Chapter 11: Return of the Hero.
Apollo's Banquet.
Aki's POV.
"THEN THERE IS NO HELPING IT! LET'S JUST HAVE A WAR GAME! AND IF I WIN! I'LL HAVE YOUR CHILD, BELL CRANEL FOR MYSELF!!! SLLUUUUURRRPP!!!"
"YUCK! SO GROSS! I THINK I'M ABOUT TO PUKE!"Was my thoughts after what the god Apollo did in front of everyone. But after recovering, I went to Bell's side immediately because I may only've arrived after the fight but I know that Bell is the victim, not them.
"Excuse me! But I saw him after the fight and I was the one to carry him back to their Familia's home and he's really in a terrible state back then, If not for god Miach's ointment and potions, he would still be covered in wounds and bruises tonight!" I came in defense to him because I can clearly tell that they've set this up, including the banquet to lure them in here and challenge them to a war game because of the sin they've never committed in the first place.
"I never had the urge to punch another god other than Loki until today..."
"Aki, just shut up, this ain't our problem, just let Bell Cranel handle this himself" The red haired deity beside me said while opening her eyes, she's serious.
"Why!? How can you just let this happen to your friend!? Don't lie to me! I know how much you treasure Hestia because she is the only one who doesn't view you as an outcast back in your days in Tenkai! Captain told us that even when every gods hated you because you always want some fight, she always welcomes you with arms wide open" I said to her in a very pissed tone.
"Ack! H-How... Damn you Finn...!! But still we won't help them right now, that's an order!" She stated while blocking my way towards the two.
"Why!?"
"Because this isn't the right time for that, we'll help them when the right time comes but for now, let's just leave" Before leaving, she gave me a reassuring smile, this rarely happens and when it does, it's bound to be a good thing.
I followed her as we went home, she said that she'll talk to the captain of what happened and what could we do about the situation.
For me, I just went straight to my room and since everyone is asleep now.
I went inside and there I noticed my roommate Line was still awake and standing at the window.
"Good evening, why are you still up?" I greeted her as I enter the room quietly.
"Oh! I was actually waiting for you, so how's the banquet?" She asked excitedly as she sits at one of the chairs.
"Let me change first and we'll have some nice chat about what happened tonight"
She helped me undress my gown because I couldn't reach the zipper at the back, after that, I told her everything that happened at the banquet including my dance with Bell that I don't know how long we did it but it feels way too short no matter what. And then I told her about the upcoming wargame of Apollo Familia against Hestia Familia.
"That would be difficult for him, since he's the only member of their familia, it would be hard because Apollo familia's count is about a hundred... I feel sorry for him..." She said with a hint of worry.
I felt happy knowing that she's also worried even though they are yet to be friends so I held one of her hand and thank her sincerely.
"Thanks so much for worrying about him, but rest assured, we will help him because Loki said so...We'll just wait for the captains orders"
We went to sleep and drifted in to the world of dreams and then, the morning came and all of us woke up by a very loud explosion coming from the ruins of Orario and if my memory serves me right, it's exactly at the direction of Bell's home. The abandoned church!
I dashed out of my room comepletely armed with my sword on my waist and my arm guards on but I found captain and the others just standing there looking at that direction.
"Aki, you're awake now" He said simply without looking at my direction.
"I know you want to help him like Aiz but I'll say this right now. No, this isn't the right time, we'll let Hestia-sama's official allies to help them escape so just sit there" He ordered me but this time, he's finally looking in to my eyes.
I noticed that he also wants to help him if only not for his position as the captain, I think he would go out there and try to extend a hand to him.
"I also want to go but it will only cause nothing but trouble to them so let's just wait, there is nothing we can do for now than to stand by so please, just obey me and when the right time comes, we'll take actions is that clear?"
""Yes!"" We all answered in unison.
Before the sunset, the uproar died down and we saw Bell running towards our home in complete gear.
I watched him try to enter the manor but our guards didn't let him enter but then, Tione came out and grabbed him by his collar.
