Hestia." By the third name, the air had yet again become heavy, a tiny amount of [Divine Power] slipping outside the seal.
"Eris…" Hestia narrowed her eyes, her red cheeks not making it all that threatening.
"Yo." Loki greeted nonchalantly. "She just left... How is your [Child]?"
"Huh?" Eris was caught by surprise.
"Yannic, or whatever his name was." Loki repeated, waving her hand dismissingly. "Lefiya kept yelling about how she caused harm to Ais-tan and Yannic-san."
"My child is fine." Eris answered, closing her eyes. "However," her hair started to elevate. "I heard you say that some of his wounds were caused because of your Lefiya…"
"And what about it?" Loki's face became slightly wicked, scaring Hestia that was by her side. Both Goddesses stared at each-other, the air around them tainted by their respective colors.
[Orario]
"Aren't you still injured, tho?" Jess asked, lowering down her blades.
"Give me your best!" Yannic said, his Katana rose diagonally over his waist and shoulders.
Jess' eyes narrowed, the air around her surrounded by killing intent. She didn't even get into battle position, staring right into Yannic's golden orbs.
In the next second, she was gone.
Yannic grit his teeth, eyes traveling over the entire area.
CLANG!
Blocking his left, than his right, swinging forward, guarding his head… Her speed was just insane.
(Focus…!)
Waiting for Jess to approach him again, the boy swung his Katana, intending to cut apart the Elf's abdomen.
The bluehaired Swordwoman jumped up, just as the redhaired boy completed his swing. The fingertips of her feet landed on the blade of the Katana, her twin swords scissoring Yannic's head off.
The boy jumped back, away from the attack. Back-flipping and rolling backwards, Yannic created a distance between himself and Jess.
The Elf was quick to close it, kicking off the ground and towards the Human. She slashed with her right [Moonlight], which was blocked by Yannic's [Fall].
Her left [Moonlight] was reverse-gripped, downward slashing at the redhaired boy.
"Gah…" Yannic groaned as the sword's blade impacted with his shoulder. Jess back-kicked the boy's chest, earning a louder yell of pain.
[Banquet of Gods]
"Those two are at it again…" Hephaestus sighed, shaking her head at the fighting Loki and Hestia. Eris was by her side, eyes narrowed at the stupidity before her.
Just earlier, before Hestia had interrupted them, she had entered a staring contest with Loki. With a closed eyed Goddess…
"Are they children?" Eris asked, deadpanning at both the two Goddesses and the betting Gods/esses around them.
"Did Aphrodite and Athena approach you too?" Hephaestus asked, her voice low and serious.
"Yes." Eris simply replied, sighing in annoyance.
"What are you going to do?" the fellow Greek Goddess asked again. "This is a matter between all Gods, especially the Greek ones."
"This is a matter of Ares and his Foolishness." Eris corrected, her golden orbs narrowed. "I descended (more like ascended) in Earth for a reason, and I'm not getting into his troubles anymore." The Goddess said, placing a hand over her eyes, moving a few steps back.
"But, if his plan is to succeed, it will affect all Familias on Orario." Hephaestus continued, looking at the Goddess of Strife from the corner of her eye. Her posture had changed. Her mouth was slightly open, sharp teeth showing. Her black hair was wild, as one single golden orb looked back at Hephaestus from between her fingers. Eris' body was slightly leaned back, giving her an intimidating appearance. Her aura had also changed.
"In that case," Eris started with a voice that reminded Hephaestus of the days back in Heaven, the days when Eris was a Goddess of Tartarus. "I will kill anyone that threatens my children with my own hands."
[Orario]
"Gaah!" Yannic yelled as his Katana shook from the impact with Jess' [Moonlight]. He lost his footing, the force behind the attack sending him rolling back on the ground.
"That should be enough for today, Yanni." Jess said, placing her left [Moonlight] over her shoulder, looking down at the fallen boy with a smile. "You are still healing."
"B-bu-" Yannic started, trying to push himself up. However, he froze, his chest throbbing.
"No buts, Yanni." Jess narrowed her eyes. "I order you."
"Tch." Yannic looked away from the Elf, who only laughed.
"Y-you…" the redhead grit his teeth, pushing himself up. "Jess Ansbach, I wi-"
The Elf sighed, raising her right leg at high speed, hook-kicking the boy.
