So here's the 3rd chapter. Enjoy
The lore and the Family
….
'Babel', A massive tower located right at the centre of the city, 'Orario'.
Many a times, Orario is known as the centre of the world, that is just a metaphor. It doesn't mean that the city is located at the dead centre of the entire world or even the continent rather that almost all races can be found here interacting with one another, in hostile or hospitable manner.
Yes 'almost' not 'all'. There are still some races out there, although few in numbers but cannot be found here. Perhaps the reason being too weak, or too introverted or perhaps too proud to interact with others. There could be many a number of reasons but just because they don't interact doesn't mean they don't exist rather MANY know of them but mostly through olden tales and thus are perceived as nothing more than a stuff of 'Legends'.
Anyway, the city is still very popular and known to an entire world. You could call it famous for most wealth and technology OR you could call it infamous due to innumerable deaths piled up over time OR some few preferred to call it 'the city of romance'.
WHY? Because of tales that have been written here.
Tales of Legends and tales of Ordinary
Tales of Heroes and tales of Villains
Tales of Bravery and tales of Cowardly
Tales of rich and tales of poor
You could find every sort of tale in this rich historical place thus the 'city of romance'.
And then there's 'dungeon', one of the three most dangerous places in the entire world. In fact, in times long forgotten, there was no such thing as dungeon or as some call it, 'Monster den'. This place did not exist but the other two have been in existence since times primordial. Yes, they have existed since times even before the current Celestials came into being.
In those times, these people 'preferred' to call themselves 'gods' and had people worship them as such but perhaps that is the reason for them losing not just their throne but also their entire existence. This one word 'god' isn't something cheap. It holds 'power' and 'weight', and those people couldn't handle such weight and thus were crushed beneath it. Then with time, new ones appeared but these new ones made it forbidden for anyone to call themselves 'gods' including themselves and thus took the name of 'celestials', as in powerful beings but beneath and under the universe and thus its 'creator'.
How they came into being? Well, that is a story of another time.
We were talking about the dungeons and the other two places. In fact, the dungeon was made as a sort of 'training ground' to 'strengthen' the then weak races so that they could deal with the threat from other two places. These other two places are as dangerous as dungeon if not more so since they too possess equal power.
Then why is it?! Why does no one seem to know about these other two places while everyone knows about dungeon? The reason is simple, you can survive in dungeon, even the weaker ones can on the beginner floors, but death is certain in other two places. The dungeon is a floor-by-floor structure with specific powered creatures existing on said floors so, the upper floors are weaker while the deeper floors are stronger in creatures.
The other two place are not like that. You could encounter the 'Strongest' being just by stepping foot inside in case of bad luck. But then again there's no such thing as 'good' or 'bad' luck. Luck is just luck so in a way by such encounter could be considered 'lucky' since you would be saved from the many horrors you would face otherwise.
So, the question is, 'HOW are those two places silent'? If they're as dangerous and possess such creatures inside, then why is not much of a mention of them among the people?
Another question would be, 'IF the dungeon was supposed to be a training ground, then how did it become so powerful and equalled in danger to the other two?'
These too are the stories of another time.
…
Babel is a tower or more like a 'lid' on the massive gaping hole in the ground known as dungeon. This was a truly gargantuan building standing at the height of about 2300m. The foundation of the building is 40 metres deep. It was built with 298 columns being put into the ground at and surrounding the gaping hole with each column being 77 metres long thus the massive size. The one who build this tower was truly a once in a lifetime genius since not only did it completely closed off the mouth of the dungeon but also stretched upwards to insane heights.
This tower now served as a sign Orario. As you would expect, the ones living inside such tower are no ordinary people. This tower also served as both the 'guild headquarters' as well as a living space for those working in it as well as a resting spot for adventurers coming out of dungeon.
Other than that, the prices to live inside are great and ONLY familias. Powerful families were allowed to have a floor inside. You could have all the money in the world but unless you were a part of a strong familia in Orario, couldn't even rent a single room.
Right now, at one of the highest floors of Babel, the one known for her beauty and elegance was taking a seat looking outside through the glass like wall. Yes, this wall was not made up of glass but rather a similar looking substance which was made up of many of the toughest resources found deeper inside the dungeon.
