Danmachi Heart of Alfhiem
Chapter 7 Troubled Spirits and Hungry Goddesses(edited)
(Night 12)
"CROZZO! The cursed magic sword smith!" Eina covered her mouth and recoiled in fear of that name.
Welf's smile instantly vanished into a frustrated smirk directed at Eina. "I would appreciate it if you didn't alert every elf to my presence. I would prefer to live."
"Why would elves want to kill you Mr. Crozzo?"
"My ancestors did horrible things to the elves. I rather not get into it here." Welf said scratching his fiery red hair.
"Bell you can't use his weapons." Eina warned.
"I like his weapons and armor Eina. They have been keeping me alive."
I pointed to the many dents from killer ants and goblin elites' attacks. My face winced when I held my wound on my chest.
"Aw crap. Those joints on the sides need to be reinforced in future variations. You alright Bell." Welf cringed seeing his pain.
"Oh Bell, let me heal you." Eina's raised her hand without thinking. "Respond to the contract, light of the forest. Follow my order and heal the wounds of those that seek your Mercy. – Dio Luna."
The deep gash over a lot faster than the last time. "Eee.. thanks Eina."
"You okay. What caused that.?
"Aaaaaaa… a killer ant landed on me.
"Dam, how did you survive that?" Welf looked at me shocked.
"By listening to Eina's lessons. Probably good a thing I didn't go down further with Lily. Thank you, Eina." My cheeks blushed as I nodded to her.
"Just glad you started listening to me." Eina shook her grinning face.
Welf's pointer finger floated back and forth. "Are you two seeing each other?"
"Haaaaaaa!" Rose bellowed out loud mockingly, which only made Eina and Bell even more nervous.
Welf sees Lily try to escape. He reached out grabbed the clienthrope girl by the cloak and held her in the air. "Seen this girl here carrying your knives out of the dungeon."
Lily was squirming out of the cloak and fell to the ground, but now she was surrounded on all sides. "I don't know what you're talking about creep. Get your hands off of me."
"I don't remember running into a clienthrope girl." I said scanning her face. "My supporter was an elf."
"Two waitress friends of yours, noticed her using transformation magic. She was a prum when I saw her and changed into a clienthrope." Welf explained. "She also said she left you on floor eight when the elf waitress threatened her."
I look into her nervous pained eyes. "Lily is that you?"
"N-n-no." Lily stuttered with tears in her eyes.
Rose spoke up. "I believe Welf. He is one of Lady Hephaestus's favorites. Your supporter was too small for an elf anyways."
Rose turned to Eina. "Eina take her to a back room. Bell go get cleaned up in the showers. Meet us in the training room for questioning."
"Yes, miss Rose." Rose and Eina start walking away to the training room with Lily.
"Hey, Bell stop by in a few days around noon. I can sharpen up the knives and repair your armor." Welf asks.
"Ok, Mr. Crozzo."
"Just Welf. I got to go." Welf exited the guildhall as I went back to the showers.
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After twenty minutes in the shower and cleaning my clothes. I went to the training room where Eina and Rose were interrogating Lily on both sides.
"Are you gonna show us your transformation, Lily?" Eina ordered.
"I cannot. I am not Lily."
"Bullshit what were you doing with his knives coming out of the dungeon?" Rose shouted at her, as I sat down on the couch opposite them.
"L-I found them." Lily's nervous tone
"Lily it is you! Your eyes give you away."
All three women stare at Bell with confused faces. Eina asked. "H-how do you know?"
"Her eyes remind me of my own when I was younger." I shifted my head to the side to hide my pained smile. "I was debating whether to pull you aside to talk. I thought we were having fun and earning a lot of valis together. Why did you throw a smoke bomb and monster lures at my feet and steal my knives?"
"I d-didn't …." Lily stuttered.
I continued to stare into her chestnut brown eyes. "You have the same voice, same height, and same clothes. You told me you weren't a fighter. Looks like you barely escape a Kobold, Lily."
"I might have the answer, Bell." Eina's hand rested over her chest. "I was nervous when you said she was in Soma familia. I went to ask Goddess Loki if she knew anything. She told me that they are desperately addicted to pure wine. They will do anything to get it. That guy from the other day that attacked the exchange was Soma too."
"That doesn't excuse her trying to kill him at all." Rose spouted out frustrated. "Are you gonna transform or do I have to come back with status thief?"
"Lily wasn't trying to kill him!" She yelled out with tear-filled eyes. "Lily thought he would manage to get out okay."
"Why attack him?" Eina scowled.
"Lily hates adventurers. They abuse Lily, steal from her, and use her as monster bait. Lily is trying desperately to get away from Soma familia, so I steal stuff to buy my freedom. Lily has been trapped in Soma familia for years." Tears ran down her cheeks. "Lily is sorry."
Lily held the top of her head and started her chant. "Stroke of the Midnight's Bell, Cinderella." Her ears glowed white fire and burned away.
I was taken aback. "You're the prum girl that ran into me in the alley. So that guy that was trying to kill you was -?"
"He saw me change back. I stole from him because he was trying to use me as a decoy." Lily pleaded.
"I would have never done that to you, Lily. I wanted to keep going down. You were doing a great job. We can earn valis to buy your freedom."
"Not happening." Rose shook her head.
"Rose?" Eina said.
"No. I have seniority over you Eina. I refuse to let her go. Sounds like she was scoping Bell out thinking he was an easy target." Rose held up her finger toward Bell and ignored him. "By the condition of your armor, I say you barely made it out."
"I want to help her Miss Rose."
"No Bell. You're already worrying Eina to death. Lily will be locked in Ganesha's familias compound. Probably be safer to separate her from Soma familia before something else happens. I see no reason to trust that she will not try something again out of desperation." Rose argued. "We can lodge a formal complaint against Soma familia and try to force Lord Soma to remove his blessing."
"L-Lily understands." She hung her head.
*Knock! Knock!*
A few minutes later, two Ganesha guards came into the training room to escort Lily away. Lily turned around a bowed her head. "I am sorry Master Bell."
*Thud!* As the door closed behind her, my head hung low staring at the table in frustration.
Eina moved to the other couch and rested her hand on Bell's back. "It will be okay Bell."
"I don't understand why she didn't try to reach out. I enjoyed going down into the dungeon with her. Now I am going back on my own again."
Rose smirked watching them from the door. Her eyes fell to Bell's gear on the ground. She noticed two black appendages with claws. Rose picked one up to look at it. "What is this thing?"
"Ant Legs!"
"eehh." *Thud!* Rose dropped the leg drop item on the ground with a pale face. "Ill! How?!"
"I kind of ripped them off a killer ant that landed on me."
"They didn't disappear." Eina looked shocked.
"I didn't destroy the crystal. I am not sure if the elf woman, from Hermes familia, killed it."
"Elf woman!?"
"Miss Laurier from Hermes familia helped rescued me from the killer ant reinforcements that came down to floor eight."
