The "Center of the World"—this is how the capital of heroes, the Labyrinth City Orario, is often described.
This city acts as a plug covering the "Great Chasm" carved into the earth since time immemorial. It was not designed to withstand external sieges; rather, it was built to prevent the monsters that might overflow from the Dungeon—should the prayers of the founding god, Ouranos, ever falter—from escaping into the outside world. Consequently, massive, incredibly durable white walls surround it, reinforced by rare metals extracted from the Dungeon itself.
The city's outer wall features four entrances facing the cardinal directions, and most of the space within these walls is dedicated to adventurers.
These districts teem with various shops and facilities, ranging from specialized tool and weapon shops for adventurers to restaurants and inns. Generally, adventurers residing in the city are not permitted to leave Orario, so they spend their lives within its borders, centering their activities around their Familia headquarters. Because of this, Orario provides every necessity for living and entertainment: food, drink, medical facilities, gambling dens, and other amenities that serve its inhabitants.
In the heart of Orario rises the Tower of Babel—the white skyscraper constructed by the great divine architects to serve as a "lid" for the Great Chasm leading to the Dungeon, the land of monsters. Orario spreads around this tower, bustling daily with the movement of adventurers who dive into the depths of the labyrinth. At dusk, the city grows crowded with adventurers returning from the maze and gods who have come to celebrate the safety of their children. On the surface, lights illuminate the city even at night, where humans mingle with various demi-humans, such as beastpeople and elves. This was daily life in the Labyrinth City, a microcosm of the entire world.
"Twilight Manor."
This towering structure consists of several interconnected spires, located away from the main street in the northern part of the city. It serves as the headquarters for the Loki Familia, one of the most prominent factions in Orario, known for power that rivals the Freya Familia. The jester's flag flutters at the center of the reddish-copper building, which was masterfully designed to reflect the Familia's prestige, standing as an architectural masterpiece in its own right.
The room of Loki, the Familia's goddess, is located on the upper floor of this luxurious palace. Despite the expensive furniture, the room suggests chaos due to the piles of belongings stacked inside. Papers are scattered on the desk next to a costly quill; books and heaps of paper litter the floor. Even the bed is covered with white crystals reflecting rainbow colors, old hats, and various other items. Most notably, bottles of assorted liquors are spread everywhere, and the room even features a small refrigerated storage unit dedicated to alcohol, keeping it ready at any time.
Inside this room, Al was with his mistress, Loki.
"Come on, come on, don't be shy. Take off your shirt. It's time to update your status."
The first thing Loki does when her children return from expeditions is thank them, then begin updating their Status. These attributes reflect their daily efforts and the battles they have fought, transforming into "Excelia" that leads to gradual ability increases. Long expeditions into the Dungeon, where thousands of monsters are slain and both body and soul are pushed to the absolute limit, provide the perfect opportunity to gather experience. Adventurers often rank up immediately upon their return.
Updating the Status is a process that requires effort, so it is optional for those who wish, except for Al. Loki has mandated that he always update after every mission. The reason is that she can gauge the level of risk he has exposed himself to through the growth rate of his attributes. She also fears that his body will not endure the massive development he achieves if he is not updated daily, which could lead to his death.
To Loki, Al is a dear son and a trusted member of her family; she worries for him from the depths of her heart, even if she does not show it openly. Initially, she tried to restrain him by threatening to seal his powers, but she realized the truth of his words when he said he would dive into the Dungeon even while sealed. She decided that focusing on caring for him after battles was better than trying to restrict him fruitlessly. She has not stopped him from entering the Dungeon alone since he reached Level 3.
Whether her decision was right or wrong, Al has now become one of only two people in Orario to reach Level 7. Despite reaching that peak, Al still carries that burning determination in his eyes.
"I'm not shy, actually."
Al said this while removing his shirt, revealing scars of various sizes on his body. Normally, healing potions and magic would erase these marks, but their presence meant Al continued fighting without pause and without waiting for treatment—a painful sight for Loki. Yet, beneath those scars lay a muscular physique; tight muscles devoid of any excess, balanced with extreme precision. Al might appear slender when wearing clothes, but in reality, his body possesses clear hardness and bulk.
Loki wished Al would take better care of himself, but she realized this would only happen if he were convinced of it himself. As a goddess and a mother figure to him, she had to hide her sadness and act cheerfully, making him forget about fighting for at least a moment inside their home.
"Alright, let's begin."
Loki said as she took out a needle and pricked her finger, as she always did. She placed her finger at the base of Al's neck and began to move it skillfully, drawing symbols with her divine blood on his back. As soon as the circle of blood was complete, strange letters and symbols resembling hieroglyphics appeared on his back—the Divine Blessing known as the Status.
Loki's eyes widened as she saw the updated results.
