=====[Chapter 1: New World]=====
The Labyrinth City, Orario.
There is a labyrinth known as the Dungeon beneath the city. It might be better to say that the massive city was built on top of it.
The Guild oversees everyone who goes below the surface at the core of the city. It's not just humans, either; there are many kinds of demi-humans living in this flourishing metropolis alongside them.
The people who make a living In the Dungeons are called 'Adventurers'.
Individuals who have been blessed by gods and goddesses who gave them 'falna' to battle the monster that are created inside the Dungeons.
Like the hero of his story, Bell Cranel, but before we learn of his adventures, we must venture back in time for a quick history lesson about why these adventurers exist in the first place.
A long time ago, gods and goddesses came down to our world. They call it Gekai, or "lower world." There are many myths and legends that explain the why and how, but according to the gods themselves, they were just bored up there.
They were in their upper world, Tenkai, not doing much at all for eternity. The gods had all the time in the world but nothing to do. Then they started watching mortals waste so much, but also make so many interesting things like culture and business. The "children"—beings of Gekai, basically—became the best entertainment available.
"We shall be among the children as they are, with the same abilities. They shall see us."
They may be perfect beings, yet they have their flaws. They would have to, because they were interested enough in our world to come here.
The excitement of a new world with the children lured many gods to Gekai. They wanted to experience things like phenomena they couldn't foresee, a desire for food, hobbies, fine arts, and the indefinable bonds of friendship like the children had everyday. The gods and goddesses feel like they are playing a game and are fully enjoying it because it is impossible to predict what will happen. It wasn't long before gods were living in Gekai. Quite a few of them decided to live here permanently.
As for their ancestors who lived here first, they didn't reject the gods when they arrived. Why would they? They revered the gods because they could receive blessings. To put it another way: you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours. That relationship is still clearly going on today.
They live among mortals now. They live and work side by side with mortals, helping one another out.
These gods abandoned their separate and constrained lifestyles to live in our inconvenient world.
One of these Goddess, Hestia was currently kneading the spot on our protagonist back where her blood had landed, working down slowly from the left. She changes the markings.
These markings on his back are his status, his Falna.
A person's abilities rise when a god's blood is used to write hieroglyphs on their body. Only gods have this power.
There is also a thing called "excelia." Simply put, excelia is experience.
Of course, it isn't something that can be seen or used by "children" in any way. But it tells what path an individual has walked up to that point. Gods can read a person's history in excelia. They will know if by some miracle you slew a monster, for example. Excelia also fuels a person's growth through a blessing.
Everything you have accomplished, both the quality and amount, shows up in excelia.
The gods can see what you have done, your life story. Kind of like a big sign that says, "Has completed such difficult feats as: slaying a monster, etc." Seems like something the ancients would do, if you ask him.
Gods update the hieroglyphs on their Familia's members' backs to match that person's excelia. To put it another way: level up!
Gods and goddesses use this power to make their "children" stronger.
"And anyway, Aiz Wallenstein, was it? If she really is that pretty and insanely powerful, other men won't leave her alone. She's bound to have a few favorites by now."
"Do you really think so…?"
"Yep. Listen up, Bell. This is a crush; you'll get over it. You should move on and focus more on the girls around you. I am a hundred percent sure that there is a beautiful lady who will accept, hold, and support you in your life right now."
Our Hero is currently getting his status updated by his goddess Hestia after his encounter with a Minotaur and the sword princess, Aiz Wallenstein on the fifth floor of the dungeon followed by a scolding from his advisor, Eina Tulle for going that deep while still being inexperienced.
[=====Bell's POV=====]
She keeps saying "someone closer to you," but there aren't any women other than her and Eina in my life right now. Eina is my boss. Like hell she'd be interested in me. And then the goddess… Yeah, right. We've known each other for two weeks! And she's a goddess.
Goddess, life is not that easy. Eina told me that, too.
"Besides, the girl Ms. Wallensomething is in Loki Familia. You couldn't marry her anyway."
"…"
The final blow, right through the heart.
People almost always marry someone of the opposite gender who's either in the same Familia or not in one at all. If two people from different Familias marry, which group do the kids belong to?
There are other reasons, too, but the important thing is that so many issues get in the way that people avoid inter-Familia relationships. Then there are the gods themselves. They may have come here for entertainment, but they take their Familias very seriously.
Also, not all of the gods are friends. If two of them are fighting, members of their Familias are instantly enemies. Members of each Familia don't want to put
Eina said it first. It would be difficult for me, the only member of Hestia Familia, to have a relationship with Ms. Wallenstein, a member of Loki Familia.
"All done! And just forget about that girl and keep your eyes open. You will find someone as long as you keep looking closer to home!"
"You're cruel, Goddess…"
No, I'm not giving up. I can't give up without even trying!
We just met. There's no telling what will happen.
I get out of the bed and pull on some normal clothes while trying to rebuild my confidence. The goddess reaches for a piece of paper to write down my new status. I can't read the hieroglyphs myself; no one can. So the gods learned a bit of our written language to help us out.