"What was she doing there?" Eina asked.
"Miss Laurier was apparently close by looking for blue butterflies."
"Lucky she was there." Rose commented. "Well, Congrats! I think you found a new drop item. Don't think anybody's been in a position to rip off ant legs. Want to sell them to the exchange."
"I don't know. Maybe I will get them looked at by Welf when I take my gear over. Not sure what I am gonna do about the dungeon now without a supporter."
*Swish!* I stood up and bowed to bow to both of them. "Sorry for worrying you both. See you tomorrow, I guess." I got and walked out of the training room to go home.
Rose turned to Eina. "Poor guy can't catch a break."
"I know I wish Bete didn't scare him away from Loki familia." Eina held her temple.
"Doesn't surprise me with Vanagrand." Rose folded her arms around her shapely chest. "Bell is one of the few adventurers I can tolerate. You seem to care a lot about him, Eina. Why don't you go make the kid howl at the moon already?"
Eina's eyes widen to their limits. Eina nervously stuttered. "A-aaa-ahhhhhhh. R-rose I am his a-advisor."
Rose leaned in with a wide-fanged grin. "So what?"
Eina's hands shifted sideways as she tried to ignore Rose. "Bell is already in love with somebody else and he's desperate to get strong to be at her side."
"At the pace, he's going. He's gonna end up dead and you're unlikely to find a good person like him in this city. Believe me, I know." Rose rolled her eyes. "Why not make him stop going into the dungeon and raise quarter elves with him?"
"Ha-ha-ha." Eina's face turned a deep red at the mention of quarter elves. Rose was laughing hard. "Let's go back out and finish our shift Eina."
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(Floor 37)
"She took care of them all by herself." Tiona was stunned next to a motionless Lefiya. They watched Ais dismantle a horde of hundred spartoi skeleton monsters.
'Is this my limit? Am I destined to never be strong enough to free her? Why am I so weak?' Ais's thoughts drifted to the fight with the red-haired tamer that defeated her with ease on floor eighteen. 'She called me Aria. If I was stronger, I might have found out why she called me that name.'
Riveria was visibly worried seeing Ais falling back into her old ways. She often took on the role of her adopted mother. "Ais it's time to rest."
"I can still keep going!" Ais was frantically scanning the dungeon for more monsters to slay.
"No!" Riveria shouted. "Ais you will rest up now." Riveria practically forced Ais to rest on the thirty-eighth floor safe zone with the rest of the familia.
Aki and Alicia already had a fire going with a cauldron of soup bubbling. They had foraged for dungeon fruits in the small woodland and had bread and water ready to go. The familia filed into the dinner line and ate around the firepit. Except for Finn and Riveria who were trying to consul Ais.
"Is Miss Ais gonna be, okay?" Lefiya's eyes barely left the trio talking at the dungeon wall.
"I don't know. I haven't seen her like this in years." Alicia sighed.
"What do you mean Alicia?" Tiona questioned.
"Before you three joined. She was desperate to get stronger at all costs. Spending all of her time in the dungeon."
"How's that different?" Tione rolled her eyes.
Aki blew on her soup to cool it down. "Ais has definitely calmed down since you three befriended her. She used to be impossible to talk to and stressed Riveria to know end with her random trips to the dungeon." Aki shivered. "She was downright scary without desperate she was. I fear what would happen if she became like that now."
'What could it be?' Lefiya wondered.
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"Finn. Riveria. I have a request." Ais's eyes soften knowing she was going to cause them distress.
"What is it, Ais?" Finn stared down at the young girl.
"I want to stay behind. Alone!"
"No Ais!" Riveria lean in and grabbed Ais's chin to stare into her golden eyes. "We are not allowing you to tear yourself apart again."
"I agree! We are responsible for you." Finn leaned forward on his tree stump. "Why do you want to stay behind?"
"I want to get stronger. I need to get stronger." Ais pleaded with tears in her eyes.
Finn figured out what she wanted. "So, you want to challenge him?"
"Please."
"No!" Riveria shook her head.
"Hold on Riveria." Finn interrupted. "It's not a bad idea to try and have Ais level up and we did fill our bags up earlier than expected.
"I don't want her to face Uduaes alone! How about the Amphisbaena in a few weeks?"
"No!" Finn smirked back at the high elf. "Ais is afraid of water.
"We would have to wait a whole day down here for him to spawn, Finn."
"We do have enough rations for another day." Finn answered.
"Please." Ais pleaded.
"Huuuuuuuuuuuuu." Riveria breathed out loud. Her jade eyes focused on the ground. "Guess it would be better to watch over you. I don't want you to self-destruct later and you ever make selfish requests."
"Thank you." Ais hugged Riveria.
"Hold on a second. I have three conditions Ais." Finn held up his hand. "You will rest all day tomorrow. No fighting at all. You will allow us to keep the Spartois off of you as much as possible and if things seem dire, we will step in to end it."
"O-okay." Ais agreed shaking her head against her hands.
"Have to discuss an attack plan with the others and clear as many out as possible before the big guy spawns." Finn's finger rubbed along his chin.
Little Ais was jumping for joy inside her head and looking around for an innocent rabbit boy. Ais remembered something and lifted her head. "How is that boy getting strong so fast?
"Huh." Finn stared back confused.
"White hair…. Bell." Ais said softly. "He killed his first goblin less than a month ago and was destroying floor six the last time we saw him."
"I don't know. He's definitely pushing himself, especially going in all alone." Finn looked up to Riveria's worried face for answers. He sensed she might know something. "Ais go eat and get cleaned up."
"Yes." Ais stood up and walked over to the firepit. She was instantly tackled by Tiona in a bone-crushing hug.
Riveria and Finn stayed back. "Do you know something, Riveria?"
Riveria laid her head back against the dungeon wall and let out a deep sigh. "Yes!"
"What?"
Riveria bit a little into her right cheek and stared over at the group to make sure they couldn't eavesdrop. "Loki seems to think he might have a rare skill."
"A growth skill." Finn's stared dumbfounded. "How do you know?"
"Myself, Eina, and Alicia have been experiencing weird jumps in our ability scores. Ais also had one after the expedition when we met him." Riveria started softly pounding the back of her head into the dungeon wall.
Finn's interest was piqued. "What!? Does it only women around him or only elves?"
"Not idea." Riveria shook her head. "It's Loki's theory. So far no other woman has had a significant jump to my knowledge. Lefiya has had a few run-ins with him and only experienced normal growth. The only thing in common with us three is we're all elves and we were in the arena with him when he slew that dragon."
"That is a crazy skill if true, still slaying an infant dragon after three weeks should be impossible." Finn's finger aches. "Even level twos have trouble with them."
"Eina's magic hit the soft underbelly when it was distracted with Bell. He finished it off, but Eina got the majority of the excelia and is eligible to level up." Riveria smiled seeing Finn's stunned face. "Still Eina says she would have died without Bell's heroism."
