"Bell...do you really want to go?...You really want to leave me?..."
"Ryuu...I...have to..."
"Mh..."
It was really hard for Bell to leave his pregnant wife in the Mansion and go into the dungeon alone...in the literal sense. Like Amid had warned him, Ryuu had gotten cuddly...or rather clingy.
Whenever they were alone she wanted to cuddle, especially in bed she left no room between them. Sometimes she kissed his neck passionately while she rubbed her body against him...and since Bell wanted to do everything for Ryuu or following her wishes, they slept naked. It got harder and harder for him, the biggest part of his mind wasn´t able to think of doing lewd things with her when she was pregnant, but Ryuu didn´t made it easy for him.
"Bell...you...don´t find me *Hic* attractive anymore?" She had tears in her eyes.
"Of course I do! But Ryuu, you are pregnant...we shouldn´t..."
"Mmmh...Bell...hold me..." She rubbed her body more against him, before she rolled onto her back and snuggled against him.
"Ryuu...it´s bright morning! I can see everything!"
She propped herself up on her elbow and didn´t even try to cover her body. "Then look at me...this is all yours...Bell..." Ryuu glanced up to him bashful.
This is what Amid meant? I thought elves don´t have strong symptoms! He still couldn´t stop his eyes from wandering over her body, Bell gulped.
Amid forgot to tell him that elves didn´t had strong symptoms...after their first pregnancy...
"Ehehe...Beeeeell..." Gently she rubbed her cheek against his.
His body twitched as he felt her hand sneaking down. "Ah Ryuu! W-Wait where are you touching!"
"You..don´t like it?" Her lower lip trembled.
"Please stop..."
"You..*sob*.don´t want me...*Hic*..anymore?" Tears dwelled in her eyes, suddenly she looked really sad.
"W-We shouldn´t do this right now!"
"Beeeell..." The tears stopped and...Ryuu purred, Bell got always weak when she did that. "Of course...we can´t do "that" but..."
"R-Ryuu I..."
"Kiss me."
"Ryuu."
He softly grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a loving kiss, somehow he had to distract her.
"Bell, I love you..."
They were married for a week now and today Bell wanted to go into the dungeon for the first time alone...but for two days now...Ryuu acted like this.
"Ryuu, I love you too..."
"Bell...hold me..."
He absolutely didn´t enjoy this cuddly, clingy Ryuu...absolutely not!...well maybe a little...
And so Bell waited for half an hour until Ryuu was statisfied and fell asleep again, sometimes he had to massage her, sometimes other things, as long as it included a big amount of skinship.
"Ryuu, I go now, sleep well my love."
Bell leaned down and kissed Ryuu gently on the forehead, who was smiling in her sleep, before he sneaked outside of the room.
.
.
As soon as he left the room, his expression changed, Bell got focussed on the task that lay before him. He had promised Ryuu to not risk anything, but it was the dungeon he was heading to, everything could happen down there.
Slowly he walked to the stairs and checked his equipment with his hands, first the Hestia Knife, then Fairy´s Dawn and lastly Hakugen on the back of his hip. Most of the time he used his sword and Knife as a pair now, Hakugen was an emergency insurance, for one part due to the ability to neutralize poison, and he could never knew when he would lose one of his weapons.
Everything looks good, next one.
His hands wandered over the pouches in his belt, Bell had spent some money on special pouches for his potions, they had a stronger protection and were lightly enchanted so that the potions inside wouldn´t break easily. Naza worked hard at making stronger potions,
not only her famous dual potions but also resistance potions. She had cried of joy after After that he checked his armor for one last time, a smile came to his lips.
That reminds me of back then when I started, I was different but what I do remains the same.
And the one that waited for him at the door on that special day was.
"My little Bell." Hestia´s smile really let her look like a goddess.
"Hestia." Bell smiled lovingly.
"I won´t say be careful since I know you will be, so I´m saying have a safe trip." She smiled happily that he had used her name again.
"Thank you, goddess." Calling her "goddess" was now something like a nickname between them.
Hestia watched him as he closed his boots. "Haa...nothing has changed since back then...when it was only us two."
She hugged him from behind.
"Hestia...I´m off."
"Have fun." Hestia kissed him motherly on the cheek, that was also something new.
She had accepted that Bell loved her very much, not in the way she had hoped in the past but this also made her happy. Most of the time she kissed his forehead, but his cheek was also okay...one time even Astrea did that, both only had feelings for him like a mother would have, as always Ryuu had no problem with that.
.
Somehow Bell had a strange feeling in his stomach...a restlesness or queasy feeling.
I am nervous...
It wasn´t a nervousness born from fear, but excitement.
Bell looked up in the direction of Babel, it was still early morning and light morning mist was in the streets.
"Here I go."
Walking through the streets alone with the dungeon as his destination, it was one of the things Bell Cranel lived for.
And like many, many times before...
"Oh Mr. Bell, good morning."
"Ah Ms. Syr, good morning."
"Are you going to the dungeon?"
