While walking through the hallways and waiting for everything to conclude, Kisuke came to a perpendicular path and each side also had people coming towards him. On his right side was the Boaz Captain of the Freya Familia, Ottar, while on his left was a group of four Minotaur Xenos.
The moment Ottar saw Kisuke, his serious expression changed to that of a large grin, and pulled out his weapons, "You're the leader of the Crimson Apocalypse Thieving Group." uttered Ottar with confidence. Although he wasn't entirely sure, from all the rumors and information he's been hearing, he's the only person that could have beaten him one-sidedly when they rampaged throughout the entire city.
Kisuke tilted his head at him and asked, "Crimson Apocalypse Thieving Group?"
"There's no point in denying it! The moment you dealt with that monster was the moment you solidified your position among the top Adventurers. I challenge you to a duel!" Dashing forward, Ottar brandished his two greatswords and swung it down at Kisuke's position, not even considering the person that he's carrying.
But before he could land the hit, the bottom of a wooden sandal appeared in front of him without his realization. Before Ottar could react in any way, the soles of a wooden sandal landed squarely on his face with tremendous force, instantly canceling his momentum.
Almost breaking the speed of sound, Ottar was launched backwards, crashing into the walls multiple times before stopping and losing his consciousness. He killed one of the Demi-Spirits almost by himself, but he wasn't able to survive a kick to the face.
Landing on his feet, Kisuke finally remembered, "Ah, the Crimson Apocalypse Thieving Group. That's a thing, isn't it?" Ottar was utterly wrong when he thought that Kisuke was denying it. He simply just forgot about it.
Slowly turning to the other people present, Kisuke faced the four Minotaurs. With the one in the lead a crimson-furred Minotaur, the three behind him had grey furs, and all of them were larger than normal Minotaurs. With a single glance, Kisuke measured each of their strengths to be around that of a Level 5 or 6 Adventurer.
"What about you four? Want to challenge me too?" Kisuke asked when he felt a demeanor from them similar to Zaraki.
Due to the invisible pressure Kisuke was emitting and the ease with which he took out the enemy they couldn't defeat, all of them couldn't help but swallow a mouthful of saliva, "Brothers... Although I like fighting, I don't like one-sided beating." one of the Minotaurs with grey fur muttered.
"I'm with you." added another one.
For the first time ever, the red-coated Minotaur displayed weakness and acted like a Human, clearing his throat and saying, "Maybe next time." He then started walking and the others immediately followed him.
They quietly went past Kisuke and took the path where he came from. As soon as they gained some distance, the red Minotaur raised his fist and said, "Brothers! Let's go back to the deeper floors! We have to get stronger!"
"Oooohhh!!!" The others also roared while raising their arms.
Hearing their voices from the darkness, Kisuke grinned, "They look like a fun bunch."
.
.
.
It wasn't very long until the flames of the battles died out and Kisuke arrived at the cylindrical room.
But before he could greet everyone in it, a white shadow flashed through his eyes and tackled him, "Oops... Easy. You might crack your head open." said Kisuke after softening Koneko's landing on his stomach.
"I can tank it just fine." replied Koneko while she rubbed her face on his stomach.
Kisuke smiled wryly and patted her head, "Let's leave this for later, alright. I got something else to do."
Koneko looked up at him with a pout before sighing and separating. She then peeked at Ryuu and asked, "Is she alright?"
"Yep. She's just having her well-deserved rest."
Kisuke then looked at everyone within the room and saw all the executives of Loki Familia in addition to some members except for Ais present, along with Sona and Koneko who came with them. Next, he looked towards the Deity on the floor with an unrecognizable face whimpering, "That's the guy?"
Loki gave him a kick and answered, "Yeah. It's the bastard who started this all."
Loki was about to end him, but Filvis suddenly appeared, catching everyone's attention, "Filvis! Filvis! Save me!" Dionysus hurriedly shouted when he saw her.
"Lord Dionysus!" Filvis saw him and hurriedly ran to his side in desperation. Her appearance caused some of the Loki Familia members to prepare their weapons to attack but Loki and Finn stopped their actions when they saw that Filvis was already beginning to disappear.