"Gah!"
"Quit it already! Wha- He passed out?!"
Jess Ansbach, the Level 5 Elf Adventurer; [Vice-Captain] of the [Eris Familia]. Those who have heard her name or have seen her [Skill] and [Magic] also recognize the girl as: [North Disaster]. One of the few First-Class Adventurers, and perhaps one of those capable of defeating the [Skeleton Dragon].
Said female sighed, running a hand through her blue hair. "I'll meet you at home." She waved him off, the boy just starting to regain his consciousness.
Entering from the wooden gate was a group of four female adventurers. Jess immediately recognized them, just as she passed through the same gate.
Tione and Tiona, the Amazon twins.
Lefiya, [Loki Familia]'s mage. And…
Ais Wallenstein.
Jess closed her eyes.
"Ian!" the Elfen Swordwoman called to her Captain. "You wanted to meet me?"
"Jess, as the Vice-Captain of this Familia," Ian started, his eyes narrowed, voice emotionless. "I am sharing with you an order from our Lady."
"Yannic Streit is forbidden from ever being in the presence of Ais Wallenstein."
The Elf shook her head.
(I may be going against an order, but… If it can help Yanni…)
Jess allowed the four Adventuresses to pass by her, heading straight for the location of the slowly waking up Yannic.
"Hey Ais!" Tiona called to her comrade. "Isn't that the boy who fought the [Skeleton Dragon] with you?"
"Yannic Streit?" Ais raised an eyebrow in confusion, looking at the fallen boy few meters away from them. Few meters away from them, Jess' pointy ears caught their words. She raised an eyebrow. She even knew his full name…
"He seems to be unconscious." Lefiya said, her hands balling up before her chest in worry.
"No, his eyes are open." Tiona countered, now hovering over the redhead. The other three girls were soon by her side.
"Is it safe to approach someone from another Familia?" Lefiya asked, concern clear in her voice.
"I don't care! I want to fight him!" Tiona yelled, fist-bumping herself. "I want to see his abilities up close!"
"A-are you okay?" Lefiya asked as Yannic slowly rose up. He flinched as his wounds started to hurt again. The redhead didn't answer Lefiya's question or the others'.
"Hey! Fight me!"
Yannic didn't respond, look or even pay attention to them. His attention was caught by the golden eyed Adventuress that stood by his side.
"How- What did you do to me back then?" Ais asked, her eyes narrowed. Yannic opened his mouth, but decided to show it instead. He raised his index and middle finger, making Ais flinch. Gently tapping her forehead with his right index, pressing the tip of his finger against her skin.
The golden light appeared on the area of connection.
CLANG!
With speed that was impossible to catch, Ais' sword had been unsheathed, smashing against Yannic's katana, unsure who had attacked and who was defending.
[Golden Apple of Discord] Break
He whispered, only the two of them being able to hear it. The next moment, the wind around them shifted, the redhead fleeing for the door.
[Banquet of Gods]
Hephaestus found herself smirking. "That is your decision, then."
Eris' posture didn't change, a slight laugh escaping her lips.
"By the way, has Yannic used [Golden Scale] these past months." The redhaired Goddess asked, genuinely curious.
"No... I forbade it to him." The blackhead answered, her posture relaxing a bit. "As its crafter, you know what it can do."
"Indeed." Hephaestus' smirk widened. "[Golden Scale], a sword crafted by the scales of a [Golden Dragon], just as its name states. The only sword I have crafted…"
This time, it was Hephaestus that took an intimidating posture, much like Eris', yet it held a different power behind it.
"… Capable of killing a [God Class]."
Character Information:
Jess Ansbach
[Eris Familia]
Age: 16
Affiliation: Vice-Captain
Level: 5
Strength: B 780
Endurance: B 765
Dexterity: A 823
Agility: A 865
Skill: []
Magic:[]
Alias: North Disaster
Yannic Streit
[Eris Familia]
Age: 16
Affiliation: Member
Level: 4
Strength: A 830
Endurance: S 950
Dexterity: D 670
Agility: E 555
Magic: [EMPTY]
Skill(s): [Golden Apple of Discord]
[Kenos]
Alias: Child of Discord