"Still an amazing feat to survive after three weeks of adventuring." Finn clasped his hands. "Kind of wish we were able to invite him into the familia. Even without the potential of a rare skill like that. He seems to have a good head on him and is incredibly determined. Still wonder what's driving him?"
"I don't know. I have already offered an invitation to join our familia. He thinks he owes his goddess for getting him off the street." Riveria nervously shifted against the dungeon.
"That was nice of you." Finn smirked sarcastically. "Bit weird though. You rarely take interest in anything outside the familia. Even then you hide away in the library."
"Don't be weird." Riveria glared back. "Bell did save my life too. His progression has been worrying us. He's always jumping head first into the dungeon alone. He keeps getting roughed up by our familia or is in the middle of our mistakes like the minotaur. His goddess tries to prevent anybody from helping him." Riveria said in a defeated tone.
Finn's grin widened. "I did notice Goddess Hestia's behavior when we took him home. She instantly accused us of trying to steal him. I do feel bad seeing him live in the basement of an abandoned church over in the western ruins."
"What!?" Riveria's brow furrowed in anger. "How is that any better than the street?"
"Technically it's shelter." Finn's face scrunched up recalling the outside condition of the church. "Bell really didn't want to show us. The only truth that he tried to wiggle out of, according to Loki. Probably better you didn't go there. He-he."
"What!?"
"Goddess Hestia seemed to be afraid of having an elf steal his chastity. If you keep pushing, he might think you love him. Ha-ha." Finn laughed out loud.
"Eh, stop it! Finn. I am just worried about him. I am way too old for him." Riveria was angry assuming it was a joke at her expense.
"I don't know he did say you were too young to be his mother, but your right. Your old enough to be his grandma." Finn held his gut a doubled over off the stump.
Riveria scowled. She was too tired to use a spell and saw Tione staring over at them. "Hey, Tione. We have a whole day on floor thirty-eight. Finn might want to share a tent."
Finn sat up really quick. His laughing died out immediately as his face twisted in fear. "You evil hag."
"Oh, Captain we will have plenty of time for Snu-Snu."
Riveria's anger subsided seeing the hungry amazon race over towards him. Finn bolted it for the tree line to escape her grasp. "Get him Tione."
Alicia came up with a plate of food for Riveria. She had overheard Finn's comment about Goddess Hestia's fear about Bell being around elves. 'I wonder why? As long as he's not pursuing Lady Riveria. I don't mind the cute rabbit?' She giggled to herself and blocked the thought from her head.
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(Day 13)
The next morning, I was waiting on the wall alone staring off to the western farmlands. The sun had long appeared above the horizon behind me. My thoughts wondered to last night. Goddess Hestia seemed to be in a foul mood when she updated my status.
'Swear I heard her say dam Riveriasomething and Einasomething.'
Bell Cranel
Level One Age: 15 Race: Human
Strength: C650…..B767 Defense: C644…..C685
Dexterity: C 672…..B749 Agility: B740…..A817
Magic: I0 Luck: I
"I don't understand why she is jealous. She's a god. They are immortal unchanging and divine."
I pressed off the wall with my hands and warmed up with a few stretches. "I guess Eina isn't coming. I can't wait around all day. I just want to see how fast I am now."
I lowered myself into a running stance. With all the force of my blessing and body, I could muster. I raced down south on the wall trying to clear my mind and block out everything but the path in front of me. The market, pleasure quarter, colosseum, and Babel became a blur. The twenty-mile run had ended in an hour."
"Wow, I guess I have improved." I beamed a smile towards the tower that penetrated the sky, scratching the back of my head feeling a lustful gaze upon me.
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On the other side of the city, Eina woke up late at 8 am. "Oh no, I am late for our run." She pouted and slowly rolled to the side of her bed to look out the window. "I really wanted to ask him."
Eina shook her head and prepared for work. Luckily, she was only scheduled for a half-day inspecting Hephaestus shops at babel.
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The divine beauty Freya was staring down from the top of Babel. She wondered what had gotten him down to make him stand there and do nothing looking off to the west. She was thrilled to see his progress and no bothersome half-elf holding him back.
Her smile widens seeing his nervous face after he had finished the run in record time. She licked her upper lip. "Such a cute smile. So, you've gotten even stronger. Absolutely wonderful. Fu. Fu. Fu."
"Lady Freya." Ottar spoke up behind her.
"I feel bad for Hestia but Bell is mine." The Boaz stayed silent, behind her. "I want him to become mine as soon as possible but a strange part of me doesn't want him to come to me yet."
Freya walked over to a towering bookcase and picked out a large book. "Still, I just can't help myself. I think it is time he learns magic. Ottar, I want you to take…." Freya held the book close to her chest when she trailed off.
"Does something trouble you, my Lady?" Ottar asks like a guard dog awaiting her commands.
"No, it's nothing. I know exactly where to leave this book." Freya smiled knowing the towering Boaz would probably scare him away.
She knew exactly where to take the book. To a certain bar where they first met. He would be sure to find it there. "He-he-he." She laughed to herself watching Bell race home.(1)
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An hour later I started walking slowly towards the babel tower. My motivation was severely lacking. I had to start carrying my pack again. "That's gonna make fighting more difficult." I passed the hostess of Fertility. Surprisingly Ryu was waiting outside for me.
"Good morning, B-Bell." Ryu greets nervously.
"Good morning, R-Ryu." My heart starts pulsing rapidly seeing the elfess normally stoic demeanor crack. Her piercing blue eyes always made me feel nervous and hot all over.
"Better now, knowing you're alive. W-would you mind talking for a few minutes?" Ryu nodded in the direction of the backyard.
"S-sounds great. I a-always enjoy talking to you, Ryu." I thought I saw a nervous jolt to her shapely lower body. My cheeks were red hot as I followed the beautiful fairy to the backyard. We sat next to each other by the lone tree.
Ryu was usually quiet for wanting to talk. "Ryu, am I causing you too much trouble with the lunches? I can pay more or stop."
"No. That's not it." Ryu assured him, finally able to calm herself down. "Lunches aren't a big deal. Plus, I would prefer if you don't go hungry."
"Actually, was making pretty decent money in the dungeon, but today might be difficult." I rested my head against the tree.
"Because of your supporter trying to kill you." Ryu mentions
"Right! Welf said he had help from two waitresses. Thank you very much, Ryu. I don't know what I would do without you."
"All I did was knock the blades out of her hand. Syr tripped her and noticed her magic. I did see you exit the dungeon covered in blood." Ryu tried to hide her concern with her usual stoic voice.
"You cared enough to almost run down there and save my butt again. Your lesson with the killer ant saved my life. One dropped on me while I was dealing with five goblin elites."
"You're on floor eight already? Why did you go to eight if you were surprised by an ant?" Ryu was taken back.
