C126: End of the Abyss P8
Overall Word count = 2486 on 8/9/2024.
(forgor for last chapter: Alt Title: Visions of the Past P2)
***********************************************************
Even though the two of them are plagued by such memories, they still prepared for the final fight against the dungeon. Bell had already handed over his armor for one last checkup to Welf. A few of the others did too but Chigusa primarily wears leather armor so only her samurai style shoulder guards needed some maintenance.
Chigusa, as a conjurer, had already learned how to create her own bow with her nen. That, along with her samurai guard makes her a force to be reckoned with. Especially after she learned how to 'transfer' the gluttonous effect of their ring onto her guard. Making it absorb on her behalf since she is primarily a ranged fighter.
Ouka on the other hand has very minimal armor except for a leather vest that he wears under his clothes. Though during his week long break, where Axel was being a proper father. Ouka had the chance to expand his nen abilities into a bit of emission methods. He even created his first two nen abilities. The first is boosted step, an enhancement style ability where he creates a shockwave around his feet to propel him in whatever direction he wants. This is similar to how Axel was able to fly before when he was still a demigod.
As for the second ability Ouka made, it's Outburst. Enveloping himself in a dense nen barrier, he purposely breaks this barrier to turn it into shards like glass which he expels outwards. He actually did not intend to make it like this. He hoped to create his own version of 'Ren' for a temporary strong boost. Especially if he was to be surrounded, the boost would knock back all the monsters near him. Yet that case failed and he ended up with Outburst. As such he also became a half step transmuter as well with this due to his nen taking on a different property.
Mikoto had various pieces of armor that she submitted to Welf. As for her nen abilities, as a mix of Enhancer and Emitter, she had learned how to turn her nen into gravity style energy. A bit of transmutation to do this but with it, she was able to coat her sword in the gravity energy where she slightly follows Axel's example with his own gravity sword spell, Dimensional cut. She was able to make a weaker version of it since she was not as much of an expert as Axel.
As such, she created two techniques through this, Dimensional rift which is her weaker attempt of Dimensional cut. She slashes out in one direction at high speeds that the gravity energy is sent out in waves to cut apart her target. The second ability is Dimensional Fracture which is her pure enhancer skill. She builds up gravity energy for a powerful wide area slash that sucks in nearby enemy targets. She had enough control to not implicate her allies with this. A lesson she learned early on with her original gravity spell, Futsunomitama.
Her other ability which she created but is far less deadly as compared to her sword skill is Gravity Boxing. Where she coats her hands and feet in the gravity energy. This grants her the ability to freely control gravity in a short range which is perfect if she has to use her martial arts. Useful if she ever loses her sword for any reason or is in public and has to fight due to being ambushed.
The other members of the group such as Haruhime, Daisy, Bell, Lily, not Welf, also had made many advances with Aisha having the most freetime to experiment due to her pregnancy. She will keep making great strides until the day of her childs birth.
Eventually, the group had met up 5 hours after they had originally split off over at Welf's forge. They regather at the same location where Welf distributes a certain surprise to everyone. They then traveled towards the Miyamoto household where they met Aisha who is beating up…cough ....taming…cough cough…instructing the 3 bums that belong to the Shuten's familia. They have been lounging around ever since they moved into a side room together with their goddess.
Truthfully they had been like this before but they at least had some spirit to support themselves but with Axel's popularity, that attracted plenty of customers to even the Douji wine store which even made them swim in money. This is the reason why they are super lazy now. Yet to Aisha, who is pregnant and bored, getting a few manservants to do her bidding is appropriate.
Of course you won't find the trio complaining, except when they get hit for doing something dumb or wrong. Aisha was a beautiful woman and had only grown so as her body became more mature and lustful. Unfortunately she had no way to satisfy her lust except with personal fantasies of her pushing Axel down and overpowering him so that she could have her way with him. It's a 'mouth watering' dream that will unfortunately never come to fruition except if he let's her win.
It is precisely this drive and the fact that she is not allowed to enter the dungeon with the rest that spurs her to focus on her nen training so much. It is when the group arrives that the final 2 sneaky vagrants of the Douji Familia arrive. This is Cassandra Ilion and Daphne Lauros. It's more so Cassandra approaching while Daphne is forced to follow.
Contrary to Aisha'a thoughts, the two had not touched a single vali of Shutens money, they had earnestly been going to the dungeon with just the two of them. They have enough shame to not try prying in the immortals wealth like the 3 bums before them. They also had always been nervous about meeting with this group as they have a solid bond and likely had plenty of secrets behind their recent massive growth.
There is also the fact that Axel fucks the two immortals and uses them like cocksleeves definitely serves as a barrier from them. They truly had intended to get to know Axel better, primarily Cassandra since she felt that Axel was the first that believed her unhesitantly. Yet it was during that first night that he spent with the Douji sister's, when she tried to approach him and become very shy…and horny. She had somehow locked on Axel as her fixation and her dreams had been….peaceful if not entirely erotic.
The most shameful aspect of these dreams is that it had never been with herself. She had always envisioned Axel with all his other women and all the spine tingling juicy details. Yet what she herself remains unaware of is that the visions she had were all real situations that had been happening at the same time she was sleeping. An easier explanation would be that she astral projected herself into his room to watch him have sex with all the beauties attached to him. She had unintentionally developed into a voyeur.
