MTLNOVEL Chapter 24: chapter 24
"I've seen the future, and it's dark."
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One month, one week, and two days since joining Hestia Familia.
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A crackling surge of black lightning tore through clusters of orcs and imps, its rapid slashes cutting them down with ruthless efficiency. The movements behind the attacks were swift and precise—yet they lacked the refined grace of a true swordsman.
Whatever finesse was missing, however, was more than compensated for by the searing blue fire that devoured the monsters whole, leaving behind nothing but smoldering remains. The destruction the figure wrought was undeniable. The bloodstained ground, the charred carcasses—nothing but proof of his capabilities.
To an ordinary observer, this would seem like the work of a capable adventurer.
To the blonde-haired Sword Princess watching from the misty environment, however, Bell Cranel was just venting his frustrations upon the monsters unfortunate enough to cross his path.
Ais hadn't expected him to make it all the way to the eleventh floor—she hadn't known he had progressed at such a quick pace.
After leaving Lefiya to return to the surface, she had spent longer than anticipated tracking him down. For his level, he moved through the Dungeon floors at an unexpected speed.
When she finally found him again, he was in the midst of incinerating an entire wave of Killer Ants. His face was unreadable at that moment, but his crimson eyes were glowing eerily as he watched the flames consume the monsters.
That glint in his eyes... it was detached. Too detached.
Ais steadied herself, pushing the thought aside. He was fighting monsters, after all; that look was not anything weird.
Her reasoning was logical, but instead of approaching him to be done with what she wanted from him, she continued to follow him silently, moving from shadow to shadow, blending into the environment with practiced ease while observing him curiously.
Her original intent had been simple: ask him if he truly hated her and why, settle things, and leave on good terms.
But now… she wasn't so sure.
'Why am I even doing this?' she finally asked herself, a flicker of confusion creeping into her mind.
Bell Cranel wasn't important to her. He was just another adventurer—one who had crossed paths with her a few times more than usual, but nothing more.
He wasn't Lefiya.
He wasn't Tiona or Tione.
He wasn't even Bete.
So why was she following him? To apologize? He hadn't even seemed to want an apology.
They had nothing to do with each other. Why did she even care if he hated her? Being feared, hated, admired—it was nothing new to her…
Just as she was about to leave, ready to forget she had ever crossed paths with Bell Cranel and move on with her life, a sudden shift in the wind made her tense. Instinctively, her gaze snapped back to him.
Her eyes widened as something began to take shape near his outstretched hand—a massive construct was manifesting entirely out of wind!
A slight recoil ran through Cranel's body as the wind shot forward at blinding speed.
"Aghh!"
The agonized screams of monsters being shredded apart echoed through the cavern, lingering before fading into silence.
Cranel exhaled, slow and measured. His posture eased—but only slightly.
Ais, however, remained frozen in place, too stunned to react.
A fireball.
Blue flames.
Black lightning.
And now… wind-elemental offensive magic?
That was the fourth one.
And he wasn't even a mage.
How!?
Loki had explained that an individual could manifest magic up to three times with their Falna, but each instance became increasingly rare. Exceptional people were fortunate to have two magic slots, while those who possessed all three were considered incredibly blessed.
Yet here was Bell Cranel, wielding his fourth magical attack—one that had no apparent connection to the others.
This wasn't normal. A magic prodigy, perhaps? But he was just a human. And unless he had access to a fortune in Grimoires, how could he possibly have acquired so many types of magic in such a short period of time?
She had to know how!
"Now," Cranel's voice rang out across the dungeon floor, snapping Ais from her thoughts, "how about you reveal yourself?"
Cranel unexpectedly shot a wall of flames toward her, making her leap forward by instincts. She landed gracefully—only to find herself under Cranel's narrowed gaze.
Ais locked eyes with him, nervous and confused. How did he know where she was? She was certain she'd been hidden well!
Ais opened her mouth to explain herself—she didn't want to seem like a creep—"I—"
Bell rolled his eyes, cutting her off.
"I wasn't addressing you, clumsy girl," he said, his tone dripping with dismissive irritation, his gaze flicking past her without a shred of regard.
Ais felt a flash of offense—she wasn't clumsy! But she pushed it aside for now. She followed his line of sight—only to see a silhouette standing amid flickering blue flames.