"I was actually hoping to start floor nine but that might not be a good idea without a supporter. I Lily threw smoke bombs and monster lures as well as stole my knives." My head fell back against the tree. "I did pull its head out of its body and finished off the goblins with its legs."
Ryu's stared dumbfounded wondering how did he go from floor six to surviving an ambush on floor eight. "That is a crazy thing to survive at your level B-Bell."
"He-he" I chuckled looking at her face.
"Huh?"
"Your face is really cute when you relax." A smirk curled up on my face as I looked toward the ground. "Also didn't think it would be that difficult to call me by my first name."
"Uhhhhhh. I am not used to it." Ryu pursed her lips together, staring up at the tree branches. "I am glad you're safe. Wish I was allowed back into the dungeon. I would help you."
"You have already been helping me out so much. Just happy to keep talking with a beautiful forest fairy." Ryu remained quiet hiding her face away from me. I was oblivious wondering what was going through her mind, but I did notice her reddening ear. For some reason, it reminded me of Eina's reaction to Welf's story. "Ryu, why do elves hate Crozzo?"
Ryu snapped her out of her flustered state surprised by the random question about the smith. "C-crozzo is a name, elves can't ignore. A-Are you sure you want to hear it?"
"Welf seems like a good guy and he is my smith. I just don't want to scare away elves like you, Eina, or Riveria."
The mention of the high elf casually spoken like a friend raised Ryu's eyebrow in surprise. "Crozzo are a family of magic sword smiths. They resided in the kingdom of Rakia close to Orario. They obtain nobility by producing a large supply of these swords. Enough to outfit whole armies. They didn't need to strategize to lay waste to their enemies, burning them out of existence."
"So the Elves…..?" I felt like my heart was punched asking her.
"The fires of war reach an Elvish Forest. They were smoked out as their homeland burned. The elves joined a familia of the god Freyr. When it came time for revenge, the Rakians no longer had their magic swords. The elves killed many in return." Her eyes flashed seeing his sickening response.
"And for you Ryu?"
With a blank expression. "No, I harbor no ill will."
"Eh, you don't!?"
"These are nothing but past events. Also, my homeland was not directly affected."
"Ah, I see. That's a surprise." My hand rested on one of my minotaur knives.
Ryu noticed. "Can I see your knife, Bell? I noticed your armor was also made by him."
"Umm, sure." I pulled one of them out of its sheath.
"So, he made these?" She looked at the red-tinted metal. "Mino…taur." She said confused looking at me.
"Yep. Ummmm, two weeks ago, a minotaur escaped Loki familia and found me on floor five." Ryu looked like she was gonna be sick, her eyes wide in shock. "Riveria saved me in time. I found a minotaur horn in my bag and went to the Twilight manor to give it to her. She helped me find a smith to craft the blades, in my price range. Tsubaki gave the job to Welf Crozzo."
"Wow, that's a weird set of coincidences. You have even piqued the interest of Lady Riveria too." Ryu's eyes narrowed seeing his tomato red face. "Why an elvish blade?"
"At first, I was hoping to get something similar to your s-shortswords. I really like how they felt in my hands during our training sessions. There wasn't enough raw material for two so Tsubaki said how about two knives. Then she told me eastern or elvish…." I trailed off.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha." Ryu laughed uncharacteristically. "So, Lady Riveria is the woman you will do anything it takes to be by her side."
*Thud!*
To Ryu's shock, Bell collapsed back into the grass. She stared into his face and shrugged him, but he was genially unconscious in shock. Ryu felt embarrassed as she lifted his head and put it on her lap. She still couldn't believe how easy this was getting for her as she stroked his soft white hair.
A few minutes later, I started to wake up. My mind was fuzzy and my eyes blurry as my head rolled around in something very soft. I felt the soft warm Bell tense up. I was confused by what it was so I raised my left hand to my head.
"B-B-Bell."
My eyes sprang open. I realized my hand was gripping her thigh and I was being given another lap pillow. *Swish!* I jumped back up in a seated position. "S-sorry."
"O-okay." Ryu's voice seemed to go up in pitch for a brief second. "B-bell... I think it's beautiful that you care about Lady Riveria so much. Realistically, she is a princess. I don't think that would be a good idea." Ryu warned softly.
"I-I know." My head and shoulders hung low. "So, you heard me on floor six?"
"Yes, I was watching you for a while, amazed by your progress. Why Lady Riveria?"
"W-whenever I am around her my mind feels fuzzy and my chest feels like it's on fire. She makes me want to become a stronger man. I want to be there for her."
"I think you should think about where those feelings could lead Bell." Ryu grimaced in pain seeing Bell spill his heart. "Your goal isn't wrong. It's purely motivated by love. You do seem like a very worthy man, but elven pride can be a dangerous obstacle to overcome. I think for now you should focus on remaining alive in the dungeon."
"I w-will." My heart fluttered. "Ryu."
"Yes."
"What would you say if those flames were kindle by your smile?"
"I would have to say no. Not you!" Ryu shook her head. "Unfortunately, with my past. All I would do is cause you harm."
"Oh."
"S-sorry." Ryu whispered before standing up and forcing her normal tone. "The smith looks like he produces good quality for his level. As long as he doesn't produce magic swords. I see no reason not to trust him."
"He said something about fleeing his country to avoid his family's legacy."
"T-that's good." Ryu smiled. "If you need help confronting lady Riveria about your smith. Let me know. I have to get back to work." Ryu stood up and reached a hand down to him.
I was taken aback. "You…." She grabbed my hand and hoisted me up.
"T-take it easy in the dungeon Bell." She walked off into the hostess leaving my mind spinning.
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Three hours later, I surfaced from the dungeon. I only went down to floor six to get enough drops to pay for my equipment and food. I was able to get twenty thousand valis. Sat on a park bench on the northmost side eating the lunch made by Ryu, just observing people go in and out of the tower. "Here I am once again doing it all by myself like a crazy person. Why won't she recruit? I really need some help."
"Bell." A soft familiar voice rang out beside me.
"Huh." My grin curled up seeing the beautiful half-elf. "Afternoon Eina. Lucky meeting you here."
"Luck, He-he." Eina chuckled. "Surprised you're not in the dungeon."
"I was. I just got enough to keep up with expenses and food. Probably get hurt if I dig out too many monster stones." I trailed off. "Surprised you're not at the guild hall Eina."
"I only had a half-day, inspecting Hephaestus shops. Sorry, I woke up late this morning."
"It's fine. You probably needed the rest. Did miss my training partner but I was able to test how fast I have become?"
"Oh, how did you do?" she asks
"Under an hour." I chuckled at her wide-eyed response.
"Wow." Eina smiled wide. "Guess I was holding you back."
"Not at all."
Eina shifted her feet a little. "Bell, would you want to walk me home. I have something I would like to ask you about tomorrow."
"Sure." I packed my lunch container away and got up from the bench. The two of us started walking up the north road. "If I didn't just eat lunch. I would ask if you wanted to get something."
