Not 5 hours later, Shurry was down deep in the dungeon. He'd grown quite fast over the years, and even more recently he got quite a bit faster. I'm getting much stronger, I can't wait to show aunty Lyca how much stronger I am now! She'll pat my head like always, smile, and we can go eat a bunch of meat!!
He searched the 28th floor finding a great stag, slew it, and bound its body up with some rope. "It's not much, but it'll definitely bring a smile to their faces! They really liked it before too!" His nose led him back to a special spot with some mushrooms.
"These things are the ones filled with magic! Uncle Gale really liked these things, though he always got a little silly after eating them. I'll bring them too. No sense in making a fuss over something like that. They killed all the big monsters out there. They're the coolest, and the strongest!" He set them inside the basket, after carefully wrapping them in leaves. "Alright, the next item is on the 50th floor… It's dangerous to go down that far alone, but… I can do it! I know I can!"
…
On the surface, Alraj returned to the city. "I need to find the gate Ganesha is working at today… That's the only way I'm getting inside unse-"
A raspy voice came from beside him. "You are, Alraj, of Zeus familia?"
"Who wants to know?" He immediately got defensive.
"A friend, I work for Lord Ouranos. I was sent out here to help you safely enter the city without causing a panic. I fear it's already too late to hide the truth from the whole city, but you should be able to go home in peace. Lord Zeus is waiting for you." The skinny being spoke, offering a magic robe. "Oh, my name is Fels. Fels the fool…"
Alraj had heard that name, even so, he grit his teeth. He had mixed feelings about this, but he didn't have much of a choice… Then he had a thought… "Fels, I'll walk in normally… I won't dishonor them by refusing their hero's welcome home… The people ought to know how hard a battle it was…" He said, all a mess, crying tears he had no hydration for…
He cried the whole way back, while carrying his injured allies, and all after such a horrible sight… He's got the spirit of a true hero. "I'm not one to deny Lord Ouranos' suggestion-"
"I'll allow it. Freya, and Loki are already on the move… However, Alraj, this puts more weight on you than you know. Will you still do it? Even if in the end, you may not live through this strife?"
"I already survived one impossible fight! What is one more?" He clenched up, furious at Ouranos' words. "Even if I die here, it means I survived to bring them home! And warn of the impossible battle ahead!" He cried in utter anguish.
"Even if the world thinks otherwise, I, along with Zeus, will see you as nothing but a Hero. Go forth young man. Forge your story with your own two hands."
…
Shurry reached the 49th floor, his path was barred by the mighty Balor. "I've seen you killed a few times now…" Why am I doing this? I want to gather the ingredients for their welcome home meal. We can all celebrate, laugh, and play games together. "Something… Is pushing me? Is that a hand? It's warm, and not at the same time?" He turned to his shoulder, seeing no hand. "Balor! You're going down!"
Shurry charged forward, head long into a fight. An extreme back and forth. Balor swung, Shurry leaped. Foimores swarmed, Shurry slashed & crushed them. Balor slammed, Shurry rolled. Balor Roared, Shurry Howled.
More foimores spawned, beginning to swarm all around. Wolves leaped out from Shurry's soul attacking the foimores. Balor charged with a forward challenge, Shurry transformed and charged. It was man versus monster, wolf versus demon… Alpha versus Champion… And when their heads collided, they stayed there pressing harder and harder, until…
Balor started losing ground, and was eventually slammed into the wall. With a freshly broken spine, it was helpless to the ferocity of Shurry's hunger, eating it, bite, by, bite, the damage was healed over time, but Balor was losing steam, while Shurry was still good to go another round, soon… Balor was dead.
"He tasted nasty. But that's what I'd expect from a demon." Shurry said, wiping his lips, now back in humanoid form. "Let's go get Aunty Lyca, and Aunty Empress' favorite snacks!" He hoisted the basket and the stag back on him. "I hope this thing doesn't go bad before I get it up there… Eh, I'll just eat this one, and hunt a different one if it goes bad."
…
Alraj, with all the courage he had remaining, carried his allies through Orario's main street. Alone he walked, aiming straight for his familia home. The people watched with a mix of curiosity, horror, prayers, and wonder. The murmurs were deafening, despite being mere whispers.
What is this feeling? It's so damn confusing, and frustrating… Why aren't they even cheering? They must know we failed. And then he heard one person whisper the single line he thought would be unthinkable for anyone to say.
"So they weren't even all that? After all that talk about winning, this is all that comes back? What good are they if they can't even win?"
Alraj's rage boiled to the surface. Fine, fuck them all. They live in relative comfort because of us. They praised us for so long, and because that dragon was something no one could stand against, somehow that makes us weak? I refuse to continue this way… I'm not going to allow this insult to stick. If those weak fools come after us. I'll make sure they earn the title of strongest… You can bet your asses on that.
Alraj made it back home, pulling the two allies with him. He brought them over to the nearby room with massive couches. He laid Alfia down on the good couch. And Zald on the heavy duty couch, cause he was quite heavy. It was then, and only then, that Meteria came around the corner, and saw who it was… Fortunately she managed to stop Meda from seeing around the corner.
"Awe come on, what is it?"
"Meda, go help grandma with Bell for a moment please."
"Awe, okay! Get ready or not little brother! Here I come!"
Meteria sat down next to Alraj, and hid his face from the world, in the most comforting spot she knew… He began to let it all out, trembling as the two embraced. No words need be spoken, she already knew the moment they were all who'd returned.