A/N: Hey, a new story! The OC won't be as powerful as he looks, though, but he's still strong. He's got a bitter past, just like almost every OC I have, but Tainted Black should be better written than ACEM. Maybe.

Red eyes wide with fear looked on as the minotaur approached. The boy with the white hair's breath quickened, and he pushed himself closer to the wall. His eyes widened as it raised an arm, ready to crush him-

"Bell!"

The minotaur looked over its shoulder, and the boy took the opportunity to escape by quickly running past it, hiding behind a rock. The minotaur let out a roar, and started stalking after him.

"Bell. Close your eyes."

The boy did as he was told, and closed his red eyes. He heard a twisted, atrocious, scream, the sound echoing across the entire level of the dungeon.

Elsewhere, a girl with long blonde hair stopped. What had made such a horrifying noise? She had to find out, and resumed running.

"Bell, open your eyes."

Bell opened his eyes, staring at the figure in black. All black. Black boots, black pants, black hooded cloak, black gauntlets. The only thing not black was the plain white mask on his face, two small eyeholes providing vision to the violet eyes behind them.

"Thank you."

The masked man nodded. The blonde haired girl rounded the corner.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but a few minotaur escaped from the seventeenth floor. Have you seen any?"
Bell nodded dumbly.

"Where did it go?"
The masked man picked up Bell.

"If you bothered to do your job right, you wouldn't have to be asking those kinds of questions. I cleaned up your mistake, but don't expect it to happen again. Come on Bell, we're going home for today."

Bell looked up at the masked man, and gulped.

"Right."

He glanced back at the girl, who was visibly shocked. She regained her composure.

"What did I do to you?"
The man responded without looking back.

"You almost got my brother killed."

Her eyes widened, and she frowned, bowing her head.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize to me. Just do your job."

"By the way, what was that noise earlier? It sounded like screaming, but very twisted."
"That was the minotaur you were trying to find."

The girl's eyes widened drastically, and the man pulled Bell after him.


"Bell, how was the dungeon today?"
"It went alright. I went to the fifth floor, but I ran into a minotaur from the seventeenth floor that escaped. He saved me."

"Oh, you mean him?"

"Yes, goddess."

"Well, that's fine."

"Goddess, this made me realize something today. He keeps protecting me whenever I can't protect myself. I've become a burden to him, since he can't go to the lower floors without having to check on me every so often. Goddess, I want to become stronger! No, I will become stronger!"

"Bell, you're new to this. He's been doing this for a while now, you haven't. Let's go update your status, and we can talk about it later."

Bell's eyes fell. "Right, goddess."


'What is this? Single Minded Pursuit? I've never heard of it before. Hmm, I should keep this a secret from the other gods. If they've never heard of this, then they'll just use him for their own selfish entertainment.'

"Goddess, is everything alright?"
"Yes. Here, look at your status."

Bell took the paper, and his eyes widened.

"Wow, my status went up a lot. Goddess, what's this smudge here? Did I gain a new skill?"
"No, my hand slipped. You don't have any skills."

'I'm sorry Bell, but I have to lie to you, since you can't lie at all.'

Bell looked downcast. "Oh. Okay, goddess."

"Bell, promise me something."

Bell raised his head. "Yes, goddess?"
"Promise me that you'll try to become strong, without pushing yourself too hard."

Bell's response was immediate. "I promise, goddess."


Magic stones fell rapidly as the masked man walked by, striking down monsters with his gloved hands.

"You're the man from before."

He turned, seeing the blonde haired woman behind him.

"Ais Wallenstein, right? The Sword Princess?"

Ais nodded.

"Yes. I'm sorry for earlier."
"What did I say? Don't apologize to me. Would you mind helping me pick up these stones?"
Ais blinked, then started walking around, picking up the stones. She handed them over to him, and he sighed.

"Look, I'm not mad at you specifically. I'm just mad because my brother almost got killed."

"The boy from before? You two don't look like brothers."
"We're not actually related. My actual brother died a while back, but Bell's like a little brother to me."

Ais nodded.

"Okay."

They continued walking, killing monsters and picking up the stones they dropped. Ais glanced at the masked man.

"You seem very calm about doing all this. No fear, no hesitation."

"I could say the same for you."

The fell silent, continuing their massacre of the monsters.

"Do you wear that mask all the time?"
"Yes."

"Is the mask uncomfortable to wear all the time?"
"No, not at all."


Bell smiled.

"Oh, good. You're here. I wanted to go into the dungeon, but I had to wait."
"It's fine. Did you wait long?"
Bell shook his head.

"Not too long."

The masked man nodded.

"Then let's go."

They entered the dungeon, Bell fighting the monsters, and the masked man picking up the magic stones that fell from the dead ones. Bell dodged an attack from the masked man, and immediately guarded from the other monsters as well.

"Bell, keep your guard up."

"Right!"

They continued this pattern, the masked man attacking Bell when his guard was down, until Bell stopped. The masked man paused.

"Why did you stop?"
"We're on the sixth floor."