"Yes."
"Hehe...I thought as much...I gues.." She blushed lightly. "Ryuu is still asleep?"
"Asleep again yes."
Syr´s face beamed. "Then I guess she had no time to make you a lunch box soooo...here!"
"Ehe, thank you very much. I really love your lunch boxes." Bell was honest, over the years Syr had gotten better at cooking...at little bit.
"Ehehe...you flatter me, will you come to the pub later?"
"Yes, I wanted to buy some takeaway food for home, Ryuu said she has a craving for Mama Mia´s food somehow."
"I will inform Mama Mia."
"Now then, I´m off."
"Hehe..stay safe "Papa"." It was a joke she made from time to time, she even called Ryuu "Mama", but she didn´t got flustered like Syr maybe had hoped, instead she smiled happily.
.
After wishing goodbye to Syr and putting the lunch box in his backpack, Bell continued his way to Babel. Only a few people were on the street this early in the morning, but a certain someone already waited for Bell at Babel.
"Bell, good morning."
"Ms. Eina, good morning."
"You have everything? You remember your studies?"
"Yes, and thank you for all those lessons."
"Please stay safe okay?"
"Of course...I guess you have a busy day again ahead of you?"
"Yeah, thanks to you mister."
Eina sighed lightly tired. Not only did they had lessons over the whole week, to make sure that Bell had rememberred absolutely everything about the Floors down to the 38th. No, Eina had much more work to do ever since Bell reached level seven. He was famous in the city now and also Eina since she was his advisor, many adventurer and colleagues asked her for advice. It made her both happy and exhausted.
.
Sometimes she heard some adventurers mumbling when they saw her.
"Thats her."
"Eina Thule?"
"THE advisor?"
"Yes, the one who is the advisor of Argonaut."
"Woah...the legendary advisor."
"They say it were her advices that brought him to level seven so fast."
.
But one good point for Eina was, she got a raise in her payment...and not a small one.
"Hehe...as much work as I have, it really paid out working with you Bell."
"Ahaha...at least a bit of compensation for all of your hard work."
"I won´t complain, as long as you come back safe, thats enough for me."
"Now then, I go now before it gets busy."
"Good luck, Bell."
Eina watched him go towards the stairs, the sight of Bell sometimes still made her sad. The chances for her were never good, she was his advisor and he an adventurer...but how had she dreamed becoming a couple, that he would hold her, kiss her...
It just wasn't meant to be...
She had accepted that Bell would never be hers, but her heart would need time to get over him. Eina could just hope she would find someone for herself in the future.
"Well can´t help it, time to go to work."
.
.
Since he wanted a challenge, Bell moved fast through the upper levels, as soon as he reached the middle levels he jumped through the holes that connected the floors.
Incredible...
It helped that he rememberred the Floors, like that he didn´t even need an hour to reach the 27th Floor.
This is...
Bell glanced to the side as he walked past the area where the Amphisbaena would spawn.
I made it this deep in under an hour!
Before going down to the 28th Floor, Bell turned around and looked at the incredible landscape in front of him, with the titanic waterfall in the middle. No matter how often he saw it, the great fall was a wonder of the dungeon. Connecting three Floors to some kind of giant Floor, the whole area was just beautiful.
The dungeon was dangerous, sometimes scary...but oh so beautiful at the same time. For some adventurers it was just their job going into the dungeon, they visited the most profitable Floors again and again until they raised their status enough to risk a level up.
But this wasn´t how Bell Cranel experienced the dungeon, of course there were Floors he knew very well, but each time going down here was a small adventure on its own. Before Ryuu got pregnant they came down to the 25th Floor or the 26th Floor sometimes for a date, they would clear the area of monsters and damaging the surroundings behind them so that no new would spawn.
The memories he made on each Floor let him smile whenever he came into the dungeon, holding Ryuu in his arms, snuggled up together while they watched this small paradise...it was one of his favorite.
For Bell, every trip into the dungeon was a small adventure on its own.
"Time to go."
Bell didn´t knew this, but Ottar before him took the almost same route as he did, Floor after Floor passed and he evaded monsters where possible. His high speed gave him an advantage. And so...after two hours...
"The white palace."
Bell let his gaze wander around, they had come here for many times now as a Familia, but it was his first time alone. This Floor was always special for him, he would never forget it.
As scary as it was...without that Ryuu and I probably wouldn´t have become a couple.
The magic stones he had collected so far jingled in his backpack as he walked forward.
Breath calmly...steady...
His grip on the weapon hilts tightened, this place was at the same time dark and bright. A darkness filled the air so that he couldn´t see very far, but the ground, walls and buildings here were pure white.
He rememberred his talk with Ryuu when they were down here.
"Is someone able to go alone down here?"
"No, you need a party of at least four or five members, and you want to take a healer as well, it may be different on level six but no one should try it...except maybe the Warlord."
Clack...Clack...Clack...
Bell knew this sound very well. A skullsheep. Just like in the past when they fell down here, the first monster he saw was a hovering skull in the darkness.
