Bell moved through the flames surrounding him. The wheel above him rotated in response to the burns appearing all over his body.
His body was becoming more resistant to flames. Rather, his body was adapting to flames.
He took a deep breath and exhaled. Plumes of steam were expelled from the corner of his mouth.
[Ittou Shura] thundered to the highest gear. His strength rose upwards. His speed ascending beyond the realm considered outrageous for a Level 1.
Finally.
He had mastered [Ittou Shura]. Every drop of vitality burned was being converted to pure strength.
100% conversion.
This feeling of his strength soaring beyond what should be possible was addicting.
[Ittou Shura] burned his vitality. Draining his cells dry for all their worth. With this much strain, he should have already kicked the bucket.
Should have.
But, he had [Super Regeneration] for healing all the internal damage and drained vitality in mere moments.
So...This is what cheating feels like?
Bell concluded.
He took a single step forward. His surroundings dissolved in a blur of movement in response. Everything passed by like a moving painting fading and then being redrawn. His mind struggled to follow the speed at which his body was moving properly.
The world dissolved and reassembled.
Now, he was standing at the very edge of the 13th floor. With the entrance of 14th floor just ahead.
No light was reflected from the entrance. It looked like a giant maw of a waiting beast ready to devour him whole.
His steps did not slow as he stepped through.
Darkness swallowed him whole. Only the light of his wheel illuminated the path ahead.
...
Orario.
Bell's home.
"Astraea...I still can't believe we did it. Bell really is a very special child of the lower world." Goddess Hestia held her cheeks. Flickering her twin tails around while squealing in happiness.
"Hmm...I knew he was different the moment I met him...Otherwise who would travel to another city altogether to join the Familia of a Goddess who might not accept him?" Goddess Astraea spoke with a hint of possessive pride. A gentle smile at the corner of her lips.
"Seriously, Astraea...Eccentric would be the better word for what Bell did." Hestia tapped her chin while speaking 'politely'. Since Bell was now her child too.
'Hehehe~ Bell my child, my child.' Hestia thought with delight.
"Hestia...You know only eccentric people ar—" Astraea stopped mid sentence as the floor beneath them started to shake.
Goddess Hestia tumbled out of her chair. Nearly being thrown to the floor. Goddess Astraea steadied herself by holding onto the table nearby.
Their whole house started to quake.
Not just theirs. Whole of Orario shook for a moment. Starting from the Tower of Babel all the way to the very outer edges of Orario.
"A-Astraea...I have a bad feeling about this. Bell is still in the dungeon." Goddess Hestia steadied herself after the quake passed and spoke with worry and a hint of fear.
"W-What should we do?" Goddess Hestia continued. She didn't want her new and only child to be gone before they even started to spend time together.
"Calm down, Hestia. First we go to the guild and check if Bell is there or not." Goddess Astraea calmed her down and spoke with composure. Only if you ignored her knuckles turning white by her tightened fists.
...
Adventurers Guild.
The guild was crowded by too many people and adventurers surrounding the whole street. Due to the earlier quakes which shook the whole Orario.
"Goddesses are coming through...Make space for them." An adventurer spoke after looking at Goddess Astraea and Hestia walking towards the guild.
The surroundings people heard his words and parted to the sides to make space for them.
Goddess Astraea and Hestia walked inside the guild without wasting time.
The guild inside was crowded. With people running here and there. Guild employees were busy trying to calm the disorderly and unsettled crowd.
Goddess Astraea walked to a counter with Goddess Hestia. A female elf was standing there, trying to calm the crowd.
"Hello... I'm Goddess Astraea...And this is Goddess Hestia. Do you know a guild employee by the name of Ronald?" Goddess Astraea asked. Bell had shared with her the name of his guild advisor.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both. Goddess Astraea. Goddess Hestia. I'm Eina Tulle. I'll take you to Ronald." Eina spoke respectfully while gesturing for them to follow her after calling another employee to take her place for a moment.
Eina led them to another counter where a male elf employee was arguing about something with another adventurer.
"Ronald...Two Goddesses are here to ask something from you." Eina spoke after clearing her throat.
Ronald snapped out and pushed the other adventurer aside and bowed towards the Goddesses in respect while speaking.
"It is nice to meet you Goddesses...How can this humble elf be of your help?" Ronald felt a hint of fear at the razor sharp gaze of Goddess Astraea.