"Tione..." I whispered angrily as I watched her hang him up in the air.
Soon, she dropped him down and the captain appeared behind me, holding his spear and wearing his gloves.
"It looks like Tione just finished the little act I asked her to do, Let's go Aki, we'll have him enter the back yard and there, all of us will train him so grab your weapon, we'll train him in 3 days straight without sleep" He said as he turned away and smiled slightly.
I felt so relieved that Tione's just acting because I don't know what might happen if that's all true.
I went to the back and there I saw every executive present as well as Lefiya who just ranked up to level 4 yesterday. They are all fully armed especially Bete since he have his two dagger roland out already and he never really used it other than our expedition.
"It looks like everyone is ready, let him in Raul!"
"Roger!"
He opened the gate and there we saw the white haired adventurer, standing in front of us.
I noticed that all of them tensed up including the captain for some reason.
"Welcome Bell Cranel, don't be nervous, I know why you're here and that's why all of us are armed, we're all here to train you!"
He said what kind of training he'll have and who he'll fight first out of all of us and Captain said that He'll go first to take a look at his skill and what he could do.
"Okay, not everyone stand back, and also I'm gonna use my durandal spear just in case, your knife is very dangerous after all" He smiled before getting ready himself.
The fight began as soon as they launched themselves to each other, I never knew that Bell use daggers as main weapons so I just observed them for a moment and n
before I knew it, his weapon got knocked out of his hand in an instant.
"What's wrong? I held my strength back to match your level but it feels like you're still a lot weaker, let's try again since I can't get a grasp of what you can do right now, try using your magic, I don't mind"
They went and clashed again and this time, he's now using his magic in some weird timings, it looks like he's trying to throw off balance the captain but he's the one who's going off instead.
CLANG
SLASH
"Bell!" I shouted as I saw captain's spear slash through his side, and it looks really deep.
"It's okay, Riveria please heal him Immediately" The high elf obeyed his orders and they went for another clash and the sound of their weapon could be heard through out the manor.
Finn's POV.
Something's wrong with him, that's what my thumb is telling me the moment our fight began, it feels like he's waiting for something to happen, I don't know what is it but I know he's relying on it heavily.
"Bell Cranel! I know this isn't your full strength! You're even weaker right now than the time you've fought the minotaur when you are still a level 1! What's holding you back!? What are you waiting for!?"
"Kuh... Haaa!!!" He didn't reply but instead, increased the intensity of his strike which for some reason still feels lacking.
"You damn brat!" Suddenly, Bete screamed to him while the fight was still ongoing.
"What are you doing!? What are you expecting to happen!? Some miracle or some goddamn shit!? I don't care about that! Show me what you did when we saw you at the 9th floor when you're fighting that goddamn minotaur!" He roared, clearly being pissed off by his poor performance.
CLANG
I knocked off his weapons again but this time with much more force to try and snap him out.
"I'm disappointed Bell Cranel, I can't believe that I'm looking at the same person who inspired me to take adventuring to the dungeon serious again, it felt like you've lost something and that loss was holding you back, I don't know what is it you are fighting for before but... What I know is that the you standing in front of us right now is not the real Bell Cranel we knew..."
"I... I... I just don't know what to do... After finding out that my love for Aiz-san is just me misunderstanding my own feelings just crushed me inside... I don't even know right now what I'm fighting for...!"
I wasn't even surprised when he said that since it's pretty obvious.
"Then, when you first came here to Orario and the first time you stepped inside the dungeon, what is your first motivation?"
"To become a hero... A hero that would rescue anyone who's in trouble, no matter who they are as long as they are suffering, as long as they need salvation, I'll become their hero even if everyone treats me like a villain!" As soon as he said that, I noticed his eyes lit up a bit, a good sign.
"Then how about your friends? Hestia-sama included, Do you think you could protect them with the power you're showing us right now? No you can't! You can't become their hero if you rely on something that doesn't even work!"