Al Cranel - Level 7
Strength: S971 → S993
Endurance: A883 → A884
Dexterity: S996 → SS1044
Agility: SS1038 → SS1060
Magic: S976 → S989
Development Abilities:
Luck: D
Abnormal Resistance: E
Escape: E
Spirit Healing: G
Swordsman: I
Mystery: F
Magic:
[Thunderbolt]
Quick-cast magic.
Lightning element.
[Re-Phoenix]
Enchantment magic.
Fire element.
Damage restoration and burning away curses.
[Leaf Yggdrasil — World Tree Strike]
Wide-range offensive magic.
Lightning and Fire elements.
Double damage against Dragons and Black Monsters.
In certain cases, the designated target changes to ■.
Skills:
[Yearning of Remembrance]
Accelerated growth (Early Development).
The effect lasts until the goal is achieved.
Effectiveness increases in direct proportion to the intensity of feelings.
[Talent of Calamity]
Accelerated mastery of all skills.
Extracts latent potential (Status) to the maximum (Limit Break).
Temporary activation of "Swordsman" during combat.
Temporary activation of "Magic Power" during combat.
[Spirit Protection]
Special correction when facing Spirits.
Acquisition of special offensive and defensive power against Spirits.
Resistance to elemental attacks and curses.
[Alcides — Path of the Supreme Hero]
The right to execute a "Charge" for active deeds.
Enhancement of all abilities upon activation.
Enhancement is proportional to charging time.
During charging, the sound of a bell echoes, raising the morale of allies.
[Combat Instinct]
Automatic parrying of attacks.
High resistance to fatigue.
Rapid recovery of physical and mental strength.
Significant enhancement of all abilities when in a crisis.
"As usual, his power is unbelievable."
In the Status system, the five basic abilities range from 0 to 999, classified from I to S. Rank I means (0–99), H means (100–199), and so on. In addition to this are advanced skills like "Hunting" or "Abnormal Resistance" that can be acquired upon leveling up, along with magic and skills unique to each individual.
Normally, adventurers reach Rank C or D just before leveling up; very few reach Rank B. Rank A is a territory reached only by those who have undergone grueling training and fierce battles. Reaching Rank S is nearly impossible; even Finn, the Familia captain who has honed his abilities at Level 6 for seven years, only possesses Rank S in the "Dexterity" attribute.
But Al breaks all these rules. Most of his attributes were already at the end of Rank S, and after the current update, "Agility" and "Dexterity" surpassed the maximum (999) to reach Rank SS. These numbers are unprecedented and considered an anomaly. It is as if Al has no limit to his growth, or that he is not bound by the laws of the gods' world, surpassing all familiar standards.
Only half a year has passed since his last advancement to Level 7, and this growth rate is unbelievable, let alone his terrifying skills. He possesses five skills, most of which Loki had never seen before meeting him. In addition to his quick-cast "Thunderbolt," he possesses the enchantment magic "Re-Phoenix," which is considered the best in the Lower World, and his final magic, "Leaf Yggdrasil." Even Riveria described his magic as being beyond logic. It is an arsenal of abilities entirely dedicated to combat.
"I'm finished. Here you go."
Loki wrote the results on a sheet of paper, excluding the "Yearning of Remembrance" skill from the disclosure. This skill is very rare, and because it is linked to a specific goal (Yearning) that might push him toward further recklessness, she has not shared it with anyone except Finn and the leaders.
"My level didn't increase."
"What are you saying?! Your attributes increased by more than 100 points in total! Your previous increases were the ones that were abnormal."
Considering that top adventurers at Levels 5 and 6 do not see their attributes increase by more than 20 points, Al's increase is massive and insane, serving as proof of the level of recklessness he practices and the sincerity of that "Yearning" of his.
"I'm talking about the level. It's been half a year already."
"Don't be a fool. Do you think leveling up is that simple?"
Leveling up is not easy. Even in Orario, where experience is gathered with the highest efficiency, many spend their lives at Level 1 and die without a single advancement. Therefore, someone who levels up even once is considered as strong as dozens of soldiers outside Orario and is respected as a high-level adventurer. Even Ais Wallenstein, who held the world record, or that "Heroine" from the Hera Familia, took at least a year to level up.
Gifted members of the Loki Familia need years to advance. It requires sufficient attributes and the achievement of a "Great Feat" (a heroic act). Al reached Level 7 half a year ago after defeating the Floor Boss "Balor" alone while in a state of extreme exhaustion; back then, all his attributes were at Rank SSS. Unfortunately, for an adventurer at Level 7, threats considered a "Great Feat" have become very rare, causing his attributes to rise without his level advancing. To achieve a new feat, he must either attack the Freya Familia alone or dive into the deepest unknown layers of the Dungeon.