Her face flushed red for a second. "Oh yeah, I remember my familia function got in the way."
"How are things with your familia?"
"Okay, mostly. I don't really know anybody outside Alicia and Lady Riveria. The rest of the higher-ups are on their expedition. I did go ask my goddess about Soma familia." She looked toward the ground. "I am sorry I wish I told you sooner."
"It's fine. You cared enough to check."
Eina reached out for Bell's hand and missed when a group of amazons stormed out of a clothing store and parted between them. Eina pouted until Bell emerge on the other side of the group and rejoined with her.
"Sorry wasn't looking where I was going. What did you want to ask me, Eina?"
Eina smirked seeing his nervous face. "Tomorrow is my day off work. I was wondering if I could go down in the dungeon with you."
"That would be amazing, but are you sure you're ready to go back down there. I don't want to force you."
"I trust my hero will keep me safe. He-he." She giggled at his face. "Though can we skip the morning run? I am not that insane yet."
"R-right." I hid my embarrassment by looking at the stone road. "I would like to go with you, but won't you get in trouble with the guild."
"It is my day off. I can do anything I want. Plus, I can wear a hood to cover my face." Eina assured him.
We turned up the road to her apartment. "Okay, I will meet you at 9:30 at Babel, if you're sure you won't get in trouble."
"Nice to make you paranoid for once."
"Heh…oof." To my surprise, Eina wrapped her arms around me and held me in tight for a deep hug. Her floral-scented perfume was making me and her soft ample body was making my chest head up rapidly.
"E-E-Eina."
"I am glad you are safe, Bell." Eina tensed up her shoulders more before releasing with a big smile. "See you tomorrow."
"Yes." I stared dumbfounded at her as she walked to her door. As she waved good night, I felt like something angry was staring at me from the northern road.
Eina was confused by the sudden shift in his behavior. "G-good night Bell."
"O-oh sorry good night Eina."
The door shut behind her. I looked around for the weird sensation but saw nothing. I shook my head back and forth before walking away. "Paranoid again."
My hands found rested in my pockets as I walked west from her home, unaware of the child-sized stalker watching in anger. "I swear this is getting difficult. My heart tells me Riveria, but my mind is spinning over Eina and Ryu. I swear I am hopeless."
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I made it back to the basement around 2 pm and started removing and cleaning my armor. A few minutes later the door opens up and Goddess walks inside humming to herself.
"Goddess! Your home early."
"Could say the same to you. He-he." Hestia faked a smile. Trying to stay calm to enact her plan. "I asked off. Feeling overworked lately. Why aren't you in the dungeon?"
"With all the trouble with my supporter, that I told you about last night. I wasn't really feeling motivated. I just got enough to cover expenses."
Hestia leaned over the armrest of the couch and propped her head up with her hands. She pouted innocently. "How about spending the evening with your poor overworked goddess?"
*Thud!*
I put down my armor. "I guess I do have enough saved up to treat my goddess and I am free."
"Good meet me at Armor square in the Southwest Main at 6 pm. There is a nice restaurant there." She smiled wide.
"O-Okay goddess."
Hestia leaned over the couch and hugged Bell. "Yeah, it's a date." She giggled. She promptly left the church shortly afterward. Leaving Bell alone wide-eyed.
"Eh!"
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"Hmmm… hmmm… hmmmm." Hephaestus hummed to herself, relaxing her head against the padded siding in a private jacuzzi. The stresses of the past week were melting away as the jets of water impacted against her sore back and bubbly water flowed over her ample bosom.
*Clamp! Boing! Splash!*
"LOKI! Knock it off." Hephaestus had forgotten that she was invited to the divine bathhouse at the trickster's invitation. She clutched the trickster's hands groping her bare chest. She jumped up and tossed Loki to the other side.
"So, mean." Loki pouted.
"Don't make me regret forgetting my hammer."
"Awe come on Fey-Fey. Those big things fit my hands perfectly. I wanted to help you relax for once." Loki smirked deviously.
"Keyword is to relax. I agreed to hang out and talk with my friend not be groped." Hephaestus warned.
"Oh fine. Naaa." Loki spits out her tongue to mock the smithing goddess. "All my best girls are away on the expedition. I miss seeing them. Especially my lover, Ais-pu."
"Does she know that?" Hephaestus said sarcastically rolling her eye.
"She will be eventually. He-he." Loki propped her arms over the side of the jacuzzi. The water impacted her flat chest like waves against a cliff face. "You find a man yet, Fey-Fey?"
"Not yet but there are some interesting candidates." Her face blushed.
"Oh gossip, spill sister."
"One is a red-haired smith Welf Crozzo. He's been working tirelessly to improve his craft but has been stuck for years. I wish he would go back to making his magic blades. He refuses to use his natural-born talent." She says with a hint of sadness.
"Boring. Hehe." Loki snickered at Hephaestus's pouty smirk. "Who's the other?" Hephaestus sank half her face into the water nervously. Loki's eyes shifted into her signature slanted squinty eyes. Loki jumped forward, floating in front of Hephaestus with a devious smile. "Ah come on Fey-Fey don't leave me hanging."
Hephaestus rose her mouth above the water. "Hestia's boy Bell. He thought I was a goddess of beauty." She sank back down below the water.
"Ha-ha-ha. Was he trying to butter you up?" Loki chuckled. The water splashed as Hephaestus shook her red face below the water.
"Hah." Loki sat next to Hephaestus, causing her to sit back up to protect her chest. "He's not far off Fey-Fey. Without Hera's mark, you would give Freya a run for her money. Glad I kicked that bitch Hera out."
"Thank you, Loki."
"So, what brought this on from Itty-Bitty's child." Loki asked
"You were right." Hephaestus stared back down at the water. "She was begging me again."
"Ugghh. What did she want this time?"
"She wanted to buy his love with a first-class weapon."
"Serious."
"Yes." Hephaestus nodded. "I wasn't just going to just give him a weapon made from my children. I can't just keep giving her stuff for free. Gekai is different from Tenkai. Everybody would come calling for free weaponry."
Then what?" Loki leaned her head in Hephaestus's direction.
"I gave her an estimate for a down payment and she freaked out and just about insulted my craft out of desperation."
"Glad you're finally listening to me." Loki smirked sideways. "I feel bad for him being all alone in that church. So answer my question about her kid."
"He was actually their buying armor from Welf. He didn't even recognize me. He seemed to be on a date with a half-elf girl when he ran into us."
"Dam that rabbit is getting around." Loki pouted. "Assuming you're talking about my girl Eina who works at the guild."
"Yes."
"Crafty rabbit trying to get to her first." Loki splashed the water with her elbow as she randomly jerked her arm. "Think a few of my elf girls are smitten with him."
"Really."
"Yeah, though it's not like an elf is gonna admit vulnerability. Even have the nerve to lie to my face whenever he's brought up." Loki shook her head. "He's charming even when he's not trying to be. Frustrating."
