The Silent Storm
Chapter Three: Butcher
I don't own Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatte Iru Darou ka
Before descending further down the Dungeon, Bell Cranel stopped on the 18th floor.
He was not short for time, and even if he was, he would make time for this.
He adored Goddess Astraea too much to not do this.
Currently, Bell Cranel stood before the grave of the Astraea Familia.
"I fought with Goddess Astraea in the Altena War." Bell stated a mournful expression upon his face as he gazed at the grave of Lady Astraea's first Familia in the lower world. "The Altena War is the worst period of my life, but meeting Lady Astraea was one of the highlights of my life. Meeting her alone was worth participating in the clusterfuck."
Bell knelt before the grave; head bowed in respect. "I fought with your successors during the Altena war. Nine women who I would gladly give my life for. All of you would love them, I guarantee it." Bell chuckled warmly, remembering the nine women that Goddess Astraea took as her children. "Lovell-san, you would love Cecil. You'd be proud of her. She is your successor. She's a bit evasive. She is very blunt and crude, but she is the second best blacksmith that I have ever met, and she also knows her away around a fight. She had saved me several times during the war." Bell laughed fondly, remembering the woman that now leads the Astraea Familia.
Cecil was an experience, a complicated, somewhat frustrating experience, but Bell would admit wholeheartedly that he enjoyed being around the evasive woman.
"Lady Astraea misses all of you dearly. She had spoken quite proudly and lovingly about all of you."
In between the battles, when there is a lull in the war, Goddess Astraea often told Bell stories about her times in Orario, specifically her former Familia. The sadness in her eyes and the smile on her lips often made Bell's heart ache.
Lady Astraea never got over the death of her first children.
"I wish I could have met all of you." Bell said with a sad sigh. "Ryuu-san is a delight, and I figured that all of you would be equally so."
During his days with Lady Astraea, the Goddess of Justice had often told him that she would have accepted him in her Familia if she was still in Orario, if her first Familia were still alive.
Hell, after the Altena war, Lady Astraea made an offer to him to join her Familia.
Cecil was even willing to give up her captaincy over the Familia to Bell if he joined.
Unfortunately, Bell was too loyal to Hestia to join Astraea Familia, but he would be lying if he said that he was not tempted to join her.
There is a different in having Morgan le Fay's Falna over Astraea's.
With Morgan le Fay, having her Falna is a business transaction. Morgan le Fay, per there agreement, would provide the way to unlock her Falna after he fulfilled his end of their bargain.
With Astraea, to have her Falna is a commitment and a promise. Bell would have gladly devoted his life to said commitment and promise if Hestia was not in his life.
Bell adored Goddess Hestia, his loyalty towards her is unquestionable, but Lady Astraea is such a remarkable Goddess that he would not hesitate whatsoever to serve the Goddess of Justice with all of his being if he had met her first.
In terms of Patron Deities, Goddess Astraea would be Bell's biggest what-if.
"In another world, where all of you are still in Orario and if I did not meet Goddess Hestia, I would have gladly joined Astraea Familia." Bell said with a self-deprecating tone. "Which is both heaven and hell." Bell had enough experience with the opposite gender to know that being surrounded with girls 24/7 is not the paradise that his grandfather preached during his youth.
"I wish I could have met all of you." Bell reiterated once again. "I wish you girls could have met Cecil and the eight other girls that Lady Astraea had taken under her wing. I wish that I could have fought with all of you."
Bell then lowered his head, his forehead touching the ground.
Bell Cranel was bowing before the grave of the Astraea Familia.
"I never said this before when I tagged along with Ryuu-san when she was visiting. I can say it now though. Thank you for fighting for Orario. I was never here for long, but thanks to all of you, for your contributions and sacrifices, I was able to experience Orario at its best. Each and every single one of you is a Hero in my eyes." Bell exclaimed respectfully, gratitude in each letter that he uttered.
"Lovell-san, Gojouno-san, and Lyra-san, I know this may sound insensitive, even heartless, but I thank all of you for saving Ryuu-san all those years ago. Meeting her was a privilege, a joy, an honor, and it is to my shame that I did not show enough appreciation towards her in our initial acquaintanceship." The training that he received from her and Ais was the reason he survived the Altena War. "When I permanently return to Orario, I would change that, I swear." Bell swore.
Bell maintained his bowing posture for a few more second before returning to a kneeling position. Folding his sleeves upward, Bell unsealed three scrolls from his right arm.
On the first scroll, Bell unsealed ten wine glass cups and a bottle of wine.
The wine is a Dornish wine, a favorite of Lady Astraea.
It was a 200 years old wine, and it was very expensive. It had cost Bell five million valis for the single bottle alone.
It was valis well spent.
Pouring equal portion of wine in each cup, Bell stood and distributed the cups to the weapons that serves as gravestones for the ten deceased Astraea Familia members.