As for Daphne, she had initially hoped to join Axel's little group along with Cassandra yet every time she built up the courage, something would happen that cause her emotions to deflate and find that she could not join them. One time, her clothes got stuck on something that tore it. By the time she finally got free and changed clothes, Axel was back in his room with 'company'
Another time she had fallen through the floor and sustained various injuries that would have been more grave if Cassandra had not stumbled upon her and healed her. She still ended up with a broken arm and would have been a sorry sight if she attempted to ask to join their group.
Such circumstances had been happening for months now since they had joined the Douji sisters. It is finally at this moment when Daphne had followed Cassandra to meet the group that nothing bad had happened to her. As if all the bad luck that Cassandra had with her prophetic dreams was transferred to the closest possible source which was Daphne.
Even the others such as the Immortals or those who were from the Knights of Camelot, recognized that Daphne had been quite unlucky ever since she had left the Apollo Familia due to the gods death. Yet even if they recognized this fact, it's not like they can control such a primal force.
As everyone else arrived for the last meeting before heading out. They quickly noticed that Axel and Haruhime were missing. Daphne capitalizes on this moment to approach the group and speak out, "um. My name is Daphne Lauros, If possible, I'd like to join your dungeoneering group"
Everyone is settling into their seats when they hear this request and they are put into a strange position. Aisha who is left out of this last dungeon expedition takes on the leader role and speaks out.
"Sorry to burst your bubble but our group will mostly disband after this last expedition"
"EEEEEHHHH, Why is that?" Daphne reacts strangely while Cassandra has a dark expression on her face.
"Well, Axel got it into his head to try destroying the dungeon. He said it was just a matter of time but he wants to take it down now where we can still enter the first floor before it too is lost. That would be unknown territories as there are no maps and only hearsay from the Zeus and Hera days.
This is clearly not enough information on how to progress further into the dungeon, yet they have to compete with both Axel but also Sabrina who would be draining the dungeon. They have to march through unknown territory. Yet neither Cassandra nor Daphne know about why the dungeon is dying but Aisha's words provide the imagery that Axel is somehow responsible which is a very accurate description.
As such Daphne is very demoralized by the rejection when Aisha adds in, "Though it's best to get a final confirmation with Axel, wherever he is" The door suddenly opens to find Axel and Haruhime together. The fox is wrapped up in a few blankets where she waddles her way to her seat and very gently sits down in her designated seat. Axel remains standing as he leans against one of the pillars. Everyone is properly geared up and ready to head out at any time.
Axel turns to the duo of Daphne and Cassandra with a puzzled expression when Bell pitches in to help explain to him. Axel also gains a bit fof a hesitant expression but he is still willing to go for it. "Alright, im fine with it. Besides, I can make a few trinkets to ensure you don't die during the trip anyways. Show me what you got so I can at least customize it to you. " He gets off the pillar and goes to the practice zone.
He stands there waiting after picking up a simple wooden sword when Daphne walks over to pick up a wooden rapier, a simple armory that the knights group had set up for their own practice.
"Show me your all so I can know your limits before I make your ring. With our timeframe, I can only make a weaker version than what they have but it should still take you pretty far." He states and while Daphne grits her teeth as she has some abilities she doesnt like to use, for the sake of her goal to not be so weak, she is willing to get over her discomfort and disgust.
"Raumure" Daphne gives a quick chant, and a protective barrier that looks like tree bark covers her body. Though this bark is illusionary, her speed increases greatly as she rushes towards Axel with her sword. Yet with the sheer difference in their stats and Axel's own battle knowledge due to progressively accepting the militarian knowledge from all of his fragments. He is able to sidestep, block or dodge Daphne's attacks.
This bout continues for a few minutes when Axel decides to swing out at her and a different glow covers her body, it's green and brown along with actually changing her skin to properly become that of bark. Axel's attack breaks through the illusionary barrier before knocking Daphne far away with his simple attack. He held back enough to not break any of her bones but that same attack was further reduced under the wooden barrier that she was only knocked back 5 feet or so. The only signs of damage on her are cracks in the wood and the severe exhaustion on her face.
"Alright, let's stop here. I got the information I needed" Daphne nods and takes a seat on a stool but everyone notices that she doesnt seem to be able to actually control the bark on her body as it still remains. Axel decides to ask about it.
"How long does it take to disappear?"
"Depends on the scale of it, this should only be about 3 hours. But the more it spreads, the longer it takes." Her arms up to her elbows are covered in bark, though it's only the back of her arms so her other side and palms are fine but it could very easily spread to there too.
Axel has an inquisitive look on his face as he sticks out a finger to poke the bark scale armor with a gluttony coated finger. The bark gradually disappears and she regains her smooth skin again. Daphne is quite surprised. Daisy decides to help out in explaining how Axel got so strong so fast and how he was able to integrate it with their own customized rings.
They don't suffer at all from sharing these details, Daphne is already planning to join them for this expedition. Besides, no one but Axel can make these rings so it doesnt matter. He also has to be nearby for them to have their full effect, otherwise it only prevents the user from being drained, though it feeds back to themselves as long as Axel is not nearby.
Both Daphne and Cassandra are surprised but also understand how Axel got his impressive record, the very fact that he could share this ability makes it a miracle in itself. Daphne, with her intellect is able to understand how this can 'kill' the dungeon if he tried hard enough but she is also a bit curious why he never tried this before.
As for Cassandra, she has an idea of how this all works so there is no confusion on her face. In fact that very idea is why she has come here to make a request.
******************************
Alt title for this chapter: Dream, Desires and Request.