As Bell and the others emerged from the Dungeon, the city of Orario sprawled before them, bathed in the warm golden light of early evening. But something dark tainted this serene view. High above the rooftops and lurking in the alleyways, shadows of Evilus were poised, ready to spread chaos. Their malicious presence was unmistakable.
Bell took in the scene with a calm, assessing gaze. His heart pounded not with fear, but with resolve. The city was in danger, and they were the first line of defense.
He spoke in a low, commanding voice, his eyes sharp as they scanned the rooftops, "Take all of them down. I'll mow down anybody in my way as I sweep the city for any possible bombs or other Evilus tricks hidden around. Now, spread out."
With that, the group dispersed like shadows themselves, using their agility and speed to cover as much ground as possible. They moved so swiftly that all anyone else heard was the faint echo of footsteps and a flash of motion. People in the streets looked around, confused, seeing nothing but blurs vanishing before their eyes.
Bell activated his speed, flickering between streets and rooftops, the sounds of his footsteps almost silent. His eyes scanned for anything out of place, his senses extending like a net across the entire area. They wouldn't get away with this—that was the promise that fueled his movements.
Protectors in the Shadows:
Ryuu, Anya, Finn, Gareth, and the others were already at work. Each time an Evilus member made a move—pulling out an artifact, setting a trap, or trying to activate a spell—they were cut down, rendered unconscious before they could even react.
Ryuu moved with incredible finesse, her green cape swirling behind her as she jumped from one roof to another. She found two members of Evilus attempting to rig an explosive to a water supply and, in an instant, she incapacitated them, leaving them tied up and harmless.
Anya, in her cat form, darted down alleyways, her claws unsheathing as she took down several lesser members without a sound. Her feline reflexes and strength allowed her to be a ghost among enemies, an invisible force that the Evilus agents never saw coming.
Finn, Gareth, and Riveria worked as a team, coordinating strikes, disabling traps, and ensuring the safety of the citizens. Finn's sharp instincts led him to discover a network of explosives hidden under a market square, which Gareth then carefully dismantled with his immense strength.
Bell's Hunt:
Bell, meanwhile, was having what seemed like the time of his life. He dashed from street to street, following the trail of Evilus members. It felt as though they knew he would find their traps and bombs, placing them in an almost predictable manner.
"Do they really think they can outsmart me?" Bell murmured to himself with a small, amused smile. Though he liked to think his opponents were more cunning, in reality, they weren't quite living up to his expectations.
He found a crude explosive near the main thoroughfare, tucked beneath a flower cart. Without missing a beat, he reached down, dismantled it, and tossed the harmless remains into a trash bin.
More and more traps were located—each one easily dealt with. As he moved, Bell couldn't help but feel a bit let down. Where was the challenge? Was this really the best that Evilus had to offer?
Suddenly, he found himself surrounded by what seemed like hundreds, if not thousands, of Evilus members. The alleyway opened up into a square, and it was packed with enemies, their eyes fixed on him with hatred and fear.
Bell raised an eyebrow, a wry smile curving his lips. "Well, well. You really went all out, didn't you? Ten thousand to one? Finally... maybe I'll get worked up."
The Clash:
Bell dashed forward, and in an instant, the battle began. He weaved in and out of the throngs of enemies, his fists flashing out in precise, controlled strikes. Each punch sent an enemy flying, crumpling to the ground unconscious.
Evilus members tried to overwhelm him with sheer numbers—lunging at him with daggers, magic, and brute force—but it was as if they were trying to fight a force of nature. Bell moved with the fluidity of water, the power of a hurricane behind each of his blows.
Within minutes, the square was littered with fallen enemies. The sound of bodies hitting the ground echoed again and again, but there was no satisfaction in Bell's expression. Instead, there was an almost bored look in his crimson eyes.
One of the Evilus members, dazed and barely conscious, blinked, trying to focus on what was happening. His vision cleared just enough to see Bell, now sitting calmly atop a huge pile of his fallen comrades. The Evilus member couldn't believe what he was seeing—a lone adventurer against their entire force, and he was the only one left standing.
Bell rested his chin in his hand, a disappointed sigh escaping his lips. "How can't they even hold one punch?" he muttered, more to himself than to the groaning pile of enemies beneath him. His voice was the very epitome of disappointment.
Aftermath:
Bell glanced around, dusting himself off as he stood up. The entire square was quiet now, except for the soft groans of the defeated Evilus members. He stepped down from the pile, looking around to see his allies regrouping, each of them victorious in their own skirmishes.
Finn approached, nodding at Bell, his expression one of approval. "You've handled quite a bit on your own. Any injuries?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
Bell shook his head, the look of disappointment still lingering. "None. I was hoping they'd put up more of a fight, but... it was just another letdown."
Ryuu approached, her eyes softening as she looked at Bell. "They were foolish to think they could stand against us," she said quietly, her voice almost gentle. She knew how much Bell craved a true challenge, something that could push him beyond his limits. But for now, that wish remained unfulfilled.
"Let's make sure everyone is accounted for," Riveria said, stepping forward, her voice calm and composed. "There could be more of them hiding."
Bell nodded, his disappointment slowly fading into the background. There was still work to be done, and protecting Orario was more important than his desire for a good fight.
As they moved out to continue their mission, Bell couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. Evilus might have been weaker than expected, but their threat was still real, and he would do everything in his power to protect the city and the people he cared for.
And as the group spread out to finish clearing Orario of any remaining danger, Bell couldn't help but hope that next time, just maybe, there would be an enemy worthy of his full strength.