Not this time..
The skullsheep eyed him and...dissolved to ash as Bell jumped onto it way faster than it could react. He had studied the monsters down here again and again, so he knew exactly where to pierce it with his sword.
For a moment he stopped and looked at the magic stone at his feet.
Hm...
Bell was strong, extremely strong, but the dungeon was the dungeon and enough adventurer had died that were strong, because they got careless. He wouldn´t make that mistake, he had promised Ryuu that.
"Let´s go."
Single monsters were no problem at all, even in smaller groups Bell was much faster than them. That changed when he arrived at the first ring.
Now it gets dangerous.
A group of five Spartoi moved towards him, at the same time he heard cracking from the wall and behind him, the dungeon bared its fangs at him. The dance begun, at least twenty monsters charged at Bell. Being alone gave him an advantage he never thought about, he could fully concentrate on himself and the number of monsters was a problem for them, since they blocked each other.
But the dungeon...was the dungeon...
For whatever reason the cracking came faster and faster as if the dungeon noticed what he was and wanted to drown him in monsters. The monsters didn´t cared for each other, but they fought together. Skull sheep from the sides fired their bone lances at Bell, sometimes hitting other monsters.
It happened during that fight...
Oh no!
Even a strong and fast adventurer like him couldn´t have his weapons at any place at once...so they hit him. A Spartoi slashed with his sword against Bell´s back where he armor didn´t covered him, at the same time a bone lance and the dart of a Peludas hit his shoulders.
Argh! I...wait...it...didn´t hurt?
The hits had hurt him, but now how he expected. In the past those three hits would have crippled or even killed him, in that swarm of monsters it would certainly mean death.
Without stopping his movements, Bell whirled around faster and faster, slashing and stabbing at the monsters. The dungeon reacted like a huge body and spawned even more monsters at an unbelievable rate, he lost count how many he striked down.
Again and again the monsters hit him...but the first hit made it clear from the start. Bell´s status gave him a defence and resistance that no monster on this floor could break. It jingled with every step from him as he kicked magic stones around, the dungeon could have killed him if it only would send enough monsters.
The deep Floors were different from the uppers ones and monsters spawned way faster than above.
Even with that many monsters killed, more came, the dungeon wanted to teach him a lesson.
I´m here to learn.
Bell blocked a Spartoi´s attack with his sword and rammed the Hestia Knife in it´s magic stone.
"Gurr?!"
For a moment he let go of his Knife, a single bell sound could be heard as he charged his Argonaut Skill for exactly one second. On the giant wall hang five Peludas and bombarded him with poison darts.
"Firebolt!"
What came out of Bell´s hand wasn´t a red fireball, his Argonaut Skill changed the color and strength of that spell. It was a white ball of fire...almost looked like plasma...and what followed surprised even Bell.
The fireball hit the wall between the Peludas but...it didn´t explode...it erupted like a new born sun, not destroying the Pelduas but...erasing their very existence.
"What the-?!"
An enormous shockwave hit Bell and the monsters, those that were near to the wall got caught in the eruption and evaporated. With one single shot, Bell had destroyed ten monsters and let the others stagger. Without waiting, Bell ripped the Hestia Knife from the Spartoi and attacked the remaining monsters.
Due to the destruction of his spell the dungeon was buy repairing itself.
As strong as he felt and was...his fight faded against the massacre that Ottar could wreak here ... and had.
Finally the last monster turned to ash and silence fell over the area, not even a level six adventurer would have survived that, well maybe with the use of skills and magic, but not without wounds or using a massive amount of mental strength. Bell got hit multiple times, his armor had scratches and his body suit was torn...but no blood gushed out of his body.
"Huff...Huff...that was...quite the beating." His body hurt where he got hit...but that was all.
Bell looked at his hands.
Wow...
After sheathing his weapons he started to collect the magic stones and counted them.
"Sixty-nine...I...beat sixty-nine monsters here...alone..."
He followed one of the most important rules of adventurers...calming himself down. The fight just now was very exciting and his heart pounded, but he shouldn´t get a big head, that would kill him.
The wall still repaired itself as Bell put his almost half filled backpack back on, but he heard clacking sounds coming closer, just because the dungeon didn´t spawn monsters here didn´t meant no others could come.
Careful and steady Bell...careful and steady...
As he drew his weapons and made himself ready for the next monsters, he rememberred a talk he had with Eina.
.
.
"Your test looks good, you rememberred everything."
"Good, I can´t allow myself to miss even a single skill of those monsters."
"A good attitude, if you become careless you will die. But Bell I´m worried...do you really want to go alone down there? There are adventurers who go solo into the dungeon...but not that deep."
"Yes, I have to do it, not only to test my limits but..."
"But?"
"How do I say this..."
Eina smiled. "You want to grow right?"
"Yes, thats it. I am the leader of our party, lives depend on my choices. I have to know what I´m capable of, and I want to learn more about the deep levels. I want to be strong enough to protect everyone."
