The blade of the axe dug deep into the head of the Goblin before Bell reared back out of reach of the second goblin rolling backwards and raising his shield up stopping the oncoming blow from the third goblin. The sudden ricochet of the goblins weapon on his shield gave Bell the opening he needed as the goblin stumbled back.

Using his right foot he launched from his crouched position smashing the side of his shield into the Goblin's face, bone crunching under the blow as blood was smeared across the Dungeon floor as the goblin fell limp, Bell swung his shield again swatting the remaining goblins attempt at a strike away before drawing back his axe and swinging it wide slice into the final Goblin's torso, the blade sinking deep and rendering the goblin into ash as the magic stone fragment was cracked underneath the blade.

The white haired boy was alone today on his venture, Naaza had her job at the Blue Pharmacy to tend to. It had been a few days since they started working together and Bell had to admit that with Naaza'a assistance as a supporter they were making more money than he expected that they would, right now he had more money than he knew what to do with. Naaza was also a great teacher, despite her mannerisms. She tended to like to tease him on minor things he didn't know about. With her experience from her prior time in the Dungeon and the information lessons he got from Eina he was slowly becoming a well of information on the Dungeon.

Since teaming up with Naaza he hadn't been able to locate his training friend. He was going to ask the man's name as soon as he saw him again, he felt rude not being able to identify the man without a name. With no training he set about to get as many magic stones as he could, having borrowed one of Naaza's smaller supporter bags for himself he was determined to get a decent amount on his own. He and Naaza had decided to split the profits 50/50 on the days that Naaza joined him in the Dungeon, for the days that Bell proceeded alone he received all the reward.

Bell also had to tell Loki about his partnership with Naaza, he couldn't play it off that he was making all this money on his own with his skill set. She had told him to be cautious but she said she trusted Miach and if Bell was comfortable with her, then their partnership could continue. She was pleased to know that Bell hadn't spilled the beans on which Familia he belonged to.

Since he and Naaza had been wracking up the Valis between the two he had seriously contemplated buying some better armour but he wasn't sure what to buy that would suit him. The small piece of metal that covered his chest was a gift from the villages back when he had left the village, they had all pitched in and gave it to him before he left for Orario.

Bell had never really envisioned himself in a heavy set of full armour, his stature didn't make up for it and he didn't like the thought of being weighed down. As Loki kept telling him, he was like a rabbit, agile and quick. Even with his Shield and Axe his speed and agility was his strength. While the Shield was heavy he was getting use to it over time. He didn't want to add anymore weight unless it started to affect his speed.

"Light armour maybe?" He mused tapping the metal chest piece. "I'll ask Miss Eina about it." He nodded to himself as he decided to end the day of Adventuring here. His bag was full of stone fragments from here on the third floor. Eina had given him and Naaza permission to venture to the third floor, however what she didn't know was that when he was on his own, he still came down to the third floor.

Passing Adventures as he went, none spoke to him. It was kinda lonely, he missed Naaza when she didn't venture to the Dungeon with him, most days Loki wasn't at the house, it had been a few days since he had seen her and his status hadn't been updated in that time and it wasn't like he knew any of the other Loki Familia members due to his existence being a secret to them. On days like this Eina was really the only one he spoke too, but she was usually all about business.

"Maybe I need to make some friends." He sighed gently heading up the stairs from the first level of the Dungeon into the city of Orario. How did one even make friends in a city full of Adventurers? So far his idea of meeting girls down in the Dungeon had only led him to meeting Naaza. While he wasn't complaining about his friendship had formed with Naaza, it's not how his Grandfather said that it would be. Maybe there was more to his Grandfather's words, he always spoke like making a harem of beauties would be so easy.

"Is something wrong Bell, you seem a bit down today?" Eina spoke as Bell finished giving his report for the day. His mood seemed to be noticeable to the young half-elf.

"It, it's nothing really." Bell told her. "Oh, I was going to ask you." He quickly averted the topic, after Loki's reaction to his reasoning of becoming an Adventurer, he didn't want to openly blurt out he was looking for meetings with girls. "Is there somewhere I can buy better armour?" He asked.

"Armour? Hmm, well from your reports you've been making a reasonable amount of Valis so you're probably looking for better equipment. Even so you'll be looking on the cheaper side still." Eina mused, tapping her hands atop the desk. "Very well, here." She picked up a pen and began to write on a scrap of paper. "It's still open now and will be for a while, otherwise you can set some time aside and go tomorrow." She explained. "It's an armour shop located in Babel Tower."