Raising the bottle high, Bell gave a toast. "A toast for the first ten flowers of Lady Astraea, for the ten flowers of justice that bloomed during Orario's greatest need. Withered before their time, there sacrificed led to the end of Orario's Darkest Period. I thanked all of you. I salute all of you." Bell drank what remains within the wine bottle before giving the salute that he had use during his time in Altena.
His feet together, right hand closed into a fist and place over his heart while his left hand was on his back.
This meaning behind this salute is simple and solemn: I offer my heart.
Bell the saluted the grave for a good minute before once again kneeling it. He then unsealed the contents of the second scroll.
This scroll contained a flag mounted upon a golden pole. The flag proudly shows the emblem of the Astraea Familia.
Standing up, Bell walked over the grave and planted the flag near the old, ragged flag that held the same emblem.
The flag was well made and was enchanted so that it would not be damage by the passing of time. A fitting marker for one of the greatest Familia that Orario had almost forgotten.
For some reason, that annoyed Bell. From what he had learned, the Astraea Familia fought hard to end Evilus. Comparing their efforts to the Freya and Loki Familia, a case could be made that they had fought Evilus even harder and more fiercely than the two top Familias in Orario.
And what did they receive for their efforts.
A grave in the 18th floor and a bounty on the last surviving member of that iteration of Astraea Familia.
Yeah, that left a foul taste in Bell's mouth.
Bell made a mental note to take care of Ryuu's bounty.
Ryuu deserves to walk upon the streets of Orario without fear. She deserves it.
Ryuu Lion is a Hero.
With the new flag of the Astraea Familia planted, and with that promise made, Bell returned to where he was kneeling before and unsealing the contents of the third scroll.
Strangely enough, it was a violin.
Bell laughed slightly at the sight of the instrument. He had learned to play the violin in his time in Altena out of a whim. He learned the instrument to get his mind off the war, specifically the atrocities that he was force to commit in the name of survival.
"I have one more offering to give all of you." Bell said as he positioned the violin over his left shoulder. "According to Goddess Astraea and Cecil, I have a good singing voice. I doubt it, I think they are just being kind, but they and the rest of Astraea family seems to enjoy my singing." One of the few fond memories that Bell had in the Altena War was sitting around a camp fire with the Astraea Familia and Medea Ljos Alf. The Astraea Familia and Medea would constantly urge him to sing. He was embarrassed at first, still is, but the longer the war waged on, the more they fight, the easier it is for Bell to sing his day away, regardless of who was watching.
It helped him kept his sanity in check.
"I composed this song for and offer it to the Astraea Familia." Bell proclaimed before he began playing the violin.
As the beautiful and powerful melody cascade through the clearing, Bell began to sing.
[ENGLISH "Last Stardust" Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (lyrics translated and sung by Akane Sasu Sora) Please listen to it.]
There, at the edge of dreams like heaven,
in a rain that pours without ending,
with my shoulders soaked from the burden,
I walk onward to the dawn...
Only my broken hands, so bitter
never reach— they slip through my fingers
—as I try to fill up a river
with a life already gone...
The love I have... the light I had...
If they must be lost, I'd be fine with that,
if they could light my way
and show me who I am!
With every step I take,
every scar, and every defeat,
I know I'll never break!
I know my heart still beats!
So may the Last Stardust
take flight, rise up,
Dust to Dust, Ash to Ash, to skies above!
May every piece of our dream remember us!
As I continued moving forward
past the rain, the wind, and the water,
with my feet beginning to wander
through the world, so does my mind...
If all I do... or all I knew...
if what I believed in was never true,
I wouldn't mind if it would
mean I stood by you!
With every heart I see
holding on, unbroken but scratched
It lights a spark in me—
one I forgot I had!
So may this Last Stardust
take flight, rise up,
Dust to Dust, Earth to Earth, to worlds above!
May every piece of our dream go beyond!
Brave Shine...
Save my life...
Brave Shine...
Stay the Night...
My Brave Shine...
With every breath I take,
every scar, and every defeat,
I know I control my Fate!
I know my heart still beats!
So then, Farewell Judas.
Begone. Burn up.
Ash to Dust, back to what you ran from.
Seeing an Iron soul,
Blood like Fire, and a Heart of Glass,
it lights a spark in me—
one I forgot I had!
So may our Last Stardust
remember us!
Dust to Dust, Ash to Ash, to light above...
May every piece of our dream live on!
With the last lyric sang, Bell lowered the bow and the violin to the ground, a solemn expression upon his face.
For some odd reason, whether the Dungeon was moved by Bell's performance or if it was some other phenomenon, a gentle, comforting breeze of wind washed over Bell and the grave of the Astraea Familia.
It was quite the sight.
(Scene Change)
The city representative of Rivira, Bors Elder, growled in irritation. He was standing outside Rivira, weapon at hand as he watches a Pass Parade marching towards the town.
This was the third Pass Parade of the month, and this one seems to be worse than the last. He could see several levels 2 and 3 monsters in this Parade.
"How many do we have?" Bors growled, already knowing the answer.
Villy, his ever-reliable right hand man, provided the answer, although said answer was not something that provided him with comfort.
