Danmachi: Bell Gojo

The group of adventurers, battle-worn and weary, moved cautiously through the labyrinthine corridors of the Dungeon, their senses on high alert for any threats. They had fought through countless waves of monsters and traversed floors more dangerous than any they had faced before. Finally, they found themselves moving toward what they thought would be the exit of this floor—one they were familiar with, a cavernous opening that marked the transition to the next.

But when they arrived, they were met with an unexpected sight.

Instead of the rocky mouth of a cave, there stood an imposing, blackened gate. The ancient symbols carved into it seemed to shimmer in the dim light, forming the unmistakable words: Hades' Domain. The gate was massive, easily three times the height of Ottar, and appeared almost out of place, as though someone had set a door meant for another world in the middle of this ancient dungeon.

"Where... Where's the exit?" Ais murmured, her voice filled with confusion.

Finn's eyes narrowed as he scanned the gate, his mind trying to make sense of the anomaly. "This shouldn't be here... I've never heard of anything like this before."

Just as they were about to discuss their next move, a voice reached their ears—gentle, soothing, and filled with a sadness that seemed to echo across the ages.

"Please enter, dear children. With your strength, you may be able to finally help me save my children... I beg of you."

The adventurers glanced at each other, bewilderment plain on their faces. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, reverberating off the walls. It was soft, like a mother pleading for her child's safety, and it made their hearts clench.

Riveria raised her staff, her eyes focused. "Who are you?" she asked. "And what do you mean by 'saving your children'?"

There was a pause before the voice spoke again, gentle but heavy with sorrow.

"I am Gaia, the mother of all life. Long ago, my children—the Titans—were imprisoned, sealed beneath the earth by the will of their father, Ouranos, and by those who came after: the Gods. They laughed at my pain, mocked my tears. And now I seek your aid. You, who are strong enough to descend this far into my prison, may be strong enough to help me free them."

Bell felt a chill run down his spine. The name Gaia had haunted him since they found that tablet—now here it was, not a memory or inscription, but a living voice. He clenched his jaw, steeling himself.

"What do you mean, free them?" Bell asked, stepping forward. His voice was steady, but the uncertainty was clear in his eyes. "And what do you want from us?"

"My children's rage and suffering have created the monsters you fight. I wish to end their pain, to give them peace at last. But for that, the Gods that wronged them must be vanquished. The ones who carry the legacy of those who laughed at their pain must be removed from this world."

Riveria stiffened, and Finn's expression grew wary.

"Vanquish... the gods?" Ottar repeated, his hand instinctively moving to his weapon.

Gaia's voice, still gentle, continued, "Not all gods, my dear children. Only those who are of Greek origin. Their power is tied to my children's suffering. If they are removed, the chains will break. You will be my champions, and I will grant you the power you need to see this through."

Bell's heart pounded. The implications were overwhelming. To think of battling gods—it wasn't just dangerous, it was almost blasphemous. But then, the mention of "Greek origin" brought some relief to his heart. Freya was Norse, and that meant she would not be a target. It was selfish, he knew, but it was also the source of his courage. If it meant ending suffering and saving Gaia's children, then maybe, just maybe...

He stepped forward, his eyes filled with determination. "If we agree... what will you give us to face gods and... even Hades' Domain?"

Silence hung in the air for a moment, and then, before their eyes, shimmering forms appeared—a set of sheathed swords, suspended in mid-air. Each blade was pristine, blank and without distinguishing features.

"These blades will become the instruments of your will," Gaia said, her voice filled with an almost maternal warmth. "They shall be forged by your hearts, shaped by your intentions. They are godslayers, bound only to those who wield them with purpose."

The adventurers looked at each other, a mixture of awe and hesitation in their eyes. But Bell stepped forward first, drawn by an unexplainable pull. His hand reached out, wrapping around the hilt of one of the sheathed blades.

The moment he touched it, a bright light enveloped his body, and his eyes closed involuntarily. He could feel something—something ancient, powerful—pouring into him, filling every corner of his being. He felt the sorrow of Gaia, the rage of her children, the hopes of those who sought freedom. And he knew he was not alone. One by one, the others reached for their blades, their forms similarly enveloped by the light.

Slowly, the adventurers collapsed, unconscious, their bodies unable to handle the sudden surge of power and the burden of Gaia's plea. The swords shimmered, changing their shape as each adventurer's hand met the hilt. They transformed, unique to each of them—a reflection of the power they now held, the responsibility they had accepted.

Time passed. When they awoke, they were lying on the rocky ground, their heads pounding. Bell blinked, pushing himself up with a groan. The gate to Hades' Domain still loomed before them, but something had changed. The swords they held were no longer blank. Bell's was a deep, dark steel, pulsating with an otherworldly energy, symbols carved into its surface that seemed to shift when he wasn't looking.

Riveria looked down at her own blade—it was a delicate, slender sword, glowing faintly with a soft blue light. Ottar's was enormous, a heavy broadsword, dark as night, with veins of crimson running along its length.

Finn's blade seemed almost alive, like it was breathing with power, its edge glowing a subtle gold.

"These... are godslayers," Bell whispered, awe in his voice. The power that radiated from the blades was unlike anything he had ever felt. It was frightening, but also exhilarating. He understood now. They were to be champions—not just adventurers, but avengers of ancient wrongs, chosen by Gaia herself.

"Are we... Are we ready for this?" Ais asked, her eyes wide, still staring at the sword in her hand.

Bell looked at each of them, seeing the uncertainty and fear. But then he turned his eyes toward the gate, that imposing symbol of the unknown. He thought of Gaia's words, of the suffering that had created this place, of the rage and sorrow she wanted to end.

He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword and nodded.

"We have to be," he said. "If what Gaia says is true, then this is the only way. We have to end this."

He stepped forward, the others following close behind, and as he reached out to touch the gate, it slowly swung open, revealing the dark, yawning abyss of Hades' Domain beyond.

And with that, they stepped through, leaving behind the known world of the Dungeon and entering a place that belonged not to monsters, but to gods and the echoes of their sins.