The beauty looked incredibly bored as well as exited. She was bored since nothing interesting was going on NOW but was excited due to the news here captain gave her. The fact that the boy took the beast down by himself.
She couldn't believe it.
She never even expected such a result.
She only wanted the boy to have a chance to overcome his fears and grow up.
She wanted him to fight and knew that Loki familias was going for an expedition thus she chose this timing. She knew they would not let the boy die, especially the one with the golden colour.
She gave the boy a chance to fight till his last breath himself and then someone else to finish off the Bull. But the boy performed way beyond here expectations, not only fighting till his last but also taking it down.
She was ecstatic and was waiting for the boy to come out and show her that transparent brilliant colour. She wanted to see if the colour got any brighter and if it did, then by how much and her waiting was answered. She saw the boy, unconscious lying on the backpack of that little Prum and yes.
'This is it', she thought 'His colour has gotten much brighter, and that stain is gone'. She looked at her captain standing behind
"You did a good job ottar" praising him
"This was my job, nothing to be praised over" said the boar man looking as astute as ever
"Sigh! You're no fun" she said while looking at them going towards Hestia's stand.
"Hmm…..! What's that?" she exclaimed while looking at another man walking side by side with that Prum. The man was strange, holding three swords with green coloured hair but that's not what caught her eyes, rather it was his soul.
Sharp
That was the first impression she got
'Oh!... he noticed that fast?'
'Let's see again…...'
'No colour.…no!'
'All colours….no!'
It was as if the man had all the colours in the world while none at the same time.
'Is his colour in the process of changing or is it that I can't see clearly thus can't differentiate?' She thought
"Ouch!..."
"My lady what happened?" asked ottar very clearly in an agitated tone
Freya: "Nothing. Nothing at all. Don't worry just some stuff"
'It felt as if thousands of blades were aiming and cutting at me'
'Was that just an imagination, no something else just that I can't seem to be able to put a finger on it'
'Whatever it is, very interesting'
"Hestia sure has a knack for gathering strange people or is it the boy…?", she whisperedlooking at them going towards that old, run-down church
…
Zoro was in a strange mood. First, he came somewhere clearly not his original world and second, he regressed or so it seems. But if he really did regress then why does he have all these memories. Perhaps it was just his body that had regressed, not mind.
'Is it due to that tunnel', remembering that dark strange tunnel through which he came over
'These celestials could be of help since they're considered to have lived long lives and are powerful, albeit in their own world'
"Um…... Is something the matter?" asked Hestia, "Why are you staring at me like that?"
"Nothing. Just has a lot of things on mind"
"How's the boy doing. Any chances of him waking up?"
Hestia: "Not sure, I've called over a friend but looking at him, it seems someone already tended to him"
"Since you were there, know anything" looking at him at the corner of the eyes
"There was a long-eared woman, Lili called her Revera? Yes, I think that was her name. She used something called magic to heal him"
"You don't know what magic is?" Now she was really surprised. Who didn't know of magic in this day and age?
"Nope! Not a clue. Although I have heard legends but that's it"
"Hm…, Oh Lili! You're back." She said looking over at Prum coming back with one of her friends
"Welcome Miach. Mind looking over him?"
"Sure Hestia. It's not much problem", said a beautiful looking guy. Yes, beautiful not handsome although the guy looked good hearted and easy going.
"Most of his injuries have already been healed, he's unconscious mostly due to mind down and exhaustion" said Miach after looking Bell over
"I have this potion which could help him wake up fast, but I would recommend having him rest and wake up on his own. That would be much better than any potion", Miah was a good guy. He could easily make some business here but no. He would rather go for betterment of the patient then making some money
"Oh….! Thank you Miach for that advice. Yes, I'll go with that. This way he could get some much-needed rest", Hestia looked relieved
"Now then, according to what you said, he fought a minotaur all alone while everyone was just watching over, doing nothing"
"Was that some kind of Circus. Why did others not help him"
Hestia was really furious and why wouldn't she. She almost lost her first and only family member. For Hestia, Bell was like a child and she herself was like his mother. When she came down, staying true to her authority, she had decided to have a big family where her role would be to guide others like a parent would and naturally a parent would be angry at such a situation.