"We have 15 levels 1s, seven level 2s, and four level 3s. Only eight of them are capable of magic." Villy answered in distressed.
Bors clicked his teeth in irritation.
Against this Pass Parade, that is not enough.
At the moment, Rivira does not have the funds for a full rebuild. They have already done expensive and extensive repairs in Rivira for the month thanks to the two previous Pass Parade. Because of that, the town's funds would not be able to cover a partial rebuild, much less a full one.
"Inform everyone to evacuate." Bors ordered in frustration. It would be annoying but he needs to ask the Guild for a monster extermination mission, and he also needs to take out a loan from the Guild to rebuild Rivira.
The latter is annoying considering that his last loan was not even half way paid.
"You are giving up to early, Bors-san." A somewhat familiar voice exclaimed.
Both Bors and Villy turned their attention towards the source of the voice.
A figure covered in a plain, brown cloak was standing between the two Adventurers. His head was covered with a hood, obscuring his face, and a longsword was strapped on his back.
The appearance of this figure startled the two Adventurers, and they began wondering how and when this stranger got between them, but before they could ask, a heavy aura slammed down upon them.
Villy suddenly collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.
For some reason, the Demi Human found it difficult to breath.
Bors, to his credit, remained on his feet, but even he was finding hard to take air into his lungs.
"Bors-san…" The figure spoke, and the grizzly Adventurer listened. "There are around 3,000 monsters approaching Rivira, give or take a few hundreds. Have your adventurers capable of long-range positioned above the gates, and have your close-range combatants positioned below." The figure ordered as he unsheathed the sword on his back.
Bors noted that the weapon is beautiful and well made, and that it would fetch several Hundred Million Valis in both legitimate and illegitimate markets.
"I would handle this monster procession. Don't interfere, just intercept the monsters that would get past me, understood?" The figure stated, voice uncompromising.
Bors only nodded at that proposal.
This stranger look and feels strong, and if he wanted to solo this Pass Parade, Bors was not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Suddenly, the oppressive aura was lifted, and both Bors and Villy was able to breathe again.
Both adventurers took several and greedy deep breaths into their lungs.
"Thank you." Bors wearily watched as the figure reached into his cloak and took out a scroll. Opening the scroll, the figure looked at the contents for a moment before ripping it in half and throwing the scraps to the ground.
Bors did not know how but the moment the two halves of the scroll touched the ground, a large wooden chest appeared between the two scraps of paper.
"I don't know the gold or stone exchange rate here in Orario, but hopefully this would be enough to cover this debacle." The cloak figure stated as he opened the wooden chest. "Consider this as my apology for strong arming you." The figure said as he unveiled the contents of the chest.
Thousands of gold coins and precious stones greeted Bors' sight.
Bors and Villy inhaled sharply at the sight of the treasure before them.
"I'll be off then." The two adventures barely heard the stranger speak, much less move, as both were still fixated at the treasure chest before them.
"What's the current Guild's gold to valis exchange rate?" Bors asked Villy, wide eye and shock, mind now distracted from the Pass Parade approaching Rivira and the stranger that seemingly paid him to tackle the Monster Procession on his own.
(Scene Change)
In the Altena War, Bell learned many ways to handle an army.
Bell's most preferred method is to meticulously take out the commanders of the army and manipulate the leaderless army into taking itself out.
That method was slow, drawn out, and stressful, but it was the safest, most humane option, with a chance of a high mortality rate on both sides.
Bell's least preferred method is to brute force your way through the army, killing everything and everyone in your path.
Bell hated this method. It was too bloody and barbaric for his taste.
Strangely enough, Bell had decimated more armies with the second method more than the first.
And he was going to use the brute force method to handle this Pass Parade.
At the very least, this army were not composed of mortals. At the very least, there are no Xenos in this Pass Parade.
More or less 3,000 monsters, most of them level 1s and 2s, with a few level 3s in the mix.
Bell had dealt with worse.
For a single combatant to tackle an army, there are three initial steps that one must do to increase the chance for success.
First, penetrate the frontal lines.
Quickly reaching Pass Parade, Bell swung Meteria at the first line of monsters. The sword swing generated an air blast so strong that it decimated a good portion of the monsters upon the front lines of the Pass Parade.
Seeing a path into the pass parade, Bell charge through without hesitation, entering the formation of the monsters.
Second, create space within the formation.
"[Wex. Wex. Wex. Invoke. Electro Magnetic Pulse.]" Bell chanted as he stomped his feet on the ground. This act released a massive explosion of electromagnetic energy the electrocuted the monsters within 100 yards of Bell.
The electromagnetic explosion was not strong enough to burn or torch the monsters around Bell. That is not the effect of the magic. The magic instead released an explosion of electricity that directly traveled through the body of the targets, electrocuting them from within while also draining their Mind energy. This magic also provides Bell with Mind regeneration.
Regardless of the lack of outward injury towards the monsters, the magic was still able to electrocute several monsters to their deaths.
