Dawn hadn't yet cracked the Orario skyline, the city still draped in the deep indigo of false night. Inside the cold, echoing stone shell of the abandoned church, Bell Cranel was already moving.
Sleep had been a fleeting luxury only for a few hours he took a nap but with his skills he was in peak shape.
But the sleep was chased away by the chilling memory of Freya's imminent arrival and the blaring urgency of the System's warnings during Hestia's near-divine outburst. He sat cross-legged on the worn floor, the faintest glow of his Status Window illuminating his focused face in the gloom.
Name: Bell Cranel
Level [2]
Job: None
Title: None
Hp: 3885
Mp:3990
{STR} SS-1009
{VIT} SS-1098
{DEX} SS-1078
{AGI} SSS-1100
{MAG} SSS-1400
{SEN} S-989
[Skills]
-Longevity-All diseases, poisons and status effects are healed and sleeping exponentially increases regeneration ability.
-Sprint- Mana Cost 5(+1/Minute) Activates to increase your movement speed by 30%. Costs 1 mana per minute to maintain. "Your running has strengthened your legs".
-Unyielding Spirit- When below 30 % HP, all damage received is reduced by 50 %. "You have an unyielding spirit".
Scared-Insight-Able to distinguish Truth and Lies and See through all False Illusions
Rasaka's Armored Scales-Physical damage reduced by 20%
Bloodlust-Mana Cost 100. Using Strong energy, the selected target is put in a state of fear for 1 minute, lowering their stats by 50% Several targets can be selected.
Shadow Veil (Stealth): Hides Player from Divine Eyes and surrounding environment. (PASSIVE ACTIVATION/ ACTIVE ACTIVATION}
Magic:
Umbra Mortis
Brilliant Light
A fierce, determined smile spread across his lips. Close. So close. The Minotaur fight, brutal and desperate, had pushed him further than he'd realized.
The Cerberus had not given him the Level Up, but this... this was the grinding refinement, the excelling honed in genuine combat.
Leveling up wasn't just a goal now; it was the threshold to survival for what is to come.
The C-rank dungeon keys weren't just points; they were his escape route from Freya's reach and his gateway to challenging the Demon Castle's upper floors.
Then there was the Reward Quest for Job Change.
He dismissed the window, the soft light vanishing. Beside him, Hestia slept fitfully, curled under a thin blanket, her brow furrowed even in sleep.
He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face.
We leave soon. Just one more push.
He rose silently, strapping on his temporary Guild armor – functional, but already feeling inadequate – and checked his inventory:
C-Rank Dungeon Key (Forest Labyrinth), Demon Castle Key (Can be used on any place), he thinks stacks of essencer crystals for pawning if he finds in the dungeon, and the Hermes Familia Contact Card. He tucked the card away with a grimace.
He didn't think he would have to use it as soon as possible.
Lord Hermes seemed on who keeps his cards to his chest, but he seemed to be Genuine in his help as sacred Insight did not activate. He can give some cookie points with him.
The crisp pre-dawn air bit at his face as he slipped out of the church.
He moved with the quiet efficiency granted by his new Passive Cloak (Rank C), a ghost in the waking city. His destination:
Welf Crozzo's forge. Even at this hour, the rhythmic clang-clang-clang echoed down the street before he reached the door, a beacon of relentless effort.
He pushed the heavy door open.
Heat and the sharp tang of hot metal washed over him.
Welf stood at his anvil, bathed in the fiery glow of the forge, hammering a piece of dark, unfamiliar metal that shimmered with veins of the Mana Stone's inner light An orange aura seems to cover Welf.
Sweat poured down his soot-streaked face, his eyes bloodshot but blazing with manic focus.
Scattered around were several smaller, discarded pieces – twisted, cracked, or cooled in awkward shapes – testament to hours of trial and error.
"Bell!" Welf rasped, not pausing his hammer blows.
"Perfect timing! Just... gimme a sec!" He delivered three more ringing strikes, then plunged the glowing metal fragment into a quenching trough with a furious hiss. Steam billowed.
He wiped his face with a filthy rag, breathing hard, a grin splitting his exhaustion. "Tricky stuff, your essence crystals! Brittle if cooled wrong, stubborn if not hot enough... but the potential!"
He gestured wildly at the scattered fragments. "Even the failures feel denser than Mithril! Imagine what a success will be!"
Bell smiled, genuinely warmed by Welf's passion. "I trust you, Welf. How's the main piece?"
"Slow," Welf admitted, gesturing towards a covered lump on a secondary workbench. "Need to understand this crystal-metal fusion perfectly before I risk the chestplate.
But!" He strode to a corner and hefted the dark, full-plate armor Bell had admired yesterday.
"This beauty's ready! Polished, joints oiled, cloak reattached. solid as bedrock.
Bell looked over the armor he glanced but couldn't check it's stats as he was interrupted.
[Item: Full plate Knight Armor
Item Type: Armor
Class: D+
Description: Has heat resistance reduction up to 5 %. Enhanced durability increased up to 10%]
Should serve you well for your dive today." He handed it over. It was lighter than it looked, the dark metal seeming to absorb the forge light, the attached cloak thick and durable.
Bell ran a hand over the cool surface. That strange pang of nostalgia returned, fleeting but intense.
"Thanks, Welf. It's perfect it's going to help with the marathon dive." He quickly began swapping his temporary gear for the dark knight armor. It fit surprisingly well, feeling both protective and flexible.
Welf watched, leaning against the anvil, his energy flagging now that he'd stopped moving. "Marathon dive, huh? Supporter meeting you?"
Bell nodded, securing the last strap.
"At Babel's North Gate at first light. We're clearing a special spot today. Need the points, need the valis for travel." He glanced at the trial pieces. "Don't burn yourself out, Welf. Literally."
Welf waved a dismissive hand, though his eyes were already drooping.
"Pfft. Sleep's for the weak. Go be a hero, Bell. Bring back shiny things. I'll be here... making miracles." He gave a tired thumbs-up.
Leaving the forge, the dark armor felt like a second skin, a tangible piece of Welf's trust.
He moved swiftly towards the designated meeting point near Babel. The sky was lightening to a deep grey when he spotted Lili.
She stood by the massive gate's shadow, her pack meticulously organized, her expression serious as she scanned a small notebook. She looked up as he approached, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of the imposing dark armor.
"Master Bell! You're... early." Her gaze flickered over the armor, a mix of approval and concern. "That's new. Looks sturdy. Are you sure you're recovered enough?
Yesterday was..." She trailed off, the news of the Minotaur's carnage clearly in her mind.
"I'm fine, Lili," Bell assured her, his voice firm. "More than fine.
We have a lot of ground to cover today." He held up the C-Rank Dungeon Key (Forest Labyrinth). It pulsed with a soft, emerald light in his palm.
"Special dive. Different rules. We need speed and efficiency. Stick close since it's new to you, watch my flank, and gather everything valuable. This is our last big haul before Altena."
Lili snapped her notebook shut, her small face setting with determination.
"Understood, Master Bell. Lili is ready. Funds secured, escape prepared.
" She patted her pack. "Just lead the way." Her eyes held unwavering faith, but also a flicker of awe at the sheer intensity radiating from him. He wasn't just diving; he was storming towards his next evolution.
An adventure like any other
Bell nodded. No fanfare, no hesitation.
He focused on the key bringin out of the Inventory.
[Item Type: Key
Item Class: C
Deception: A Dungeon Labyrinth that can be opened anywhere]
(!)Alarm
[A Dungeon has been Opened]
The Blue light flared, brighter than before, coalescing into a shimmering, vertical oval of blue energy right there on the cobblestones near the quiet corner of the North Gate. It hummed with latent power, smelling of damp earth and ancient leaves.
"Let's go," Bell said, his crimson eyes fixed on the portal. He drew Rasaka's Fang, the wickedly curved blade catching the first weak rays of dawn. He stepped through the emerald light.
Lili had her breath taken away, In shock and nervousness adjusted her pack, and followed without a second thought.
She was shocked seeing face to face of such a miracle Infront of her.
Another Dungeon at the Heart of Orario.
She was skeptical at first but seeing the real deal her thoughts and mystery about the man named Bell Cranel deepen.
Shaking her head saving other thoughts for later
The portal winked out behind them, leaving the pre-dawn quiet of Orario undisturbed, save for the faint scent of ozone and forest loam.
The transition was instantaneous, but the change was jarring. Gone were the cold stone and city sounds.
Bell and Lili stood on a narrow, moss-covered stone path winding through a dense, towering forest. Gigantic, ancient trees, their trunks wider than houses, soared upwards, their canopy so thick it blocked most of the weak dawn light, casting the labyrinthine path into deep, verdant gloom.
The air hung heavy with moisture and the rich scent of decay and vibrant life. Strange, bioluminescent fungi glowed softly on tree roots, and the distant calls of unseen creatures echoed through the oppressive stillness – clicks, chitters, and low, guttural growls.
It wasn't the Dungeon's chaotic energy; this felt older, wilder, more alive and watchful.
[System Notification(!)
C-Rank Dungeon: Forest Labyrinth.
Objective: Clear the Labyrinth.
