It had been a few days and Bell was figuring out how to level up. In that time, Ais had also started getting to the range to level up again as well. The two pestered Riveria as to how they could do it but she didn't budge.
Riveria: No means no, I'm not sending you kids to kill yourselves.
Ais: But Riveria...
Rivera: Ais...
Bell: (Sorry Grandpa, I'm gonna have to use that.)
Bell walked up to Riveria, widened his eyes and pushed out his lower lip to give the best begging face he could.
Riveria: Gh!
The elf was surprised but held strong.
Riveria: Don't you give me that face.
Bell decided to stop playing around and started to add tears into the mix. This hit Riveria even harder but refused to budge. Seeing that this was going nowhere, the two left to get Ais a potato snack and cheer her up. Ais and Bell sat at a bench to eat before a blonde man with a hat came up to them.
???: What's got you two so down?
Ais: No one is telling us how to level up. I already did once, but it was on accident and they won't tell me how I did it.
Ais pouted at the man before he started laughing.
???: Haha, well why don't I tell you how.
Bell: Really?
Hermes: Sure, I'm the god, Hermes, by the way.
Bell: I'm Bell.
Ais: Ais, Lord Hermes.
Hermes: Anyway, the way to level up is to accomplish a feat that impresses even the gods.
Ais: How done do that?
Hermes: In simple terms, do something that should be considered impossible for you.
Ais: I see.
Bell: So, if we were able to beat a strong monster, we could level up?
Hermes: That's correct.
Bell: Alright, let's go try!
The boy thanked the god and left for the dungeon.
Ais: Wait for me!
They both went to the dungeon to find a strong monster to beat. It would've been harder for Ais since she was already level 2 so she needed to find something stronger. They were in the middle floors before their opportunity found them.
Adventurer A: GYAAAAH!!!
A group of adventurers were being beaten down by a group of minotaurs. Bell saw this and decided to jump in and help, Ais followed shortly after. An adventurer was about to get slashed before Bell blocked the axe of the monster.
Bell: Are you okay?
Adventurer B: I am, but two of us already got killed. There only me and my friend left.
Bell: We can handle this, get going.
Adventurer B: We can't just let a bunch of kids fight those monsters.
Adventurer A: We... we have to go, now!These kids can handle it, they're the Doll Princess and the boy is the rookie.
Ais: We'll be fine.
He grabbed his injured friend and they left the two down there. After they left, Bell and Ais began fighting through the minotaur horde. At first, the were surrounded but were able to break through overtime. However, more and more rushed to where the two were and began to wear them down. It was nearly ten minutes later when they stopped spawning and allowed the two to catch their breaths.
Bell: Is... is it over?
It wasn't, after that they heard a louder roar in the distance. They readied themselves for whatever it was.
Thud* *Thud*
The thundering footsteps revealed itself to be a large, red minotaur holding two great swords.
Bell: What is that?!
Ais: I've heard of these, I think they were called irregulars. They're stronger versions of monsters that spawn.
Bell: This is perfect, maybe we can level up if we beat it?!
Ais: Only one way to find out.
In the distance, a boaz man could be seen watching the two fight.
Ottarl: (I know Lady Freya asked me to do this, but this might be excessive. If it looks like they can't handle it I will step in.
With Freya
Freya: Now, show me how bright you can shine!
She was watching the fight from her room in Babel. With her divine mirror, she can see everything happen live.
Back with Bell, they were doing their best to fight, but the minotaur was around as strong as a level 3. Ais and Bell knew that this was not the time to be holding back so they both gave it their all. Ais danced around it with her wind magic active and Bell used his lightning. They were just barely faster, but they could not take too many hits from it or they would be dead. It wasnt long before they heard some familiar voices.
Riveria: Ais, Bell!!!
They backed off and saw Riveria along with Finn, Gareth and the four Astraea girls. They had worried looks on their faces when they saw the irregular monster the two were fighting.
Finn: You two, retreat, we will handle this.
Ais: No!
Bell: We can do this!
Alise: No, just come back here and-
She was about to go to them before a large arm blocked her.
Gareth: Just let them be for now.
Riveria: We can't just stand here and watch!
Gareth: Just look, those two aren't done yet.
They looked and saw the two fighting evenly with the minotaur. They tried to convince the dwarf to help them but he insisted that they let the kids have their adventure. The saw that it was pointless to keep arguing so they stayed put and watched the fight. Obviously, they were worried sick as all members of the fight slowly accumulated more wounds. The kids had small cuts on their bodies from when they were dodging attacks and were grazed. It was mostly even until Bell saw an opening and drove his sword into the monster's left arm and rendered it useless. Ais was trying to capitalize on this by rushing for the stone inside but the minotaur noticed this and swung its other arm, aiming to cut the girl in two. Bell quickly saw this and rushed to Ais to block the attack.
Bell: AIS!!!
shatter* *crash*
Bell got in between them and held his sword to block, but the monster's attack shattered it and threw the boy into a wall creating a small crater in it.
Ais: Bell!
Everyone saw this and panicked.
Riveria: Gareth, if you insist on stopping us you will regret it!
Ryuu: I refuse to stand around any longer!
Kaguya: Enough of you games!
Finn: Wait...