In consecutive thuds, hundreds of unmoving monsters collapsed to the ground, dead.
Third, maintain space within enemy formation and keep the opposition within attack range.
Bell grabbed a monster corpse with his free hand, and with some effort, threw the unmoving body to a group of monsters to his immediate blind spot. The collision staggered the approaching monsters, preventing them from flanking him. Bell then drew Alfia with his free hand. Readying both of his weapons, Bell surrendered himself to his instincts and began to fight in earnest.
With simple and raw swordplay, with precise and deliberate tactics, Bell cut down monster after monster.
With wide and sweeping motions, with simple and basic attacks, with continuous and uninterrupted movements, uncaring of the number of monsters that he had slain, uncaring of the number of monsters that are still around him, Bell immersed himself into the battle.
(Scene Change)
It appears that lady luck was smiling down upon him.
The stranger that almost strangled him with his sheer presence alone did not just pay him to take out the Pass Parade, he was also doing an admirable job in culling the monster army.
Bors made a mental note not to gamble for the next month or so. Apparently, all of his luck for the foreseeable future is being spent right here and now.
Bors, and all the available fighters in Rivira, watched in awe as the cloaked stranger cut down monster after monster.
It was quite the sight.
The Stranger was no Sword Princess, he was no Braver, and he was no famous adventurer that they knew of, but he is strong. The sheer focus and determination that he was showing as he cut through lines upon lines of monsters was staggering.
The Stranger was not showing any fancy footwork, he was not moving in ways that would inspire amazement, but his straightforward method of exterminating the monsters was something to behold.
Every step the stranger took, he swung his swords. Every swing of his swords, a monster falls.
Heads, limbs, and other body parts of monsters were flying left, right, center as the stranger mercilessly cut them down.
Whenever the stranger was surrounded by monsters on all sides, he would cast magic.
Either a magic that would release a torrent of lightning, or a spell that would carpet the ground with fire, or a spell that would release a torrent of ice, the stranger was preventing himself from being overwhelmed.
An unstoppable force, it was quite the inspiring and humbling sight.
(Scene Change)
When dealing with multiple enemies, when fighting within enemy formation, one must remember several cardinal rules.
First, attack broadly and move simply, save as much energy as possible.
Bell sidestepped a charging Minotaur while swinging Meteria at the passing monster.
The monster crumble to the ground as its right leg was cut off by the longsword.
Bell then parried a punch from a Silverback with Meteria's pommel before thrusting Alfia straight through its chest, killing it.
Bell then swung Meteria wide in a horizontal fashion, disemboweling several Almiraj that were on the verge of pouncing him.
Bell took a few step backs to avoid a few dozen pouncing Hellhounds before swinging Meteria in a downward, circular fashion, beheading the Hellhounds in a single swing.
Second, do not stop moving and do not allow the enemy from flanking your blindside.
Bell continuously moves through the ranks of the monsters. With each step, with each move, he swung or thrust either Meteria or Alfia using the most basic of attacks. Each swing and thrust struck true and either killed or crippled monsters.
Third, block, if necessary, but dodging is preferred. Use the enemy's numbers against them.
Bell weaved through the living and the dead monsters. Bell utilized the bodies of the monsters that he had killed or crippled as hurdles for the other monsters that were still around him, slowing them down and preventing them from closing in on him. Bell also used the lack of coordination from the monsters to manipulate them into striking each other.
Bell uncaringly watched as the monsters that he had crippled were crush underfoot by their brethren.
Bell ignored the sight of the corpses that he had slain being desecrated by other monsters.
Bell nonchalantly moved through several attacks from the monsters that were recklessly attacking him, and when he could, redirected or manipulate those attacks to strike the monsters nearest to him.
The monsters around him were weak
They were not fast enough to disturb his footwork.
They were not strong enough to require him to utilized more advance attack sequences.
They were not smart enough smart enough to adapt to his attacks.
And when they surrounded him on all sides…
Bell had options.
"[Quas. Quas. Quas. Invoke. Cold Snap.]"
Bell swung his blades in a circular arc, with said motion cutting down several monsters around him as a white circle expanded from him. When the circle stopped expanding, an explosion of frost erupted from within the circle, freezing everything within the circle apart from Bell.
None of the monsters within the circle survived Cold Snap.
Bell quickly moved through and around the frozen statues, utilizing them as barriers and obstacles from the monsters who were desperately trying to reach him.
Without preamble, Bell tackled another line of monsters.
Utilizing the same tactics that he used against the previous group of monsters, he attacked and move, aiming for the most basic of targets (head, back, legs, right and left sides) Bell cut through the line with haste before allowing himself to be surrounded by hostiles.
The moment he was surrounded, he casted another Area of Effect magic.
Bell heavily utilized Cold Snap, Scorch Earth, and Electro Magnetic Pulse in the battle.
Among the options that Invoker gave him, those were the three spells that provided Bell with the largest area of affect while in close quarters combat.
With Bell's pragmatic and simple approached, together with his magic, he was able to kill a total of 3,248 monsters in the span of 15 minutes.