Estimated Threat Level: C
Reward: 10 Million gold, Randomized C-Rank Material Cache.]
Lili gasped, her eyes wide as she took in the alien environment. "Master Bell... this place..."
Before she could finish, a guttural snarl erupted from the dense undergrowth to their left. Three hulking shapes detached themselves from the shadows.
They resembled boars, but easily the size of bears, their hides thick and bark-like, matted with moss and vines. Glowing green eyes fixed on the intruders, and tusks like chipped obsidian gleamed wetly.
[Forest Troll Boars - Level 3 Equivalent.]
Bell didn't wait for the System prompt. He didn't need it. The moment the growl hit his ears, he was moving.
(!)Alarm
[SKILL-SPRINT HAS BEEN ACTIVATED]
Sprint activated, a blur of dark armor and white hair. Bloodlust flared outwards like a physical wave, causing the lead boar to stumble mid-charge, confused and momentarily terrified. Bell was upon it before it could recover.
Rasaka's Fang flashed, a dark crescent in the gloom. It bit deep into the thick hide at the beast's neck joint.
Not a killing blow, but the necrotic energy surged instantly. The boar shrieked, violet-black lightning crackling across its body, muscles locking.
Bell was already spinning, kicking off the stunned beast to launch himself at the second boar charging from the right.
Lili didn't freeze. Years of survival instincts kicked in.
She darted sideways, putting a massive tree trunk between herself and the third boar, her slingshot already loaded with a heavy, spiked pellet.
Thwack! It struck the third boar's eye, not piercing, but causing a pained roar and a momentary distraction.
Bell parried a tusk swipe with his armored forearm, the impact jarring but absorbed by the dark plate.
He flowed beneath the beast's counter-swing, Rasaka's Fang finding the softer underside behind its foreleg. Another shriek, another surge of debilitating energy.
He danced back, avoiding a wild charge from the first boar, now recovering but slowed by the curse.
The fight was brutal, fast, and efficient. Bell moved with a predatory grace that was new, even to Lili. He anticipated swipes, used the environment – dodging behind trees, using roots for leverage. He wasn't just fighting; he was hunting.
The System's silent expectation – to handle threats instinctively – was shaping him. Lili provided crucial support: well-aimed pellets to sensitive spots, tossing caltrops to slow a charge, her sharp eyes scanning for more threats emerging from the gloom.
Within minutes, the three troll boars lay still, dissolving into motes of greenish light and leaving behind chunks of bark-like hide, glowing tusks, and small, pulsating green crystals in his inventory – Forest Essence Shards.
(!)Alarm
[YOU HAVE SLAIN A FOREST TROLL BOAR]
(!)Alarm
[YOU HAVE SLAIN A FOREST TROLL BOAR]
(!)Alarm
[YOU HAVE SLAIN A FOREST TROLL BOAR]
Bell stood amidst the fading motes, breathing steadily, Rasaka's Fang dripping dark purple blood that vanished as the blade dissipated into his inventory. His dark armor bore fresh scrapes but no dents. He glanced at Lili. "You okay?"
Lili nodded, already moving to collect the drops, her hands steady though her heart hammered.
"Yes, Master Bell. Efficient as always." Her voice held admiration, but also a new layer of understanding.
The boy she followed wasn't just strong; he was becoming something else entirely, adapting to horrors with unnerving calm.
The Forest Labyrinth stretched before them, deep and dangerous. Bell checked his internal time – a faint, glowing path only he could see, leading deeper.
He adjusted his grip on an imaginary weapon, his crimson eyes scanning the shadowed path ahead, burning with that pure, terrifying hunger.
"Good," he said, his voice low and focused. "Let's keep moving. The Core won't clear itself." The marathon run had begun. Level 3 awaited.
Altena beckoned. And Bell Cranel charged forward into the emerald gloom, Lili a determined shadow at his heels.
~(Scene Change)~
The emerald gloom of the Forest Labyrinth pressed in, thick and suffocating. Towering trees, their bark like ancient, scarred hide, blocked any hint of sky, leaving Bell and Lili in perpetual twilight punctuated only by the eerie glow of bioluminescent fungi.
The path, a narrow ribbon of moss-slick stone, twisted ahead, vanishing into the oppressive green shadows. The silence was absolute, unnerving – no insect chirps, no distant animal calls, just the damp rustle of their own movements and the pounding of their hearts.
"Master Bell," Lili whispered, her voice barely audible, her small frame tense beside him. Her eyes darted constantly, scanning the dense undergrowth flanking the path.
"It... it shouldn't be this quiet. Even in Orario's Dungeon, there's always some noise before an ambush."
Bell nodded, his crimson eyes narrowed, senses stretched to their limit. The Passive Cloak dampened their sound, but it couldn't mask the unnatural stillness.
"Something's wrong," he murmured, Rasaka's Fang held low and ready. "It feels... like being hunted.
Cleared. Like something already killed everything here." The System's internal map pulsed faintly, showing the path winding deeper, but offering no clues about the silence.
They advanced cautiously, another ten yards. Then, the whistle.
It was a thin, deadly sound cutting through the silence. Bell's hand snapped out almost before his mind registered the threat.
He caught the crude, bone-tipped arrow inches from Lili's ducking head. The shaft vibrated in his grip, dripping a viscous, greenish fluid. Poison.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
More arrows erupted from the shadows ahead and to the left.
Bell shoved Lili hard behind the massive root of a gargantuan tree, the arrows thudding into the spongy wood where she'd been standing.
He crouched beside her, peering around the root's edge.
Glowing eyes – yellow, red, and malevolent green – winked into existence in the gloom.
[Goblin Level 1]
[Orc Leader Level 2]
[Trolls Level 2]
All Orange
Not just eyes. Forms. Goblins, smaller and wirier than Orario's variants, clad in patchwork leather and bone armor, perched atop snarling Raikan wolves the size of ponies, their fur matted with mud and thorns.
Behind them, hulking green-skinned Orcs, muscles coiled beneath crude iron plates, hefted notched axes and spiked clubs. Lumbering Forest Trolls, bark-like hide bristling with moss, wielded tree-trunk clubs.
And at the rear, directing the assault with guttural barks, stood Orcs marked with intricate white tattoos swirling across their green skin – leaders. Flanking them were bulbous, pale Boar-like creatures with tusks like chipped ivory, snorting steam in the chill air.
"Master Bell!" Lili gasped, her voice tight with disbelief as she nocked a heavy pellet into her slingshot. "Goblins... with bows? Orcs in formation? Lili has never... monsters aren't this smart!"
"This isn't Orario's Dungeon," Bell hissed, his gaze locking onto the largest tattooed Orc barking orders.
"The System warned of adaptive threats. Intelligence is part of the challenge." He saw the Orc raise a clawed hand, pointing directly at their hiding spot.
A fresh wave of arrows arced towards them. "Cover! Now!"
Lili popped up, thwacking her slingshot. A pellet struck a wolf-rider square in the face, knocking it backwards with a yelp. Bell didn't wait. He focused, drawing deep on his magic. "Brilliant Light!"
A searing beam of condensed white fire lanced from his palm, crossing the distance in a blink. It struck the commanding Orc's head not with an explosion, but with a horrifying sizzle-crunch. The Orc's skull deformed, melted, then burst apart in a shower of charred bone and gore, silencing its orders instantly.
The monsters roared in fury and confusion. Bell used the momentary distraction. He burst from cover, Sprint turning him into a blue-black blur. Arrows rained down.
Rasaka's Fang became a whirlwind of dark steel – clang-clang-clang-spark! – deflecting, parrying, shattering poisoned shafts mid-air. He zigzagged, unpredictable, closing the gap.
"Lili! Hold the line! Draw their fire!" he yelled, diving behind another massive root closer to the enemy ranks.
The monsters, enraged by their leader's death, surged forward, the Raikan wolves leading the charge, goblins nocking fresh arrows, trolls bellowing.
Bell pressed his palm flat against the damp forest floor. Dark energy pulsed from him, seeping into the shadows. "Umbra Mortis!"
The ground erupted. Dozens of jagged black lances, formed of solidified shadow and crackling with necrotic energy, shot upwards with terrifying speed.
THOOM! THOOM! SKREEE! The sound was sickening. Wolves and riders were impaled mid-leap, shrieking. Orcs stumbled, legs and arms skewered, black veins spiderwebbing from the wounds.
Trolls roared as lances punched through their thick hides, the dark energy visibly sapping their vitality. The charge faltered, turned into a chaotic mess of shrieks, gurgles, and panicked retreats by the uninjured.
Bell gasped, staggering back. His MP bar, visible only to him, plummeted dangerously low. Too costly for a large group. He ducked behind the root again, pulling a High-Grade Mana Potion from his inventory – purchased minutes earlier by quickly selling a handful of looted Forest Essence Shards through the System Shop interface.
He gulped it down, the cool liquid sending a revitalizing surge through him. His stamina potion followed.
"Lili! Status!" he called, peering out. Monsters were regrouping, the tattooed shamans chanting, green energy coalescing around wounded allies, healing some shadow-lance wounds. The boar-creatures were charging, tusks lowered.
"Flank clear for now, Master Bell! Focusing on archers!" Lili called back, her voice steady. Thwack! Another goblin archer cried out, clutching a shattered hand.