Eina´s heart grew warm, no matter what happened to Bell, he always kept that innocent, pure manner.
"Okay then, if you're so willing to do your best, I can't stand there and do nothing. I will teach you everything you have to know, everything that I can teach you."
"Thank you very much Ms. Eina!"
There was it again...that smile that had stolen her heart.
"N-No problem."
"Oh ahm Ms. Eina...there is something else I wanted to ask you...if thats not too bold I hope..."
She couldn´t believe her eyes, in front of her was this incredible strong adventurer, a man that had done so many great deeds and would soon be a father...but right now he looked so much like the boy he was five years ago.
"What would that be?"
"Ahm...I know that the guild doesn´t work that way but..."
"Hm?"
He took a deep breath and suddenly looked serious. "Eina."
"Y-Yes?" She got red, it was the first time he used her name without honorifics, as she had offered him.
"Y-You know that I will soon become a father..."
"I´m aware..."
"I know it will be many years until that day but...when my child is old enough...and has the dream to go into the dungeon...would you become her advisor? I can´t think oy anyone else I would ask that."
For a moment Eina didn´t had words to respond to him. It sounded like a simple question...but it was so much more. He would entrust the most precious things in his life to her teaching.
"Ryuu and I talked about that...we know it will be a long time unt-"
"With pleasure! Entrust her to me! I promise you she will get the best lectures you can get! Nothing shall happen to her, I will prepare her...no all of your future kids for the dungeon! I promise to you I wll do my absolute best!"
Eina just couldn´t help but think. Bell still wants me in his life! I´m important to him...oh Bell you have no idea how much that means to me.
"Th-Thank you."
"I have to thank you!" She beamed all over her face.
.
.
Bell stayed in the 37th Floor for four hours at the first time he was down there, he could stay longer but his backpack was full with magic stones and he needed way longer to go back to the surface, than going down. Ten hours after he went into the dungeon, Bell returned to Babel.
"Phew...that was something."
He had many life threatening situations on his trip, but what shocked him...came now.
"Okay, all in all these magic stones are worth...1.134.965 Vals."
"WHAT?!"
One million...I made one million...in a day...
Bell had already told Mikoto that he would bring something to eat today...but Bell didn´t hold back at all, he made Mama Mia very happy as he ordered so much food, that Ahnya and Chloe had to help him carry it all to the mansion.
He was in the mood to celebrate, of course the cat-girls got a good tip...and they used the opportunity to look after Ryuu.
.
.
For the next five months, Bell went deep into the dungeon and fought his way through the 37th Floor, all went good...until that fateful day...
.
.
Bell wiped his forehead and started to collect the magic stones, it was the furthest point he had ever reached, near to the throne room. The sweat that covered his body felt good...it felt right. Of course he wasn´t alone all the time, at least once every two month they went to a small expedition as a Familia, and there were days where he didn´t go into the dungeon...he had a heavily pregnant wife after all.
Ryuu´s body had calmed down over the months, her juices were in order again and her body had understood that there was a small life growing inside it. Well it wasn´t small anymore...they had tears in their eyes when they first noticed how her belly bulged outwards.
"Hmm I wonder if-..."
Bell´s thoughts were interrupted when the ground started to shake and he heart...screams.
Who? Where?
The ground shook again, more screams...from the throne room.
"Don´t tell me?!"
Hastily he put back on his backpack and ran to the room that connected this Floor to the next, what awaited Bell was a horrifying picture...a Familia returned from their expedition...and ran right into the spawning Udaeus.
"He shouldn´t spawn for another week!"
Sometimes the dungeon didn´t cared about what the small creatures in it thought about...spawning.
Sometimes this happened.
Bell didn´t knew what Familia this was, but they were in mortal danger, in fact a few of them were already dead. Udaeus called dozens and dozens of Spartoi to strike down the intruders.
I...what shall I do..
He was torn, Bell had promised that he wouldn´t risk anything but...
The Familia tried to gather together, the tanks in the front...but they couldn´t clear a perimeter around them with that many enemies.
"Help!"
"Gather together!"
"Don´t panic!"
"Ah! Help me! I W-arghl!"
Bell gritted his teeth, he was still Bell Cranel.
Ryuu I´m sorry!
With a loud warcry, to get the attention of as much Spartoi as possible, Bell Cranel stormed into a life and death situation. Running into the room of a Floor boss without a party, without time to prepare himself and the right items on his body...it was more than just dangerous...it was suicidal.
"Firebolt!"
The problem for Bell Cranel was...he didn´t only got the attention of the Spartoi...but their infernal king too...
The dance of certain death...had begun.
.
.
"Hmmm Hmmm Hmmm." Humming happily, Ryuu washed out another jug.
She wasn´t allowed to do her waitress job at the pub anymore...due to something that was in her way while she worked, something in front of her. So she wore a green dress that had the same color as the uniform she used to wear and a wide apron.
