Loki's Renard

Arc 4 Chapter 9 - A New Day

Hey guys, Striker777 here. Let's begin by saying I have made some choices in my fanfic that now clash with the current story of Danmachi. Now, for one, I have fixed it in this chapter at the very end, but for the other, I'm just gonna roll with it, so for the sake of this story, the 'Sand Land' that makes up Floors 33-36 of the Dungeon are extensions of the labyrinth of the White Palace, known as the Labyrinth Ruins, whilst the Desert Zone will be below the Glacier Territory, however far down I decide to put it.

I swear to Loki, Freya, Astraea and Hestia that I remember the desert biome being below the Glacier Zone. I swear to god, I'm not going crazy!

I'M NOT, OKAY?!

Ahem...

Anyways, with that out of the way, onto the story!

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No matter how much hope existed in some people, there would always be those who sought out means of preservation that were obviously against their interests. Such was the case as Shakti looked upon the sea of civilians in Orario, at the main gate, looking to leave the city. Evilus had surrounded Orario's borders on the outside, not allowing any sort of outside help or resources to enter the city. There would be no back up from the School District, nor would magic swords be arriving from Solingen. The Demeter Familia was also cut off from their farmlands, so food was slowly becoming a scarce resource.

Evilus was pinning them down, keeping them in place like lambs for the slaughter. Shakti gripped her spear tighter. Despite being a first class adventurer now, she could do nothing for the people before her, as they pushed and shoved, trying to leave the city that had become an exploding death trap just the night before. She couldn't just strong arm the explosions to stop taking lives, nor could she turn her strength on the civilians of Orario to keep them inside the city. All this strength, all this power, and it couldn't help her in the slightest.

Like a fortune of gold on a deserted island. Absolutely worthless.

As the people pushed forward towards the gates, Hermes Familia trying to stop them, she thought about her little sister, Ardee. She was laying in Dian Cecht's hospital, fighting for her life against her wounds, and she couldn't be by her side. Oh, how she wanted to, to say to hell with Orario and just be there with Ardee, making sure the girl knew that she was there for her, no matter what, and that everything was going to be okay. But alas, here she was, looking over a sea of strangers try and make what would probably be the last stupid mistake of their lives by trying to leave, straight into the enemy's hands.

Asfi was there too, watching with her. "We were supposed to be the secret agents, not being in charge of comforting the citizens of the city..." she muttered, watching as Falgar was trying to dissuade the civilians from leaving. Asfi turned to the older woman. "Shakti, we've got to do something or a riot will break out!"

Shakti hummed. "Perhaps that's all part of their plan." she said to the girl. "Their aim wasn't just the adventurers, but to keep everyone in the city. Even if we smash our way through the gate, there's no doubt in my mind that we'll find a 'trap' waiting for us." she said, before shaking her head and her thoughts clear. "Anyway, we don't have the strength needed for that left." she said, looking over at the sea of people.

Before a section of that sea turned orange and red in heated carnage.

The two girls looked up, noticing as the screams of the civilians came from below, a group of cloaked figures were atop Orario's wall. Shakti wasted no time at all, and rushed forward, before jumping with all her might, and finding herself atop the wall. She looked forward, and saw her. The same smug look, the ugly pink hair, and the terrible blade on her back.