She stumbled weakly and called her patron God's name like a child as she clung to his chest. Upon seeing her condition, Dionysus finally realized that he lost, his face twisting dramatically, "Tch, useless!"
His ugly scorn shocked Filvis.
"Just how much must you disappoint me before you're satisfied, Filvis?"
"Lord…Dionysus…?"
"How many times did you ignore my orders? How many times did you fail to finish off Loki's children because you were trying to save Lefiya Viridis?"
"Ah…Argh…!"
"That's what got you cornered, right? If you can't be of any use now, then what good are you?"
"Ah…Aaaaah…?! "
Every scornful word caused another crack in Filvis' face. The god's disappointed voice and contemptuous gaze lashed at her, scoring deep gouges into her heart.
"A foolish, half-witted follower. What an utter disappointment."
Tears fell from Filvis' eyes. Her face was filled with despair as she was cast aside by the one pillar of support she'd had.
"Gh…!"
Upon seeing that, Alicia knit her eyebrows together. She had not had much interaction with Filvis Challia. But to see someone toy with the heart of her fellow elf and cast it away on the whim of a prideful god ignited the same kind of pure rage that Lefiya had felt. Even if he was a god, Alicia was about to leap in and peel him away from Filvis.
"But—"
She was stopped where she was standing by Dionysus's confession.
"But you are still lovely."
" "
Dionysus's smile was simultaneously unsightly yet somehow entrancing. Filvis, Alicia, the other Familia members, and even Finn were frozen. In silence, Loki alone watched, unsurprised as the god's right hand cupped the fallen elf's cheek as if trying to cradle something broken.
"You're truly foolish, Filvis. You were my Maenad. I made you cry. I broke you down with my commands…That was more pleasing than anything else…Ah, how I adored you."
"Ah. Ahhhh…!"
"That's right, the voice of your orgia drove me madder than anything else. In the end, it is my own failure in granting you too much freedom that led to this. Sheesh, how aggravating…"
Rage. Annoyance. Frustration. And love. He was beautiful despite being stained by blood. His repulsive face bore a smile that was both utterly hideous and beautiful.
His words and gaze contained no fiction. Even the mortals in the room who could not see through the lies of deities could understand that much. As Filvis was overcome with emotion, her eyes flowed with tears of a different kind.
"—Be proud, Filvis. My heart is yours."
It was a soft voice and a dark smile. He almost seemed to be enjoying himself, as if still searching for the limits of the girl's joy and sorrow. As if chuckling at himself for becoming captivated by that broken girl.
It was unsightly, and yet this was an expression of love by a twisted god.
"You are mine. Yes, I would never let anyone else have you…Even when you return to the heavens, you must stay by my side."
"Yes, Lord Dionysus…!" Filvis responded in delight. She trembled in the joy that someone was willing to accept her corrupted filth. Embraced by pitiful happiness, she closed her eyes.
But before Dionysus could hug Filvis tightly, Kisuke suddenly swung his cane at the latter, hitting and tossing her away from the God's embrace, "How stupid." muttered Kisuke.
While everyone was shocked at his sudden actions, Dionysus was instantly enraged, "What are you doing you maggot!?"
But ignoring everyone, Kisuke walked and looked down on Filvis who only has half of her body left and doesn't have any more strength to react aside from quietly weeping, "If you know you're going to regret it, why go down this path?"
Although it was just for an instant, Kisuke saw Filvis' regret and despair hidden deep within her eyes despite happily agreeing to Dionysus, "...I"
"Well, I guess you're also aware that no matter how you answer, that sick Deity won't be leaving you alone. However, you two are both wrong about something. And even if you wanted to, you won't be together like he said." Kisuke then lifted his cane on top of her crumbling head.
"In that case, why don't you go to hell once more and suffer? Maybe this time, you'll find what you're looking for." bringing down the tip of his cane, Kisuke crushed Filvis' head and her ashes scattered.
Without turning back, Kisuke started walking away while saying, "I'm done here so I'm going home."