The figure didn't seem the least bit fazed by the fire.
Ais's eyes widened. She hadn't sensed them behind her.
The flames slowly died down, revealing a robed figure clad in black, their face carefully concealed.
"It seems I've been caught," they said calmly.
Ais unsheathed Desperate, her grip tightening around its hilt as she prepared herself. If this person was hostile…
She glanced back at Cranel, noting the unblinking eyes that were locked onto the stranger.
---
"Identify yourself."
All For One's voice cut through the misty depths of the dungeon floor like a blade—cold, commanding. He stepped past the so-called Sword Princess without sparing her a glance, dismissing her with a simple, "I'll deal with you later."
His tone carried an unmistakable edge, irritation laced into every syllable.
His words caught the Sword Princess by surprise, but she held her tongue.
All For One's patience was being tested far too much for his liking.
First, his so-called "party" had decided to take the day off—an unexpected inconvenience, but one he quickly turned into an opportunity. A solo dive would allow him to measure his current strength and refine his techniques without unnecessary witnesses.
Halfway through his descent, however, this dumb girl—Ais Wallenstein—had decided to stalk him for reasons unknown to him.
She actually thought she was being subtle.
His Quirk made detecting her a trivial matter.
At first, he ignored her, continuing deeper into the dungeon, hoping she would grow bored and leave.
But no.
She neither approached nor left—just observed. Watching. Analyzing.
That alone made her a problem.
Because of that, he deliberately minimized his use of magic, occasionally opting for his blades over his flames. At the very least, it wouldn't give her enough data to form a complete picture of his abilities.
As much as he despised being shadowed like some prey, he was well aware of his current limitations—especially against high-level opponents. He doubted he could take on Orario's newest Level Six adventurer.
And then, just when he thought his day couldn't grow more tedious, his Quirk detected yet another figure lurking nearby.
This robed individual—standing before him now—had attempted to remain unseen.
Had being the key word.
All For One suspected the robe itself was the source of his concealment.
He could also sense multiple abilities radiating from him. And the fact that this interloper had shrugged off his four-times-powered-up flames was proof enough that he was no ordinary adventurer.
A problem.
And one that refused to answer his question.
The silence stretched.
All For One narrowed his eyes, displeasure creeping into his expression. "So be it," he muttered venomously, with a flick of his finger, flames manifested in his hands. The air warped slightly from the heat.
But before he could move to more persuasive methods of interrogation, the figure finally spoke.
"I am known by many names, but you may call me Fels." His voice was calm, measured—as if he were the one in control here.
All For One's flames remained. His gaze stayed locked onto the cloaked figure, studying every movement.
"Is there a reason for you to spy on me?" His tone had smoothed into something more composed—but the threat beneath it remained.
Fels shook his head. "Rest assured, I was not spying on you." His tone carried sincerity—fake sincerity.
All For One had lied enough in his lifetime to recognize the difference.
"I was merely hoping to speak with the Sword Princess." He gestured to Wallenstein, who still lingered behind All For One, watching the exchange with a curious gleam in her golden eyes, her weapon now sheathed.
"Me?" Ais asked, visibly confused.
Fels nodded but kept his gaze on him.
'Had he notice me earlier?' Fels wondered. Even Wallenstein hadn't noticed him at first glance, yet this random adventurer had immediately detected his presence despite having invisibility.
All For One took a step forward, his flames illuminating the hollow darkness of his gaze. "Fels…" His voice was smooth. "I hate repeating myself."
Ais hesitated.
Should she intervene? Stop Bell before he did something unnecessary?
This Fels person was clearly a high-level mage.
Or… should she continue watching?
There was something interesting about this interaction.
The silence stretched for a tense moment before Fels let out a quiet sigh.
"I'm sorry for this," he said, his voice calm—too calm—before his hand flicked forward with practiced precision.
A dagger whistled through the air, aimed straight at All For One's face.
All For One barely had time to react, his instincts flaring as he reached out and snatched the blade just before it could strike him.
But the moment his fingers curled around the hilt—
A thin veil of green mist erupted from the dagger's edge, spreading in a sudden, choking cloud.