"Sir Ronald. I'm Goddess Astraea. The Familia Goddess of Bell Cranel. Has he by any chance dropped by here?" Goddess Astraea asked. Her worry buried under a mask of composure.
"I regret informing you Goddess Astraea, Bell did not drop by the guild till now." Ronald spoke with seriousness.
"I see...Hestia. We're going." Goddess Astraea spoke with a frigid tone.
"B-But, we could at least submit a quest to the guild to search for Bell." Goddess Hestia spoke with a choked tremble.
"Come on Hestia. The request approval would take too much time. Look at how busy the guild is right now." Goddess Astraea spoke while walking towards the exit.
"I see...Inform us if Bell drops by here, alright?" Goddess Hestia spoke to Ronald and Eina in worry.
Both of them affirmed with grim nods.
Goddess Hestia followed Goddess Astraea out and asked in anxiety.
"What should we do now Astraea? Bell is still in the dungeon." Goddess Hestia didn't know how to describe her feelings. Just thinking about Bell being in danger made her feel a knot in her stomach. It was very uncomfortable.
"Guess we'll have to pull on our old connections." Goddess Astraea spoke after looking at the sky for a moment.
...
Hostess of Fertility.
The tavern was not yet open for business.
"Goddess A-Astraea...How are you here?" Ryuu asked in bewildered confusion mixed another emotion she could not quite name.
"Ryuu...It's been a long time. We'll catch up later. Right now, I need your help." Goddess Astraea spoke. Her voice was determined. Her eyes filled with a hint of nostalgia while looking at her.
"What do you need help with Goddess?" Ryuu asked. Putting aside her emotions for a moment.
All the other waitresses cleaned the tavern. But their focus was on the conversation between Ryuu and Goddess Astraea.
Goddess Astraea finally showed a gentle smile and spoke.
"To save your junior and our new Familia member. Bell Cranel."
Wind responded to those words. This time to protect. Not destroy.
...
Takemikazuchi Familia.
"Forgive me and my children for their foolishness, Hestia." God Takemikazuchi spoke with shame while giving a full far eastern bow to Hestia.
Goddess Hestia was shocked for a moment. Then felt anger. She had come here to ask for help. But who knew Take's Familia had send a whole pass parade after her Bell.
"Goddess Hestia. We'll atone for our folly by helping you save Bell Cranel." Ouka spoke. His bow deep as he his voice carried guild and conviction.
"Please give us a chance to atone for our mistake, Goddess Hestia." Makoto spoke. Her head bowed the lowest. Her guild overwhelming.
"Don't ask forgiveness from me. Bell is Astraea's child. Ask for her forgiveness." Goddess Hestia spoke. Not wanting others to know Bell's secret of twin Falna.
Takemikazuchi Familia started to prepare for war to atone.
...
Hermes Familia.
A letter was delivered to his base by a pigeon.
Hermes opened the letter and read it with interest. A faintly amused smile slowly forming on his lips.
He burned the letter after reading it and spoke.
"Let's go Asfi...We have someone interesting to save." Hermes said to his Familia captain. And walked out of his office.
Invisible footfalls started to resound behind him as someone started to follow his steps.
...
Freya Familia.
Top of the Tower of Babel.
Freya relaxed on a sofa. Her violet eyes flashing with an unusual emotion.
"Ottar." Her voice resounded across the room.
"Your command, Goddess?" A tall and heavily muscular dark-skinned Boaz with a pair of boar ears asked.
This was King.
Level 7.
The Strongest Adventurer of Orario.
"Make sure Bell Cranel does not die... After all, he's mine. Not even death can take him away from me." Freya spoke with an unhinged expression. Her eyes two whirlpools of obsession mixed with something else.
"Ahhnnn~ Just thinking about him makes me wet!!" She felt electrified just thinking about those indifferent eyes filled with nothing but black.
"As you wish, my Goddess." Ottar spoke with composure. As if what she wanted was already hers. If not then he would make it hers by force.
His Level 7 strength slumbered beneath his burly frame. A dormant volcano ready to be unleashed at her command.
...
Hephaestus Familia.
"Please Hephaestus. Help us. Even if you don't want to help me. Do it for Astraea." Goddess Hestia persuaded Goddess Hephaestus.