Even if I could read their hieroglyphs, they're on my back. Who could read something written there?
"Here, your new status."
I take the paper from her lightly outstretched hand.
—
Bell Cranell
Level One
Strength: I-77 → I-82
Defense: I-13
Utility: I-93 → I-96
Agility: H-148 → H-172
Magic: I-0
Magic;
( )
Skills;
( )
—
This is the Falna on my back, my status.
There are five basic abilities: strength, defense, utility, agility, and magic. Each ability has one of ten ranks—S, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and I—within each level. S is the strongest.
And I is the weakest… The number next to the rank shows our exact ability level: 0 to 99 is the I range, 100 to 199 is H, and so on. 999 is the absolute maximum. It gets harder to get points as we get stronger, or so I am told.
Level is the most important statistic in a status. Every one of the basic abilities gets a major boost when the level goes up. It wouldn't be that much of a stretch to say a person evolves when they level up. There is a huge difference between Level One and Level Two.
Level Two is much, much stronger.
The goddess calls it ranking up.
Let's see… My "Strength," "Utility," and "Agility" went up this time…. Wait a sec, What's up with my "Agility"?! I went from H-148 to H-172! Up 24 points from yesterday?!
It must be because I got chased around for who knows how long by the Minotaur.
The excelia system is pretty simple. A person gains experience when they use a basic skill. For example, to gain Defense, I would have to actually get hit by a monster in battle. But all I do is run and dodge, so my Defense almost never goes up.
Eina told me that armor and some weapons raise Defense just by equipping them, but I just run away, so what's the point? Damn, this is embarrassing.
"Um, Goddess? When do you think I'll be able to use magic?"
"Even I don't know that. I hear people who can use magic have high intelligence in their excelia… You don't read much, though, do you, Bell?"
"No…"
Magic has to be the first thing people look forward to when they get a blessing.
Before the gods came to Gekai, only a few races could use very limited magic. But now that the gods give out blessings, anyone can learn to use it as long as they're in a Familia.
A person can use up to three different kinds of magic. But knowing only one magic is pretty common. I've been told that adventurers who know two kinds of magic become anchors of their team.
Magic is that important. There's a legend that long ago, an elf used wind magic to slice and dice one hundred humans (Does that sound familiar to you folks?). Magic is the ultimate trump card that can turn the tables in any situation.
Who could defeat someone who can cast "Sea of Flames" with only a sword? I know I can't.
One thing, I know is that I have a lot of affinity with magic since I have limitless magic slots in my status much to my Goddess pride. It always makes me blush every time she gushes over me for being such an unpolished gem
"Goddess, there seems to be something in my Skill slot. It looks like something was erased…"
"Hmm… Oh! Some ink got on my hand, and it got smudged. It's still open like normal, don't worry."
"Just my luck…"
I won't lie; I got my hopes up a bit.
Skills are completely separate from basic abilities. When activated, they either have an effect on battle or on the user's body itself. If the status shows improvement in ability, then skills are like a beneficial chemical reaction that tacks on something extra.
Skills may not be as flashy as magic, but they don't cost as much to use… Though they do cost something…
I glance over my updated status one last time and look up at the clock on the wall. Then I turn to the goddess.
"Goddess, it's already evening. Shall I get dinner ready? I know we're going to have a potato snack party, but that won't be enough to fill us up, right?"
"Sure, I'll leave it to you, Bell."
"Right-o."
I turn from the goddess's cute smile and go to the kitchen. I can only cook really easy stuff, but yeah. Eina told me I need to think more about money. I'll start focusing on that. I should try to save as much as possible from now on.
I can feel the goddess staring at my back, but I have some ideas on how to rework my contract. Maybe I can get more money that way!
Third Person's POV:
Hestia gave Bell a send-off to the kitchen as if she were seeing him off to war. Once he was there, she let out a quiet but heavy sigh.
She picked up his status sheet from the bed and compared it to the one written on his back.
Children change so fast… Completely different from us. Even the slightest thing could change them and spread quickly. It wasn't desire or culture that defined the people of Gekai. Change did.
She held her head between her hands, scratching back and forth.
'Damn It, Is this change because of her? I won't accept it, this isn't fair'
She took another look at Bell's back.
Specifically, she looked at his Skill slot.
—
Bell Cranell
Level One
Strength: I-77 → I-82
Defense: I-13
Utility: I-93 → I-96
Agility: H-148 → H-172
Magic: I-0
Magic;
( )
Skills;
Realis Phrase:
Rapid Growth.
Continued desire results in continued growth.
Stronger desire results in stronger growth.
Dragon's Heart:
Unbreakable Will.
Unshakable Courage.
Highly enhanced Senses.
Devil's Blood:
Rare Loot Drop from Monster.
Understanding all Languages.
Improvement in Studying and Learning.
King's Sight:
Grants instinctual understanding of tactics and strategies.
Grants Instinctual Leadership Quality.
Natural Empath and Animal Rapport.
Hero's Spirit:
Unlimited Potential
Stats Boost when fighting stronger opponents.