(!)Alarm
[Killing Intent Detected]
The System's calm alert echoed in Bell's mind, confirming his instinctive plan.
What followed was a brutal, calculated dance of death. Bell became a phantom predator. He'd Sprint from cover, a blue streak slicing through the disorganized ranks.
Rasaka's Fang flashed – a goblin's head tumbled, an orc's throat opened in a crimson spray, a troll's hamstring severed, dropping it bellowing.
He'd weave through clumsy axe swings, deflect desperate spear thrusts, his movements honed by the System's silent pressure to act on pure instinct.
When his MP or stamina dipped, he'd vanish back into the labyrinthine roots or thick ferns, activating Stealth (a basic skill learned early).
Within seconds, he'd access the Shop, selling a few Goblin Fang or Troll Hide Scraps looted automatically by the System, buying another potion, gulping it down.
Then, he'd strike again, often from a new angle – a blast of Brilliant Light scattering a shaman's healing circle, or another burst of Umbra Mortis targeting a cluster regrouping near Lili.
Lili was his anchor. She provided covering fire, her pellets precise – blinding a shaman mid-chant, tripping a charging boar, forcing archers to duck. She watched his flanks, calling out reinforcements he couldn't see. When Bell retreated for potions, she became the momentary focus, drawing fire with well-placed shots before ducking back into cover.
Slowly, relentlessly, the tide turned. The pile of monstrous corpses grew, littering the mossy path and tangling roots.
The intelligent light in the monsters' eyes faded, replaced by primal fear, then extinguished. Finally, the last tattooed orc fell, Rasaka's Fang buried in its chest, Bell wrenching it free as the body collapsed.
Silence descended again, heavier now, thick with the coppery stench of blood and voided bowels. Bell leaned against a tree, breathing heavily, sweat stinging his eyes despite the chill.
Lili emerged cautiously from her cover, her face pale but determined, already scanning the carnage.
"Clear, Master Bell," she reported, her voice hoarse. She looked at the bodies, not vanishing into dust, but lying grotesquely still.
"They... they don't disappear after getting critical head with their head decapitated. We have to loot manually."
Bell nodded, wiping his blade clean on moss.
"Eyes sharp, Lili. System loots automatically, but manual might yield more." He pointed to the crystal essence visibly pulsing within some of the larger corpses – different from the shards they'd fought for earlier.
"Focus on those crystals first I can sense something inside them. Then weapons, armor. Anything valuable."
As they worked, Lili marveled at the crude but functional weapons – orcish axes, goblin bows, troll clubs. "Even their gear... it's sub-par, but crafted. Not dungeon drops."
She stuffed usable items into her pack, envy flashing in her eyes as Bell simply touched piles of loot, making them vanish into his Inventory. "Master Bell's storage... it makes Lili feel almost useless."
Bell paused, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Never, Lili. Without your eyes, your cover fire, your calls... I'd be overwhelmed or caught mid-potion.
This?" He gestured to the carnage. "This is teamwork. The Inventory just carries the weight. You help me survive to carry it." He knelt beside a fallen troll, placing a hand on its hide. He focused, feeling the thrum of energy within.
"There... a core. Bigger than the shards." He used his knife to carefully extract a pulsating Forest Troll Heartstone. "Extra loot. Bonus."
Revitalized by the minor victory and Bell's words, they pressed on, repeating their strategy. Ambushes became less frequent as word of the slaughter likely spread, but more desperate.
Each encounter was met with swift, brutal efficiency: Bell drawing aggression, unleashing magic or blade, retreating to replenish via the Shop, Lili covering and looting the fallen.
They became a well-oiled machine, the Forest Labyrinth yielding its treasures – Orc Tusks, Raikan Wolf Pelts, Blighted Boar Ivory, and the precious Essence Crystals of various sizes.
Finally, the path ended at a massive stone archway, overgrown with glowing vines.
Beyond it lay a cavernous chamber lit by eerie green phosphorescence. Stalactites dripped water onto a floor littered with bones.
At the far end, on a crude throne fashioned from giant, yellowed skeletons, sat the Boss.
[ Notification(!)
Boss Chamber: Orc Chieftain Grommash.
Objective: Eliminate Grommash.
Warning: High Physical Threat. Adaptive Intelligence Detected.]
Grommash was a mountain of scarred green muscle, easily three times Bell's size. White, ritualistic tattoos covered his arms and chest.
A greataxe, its blade chipped but massive, lay across his lap. He wasn't sleeping. His red eyes snapped open, fixing on the intruders.
A guttural roar, filled with primal rage and cunning, shook the chamber, dislodging dust from the ceiling. He stood, hefting the greataxe one-handed as if it were a toy.
"Lili.Proceed with Extreme caution," Bell ordered, his voice tight. "He's fast." He drew Rasaka's Fang and a High-Grade Stamina Potion, ready. "Draw his attention if he focuses me too hard. Aim for the eyes."
Grommash didn't charge blindly. He took two ground-shaking steps, then exploded forward, closing the distance with terrifying speed for his size, the greataxe whistling in a decapitating arc.
Bell met the charge, not with brute force, but with Sprint and precision. He ducked under the horizontal sweep, feeling the wind of its passage ruffle his hair. Rasaka's Fang lashed out, not at the thick hide, but at the back of Grommash's leading knee – a deep, precise cut to the tendon. The Chieftain bellowed in pain and surprise, stumbling, his charge disrupted.
The fight was a whirlwind. Grommash was strong, his axe blows capable of shattering stone. But Bell was a ghost.
He flowed around the attacks, using Sprint to reposition instantly, landing shallow cuts on arms, shoulders, and thighs – testing defenses, probing for weakness.
He parried only when absolutely necessary, the force jarring his arms even through the dark armor. When Grommash cornered him against a stalagmite, Bell blasted Brilliant Light point-blank at his face. The Orc roared, throwing up a massive forearm, the flesh sizzling, momentarily blinded on one side.
"Lili! Now!" Bell yelled.
Thwack! Lili's pellet, fired with perfect timing, struck Grommash's other eye. The orb burst in a spray of vitreous fluid.
The Chieftain screamed, a sound of pure agony and fury, swinging his axe wildly.
Bell saw his chance. He Sprinted behind the flailing giant. Rasaka's Fang flashed twice. Schlick! Schlick! The massive tendons above Grommash's heels parted like overcooked meat.
The Chieftain crashed to his knees with a ground-shaking thud, his roars turning to pained bellows. Disoriented, blinded, crippled, he was helpless.
Bell didn't hesitate. He vaulted onto the Orc's broad back. Rasaka's Fang plunged deep into the remaining eye socket, silencing one roar.
Then, bracing his feet on the massive shoulders, Bell poured the last of his readily available MP into his palm, pressed it against the base of Grommash's skull, and unleashed a final, point-blank Brilliant Light.
There was no dramatic explosion. Just a sickening pop-hiss and the smell of cooked meat and ozone. Grommash's body stiffened, then slumped forward, smoke curling from the gaping hole where his head had been partially vaporized. The massive greataxe clattered to the stone floor.
(!)ALARM
You have slain the [Orc Chieftain Gommash]
(!)ALARM
You have completed the normal quest: [Conquer the dungeon.]
[Your REWARDS have arrived.]
(!)QUEST REWARDS
Normal quest: [Conquer the dungeon].
You have received 10 Million Gold
The selection of items for purchase will be scaled to the PLAYER'S status.
(!)ALARM
The PLAYER has met the requirements to [Level Up].
Silence. Heavy and complete. Bell dropped down, breathing raggedly, sweat plastering his hair to his forehead. Lili rushed from her cover, her eyes wide.
"Master Bell! Are you hurt?"
"Exhausted," Bell admitted, leaning against the gruesome throne. "But whole. Good shot, Lili. Perfect timing."
Lili beamed, then her eyes darted around the chamber. "Loot! Quickly! Diamonds! Gold! The System said it closes after the boss!"
They scrambled. Bell used his Inventory to sweep up the massive Chieftain's Essence Crystal pulsing within Grommash's chest, the Massive Greataxe (likely valuable scrap), and piles of bones that might have alchemical uses.
Lili, meanwhile, scoured the chamber, letting out a small squeal of delight as she found a small, unlocked iron chest tucked behind the throne.
Inside glittered a handful of uncut Forest Diamonds and a pouch of strangely minted Gold Talons. She stuffed them greedily into her pack.
"You're worse than a dragon hoarding treasure, Lili," Bell chuckled, watching her frantic looting.
"Master Bell has his magic storage! Lili needs her pack!" she retorted, securing the last diamond just as a low hum filled the chamber.
(!)Alarm
[Dungeon will Close after Dungeon Boss has Been Killed
Time Remaining: 9 minutes]
The Blue archway shimmered, the air distorting. The exit portal, identical to the entrance, opened.
"Time to go," Bell said, his voice filled with weary satisfaction. He checked his Status Window as they stepped towards the light. The numbers glowed triumphantly.