"He-he-he. I can understand." Hephaestus cheeks-tinged pink from smiling.
"You want to help me out and claim the rabbit." Loki gazed at her friend.
"Maybe if he had a hint of smithing talent. I would think about taking care of him." Hephaestus confessed.
Loki snorted. "Go for if you like the bunny. Hestia is your friend, if anything she owes you for taking care of her for four months. Be safer too since she hasn't expanded her familia yet.
"I….." Hephaestus cringed in fear at the prospect and tried to respond before being interrupted by Demeter's loud voice.
"HESTIA'S GOT A MAN!" Both redhead goddesses exchanged looks of annoyance before peeking over the rail down at the main pool. Where Hestia was being interrogated by Demeter and many other goddesses.
Demeter smiled slightly jealous at Hestia. "What made you fall for your child?"
Hestia replied with a cheerful smile. "Oh, his everything. Anyway, I got to go. It's almost time for our date." The Hestia popped out of the pool to get changed. The other goddesses huddle together to hatch a plan.(2)
"Itty-Bitty couldn't even mention one thing about him." Loki rolled her eyes. "Hey Fey-Fey, want to do something Mischievous?"
Hephaestus smiled wide and let out a giggle. "Sounds like fun, Loki."
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At ten minutes to six, I was waiting outside by a statue. I realized why she chose this place. There were many couples preparing for dates and snuggling up close to each other. 'I fell for it.'
Their intimate actions made me feel extremely nervous and my mind raced to a future where Riveria was with me on a date. 'I swear when I learn magic and level up. I will tell her how I feel, regardless. This weight on my heart hurts. Why did I have to be born human?' I looked down depressed but hopeful my luck ability might help me.
"Bell!" Goddess Hestia shouted out from a block away. Waving her hand until she got close. She was wearing a new dress with her hair down. "Bell, Sorry I am late. I meant to get here earlier."
"It's okay goddess. I just got here."
"Do you like how I look Bell? I am trying something new." Hestia folded her hands behind her back and rotated with a cute smile on her face.
"You look nice goddess. More refined than usual and pretty."(2)
"R-really I was hoping to give myself a chance against any elf." She smiled affectionately.
"Goddess!"
"You better be a good escort for me tonight."(2)
"I will." I nervously grab hold of her hand and started walking north.
"FOUND THEM!" A woman yelled out to her friends. Within a few seconds, we were surrounded by a bunch of beautiful women. To my shock, they were all goddesses.
"So that means the one next to her!" The one with an insane bust size focuses her devious smile on Bell. "He's so cute!"
"Demeter, what are you all doing ….?" Hestia pouted trying to stand in their way.
"Ahhh, wait, ow..." The group of goddesses pushed past Hestia, like a stampede, sending her to the ground. The goddesses swarmed the frozen Bell from all sides and started smothering him between their bodies. Kissing his face and feeling up his muscles.
I don't even think I could find my way out of the heavenly bosom of six goddesses with a map. My face was beyond red and I couldn't speak with so much cushioning. "Hmpf." I felt a hand grab something.
"Oh my…." Demeter smiled.
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Loki and Hephaestus didn't even get a chance to enact their prank. They stood on in amazement as Bell's body was completely enveloped by their friends. Loki held her head wishing she could switch with him. "Wow, I need that kid's luck ability."
"Eh Luck." Hephaestus tilted her head confused. "Hestia mentioned something before."
"Shhhh. My girl saw it on his back. Luck Development ability at level one. He willingly showed her." Loki said in a hushed tone to the wide single eye Hephaestus.
Goddess Demeter was still snuggling my head between her otherworldly rack with a blushing face. Felt like I was being pulled in six directions by divine beauties.
Demeter's hand pushed Bell's head deeper into her cleavage. "Sorry, Hestia. We were so curious about your child. Now I want him for myself. I could just eat him up." She smiled seductively down at him
For a second, I stopped struggling as the thought crossed my mind. Every goddess giggled feeling his body tense up between them.
Goddess Hestia jumped to her feet and tried pushing her way through the women to no avail. Her tiny body couldn't breakthrough. "Let him go! He's mine!" Hestia pinched Demeter's butt hard. Demeter jumped pushing Bell away.
Somehow, I stumbled out of the goddess pile and landed my face in the chest of the divine smith. "S-s-sorry." I mumbled between goddess Hephaestus's cleavage.
"Oh, are you trying to get my forge hot cute rabbit?" Hephaestus smiled grabbing his head and lifting it to stare into her ruby eyes.
"Hephaestus." Hestia's eyes water over. "Get off of him!
She screamed at the top of her lungs. She runs forward to him but was tripped by Loki.
"Talk about desperate! We're all just having a bit of fun Itty-Bitty." Loki talked down at the helpless virgin goddess near her foot. Out of the corner of Loki's eye, she noticed the girls dragging Bell away in the direction of Wishe café. Loki leaned in closer hovering her face a foot above Hestia's. "So, what kind of trick did you pull to force him on a date with you?"
"Nothing! I am not desperate! Stop trying to corrupt my Bell you bunch of hedonists." Hestia presses her hand against Loki's face and pushes away. Hestia jumped to her feet and dusts off her dress. "And keep your elves away too!"
"Your rabbit got an elf fetish or something." Loki smirked.
"N-n-no, just keep your Riversomething and Einawhatits away from my Bell." Hestia turned away from Loki. "Bell let's go. BELL! WHERE DID HE GO!?"
"He got dragged away by everybody a while ago. Wonder whose familia residence is gonna host that show. Suppose I could sneak into the pile." Drool escaped Loki's lips.
"WHAT!?" Hestia yelled.
"Hah! Looks like your boy is gonna become a man tonight Itty-Bitty."
"NO!" Hestia charged in the direction of Babel with all haste trying to find them.
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Twenty minutes later I was surrounded by seven divine beauties of Tenkai around a large table at the Wishe café. Each a goddess of a respectable familia. My eyes were wide in shock from this strange turn of events. My face was the definition of red as I felt overwhelmed and flustered being at the center of attention. The staff and customers were completely baffled. Many out of jealousy of the boy being groped and snuggled in the mass of goddesses.
"Yo, so this is where you all took him?" Goddess Loki arrived with a smug smile on her face. Joining her friends at the table.
"Where is Hestia?" Demeter giggled as a hand wandered up his leg.
"Eep." Slowly I stared into her orange-colored eyes. Demeter licked her lips and slowly trailed her hand upwards.
"Give the Bell a little break." Hephaestus covered her face on the other side of Demeter.
"For now." Demeter winked.
"Surprised you didn't take the bunny to a more private location. He-he-he." Loki chuckled, clutching her side. "Itty-Bitty is running around in a panic. Worth it to see her face."
"Is she okay?" I asked shaking nervously.
"Probably." Loki shrugged her shoulders. "Surely you didn't want to be forced into a date with her Bell."