Temporary Level Up when fighting stronger opponents.
—
'Why does he have those skills now? Why wasn't I the reason for his skills?'
Hestia envious thoughts were the only thing running through her head only because of the First Skill of Bell's status, Realis Phrase that she didn't bother to understand why Bell was given the other skills.
Yes! It baffled her that Bell has those unbelievable limit-breaking skills. But to her, Bell is her familia. Of course! He has those awesome skills because of a goddess like her. Currently, her only focus was now concentrated on her plan to get Aiz Wallensomething out of Bell's Life for good.
It was she who had found promising excelia and wrote that skill (Realis Phrase) and the others into him with her own hands. She regretted it more than anything
Unknown to her, every other skill except for Realis Phrase wasn't from Bell's crush on Aiz Wallenstein but from an outside source, a man who in his world was a devil, a dragon, a king and finally a Hero.
And He has finally awakened from his slumber inside Bell's Soul because of the Falna flowing inside him during when Hestia was updating Bell's status.
=====Scene Break=====
'So this is how it feels like, Huh! Ddraig was right, this is incredibly amusing to watch' thought the young man tickled by the irony of his situation.
Before his demise, He also had a companion in his soul in the shape of a giant red dragon and now this young man is doing something similar with his new host. If you really think about it, his situation is nothing but ironic.
This young man was of tall height with short spiky white hair, with two short locks of hair behind his head, and dark green eyes resembling the shade of jade. He wore crimson armour which covered his body from his toes to his neck. The one thing that stood out for him were the six pairs of giant blood-red dragon wings attached to his back.
'Ah kid, you are even just as dense as me when it comes to a woman's feeling. Honestly, How similar are we? The only key difference between us is the obsession. Mine was with boobs, and yours is with being a hero to get the ladies. Well that and you aren't a pervert' The young man now revealed himself as Issei Hyoudou thought.
After using Heroes Label, his entire body was disintegrated and used as fuel to become a pseudo-sacred gear to place Issei spirit and powers into Bell's Soul. Issei quickly thought and figured out what was going on and realized that Heroes Panel was something made by Azazel to help him in his quest
Issei believed that it would be a waste to keep wallowing in guilt and sorrow. After he finally made peace with his past and those he cherished, he waited for Bell to take the first step at making contact before giving him help in his journey similar to how Ddraig did for him.
Unfortunately, that plan went to shit when that Goddess updated Bell's status which awakened him earlier than he should've. He cursed fate once again that even after going into a different reality, his bad luck still follows him like a stubborn ghost trying to haunt you non-stop.
'I mean I am a Devil, The DEVIL. I should've the Devil's Luck, but Nooo! Fate has to screw with my life with terrorists, crazed lunatics, battle-junkie rivals, chick problems and who could forget Mr. I am gonna end the universe after my nap. Come On! There is a limit to these kinds of things but everything I encountered in my life was just plain overboard or way too much of an overkill. It's a miracle I survived as long as I could but it is definitely the most likely reason why I am even known as the strongest red dragon emperor at all'. He ranted for a minute or two about his terrible luck before returning back to what he was supposed to be doing.
Issei studied Bell's memories to understand how this world operated. He was somewhat surprised by the Gods of this world coming into 'Genkai' or 'Lower world' but not so much after he learned the reason. The more he saw Bell's memory, the more enthralled he became of his young host's life. He was suspicious of the boy's grandfather's identity for a moment but still held him up in good regard for teaching the boy the way of the perverts. However, what got his attention were the boy's interaction with his goddess, his advisor and his crush.
'Huh! Kid, you are one goddamn lucky son of a bitch, You got yourself a virgin goddess on your ass. Ddraig, You were right! Watching someone love life is like watching a live rom-com only this time it is thousands times much better' Issei thought giddy at the fact that his host is such a ladies man to attract someone like Hestia.
'Although, the Deities are slightly different than the Deities back in my world. My world's Hestia wouldn't act like that even if her life depended on it. She acts like a big doting sister or a lovely mother to her family and her guests while this one is way too similar to how Rias acts when I am with someone else and not with her' he thought fondly as he remembered the times when he flirted with the others without him even knowing and Rias getting mad for it. He kept looking for other information inside Bell's mind before he stopped at an information that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry at.
'Loki, the god of mischief, one of the Deities with the strongest familia of this world is a woman. Oh! How I would love to see that smug bastard (DxD version Loki) face when he sees his counterpart of this reality. Congratulations to you Lord Odin, your brat finally made himself useful for once in his life after all'
He searched for information about other Gods and Goddesses, unfortunately not getting much since Bell didn't knew much about them either, but enough to reason that, The gods of this and his world only share their name and domain of their godhood with each other while they are completely different in terms of personality, appearance and even in rare cases in gender like goddess Hephaestus and Loki.
'Well Bell, if you are going to be someone I have to rely on from now on then I am gonna do you a favor for free. How about a harem created by the wisdom of the former Harem King for his now new apprentice' Issei thought giddily thinking of all the amusing scenarios he can create for his pure host whose dreams is to pick up girls in a dungeon..