Name: Bell Cranel
Level [2]
Job: None
Title: None
Hp: 4005
Mp:4000
{STR} SSS-1986
{VIT} SSS-1890
{DEX} SSS-1788
{AGI} X-3450
{MAG} X-3400
{SEN} SSS-1300
[Skills]
-Longevity-All diseases, poisons and status effects are healed and sleeping exponentially increases regeneration ability.
-Sprint- Mana Cost 5(+1/Minute) Activates to increase your movement speed by 30%. Costs 1 mana per minute to maintain. "Your running has strengthened your legs".
-Unyielding Spirit- When below 30 % HP, all damage received is reduced by 50 %. "You have an unyielding spirit".
Scared-Insight-Able to distinguish Truth and Lies and See through all False Illusions
Bloodlust-Mana Cost 100. Using Strong energy, the selected target is put in a state of fear for 1 minute, lowering their stats by 50% Several targets can be selected.
Rasaka's Armored Scales-Physical damage reduced by 20%
Shadow Veil (Stealth): Hides Player from Divine Eyes and surrounding environment. (PASSIVE ACTIVATION/ ACTIVE ACTIVATION}
Magic:
Umbra Mortis
Brilliant Light
He grinned. Level 3 is today. They stepped through the portal, leaving the silent, blood-soaked labyrinth behind, emerging into the cool, pre-dawn air near Babel's North Gate.
The Forest Labyrinth winked out of existence, leaving only the scent of ozone and the weight of loot in Bell's inventory and Lili's bulging pack.
The first C-rank dungeon was cleared. The path to Altena, and escape, was almost open.
Bell looks at Lili.
"Lili lets set aside essence stones and sell the loot we got from the Orcs and Troll, I don't want it to be traced to us bringing questions" Bell said in a cautious tone.
"Leave it to Lili master Bell, she will sell the weapons and items she gathered to an associate of mine" Lili said with a smile.
"Good we will dive to Orarios dungeon now we need proper valis after all, I am thinking about going to the tenth floor, before that let's get breakfast. I forgot to have anything in a rush" Bell says in a assured measure.
Bell then thinks to himself he needs to meet Eina soon to say Goodbye.
But most of all he needs to complete his daily Quest and Show his Goddess his new level up.
~(Scene Change) ~
The air in Daedalus Street was perpetually thick with the smell of damp stone, stale ale, and secrets.
Andarvi moved through its shadowed canyons like a wraith, his worn leather boots silent on the uneven cobbles.
A former Rudra Familia scout turned freelance tracker for Ikelos, his face was a map of old scars and deeper weariness.
His current quarry: a Pallum named Lili. Soma Familia was paying good valis for her location, convinced she was behind the disappearance – and likely deaths – of several members during a botched ambush gone disastrously wrong.
Zanis's theory was simple: either she'd set a trap for revenge, or they'd tried to steal from someone far above their weight class and been crushed.
Typical Orario. Weakness got you washed away by the real monsters.
Andarvi's Skill: Soul Echo Trace was potent but frustratingly limited. It only worked on the living.
He'd focused on the names Zanis provided, but most trails had gone cold and silent almost immediately after the incident – confirmation of death.
Only one faint echo had persisted, flickering erratically across the city: Lili's. He'd spent days chasing ghosts, the trail leading him in maddening circles through marketplaces, dive bars, and the Guild's periphery.
He'd begun to suspect the Pallum had a Skill changing her appearance, making his own feel almost useless.
Exhausted and irritated, he'd been running mundane chores for his Ishtar Familia contacts – delivering coded messages, verifying shipment routes – when the faint echo suddenly spiked, sharp and clear, nearby in Daedalus. He followed it, navigating the labyrinthine alleys until he saw her.
Near a nondescript warehouse entrance, partially hidden by stacked crates, the small blonde Pallum was intently examining the heavy wheels and undercarriage of a large, covered carriage bearing the subtle, stylized lotus emblem of Ishtar Familia.
She was taking notes, her expression focused, utterly unaware of the tracker observing her from a crumbling balcony overhead.
Sniffing around Ishtar's carriages? Headed for Melen? Andarvi's eyebrow twitched. No wonder the trail was a mess.
She's not just hiding and moving around; she's poking vipers. He watched for a moment longer.
The girl had guts, he'd give her that. Stupid, suicidal guts, but guts nonetheless. His Skill confirmed it was her, the resonance undeniable now that he had visual confirmation.
The earlier interference must have been due to her proximity to whatever disguises or illusions of magic items Ishtar used on their secure transports.
He sighed, the sound lost in the street's ambient noise. Not my circus, not my monkeys. His contract with Zanis was specific: find the Pallum's location.
It said nothing about reporting her extracurricular activities involving goddess-tier trouble. Ishtar Familia's business was a quick way to get disappeared yourself.
He'd wasted enough time on this wild goose chase.
He slipped away as silently as he'd arrived, heading straight to the grimy tavern where Zanis held court.
He found the Soma Familia executive nursing cheap wine, his eyes bloodshot and perpetually angry.
"Found her," Andarvi stated flatly, tossing a scrap of parchment onto the sticky table. It bore a Daedalus Street address near the Knucklebone Alley carriage depot.
"Alive. Hiding in the Gallows district. That's where the trace led."
Zanis snatched the paper, his lips curling into a predatory smile that didn't reach his cold eyes.
"Finally. The little rat. Good work, tracker." He slid a pouch heavy with valis across the table. Andarvi pocketed it without counting; Zanis was vile, but he paid promptly for results.
Andarvi turned to leave. He paused, a fleeting thought about mentioning the carriage, the Ishtar connection… then dismissed it. Too much hassle. Wasted enough time.
He pushed through the tavern doors, the thought of the Pleasure District's numbing comforts a far more appealing prospect than Soma Familia's squalid dramas.
Zanis stared at the address, the parchment crumpling slightly in his grip. The location made sense – the Gallows was a warren where unwanted things vanished. He signaled a hulking enforcer lurking nearby.
"Black Cat. Confirmation on the record holder this morning?"
The enforcer, a Level 3 known for crushing skulls with his bare hands, nodded. "Aye, Zanis. Dawn patrol saw the Pallum entering Babel's North Gate. With him. White hair, moving fast. Wearing new black plate armor. Looked expensive. They vanished inside, didn't come out the usual way. Probably using a private entrance or a Key."
Zanis's smile widened, turning truly vicious. The record holder. Bell Cranel. Level 2 in a month, strength defying logic.
The one who'd humiliated Canoe, whose death had been so… inconvenient. And now he was Lili's protector? Her ticket out of the gutter? This was better than he'd hoped.
Far better. A being of such potential… ripe for the squeezing. Or the crushing.
Plans coalesced in his cunning, wine-addled mind like poison crystallizing. He needed leverage. He needed a trap within a trap.
"Black Cat," Zanis purred, leaning forward. "You know Terry Cervantes's fondness for girls? Runs the El Dorado."
The enforcer grunted. "Aye. Likes his… exotic pleasures. Pays well for unique stock."
"Exactly." Zanis's eyes gleamed. "We have two… underperforming assets in the Familia. That Kitsune girl, Momiji, and the Rabbit-kin, Kaena. Pretty things, but useless in a fight.
Terry's expressed interest before." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "We stage an 'accident'. A dungeon dive gone wrong. They get separated, overwhelmed… tragically lost.
But instead of dying…" He let the implication hang. "We deliver them to Terry, unconscious, packaged discreetly. In return, he provides certain… alibis. And perhaps a bonus."
The Black Fist showed no reaction, his face impassive. "And the trap for the Pallum and the rabbit?"
"Simple," Zanis said, tapping the address. We use Momiji and Kaeda as the contacts – they'll be believable, desperate for a teamup. I issue it as a quest to search for the Pallum girl.
When the rabbit and the Pallum arrive at the rendezvous point…let's see tenth floor" He gestured to the Black Fist.
"Your team – seven of the most unruly, disposable brutes we have – ambush them. Overwhelm quickly. Subdue the Pallum. Use her as leverage against the rabbit."
Zanis's expression hardened. "Present Cranel with a choice. Swear fealty to me. Use that freakish strength for Soma Familia's profit.
Become our enforcer, our key to greater influence. Or…" He drew a finger across his throat. "If he resists… kill him.
Immediately. He's too dangerous loose. But make sure the Pallum sees it. Break her spirit completely. Then, deliver her to Terry as well. A package deal.
Terry gets his exotic stock, we eliminate our problems, and either gain a powerful weapon or remove a significant threat."
He leaned back, swirling the dregs of his wine. "The Black Fist handles the heavy work at the ambush.
The unruly seven are the bait and the muscle; they take the fall if anything goes publicly wrong – just more Soma trash wiped out in the Dungeon's periphery. Momiji and Kaeda vanish into Terry's care before the ambush, their 'deaths' already lamented. Clean hands."
The Black Fist finally nodded, a slow, deliberate movement. "Understood. The boy is Level 2 last I heard he fought that Irregular Monotaur?"
"Supposedly," Zanis scoffed. "Cranel is the unknown variable. But with the Pallum held hostage, a blade at her throat… even a Level 2 record holder hesitates.
And if he doesn't…" He shrugged. "You put him down. Hard. His potential is worthless if we can't control it. Better dead than a rival's asset."