"So?"
"I almost died on the fifth floor."
"You were attacked by a monster that came from the seventeenth. That was something you weren't prepared for. This floor is something that you are ready for. Keep going."

"But-"
"You'll be fine. I'm here too, and I say you're strong enough to keep going."

"I don't want to."

"Do you want to stay here and train instead?"
Bell frowned, and thought for awhile.
"Alright."


"Bell! What happened?"
"I was training with him, and we got ambushed by a few monsters. I'm fine, though. Just a little tired."

The goddess frowned.

"Did you push yourself too hard?"
"No, we just had a little disagreement. He said I should go to the sixth floor, even though I had trouble on the fifth floor."

"Well, I can understand why you don't want to go, but don't you want to become stronger?"
Bell's eyes widened.
"Of course, goddess! I want to become stronger. That way, I won't have to be protected by him!"

"Then, strive for nothing less than your limit."

"Right, goddess!"

"Let's update your status."


"Bell, your status has gone up. A lot."

"Goddess, how much?"
"Here, look for yourself."
Bell took the paper, and his eyes widened.
"Wow, goddess, my status has gone up so much!"
"What have you been doing that made your status increase so much, Bell? You said you weren't pushing yourself."
"I wasn't goddess! I was simply training with him."

The goddess scowled.

"Well, that's fine. Anyway, I'm going to Ganesha's Banquet with the other gods and goddesses."
"That's great goddess. Have fun."


"Ah, Hestia, how nice to see you again. Eating a bit much, don't you think?"
The goddess looked over to see a young woman in a dress, with bright red hair, and a matching red eye, as the right one was covered by a black cloth.

"Hephaestus, it's nice to see you again. I actually have a favor to ask you."

"Really? After everything you've done before?"
"I'm no longer a person who would swallow other people's purses."
"Like you're swallowing that food."

Hestia looked down.

"Hey, if we're going to insult people, can we do it elsewhere? I really don't want to have to listen to bickering."
Hestia looked up in surprise.

"You! You're the one that trains and protects Bell! What are you doing here?"
The masked man chuckled.

"I was sent as an representative for my familia. Is something wrong with that?"
"This banquet is for gods and goddesses only, that's what's wrong with it."
"Hestia-"

"No, Hephaestus, she's right. This banquet is for gods and goddesses only, and I'm not a god or a goddess. Anyway, is what I asked for ready?"
Hephaestus nodded. "Yeah, it's in my workshop. If you want to go, you can. Just don't break anything."
The masked man nodded, then walked away.

"What? You're letting into your workshop? Who is he?"
"You know, I haven't seen his face in a while. I'm unsure if I want to, though."

Hestia tilted her head. "Why would that be?"
Hephaestus smiled softly. "No reason. Just a little unnerved, that's all."

"Unnerved by what, Hephaestus?"

Hephaestus turned around.

"Ah, Freya, nice to see you again."

The goddess of beauty smiled.

"Of course it's nice to see you again also, Hephaestus. So, what unnerved you?"
"It's nothing important. Just the masked man. You remember him, right?"
"Of course. I wonder how much he's changed. Maybe he's ready to take off the mask for good."

"No, Freya, he's not. I could tell by his voice. He's not ready."

Freya smiled.

"Well, that's all for now, then. Tell me, how's your familia?"

Hephaestus' voice was terse. "They're doing well."

"And your's, Hestia?"
"He's also doing well. Growing as usual."

"There's only one member of your familia, so you can pay much attention to him, right?"
Hestia shuddered. "Don't say it like that."

Freya giggled. "Oh? Is it not like that?"
"Freya, stop teasing her."

"Oh, but it's quite fun, and we all do it at least once. Well, that's enough for today. I do believe I've devoured the men sufficiently enough."

All the men in the room had dazed looks to them. Freya took her leave, and Hestia pouted.

"Why do all goddesses of love act that way?"
"Because, they emphasize an erotic love, as opposed to platonic love, or a familial love."

Hestia looked at Hephaestus in shock. "Wow, I did not know that."

"Said the masked man."

"Neither did you, until he told you."

"Right. His wisdom is beyond his years, though that's understandable."

"Why?"
"He's strong, so he's seen things most people haven't. It's just the way some people are."

Hestia nodded.

"I have a favor to ask of you. My familia needs a weapon. He's a rookie, but he needs something stronger than what he has now. Please, Hephaestus."

Hephaestus smiled softly. "There's no need for that."

"Please, Hephaestus! I'll beg!"

"You see, the masked man already asked, and I accepted, in a way. I denied him first. Making a weapon deliberately weak would go against my policy. So instead, I granted him some time to work in my workshop, since he's already proven himself a good smith, which I find a bit ironic in a way, now."

Hestia shrugged. "What about earlier?"
"I forged something for him, and he actually paid for it before taking it, unlike some people I know."

Hestia pouted, and Hephaestus giggled.

"But, more importantly, he waited before asking me, saying he didn't like to be in debt to others, or to make people do things they didn't want to do. So, I let him forge your familia's weapon himself. It will be more powerful than any other adventurer's weapon could ever hope to be."