Riveria: I'VE DONE ENOUGH WAITING! A SMALL BOY JUST DIED BECAUSE WE WAITED, FINN! I'M ABOUT TO LET AIS DIE NEXT!
Finn: Listen, do you hear that?
They paused and listened carefully.
crackle*
They looked at the direction of the noise and saw the boy back on his feet. His body was covered in a veil of electricity but his head was down. He slowly walked forward before looking up at the monster, what everyone saw sent shivers down their spines. They boys eyes changed from a fiery crimson to a piercing silver. His lighting also took a white color from its usual light blue. Bell looked at Ais, she wondered what happened to her friend but she was interrupted by a roar from the minotaur. They nodded and Bell raised both of his hands and shot out a massive blast of lighting, ensnaring the monster. Ais took this moment to use her strongest move, it was an attack she had been working on to slay they strongest monsters she could find. She channeled her wind magic into her sword and jumped towards the monster.
Ais: LIL RAFAGA!!!
The thrust of her sword was so strong, it knocked the minotaur into another wall before it pulled itself out. The monster was on its last legs, it was covered in its own blood. Ais was about to go for another attack, but she felt a massive amount of magic being used behind her. She turned and saw Bell channeling his lightning into a blade coming out of his hand. Bell ran at the monster but stopped suddenly before releasing his attack.
Dozens of lightning bolts shot out of his hand and made their way to the monster before becoming stuck on its chest. The monster roared in pain before Bell activated the last part of the spell causing an explosion. When the smoke cleared, the top half was destroyed until the rest of the body disintegrated leaving only the stone behind. Everyone saw the battle was over and rushed towards the children. The lightning around Bell disappeared and the bou fainted but was caught by Ryuu.
Ryuu: Phew, it's just mind down.
Riveria: We are going to have a long talk about this when we get back.
Ais looked down.
Ais: I'm sorry, we just wanted to get stronger and help you.
Finn: Ais, we understand. All of us are proud of you two for beating that monster, who knows what could have happened if it roamed freely. That being said, you have to realize how reckless you were being. I don't want you to worry us so please don't try to do this again without one of us.
Ais: I'm sorry...
Riveria: Well, it all ended fine so I won't be too hard on you. Don't think that you won't get a punishment, now let's go back up, you two need treatment.
They went back up and went to Dian Cecht's home to see the healers there. They were able to treat the kids and found that they had little serious injuries save a few bruises and broken bones. Loki and Astraea came in later to see the kids and update them. What they saw left them shocked.
Loki: This is insane!
Ais Wallenstein
Loki Familia
Level 3
Str I-0
Vit I-0
Dex I-0
Agl I-0
Mag I-0
Skills
Avenger
First Blood (New) I - Landing the first attack in a fight massively increases strength for a short period.
Development Abilities
Hunter H
Abnormal Resistence H
Swordsman G
Loki: Ais, you leveled up to level 3!
Ais looked at her status sheet with a smile.
Ais: I'm getting stronger. (I'll save you one day, mom.)
She girl felt happier than ever. She'd been worried all day about Bell before doctors informed everyone that he would be fine, now she could enjoy her achievement until her punishment from Riveria, which is why she felt a chill when the high elf came in the room with an angry face.
Riveria: You know that you should accept the consequences of your actions, so you won't be eating any potato snacks for a week.
Ais: NOOOOOO!!!
With the Astraea Familia
They heard the girl's scream and could only winced at the pain in them.
Lyra: I'd hate to be her right now.
Ryuu: What did she say?
Alise: Probably took her favorite snack away from her.
Astraea: That does sound like the long and short of it.
The goddess updated Bell's status and was as shocked as Loki.
Astraea: (You never cease to amaze us.)
Bell Cranel
Astraea Familia
Level 2
Str I-0
Vit I-0
Dex I-0
Agl I-0
Mag I-0
Skills
Liaris Freese
Thunderlord
Argonaut (New) - (We know what this does, same as always.)
Development Abilities
Luck (New) I
Astraea: You did a good job.
They all gave their silent congratulations to the sleeping boy. Meanwhile, a goddess of beauty had her own celebration.
Freya: Beautiful, simply splendid. That boy is one in a million.
Ottarl: I take it he satisfied you?
Freya: Oh yes, everything and more. You did well too, so I will grant you any request you ask.
Ottarl: Then if I may, I ask that you refrain from repeating this.
Freya was shocked, her loyal child had asked for something other that serving her. On top of that, he requested something that goes against her desires. Freya wasn't upset, but her curiosity reached its peak.
Freya: Why is that?
Ottarl: I don't want to worry you with the details, but our actions against that boy can and will be traced back to us. As such, we should limit our negative contact with him or our familia itself could collapse in the future.
Freya saw how the boaz was sweating as he gave his warning. She wanted to ask further, but saw that would trouble her child and she didn't want that so she left it.
Freya: Very well then, I will heed this warning. You may go now, I have to attend to other matters now.
Ottarl: Yes, my lady.
With that, he left and Freya wondered for the rest of the day who he was talking about.
AN: And done. A lot happened in this one, Bell and Ais leveled up and Freya got her first warning as to who she's really messing with.
As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Feel free to leave your reviews and I will see you in the next one.