"That's why no matter how much you rank up, you are still WEAK! and you'll stay like that forever! I can't believe that I was so motivated after I saw you fight that bull before, I feel like shit" Bete's not really holding back, he's saying everything that he feels and I think that it's the right decision.
"He's right, do you want to be branded as a weak? No one wants to be called like that! So what are you waiting for!? Show us what you've got!" I increased the speed and intensity of my attack to push him back.
"I don't want that! Yes I know that I'm weak and still a kid but I want to grow up and become as strong as you guys are! For Kami-sama's sake! For everyone's sake and for you guys' sake as well!" He said as he tried to match my attacks but failed to.
"Then show me your bravery, show me your courage and awaken the real you!" I swung my spear at full force without holding back all of my strength but suddenly, I saw the other half of my spear flying towards my back.
Something comepletely unreal happened in front of all of us, the falna on his back started glowing and covered in white flames, Loki also dashed out when she saw it from above and stood beside Riveria and Gareth.
"Oy Oy! That's... That's impossible!" She said as her eyes shot wide open.
I saw his eyes now and it's power came back, but this time, it's a lot stronger than the previous one, he's ascended now.
"I can't believe you broke the durandal that Tsubaki made for me but that's just a little price to pay to what's happening to you right now" I smiled at him as I gestured Raul to give me my normal spear.
"Finn!" Gareth stepped forward as well as the others except for Aki who just stood there looking at the white haired boy's eyes.
"We can't just stand around anymore, we're itching to fight this kid already!" He smiled as he positioned himself for attacking which is very rare since he always go defensive. I guess his courage also inspired the adventurer's flames inside of him as well.
"Well then, You'll fight all of us at once now, consider this as your training, try to dodge or stop or even defeat us if you can! Let's go!"
All of us attacked him while Lefiya and Riveria started to chant their magics.
But something or rather, someone crashed in the middle from above, a big man who's skin color is a brown and has a boar's ears, the only level 7 in orario and the pinnacle of adventurers, The King Ottarl arrived.
"Ottarl... Why are you here?" I asked him, ready for any action he takes because he might try to pull something off.
"Freya-sama's orders, she ordered me to help you guys train the little rookie for their upcoming wargame. Freya-sama doesn't like the idea of picking a fight on smaller familias" He simply said before drawing both of his sword. Both.
"You're seriously taking him on?" I asked worriedly because he maybe strong for a level 2 but still taking on a level 7 at it's highest stats would be very dangerous to him.
"It's okay Finn-san and also, thank you so much!" He bowed down to the boaz in front of me before taking his stance.
"That's good, I like the fire in your eyes..." Ottarl said before he starts attacking him.
We also followed his lead with Aki joining us this time, attacking him while giving our mages some space to cast their magic out. Our formation and attack was flawless but all of us were amazed by how quick Bell Cranel adapted to this but his only problem is that he can't keep up with our movements because of the gap in level.
"You're doing perfect, it's just the difference in our level that's keeping you back but if you level up to 5 or 6, I'm sure that you could block and dodge all of that, keep it up since we've got some more for you!"
3 days later.
Normal POV
After 3 days of endless battle and eating, Bell finally finished his training and was ready for the fight.
"Okay, go on your friends must be waiting for you right now" the blonde pallum said to the white haired boy.
"Yes thank you very much!" He bowed down before preparing to leave but suddenly a pair of arms enveloped him from behind.
"Don't lose you got that?" The black haired cat women said weakly.
"I won't lose!" He said full of determination.
"Good then go! Make us proud!" She pushed him forward and he started running back to the place of their meeting.
"Yes! I'll be back later!"
He waved off leaving the Loki Familia and Ottarl behind.
"Go on... Break through your shell and reach higher until you reach the realm of the gods..."
A/N: Okay! That was a nice chapter and I really enjoyed writting it! I can say that out of all chapters that's currently in, this is my favorite one aside from Lefiya and Bell's battle in the 18th floor.
I wish you liked the changes I made on this one! that's all take care guys and stay safe!