I'll leave all notes towards the end, peace, enjoy the chapter.
They will be important, so check it out if you do have the time.
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/Later… After a lengthy discussion.../
"... Phew… They're gone…" Sophia mumbled to herself as she touched the top of her head
My sister... And that guy...
What an odd combination.
'After talking with Silver and Emma for the past hour, it was only when they left that Sophia realized just how tense she actually was.'
'Despite how recent Silver was as an adventurer, he rose to fame at an incredible pace, getting on the same stage as the likes of the Loki Familia before many had the time to realize who he was.'
'It was an extreme feeling to be at the other end of a table next to him, especially when, for a moment, she might've been seen as an enemy.'
'But… At the same time, she felt light.'
'Because something she had always kept tucked away in a corner of her heart had been finally resolved.'
'Speaking the words she always wanted to hear, she could now focus entirely on the future without a shred of hesitation.'
"... I'll… Go take a shower." She said slowly as she let her hair loose
I'm sure this matter isn't entirely over yet... But for now...
I can let my stress wash away.
'Slowly taking her shirt off, she made her way to a side room, a large bathroom.'
/Splash.../
'Soon enough, the sounds of water echoed from within.'
...
/Shua…/
/Step.../
'While water splashed within Sophia's shower, someone walked inside the training room.'
'The newcomer looked around but found no disturbances as the hole in the wall had been patched, causing the person to question if what she heard was true at all.'
'Yet the table still remained there, confusing the person that had just arrived.'
"..."
Not here?
Weird, she's always training... Barely ever saw her doing anything but that.
They told me she was having guests, have they left already? I imagine this table is due to that.
A shame, I wanted to meet them too.
'She looked around, searching for Sophia.'
'It was a girl with green eyes and long black hair which covered one of her eyes. She wore a green-centric outfit that exposes her stomach, with green flower decorations on her skirt.'
(Image)
"Hum?..."
So here's where she is...
'Hearing the water splash, the girl made her way to the bathroom with a smile on her face.'
…
/Step step…/
"Hm?"
'Meanwhile, inside the shower, Sophia opened her eyes warily.'
Is someone here?
It's still too soon for the daily training of the girls, did someone forget something in their lockers again?
'Hearing the faint footsteps echo outside of her shower stall, Sophia took a peek beyond it to see the girl slowly approach her with a thin smile on her face.'
"Am I interrupting you?" She asked as she looked at Sophia
"Not at all, Dia-Sama." Sophia replied formally, going back to washing the shampoo out of her hair
So it was her, I got a bit worried there.
I'm too tired to order people around now, those girls are too serious for me to handle...
"Then why don't I take some of your time?" She asked with a small smile as she sat on a bench while Sophia continued her bath
"I heard quite a few things on my way here, would you mind sharing?"
They said the wall was broken, but I saw not even a crack on it.
I'm very interested...
"So they told you what happened... Sigh..."
"I wouldn't be bothered at all…" She replied with a helpless smile
/Shua…/
'And under the faint steam, a story was told to the ears of a Goddess.'
…
/A few minutes of storytelling later.../
"Oh?... Hestia, you say? I've heard quite a bit about her recently." Dia said with a smile as memories passed through her mind
Hestia...
Silver...
Interesting.
"It's been a while, to think her children would meet mine first, the fate of the mortal world is rather peculiar."
"I should've visited her sooner."
'This surprised Sophia, but not much.'
'She already knew that Dia and Hestia were acquainted with each other as they hailed from the same region within Heaven.'
'It hasn't been the first time they talked about her together, as Dia loved sharing stories with her from her time in Heaven.'
'From all of her experiences, she tried to teach everyone how to be better people and to learn from their mistakes, being seen as a big sister to many.'
'But despite their long history together, now wasn't a good time to visit Hestia…'
"You don't mean…"
"Of course, not now, it wouldn't be proper considering how busy she is." Dia replied slowly as she cut the tip of her finger, allowing a small drop of blood to fall onto Sophia's back
"Once she finishes her recruitment… We'll go there to congratulate her."
"We?..."
"Who else? Am I supposed to go alone?" She asked with a small chuckle
"And don't try to hide it, I know you want to visit your sister too."
"Also... Raise your hair, I can't quite see your back if you let them like this."