"Uhhhh. I was hungry."
Hephaistos chuckled. "Hestia has been my best friend for eons but even I have been annoyed by how she has been acting recently."
I scratched the back of my head. "Y-yes she has b-been. Sorry if goddess Hestia caused you problems Lady Hephaestus."
"Don't be. You found help on your own and upgraded your equipment. I can respect that and it was so nice to be treated as beautiful in your eyes." Hephaestus rested her surprisingly soft fingers overtop his hand. "Even with this thing."
"E-every woman should be treated well and told how beautiful they are. You are all goddesses. Your beauty is nearly unmatched." I nervously spoke with my heart racing.
"Awe!" A few goddesses swooned loudly as others giggled.
"I do wish you wouldn't lean your head to one side. I don't know what happened to your eye, but I think every person would like to see your whole smile." I suggested.
Hephaestus's smile widens. "Are you already in love with somebody Bell?"
"Uhhhh."
"Spill rabbit." Loki rested her head on her hands.
"I am."
"Why aren't you on a date with her? Elf right." Loki questioned.
I tensed up at that remark and took a deep breath. "Y-yes. I am not confident enough to tell her."
"You have only been in Orario a month and fell in love." Loki shrugged her shoulders again. "Just go and tell her."
"I wanted to wait until I get stronger. Even then it might be impossible because of how amazing she is." My head hung low.
"I guess it would be nearly impossible with Hestia too." Hephaestus replied.
"Dammed werewolf scared him away from my familia." Loki winced seeing him roll his shoulder.
Goddess Ninkasi drinks from her cup. "Feel like I have seen you at my place before."
"Same here." Goddess Creiddylad agreed. She repositioned a flowery reef tiara above her long blonde hair.
"I don't remember you ever stopping by." Hephaestus pouted. "Why did you join Hestia?"
"I-I went to over f-fifty f-familias to apply and was t-thrown out." All eight goddesses' brows softened hearing my nervous voice. "I d-didn't have any smithing experience so I didn't try your familia Lady Hephaestus and I found Goddess Hestia in an a-alley."
"Awe. Now I am sad." Demeter hugged him hard. The others snickered at the embarrassed smirk on his face feeling her otherworldly bosom.
"Swear I seen you at monsterphilia?" Goddess Ninkasi narrowed her eyes. "Selene. Eos do you remember or did we drink from dawn to dusk?"
"Looks familiar." The other shook her head in agreement.
Demeter pulled away and looked Bell over. "Now that you mention it. I thought I saw him fighting in the arena."
Loki snickered. "He took on an infant dragon alone at level one before my half-elf Eina helped him. Those blades were put to good use Fey-Fey." Hephaestus's eye opened wide in shock.
Seven of the goddesses were licking their lips hungrily as Loki was about to burst from laughter. "I want him." Demeter squeezed him again.
Ninkasi and Hephaestus tried to push her off. As goddess Creiddylad started kissing his cheeks and whispered into his ear. "Could follow us back home tonight, young one."
Goddess Bastet purrs into his ear and begins to help Creiddylad. "Could join my familia? You look fluffy and fertile."
My body was trembling all over. My head was spinning. 'Riveria would never give me a chance if I slept around with many women.'
"Goddess!" I tried to distract the goddesses by randomly calling out for her. Bastet and Creiddylad looked over to the entrance, allowing me room to slide out between them. I slid between Demeter's legs and jumped over Eos and Selene's legs.
*Ching!*
Before racing out of the café, I threw a small coin pouch at the counter and jumped over the fence to hide from the hungry goddesses pursuing me as Loki cackled the whole time.
"Over here!" Lady Creiddylad yelled out when she found me. The other goddesses rounded the corner behind her. I ran as fast as I could but somehow, they kept pace. Even going down different alleyways could not break their stride. Out of desperation, I twisted down jumped between vendor stalls, and propelled myself up an alley wall. Kicking off the walls of the narrow alleyway and jumping around a corner. I was able to catch a ledge and hold myself in place as the goddesses lost track of me. I held myself in place for twenty minutes until I thought I lost them.
Slowly I snuck back across to the western district over the next few hours. Being careful to avoid the goddesses all the way home. Finally, they gave up their pursuit.
I stumbled back to the church in a daze. Exhausted and covered with lipstick and perfume. My clothes were roughed up and damp from sweat.
*Thud!* My body gave out onto the sofa. "If they were elves, I would have been in heaven and been a proud father to a forest of children."
"Amazing. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz!"
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Tired of searching all evening without any sight of him. Hestia stumbled into a bar with tears on her face. "Barkeep alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol." One after another she threw back pint after pint.
"Bell! Bell! You cheater!" She cried out chugging another.
Ryu had noticed the small goddess and overheard what she said. She felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Lady Hestia perhaps you should stop drinking and go back home."
"I will tell you when I had enough elf. Give me more." Hestia ordered angrily. *Burp!* Ryu and Syr continued to serve her drinks all night long as Mia monitored her tab.
"Bell!" She cried again in grief.
A random rough-looking man wanted to try his luck with the goddess. "What's up doll? I can fill that void for you."
"Go away!" She screams out loud. Divinity leaked out of her small body, in her inebriated state. The man fled in terror breaking a stool. Many of the surrounding patrons shivered in fear.
"Deranged goddess will not be destroying my bar. Get out." Mia grabbed her and tossed her out into the street. "Ryu!"
"Yes, Mamma Mia."
"Tail her to see where her familia is located. So, I know where to send the bill." Mia fists clenched tight in anger.
Ryu already knew but thought it would be wise to follow her. She quickly took off her waitress apron. She left the hostess to stalk after Goddess Hestia.
To Ryu's surprise Goddess Hestia wasn't going west. She was stumbling north towards the guild. Twenty minutes later she managed to find her way into the guild entrance to the shock of guild staff working the closing shift.
Immediately she was confronted by the Clienthrope section leader Rehmer and silver-haired elf Sophie. Both of them could smell the pungent alcohol emanating from her body. "My lady, tell us what is wrong. Why have you come to the guild drunk?"
"You a *burp* fluffy doggy. Are you a good boy? *burp* unlike my Bell."
Sophie smirked wide realizing Hestia was the goddess in charge of the brat Eina was protecting. She had an idea. "Rehmer I am gonna go ask Royman what he wants to do with her?"
"Alright, Sophie." He sat goddess Hestia in a chair as Sophie walked off to Royman's office.
A few minutes later Sophie entered the abandoned guildhall lobby tailed by a fat elf guild head Royman. "What is the meaning of this Goddess Hestia?" Royman blurted out trying to stay respectful but at the same time agitated by a low-ranked goddess barging into the hall drunk.
"A-advisor….*Burp!* going to…. Dungeon…. Cheater Bell." Hestia drunkenly mumbled out.
Sophie smiled ear to ear as Royman's face went contorted into an angry scowl. Sophie asked the guild head. "What should we do with her Mr. Mardeel?"
