Danmachi: the Great Devourer

C29: Fight, Invitation, Return to dungeon

Word count = 1817 on 1/29/2024

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the brawler, I didn't know scamming people was such a lucrative business, yet here you are." An unknown voice calls out in the bar. Axel is knocked out of his semi drunken state as he looks over and sees a person who is no more than a literal child in size. Axel identifies this person as a Pallum with a horrible haircut and what seems to be some sort of standard uniform as he can tell that the 3 others at his table though he has a confused expression on his face as to why he is being called a scammer. So in a forthright manner he asks,

"And do tell what sets the standard of me being a scammer? I have not stolen anyone's money, I haven't taken anything from anyone really."

"And you think it is believable for a supposed level 2 to lift up a sword taller than most buildings and heavier than them too? Such an absurd tale to prop yourself up so people would join your familia." The Pallum sets the scene of not believing Axel is even level 2 and his record was false along with the belief that he couldn't have lifted it.

"But I did lift it. In front of a lot of people too. I've heard from my party that the Hepheastus familia captain and executives along with many lower level members were there to witness it. The Loki familia itself was the first to arrive at the scene after the goliath was killed by ME, alone. While it's true they didn't witness, all of Rivira felt the impact of the sword coming down, the goliath's deathblow." He gives a purely logical explanation for his reputation.

"As for my stats, my capabilities in surviving the goliath are more than enough to verify I'm level 2 or higher. Unless you want to make the crazy assumption I'm an immortal too and can somehow avoid the dungeon's divinity detection that prevents gods and immortals from entering without its wrath being unleashed." He states common knowledge as the guild never hid the potential mortality rate of adventurers who possibly encountered the goliath and died as a result. Most level ones like Daisy freeze up under the aura of the goliath alone. Even Welf who was a new level 2 still froze up.

The verbal punches came one after another as Luan Espel came up with various excuses for the non-existent crimes Axel had committed in his time in Orario. He in fact did also consider him a quasi immortal at one point due to the story of a half black goliath being spread out. The rant finally ended when Kaoruko of all people hit him upside the head with her beer mug. Her face is flushed from all the alcohol she has been drinking.

"Do shut up already. hic… You're in a bar, for crying out loud, have you no shame for yourself or your familia?" These are the only words she says before she sets her head down in her arms on the table and falls asleep. Axel giggles a bit at the interesting part of Kaoruko's personality that he just learned. Luan on the other hand, turns bright red as he moves forward to smack her when Axel grabs his arm.

"Alright kiddo, if you plan to go through with whatever you were just thinking of doing then the baby might need his nappies" Axel states with a threatening glare as he blatantly calls the Pallum a baby due to his size. The other members of the Pallum's table rise up to support their team mate.

"Hey, it was that bitch that started it. She should compensate our friend for hitting him with her mug. How about this, you have her accompany us for the night and we will leave this matter well enough alone." One of the stooges says as they surround Axel who is still holding Luan's arm. Luan has been trying to pry his arm off from Axels grip to no avail and it only gets worse when that person just talked, the snapping of bones is suddenly heard and a cry of pain from the Pallum.

"Bastard", "Fucker", "get him". The trio call out but Axel simply responds with a malicious smile and lifts Luan up by his broken arm and side smacks the first stooge with the Pallum. The first stooge is sent a few feet back into the wall.

The poor level 1 midget is then shoved down before being brought back up and forced to headbutt the second goon. Then from the upper movement, he is brought down on the third who catches him as well as Axel free fist into his face which allows both the third stooge and the Pallum to go flying out the door of the bar/restaurant.

"Anything else or do you still want to give it a go?" He questions the first two stooges who are still in relatively good condition. Finally the last member of the table gets up as Axel is walking over to the 2nd goon who was the one that spoke up so haughtily before. "Hey, isn't that Phoebus Apollo" One observer says in the corner of the bar. And from his words more recognition of the well known level 3 captain of the Apollo Familia is shown. Axel pays them no heed as he focuses on his next victim.