His vision blurred. His balance wavered.
Poison!? No—a tranquilizer.
His body felt sluggish, unresponsive, as if his limbs were bound by invisible chains.
Ais was at his side in an instant, her usually impassive face betraying a flicker of concern. "Are you alright?"
Odd.
She actually sounded worried.
Or perhaps that was just his blurred perception twisting reality.
A distorted voice cut through the haze, barely registering in his faltering consciousness.
"Don't worry, it's not poison," Fels assured him, his tone frustratingly composed. "I merely need some private time with the Sword Princess."
The sheer audacity of this worm!
All For One gritted his teeth, rage clawing at his mind like a beast in a cage.
To be subdued like this—by a simple trick—it was beyond humiliating.
"I'll—" He tried to snarl a threat, but a violent fit of coughing wracked his body, the mist tightening its grip.
"I suggest you don't fight it," Fels advised, as smooth as ever.
All For One shoved Wallenstein away with what little strength he had left, ignoring the way his body protested.
His Mind reserve wasn't full, but that didn't matter.
He would not allow himself to fall without taking this bastard down with him!
He raised a trembling hand, gathering every last shred of power he could muster. His vision swam, his body barely holding itself together, but his rage burned brighter than ever.
"I'LL END YOU WORM!" His roar split through the dungeon as a hellstorm of every copy of the hellhound magic he currently possessed erupted from his palm.
The flames surged forward like a lance, a torrent of surprisingly white-colored fury fueled by raw hatred for this singular target.
It was no mere spell—it was a declaration.
Fels took an instinctive step back, caught off guard by the sheer intensity of the Beam-like attack.
The speed of the white flames left no room for escape.
The White Spear consumed him whole, swallowing him in a brilliant display of destruction.
The firestorm raged on, carving a path of devastation through the dungeon floor, incinerating a pack of imps that had been lurking in the mist.
The heat was suffocating, the sheer power undeniable.
Unfortunately, the attack drained the last of All For One's remaining Mind reserve. His vision darkened, and his strength deserted him.
A mind down.
His flames flickered and died as his body finally gave out.
The world tilted. His consciousness slipped.
Before he could collapse—
Ais caught him.
She gently laid him down, her expression unreadable as she stared at the unconscious figure before her.
That attack… it was at least on par with a fresh Level 3, maybe higher. The proof lay in the molten floor, the eleventh floor grassy surface now liquefied by sheer intensity.
It'll take a while for the dungeon to rebuild this.
"Quite the stubborn one," Fels' voice rang out behind her.
Ais' hand tightened around the hilt of her desperate.
Fels stood behind her, not unscathed, but not seriously harmed.
His robe was visibly charred in places, yet he remained unharmed. Whatever material it was made of, it was certainly remarkable.
Ais must admit, that unusual attack was an exceptional feat, it was very different from the other attacks she caught him using.
For a Level One adventurer to wield such destructive power…
"Now," Fels continued, his tone as composed as ever, "how about you lay down your weapon so we can talk, Sword Princess?"
---
"Was that fucking necessary!?" Bete barked, barely containing his fury. His eyes twitched as they landed on Loki's smug face.
"Ehehe! My fury boy, ya know it was~!" Loki chirped, her voice practically singing with glee, completely ignoring the way Bete's face twisted into a snarling mess. "That sharp lil' nose of yours sure is handy—besides sniffin' out Ais-tan from six miles off, huhuhu!?" She poked at Bete's side with a grin stretching from ear to ear, enjoying the sneaky blush creeping up his cheeks.
"S-Shut it!" Bete slapped her hand away, his face slightly flustered from her teasing. "My Flosvirt stinks because of you!" He glared down at his magical boots, which were visibly… undesirable to touch at the moment.
The two of them were heading back to the Familia's base after an unpleasant adventure in the sewers beneath the Amphitheatron—a trip that gnawed relentlessly at Bete's nerves. The stench of rotting waste clung to him, and the slimy filth coating his boots only added to his frustration.
Loki, on the other hand, seemed completely unbothered—mostly because she had forced Bete to carry her on his back while inside the sewers. She marched forward with her hands laced behind her head, radiating an air of carefree mischief.
But while her posture was relaxed, her mind was anything but.
