Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

[Vol.4] Quest 352.5- History Has It’s Eyes On You

Frontier, Odin Familia home.

"That damn monster... How much can it take?" Odin said.

Odin gazed intensely at his Divine Mirror, looking at Cirrus closely at the dark stains that were slowly coming up his neck.

"It has been four days since the battle started." Said Brynhildr. "The Black Death is a true monster through and through."

"The both of them are," Siegfried said. "Isn’t that right, Lord Odin?"

"No, the true monster is him." He points at Cirrus. "I can see why he could wield Gram. Such endurance reached the likes of Atlas himself. Utter lunacy."

"Why do you say that, my lord?" asked Brynhildr.

"Because... The lad is poisoned by the Corrupted Flame."

"What!?" They both shouted.

"His neck. You can see a small stain growing slowly." Odin pointed it out.

"Do you know for how long!" Siegfried shouted.

"My guess is when he took in the flame when he went to go slay the Black Beasts."

Yamato, Amaterasu’s Throne Room.

"Where is his son, Hakushika?" Amaterasu asked upon her throne.

"We got reports that he left with the Poseidon Familia, my empress." Said a member of the Gojuno Family.

"…Damn." She said, curling her fists in anger. "Make sure once the battle is finished you send his family the most precious gifts our country can offer for their loss."

The Gojuno Family member looked a bit confused and stunned.

"M-my empress, if I may. Um... isn’t that a bit too callous?"

"It’s not." Said Susanoo, entering the throne room. "Lady Amaterasu, Ammy, please I ask again. Let my Familia go to help. The strongest Familia’s of Orario are already heading there at their fastest pace."

"No. I will not allow our strongest military force to leave the country to help a dead man. You have seen his marks. Only death awaits him."

"…" Susanoo looked at her, and he could see through her. "Everyone leave NOW."

Everyone looked at their empress, and she nodded. They all soon left.

Clack~

The door closed, leaving the two gods alone.

"... How did you know?" she asked.

"What? That you’re not a cold, callous goddess? Ammy, we have known each other for years, and I know you owe everything to that boy—no hero fighting for his kind. Please… let me help my son-in-law."

"Even if I were to let you go, You know you would not make it there in time."

"Then I can at least be there for my child! Ammy please!"

"… After it is over."

"AMMY!!!"

"SUU!!!" She shouted back. "I am the empress and goddess of this country!! Do you not think that with Cirrus dead, the Izanami Familia could take advantage of this!! Can you imagine the innocent lives lost!!"

"Kek!" Susanoo curled his fists tightly.

"… Susanoo," Amaterasu spoke softly, walking down her throne up to him. "After... he is gone. We will see how the world reacts. If there are favorable conditions, all of my country will go with you. Until then, I am sorry. This is the way I have to govern to keep my people safe."

Solingen.

"…" Ibic watched as his fellow friend was fighting to his death. "I wish I was a fighter." He said it bitterly to himself.

"I know you're frustrated and angry; you can’t help Ibic, and starving yourself won’t do him any good," Lugh said, putting down a plate of food.

"How can I eat when he’s fighting to the death? Even though that mountain monster and white dragon are there, he is still losing so much blood and even magic."

"Ay…" Lugh looked at the Divine Mirror in pain. "His life is on a razor's edge, but that has been his life for a long time. Especially as a child."

‘I can’t tell him.’ Lugh looked into Cirrus’s eyes to find them beyond lifeless. They held only one thing forward to keep pushing forward. ‘Why, why must that damn god Prometheus throw the Primordial Flame to Gekai!’

Olympia.

"…" Prometheus kneels on Archro Hill with tears streaming down her face.

"Lady Prometheus, why are you crying?" said Rhea.

"Because of my past mistakes, another hero shall fall. His eyes tell us that he has long lost the light. Vesta is the one helping him now."

"Do you… think he will fail?"

"No. Zeus has an eye for heroes—men of great potential. I have faith in his words for that alone. No. I cry, for Cirrus will not live past this battle." Prometheus's lips grow as more tears come down her face. "Ah, I am sorry, Artemis; I am sorry, Gekai. My mistake keeps ruining those most precious."

Following the trail of destruction was the coalition of Familias. Their speed had drastically decreased as the path of the battle left behind was one of devastation. It was as if the area was hit with 9.5-magnitude earthquakes continuously.

Even now, the wind pressure from their fighting pushes them back with an almost rhythmic consistency.

Clop!! Clop!!

Clop!! Clop!!

Several 1st-class adventures were riding as fast as they could. With each cough Cirrus makes, they know their time shortens.

‘Come on! Come on!!’ thought Artemis as she saw the fierce battle. ‘Please! Let us make it!! Fate cannot be allowed to win this!’

'I should have known better!!' Ai thought with a pained and angry expression. ‘It was his blood that smelled foul!! I should have... I should have prodded into it more!!! That was why he let Haku drink sake! He... Grr!!'

‘Cirrus!! Cirrus!! Please!! We will get there!! We will get there!!!’ Thought Ryuu. ‘I won’t you go like with the others!!!’

‘I will not let that bastard take you as well!! I will not allow that to happen!!!’ Malion thought.

‘Cirrus!!! Please!! Survive till we make it!!!’ thought Bell. ‘You promised!!’

‘Cirrus, I am coming!!!’ Ais thought. ‘We will help you, so please last!!’

‘Cirrus!! You will not meet the same fate as your mother!! Fight!! Fight!!!’ thought Ottar.

All of their thoughts were the same.