"Eh, there's shops in the tower?" Bell questioned astonished, there was still so much about Orario that he didn't know about. Eina smiled and nodded.

"Yes, there is a large range of shops in Babel tower on the first twenty floors, it's quite popular really." She explained with a smile, knowing how different everything must be for a country lad like himself. "There are even shops that cater to rookies such as yourself, their prices are low because the smiths are trying to make a name for themselves and gain a client base."

With that Bell left the guild and headed back to the house. As he headed home, he was curious to know if Brok and Sindri might make him armour, after all they had given him his shield and axe, he would definitely pay for the armour though, he didn't want to be given everything. Deciding if Loki was there he'd speak with her about it, but he wasn't expecting the Goddess to be there.

"Ah! Little Rabbit you're back!" The Goddess slurred as Bell entered through the front door, the Goddess had a bottle of wine in her hand as she grinned at him. "Been a while, didja miss me?"

"Welcome back Goddess." Bell smiled in return.

"Come come, let's update your status!" She declared ushering him forward. Bell headed for the usual room, leaving the axe and shield by the bed he stripped from his shirt and lay face down, Loki climbed onto his back, taking a seat. "How's the Adventuring going, did Naaza go with you today?"

"No, she had work at her shop." Bell replied, feeling Loki's fingers begin to work over his back. "Goddess, are Brok and Sindri armour makers perchance?"

"Hmm, maybe they picked up the skill for it." Loki spoke honestly. "Although, knowing them two they'd make you give up your first born for it." She grinned. "They're a bit ancient in that regard. Their main skills are in weapon making and enchantment, so I was really surprised when Sindri made a shield." Loki explained laying a piece of paper down on his back to copy his status.

"Then I'll guess I'll buy some new armour here in Orario then." Bell smiled. "I just didn't want them to be upset that I didn't go to them with the request first, is all."

"They'll be happy if you go to them with enchantment requests for the armour." Loki told him slipping from his back. Taking a glance at the page seeing that there was no significant change like the first time she updated his Status, still there was a noticeable growth but it could be due to gap between updating, she passed the page to Bell.

Name: Bell Cranel

Age: 14

Alias: none

Familia: Loki Familia

Race: Human

Level - 1

Strength - I - 38 - I - 72

Endurance - I - 88 - I - 98

Dexterity - I - 58- I - 85

Agility - I - 68 -H - 101

Magic - I - 0

"It really takes a long time for each level to go up, huh?" Bell enquired, they hadn't jumped up all that much since his last update, considering that this was only his fourth time and the last few days Loki hadn't updated his status.

"Not unless something big happens." Loki waved it off. "You're only down on the third floor, once you get further down, you'll get bigger jumps as you get more exilia." Loki explained.

"What about magic?" Bell asked with a little bit of excitement causing Loki's brow to arch in amusement as he stared at her.

"Oh, a bit of a magic inclined one are you?" She asked. "Want to be throwing fireballs and lightning bolts like some great Wizard?" Bell squirmed under her teasing tone. "When the expedition comes back in a few days, I'll have Riveria introduce you to some magic, see if you have an aptitude for it."

"Eh, I thought you said..." Bell trailed off.

"I know, I know." Loki waved her hand slightly. "But it's not fair to you if you don't have some instruction, plus I bet it's lonely being on your own all the time." Bell lowered his head slightly causing Loki to frown. "You'll be meeting two top tier members of the Loki Familia, Riveria and Finn. Ask them anything you want, I'll even tempt Riveria into teaching you magic."

"Really!?"

"Of course." She grinned jumping from the bed. "Now, I'm taking a bath and you're coming with me!" She declared.

"Eh! No, I couldn't!" Bell's face was extremely red as Loki dragged him from the bed, his mind recalling the first time Loki had joined him in the bath.

"Somewhere else to be?" She teased.

"N-No, but I was going to go see about some armour." He tried to say while pulling his arm away from her grip, however not once did she lesson it.

"Do that tomorrow! Take a day off, you need rest too, you can't just go down into the Dungeon everyday, you'll tire yourself out. Riveria will be mothering you just like this from now on." She grinned dragging him into the bathroom. The next few minutes was Bell blushing all kinds of red as he now sat opposite Loki in the large inground bath.

"Drinking in the bath is the best!" Loki laughed as she lowered the bottle of wine from her lips, her nudity not bothering her in the slightest as Bell averted his gaze from her. "Have a drink little rabbit!" Loki declared shifting in the water to where she was pushing the bottle against his face.

"N-No, I'm okay, I don't do well with alcohol." He tried to say.