As Axel is clenching his fist to strike out. The last member, Hyakinthos Clio, appears behind Axel and wiggles his hand a bit as he is about to strike when Axel turns around.

"Weirdo" is his only response before the person's hand comes forward for a palm strike when Axel's boot meets his face.

The two stay in this position before as Axel doesnt actually kick him away as Hyakinthos is too shocked by the situation to realize he still has a boot on his face until one of his people calls out his name. He then shoves Axel's foot away.

"How dare you, a newborn welp place your mangy foot upon my GLORIOUS FACE" he yells out in anger when his foot is kicked by Axel and he bends over forward as a result. Only to get another boot to the face, this time he is knocked away to the bar.

"Like that" Axel says matter of fact while the other Apollo familia members are in shock that their captain is being beaten so blatantly and easily. Hyakinthos gets up again, veins bulging on his forehead as he shuttles forward once more, only to get a mug in the face by the 'sleeping' Kaoruko. He is sent flying directly through an open window that nobody realized was open. There is some turmoil outside from seeing a person flying out of a building.

"Axel-kun, let's go home. I'm sleepy. Hic'' she speaks out and Axel stands down as he is sure that this won't be the last time he sees these people. He heads over to the bar to deliver payment and a bit extra for the trouble before picking up Kaoruko in a princess carry so that they may return home.

"Ah, my hero" Kaoruko says as she snuggles up into his broad chest.

"It's not good to lie like that. Acting all asleep and drunk and blatantly beating up people" Axel says and a wide smile appears on Kaorukos face.

"Sometimes inspiration has to be guided by a rough hand, other times a gentle one." She alludes back to the supposed reason they had gone on this outing in the first place. Axel chuckles a bit when Kaoruko suddenly places a chaste kiss on his lips before returning to snuggle into his chest.

"Repayment for forcing the situation and protecting me," she says and her body softens as if she truly has gone to sleep. He hurriedly arrives at her home and sets her down in her bed. Covering her in her sheets before gently moving one of her hairs aside before taking his leave. A smile graces her face once he leaves the room.

"So cute" She whispers and truly goes to sleep.

Axel himself walks for a few minutes to arrive home. He has to explain himself to Raikou and she was originally annoyed at the impromptu date he had with Kaoruko, she gains an interested smirk upon hearing about the bar fight. Especially the reveal of it being the Apollo familia that was the source of this.

"Funny you mention those people, one of them on behalf of the guild delivered a letter about how the next Denatus would be held at the Apollo Familia Mansion."

"Eh!!" Axel is surprised as it feels like something is going on but he is confused as to what.

"Moshi moshi, Axel-kun" Raikou has to poke his cheek as Axel is lost in thought over trying to understand why they send an invite one moment and then technically attack him the next. He soon snaps out of it and looks to Raikou who has a strange smile on her face. "Hey, do you think they might be trying to poach you from me? Apollo does have a reputation of doing this but he has been more calm the past decade." She asks and Axel can now recognize what her smile and aura surrounding her are. Battle Intent, the personified desire for combat. Something that Axel has learned over the past 2 months of him being in Orario is something that battle maniacs have.

It being so thick on the other hand can only be surmounted to it being Raikou, an immortal whose fighting drive was reignited ever since Axel joined her.

"How would that happen? I have no interest in joining them. They are also pretty weak." Axel clearly rejects the idea but Raikou raises a finger to interrupt him.

"Ara, but haven't you heard about War Games? A sort of competition between familias where both sides can make demands of each other. So if we were to lose then you would be forced to surrender your current falna and get a new one under Apollo. Attempting to run away after the loss would mark you as a criminal and you could become a slave if you are caught." Her voice seems to grow in desire as she talks, Axel can tell that the idea of him being a slave to Raikou is appealing to her, she wouldn't do it which means that the other idea for her current desire would be the war game itself.

She assuages him to simply go to bed and return to dungeoneering like normal. Axel heads to bed while Raikou goes into her small study and begins writing things down with a 'hihihi' occasionally being heard.