"Tell me, why do you want to become this strong? In all of Orario, there is no one stronger than you except for that 'Monster' (Ottar) from the Freya Familia."
Even if Al fought with Ottar, no one could guarantee the outcome; they are practically the two strongest in the city. Yet, Al still looks upward, toward Levels 8 and 9, which were only reached by the leaders of the Zeus and Hera Familias in the past.
"Actually, I'm not interested in being strong."
And this is the strangest part; he isn't interested in being strong? Impossible. No one commits those follies without a desire for power. The only remaining reason is the "Goal" associated with his skill.
(I know he won't answer even if I ask.)"Alright, fine. Ais will come after you, so get out quickly. I won't let you ruin my private time with her... Hey, I'm talking to you!"
"Troublemaker Number 2" left the room with a frowning face, leaving Loki waiting for "Troublemaker Number 1."
"My god. They say the most difficult children are the most loved, but this kid has crossed the line."
●○●○●
In truth, I don't really want to become strong, but... don't you think the feeling of despair would be stronger if a "strong" person died? For this reason alone, I don't care about being the strongest, but I became strong against my will because I missed some previous opportunities...
"Al..."
There was a beautiful blonde girl wearing very revealing clothes—if she were in modern Japan, she would be accused of indecency. It was Ais. Why do the women of this world wear such revealing clothes? Don't they get cold?
"What is it?"
"No... nothing. Oh... how were your results?"
"Nothing significant. My attributes increased by about a hundred points, and the advanced skills didn't change. Why do you ask?"
"A hundred?! — No, nothing. I'll go update my attributes as well."
What's wrong with her? Why does she seem so discouraged lately? I love seeing despair in the eyes of others, but I don't feel pleasure if I don't know the reason. To make the despair deeper, I must give her some hope first (psychopathic thinking).
"What's the matter? You've been acting strange for a while."
"Why... why can you become so strong, Al?"
This is a question usually directed at the protagonists of stories. The answer is talent; this body possesses immense capabilities. Don't worry, Ais, you're supposed to level up soon according to the original story. But I can't say that, of course.
"I don't know. Maybe because there's something I want to do at any cost."
"At any cost?"
"Yes. I can't tell you what it is, but it's definitely the reason I became an adventurer."
And the reason is for me to die before your eyes—a majestic death that fills your hearts with despair!!
●○●○●
Ais Wallenstein - Level 5
Strength: D549 → 555
Endurance: D540 → 547
Dexterity: A823 → 825
Agility: A821 → 822
Magic: A899
Development Abilities:
Hunter: G
Abnormal Resistance: G
Swordsman: I
Magic:
[Ariel — The Wind]
Enchantment magic.
Wind element.
(So low, they almost didn't rise at all.)
Despite spending two weeks in the Dungeon and going on an "Expedition" where she killed many powerful monsters in the deep floors, her experience only increased by 16 points. Al is at Level 7 and his points increased hundreds of times more, while she is at Level 5 and only saw a slight increase.
Ais looked at her nearly unchanged attributes and tried to suppress her turbulent emotions. At this rate, even if she undertook thousands of expeditions and killed millions of monsters, her points would only increase slightly. She would never catch up to Al; instead, the gap between them would widen further.
When abilities approach Rank S (900 points and above), growth becomes very slow, but Ais's case seems as if she has reached a dead end. She has reached the limits of her current abilities, and there is no more room for development at her current level.
Three years have passed since she reached Level 5. An invisible wall called the "Growth Limit" stands before her. She cannot develop any further. She began to think about abandoning her current level and advancing to Level 6—transforming into a stronger vessel. Surpassing the wall by achieving a "Great Feat." She must become stronger... much stronger.
Ais hid her facial expressions like a doll, harboring a strong will in the depths of her heart to obtain more power and reach that distant peak.
"Yes. I can't tell you what it is, but it's definitely the reason I became an adventurer."
"Is there something you want to do when you become strong?"
That was obvious. I want strength so I can fight alongside Al, and so I can help him this time. He was the hero who inspired my yearning three years ago. I want to fight by his side back-to-back as we did then. But that desire strikes against the wall of absolute talent that everyone faces.
Ais thanked Loki with brief words and left the room. She descended the spiral staircase while the sounds of laughter and lights spilled from the windows, walking alone in the dark corridors toward her room. Her room was bleak: a bed, a desk, and curtains, without any notable decorations compared to Loki's room. The moonlight dyed the room in a deep dark blue.
She threw herself onto the bed, and as she sank into the white sheets, her eyes fell on her sword leaning against the window. The sword reflected the moonlight, emitting a cold and lonely shine. She closed her eyes silently and surrendered to the deep darkness.
She dreamed of her father... she dreamed of the moment he left her and went away.