"Then build up a tolerance!" She laughed collapsing back and sighing happily. "Drinking is like a way of life for us of the Aesir." She smiled.

"The Aesir?" Bell questioned, unsure of the terms, Loki cracking an eye at him.

"Let me guess, all you know about is the oh so great Pantheon, the likes of Zeus, Poseidon and Hades." She chuckled, however it wasn't a happy laugh. "I'm an Aesir God, we have our own customs to the other Gods, each part of Tenkei has their own regions." She told him.

"I've been told of some Gods, but I've never heard of the Aesir before." Loki scoffed slightly, but soon smiled at him.

"Not many know the difference between the Gods these days." Loki shifted closer to him. "Alot just don't care, most records have been stricken from the world below many millennia ago." Bell frowned slightly. "Once we were worshipped by the Children, it seems like so long ago." She frowned, looking into the surface of the water. "The Aesir Gods loved the children, so much that should they ever be worthy of it they'd be welcome into the halls of Valhalla."

"Valhalla…" Bell whispered the word, it bringing a smile to his face despite not knowing the reason why.

"Valhalla, a majestic, enormous hall located in Asgard, ruled over by Odin. Those chosen by Odin, travel to Valhalla upon their death, led by the valkyries, while the other half go to the goddess Freyja's field Fólkvangr." She laid her head on Bell's shoulder as she spoke. "When the Gods stopped being worshipped, those that entered Valhalla soon dwindled to nothing." She yawned.

"What's it like?" Bell questioned softly.

"Unlike anything you've ever seen." She sighed gently. "Maybe I'll take you there, when... you die…." Soft snores soon rose from the Goddess, leaving Bell alone with his thoughts, one in particular. Why would people stop worshipping the Gods?

Bored!

She was so bored! Just because she had let the munchin of a Goddess sleep in the store, Hephaestus had her on clerk duty. She could hear the forge calling for her, but by direct order from the Lady of the Forge herself, she was stuck looking after one of their numerous stores in Babel. Not even one of the more well respected stores, instead she was surrounded by Level 1 nobodies looking to get cheap armour or weapons. She had managed to sell a few things, but given her attitude towards some of the customers, they had fled.

Tsubaki had only opened the store a little while ago, the store itself was empty right now. She was leaning on both her hands looking over the meager equipment from the lower level blacksmiths in the Familia. In her honest opinion, a lot of this wasn't even worth selling and undoubtedly some of it was going to get the poor adventure that bought it, killed. There was some talent in the store though, but not much and the untrained eye wouldn't be able to spot it.

Hearing the chime of the entrance she turned her gaze to the white haired boy that entered.

"Welcome." She let out a yawn.

"A-Ah, thankyou!" He smiled awkwardly back before going about and looking through the store. No doubt another rookie. There was a strange contraption on his arm but he didn't have a weapon on hand, the contraption caught her interest though, what was it?

"Taking the day off from the Dungeon?" Tsubaki asked, making idle conversation causing the boy to glance over at her.

"Yes, I decided to get some proper armour for myself." He nodded.

"Got a decent weapon then?" She asked, eyeing the device on his arm as she walked through the store.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Looking at you, you're probably a quick fighter, meaning you'll be looking for some light armour." She examined him up close, he was considerably shorter than herself. "Any preference?" She asked.

"I don't want it to hinder my speed, if possible." He told her, getting a nod from Tsubaki. Looking over a few crates of armour herself, she spotted a particular one and smiled, she could brag to the brat about selling it later.

"Here is something." She spoke picking the crate up and leading him to the front counter, laying the pieces out he examined them. "They're well made, light and durable and it won't hinder your speed." She told him as the boy examined the chest piece before moving onto the, shoulder guards, arm guards and shin guards.

"Is it really only 9,900 Valis?" He questioned.

"Eh, is that all that he put on it? That idiot." She scowled seeing the price tag. "Yeah, looks like it." She nodded.

"I'll take it then." He smiled happily, reaching for his money.

"Say, I'll take a thousand Valis off it if you show me that do-hikey on your arm." She smiled at him making Bell look down at the gauntlet Sindri had given him.

"R-Really sorry, I promised I wouldn't let another smith look at it." She quickly rose three fingers up.

"Three thousand Valis off then." Tsubaki didn't know why, but there was something about it that made her want to know what it was.

"I'm really sorry! Here's the full amount!" He told her, placing the money on the counter, hiding his left arm behind his back. Tsubaki stared intently at him, making the white haired teen smile awkwardly.

"Who made it?" SHe questioned, Bell raising a finger up to his cheek, scratching at it awkwardly. "What can't tell me that much either?" She questioned.