Her trip with Finn to the sewers after the Monsterphilia attack had been frustratingly fruitless. She had hoped Finn's brain could piece together some clue, but aside from a single magic stone lantern, they had found no solid evidence—no trail to follow, no way to track whoever had been behind the attack.
Until today.
Loki had finally managed to find something—or rather, smell something.
Thanks to Bete's heightened senses as a Level Five werewolf, he had caught an unfamiliar scent among the filth—something distinct that didn't belong to the rotting leftovers of the sewers. If their hunch was right, then it was likely the scent of the mysterious person behind the attack.
A huge breakthrough.
One she definitely wouldn't be sharing with the Guild.
"Whaaat a boooother~..." Loki whined childishly, stretching out her words in exaggerated frustration. "So many hidden pieces out there, and I can't track a single one yet! Ugh!"
Still, if they managed to track down the culprit, it would be her Familia that got the credit. The Loki Familia saves the day yet again!
Now all they had to do was find someone with the same scent that Bete had picked up.
…Which was a fucking impossible task, now that she thought about it.
Before she could dwell on the ridiculousness of their mission, two figures suddenly entered her view. One was more familiar than the other.
"Ho~ Dionysus, is that you?" Loki raised an eyebrow. She hadn't expected to run into him of all people.
The blonde, infuriatingly gorgeous—according to many—god offered her a radiant smile.
"Loki! What a pleasant surprise." He clapped his hands together as if genuinely delighted to see her. "You're just the deity I was hoping to encounter!"
Loki narrowed her eyes slightly. 'What's this weaselly shine-freak trying to pull now?'
"Really now?" she replied smoothly, offering an easy smile as she took a step forward.
Before she could move any closer, a hand clamped tightly onto her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.
"O-Oi, Bete, don't be so rude!" Loki protested, but the sharp expression on Bete's face made her tense immediately.
"Wait," Bete began, his voice dangerously low, a chill lacing every word. "That elf's got the same scent."
His gaze was locked onto the alarmed-looking elf standing just behind Dionysus.
Loki's casual demeanor evaporated instantly. Her crimson eyes sharpened as she scanned the elf, who was now visibly tense, one hand hovering near her weapon.
'Well, well...'
"She does, huh?" Loki muttered, her usual teasing lilt absent.
The elf's fingers twitched slightly, looking ready to unsheathe her weapon at a moment's notice.
"Filvis," Dionysus suddenly called out, his tone calm yet firm. "Don't be stupid."
The unspoken command was clear. Filvis hesitated for a fraction of a second before slowly pulling her hand away from the hilt of her weapon, but the alarm in her expression did not fade.
Loki shifted her gaze back to Dionysus. Her carefree mask may have cracked, but a threatening smirk still tugged at the corners of her lips—albeit with a sharper edge than before.
"Dionysus…" she called his name, a sharp edge in her voice. "Mind explaining yourself?"
A verbal admission would seal the deal.
Dionysus met her gaze without a hint of unease. His smile didn't waver.
"Gladly," he answered, his voice brimming with confidence.
---
All For One drifted in a void of darkness, weightless, as if suspended in an endless abyss.
His senses were dulled, yet there was something oddly… familiar about the silence.
Peaceful…
His brow twitched. A scowl formed on his face as irritation surged through him. "Not this again," he muttered, already feeling the shift in the atmosphere.
His eyes snapped open, greeted by a familiar sight—Kurogiri's bar counter, polished wood glistening under dim light, just as pristine as the last time he had been dragged into this… farce.
Laughter erupted beside him.
"Pffhahaha!" The sound grated on his nerves.
All For One turned his gaze, already knowing who it belonged to. Yoichi was practically dying of laughter, head thrown back as if he had just heard the best joke in the world.
All For One resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Are you just going to sit there grinning like an idiot?" he asked, tone flat. He wasn't in the mood for whatever nonsense his subconscious had conjured this time.
Yoichi wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning. "Sorry, sorry—hah—but that was hilarious! That Fels guy really outwitted you with that move, brother!" He patted All For One's shoulder in mock comfort, as if consoling a child after an embarrassing fall.
