True Vorpal Bunny (Danmachi SI) Ch.10 (Patreon)

Chapter 10:

Evilus was going wild. Between bombs and tamers bringing monsters out, Orario was getting swarmed while the civilians panicked.

The Loki, Freya and Ganesha Familia had no other choice but to retreat and form defensive perimeters around the defenseless people who were trying to live their lives during this period of chaos.

Iru and the Astraea Familia were roof-jumping hastily, merely stopping to guide lost people to the major defensive spot around Babel, or to deal with small groups of Evilus who were spreading mayhem, while heading for Babel themselves.

“Fucking animals.” Iru growled, the sentiment being echoed by the justice-seeking Familia

“Keep your cool. We need clear heads to get through this situation.” Shakti warned, though her own nervousness was clearly shown by how she kept Ardee close to her, after almost losing her sister.

Iru had thought to himself that he wouldn’t blame himself, that he couldn’t have stopped Alfia and Zald. There was no possible way he could have faced them alone.

This was a logical argument.

His stomach still lurched at the sight of dead families on the road.

[hr]

When they finally reached the defensive line, it almost seemed like Orario was winning.

With the civilians safely behind them, the adventurers of Orario showed their fangs, clearly more used to open combat than the cowardly Evilus who used ambushes and Kamikaze tactics.

The latter was even being negated by the heavy use of spells and magic swords to make the suicide bombers blow up before they could get close.

Any other day, it would have been a case of the heroic adventurers pushing back against the Evils and their diabolic machinations. Something right out of a childish fairy tale.

Except some wanted Orario to stop dreaming and wake up to the cold, cruel reality.

With the news of the southwest line, guarded by Ottar, Riveria and Gareth, collapsing, morale dropped.

The following nine  pillars of light signifying multiple deities going back to Tenkai was just a twist of a knife in the wound.

In the chaos, Erebus revealed himself, flanked by Alfia and Zald.

“Orario is to vanish today, for we are Absolute Evil.”

Things should have ended for the day. Erebus should have retreated, starting a week of chaos and sorrow while his true plan took shape in the Dungeon.

A shadow falling over Alfia wasn’t expected.

Iru, having used his magic to fly and set up an ambush, knowing that Erebus wanted an audience, fell from the heavens.

“Gospel.” Alfia uttered simply, directing a sonic impact at the falling adventurer.

It was too fast. This was a swift spell casted by a Level 7. There was no way for Iru to dodge it.

So, he didn’t.

He gritted his teeth, and threw his axe.

Not toward Alfia, but toward Erebus.

The black and white-haired god barely had time to widen his eyes and try to duck.

The axe took off a god’s arm.

The reincarnator couldn’t celebrate since he was feeling like his organs had been turned into a milkshake.

With blood erupting from every orifice, Iru could only glare as he fell back toward the crowd below.

His last thought before his vision faded was that he really hoped someone would catch him.

[hr]

Lili was in a bad mood. Things went tits up. The Braver’s plan failed and the city was on fire.

And those Evilus bastards kept blowing up in her face.

She had already cast Gae Bolg far too many times. She was out of magic potions and on the verge of a Mind Down.

All those components meant that she was currently more pissed off than she had ever been.

“Waah!” An Evilus member yelled as he was punted by the Pallum child that did not reach his waist.

Lili lowered her leg and twirled her spear. Her currently crimson eyes blazed like the burning buildings around her.

Strangely, when her Skill took hold, her mind stayed clear, like her anger was a chained beast she had tamed and rode to battle.

She tried to not think about the implications of her Skill’s name. She had too many things on her plate between fighting Evilus and reforming her Familia of useless drunks.

A breeze heralded the arrival of the Doll Princess, Ais Wallenstein. Clad in wind, she danced across the battlefield and landed next to Lili.

Ais looked at the Pallum that had red eyes like Finn when he used his magic. She had heard Finn make happy noises about another Pallum becoming famous and telling Ais because she was around her age.