"Put the goddess in the training room to sleep off her drunken state. I will handle the rest later. Just have one of the guards check up on her." Royman ordered both guild employees.
"As you wish Sir?" Rehmer ordered a female and male Ganesha guard to walk her back to the sofa to sleep off her impending hangover.
Waiting outside for an hour. Ryu realized that she would be safe at the guild and made her way back to the Hostess to report to Mia. She really didn't want to force it onto Bell but she had no choice. "Sorry, Bell."
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(Floor 37 Deep Floor White Palace)
The eight members of Loki familia were stationed around the inner sanctum of the white palace. Ready for the near calamitous fight to start with the floor boss. They spent the evening packing up their camp and clearing out as much of the floor as possible to make the fight easier for Ais.
"Ais, if I see you having trouble. I will cast veil breath on you first to help you out. If you struggle anymore; we will step in Ais." Riveria warned.
"Okay, Riveria." Ais took a deep breath. Floor thirty-seven was the size of Orario, and the whole thing became to tremble and moan. Heralding the arrival of the floor boss Uduaes.
*Booooooooom!*
The ground split open and a giant black skeletal hand broke out. A colossal roar filled the floor as the giant black skeleton king's body half broke free of the dungeon floor. The level six floor boss Uduaes was born.
"This is nuts. She's gonna fight that thing alone." Tiona yelled to her sister.
"Keep your eye on the horde and keep them off her Tiona. Watch you don't aggro the big bastard or Ais will kick your butt." Tione yelled.
"Miss Ais." Lefiya's fear-stricken cries were deafened by Uduaes' roars.
"Lefiya, Tione Tiona. You are on crowd control. Keep the Spartois off her. Aki and Alicia protect the mages. Riveria will monitor Ais if she needs help." Finn ordered.
The undead king roared once more staring down at the Loki familia elites. Its roar summoned hundreds of level four Spartois. That charged on their king's orders.
"AWAKEN TEMPEST!" Ais yells and is instantly surrounded by an aura of wind magic.
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Alicia starts off the combat shooting her bow at charging Spartois. Each spartoi dropping on impact. Lefiya unleashes her spell Fusillade Fallarica. The spell impacts in front of the Uduaes taking out forty Spartois grouped in the middle.
Ais burst forward through the fiery opening; her wind fanned the flames sideways killing a few more spartoi. Ais redirected her wind down narrowly avoiding a large hand from the floor boss and continued her charge towards the ribcage. Landing her Desperate sword on the ribcage, shattering one of the ribs surrounding the exposed monster stone.
Angered the floor boss unleashed its magic attack. Using its body to send hundreds of razor-sharp spikes out of the ground. Guided by the floor boss. Everything below the base of the spine was connected to the dungeon.
Lefiya began to chant again but was cut off immediately when the body of a snake dragon-like monster Peluda came crashing to the ground in front of her. Sniped by one of Alicia's arrows. "Whew!" Before being grabbed by Finn and thrown back away from an incoming ax from a Barbarian. Finn twisted around and impaled the towering level four minotaur-like beast through its skull.
*Thud!
The beast fell to the floor. "Pay attention Lefiya." Finn pulled out his Fortia spear and spun it around cracking five Spartois in half.
Ais kept the complete focus of the Floor boss with everybody else keeping their distance. Using her wind magic to race in and out avoiding its attacks. Using hit and run tactics to slow the floor boss.
'What is haunting you Ais? You're acting recklessly like when you achieved level two at eight years old. This fight takes a battle party of thirty to normally win.' Riveria's mind was worried focusing on Ais.
"Wind, more strength, more speed. Rage Tempest!" With blinding speed, Ais severed the left arm of the black skeleton. Morale instantly rose seeing the floor boss weaken.
Finn's finger started to ache. "Spread out in pairs." Uduaes became enraged at the loss of his arm sank his remaining arm into the dungeon floor and pulled out a massive black sword to everybody's shock.
*KABOOM!*
The joints in its arm started spinning and glowing red. The floor boss raised his arm up in the air with all its might ready to slam it down on Ais. "Ariel full power…. escape." Ais turned tail and sped off narrowly avoiding being smashed into oblivion by the sword, but was caught in the massive cone-like shockwave. She collapsed to the ground like a broken doll. The floor was damaged for several hundred feet in her direction.
"That wasn't even a direct hit." Riveria was distressed watching Ais struggle to get up.
"Riveria start your attack spell." Finn ordered.
"STAY OUT OF THIS!" Ais screams desperately.
Ais got back up and charged throw a horde of spartoi. Her wind envelops them all and breaking them all to pieces. She narrowly dodged the spiked and cut off half of the king's crown. Again, she was flung across the floor by a vertical slash she barely managed to parry.
The skeleton king mocked the semi-defeated Ais and roared with laughter as more Spartois rose to fill the ranks. Ais mind was flooding with self-doubt picturing the violas plant monsters eating her familia as the red hair tamer skewered her friends with a sword.
"No, I refuse to die." Ais's thoughts lingered on the white-haired boy for a few seconds. I will get stronger. She swiped randomly at a red-haired apparition that turned out to be a spartoi going in for the kill.
'Ais I refuse to let you die. Just like him. You are too dear to me.' Her thoughts were racing before she decided to start her defensive spell.
"Assemble, breath of the land – my name is Alf. – Veil Breath!" Ais's body flooded with a green light from Riveria's magic. The defense spell healed the body slightly and raised all physical and magical resistances to help Ais endure the fight.
Uduaes was distracted by another fire spell launched at his army and turned to the twins and Lefiya. He turned and prepared to land his blade on the trio trying to escape when he felt two arrows pierce his hand, causing his grip to loosen on the blade. Tiona was carrying the flustered Lefiya when they heard the roar of pain.
"Awaken Tempest." Ais screams still injured but Riveria's magic was coursing throw her body.
Ais charged the distracted floor boss. "Ariel full power, LIL RAFAGA." She severs the sword and cuts threw half of Uduaes's body. Arm included. The beast was still standing but vulnerable.
The twins, Finn and Aki cleared the horde of spartois for her as she charge one last time breaking the ribcage completely. A minute later she was standing on top of the undead king pleading to live and desperately kill the intruders before she sank her blade deep into the monster crystal. Shattering it and filling the room with white ash.
Ais collapsed on the spot. Riveria arrived just in time to catch her. The unconscious Ais resting against her lap. She started her healing spell Luna Aldis to help her recover.
"Riveria." Ais spoke out in a gentle exhausted voice.
"Yes, Ais." Happiness gripped her heart hearing her voice.
"I am sorry." She fell asleep in the high elf's lap.
"Wow, she did it." The twins jump for joy.
Finn ordered. "Collect up the drops and we will rest for a few hours until Ais recovers. We will spend tomorrow night on floor eighteen."
…
(1) DM book 2 pg119
(2) DM book 2 pg94-96