The only thing that Mama Mia allowed her to do was cleaning some jugs, and that only for about two hours a day. Ryuu moved very careful behind the counter and Mama Mia had put away all things she might bump into while turning. Her Falna was a big help, but even with it Ryuu got exhausted easily now, but the reason was oh so sweet for her. Every few minutes she stopped in her work and carressed her big round belly lovingly. She was in the middle of the eight month now.
Not even two months now...and I will be a mother...a mama...
A pure, bright smile came to her lips whenever she thought about that. The customers really enjoyed her beautiful smiling face, even if she only stayed behind the counter. Her friends from the pub were so fascinated of her growing belly, especially Syr. When Ryuu came together with Astrea to visit the pub on day when the break started, all of her friends were all around her instantly.
"Oh Ryuu, are you okay?"
"Do you want to sit down, Nya?"
"Oooh Ryuu...look at your belly!"
"Meow! You are so pregnant Nyuu!"
"Is it hard to walk like that? Is it heavy?"
"Ehehe, not at all." Ryuu giggled.
"And you still intend to work here even in your condition yes?" Mia crossed her arms.
"Yes Mama Mia, I don´t want to miss a single day with my precious family." Ryuu smiled...it was a smile that could melt hearts and let her friends sigh. Even Mama Mia couldn´t fight a light smile.
"Okay, but as soon as you enter the ninth month, you are forbidden from working. You can visit but not work anymore, and I do not accept any contradictions."
"That sounds fa-Ah!"
Ryuu bent forward slightly and put her hands on her stomach. At once everyone was in panic.
"Myuu?!"
"Nya! Are you okay?!"
"Ryuu, whats wrong?!"
"Ryuu?!"
She made a face they had never seen before. "Kicked..."
"What?!"
"What do you say?"
"Ryuu?!"
She couldn´t help but smile. "She...kicked me..."
All of her friends and Astrea got big eyes.
Syr leaned forward. "She...kicked?"
"Ehehe...yes!" Ryuu beamed all over her face.
"Ahm Ryuu...can I..."
Carefully Ryuu sat down on a chair. "Just be careful."
One after another they carefully put a hand on Ryuu´s belly, except Mama Mia.
"Meow! I felt it!"
Runoa smiled bright. "A small bump."
"Nya..."
Astrea got tears in her eyes and sobbed.
Syr looked up into Ryuu´s eyes. "Ehehe...she is strong."
They remained like that for a few minutes, until the baby inside Ryuu calmed down.
That happened two days ago and Ryuu got more and more happy every day.
.
.
"Lady Riveria, there at the counter is she." Lefiya tapped lightly against Riveria´s shoulder.
"Ah good, excuse me Ms. Ahnya, could you ask Lyon if she has time to talk with us?"
"Meow? Sure."
.
.
"Hmm Hmm Hmm.." Ryuu cleaned another jug as she saw Ahnya walking over to her.
"Oy Ryuu, someone wants to talk to you."
"Hm?..Oh!" Ryuu looked to the table that Ahnya pointed at and saw two familiar elves sitting there.
Carefully she dried her hands with a towel. "Mama Mia, is it okay if I take a short break?"
"Take as many as you need."
Over the last months Ryuu had learned a new side of Mia, she sounded as harshly as always, but she was really worried about Ryuu. To be honest she was worried about all of her girls. .
.
Both elves watched as Ryuu appeared in full vision behind the counter, Lefiya´s eyes got big and Riveria smirked.
"I guess our question is unnecessary right now."
"Wow..." Lefiya´s eyes were glued at Ryuu´s belly.
"Lady Riveria and my friend, hello you two."
"H-Hello..." Lefiya still looked at the big round belly.
"Lyon." Riveria nodded. "Do you have some minutes?"
"Of course...ah thank you Ahnya."
"Meow." Ahnya returned to the customers after she put down the chair for Ryuu, her friends were really attentive and overprotective.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"Ahm..." Lefiya still looked down. "Are you...pregnant?"
What a silly question, but I guess its too sudden for her. Riveria lightly shook her head.
"Ehe...of course I am."
"Wow..."
That means she and Bell Cranel...I mean they are married...but...wow... She couldn´t help her curiousity, Lefiya just had to imagine it for herself...
Lefiya hadn´t even kissed a boy yet...or like she had hoped Ais...and her friend in front of her was pregnant. Over the last months she had spend some time with a baby around her, since Anakity had given birth.
"fiya..."
I wonder...how it feels... She just couldn´t take her eyes from Ryuu´s belly.
"Lefiya!"
"Oh eh what? Oh! Ahm...S-Sorry..." Finally, Lefiya snapped back into reality.
Riveria sighed, the last months weren´t easy, not only Ais but also Tiona and Lefiya seemed to have a high interest in Bell, even if they knew he was married. And it only got worse after they had seen Anakity´s son.
Growing girls...sigh...
.
"So Lyon."
"Hm?"
"Originally we wanted to ask you and Bell Cranel something, but it is hard to find him these days."
