Danmachi: Be Her Hero

19 Zyraid and the Minotaur

*Floor 79*

An eerie stillness enveloped this area except for the hurried scampering on monsters retreating.

Alone like a scene from a nightmare stood a towering black figure. It's skin was the color of a starless midnight sky and muscles weere protruding across it's whole body.

"What do you want?"

This creature was a minotaur more powerful then current comprehension of adventurers. Crystals of slayed monsters surrounded him where he had been training and growing in strength ruthlessly.

He turned after speaking before coming face to face with a green dragon the color of a translucent emerald. Even the tiniest bit of light reflected from it's evergreen scales.

"I see you sensed my presence."

He lowers his head to match the minotaur's before letting out a wry smile of satisfaction. "I know why you fight, and I know where he is."

Immediately the tough presence of the minotaur faltered heavily as shock filled his face.

"And I can take you to him, all you have to do is end his life." His words were like deranged melodies of persuasion. Onsen was brute strength, but no creature came close to the overwhelming manipulation and intelligence of this dragon. Combined with his own power and fighting prowess, Zyraid was deadly.

Asterious the minotaur lowered his head for a second before replying.

"Take me."

***

"Watch it!" Tiona screamed before throwing her weapon causing a large buffalo beast to disentegrate. The creatures claws were inches away from impaling Bete.

"Tch. Thanks"

He sneered at the crystal where the monster once stood before continuing.

"It's harder without Riveria. It's too bad she decided to stay behind to train Argonaut." Tiona spoke nonchalantly.

Ais' mind became curious as she tried to imagine the rabbit's new skill. Surprisingly, she found herself excited to return to the surface. Bell's fast growth always made her want to grow stronger as well.

The party continued their expedition on floor 42 when Finn stopped abruptly.

He slowly turned and his expression was unlike anything the party had ever seen.

Fear.

"Something is coming and it's nothing like I have ever seen. My thumb is throbbing to an agonizing degree."

"Huh?!" Bete yelled in annoyance. "We're not even past 50, do you not think we can handle ourselves?"

Finn filled with terror contrasting his usually calm demeanor. "No... I think we will die."

BOOM

Ais ran forward drawing her weapon with the party close behind.

"I'm not joking." Finn forcefully grabbed Ais' arm while looking at the ground. "Run now."

Gareth stood witnessing the whole thing and without flinching he spoke.
"I have been with the captain for decades, and I trust him. If he says we are in danger, we need to follow what he says."

Before Ais or the other could speak a melancholy laughter filled the underground forest.

"Time to see what you are made of."

All of the party gasped simultaneously. "T-they spoke?!"

From a bush clearing up ahead stood a black minotaur and a large green dragon.

Without anymore dialogue the Minotaur charged faster then anything they had ever experienced before.

"Gah!" It's arms came in contact with Gareth's weapon before the Loki familia could even turn to face it. Within an instant his greataxe shattered into a million pieces.

"Die." It spoke in a deep voice before pulling it's arms back and digging his fist into the dwarves stomach. A large cracking noise sounded as Gareth spewed up blood.

Asterious smiled attemping to pull his arm back before realizing he couldn't.

Gareth used both of his arms to immobilize the minotaur's arm where he was hit before kneeing Asterious in the stomach. Asterious fell half in surprised and half in pain to his knees before Gareth used both of his arms to smash the minotaur into the ground overhead.

Smoke filled the room where the ground was destroyed and as it cleared Asterious was out of sight.

"Damn where did that bastard go!" Bete yelled out in frustration.

The green dragon stood observing without fear or emotion. If anything it looked as if the horrid creature was smiling. Tension filled the air as all the party members scanned the area for the minotaur.

Crack

A little piece of the ground broke before revealing a hand right next to Tione, and before she could react, the minotaur grabbed her ankle and squeezed with the grip of a truck.

Snap!

The amazon's leg went in an unnatural direction as she yelped in pain. Without letting go the minotaur pulled itself from the ground and lifted Tione up in the air.

Without hesitation Ais flew as fast as the wind and stabbed her dyspare into the minotaur's right shoulder. Following up her attack finn pounced swinging his spear into it's gut.

As Asterious stumbled back Bete came from behind him, and swung his boot into the side of his head. Immediately the minotaur let the Amazon go and fell onto one knee.

"Did you think we'd just keep watching you hurt our party members?" Bete spoke in an arrogant tone.

Despite how sure of himself he sounded the situation was bleak. Gareth was bleeding bad struggling to stay conscious, and Tione was no longer in fighting condition. On top of everything the green dragon had yet to enter the fight, and everyone knew that was the only reason they were still alive.

"Having trouble?" The dragon mocked towards Asterious. "

"Shut up! They are just nuisances and they aren't the one I want to kill. That boy is my goal. The one who shines brighter then the sun."

The minotaur was obviously frustrated at the delay of progress. Without rhyme or reason the face of Bell Cranel flashed in Ais' mind.

"Could it be...?"

What we would he do right now when faced with overwhelming odds?

"He would smile."

She began to approach the raging minotaur.

"He would grit his teeth"

Her approach turned into a run.

"And he wouldn't give up"

Ariel circulated around the sword princess as she wore a smile despite the overwhelming presence of dread settled upon her heart.

The minotaur swung his fist which Ais slid under gracefully sliding her sword in it's underarm.

Unflinching Asterious continued on and swung every opportunity it could missing each time as little cuts and gashes appeared across it's body.

The rest of her party members followed suit and began to overwhelm the minotaur with sheer power. Somehow even Gareth joined in the Assault with slow powerful blows. The minotaur raised its arm over his head to defend itself as their attacks pushed him into a crater in the ground.

The Loki familia slowly began landing blows on the minotaur none of which were fatal.

"Something... isn't right." Ais whispered as she continued the assault on Asterious.

Finn then looked at Ais and immediately she realized he had the same feeling.

"GET AWAY NOW!" The blonde prum screamed but it was too late. All was silent as the sound of pierced flesh filled the air.