All things considered, not bad.
He could have done better, but with a crowd watching, it was better to keep some of his cards, resources, and options, close to the vest.
Bell did not see the need to show everything he is capable of, at least not yet.
(Scene Change)
After dealing with the Pass Parade in the 18th floor, Bell hurriedly went down to the 19th floor.
As much as he would like to rest, Bell did not have the time to interact with Bors or to received appreciation from the locals of Rivira.
He has a schedule to keep.
Arriving at the 19th floor, Bell allowed himself a moment to enjoy the view.
Bell considered the Large Tree Labyrinth as his favorite floor in the Dungeon. It reminded him of his childhood home.
A farmland surrounded by lush nature.
After the moment passed, Bell casted Global Pulse.
From the 19th floor downwards, Bell would now actively hunt.
It was now time to work for his Level up.
(Scene Change)
The Invoker Magic provided Bell with 27 spell options.
Like an ordinary mortal, Bell has favorites among those 27 spells.
Two of his favorite spells were [Ghost Walk] and [Global Pulse], with Global Pulse being one of his most used spells.
During the Altena War, Bell learned the benefits of good scouting.
With Global Pulse, Bell could get an overview of a wide area, giving him the ability to choose situations that he would be tackling, and then make plans before tackling said situation.
His favorite magic spells aside, Bell also have spells that he did not care for.
Aerial Shift was one of those spells.
In paper, Aerial Shift is a useful spell. A pseudo-teleportation spell, good for quick escapes, swift maneuvering, and fast transportation. That being said, for Aerial Shift to be useful, there are too many variables that needs to be considered.
Determining those variables mid-battle can be an absolute hassle.
Using Aerial Shift during battle is a risk that Bell often do not want to take.
Using Aerial Shift outside of battle though is a different story.
When given time to consider the variables, Aerial Shift is a remarkable pre-battle spell.
Using Global Pulse and Aerial Shift together is a remarkable combination.
"[Wex. Quas. Exort. Invoke. Global Pulse.]"
Bell utilized an Argonaut-charge Global Pulse to scan the entirety of the 19th floor.
Within seconds, Bell was able to identify several clusters of monsters within the floor.
Bell nodded in satisfaction.
Dispelling Global Pulse, Bell began to chant is second spell. While chanting, he also began charging said spell with Argonaut.
"[Wex. Wex. Quas. Invoke. Aerial Shift.]"
A cocoon of intense wind surrounded Bell's entire body before disappearing from where he was standing.
In a blink of an eye, he was on top of a sleuth of Bugbears, a collection of 32 monsters.
Drawing Meteria, he began a slaughter.
In the first five seconds of the slaughter, his [Assassin] ability was active, allowing him to kill 12 monsters with relative ease.
The following five seconds, Bell heavily utilized his [Backstab] skill, allowing him to kill a further of six monsters efficiently.
After the first ten seconds, the remaining 14 Bugbears surrounded and simultaneously pounced at Bell.
It took some maneuvering but Bell cut them down the Bugbears with minimal effort. It took Bell 20 swings from Meteria to kill the remaining 14 Bugbears.
Bell was disappointed with himself. One swing each should have been enough.
In total, Bell spent 40 seconds to dispatch 32 Bugbears.
It was a disappointing performance.
Bell had hoped to spent one second each for one Bugbear.
Bell swore to do better next time.
Cleaning the monster blood off Meteria, Bell sheathed his longsword before drawing his Gladius.
Bell took a moment to cast another Argonaut-Charged Global Pulse. Selecting another group of monsters to ambush, Bell dispelled Global Pulse and casted another Argonaut-Charged Aerial Shift to ambushed the monsters.
This time around, Bell pounced on a sounder of Battle Boars, 50 in total.
This time, Bell battled the group of monsters with heavy emphasis on his footwork.
With the use of Rhythm Echo to confused and jockey around the monsters, together with quick and deft thrusts with Alfia, and with heavily reliance on his [Assassin] Ability and [Backstab] Skill, Bell easily dispatched the monsters.
This time, it took Bell 47 seconds to drop 50 monsters.
Good, a better showing, but Bell wanted to be that efficient without using [Assassin] and [Backstab].
Bell hates to remember that in his very corer, in the deepest parts of his soul, he is a natural born assassin. Bell hates to remember that regardless of how, allegedly, pure his soul is, he was a born killer.
Shaking those thoughts out of his mind, Bell refocused himself.
Bell drew Meteria from her sheath.
Meteria in his right, Alfia in his left, time to dual wield.
Once again utilizing Global Pulse to scan the floor for his next target. After selecting his next target, Bell used Aerial Shift to quickly arrived before them.
This time, Bell appeared in front of a group of Lizardmen, 75 strong.
This time around, Bell did not ambush them, he did not approach them in a blind angle. This time, Bell just charged at them in the front.
Bell always preferred wielding Meteria and Alfia separately, but that was mere preference.
Bell is very adept in dual wielding weapons, a skill that he had developed and mastered during the Altena War.