"Oh yeah, Bell is most of the time in the dungeon, or at home with me."
Riveria glanced down and smirked. "Well for a obvious reason, congratulation."
"Thank you."
"F-From me too!" Lefiya looked more and more curious.
"Ehe...my friend, if you are careful...you can touch."
"R-Really? Well..here I go..." Lefiya moved her hand so slowly and carefully, as if Ryuu´s belly was a snowflake she didn´t want to break.
"Wow..oh!" Her eyes widened as she felt a light bump against her hand.
"To return to the topic, there was something I wanted to ask you and Bell Cranel, Lyon. But I guess that will not be possible in your condition."
"What is it?"
"In two weeks we will set off on an expedition."
"Oh."
"And we wanted to ask you two, if you want to accompany us."
"Oh!"
"Ehehe." Lefiya didn´t joined the conversation, she had way too much fun feeling the light bumps against her hand.
"Hmm an expedition..."
"Don´t mind us, you can´t go like that."
"Thats true...how long will the expedition take?"
"About two weeks, in the worst case two and a half."
"Hmm..." Ryuu looked down to her belly and caressed it softly.
"It´s okay I will tell Finn about your condition."
"I will tell Bell about your offer."
"But Lyon..."
"I still have time and if it goes like you said, he will return before the day. May I ask what your destination is?"
"The 63rd Floor, we will discover what lies behind the icy hell."
"Are there no records about that?"
"No, the furthest records we have were down to the 62nd Floor, and we cleared that two weeks ago."
"So...an unexplored Floor?"
"Yes."
"I can´t answer for Bell, I will tell him when he returns this evening."
"Are you sure? I mean..."
"I have many dear people who take care of me, as long as he returns in time I have nothing against it."
"Hm."
"Lady Riveria, it is Bell´s dream to do something like that, to see an unexplored Floor as one of the first people. He may never get this chance after I give birth. And an offer like that from the Loki Familia...thats just generous. But...please make sure my husband returns to me, yes?"
"Of course."
"So big..." It was like Lefiya was enchanted.
I have to keep an eye on her...and Ais...and Tiona...dear gods, I hope Bell Cranel is not into harems...
For a while now Riveria had noticed that all three girls blushed when they talked with Bell, and had a girls talk in Ais´ room, since Lefiya and Tiona each lived in a shared room.
"Thank you Lyon, sorry that we disturbed your work."
"Mh mh." Ryuu shook her head. "Mama Mia doesn´t allow me to work much anyway."
Finally after five minutes, Lefiya let go of Ryuu´s belly and continued to open and close her hand while she looked at it, Ryuu couldn´t help but giggle.
They chatted for a while longer, until Riveria and Lefiya decided to stay at the pub and have lunch there.
That to say...even Riveria was curious about Ryuu´s condition, she was more than three times as old as Ryuu but wasn´t that interested in love. But Ryuu soon giving birth...well Riveria was called "Mommy" or "Mama" for a reason, her maternal instinct was very strong.
Lefiya was more than happy to ask Ryuu many things, how it felt to be pregnant and other things.
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The huge black skeleton king towered over Bell, two twisted horns adorned the sides of his skull, an eerie red light glowed in the eye sockets. This was a situation he absolutely wanted to avoid, facing a Floor boss alone was just suicidal.
I have no choice!
"Raaaaah! Here am I! Come here!"
Bell stormed forward and whirled through the Spartoi that swarmed him on their kings command. The Familia he wanted to rescue finally got the chance to close their ranks. Far fewer monsters attacked them now. Bell couldn´t know that, but a monster Rex had some sort of consciousness, the undead king rememberred the white boy that was lost in his kingdom...and he wasn´t amused that he ran away, and returned so often to attack his domain.
The dungeon...the Monster Rex...had learned. So he send most of his underlings to bind this white boy.
Ugh...so many!
A single Spartoi was no thread for Bell anymore...but a few...hundreds...that was something else. During the whole time he was fighting Spartoi, Bell kept an eye on Udaeus. The only thing he could describe as luck was that Udaeus only had his fists and was bound in one place.
Here he comes!
Udaeus leaned forward, raised his left arm and made a fist, at the same time a huge wave of Spartoi threw themself onto Bell, trying to grab and pin him down.
Crap!
"Firebolt!"
The point blank explosion destroyed many Spartoi but also burned Bell lightly, but he got enough room to evade the crushing fist, that pulverized a few Spartoi.
That was way too close!
Bell didn´t wait, he jumped up and slashed with his weapons against Udaeus´ arm, leaving deep scratches behind.
So hard!
Udaeus sweeped his arm after Bell and raised his other arm again with a fist. A purple light glew around the fist and when it hit the ground, a crater remained. Bell used the opportunity, jumped up the arm and rammed both of his weapons in the ellbow joint. With a fierce crack, the left arm below the elbow fell down. Bell kicked himself off as soon as he reached the ground, he didn´t want to give the monster a chance to regain its posture.
