Danmachi: Bell Gojo

Bell's body shook, every muscle in his frame tensed painfully as he drew in more magic than he had ever dared to attempt before. The sensation was nearly unbearable, with waves of energy coursing through him, their clash triggering a constant sequence of Black Flashes within his own body. Each flash wracked him with agony, but also brought a significant boost in his power, an increase he desperately needed.

Standing before him was Hades, a menacing figure exuding an aura of supremacy. In Hades' Domain, his power seemed absolute—he was untouchable, unshakable, and every attack Bell and his comrades threw at him had been rendered useless. Instead, Hades seemed to grow more amused with every attempt. He moved like a shadow, his laughter echoing through the dark, barren landscape as he taunted them.

"Did you really think you could defeat me here?" Hades' voice cut through the air, his eyes gleaming with malicious delight. "In my own domain, I am invincible."

The adventurers were battered, bloodied, and their strength had nearly given out. Ais struggled to her feet, her determination undeterred, but her body weakened. Ottar clenched his fists, a deep growl of frustration emanating from him as he eyed Hades, who barely seemed to acknowledge the group's efforts.

Bell realized the truth quickly—no matter how strong they were, they couldn't harm Hades here, not while they were in his domain. Any more attempts to fight would only end in their demise.

They needed to escape, and they needed to do it now.

Focusing every last drop of his strength, Bell clenched his teeth and allowed the clashing magic within him to reach a critical point. He could feel his magic output rising exponentially, a feeling that almost bordered on madness as the energy threatened to tear him apart from the inside.

"Everyone... hold on to me!" he shouted, his voice strained from the pressure. The others, without hesitation, reached out, grasping his arms, their eyes filled with trust and desperation. They had no other choice—they were putting everything in Bell's hands.

He had a single chance. He tore open space itself, just for a fraction of a second, using the immense energy at his disposal to create a momentary tear in the fabric of Hell. The air screamed as it ripped apart, the world folding in on itself in a blur of darkness and light.

For a heartbeat, everything went still.

Then, they vanished, pulled through the tear that Bell had created.

Back in Orario: The Hospital Room

Bell's eyes slowly fluttered open, the world coming back to him in a haze. He was lying on a bed, and the room was filled with a soft, sterile light. He looked around, recognizing the familiar surroundings of one of Orario's hospital rooms.

He felt weak—his entire body ached from the strain he had put it through, and he could barely move. He turned his head and saw his companions in nearby beds, each of them similarly resting and recovering from their ordeal. Ais was awake, looking at him with relief in her eyes, while Ottar was sitting upright, already looking ready to fight once more.

"We made it..." Bell said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. The others nodded, exhaustion evident on their faces.

Before they could say more, the door to their room opened, and in walked a group of gods and goddesses—Freya, Loki, Hephaestus, Hermes, and Zeus, among others. Their expressions were mixed—relief, concern, curiosity.

Freya immediately made her way to Bell's side, her eyes softening at the sight of him. "You did it, Bell. You brought them all back."

Bell gave a weak smile. "Not without a cost... and not without help," he replied.

The gods gathered around the room, their faces a mix of emotions. Zeus stepped forward, a serious expression on his face. "Tell us what happened, Bell. We need to know everything."

Bell recounted the battle with Hades, his description vivid. He spoke of the creature Typhon, the fight that left them broken, and the sudden appearance of Hades—his power overwhelming, his cruelty unmatched. The gods listened in silence, their faces growing more solemn as Bell detailed how Hades had toyed with them, how he had used the very fabric of his domain to nullify their every effort.

"He was untouchable there," Bell finished, a hint of frustration evident in his voice. "I tried everything I could, but nothing worked. He... he beat us, easily. If we had stayed any longer, we would have been done for."

The gods exchanged glances, a heaviness filling the room. Hades was a dangerous opponent—and now they knew that within his own domain, he was virtually undefeatable.

Freya laid a gentle hand on Bell's arm. "You did what you had to. You saved everyone, and you survived. That's what matters."

Loki folded her arms, a frown on her face. "Still, this complicates things. If we can't fight him on his own turf, we'll need to come up with another strategy. We can't afford to let him run rampant."

Zeus nodded in agreement, his eyes narrowing. "We'll need to be smart about this. Hades is not an opponent we can take lightly. We'll need every bit of strength we can muster, and a plan that accounts for his strengths."

As the gods continued to discuss among themselves, Bell's companions slowly began to sit up, their injuries still healing. There was a grim determination in the air—a shared understanding that they would have to face Hades again, and that next time, they couldn't afford to lose.

When the gods left, wishing them a speedy recovery, Bell looked at his comrades, each of them worn but resolute.

Ais spoke first, her voice soft but firm. "We need to train. Harder than we ever have. We need to be ready for him."

Finn nodded, his expression serious. "We underestimated him. We can't let that happen again."

Ottar clenched his fist, his eyes fierce. "Next time, we will be prepared. No matter what it takes."

Bell lay back on his bed, his mind racing. He needed something—something that could truly kill Hades. He had used every ounce of power he had, and it still hadn't been enough. But an idea began to form in his mind, a plan that might just give them the edge they needed. He would need time, training, and perhaps something even more dangerous—but it was their only hope.

"We'll train," Bell said, his voice filled with determination. "We'll find a way to beat him. And I think... I might have an idea."

The others looked at him, curiosity in their eyes.

"But first, we need to get stronger," Bell continued, his eyes blazing with resolve. "We need something that will kill Hades—and this time, make it permanent."

The room fell silent, each of them sharing the same thought. They had faced Hell itself, and they had survived. Now, they needed to do more than survive—they needed to conquer.

And no matter how much it would take, they were ready to face whatever awaited them.