"Well, he didn't say I couldn't…" Bell began. "The dwarf Sindri made it." He told her, Tsubaki giving him a blank stare.

"Who the hell is Sindri the dwarf?" She growled at him.

"He's the one who made it." Bell told her causing her to huff. "I'm sorry, but I promised him that I'd never let another smith look at it."

"Damn greedy dwarf!" She shouted before grinning at the boy. "Anyway, back to the armour." She said, gripping the chest peice and turning it over pointing to a signature. "It's made by a smith named Welf Crozzo, if you like the armour try buying from him again, he makes some decent equipment."

"Sure." Bell nodded with a smile. "Thank you again." Tsubaki nodded and Bell left the store with his new armour leaving the half-dwarf to her boredom once more.

"Ottar, is it done?" Freya questioned as the large boaz entered the room.

"Is is, Lady Freya." He replied. "Hogni and Heidin will release it on the fourth floor when the time is right. We received intel that the boy will be attempting the fourth floor tomorrow." Freya smiled lightly and nodded.

"It'll truly be something worth watching." She spoke softly. "I wonder what Loki's little rabbit will do, will he grow stronger because of it or will he crack under the pressure?"

"He's not ready for this, Lady Freya." Ottar spoke freely.

"No, but it's not for him." Freya countered. "If that beast girl is to be of any use, she needs to be stronger, a creature such as that should be no match for her. If she stays as she is, it'll only hinder him and if that's the case we might as well deal with her." Ottar remained quiet as Freya glanced over her shoulder at him, a slightly amused expression on her face.

"Has he entranced you too, Ottar? You seem quite worried for him."

"I simply don't wish to see you disappointed Lady Freya." Ottar replied.

"Will you continue to train him after this is done?"

"If that is your will."

"Please do, it's nice to make Loki squirm from time to time."

Naaza smiled at bell, now fitted in his new armour. He looked more like an adventure now, however…

"Black doesn't suit you at all." Naaza told him.

"Eh!" Bell looked at himself, his clothes were black making the silver of his armour stand out that much more. He hadn't been able to equip the left arm guard due to the Guardian shield so the black clothing made the gold stand out too.

"I thought it looked cool." He told her.

"It makes you look very cool Bell, like a real adventurer." Miach smiled as he walked alongside them making Bell grin in return. The God had decided to accompany them some of the way to the Dungeon entrance beneath Babel Tower.

"Very cool." Naaza added,her tail swaying. "Like a Hero."

"You're just teasing me." Bell pouted at her, Miach smiling at the two as he watched them speak with one another. Naaza had really opened up to the boy since they had started adventuring with one another, it helped that the stress from the Dian Chet Familia was less now that they were able to give a sizeable payment to catch them up on their debt. It was all because of the white haired boy. Miach owed him a possibly even greater debt.

"Let me buy you breakfast." Miach smiled at Bell.

"N-No, I couldn't possibly." Bell tried to say, however Miach already turned and headed for a stall.

"Good morning Hestia, two Jagamarukun please."

"Oh Miach, coming right up." The twin tailed Goddess replied with a smile before seeing to the order. "Is that the boy that saved Naaza?" Hestia questioned peering around Miach.

"He is, but from what Naaza said, he already has a Familia." Miach told her causing Hestia to pout and turn her nose up at her fellow deity.

"Not like I'd want some scrawny child like that anyway." She huffed as Miach smiled receiving the two items of food. "Thank you for your patronage." Hestia bowed.

"Have a good day at work Hestia." Miach smiled in return. Bell and Naaza waited as Miach returned with the potato croquettes and handed one each to Bell and Naaza. "We split from here I'm afraid." Miach continued to smile. "You're going to the fourth floor today?"

"Yes." Naaza nodded, she was the one who had recommended it to Bell when he had informed her that he was taking the day off to buy new armour.

"Just be careful, don't take any risks."

"We won't." Bell assured, getting a nod from Miach the two set off towards Babel. There was idle talk as they made their way through the first and second floor, Bell dealing with any monsters that they came across swiftly. Naaza had her bow at the ready as always but let Bell do the fighting, she didn't have the nerves to fight yet. She needed more time to readjust in returning to the Dungeon. Simply collecting the magic stone fragments and any drop items along the way.

The two were more cautious on the third floor, they had only just recently scouted the entire floor, while there was no new enemies that attacked more frequently than they did on the upper floors. Each floor of the Dungeon was distinctly different. At the entrance to the four level Naaza called Bell to a halt.