When wielding dual swords, Bell always prioritized distance.
If the opponent was within Meteria's range, Bell would use his longsword to break the defenses of his target before using Alfia to strike down said target.
If the opponent was within Alfia's range, Bell would use his gladius to stagger the target, creating an opening for Meteria to run or cut through the target.
Distance was a key concept for Bell's Dual wielding style, and it showed as he went through the 75 lizardmen with terrifying ease.
None of the lizardmen were able to touch Bell.
Bell was either too far for their attacks to reach or he was too close to effectively strike. Furthermore, those who entered Bell's attack range were cut down by either Meteria or Alfia.
In addition, Bell's movements were scarily efficient, not a single move wasted. Every move, every step, every shift of his body and feet had purpose. When Bell dodge, he would throw an attack that would either kill or cripple a monster. When he parried, Bell made sure that the attack that he would parry would strike an opposing monster. Bell never blocked any attack. He never made a move that would disturb his momentum or cause a disbalance in his movements.
Bell was not a pretty fighter, but he was not dancing or moving through the monsters with elegance and/or grace.
Bell was an efficient fighter, going through monster after monster with efficient brutality and terrifying precision.
A soldier through and through.
This time around, Bell dispatch 75 Lizardmen in under 50 seconds. In those 50 seconds, Bell did not use [Backstab], and his [Assassin] Skill was only activated a handful of times.
That was moderately better.
Cleaning the blood off his blades, Bell returned both Meteria and Alfia to their respective sheaths.
Like clockwork, Bell once again utilized Global Pulse to scan the area and select his target before using Aerial Shift to reach said targets.
This time around, Bell was tackling a flock of Firebirds, around 15.
Bell pointed his index and middle finger at the firebirds. Chanting his favorite spell, he engage them in battle.
This time around, just magic, no swordplay.
"[Firebolt.]" Bell chanted as he shot an electric fire at the farthest Firebird within the flock.
The spell easily shot down the monster.
Angry chirping sounds echoed around him as the Firebirds began raining down fire upon Bell.
Bell, seeing this, chanted for one of his defensive spells.
"[Exort. Quas. Quas. Invoke. Rho Aias.]
A massive, silver colored, seven petalled flowered manifested in front of Bell. From said flower, seven luminous shields were projected outwards.
The shield met the intense barrage of flames, stopping them from reaching Bell.
Behind the shield, Bell took aim.
As magic gathered within his fingertips, Bell's right eye change color from red to gray.
This signifies Bell's utilization of his skill [Harmony].
This skill is a personal favorite of Bell. With this skill, he can be reckless with his magic.
[Harmony] is a skill that allowed Bell to picked and choose those who would be affected by his magic spells. This skill provides Bell with the ability to bypass certain defenses and allows him make his spell move in a certain manner.
"[Firebolt.]"
Bell fired seven electrified blasts of flames. The spell phased through the luminant shield and struck dead seven Firebirds.
With half of the Firebirds taken down, the remaining seven attempted to fly behind Bell.
Bell countered by firing several [Firebolt] to the walls.
With the use of the [Harmony] skill, the Firebolts did not explode on contact upon the Dungeon walls. Instead, the electrified fireballs bounce upon the walls on contact. The fireballs bounce several times upon the Dungeon walls, floor, and ceiling before hitting four of the remaining seven Firebirds, killing them on impact as the Firebolt exploded upon contact. Furthermore, the explosion also rocked the Firebirds, staggering them in the air.
Seeing an optimal chance, Bell chanted for another spell.
"[Exort. Wex. Wex. Invoke. Sparrow Sharp Spear.]"
A blade of lighting erupted and extend from Bell's right hand. In its initial emergence, the blade of lightning penetrated through one Firebird, and with a sweeping motion, Bell cut down the two remaining Firebirds in half.
15 Firebirds dispatched in 40 seconds. Not optimal, but considering that he limited himself with his magic alone, it was not a bad outcome.
Dispelling both Rho Aias and Sparrow Sharp Spear, Bell drew Meteria from his back.
Combat with Meteria. Combat with Alfia. Combat with both Meteria and Alfia. Combat with Magic.
That would be Bell's pattern for culling down monsters from the 19th floor to the 24th floor.
He intends to greatly reduce the monster population of the 19th floor before descending to the 20th.
And during said culling, he would sneak some training in.
In the middle floors, and probably in the lower floors, Bell could probably get away from using some experimental techniques and methods that he is developing.
(Scene Change)
After greatly decimating the monsters in the 19th floor, Bell followed it up by mercilessly butchering the monsters within the 20th and 21th floor.
Most of the monsters that he had slain were Lizardmen (Bell constantly apologized to Lyd after every Lizardman that he had killed), Bugbears, Mad Beetles, Dark Fungus (Bell made sure to eradicate this particular monster with Firebolt on sight. His Abnormal Resistance was not that developed and he had learned that poison is a bitch to deal with in hostile places), and Gun Libellula.