All For One scoffed, glaring at his brother's amused face. "I wasn't outwitted." He clicked his tongue. "That thing caught me off guard with its tricks. If I were in my prime, I'd have erased him before he could so much as speak."
Yoichi hummed, feigning thoughtfulness. Then, leaning forward, he smirked. "Isn't being caught off guard the same as being outwitted?"
All For One's expression darkened. His fingers twitched before he grabbed Yoichi by the collar, yanking him off the stool.
"Why do you keep intruding in my mind?" His voice dropped, cold and sharp. "I have no interest in speaking to a mere illusion." His grip tightened, his gaze boring into his brother's with something between contempt and apathy.
Yoichi's smile faltered, his eyes lowering at the sheer venom in his brother's words.
All For One gritted his teeth. Not only had that wretched thing forced him into unconsciousness, but now his mind was playing tricks on him—again.
He had no time for this nonsense.
Before Yoichi could answer, a familiar swirling mist formed on the counter. From it, two drinks materialized, placed neatly on the polished wood.
"Enjoy your drinks." With that, Kurogiri's portals vanished, leaving the two brothers alone again.
A tense silence settled between them.
All For One's grip remained firm, his knuckles turning white against the fabric of Yoichi's collar.
Neither of them spoke.
Then, with an exasperated sigh, he let go of Yoichi, making him drop back onto his stool. Yoichi rubbed his neck soothingly, a surprised expression painting his face.
He had honestly been expecting a punch, given how irritated his brother sounded.
An improvement.
Smiling slightly, Yoichi tilted his head. "I don't remember you being so short," he commented, humor lacing his voice as he took in his brother's new, smaller frame.
All For One clicked his tongue and took his seat as if nothing had happened. He picked up his drink, swirling the liquid before taking a measured sip, the bitter liquid burned slightly on his tongue, grounding him in this irritating illusion.
"I don't remember you being such a snarky clown," he retorted, voice more controlled now.
It was a dream. An illusion.
Nothing more.
He would tolerate this thing wearing his brother's face until his consciousness returned.
Then he could start skinning that Fels alive—if the wretch had even survived his final attack.
The silence stretched again, broken only by the soft clinks of glass as the two brothers drank in relative peace.
Then, softly—
"Brother…" Yoichi's tone was calm, more thoughtful. "Did you listen to my advice?"
All For One chuckled, amused by the absurdity of the question. "Advice?" he repeated, tilting his head.
Yoichi nodded. "I told you before—you need more than just subordinates."
All For One shook his head in amusement, setting his glass down with a quiet clink.
"As I said before, I only need servants. Friends, family—those things are obstacles." His voice was unwavering, matter-of-fact as he leaned back, exuding quiet arrogance.
"I am the Demon Lord. And what is a king without subjects?"
Yoichi's shoulders slumped. He looked down at the counter, staring at his reflection in the polished wood.
It was futile, wasn't it?
"…Did you not care about Tomura?" he finally asked.
At the mention of his supposed "successor," All For One let out a slow, dark chuckle.
"Care? Hah. That brat was merely a means to an end." He took another sip, savoring the taste. "His entire existence was bound to ME, and now, even in my 'defeat,' My vestige remains inside him."
His lips curled into a sharp, twisted smile.
"That fool All Might and his pathetic little hero friends think they've won." He smirked at Yoichi. "But they forgot one crucial thing."
He gestured to himself.
"I am inevitable."
Yoichi's stomach twisted.
Centuries, countless lifetimes, and his brother remained unchanged. Completely, utterly lost to the monster he had become.
"…What about Welf?" he tried again, hesitant.
All For One exhaled through his nose, clearly growing tired of this. "A smith. A valuable asset. Nothing more."
"Mikoto?"
"A tool—like her Familia—that I use to reach deeper into the Dungeon."
"Lili?"
He let out a low chuckle. "My soon-to-be most valuable pawn."
Yoichi clenched his fists. "Eina?"
All For One rolled his eyes. This was getting annoying. "A convenient source of information with vast potential," he replied dismissively.
If his old world had no one he cared about, what made Yoichi think anyone in this world had any value to him?
Yoichi stared at his brother, the utter dismissiveness in his voice making him sigh in defeat.
"You're helpless," he muttered.
All For One chuckled, tilting his glass. "It seems you've finally accepted reality."
