Deep night.
A half moon hung suspended high in the sky, its radiance illuminating the night like a portrait painted in silver.
On the surface beneath slumbered a lake of pure water, reflecting the glowing stars and celestial body above like a natural mirror.
Bell sat beside Goddess Artemis in front of that lake, his back resting against a tree.
Goddess Artemis was soaking her feet in the cool water.
They had killed all the orcs that had attacked their camp some time ago.
Now... they were taking a well-deserved rest while other members of the Artemis Familia kept guard nearby.
.
Bell's gaze was resting on the firmament reflected on the lake's surface, his expression complex and thoughtful.
They would reach the ruins... or rather, the Elsos Ruins, in a day or two.
Those ruins were the place where an ancient monster from a bygone era had been sealed by Greater Spirits eons ago.
A monster that devoured Goddess Artemis in the movie *Danmachi: Arrow of Orion* and gained access to her Divine Arcanum.
A giant one-eyed, six-armed, multi-legged monster with glowing red marks across its body.
Antares.
That scorpion... had reached Level 8 by devouring merely a small part of Goddess Artemis' power.
In the original movie, that monster was practically unkillable by Gods and mortals alike after it consumed her.
Godly intervention didn't work since the monster possessed Goddess Artemis' Arcanum.
Adventurers could not slay it, for there was no one in the lower world capable of killing a Level 8 monster wielding a God's Arcanum.
The only way to defeat it... was to destroy both the monster and Goddess Artemis caged inside it together, using an Arrow forged from her leftover power and a fragment of her soul before she was fully assimilated by Antares.
Though... she would not truly die, but be sent back to Tenkai. However, it would take her around 10,000 years to descend once again to the lower world.
That was how events unfolded in the original story. The original Bell had used her arrow to kill Antares, sending her back to Tenkai to save the world.
The original Bell at this time was merely a Level 2 adventurer; how could he hope to fight a Level 8 monster?
Yet... I did not like that ending.
The Artemis Familia was slaughtered by Antares.
Just like his own Astraea Familia was slaughtered by the Juggernaut.
Goddess Artemis was forced to sacrifice herself, returning to Tenkai to save the world.
I knew Antares. I knew what lay ahead.
Most important of all...
Goddess Artemis was beside him, not yet devoured or assimilated by Antares.
At most... that monster, as it stood right now, would be around Level 4 or 5.
A gap that would have been insurmountable for the original Bell.
But for him?
If he gave his all, without a regard for himself or his life, then he truly had a chance to win—no matter how small.
[Ittou Rasetsu]. [Instinct]. [Grega]. [Astra-Vesta Calibur].
And the most important of them all...
The Wheel.
It was possible... with them.
But... he possessed a weakness the original Bell did not.
His blood was poison to spirits and anything related to them.
Antares had been sealed by Greater Spirits.
So... if he spilled even a drop of his blood near Antares' seals, they would dissolve instantly, granting the scorpion greater freedom to wield its power.
He still had to try. No matter how small the chance of victory.
Because... Goddess Artemis and her Familia had saved his life.
Hence... he couldn't simply sit by and let them march to their deaths, could he?
Artemis Familia had treated him like a comrade as well.
Goddess Artemis herself had treated him with no prejudice, even teaching him archery.
Even sharing some stories of her past with him.
Did he need any other reason?
To bet his very life for them.
.
Haha...
Some would call him a fool.
Yes... he was a fool.
An idiotic fool.
A fool who would hurt himself countless times.
To save those who showed him even a twinge of kindness.
Hero?
Argonaut?
Orion?
No... he was merely,
Bell Cranel.
.
"Goddess Artemis..." Bell called out, his gaze shifting to her.
"Hm?" She tilted her head slightly, a questioning murmur escaping her lips.
"If... I mean... if, one day, you meet your Orion..." Bell continued, his eyes returning to the luminescent lake. "Would you wish for 10,000 years of romance with him?"
His question was simple, yet profound.
Goddess Artemis did not reply.
Silence settled between them, heavy as a mountain.
"Pfft."
However, it was broken a moment later by her chuckle.
"10,000 years of romance? Where did you get that idea from, Bell?" Goddess Artemis asked with a light laugh.
Bell did not reply, keeping his gaze on the lake as he waited for her to continue.
"As for your question... Why would I need 10,000 years of romance when I could spend the present with my Orion?" Goddess Artemis spoke with a small smile, her tone tender.
The corner of Bell's lips quirked up slightly. He liked her answer.
Bell stood up abruptly. Glancing at Goddess Artemis' perplexed face before turning his eyes toward the moon.
He pointed one hand toward the planet representing her, his other hand pulling on an invisible string.
[Instinct] ignited to life. Golden threads sparkled across the sky.
[Grega] blazed. Three arrows wreathed in flame looming between his hands.
"Was this how you did it, Goddess Artemis?"
Bell's voice drifted softly as he drew his hand back fully, aiming the other skyward.
Fuga.
The three flaming arrows shot forth, tearing across the sky like defiant lines of crimson.
Bursting apart a moment later into a continuous shower of fire.
The sky lit up as if the sun had risen for a single instant.
The flames plummeted a moment later, cascading down like embers upon the lake, which was reflecting the dark sky and shining stars.
Radiance surrounded them; light and night intersected to create an enclosed domain of twilight against the backdrop of the moon.
There, amidst a snowfall of embers, Bell walked away.
His back now turned to Goddess Artemis.
His voice came out carefree and unburdened.
"Yes... Goddess Artemis."
"Why would you need 10,000 years of romance, when you have the present..."
Only Goddess Artemis was left behind.
Her legs still soaking in the lake.
Crimson embers swirling around her like a scene from beyond mortality.
Yet, her gaze remained fixed on Bell's back.
Her eyes, slightly mystified.
...
..
.
***
[300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter]
[8 chapters ahead on P@tr3on = [email protected]/Not_Aaryan]
...
[Author's Thoughts]
In the original movie, Goddess Artemis had promised Bell to have 10,000 years of romance with him before being sent back to Tenkai.
How many of you remember that scene??