Gun Libellulaes were xtremely fun fights. It was a challenge to dodge, intercept, parry, and block the monster's long-range projectiles, but he managed without much difficulty.
Before descending to 22th floor, Bell decided to rest for a bit.
He was getting hungry after all.
Using [Ghost Walk], he was able to hide his presence from the lingering monsters, those that he ignored, in the 21th floor.
Drinking water and eating preserved meat, Bell contemplated his situation.
His goal in this dive into the Dungeon was to solo Amphisbaena. He was doing good time and he could probably punch through towards the Monster Rex in two days, instead of six.
He could go further down if he wanted to within those six days.
But that would be reckless, and it was not the time and/or place to be reckless.
Bell has two months in Orario, and he would use that time wisely.
No need to rush.
No need to overly extend yourself.
Just fight, grow, and survive, don't think of anything else.
Bell laughed at the thought, remembering his younger self.
Three years ago, he was impatient and reckless, desperately rushing forward, trying to chase an image of a woman that he thought he loved.
In a certain perspective, it was admirable.
In another perspective, it was pathetic.
When he was 14 years old, Bell Cranel wished nothing more than to stand with Ais Wallenstein as equals.
That is no longer his wish.
He had grown passed that, even if he still felt like he had betrayed a part of himself by getting over Ais.
Sometimes, Bell could not help but believe the adage of 'First lover never dies'.
"Young love, sweat and euphoric." Bell whispered to himself, a soft chuckle escaping his lips. "A good dream, but one must learn to find a better reality."
There are dreams that should be pursuit at all cost. Bell has one dream that he would fight to achieve.
Ais was not that dream.
Once upon a time, Ais Wallenstein was one of his most desperate dreams.
In that regard, Bell had let go of that dream.
In the matters of the heart, Bell would rather search for a better reality.
In love, better to work with what is possible than drown in delusion.
(Scene Change)
The 22th and the 23th floor came and went.
Most of the monsters that Bell dispatched were Trolls, Dark Fungus, and Mad Beetles.
He did encounter two unique monsters on the 23th floor.
He encountered a half dozen Mammoth Fool.
Putting those monsters down were somewhat of a challenge. They were large, deceptively swift for their size, and their skin were particularly hard as steel.
Regardless, Argo Vest and a well-aimed Sparrow Sharp Spear did the monsters in at the end.
It was disappointing that it took him a minute to dispatch those six Mammoth Fool, but if he ever encountered the monster again, he has a strategy that should efficiently put the monster down.
The second peculiar monster that Bell encountered in the 23th floor was a single Vouivre.
Said Vouivre was a mindless monster, and he could have easily cut the monster down with ease.
Fortunately for the Vouivre, the mere sight of it reminded Bell of Wiene, and that saved the monster from death.
The Vouivre did not make an attempt to attack him, and Bell decided to return the gesture by allowing it to slitter away.
Bell still has a soft spot for the Xenos.
Arriving at the 24th floor, Bell was excited at the sight of the monster that decided to attacked him.
There are two monsters that Bell wanted to tackle in the 24th floor.
A Bloody Hive and a Green Dragon.
It seems that the Bloody Hive would be the first Monster that he would cross out of that list.
The moment he stepped foot upon the 24th floor, a Bloody Hive made an attempt to strike him.
Using a quick [Firebolt], Bell burned the reddish-yellow liquid that the monster tried to attack him with.
Before it could return to its burrow, Bell shot it dead with two consecutives [Firebolts].
Even the weakest attack can take down a target, as long as it was aimed and fired correctly.
It also helped that his [Assassin] ability increased the lethality of his Firebolts.
After the Bloody Hive fell, a swarm of Deadly Hornets descended upon him.
Bloody Hive and Deadly Hornets often comes hand-in-hand.
Bell almost laughed at this paltry ambushed.
It was adorable
Bell reached into his pouched and casually threw a Star Crystal at the Deadly Hornets.
Said Star Crystal contained a fully Argonaut-charge [Firebolt] within.
"[Firebolt]." With that simple whisper, the swarm of Deadly Hornets were eradicated.
Now, time to find the Green Dragon.
(Scene Change)
Bell ha hads experienced dealing with Dragons.
Outside of Orario, aside from participating in wars, Dragon Valley is the most reliable place for adventures to gain excelia.
True to its name, Dragon Valley is filled to the brim with Dragons and Dragon-type monsters. Some of those Dragons and Dragon-type monsters were comparable to the monsters in Orario's Dungeon.
The only reason why Dragon Valley did not have a city built near it to take advantage of a prime excelia rich area was due to the One-Eyed Black Dragon frequenting the area.
No one and nothing survive that monstrosity. Bell should know. In his travels, he had seen the devastation left behind by the monster's rampage.
He had personally seen that monster's rage.
That was the one time he had seen fear, absolute and unfiltered fear, in the eyes of Goddess Athena.
Returning to the topic at hand.
Before he joined the Altena War, and after the war ended, when he was still searching for the Sacred Chalice, Bell often frequents Dragon Valley and grind against several types of Dragons and Draconic monsters.