He drained his cup. "Prepare. Move Momiji and Kaeda tomorrow night. Set the bait tomorrow. I want the rabbit and the Renard in the snare by dusk. Or in the gutter." Zanis's eyes, reflecting the tavern's greasy lamplight, held no mercy, only cold calculation and the promise of violence.
The trap was set. Now, he just needed the prey to walk in.
~ (Scene Change) ~
The smoky aroma of sizzling meat and stale ale still clung to Bell and Lili as they pushed open the heavy door of the Boar Hat tavern, stepping into the marginally fresher air of Orario's morning bustle.
Their pockets were significantly heavier, thanks to Lili's ruthless haggling skills and the sheer rarity of the Forest Labyrinth's drops.
The Orc Tusks, Blighted Boar Ivory, and salvaged monster weapons had fetched a small fortune at the Guild's specialty buyer, enough to make even the jaded clerk raise an eyebrow.
Bell, however, had kept the pulsating Mana Essence Stones firmly in his inventory.
"Master Bell, are you sure?" Lili had pressed, her eyes gleaming with the thought of black market premiums.
"Those stones... Lili knows buyers who would pay triple the Guild rate! Enough for a private air carriage!"
Bell shook his head, his crimson eyes scanning the crowded street with habitual wariness.
"Too risky, Lili. Black market means questions, connections, trails. Other familias and the Guild already has his eyes on us.
Freya... she might have ears everywhere. These stay hidden." He patted his chest to show that he trust himself. "Safety over speed. For now." He handed Lili a pouch heavy with her share of the valis.
"Get yourself something substantial for breakfast. You earned it."
Lili nodded, though a flicker of disappointment crossed her face before being replaced by pragmatism.
"Understood, Master Bell. Safety first. Lili will see you at the church later." She melted into the crowd, heading towards a bustling bakery.
Bell bought two hearty breakfast platters from a reputable stall – thick slabs of roasted boar, fried eggs, and crusty bread.
One for him, one for Hestia. The smell made his stomach rumble, a reminder of the intense energy expenditure in the Labyrinth.
He carried the warm packages towards the dilapidated church, the familiar sight of its broken steeple a strange comfort.
As he pushed open the creaking door, a new smell hit him – the familiar, greasy scent of frying Jagamarukun.
He descended into the basement to find a scene of organized chaos. Several sturdy travel packs sat near the door, neatly packed and secured.
Hestia stood at the small, rickety stove, an apron tied over her usual blue dress, diligently flipping the little dough balls.
Her silver hair was slightly messy, her cheeks flushed from the heat.
"Bell! Good morning!" she chirped, her voice warm despite the tired lines around her eyes. She gestured towards the packed bags with her spatula.
"Making progress! Just finishing off a batch for the journey. They taste good for travel food!"
"Morning, Hestia" Bell replied, placing the steaming breakfast platters on the worn table. "Brought breakfast, but looks like it might be lunch now." He offered a small smile.
Hestia beamed. "Double eats! Perfect! A growing boy needs his strength!" She expertly scooped the last Jagamarukun onto a plate and joined him at the table, her gaze immediately drawn to the dark, imposing armor he still wore.
"So... how was the... special dive?" she asked, her voice carefully neutral but tension tightening her shoulders.
Bell sat down, pulling off his gauntlets. "Went to one of the C-Rank dungeons the System gave me. With Lili.
" He saw Hestia stiffen, her knuckles whitening on her fork. "It was... challenging. Different. Monsters were smarter, used tactics, weapons." He took a bite of the boar, savoring the flavor. "But it was much easier. My status was high so it did not matter also the buy finction helped a lot to get supplies easily."
Hestia let out a slow breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "I see... You've gotten so strong, Bell." The pride in her voice was genuine, mixed with a touch of awe and lingering worry.
Bell met her eyes, a spark of anticipation in his own. "Speaking of stronger, Hestia-..." He paused, letting the implication hang. "I can Level Up again. Now."
Hestia's jaw dropped. Her fork clattered onto her plate. "Wha- Already?! Bell!" Before he could react, she launched herself across the small space, colliding with him in a flurry of blue fabric and silver hair, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"You amazing, reckless, wonderful child!" Tears welled in her eyes as she buried her face against his armored shoulder. "I'm so proud! So incredibly proud!"
Bell chuckled, the sound warm and relaxed in the cramped basement, and gently rubbed her back. "Thanks, Hestia-sama. Shall we make it official?"
Hestia pulled back, wiping her eyes fiercely, her smile radiant. "Yes! Absolutely! Right now!" She scrambled off his lap, practically vibrating with excitement.
Bell focused as he stood up bringing out the panel, accessing the System interface.
[Level Up Available. Confirm?]
Choosing to [Level Up] will unlock a selection of [Developement Abilities].
Would the PLAYER like to [Level Up]?
[Accept] [Refuse]
(!)ALARM
You have leveled up.
A violet glow enveloped him, filling the young man with a new feeling of absolute power.
Winds kicked and swirled around him like the previous level up and Hestia as the goddess stared in awe at the young man's radiating aura, her twin tails flailing around while her child looked completely serene as it happened.
The winds and lights then faded into obscurity, and Bell was left taking a short breath before opening his eyes with an accomplished smile.
"There."
(!)ALARM
You have unlocked a selection of [Development Abilities]. Please select one.
-Hunter: Improves abilities against monsters the user has fought before and gained excelia from.
-Challenger: It will increase users stats to double every time the user faces a Challenge
-Butcher: Improves abilities the more enemies have been killed during battle.
The PLAYER may have the opportunity for previous [Development Abilities] to reappear every [Level Up].
Bell picked Challenger as it was better for him in the long run.
Name: Bell Cranel
Level [3]
Job: None
Title: None
Hp: 6505
Mp:6780
{STR} I-O
{VIT} I-O
{DEX} I-O
{AGI} I-O
{MAG} I-O
{SEN} I-O
[Skills]
-Longevity-All diseases, poisons and status effects are healed and sleeping exponentially increases regeneration ability.
-Sprint- Mana Cost 5(+1/Minute) Activates to increase your movement speed by 30%. Costs 1 mana per minute to maintain. "Your running has strengthened your legs".
-Unyielding Spirit- When below 30 % HP, all damage received is reduced by 50 %. "You have an unyielding spirit".
Scared-Insight-Able to distinguish Truth and Lies and See through all False Illusions
Rasaka's Armored Scales-Physical damage reduced by 20%
-Challenger: It will increase users stats to double every time the user faces a Challenge
Shadow Veil (Stealth): Hides Player from Divine Eyes and surrounding environment. (PASSIVE ACTIVATION/ ACTIVE ACTIVATION}
Magic:
Umbra Mortis
Brilliant Light
Hestia watched, her hands clasped together, tears still glistening.
"Level 3... in barely over a month..." she breathed. "It's unheard of, Bell. Truly." She sniffled, a fresh wave of emotion hitting her. "I... I should go see Hephaestus after work. Get your Status officially updated... though explaining this growth..." She trailed off, the practicalities dawning on her.
Bell shook his head "it would wise to keep it under wraps".
Why? Hestia asks but then a realization struck her. How dumb can she be. If she does more vultures would be hounding.
"That was dumb of me I also should not have left you to announce the first level up"
She shouldn't have announced the first level up.
Hestia nodded, finishing their breakfast. "This would help in the long run, Hestia. But first... I need to talk to Hermes."
Hestia stiffened instantly, her expression clouding with worry. "Hermes? Bell, is that wise? That slippery messenger... he's bound to want something dangerous in return!"
"He deals in movement, Hestia" Bell reasoned, his voice calm but firm.
"Fast, discreet transport out of Orario. Even with Lady Hephaestus's carriage, it would take days overland to reach Altena. Days where Freya Familia could catch up.
" He met her worried gaze. "Hermes can make distance vanish. For the right price. And I have information he might value." He didn't elaborate on the card or the minotaur sword lead.
Hestia shut her eyes, a tremor running through her small frame. The image of Freya's cold, analytical gaze flashed in her mind.
"I'm scared, Bell," she whispered, her voice small. "So scared. Of her. Of what she might do."
Bell reached out, placing a hand over hers on the table. His touch was steady, grounding.
"I am too," he admitted quietly. "But we push through. Together. We get out. Hermes is a risk, but it might be the fastest way." He squeezed her hand gently. "I'll be careful. Promise."
Hestia took a shaky breath, then nodded, forcing a brave smile.
"Alright. Just... come home safely. I need to get to work." She stood, gathering her apron. "Are you diving again? For more valis?" She tried for a light tone.
Bell chuckled, standing as well and starting to clear the plates. "Need funds to eat, Hestia. And to pay Welf for the armor upgrades." He gestured towards the dark plate armor.
"I gave him some of the Essence Stones."
Hestia paused, her eyes widening. "You gave him... those precious stones? Are you sure? Trusting him with something like that?"
Bell nodded, his expression serious. "My... insight," he said, tapping his temple, referring to his lie-detection Skill, "didn't pick up any deceit.
He was awed, determined... grateful for the trust. Having a skilled smith we can rely on, especially one outside the big Familia workshops, could be invaluable long-term. An ally."
Hestia considered this, then nodded slowly, a flicker of approval in her eyes. "You're thinking ahead.