"The Dungeon Lizards on the fourth floor excrete a poison from their claws and teeth." The Chientrope explained. "I've made antidotes for us." Handing Bell three green vials he smiled at her.

"Thanks Naaza." She nodded and the two readied themselves to delve down onto the fourth level. Bell was at the ready with his axe as they exited the natural formation of stairs and Naaza was listening for anything that might try to ambush them, weather it be monster or adventurer alike. She wasn't ignorant to how Adventures could be. However something was wrong, there was no sound but their own footsteps.

Her mind was full of unease, should she stop bell and request to go back up a floor? She didn't want too, but maybe it was for the best. Something was going on, on this floor the monsters were too quiet.

"I won't hold Bell back." She filled herself with the determination and continued after Bell, hand gripping her bow as the grip on the arrow increased. Bell gave her a questioning glance to which she simply nodded and he continued onwards. They passed through several tunnels, Naaza becoming more familiar with the layout. The Dungeon never really changed so it was easy to become familiar with the routes on the upper floors, the lower floors were more difficult.

Bell was cautious as he moved forward, both lessons from Eina and Naaza had made him to be cautious of new areas. With Kobolds and Goblins they attacked on foot but Dungeon Lizards attacked from all directions, most attacking from the ceiling where they scurried along in the shadows and took unsuspecting adventures off guard. What worried him at the moment was that they had been on the fourth floor for some time and hadn't come across any monsters yet.

"We're approaching an opening." Naaza spoke softly to him, from what she recalled the opening cavern was the middle of the fourth floor and led into a labyrinth of tunnels. Soon enough, just like Naaza had predicted the tunnel they were in opened up into a large open cavern.

"Something's wrong." Bell spoke and Naaza had to nod her head in agreement, this was usually a space where a large amount of adventurers would battle monsters. But the blood stains on the ground and scattered equipment didn't bode well. "We should head back." Bell suggested not liking the scene they had stumbled upon, before Naaza could agree, shouting came from one of the tunnels, terrified cries as an Adventure was running. Then the thundering footsteps as a beastly roar followed after the adventurer. Bell and Naaza saw the middle aged adventure stumble from one of the tunnels, panic written on his face. He spotted them.

"Run!" He tried to warn them, shouting at them to run had stopped his own momentum and soon he was set upon by the large creature. It collided with the adventurer with tremendous force there was no doubt that the blow had instantly killed him, but the monster didn't stop there, grabbing one of the adventurers legs and slamming him into the ground over and over.

Bell was pale as a ghost before the large creature as Naaza was petrified as the monkey like monster soon saw them. It's white fur was stained in blood of numerous Adventurers even the silver fur down the middle was bathed in blood. Bell's mind was screaming at him to run, that there was no way he could win this. But one look at Naaza and his Grandfather's words echoed in his mind.

"If there is ever a monster in front of you Bell, and a girl behind you. Be the shield that will protect them."

However just as his Grandfather's words came to him as he stood before the Silver Back, so did Loki's.

"The Aesir Gods loved the children so much that should they ever be worthy of it they'd be welcome into the halls of Valhalla."

Surprisingly, it was Loki's words that made Bell step forward, his Guardian Shield extending as he rose it up, readying his axe. Since he had come to Orario, Loki was the person he was closest too. Her words when she spoke of Valhalla were something he'd never forget, how sad she sounded when she said that the God's no longer accepted those worthy into Valhalla.

Because she was his Goddess, he wanted to prove himself worthy of Valhalla, which meant no matter how afraid he was at this moment, if he ran, he wouldn't find himself worthy to be accepted into the great halls Loki told him of. He would always follow what his Grandfather had always taught him, but now he'd also prove to his Goddess that he was worthy of the Valhalla she spoke of.

"Naaza, run." Bell spoke softly causing the Chienthrope to flinch slightly as she stared into Bell's back. "I'll hold it off, get to the entrance quick." Naaza's eyes were wide, why was he protecting her like this? Was she such a failure that she needed protecting?

"Bell." She whispered softly before looking past him to the Silverback sniffing at the air in their direction. There was no way he could defeat it on his own. But her body wouldn't stop as she turned and began to run away. Bell smiled softly as he rose his shield up.

"I hope you'll take me to Valhalla, Goddess." Bell smiled before he felt a slightly warmth amidst the script on his back that made up his Falna. Unknowingly, a skill was awakening for the young Adventurer, his first skill.

[Valkyrie's Gift] was engraved in the first skill slot of Bell's Falna. It's description read [While worthy of Valhalla, a boost too all stats is applied]

With a roar, the massive Silverback charged at Bell.