The next day, Bell was waiting at the dungeon entrance. He saw the masked man approach, carrying a thin parcel.

"What's that for?"
The masked man handed it over.

"It's for you, Bell."

Bell unwrapped the parcel, revealing a black, long bladed knife, etched with what looked like glyphs.

"I talked to Hephaestus earlier, and she allowed me to forge a weapon for you."
"Thank you very much."

"It will grow as you do, and when you reach the top, then it will also reach the top. In addition, it can only be used by you. Come on, let's go dungeon exploring. I can guarantee you'll get farther than before."


It had been a few days since Bell and the masked man had gone on their dungeon run with the new blade, and Bell had adjusted well.

"I'm going down to the lower floors, alone. Bell, only go down to the floors you've been to before, then go back up and repeat. You should find a supporter in the meantime."

Bell crossed his arms. "Fine. But you have to be back before four days have passed, if that's okay with you."

The masked man ruffled Bell's hair. "Look at you, being all manly. You're trying to impress a girl, right? I'd like to meet her."

Bell's face went bright red, and he waved his hands in front of his face. "No, it's not like that! I'm just worried, is all. Please come back safely, it's dangerous down there."

The masked man chuckled, then nodded.

"I will, Bell. I will."


The dark hallway was entirely void of any life save for the masked man that walked down it. He barely spared a glance at the numerous large bluish crystals that grew out of the walls and floor. After a while of walking, he stopped, turned, and faced the wall, gently pressing his hand to it, muttering under his breath. The wall shifted, then parted, revealing a cave, and the man walked in.

"Hey, I'm back."

He heard the sounds of hissing, along with a giggle. He sighed.

"It's been a long time, huh?"

A female voice echoed throughout the cave.

"Of course it has. It's been ten years."

The man nodded.

"Right. I'm sorry for making you wait. I've had my oath to attend to."

"Ah, you were never one to break your word."

The man chuckled.

"No, I wasn't. I'm still not now. Tell me, how has ten years been for you?"
A slithering sound echoed in the cave, and the masked man saw a teenage girl, with the lower body of a large snake. Instead of hair, she had many small snakes, and her green eyes were full of life. The man chuckled.

"Not much has changed, then. Still looking the same."

The teen slithered across the room, then rested a hand on the man's head, pressing her head to his chest.

"I missed you."

The man hugged her in response.

"I missed you too. It's hard being like this, you know?"

The girl nodded.

"I know. But you did well then. You've gotten stronger, and maybe you can free us."

They stayed like that for a few moments, then separated, the girl's smile filled with melancholy.

"So, how are the upper floors? Are the monsters still as mindless as ever?"
"Yep. Intelligence isn't something that he can spare giving to every low level monster he releases."

"Only the lower floors can have that luxury."

"You're on the highest floor of monsters with that much intelligence. You should be careful if any adventurers come passing by, and try to kill you."

"They wouldn't get too far, they'd be distracted by the stones. Even if they did, they wouldn't know where to look, or how to get inside the cave."

"And if they happened to stumble upon here by accident, even if it's very unlikely?"

"They'd be petrified by my eyes. Everyone does."
"I'm not."

"You're the only one."

"Being different has its perks."

The teen giggled, rolling her eyes.

"Not everyone's as content with being as different as you."
"Not everyone's me."

The girl giggled.

"Touche."

"But, if anyone were to stumble upon here, and you did petrify them, then it would alert others, and they would be much more cautious from then on. They could kill you."

The teen shrugged.

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time."

"You'd lose all of your memories."

"It's happened before."

"I'd miss you."

The teen stopped.

"People like you aren't like people from up there. There are adventurers, supporters, merchants, even gods are up there."
The girl raised an eyebrow.

"Even gods?"
"Even gods. But, there's a hierarchy of power there. Not like down here. Up there, people have to work to get their needs met either by themselves, or with others, and the rewards are rarely shared equally."

"Oh. So it's like that."

"Yeah. Not everyone's nice either. Very little respect is shown, even for those who deserve it."

A snake slithered up, and the masked man patted it on the head.

"People have to lie and steal to thrive up there. I want to change that, but I can't."
"You've tried before, and look what happened."

"I know. But if I fight to make a change, will you stay out of it, and save yourself from the suffering of betrayal, or would you help me, and face those challenges?"

"You know the answer to that."

"Right. I should get going. A friend of mine is waiting, and it takes a while to go up all these floors."

The man started to leave, but the teen grabbed his arm.

"Here. Take these. If there is a hierarchy of power, then it's money driven, right? Take these, and sell them. I know you too well. You'll need money to help others."

"I can get money from the upper floor monsters."
"It won't be enough. They'll want more, that's how they are. Take these."

The masked man sighed, as he took the long fangs from the teen. They were about as long as his arm, and pure white in color. He placed them in his cloak, nodding at the teen.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. They're the fangs from the old me, before I became like this."

The man walked out, the snakes watching him. One snake looked at the teen.

"Will the masked man be strong enough to beat him, Medusa?"

The teen paused at the question.

"I hope so. I really do."