Lili looked back at Loki Familia’s metaphorical golden child with literal golden hair and eyes. The previous Record Holder for quickest Rank Up before Iru came into the picture.

They nodded at each other and went back to fighting grown men in robes.

Ais’s movements were too unorthodox. Her wind enchantment allowed her to move in ways no member of Evilus could keep up with.

Lili, low to the ground, took every opening offered by those too busy gawking at the blonde. Iru’s fighting style was similar enough that she could adapt and fight her way around Ais without being caught in her wind.

The sight did succeed in increasing morale for those witnessing it. If those two cute kids were still fighting, they couldn’t possibly give up.

[hr]

When Iru came back to, it was with Ardee crouching next to his body and shoving an Elixir down his throat.

“You’re awake!” The blue-haired adventurer shouted, relieved to see her savior open his eyes.

“Where are the bastards and the bitch?” He asked.

“They retreated. With a god bleeding out like that, they had to prioritize saving him, otherwise he was likely to go back to Tenkai and make his followers lose their Falna.” Finn Deimne answered, having joined the frontline after hearing that some of the best adventurers they had had been taken down.

Well, they had no way to know that Erebu was going to retreat anyway, but Iru wasn’t going to tell them that.

Finn patted Iru’s shoulder.

“Good job. With a strike against their god, you showed that even if Evilus won today, they could still bleed and be beaten.”

“Sure. Still feels like I have been stomped on by the Goliath.” Iru managed to get back up. The elixir had dealt with his injuries, but there was a limit to what a healing potion could do. His bones were still creaking after being vibrated like a piece of glass in an opera.

“Be glad that you aren’t dead after being hit by a Level 7.”

“Yeah, yeah.” he waved off the Braver and jumped back on the roof Erebus had made his speech on. He picked his Labrys and went back down.

He ignored the eyebrows being raised his way.

Finn clapped his hands.

“Evilus had retreated after they dealt us a great blow. For the time being, go back to your gods while we plan our counter-attack. Stay vigilant.”

No one argued with the Braver’s words.

Iru started to make his way back to Folkvangr when a hand grabbed his forearm.

He looked back at Ardee Varma.

“I almost forgot to say thank you. So thanks, you are my little hero.” She said, gratitude filling her words.

The Hume Bunny squinted at the pure, bright smile blinding his vision.

“Don’t worry about it. You returned the favor. Elixirs aren’t cheap.” He replied.

She nodded.

“Since there are no debts between us, want to be friends?” She released his forearm, but kept her hand extended for a handshake.

Iru sighed, but gave her a smile. He was glad he had managed to save such a bright soul.

“I’ll be happy to.” 

He shook her hand.

“Hehe.” Ardee giggled. “You’re less grumpy than you appear at first. You should smile more.”

Before Iru could respond to that, Shakti called for her sister.

“Whelp. Seems like I have to go; See you later, little hero.”

She waved goodbye as she ran backward to her Familia.

“...”

The moment he was alone, Iru looked at his axe, at the blood that was staining it. At the  ichor he had spilled on its edge.

He brought the godly blood to his lips and gave it a good lick.

[hr]

When Iru arrived at Folkvangr, it was to the deafening sound of a Level 5 and a Level 6 clashing.

Ottar and Allen were tearing each other apart, both already back to trying to grow stronger after the humiliating defeat they faced. Heith kept close to heal them, mostly Allen though, so that Ottar would face an unending assault.

Freya’s orders had been relayed from Babel, where she would be safe until things calmed down. The goddess herself was unable to go down because she was a priority target for Evilus. Her Charm could end things, but the risks were too high. If she was taken down by Evilus and sent back to Tenkai, Orario would also lose one of its two strongest Familia. Basically a Game Over.

The Familia would keep helping out and follow the Braver’s plan for the time being.

The first day of the Great Feud ended with Orario wounded, but not defeated.