Sudden cracks came from the ground and out of instinct Bell jumped to the side, a huge number of black spikes burst out of the ground in a straight line from Udaeus to him. Bell had no time to think, only to act and react, the knowledge about this boss was burned into his mind, but facing him was something different.
Even with loosing one half of his arm, the giant skeleton wasn´t less dangerous.
"Reeeee!"
More Spartoi attacked Bell, and their numbers were no joke anymore.
Hngh!
Again Udaeus´ fist came down, the heavy shocks made him stagger.
Focus! You know his range, you can-..
As Bell jumped forward again, evading a new wave of spikes, suddenly Udaeus´ eyes shone stronger. A wave of cracks appeared in front of the skeleton king and what burst out was...the hilt of a sword...
"What?! Impossible!"
Udaeus grabbed the hilt and pulled out a sword that was at least as long as he was tall. It looked like it was made out of black bone with red orbs in the parrier bar.
I never heard about that!
Some people from the guild, Loki Familia and Freya Familia knew about this sword of Udaeus, it was kept a secret so that no one would try something dumb...like challenging this boss alone...
The skeleton raised the enormous sword over his head, a dark reddish aura enveloped the blade.
"RRREEEEEEEEEEE!"
With a fierce scream the blade came down.
DANGER!
Bell jumped as fast to the side as he could, right when the blade hit the ground. Like an aimed earthquake, the ground shattered into his direction and a wave of wind came with it.
"Agh!" Somehow he managed only to get scraped by it but...
He heard screams out of the direction of the quake attack. Bell wasn´t able to see the Familia due to the huge number of Spartoi, they got hit by full force of that special attack...and not everyone survived that.
In his shock, the time almost came to a hold as Bell saw bodies and blood flying through the air.
"You bastard!" It was one of the worst swear words he had ever used ... despite the grim situation, he was a little ashamed of it.
Continuing from it in a conical area, the sword had pulverized around 1/8 of the room...and killed four adventurers.
Bell stormed forward to take revenge for the fallen adventurers, as a new wave of spikes burst out of the ground. But this attack was only a feint, Udaeus turned his giant body into the direction of the Familia and raised his sword again, he had noticed that Bell tried to protect them.
"No you don´t!"
He ran as fast as he could...right into Udaeus´ trap. New waves of spikes burst out of the ground so he had to evade them, from the other side came a group of Spartoi to block his path. In the moment that Bell came to a hold, Udaeus whirled his body around and swung the sword at Bell.
Oh n-
Two Spartois clung at Bell´s arms and hindered him from blocking the attack...it wouldn´t have worked either way.
"Aaargh!"
The sword crashed through the smaller monsters and spikes, hit Bell right into the chest and sent all of them flying. After flying a few meters, Bell hit the ground and rolled a few meters more.
Argh...ow...hngh..
Level seven or not, a direct attack from a Floor boss could still kill him. His body hurt alot, but he fought his way back onto his feet, bleeding from a cut in his forehead. Hastily he wiped away the blood with the back of his hand, before it could come in contact with his eyes.
What a monster..
He had to close the distance, at long range he would lose against Udaeus. On the side the Familia fought the Spartoi, carried the wounded and...their dead comrades...in their try to reach the exit of the room...an exit that closed in this moment.
Oh no!
"Defend yourself at the gate!" Bell screamed out of the top of his lungs, he would try to lure Udaeus away.
The spikes burst again out of the ground, not only aimed at Bell but also the Familia and in random directions.
Tsk!
One spike was too fast and scraped Bell´s knee, ripping his trousers and leaving behind a scratch. A second spike ripped away parts of his chest armor and on his back. Bell threw himself onto the ground as the blade came from the side again, destroying a dozen Spartoi. But the king seemed to have an inexhaustible number of servants ... and in fact, as long as Udaeus "lived" the Spartoi would spawn endlessly. Bell jumped up again and used all of his speed to hack at the ellbow of the right arm, this time Udaeus was prepared and blocked him with more spikes.
These damn bone lances!
They were indeed more like lances...they only looked like spikes compared to their giant master.
"Reeeee!"
"Not again!"
Udaeus raised the sword again, this time the aura was even darker. At least Bell succesfully lured him in the opposite direction of the Familia.
You have seen this before, just look at-
Udaeus didn´t sent his sword crushing down...but in a wide sweep instead.
NO!
It flashed white before Bell and the attack he had used sooner faded against what happened now. Around one third of the room was blown away, Spartoi and bone lances alike...together with Bell Cranel.
"Aaaaaaah!" In a reflex Bell covered his head with his armes, making sure he didn´t hurt himself with his weapons or letting them go.
Only two adventurers before him had fought Udaeus solo, Ais and Ottar. Ottar had easily overpowered Udaeus, Ais was nearly dead after the fight. But both didnt tried to protect a whole Familia during the fight.
Dust filled the room and Bell coughed and spat out to clear his mouth, his whole body hurt, he felt wetness at his hip, at least some of his potions were destroyed.