Good. I'll leave that to your judgment, Bell." She walked over to him, looking him up and down again in the dark knight armor.
A faint blush touched her cheeks. "You know... you look... very commanding in that. Like a real knight." Her voice was soft, almost shy.
Bell looked down at her, a warm, slightly awkward chuckle escaping him. "Thanks, Hestia" He was cut off as the trapdoor banged open.
"Master Bell! Lili has procured the high-grade potions for today's dive! We should head to the Middle Floors early to maximize—" Lili stopped short, blinking at the close proximity of Bell and Hestia.
Hestia jumped back with a startled "Eep!", her blush deepening into crimson. "L-Lili! Don't burst in like that!" she sputtered, flustered.
Lili merely raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. "Apologies, Goddess. Lili will wait outside." She ducked back up the ladder, leaving a faintly amused silence behind.
Hestia huffed, smoothing her dress. "Right! Work! Be safe, Bell! And you," she pointed a finger at the trapdoor, "no reckless dives!"
With a final flustered glance at Bell, she grabbed her bag and hurried out.
Bell watched her go, shaking his head with a fond smile. The domestic chaos was a welcome anchor.
He looked at the packed bags, then at the dark armor. Level 3. Essence Stones forging his future protection. A dangerous deal with Hermes looming. One last dive for funds. The path to Altena was being paved, stone by stone.
"Right," he murmured to himself, heading towards the curtained-off area that served as a washroom.
"Shower. Then the Dungeon. One step at a time." The water would wash away the grime of the Labyrinth and the Boar Hat, readying him for the final push into Orario's depths before their great escape.
~ (Scene Change) ~
A relentless jackhammer pounded against the inside of Loki's skull, each throb echoing the cheerful (and frankly, offensive) birdsong outside Finn's office window.
Sunlight stabbed her eyes like tiny daggers. Ugh. Never again. Or at least, not until tonight. She slumped further into the plush sofa, a groan escaping her lips as the memory of last night's revelry – and its consequences – washed over her. The only thing sharper than the hangover was the sting of irritation.
Her thoughts, fuzzy and sour, drifted inevitably to that boy. That little shrimp Hestia somehow fished out of the gutter. "Looks like luck was smilin' on the flat-chested one for once," she groused aloud, her voice raspy.
"Pulled a real enigma outta her hat." The thought festered. Bell Cranel. Level 2 in a month? Not even her Ais, her shining star forged in the Dungeon's crucible, had managed that.
It was absurd! She'd almost written it off as a fluke when he'd looked ready to faint at the mere mention of a Minotaur.
Then came the battle. Toe-to-toe with an Irregular, fighting like a seasoned veteran… "That," she muttered, pacing now despite the headache's protest, "was NOT a normal Level 2."
The core of her frustration wasn't just the speed, though. It was the blankness. Her divine intuition, her innate sense for lies and hidden truths – honed over millennia as a Goddess of Mischief – slid right off him.
Like water on oiled leather. Whenever she'd tried to corner him, poke and prod, he'd just… sidestepped.
Skirted the questions with wide, innocent eyes that somehow felt utterly opaque. Was he an outsider plant? A sleeper agent? He didn't act like one, especially after handing over that sewer intel of monsters like a naive fool.
"Frustratin'!" she declared, kicking the leg of Finn's heavy oak desk for emphasis.
Finn, impeccably dressed despite the early hour, didn't even flinch. He merely sighed, setting down his pen and rubbing the bridge of his nose.
The paperwork mountain before him seemed to grow taller with each of Loki's agitated circuits. "Loki, I investigated him thoroughly at your request," he stated, his voice calm but weary.
"Guild records, testimonies from the Guild staff, even discreet observation. No evidence of foul play. No sign he was an established adventurer from outside Orario.
His growth is unprecedented, yes, but not impossible within the Falna's framework… theoretically."
"Theoretically, my divine backside!" Loki collapsed back onto the sofa with a dramatic flop. "
And now Freya's ignoring me too! absolute silence! I wanted to rip her a new one over that Monsterphilia stunt, releasing Monsters like party favors! But nah, not even a returned scroll."
Finn paused, his sharp eyes locking onto Loki. "You believe the plant monsters in the sewers were also her doing?"
Loki waved a dismissive, slightly shaky hand. "Dunno for sure. Wouldn't put it past her, but without proof or her bothering to answer... feels different. Ominously quiet."
She shivered, though whether from hangover chills or divine unease was unclear.
"We'll investigate the sewer incident further," Finn assured her, ever the strategist. "And the boy's knowledge of it… given his actions – handing over the letter openly, foolishly trusting – it seems unlikely he works for Evilus.
More probable he stumbled upon it, like the Minotaur." He tapped a finger thoughtfully. "But he has changed. Markedly. Since the Minotaur encounter? Or something else…?"
"Hestia using her Arcanum on him?" Loki suggested, a spark of malicious curiosity in her bloodshot eyes.
Finn gave her a flat look. "You yourself decreed that was impossible under Heaven's rules. Repeatedly."
"Yeah, yeah," Loki grumbled, reaching for a hidden flask only to remember it was empty.
"But something is off, Finn! The speed, the weird blank spot where my truth-sense should be… did something happen down in the Dungeon? I know something did! But the little shrimp's tighter than a dwarf's purse! Had the sheer gall to tell me it was 'none of my business' after my Ais hauled his scrawny carcass out of the Dungeon! He should be prostrating himself in gratitude!"
"Not mention the shrimp flipped me up on the road like I was a stain on the street while coming back from the clinic"
"To be fair," Finn said dryly, picking his pen back up, "it was our Familia's responsibility that put him in danger in the first place."
Loki slumped further, a pout forming. "…Point. But still! The boy's weird! Completely ignores Ais where everyone else fawns.
Not shy, not starstruck… just… apathetic. Guarded. Though weirdly decent with those kids he saved…" Her rambling was cut off as the office door opened.
Riveria and Gareth entered, the elf's expression serene, the dwarf's weathered face set in its usual gruff lines. They took seats opposite Finn.
"Disturbing the Captain's peace already, Loki?" Gareth rumbled, eyeing the disheveled goddess.
"Just small talk, Gareth," Finn interjected smoothly. "Riveria. How are the expedition preparations?"
"Tsubaki and her smiths delivered the final batch of Magic Swords yesterday," Gareth reported, crossing his arms. "Quality work. Raul's doing the final inventory check now. Should be ready to load."
"Supplies and potions are secured," Riveria added, her voice like cool water. "Tiona, Tione, and Lefiya handled the bulk of it efficiently. Though Tiona was… distractingly enthusiastic."
"Oh?" Finn raised an eyebrow.
Riveria's lips thinned slightly. "She hasn't stopped talking about the Irregular Minotaur battle. Drawing comparisons to Argonaut and General Minos. It's invigorated the junior members, certainly."
"Pfft!" Loki scoffed, sitting up straighter. "That scrap was impressive for a shrimp, sure, but not legendary! Kid's got spirit, I'll give him that. Charged headfirst like an idiot."
"Showed more spine than the first time, though," Gareth conceded grudgingly. "Went from rabbit-in-headlights on the run to actually holding his ground. That's growth, hangover or not."
"Ais seems subdued, however," Riveria observed, her perceptive gaze shifting between Finn and Loki. "Quieter than usual since the incident."
Finn leaned forward. "How so?"
Before Riveria could elaborate, Loki threw her hands up. "Tch! Probably just sulking 'cause the new kid's leveling faster than weeds in a manure pile! Makes her competitive streak itch, that's all."
Riveria and Finn exchanged a look that spoke volumes – a mix of skepticism and concern that went far deeper than simple competitiveness. Gareth, however, nodded slowly.
"Aye, the lass burns fierce for strength," the dwarf said, his voice low and serious. "But that hunger… it's a dangerous path. Death follows those who chase power blind, waitin' for a single stumble."
"Agreed," Finn said, his tone turning decisive. "We need everyone sharp, not strained. Perhaps Tiona and Tione could take Ais and Lefiya out. A distraction. Shopping, perhaps?"
A rare, almost imperceptible sigh escaped Riveria.
"Given the state of our coffers after commissioning the Magic Swords and resupplying… and considering Tiona and Tione's known appetites for both combat and commerce… I fear that would only expedite our journey into financial ruin."
A heavy silence fell, broken only by Finn and Gareth's resigned chuckles. Loki let out a long, theatrical moan and buried her face in a cushion, the hangover momentarily forgotten in the face of fiscal despair.
"My money… my beautiful money…" she whimpered, the image of empty coffers a fresh agony atop the throbbing in her skull and the enigma of the white-haired boy.
~ (Scene Change) ~
(POV: Ais Wallenstein)
Sunlight streamed through the window of Ais's sparse room in Twilight Manor, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air.
It fell across the worn leather vambrace lying discarded on the floorboards, its surface marred by deep scorch marks. Ais sat on the edge of her narrow bed, knees drawn tight to her chest, chin resting on them.
The faint scent of ozone and something metallic – his scent, perhaps? – still clung faintly to the armor piece.