"Mhum..."
"... We'll go together when the opportunity arises… Oh?"
'As she updated Sophia's Status, Dia smiled.'
I knew it.
'As the Divine Hierogliphs flashed on her eyes, the truth of her emotions was laid bare for her to witness.'
Was it really that heavy of a weight?
"Is something wrong?"
"No, not at all…"
"In fact, how about we eat some ice cream after this?" Dia asked as she put her finger on her own lips
"S-So sudden? I still…"
There's much to do...
"Come on, it'll be fun, you need to let loose from time to time." Dia said as she rested her head on Sophia's shoulder
"... Fine, but only ice cream, I don't have time to go around the place with you again."
"Deal."
'One smiling and the other exhaling, the two soon left to do their own things…'
'While on the other side of the city, another two made their way back home.'
'With a lot left to do and accomplish, each went to perform their responsibilities, as time waited for no one.'
'Be it the people that lived inside a castle, dreaming of conquering the world below...'
'The people that lived within a temple, admiring the divine...'
'Or the people that lived below, scheming the end of the world.'
'The sun rose and fell, and the people went to sleep as the moon overtook the skies.'
'And like that, the weeks rolled by.'
…
/3 weeks later…/
'As the moon descended back onto the earth, the sun overtook the skies, indicating the start of a new day, the first of a new month, September.'
'As the festivities started and ended, Orario moved on along with time.'
'Together with the birds as they stretched their wings and the insects left their burrows, Orario also woke up as the citizens left their homes.'
'They welcomed the start of a new day, praying for health and wealth as the golden light fell onto them from beyond the Heavens.'
'A blue sky above them and white clouds in the distance, it was a beautiful day to start a new month of their, hopefully, long lives.'
...
/Chatter!/
'Back in the Hearth Manor, dozens of people could be seen running around like worker ants in a hive.'
'Or like headless chickens, it depended on who you watched and at what time, because some seemed more lost than others.'
'Some carried boxes from one room to another, while a few others moved around in circles...'
'They all wore similar outfits, a white shirt with blue details, the official uniform of the Hestia Familia.'
'It looked casual but firm, it had been idealized by Hestia herself, albeit Silver and the poor tailors were left to design it into existence amidst her idealistic intricacies and descriptions.'
'Still, with this uniform, they now looked like a proper working Familia that had been established for many years!'
'But only in looks, not in performance...'
/Chatter.../
'Amidst the chaotic traffic of people coming and going, holding a long list of tasks several pages long, Daphne slowly wrote with a pen as she every so often raised her head to talk with the people around her, inquiring and ordering, trying her best to fulfill the role she had been "forced" into…'
"... Oi! Is everything done in the main Hall?!" She asked out loud as she looked at an Amazon run by her
"Yes Ma'am!"
"What about the weapon racks? Have they been moved to the training grounds?"
We need them on standby for the physical examination...
Although, due to the number of applicants, we may have to leave it for tomorrow.
Thankfully, this time, it seems Captain was more prepared for this than when we joined...
Not to say the cause... I'm not enjoying this at all...
'Daphne still remembered having to wait a few hours for things to go by when she came to apply to join, it was... A pretty tedious process.'
'Although she definitely not pictured herself on the other side of the recruiting... At least not this soon.'
"Not yet, Lavir was in charge of that."
"Check up on her and report to me, those need to be ready within half an hour, we can't delay on those."
"Understood!"
"..."
Okay… So far so good.
There have been no problems so far… At least nothing significant.
All papers are in order, all equipment arrived on time, and we already prepared for this long ago, we only need to put everything together.
No one's missing, Hestia is currently putting on her clothes upstairs…
"... Vice Captain, the Takemikazuchi Familia just arrived." Someone said from the side as they interrupted Daphne's thoughts
"Huh?... They're early… Urg… Where's Cassandra?"
"She just went to welcome Leto and her children…"
"Well, sh... I mean, alright, have someone welcome them inside and lead them to where Cassandra is…"
"And please send someone to check up on Hestia, we need her here… As soon as damn possible..."
Poor Cassandra won't be able to handle it at this rate.
"Vice Captain, the Miach Familia has arrived."
'Daphne froze in place.'
"What?! Sigh..."
