Goku...was gone.

The man that has trained me from the beginning and helped teach me almost everything that I knew.

Damn it.

Damn it!

DAMN IT!!!!

Now that Kurobei was gone, the Arachius started to move towards us again. A single glare from Hel made them whimper and back away again.

Except for the Arachius Queen, which wasn't intimidated by her glare. She still approached us, snarling.

"Shut. Up." I glared at the Queen.

Red lightning sparked around my right arm, violently charging up. My arm shook as it felt the intense pressure of the red lightning, being more powerful than ever.

"Die." I swung my arm towards the Queen. A large discharge came from my arm, making my red lightning cascade through the air as a thunderous crimson lightning bolt.

It slammed into the Queen, causing her to her overrun with red lightning as she shook and screeched in pain. She dropped down to the ground, before trying to get back up.

Hel barely gave the Queen a glance as she threw a single well placed dagger straight into the weakened Queen's head, killing it for good.

The other Arachius shook with fear. "Leave." She ordered. They started to crawl back into the tunnels, from wherever they came from.

Now that the battle was over, I desummoned the broken armor. He went straight through my chest plate...it was worrying.

"If it makes you feel better, the armor should regenerate while deactivated." Loki stated. "And it'll be repaired when you need to use it again."

That's good, I guess.

It's unfortunate that I can't use Amplification on it, since it's physical-

"But it's still a magical construct." Loki stated.

...right. So it's defense could be amplified.

As the Arachius scurried away, a silent somber tone hung in the air. Emi looked over to her boyfriend's body, walking over with shaking legs.

She collapsed next to him, silent tears starting to stream down her face. She went to check his pulse, eyes widening.

"What?" She gasped.

Bianca silently walked over, checking his pulse as well.

"He's alive." I stated, picking up his body. "But he's just an empty husk without his soul. We need to get it back."

A light smile appeared on Emi's face. "Thank god...thank god..." She started to sob. Bianca pat her on the back, relief written on her face.

I walked him over, gently setting him down next to Goku's body. I adjusted Goku's body, checking his pulse.

Thank goodness. He's alive as well...

"Ken. What is the plan?" Irene asked, looking at the bodies.

"Technically we completed our mission. We go back, and we prepare. This will all be ending soon." I stated.

Kurobei's words rung through my head like a haunting ghost. "I'll see you all again soon."

"The Demon King's return is almost here. We likely have a couple days at best." I growled. "We need to meet back up with Principal."

"Alright." Irene nodded. "Now, what's with this girl calling you father?" She asked, her demeanor going cold.

"Yeah, Ken." Erica agreed. "Why is she calling you father? Who's the mother?"

"I...would also like to know." Bianca slowly stated, her eyes staring into my soul.

Aoi slowly nodded in agreement.

You can't not be yanderes for a single second, can you?

"Father, these are your friends?" Hel asked.

"Yes.." I replied.

We better tell her that I'm not you before she finds out and stabs me with a knife.

"Please don't, she scares me sometimes..." Loki whimpered.

"I am Ken's fiancé." Irene stated, grabbing my arm.

"I see..." Hel muttered, before bowing. "It's nice to meet you Mother."

Irene turned her head towards me. "We're adopting her."

Hel brought her head back up. "Why does she call you Ken, Father? A new identity again?"

"About that..." I swatddopped. I summoned Loki, pulling him out.

Say something.

Loki started to glow. "Hey...Hel..."

"Father?" Hel gasped, looking from me to the weapon. "What?"

"Yeah, I'm actually a weapon now..." He stated.

"Wait, why is the axe talking?" Emi questioned.

"How interesting." Irene muttered.

"My name is Ken Kage." I introduced myself. "Wielder of Loki."

She continuously looked inbetween me and Loki as she was lost in thought, before she suddenly came to a conclusion.

"Father." She grinned, looking at me with her eyes sparkling.

"How did you even get to that conclusion..." I sweatdropped.

Hel latched onto my other arm. "I consent to being adopted."

"...what is going on?" Emi questioned.

Who knows? Who knows...

Emi stood up, looking down onto her boyfriend's limp body. She picked him up, carrying him in a princess carry.

Well, a prince carry now I guess.

"I'll make that man pay..." She growled.

I nodded. "Let's get out of here."

"You're leaving?" Hel asked, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"I'm sorry." I replied. "But if we stay we are going to be stuck here. Irene, how much time do we have?"

Irene checked Goku's watch. "It's been three and an half hours. We have one and a half hours to get back."

"Shit. We'll need to hurry then." I replied. "But how do we get through there without being lost again...?"