"Lady Hestia, please calm down your anger. Even though Lili doesn't want to say it but, we were in dungeon" Said Lili while trying to calm Hestia down, "We should be happy that no one took the advantage of that situation. You should understand, don't you of as to how the dungeon is? How are the people treated inside?"
"Lili is just happy that we managed to come out safe" She looked over at Zoro "Lili is very thankful for your help" said Lili while bowing down
"Do not ever bow down to me for any reason. I don't like that" said Zoro is a very serious tone
"Lili understands."
"Now where were we? yes. People had no obligation to help us and even if they did, it wouldn't matter. Master Bell rejected the help and fought all on his own himself, so no one is to blame here"
Ending her explanation
"It's better this way. The boy didn't want to rely upon anyone else so he fought and even won so you should be happy about that. He has become a man", Zoro said to Hestia. Yes, it was better this way. Only as such can one truly shine in all their glory.
"I understand, I do but just let me just vent it all" said Hestia while looking at Bell
Everyone stayed silent for a moment until Hetia herself broke it,
"I can understand Lili but why did you help him?" she asked looking at Zoro. Yes, Zoro had no reason nor any obligation to help anyway so WHY?
"Lili too asked him the same question, but his answer was strange. He said he had an ulterior motive"
"An ulterior motive?" said Hestia while looking at Zoro, "Let's hear it out"
"I simply want to train the boy and have him reach his full potential, nothing else" said Zoro, laying the truth bare to everyone
"you're telling the truth but you're hiding something. Are you not?"
"Half-truth is often more dangerous than a lie so until you tell me, I won't let Bell be anywhere near you", said Hestia in a very stern tone. You could find threatening in that way of speaking.
Even Miach was surprised to see her like this, but he understood her and thus stayed silent
"Let's just say I have a wish and perhaps he could help me fulfil it. Worry not I can swear that I won't let any harm come upon him intentionally"
"Hmm…m…." Hestia looked at him as if she would bore a hole through his body
He was telling the truth and she could somewhat rest easy but still,
'Hah…. Let's just see how things go from here'
"So, what are your plans now?"
Hestia could tell he was not in any familia thus she asked
"Why not have me join you?"
"I heard you want a family; I could take the role of the bog brother" said Zoro jokingly
"In all seriousness, I AM going to train the boy and make him stronger, and I would appreciate it if you would let me join you" said Zoro finally getting serious
Hearing that Hestia looked at Lili. Lili was the one to have spent most time with him, so her thinking mattered
"Well Lili can tell you that he is VERY strong, how he got that strong without a Fala? That I don't know but it would be advantageous for your familia to have him, Lady Hestia. Although yes, he's a bit strange and lacks what we consider common sense. That's all Lili can say about him. Weather he's trustworthy or not, you'll know after giving him a falna"
"Hm… you have a point miss supporter. Fine I'll let you in. Go over there and lie face down with your shirt off"
"I'll be taking my leave Hestia. Naza would be angry if I delay any longer" said Miach taking his leave
"Oh, yes. Thankyou for coming over Miach", said Hestia waving goodbye to Miach
"Alrighty then" looking over, "Why are you still standing there. Come on, do it"
"Fine", said Zoro lying down with his top off
"It might tickle a little but bear with it", said Hestia while taking out a drop of her blood with a small pin pouring it on Zoro's back
Zoro: "Don't get too surprised"
"What do you mean…? Oh, your Falna is manifesting", said Hestia in a confused tone while looking over her new child's Fana and stats. At the same time, she got a tone of information in her head regarding this new child
"Wha..?!"
"What is this!? What's going on. Just what are you?"
Hestia was not just surprised, she was right out shocked, speechless. Afterall the information she got could start up a massive mess in the whole world IF known to others.
Intelligent creatures have never ending desires. Some control it while others don't. These desires could be anything, but they are there so the question is, 'What would happen if they got power. They got very strong', 'some of them no doubt would remain the same while the others could right out betray their familia by giving out information and stuff'.
So, how to make sure they won't betray you?