Last night's dreams had been vivid, sharp. Her mother's gentle smile, her father's strong hand ruffling her hair, his voice warm yet earnest: "Find your own hero, Ais." The images had faded upon waking, leaving behind a familiar, hollow ache.
But this time, the ache had a new focus: the white-haired boy. The little bunny whose name she hadn't gotten, despite truly searching after carrying him from the lower floors. Meeting him… something about that encounter had stirred the memories, made the old wound feel raw again.
Why? The question echoed silently in the quiet room. She wanted to see him again. Needed to. To understand the strange pull, the flicker of… something she felt when she saw him standing protectively over those two children in Daedalus Street.
That image had slammed into her memory with the force of a Minotaur's charge: her father's words, the desperate hope of a child waiting in ruins. "No matter how much I cried… screamed… struggled…" Her fingers dug into her calves. "...a hero never came." A familiar, cold bitterness washed over the longing.
She bit her lip, hard enough to sting. She needed to know. Know what these feelings were. Know if he… if he could be… No. Don't think it. But the thought lingered, dangerous and fragile.
Driven by a restless energy she couldn't name, Ais pushed herself off the bed. The practicalities surfaced: the vambrace needed returning.
And Felt's urgent quest request for the lower floors couldn't be ignored forever. But first… the bunny.
Methodically, she changed into her light combat leathers, buckled her sword – Desperate – to her hip, and picked up the scratched vambrace. Its weight felt significant in her hand.
The Manor was quiet, most members busy with expedition preparations or already in the Dungeon.
Without a sound, Ais slipped out through her window, landing softly on the dew-damp grass below, a pale ghost moving with deliberate slowness through the awakening city. Her destination: the Guild. They had records. They could tell her where Hestia Familia lived. Where he lived.
Luck, however, seemed to favor her today. As she approached the imposing Guild building, her sharp eyes caught movement down a side street leading towards the Dungeon entrance.
A figure in dark, practical armor – with unmistakably white hair Bell Cranel. Beside him, his petite Pallum supporter, Lili, burdened with a large pack.
Relief warred with sudden nervousness within Ais. He was here. She could just… approach him. Return the vambrace. Ask… something.
But as her foot lifted to step forward, her gaze snapped sideways. Two figures – young women in worn tunics, their eyes darting nervously – were tailing Bell and Lili at a cautious distance, ducking behind market stalls whenever the pair paused.
And behind them, partially obscured by the morning crowd flowing towards Babel, were five more figures.
Taller, bulkier, moving with a predatory confidence that set Ais's instincts humming. Their cloaks, worn casually open, revealed a crest stitched onto their jerkins: the distinctive cup cluster of Soma Familia.
Ais froze, blending instantly into the shadow of a tall stone building. Soma Familia. The memory surfaced instantly: Eina Tulle, the Guild advisor, speaking in hushed, worried tones to her just days ago. Reports. Complaints. Soma members harassing, robbing low-level adventurers as they talked in the open about it to rob Bell Cranel.
Seven. Two girls shadowing, five behind. And Bell and Lili, oblivious, walking deeper into the less crowded streets towards the Dungeon, where ambushes were easier.
This wasn't a coincidence. This was a planned action. Her initial impulse to approach Bell vanished, replaced by a cold, focused stillness.
The vambrace felt heavy in her hand, the scorch marks a silent testament to the boy's reckless courage.
It seemed she was not the only one that noticed as the boy gave subtle glance along with the supporter.
Her curiosity about the bunny, the confusing feelings, the echo of her father's words – all were momentarily submerged beneath the sharp, clear water of a perceived threat.
This wasn't just about returning armor anymore. This was about watching. Understanding. And perhaps… intervening.
Ais narrowed her eyes; her golden gaze fixed on the trailing Soma members.
Silently, like a shadow detaching itself from the wall, she began to follow the followers, her hand resting lightly on Desperate's hilt. The huntress was on the move. She needed to see what was going on.
~ (Scene Change) ~
The lingering warmth of the bath and the satisfying weight of Hestia's hearty lunch (and Jagamarukun potatoes) in his stomach were pleasant sensations, quickly overshadowed by the memory of yesterday night's… incident.
Bell felt his ears burn as he glanced sideways at Lili. 'Note to self: Check the bathroom thoroughly BEFORE entering from now on.'
His preventative measure – swiftly binding her hands with spare spring cord when she'd innocently suggested "preparing" for his bath – had earned him a truly impressive glare and muttered threats about "perverted masters." Still, better than another awkward, naked confrontation.
Lili, walking beside him with her large pack, broke the slightly charged silence. "Master Bell, which floor shall we descend to today?" Her voice was back to its usual pragmatic tone, though a faint pink tinge lingered on her Pallum cheeks.
Bell scanned the bustling market street ahead, his eyes instinctively noting exits, shadows, and potential ambush points – habits ingrained deeper after recent events. "As far as possible, Lili," he replied, his voice low. "I need to test my new strength properly."
"New strength?" Lili frowned, tilting her head. "Your stats are already impressive for Level 2, Master Bell, but pushing too deep without preparation is—"
Bell leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near-inaudible whisper only enhanced by his 'Stealth' skill. "Level Three, Lili."
Lili stopped dead. Her pack thudded against her back. Her eyes widened to saucers, her jaw dropping open. "Wh—?!"
The exclamation started as a strangled gasp, threatening to erupt into a full-blown scream of disbelief right there in the crowded market.
Reacting instantly, Bell's hand shot out, clamping gently but firmly over her mouth before the sound could escape.
Thanks to 'Stealth', the sudden movement drew no attention; to the surrounding crowd, it looked like he was merely adjusting her hood or whispering something intimate.
"Shhh! Not here!" he hissed urgently, his eyes scanning the nearby faces. Seeing no unusual interest, he slowly removed his hand. "I'll show you the status sheet later. But I need to gauge it. See what floor my stats feel like now, how far I can push."
Lili stared at him, breathless, her small frame trembling slightly. "Level… Three…?" she managed, her voice trembling with awe and shock. "But… how? When?"
"Later," Bell insisted, gently nudging her to start walking again. "We need to move."
Lili numbly obeyed, shaking her head as if to clear it. "T-testing… Does Master Bell mean… do you plan to challenge the Goliath?" she asked, a note of incredulous amusement creeping into her voice despite her shock.
Bell chuckled, a low, determined sound. "If we have time enough to reach the 17th, maybe."
Lili let out a shaky laugh, shaking her head again, this time in sheer bewildered amusement. 'Only Master Bell…'
Trying to focus on practicalities, Bell asked, "Do you know much about the floors below 10? Specifically, the Guild mentioned heavy fog on 10 and lower sometimes."
Lili snapped back into supporter mode, grateful for the concrete task.
"Y-yes. Information acquired. Floor 10 and below host Lizardmen, including 'Liferangs'. They breathe fire. Salamander wool cloaks would be advisable. Expensive, but… vaporization is worse." She shuddered visibly.
"Monsters using breath attacks?" Bell raised an eyebrow, a flicker of challenge in his eyes. "You weren't this surprised by the Shaman Goblins using fire arrows with their bows in that C-rank dungeon this morning."
"It was the intelligence," Lili clarified, her voice gaining strength. "The coordination. The Liferangs are kill on sight but unlike those so-called shamans aren't just mindless fire-spitters; they set ambushes in the fog."
"With my speed," Bell mused, flexing his fingers slightly, feeling the new, denser power coiled within him, "I might be able to close the distance before they can fully unleash their breath."
"That… might be possible, Master Bell," Lili conceded, though worry creased her brow. "I've seen adventurers… ones who underestimated the range or the heat… vanish in a puff of steam. Please be cautious." The memory made her shiver again.
"It can't be worse than that C-rank's boss chamber," Bell muttered, recalling the claustrophobic tunnels and relentless, spell-flinging horrors they'd faced just hours ago.
Suddenly, a familiar, icy sensation prickled at the base of his skull. Cold, hard text scrolled across his inner vision:
[Hostile Intent Detected. Multiple Signatures.]
His new 'Sense ' stats, honed in the crucible of otherworldly dungeons, screamed a silent alarm.
Bell snapped his head around, crimson eyes scanning the throng with predatory focus. He saw them instantly – a group of figures far back down the street, who quickly averted their gazes when his locked onto them.
Too quick. Too deliberate. His gaze swept wider, sharper. There. Two more figures – a Rabbit Kin and a Renard girl – peeking from behind a stall, their eyes wide, fixed directly on him. Like startled deer. Observers? Scouts?
"Master Bell?" Lili asked, alarmed by his sudden tension. She followed his gaze, her own sharp Pallum vision instantly picking out the emblem on the jerkins of the larger group trying to blend in.
Her blood ran cold. "Soma Familia…" she whispered, her voice trembling with old fear and fresh dread.
Bell turned back towards the distant maw of Babel Tower, the Dungeon entrance. His expression hardened. "We keep going. To the Dungeon."
"What?!" Lili gasped, grabbing his arm. "Why? We should go back! To the Church! To Lady Hestia!"
Bell shook his head, his voice grim. "If we head back now, they'll follow. Straight to the Church. We'd be leading them right to Hestia. Trapped. Vulnerable."
The image of his goddess, innocent and kind, facing these thugs fueled a cold fire in his gut. "I won't risk her."