"I can guide you." Hel stated.

"Really?" I asked.

"Of course. This is my realm." She stated.

"Alright. Thank you." I smiled.

Irene picked up Goku, heaving her up over her shoulder like a sack of potatos. It was honestly kind of funny to see how she could easily carry such a huge muscled Yakuza.

But then it reminded me of how we had failed.

I thought we were ready, but we weren't. Kurobei caught us while we were unprepared, and now the tides have been turned even further against us.

If that was how strong Kurobei was, it scared me to even imagine how strong the Demon King must be if his right hand man can do that much damage to us...

The only reason I'm probably still alive is because of Avalon.

Right.

I pulled Avalon out of my body, causing everyone to look at me strangely.

"How...what?" Erica asked, confused.

"Here." I tossed it to her. "I made a temporary connection to it so I could store it in my soul and not have to hold it."

"Huh." Erica replied, desummoning Avalon. "That's handy. Anyways, are you all right? You got hit pretty hard."

"I feel fine." I replied.

"Inspection time." Irene stated, suddenly pulling up my shirt.

"W-wait!" I exclaimed.

Irene's eyes widened as she saw under my shirt. A larger burn scar stretched across my stomach, covering the whole area.

Looks like Avalon's healing doesn't get rid of scars...

Irene's hands tightened as she started to shake. "I'll murder him." She hissed.

Bianca let out a low growl. "...he must be killed."

Irene nodded, letting down my shirt. Erica walked to me, giving me a sudden hug. I felt my face heat up as she held onto me.

"Ken...please don't be so reckless." She stated, before whispering something that I barely heard. "Because I love you."

My heart started to race as my face heated up. I quickly turned away so she couldn't see my face reddening.

"Okay..." I slowly replied. "But we should really head out now."

"Oh, right." Erica gasped.

Hel led us through the maze that was this strange Labyrinth. I sped up from the others to talk to Hel.

"So, where are we exactly?" I asked her.

"This, is Niflheim." She stated. "My home."

"It looks different from I remember." Loki stated.

"Loki says he finds it different than he remembers." I said, relaying his words.

"Well, a lot has changed since the Great Mythological War." She replied. "First things first, dead souls no longer come through here."

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"I'm not sure." She replied. "But I'm guessing they go to the Void now."

"The Void?" I asked.

"You can probably guess what it is." She replied.

"Yeah." I nodded.

"Then monsters from rifts appeared here. This used to be a Land of Darkness. Now it's just a fiery hell." She sighed.

"Do you...want to come with us?" I slowly asked. "Back to our world?"

"I won't be much help with the Demon King y'know." Hel smirked.

"That's not why I'm asking." I sweatdropped. "But if I'm really supposed to be your father now...for god knows why...I have a duty to look out for my daughter."

Hel looked at me surprised, before looking away with a small blush. "I...I wish I could. But I have to stay here. I don't know when another evil soul will come here, and it's my job to keep them here for eternity."

"I see..." I replied.

What was with all of this eternity stuff. Merlin was supposed to be trapped in the tower for eternity. And now Hel was trapped here for eternity.

"Is this why you survived the war? Sorry if I bring up bad memories." I asked.

"No, it's fine." Hel replied. "I didn't get involved, it had nothing to do with me. So I'm probably one of the few magical beings which survived the war. I'm not sure if there are any others though."

We easily got out of the strange Arachius nest with the help of Hel. She led us back towards where the rift was. As we walked there I saw it in the distance.

We stopped in front of the rift, ready to go back to our world. I looked back at Hel, smiling at her.

"Thank you, for everything Hel." I smiled.

"It's nothing. A daughter has to look out for her deadbeat Father after all, doesn't she?" She smirked.

"Hey!" Loki growled, even though Hel couldn't hear him.

Was that an insult towards me or Loki?

I looked at the rift, before looking back at Hel, who's smirk had turned to a sad smile.

"Go on." She smiled.

"I'll be back. I'll see you again. I promise." I stated.

"Okay." Hel smiled, tears welling up at the ends of her eyes.

We both knew that it was a lie. We both knew that we would never see each other again. But despite that, I wanted to see her again.

So maybe I could actually be her father. I hated it, how lonely she must be, just like how Merlin was when she was trapped in that tower.

I gave her a small hug.

"Bye." I smiled.

"Bye." She smiled, the tears starting to roll down.

"...bye." Loki whispered, even though he knew Hel would never hear it.

We took one last look back at her, before waving as he entered the rift, heading back to our own world.

Goodbye Hel...