Very simple. Give them a falna. Everything has a price and the price for power here is information and privacy. Yes, the celestials could easily tell what the certain individual has done by looking over their Falna. Although they can't see every little thing, but the can the major ones. This way, they could tell if the certain child has gone beyond the limits or not, if someone's heart still with the familia or not.
Zoro knew it and yet decided to go along with it. Why?
…..
Zoro POV
There was no other choice. He had learned at least one thing; every world has rules and regulation governing them. The world he was from had its own, thus the creation of Devil Fruits and Haki and insane amount of power simply by fighting, training, learning and perfecting. He had seen many others faar weaker than him and some who used to be faar stronger than him until he took them down.
Why is that? No one could ask that question since from their perspective, everything depended upon training and fighting. You train more, you become stronger. You fight more, get more experience and you become stronger. It never even occurred to them of as to why that was the case? How was it possible to have the small human body possessing the strength surpassing even the giants? No one asked since that was a norm but what now?
He was forced to ask that question and ponder over it thus the result he got about rules and regulation of nature. Why was he forced to ask such question to himself, well his strength was decreasing at an insane rate ever since coming over. He had a doubt that before long, he would become just like normal humans without all that hard earned power, so he decided to join a familia since from what Lili said, the who join a familia gets a huge power boost through Falna and that power kept increasing so perhaps that was the way of THIS WORLD.
You couldn't become powerful enough to destroy mountains simply through training here.
On the other hand, he was also ecstatic since he could become even stronger here than before since he already knew and had mastery over all of his swords, all of his movements were practiced over thousand of times and had now become a norm for him. His understanding of nature and his power to cut almost anything, regardless of how shallow the cut might be. These were the things accepted by all worlds so couldn't be taken like strength and Haki. He also had hopes that he might get his Haki back in form of those skills mentioned to him before.
If previously he had to train and start from 0 to come all the way to 100, then now he was already starting from 50 and could probably surpass that 100 limit with time. After all combat prowesses didn't just rely upon physical stats and Haki, many other things especially for a swordsman mattered as well.
Experience
Control
Ability
Understanding
And much more also went into combat prowesses. He had gathered all of this through 30 years of training so couldn't be taken. So what if he no longer possessed the same strength and power. He had a lot of time to grow now due to going back to his younger years.
Yes, he would train again and become even stronger surpassing the limit he couldn't before and reaching that absolute peak.
POV END
…
Hestia couldn't believe it. A man from another world and who came over due to his own overwhelming strength and power. Sure, he had gotten weaker now, but he could grow even stronger and that's what would normally scare her, but she was thankful. Yes, she was thankful because that man was Roronoa Zoro. A man with strong belief and principles. A man so loyal that he would not hesitate to not only put his very life on the line but even his dignity and pride for his leader.
'He's a good child' thought Hestia. The shock that she got was growing lesser with time.
"So, this is what you meant when you said that to me"
"You know. It's really miraculous. Honestly, I had my doubts when I heard it from her, but man is it a scary ability", Said Zoro
"Well now you know. Don't tell anyone about this since the aftershock would be too great"
"I'm not stupid"
"Yeah, I know. Anyway, I welcome you Roronoa Zor-, NO!"
"I welcome you, SWORD EMPEROR in my small family. I hope your wish would be fulfilled and that Bell won't disappoint you"
Yes, Hestia was being respectful. Even celestials were respectful towards heroes and today she saw one of the very greatest ones so naturally she would treat him with respect that he deserved.
"Oh, he won't I can tell" said Zoro laughing.
"Wha-?!"
"What's going on. Lily doesn't understand. What sword emperor"
"Who is he after all?"
Lili through out a torrent of questions after seeing Hestia being so respectful and after hearing that title, she called him by
'Sword Emperor, what is that?'
Hestia: "Do not be agitated. You'll know with time, that I'm certain"
While they were talking, another voice spoke in between,
"Hn….. I'm awake" looking around
"Oh, I'm at home"
He looked over the smiling Hestia, shocked Lili and the laughing Zoro
"What's going on and who is he"
Bell Crannel was awake and rather obviously confused.
….
At the same time,
In Orario somewhere,
"Gogogogo, sell them, sell em' all. Hahahahhaha… we'll be making a lot of money off of these irregulars" screamed a man, rather obviously happy while directing many others.