"Haa...haa...haa..." He screwed up his left eye as sweat ran in and looked up at the gigantic skeleton.
.
Udaeus returned the grip on his sword and rammed the tip into the ground, endless cracks came and a new army of Spartoi emerged. All the Spartoi roared together with their king, he declared his absolute dominance.
I refuse...to give up...
Bell glared up to the monster, panting.
Gong...
I will not lose...
Gong...
I will save them...
Gong...
Particles of light gathered around his weapons.
I will become a hero!
Gong...
Ninty percent of Udaeus´ attacks were aimed at Bell now. The huge army of Spartoi rushed forward to protect their king.
"I will...become a hero!"
Bell raised Fairy´s Dawn which shone in a bright white light and sprinted towards Udaeus.
"Deeeyaah!"
He hammered down his blade and used all of the magical charges in the blade at once, powered up with his Argonaut Skill, a cataclysmic wave of plasma fire burst out and cremated the Spartoi in his way.
Using his momentum, Bell gave his all to reach the king. He swung his sword back to use the remains of the magic to crack the rib cage, but Udaeus´sword returned way faster than such a giant creature should be able to move.
CLANG!
Udaeus deflected Bell´s weapon like it was nothing.
What?!
He clenched his teeth. Here goes nothing!
The small human adventurer and the giant skeleton beat each other with their swords. Udaeus was fast enough to counter Bell, and Bell´s level seven status gave him enough strength to block the sword without shattering every bone in his body.
Nnnnngh!
Faster and faster their weapons moved through the air, the light around the Hestia Knife started to fade.
Now or never!
As good as possible, Bell deflected the sword upwards and jumped after it.
"FIREBOLT!" He fired his spell into Udaeus´ face, not damaging him but blinding.
"RAAAAAAAAH!"
Bell threw Fairy´s Dawn into the air, gripped the Hestia Knife with both hands and stabbed with all of his strength onto the parrier bar of Udaeus´ sword. With a huge cracking sound the blade broke and whirled away. Just in time, Bell landed on the ground and catched his sword.
"Huff...Huff...Huff...I can...still...go on..."
All of the Spartoi turned around and ran towards the Familia. The Spartoi King and Bell glared at each other, he had one last chance of winning, Bell had to hurry up or the Familia would die.
Purple light...like pure death magic...encircled Udaeus´ remaining hand. Bell´s whole body shone in white light as he used his skill on himself.
Let's finish it!
"REEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
Bell didn´t even tried to block all of the bone lances that brust from the ground, getting stabbed and scratched in countless places, he only shattered those in his direct way. The white light wandered from his body into his weapons, he concentrated even the last bit of strength in them.
Wait...wait...wa-NOW!
In the last possible second, Bell jumped upwards and evaded the crushing fist by a hairs breadth. Screaming out all of his pain and frustration over the dead adventurers, Bell Cranel flew like a shining star onto the kings ribcage. Fairy´s Dawn burst the chest and revealed the huge magic stone, the Hestia Knife shone like a sun as it sunk down into the stone.
"Urgh..."
With a last grunt, Udaeus exploded into ash, Bell fell down to the ground and couldn´t stop his fall. The impact broke at least one of his fingers and some bones got cracks.
.
Ahh...ah...AAAAAH!
It hurt like hell, Bell Cranel was often wounded in the past but that didn´t make it better. With his healthy hand he pulled out the last remaining potion, it was a special one that was protected by his most expensive pouch. Naza´s master piece. Without even drinking it, Bell opened the potion and splashed it over his body.
Immediately the pain stopped, he wasn´t fully healed, but his bones repaired themself...which also hurt alot. Most of his flesh wounds closed and it suppressed the pain.
"Huff...Huff...Huff...let´s...never do that...again..."
Bell didn´t had the strength to get up now, he could only stare sitting. What remained of Udaeus was a giant magic stone...and a black sword.
A...drop...item?
All of the Spartoi were destroyed together with their king, after a few moments the leader of the Familia walked over to the sitting young man.
"You are...Argonaut...right?"
Bell turned his head. "Yeah..." He was still panting.
The woman in front of him dropped to her knees and started to cry. "Thank you! *Hic* Thank you so much! You saved *Hic* us! I...I...Without you.*Sob*.I don´t know what..."
The Familia´s party contained thirty people at the start...twenty-two were still alive. Eight people were a huge loss and Bell felt sad as well as bad that he didn´t save more.
But without Bell Cranel they all would have died.
One this day Bell learned a very important lesson for his life. Never underestimate the dungeon...and sometimes a hero is needed to win a fight.
In about a month...Bell Cranel would learn another very important lesson of his life...
Now...what to do with that sword...
When he would return home hours later, Ryuu would cry from relieve that he was alive...as well as many other members of his Familia.
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Authors Note: Hey hello everyone, we will now start with the last two arks of this story. I hope you won´t be sad if it ends, the end only means the start of the next story. It will be a series of one shots like I wrote and the second part will be the story with Ais as the main girl, she deserves love.