"Why are there so many Gods arriving? This isn't a party!" Daphne complained as her forehead grew tense
Just how many people did she invite this time?!
I knew Hestia had invited some friends to help her this time, since we are indeed in need of help, but why so many?
That's already...
'Frowning, Daphne relayed orders perfectly, massaging her temples as she went into deep thoughts.'
"… Hey! Has the Captain arrived yet?"
"Uh… Not yet, everyone's been keeping an eye out but he's nowhere to be seen."
"##!!"
Damn, that guy! He always vanishes during these times!
And he's always there when you don't need him!
Just where are you?!
…
/At the same time…/
/SLASH!/
/PIERCE!/
/ROAAR!/
"Hupp!"
'Deep in the Dungeon, a one-armed man faced wave after wave of monsters in the center of a massive circular stony arena.'
/CRUNCH!/
'He slashed, pierced, punched, slammed, and kicked while the monsters did the same, wielding weapons of their own, they swarmed him from all sides with seemingly no end.'
'They knew no fear and no tact as their sole purpose was to fight and Kill anything in sight, starting off with the Adventurer that dared enter their Arena.'
'10 monsters quickly became 100, and then 1000 as their bodies pilled up around, only to be shattered and destroyed as the fight grew intense.'
'Even as the ground split and cracked, the Dungeon quickly repaired it with a speed unlike anything most had ever seen, as if it had always been able of doing so, that its slow healing speed on the other floors was nothing but its holding back.'
/BOOM!/
'Explosions rang, bodies vanished, cinders splattered all around, gore painted the walls red, and all monsters vanished as the one-armed man fought barbarically, ripping everything apart, even if it meant using his teeth and nails...'
/Crack!/
/ROAAAR!/
'Even then, the Dungeon kept creating more and more monsters...'
'It was truly a brutal arena, one where the only winners were the monsters, as they were endless.'
/CLANG!/
/CLING!/
"... Huff..."
'As his weapons clashed, Silver's arm started to grow weak as he grew tired.'
'How long had he fought? He didn't quite remember.'
'This time, he may have gone a bit overboard...'
/CLANG!/
'But where was he?'
'Well... This place was the famed Colleseum, a unique room of the Dungeon located on the 37th floor in the eastern section of the Warrior's ring of the White Palace.'
(N1)
'It was normally an area avoided by all, no matter who they were, as in this place, even Level 6 adventurers would fall given the characteristics of the room.'
'And if they were too stupid to remain... Otherwise, it would be pretty hard for one to fall.'
'The Colleseum was located within a massive room, being surrounded on all sides by an abyss 50 meters deep and several dozen meters wide, full of massive sharp stones so dense it would be impossible to survive were they to fall inside.'
'There were four gates located in the north, south, east, and west, each with a thin bridge a few meters wide to allow access to this terrific zone.'
'Just wide enough for a pack of monsters to rush and push anything on its path aside...'
'But why was this place so feared?'
'Well, if it wasn't enough that this area was within the Deep Floors, being full of monsters not even adults would mention to scare their children, the room itself spawned monsters non-stop until a certain amount was reached, which is quickly replenished whenever it decreases if even by a single entity, turning this place into an endless supply of monsters.'
'Thankfully, the monsters did not leave the Arena, because they were fueled by the desire to fight each other and kill themselves on sight.'
'Only when someone approached them would they stop to pursue them to the ends of the earth.'
'If a place like this were to appear on the upper floors, then an area like this might've been used to make quick money, but this was far from the surface, the very idea of using this place for that purpose would be seen as foolish by anyone that ever witnessed the horrors of the Dungeon.'
'If Finn had to choose between risking the lives of some of his companions by traversing it so they could cut time to save the lives of others, he would think twice… And then thrice… Because traversing this place wasn't something so easily done.'
'Even if he sent Ais together with Gareth and the group to cross it, they would definitely be able to reach the other side…'
'But they might not be able to save the lives of the injured.'
/SLASH!/
'Even to Silver, as he fought wave after wave with great momentum, he eventually grew tired as he was constantly being slashed and pierced by the monsters' weapons, his flesh being torn and ripped as they mobbed him without fear.'
'It was possible to evade and defend against five pairs of claws, but when they became a dozen or two then one or two would end up scratching his body...'