Lili looked at the determined set of his jaw, the new, unfamiliar steel in his crimson eyes her Blood Geass Skill activating. She swallowed hard, her grip tightening on his arm, but she nodded shakily. "Understood, Master Bell."
Bell clenched his fists, feeling the familiar weight of the Raskas fang in his inventory the urge to pull it out the sensation of the previous murder haunted him, and the newer, heavier weight of responsibility – and violence.
'Will I have to drench my hands in blood again?' The thought was a cold stone in his stomach.
He'd walked that path before, in other worlds, facing desperate choices. He truly, desperately hoped it wouldn't come to that here. 'Talk. I have to try to talk.'
He needed a plan. A way to control the situation, protect Lili, and avoid slaughter if possible. His hand slipped into his pocket and accessed the inventory, fingers brushing against cool, intricate metal.
The Keys. An idea sparked, risky but potentially contained. He pulled out a specific Key – its design subtly different from the one used this morning – a C-rank Dungeon Key designed for environments like… fog.
He met Lili's anxious gaze. "I have a plan." He gestured subtly with the Key. "You mentioned the fog on Floor 10 is thick?"
"Y-yes," Lili stammered, confusion warring with hope. "Impenetrable in patches. Are we… ambushing them?" The idea was terrifying.
"Not exactly," Bell murmured, his voice low and intense. "If they force a confrontation… I'll trap them. In my dungeon."
Lili's eyes widened further. "But Master Bell! Letting others know you can do that…!"
"Only if things turn violent," Bell stressed, his gaze scanning the street ahead, watching for signs the Soma group was closing the distance.
"Only as a last resort. I'd prefer they just… back off." He offered a weak, hopeful smile that didn't reach his eyes. "But if they don't… the fog will hide the entrance. No one else needs to know."
Lili took a deep, shuddering breath. The pragmatism of her old, treacherous life warred with her loyalty and fear. "Understood. I… I can plant traps. Monster bait. Slow them down, funnel them."
Bell managed a genuine, if strained, chuckle. "You really do have experience with this."
A flicker of shame crossed Lili's face, quickly masked by resolve. "Survival demanded it, Master Bell. But… I never let adventurers die under my traps. Only delayed. Hindered. Trapped where they could manage."
Bell felt the familiar warmth of his 'Sacred Insight' flare softly, confirming the truth and the lingering pain in her words. He gave a firm nod. "Good. That's good, Lili."
Putting as much as optimism in those words as he can.
With a final, deep breath, Bell squared his shoulders, the Key a cold, reassuring weight in his palm. The hostile presences felt like physical pressure at his back.
"Alright," he said, his voice steady now, the nervousness replaced by focused resolve. "Let's head to the Dungeon. And see how thick that fog really is."
~ (Scene Change) ~
POV: (Tsukinokami Kaede)
The thick, cloying scent of cheap alcohol and unwashed desperation hung heavy in Captain Zanis's cramped office.
Kaede, her long rabbit ears twitching nervously against her back, fought to keep her breathing steady. Beside her, Momiji stood rigid, her vulpine tail held unnaturally still, a clear sign of suppressed tension.
The faint tremble in Kaede's hands wasn't just nerves; the phantom craving for Soma's cursed nectar was a constant, gnawing companion, a shackle they'd worn since their hopeful arrival in Orario turned into this nightmare.
Their childhood dream – coming to the city of adventurers to find purpose, maybe join a decent Familia – had curdled faster than spoiled milk. Passionate about mixing and brewing, they'd been naive.
Soma Familia, lured by the name of the God of Wine, had seemed a fit. The reality was a den of addicts and thugs.
Only Vice-Captain Chadra offered a semblance of reason, his perpetually tired face etched with the strain of keeping the worst of the chaos – and the Captain's leers – at bay.
Kaede could still feel Zanis's oily gaze sliding over her and Momiji now, a familiar, unwelcome violation.
"Right then, girls," Zanis drawled, leaning back in his creaking chair, boots propped on a stained ledger. He swirled a murky liquid in a dirty glass.
"Got a job for ya. Seems one of ours, Canoe, went a bit… rogue. Word is he tangled with some other Familia punks down in the Dungeon. Didn't end well for them, apparently. Got himself killed."
Kaede exchanged a quick, skeptical glance with Momiji. Canoe? Him and his gang were less "members" and more predators, notorious for shaking down weaker adventurers, especially Pallums, for Valis and gear.
The idea of him being killed while defending himself against aggressors was laughable. More likely, he picked a fight he couldn't win while trying to rob someone.
"Thing is," Zanis continued, a predatory gleam in his eye as he slammed a grainy, Guild-distributed picture onto the desk, "his little supporter rat, Lili, she's popped up.
Seems she's latched onto the new hotshot. The record holder."
Kaede's breath hitched. The picture showed a young, white-haired boy with earnest crimson eyes – Bell Cranel.
The one who'd leveled up faster than anyone in history. The name buzzed in Orario's underbelly.
"Our little Lili," Zanis sneered, "was found cozying up to this Cranel kid. Familia questioning – discreet-like, mind you – suggests Canoe and the boys were just trying to collect what was owed.
Seems Lili and this Bell were holding out on Valis they rightfully earned on a joint dive. Typical newbie arrogance. Probably resisted, things got messy."
Lies. The word screamed in Kaede's mind. She knew Canoe's methods. "Collecting what was owed" meant ambushing, threatening, and stealing.
Protecting Lili? More like targeting her because she was small and vulnerable, just like Collins, the Pallum friend Kaede and Momiji often shielded from the worst of the Familia's internal bullies. Disgust, thick and sour, rose in her throat. Momiji's knuckles were white where she clenched her fists at her sides.
"Your Quest," Zanis stated, pointing a grubby finger at them. "Find Cranel and his little Pallum shadow. Politely ask for the return of our… wayward member.
And investigate." He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper laced with menace.
"Get the truth. Did Cranel and his supporter take out Canoe and his crew? Was it over stolen loot? Or did our boys just get unlucky?"
Kaede felt Momiji's subtle nudge, a warning. They both wanted to yell, They deserved it! Scum like Canoe rob everyone! But the craving twisted in Kaede's gut, a physical reminder of their chains.
The Soma urge pulsed, a cold sweat breaking out on her brow. Submission wasn't in their hearts, but the need… the need was a constant, humiliating pressure.
"But Captain," Momiji ventured, her voice carefully neutral, though her tail gave a single, furious flick Zanis thankfully missed, "what if… what if it was Canoe who started it? Provoked them?"
Zanis's smile vanished, replaced by cold calculation. "Doesn't matter who started it, girl. What matters is who won. And if some Level 2 rookie thinks he can wipe out Soma Familia members and get away with it?"
He slammed his glass down, making Kaede jump. "It undermines us! Shows weakness! Sharks smell blood, Momiji. Other Familias, the Guild, they'll see us as easy prey.
For the sake of the whole Familia, we need evidence. Hard proof Cranel did it. Then we drag that skeleton out of his closet and parade it. Then a War Game"
"War Game?" Kaede whispered, dread coiling in her stomach.
"If he's stubborn? Absolutely," Zanis grinned, a cruel, toothy expression. "Or we just bury him. No matter how fast he levels, he's one boy.
A war Game would crush him. Also otherwise pawn him off to certain interested members who like to hire our service.
Numbers crush solo acts every time." His gaze swept over them, dismissive. "Just get the evidence. Our mebers can testify as that blabber mouth Canoe was talking about out friend Cranel and his knife that costs a lot for a newbie.
Preferably something that keeps Ganesha's busybodies out of it. Familia business stays between Familias. What happens in the Dungeon… stays there, right?"
He paused, a truly vile thought seeming to cross his mind. His eyes lingered on Kaede and Momiji with a new, chilling speculation.
"And if Ganesha does poke his elephant nose in… well," he murmured, more to himself than them, a dark smile playing on his lips, "we might have leverage. Tragic, really.
Two loyal Soma girls, just doing their duty, ambushed and silenced by a power-drunk record holder who thought he owned the world… makes a solid counter-argument, wouldn't they say? Really paints a picture."
Zanis nods to this thought.
Also, with Black Fist such plan would not be even used in the first place.
Though if things fall out for unexpected variables he can always fall back to his plan.
The implication hung in the stale air like poison gas. Kaede felt ice flood her veins. He wasn't just thinking of using them for scut work; he was contemplating sacrificing them as part of a frame-up.
"Now get moving," Zanis waved a dismissive hand, his gaze already drifting to a bottle on a shelf. "Report back with what you find. And remember… Familia comes first."
As they turned to leave, Kaede caught the tail end of Zanis's mutter, barely audible but chillingly clear: "Hmm… wonder what Terry would offer for a pair like that once they've outlived their usefulness…"
The door clicked shut behind them, sealing them in the marginally cleaner but no less oppressive hallway. Kaede leaned against the cold stone wall, trembling, the Soma urge momentarily drowned by sheer terror and revulsion.
Momiji placed a steadying hand on her arm, her golden eyes blazing with a fury that mirrored Kaede's own despair. They weren't just hunting a boy; they were walking into a trap laid by their own Captain, with their lives as potential bargaining chips.