A silence stretched between the two brothers, a silence Yoichi hated.
Then, under his breath—
"…Hestia." Yoichi muttered.
A twitch.
Subtle. Almost imperceptible.
But Yoichi saw it.
His eyes widened slightly. "Brother…" A slow, knowing smile crept onto his face. "Do you care about Hestia?"
All For One scoffed, opening his mouth to dismiss the claim.
But for a fraction of a second—he hesitated.
Yoichi barely caught it.
All For One quickly waved him off. "Don't be ridiculous. That woman is annoying." His irritation was clear.
To anyone else, it would seem like his usual dismissive response.
But Yoichi knew his brother well—too well.
And he knew that he had hesitated.
"You do care," Yoichi muttered to himself.
"I do not," All For One denied without hesitation this time, taking another sip of his drink.
That goddess.
For all her supposed "divine status," her only "usefulness" was updating his status and cooking those damn fried potatoes.
He hated fried potatoes.
Yoichi hummed, tilting his head. "What if she finds out you're lying to her?"
All For One didn't even blink. "It doesn't matter if she does."
Yoichi hummed again, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Try not to ruin this," he said, voice warmer than before.
All For One narrowed his eyes—but before he could respond, Yoichi snapped his fingers.
Suddenly, darkness swallowed All For One's vision.
The last thing he heard was a quiet, resigned sigh.
---
"Ugh..." All For One slowly awoke, his head spinning, a searing headache assaulting his mind.
"Annoying little brother..." he muttered in irritation, his vision blurry as he tried to focus. Above him, he could make out something yellow.
Strangely, he felt his head resting on something soft, and... was someone stroking his hair?
As his vision sharpened, the yellow shape became clearer, revealing...
"...Stop it." All For One's voice was cold and flat, his annoyance palpable as his eyes locked onto the figure stroking his hair.
To his utter dismay, it was Wallenstein of all people.
Just perfect.
---
The End
---
Remember when I said I'd take my time updating so I could write something good? Yeah, I did that. Sorry about the wait.
I hope this lives up to your expectations because, honestly, I forgot how to write for a few days.
I'll admit, I'm terrible at power scaling in Danmachi, so please forgive any off numbers or feats.
Hope Ais's reason for trying to talk to All For One is now more align with canon and believable.
That beamy attack? It was just a spur-of-the-moment idea I came up with—it shouldn't pop up often since it's literally a one-shot.
As for Naaza, I found out she's actually a level 2, but I made her a level 3. I won't change it though, because it actually works better for my fanfiction.
I hope you enjoyed the slight character development.
Just a heads-up, the reason I'm not updating fast or have deep knowledge of Danmachi is that I'm not really a novel reader lol. I haven't even finished the anime yet! I'm currently at Season 4, Part 2.
As for Sword oratoria Re-read, I'm at where they face off against the corrupted spirit for the first time (don't worry, I know who is The villain).
I'm also on page 110+ of Astreaa Records Volume 1
On top of that, I'm watching Invincible because it's peak (recommend it!).
With all of that, I also work a full-day job and only have about an hour left for writing, most of which I spend refining what I've already written. That's why my text might have complex wording, but I think it gives the writing a unique style.
Also, a reminder that this is my first fanfiction, so I'm still pretty new to all of this.
I just hope I'm delivering an engaging story worth your time, reader. I may treat this as a hobby, but even my hobbies are serious to me.
Thank you for all your support! I read every review and appreciate every like! Your eagerness to read this crossover motivates me to deliver more!
Thanks for reading!
NOTE: If I ever did abandon this fanfiction—whether because I hit a brick wall or just lose interest—I have other ideas lined up for the future. Here are some of them:
Some guy gets isekai'd to Danmachi, thinking he'll change everything—until reality smacks him, and he realizes he's an idiot. At least he has ChatGPT to explain how electricity works… or how to build a nuclear fusion reactor.
Bell Cranel manifests Return by Death instead of Liaris Freese.
All For One in Re:Zero.
Original All For One—either injured or in his prime—gets dropped into Danmachi, this time with all his quirks.
Uncle Iroh in Danmachi, a crack fanfiction.
These are the most likely fanfictions I might write in the future.