'For him, it wasn't a problem, for other adventurers, however, that may be their end.'
/PIERCE!/
"MUUUUUU!"
/CRASH!/
"GAH!"
/BAM!/
'With each second, Silver saw himself being overwhelmed by their endless numbers, being eventually caught off guard by a raging Bull that broke free from the ground beneath his foot, slamming its head on his chest before crashing against the walls of the Arena.'
"Sh-it..."
'Bleeding from his lips, Silver's right hand turned black as he shoved his fist inside the bull's skull, killing it in one go.'
/FWOOSH!/
'He was given no time to heal himself as the moment he raised his head, he saw 3 blades slashing the air in front of his face.'
/Blink!/
/CRACK!/
'Vanishing from his position, Silver reappeared on the other side of the Colleseum, but he barely drew a single breath, 5 pairs of hands rose from the walls and ground around him, grasping at his body...'
/Slash!/
'He moved his halberd, cutting them all as he once again dove towards the center where a large crowd of angry monsters awaited.'
"HAA!"
'It may look like madness to jump once more into the fray... But as he fought, he had no regrets, because this was his call, the cry of the Dungeon!'
'As his body burned into flames, he drew from every reserve he had to end this once and for all.'
/BOOOM!/
'And with a mighty exposition, he completely blew off most of the Colosseum, leaving only the ground intact.'
/Crunk.../
'And as the rocks fell onto the abyss, he raised his head, proclaiming victory.'
…
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Notes
N1
For those that forgot, the white palace is an entire massive floor where each section of the caverns is contained within massive rings where different creatures and challenges are contained within.
...
Now, time for the real Notes.
So, recently, the schedule of things has been a bit iffy and I won't lie, I'm a bit tired.
The last time I took a break was months ago during mothers day, and before that it was during the new year, some of you might even remember the extra chapters I released during that time, good times...
But now, I need a rest, for real, not just a rest, but time for me to get things together with all of my work.
There's no other way of saying this, I won't sugar coat it, I have been rather lazy with my time and not writing as much as I should, and this ended up with me getting late with many projects despite me once being rather cool with it.
This is called being unprofessional, and I don't want people to come and say it's okay to take it easy, because I know myself too damn well, I deserve this because I dug this hole myself.
However, I'm not proud or arrogant enough to say that I can recover from this without some sacrifices...
I need some time, I really do, otherwise, I'll burn through my entire stash of chapters and then we'll fall into the same state of Zero Fate schedule, and I'm sure you guys don't want that.
(Sorry for the Zero Fate fans, I'll touch on that soon)
As such, I'll take a break with this chapter since I feel it's a nice place to do so.
I'll likely leave for a week, mayhaps two but if I stay out for so long I may drop one chapter every Sunday so you guys can have some updates while also making this simpler for me.
I'll do the same thing with Zero Fate, albeit don't worry, I plan on posting the next chapter, it should completely start this Arc that I was building towards, if not, I'll leave you guys at a damn terrible cliffhanger.
It's safe to say I'll also be taking a break with that series, likewise, two weeks.
I never took a break with Zero fate, I did stop posting chapters once, but that was loooong ago, so long most of you may not even forget it.
For the past 30 to 40 chapters if not 50 I post exactly one chapter every week, although I need to post one more to be even now.
My objective with this break is to at least recover most chapters of my Stash of Danmachi and start building my long-lost stash of Zero Fate chapters, while also getting back to University.
Honestly speaking, this is between you all and me, but with the way Azimuth is going, if it grows more then what it already is and it stays stable, I may as well even consider taking a break from University to focus on that.
Because I may as well be working on something that I like rather than studying for something I have no concrete vision of doing.
Safe to say I may be in need of some father-to-son talk in the future...
Cough... Regardless, I hope you all liked the chapter, thank you very much for being here, I mean it.
If you read all of these damned chapters, I can't really question that anymore, either that, or you're one of those guys that jump to the end of the Novel to ask me if this is Harem or not, I saw that many times and honestly, I'm even a little tired.
In short, if you were too bothered to read what was set above, I need some time to settle things, so yeah.
As always, I have a Discord, you can use to talk with me, I know, almost border line alien!
As if there was an Author out there that communicated with its readers... Woah...
Just kidding.
That's about it, peace, I'm out!