"Hestia...It's not that I don't want to help. But we really don't have any members who can safely search through the middle floors."
"B-But Bell is there. Alone. Fighting who knows how many monsters." Hestia spoke with a choke. Her worry overwhelming her.
Just as Hestia was about to cry. A male voice resounded with a crash.
"Goddess... Are you talking about Bell? Bell Cranel?" Welf Crozzo was there. Having heard her words and asked in confirmation.
"Eh? Y-You know him?" Goddess Hestia asked in bewilderment. Her tears being forgotten at the surprise of someone knowing Bell.
"Yes... We drank once together at a pub. He left quite a good impression on me. I want to help if he's in any danger." Welf spoke with finality.
"Are you sure Welf? Bell is probably stuck in the middle floors. It's a death sentence for someone as weak as you." Goddess Hephaestus spoke frankly. Not wanting Welf to risk his life.
"I still want to go and help, Goddess Hephaestus. I lost a bet with him last time and promised to help him once no matter the danger. And I won't break my word." Welf spoke with conviction.
Goddess Hephaestus quietened for a moment and then spoke.
"I see...Take Tsubaki with you then. I'll feel more reassured that way." Goddess Hephaestus concluded.
Welf walked back towards his forge. His steps uncertain. His mind lost in the fog of memories.
He was reminded about singing and dancing with Bell in a pub while they both drank so much that he literally had to be carried home by Bell and even fainted in between.
His gaze traveled to his forge. Then back to that friend who never forced him to do anything.
Bell was the only person who never judged him for not wanting to make magic swords even though his own logic was flawed and full of personal vendetta.
"Bell...You bastard. Just this once."
Welf's forge blazed with flames. This time not to create normal swords. Instead, to make magic swords he oh so hated.
...
Miach Familia
"Go Naaza. If we don't help our friends in times of need, then who will?" God Miach spoke with a gentle voice while pushing Naaza towards Hestia.
"B-But, God Miac—" Naaza was interrupted mid sentence by Miach.
"Go." Miach spoke with finality.
Goddess Hestia smiled slightly at their antics.
...
Loki Familia.
Dungeon.
22nd Floor.
"Come on...Ais, we're about to reach Rivera town on the 18th floor." Tiona spoke with encouragement.
Ais ignored her words. Her sword moving to slaughter monsters non stop.
Tione kept her gaze fixed on Captain Finn.
Riveria taught something to Lefiya in the background.
Gareth laughed at Bete, who walked while keeping both of his legs apart more than what was considered normal.
Loki Familia was coming too.
...
"Astraea...He is going to be okay, right?" Goddess Hestia asked. Agonising over Bell.
Goddess Astraea did not answer immediately.
Her gaze landed on Ryuu. She was adjusting her outfit. Then traveled to the three children from Takemikazuchi Familia.
Ouka was standing like a boulder. His gaze steeled.
Makoto was sitting on a bench nearby. Sharpening her katana in silence.
Chigusa was quietly double checking her arrows.
Then her gaze landed on Naaza nearby. She was checking her potion bottles and bow.
Her gaze travelled further to land on Welf. He seemed to be checking his newly made magic swords for the last time. Tsubaki standing besides him in full adventurer gear.
Furthermore her gaze landed on Hermes stretching without a care in the world. His Familia captain Asfi behind him.
After taking all of them in. Her gaze rose to the sky. Her voice came out without a hint of doubt.
"I trust him...He'll win.
No...He'll Adapt."
...
His clothes were mere rags. Countless injuries ran across his body. Blood poured from the wounds unimpeded.
[Super Regeneration] worked overtime...Yet there was not an inch of skin which was uninjured.
Behind him were mountains of magic cores. Some of Orcs, Silverbacks and Hard Armored monsters.
Some of Crystal Mantis's, Hellhounds and Almirajs.
And some of Minotaurs and Ligerfangs.
He walked even deeper. The golden paths in his vision shrinking as his steps moved without delay.
1000...100...10...1
Slowly the last golden path dissolved into darkness too.
1...0
His instincts whispered. There was no path to victory left. The only thing ahead of him was death.
He chuckled in response. A carefree laugh. His steps never faltered for even a moment.
Only his whisper was left behind.
"Nah...I'll Adapt."
*Clunk*