They were transporting somethings in cages
"We would rather die than become playthings", and then "Crack"
And with that whatever was in the cages dissolved into fine dust
"Noooooo...! You fool?!. Had I not told you to tie em all up?"
"I- it was a mistake. It won't happened again," said a terrified voice
"Sure, it won't happen again, and I'll make sure of that", "hehehe…."
"Kill em all"
"They're of no use"
Said the man while looking over some tough fellows
"Sure, what now"
"Let's go back. So, what if these died, there are many more down there Aren't there?"
…..
In deeper floors, the wall cracked, and a bull fell down form there. It was black with red horns and eyes
'Where?'
'Who?'
Thought the bull but before organising its thoughts, something jumped at it trying to bite.
The bull roared and threw a powerful punch over that thing and crushed its head. At the same time another thing came over, fully white with red eyes.
This was an evolved form of al-mirages, lvl 4 monsters known simply as white shadows
'It resembles'
'What does it resemble'
Though the bull trying to remember
…..
"The advanced party should have reached there already. Pick up the pace"
Said a blue-eyed boy known simply as Finn
"We have to reach there and make this expedition a success"
"What do you think about that green haired man?", asked the vice-captain of the Loki familia
Finn: "His hairs resembled you"
Reveria: "I'm not joking"
Finn: "It was intense. When I looked at him, my thumb throbbed like never before. A storm is coming, and we should be prepared"
Thinking of something,
Finn: "By the way, you saw his stats, didn't you? Care to tell me"
Reveria: "Are you asking me to disclose a private information"
Finn: "C'mon on. Anyone could see so why not"
Reveria: "S…., his stats were all S"
Finn: "What!? a newbie got all S? That's hard to believe"
Reveria: "Up to you"
"Looks like the waves are going to be intense", said Finn while looking up the ceiling of the dungeon.
Reveria looked at him and pondered
'Did I saw it wrong? No, but how? How could anyone surpass the set limits. How could anyone have SS'
'Hah…..., this doesn't make any sense. I just hope Aiz didn't see that SS in his agility otherwise her hunger for power could grow even further'
'But how did he do that. Effort alone is not enough, perhaps a skill or something'
…..
Deep down in the dungeon, a grotesque figure stood there standing. Well saying it was standing would be wrong since it was like set in there. The upper part could be considered beautiful, but the lower part was composed of some sort of trees, moss and flowers and they had moths with sharp teeth. As if they would eat through anything.
"I can feel it, yes, I can feel it. Come, come fast Aria. I have been waiting for long. Do not make me wait any longer"
Said the thing in loud voice, so loud that many monsters were scared off
….
Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand CUT
The third chapter is also over
So how was it, do comment.
Anyway, as I had said before, the first three chapters would be context, setting up the lore and future plot points and now that is over with. I think I have set up enough plot points for going further for now.
And now, the story is going to pick up the pace starting from next chapter
Anyway, Zoro joined Hestia. I know some of you might not like it but from where I stand, the problem isn't herself rather it's her personality, Tsundere or so they call it. So, I have decided to change that. In myth, Hestia has authority over the hearth fire, the home and family so I'm going to make her mature and am going to show her as a parent for EVERYONE in FAMILIA including Bell. She would a parent and nothing else.
As for those who might have a problem with Zoro being nerfed, Look. This was necessary. Zoro is too strong and could easily break the power system. After all, if he were to go ahead and hunt down the Dragon, nothing else more would be left for bell, now would it. Also, I need Zoro to become more powerful so starting from beginning is the best from my perspective. Climbing the ranks and what not though he would still be overpowered among and above his level, nonetheless.
And Finally, NO. I'm not going to focus solely upon either Zoro or Bell. Both of them would get equal chances to shine. I'm planning to add in some new original characters from my self but that would have to wait.
And now, here's the question for all of YOU.
Would you prefer me making Zoro the leader/Captain? Those who have watched One piece know that Zoro had all the qualities to become a supreme king, but he followed another leader so why not make him the leader this time around.
Why not have him show Bell the ropes along with training him?
I think that would be interesting but what do you guys think?
Now next chapter would either be by the end of this week or next week
Enjoy and Good Night