As Bell stood before the Green Dragon, the de facto floor boss of the 24th floor, he took a moment to study it.
Seven meters long.
Serpentine Body.
Dark green, stony skin, almost resembling rough emeralds.
The darker coloring made Bell smiled. He was dealing with another enhanced species.
From neck to tail, blade-like protrusions that resembled leaves were jutting out of its body. The tail of the Dragon was to be noted as it seems to resembled that of a mace.
Its slitted, hazel eyes were eyeing him threateningly.
Bell, for his part, regarded the monster with a fierce look.
Pointing Meteria at the Dragon, Bell spoke.
"Shall we?" Bell asked politely, not a hint of mocking in his voice.
Monster or not, an enemy should be given some respect.
The dragon answered with a roar before lunging at Bell, fangs already bared.
Bell moved out of the way of the lunging Dragon before swinging Meteria towards the underbelly of the Dragon.
Bell smiled when Meteria did not cut through the monster.
It seems this monster would not be a cake walk.
Finally, a challenge.
As the Green Dragon went passed him, Bell spun around to face it, not allowing the monster to leave his line of sight.
The Green Dragon took a moment steady itself before shifting its body until it was facing Bell once again. Baring its fangs, it once again lunges at Bell.
Using his speed, Bell swiftly maneuvered around the Green before swinging his sword downwards.
Again, Meteria did not even scratch the monster, although, through this, Bell made a second observation.
Bell struck the monster on the side of its neck, far away from its line of sight, yet [Assassin] was not triggered. That means this Dragon did not need its eyes to sense him or his attacks.
That is good information.
Using his speed once again, Bell avoided the mace-like tail of the Dragon before creating several meters worth of distance between himself and the monster.
The Green Dragon then opened its mouth wide before exhaling a green gas at Bell.
Bell took a moment to see how the gas works.
It was corrosive, damaging the ground that it touches.
It was also covering a wide area.
Bell would also bet that the gas was poisonous.
'Yeah, not dodging that.' Bell thought before stabbing Meteria to the ground.
"[Quas. Exort. Exort. Invoke. Macropyre!]" Bell chanted.
From where he stabbed Meteria, a wide line of intense and lasting flames erupted from the ground. The flames that Bell summoned with his spell was so hot intense, so hot that it was melting the ground that it burst and travel move through.
The flames of the spell easily neutralized the Green Dragon's poison gas.
Showing some intelligence, as Bell's spell neutralized its attack, the Green Dragon slitter quickly towards Bell and swung its mace tip tail at the mortal.
Bell, seeing this, intercepted the attack with three [Firebolts], altering the path of the attack away from his general direction.
The tail slammed several meters away from Bell, but its impact was powerful enough to almost made Bell lost his footing. He maintained his footing only through sheer stubbornness.
The Green Dragon slammed its massive head towards Bell, but once again showing his incredible speed, he avoided it and created several meters worth of distance between himself and the monster.
Taking aim, Bell swung Meteria and fired an air blast at the Dragon. Bell raised a brow when he felt his [Assassin] Ability activating.
The attack only dealt a scratch on the Green Dragon, not the type of damage that he was trying to inflict, but the fact that his most infamous ability was triggered was worth noting.
The Green Dragon growled at him before slamming its tail onto the ground. The impact of the attack caused the Green Dragon to jumped a few meters into the air before curling itself into a ball and began rapidly rolling towards Bell.
Bell hummed as he sidesteps away from the rolling Monster.
'So that's the reason why the dragon has those protrusions.' Bell noted.
The monster rolled up onto the wall before uncurling itself. Turning its neck towards Bell's direction, it opened its mouth before spatting a spray of acid towards Bell.
Bell did not bother to move away from the attack.
'It won't reach.' Bell noted, and true to his words, the acid spray did not even reach his general position.
Bell did notice that the acid was potent enough to melt through the Dungeon Floor.
"One hundred meters…" Bell estimated the space between himself and the Dragon. Experimentally he moved several steps to his side.
The Green Dragon lunged towards his position, and Bell smiled as he easily avoided the lunge.
The Green Dragon's eyesight is good for about a hundred meters, and it mostly relies on a highly sensitive sense of touch to detect the movements of its prey.
'Good to know.' Bell thought as several plans went through his head.
While contemplating his plans, he unleashed five consecutive Firebolts on a single area of the Dragon.
The five overlapping attacks broke through the skin of the Dragon, drawing blood.
The Dragon shrieked in pain as it swung its tail at Bell's direction.
Once again, Bell altered the direction of the attack with several blasts of Firebolts.
Feeling that its tail was once again batted away, the Green Dragon spat acid at Bell.
Bell again intercepted the attack with another blast of Firebolt.
The electrified blast of fire evaporating the acid on impact.
Once again, regardless of his many options in terms of magic, [Firebolt] remains Bell's most favorite magic. The quickness of the magic was an asset.
Bell jumped away from the Green Dragon as he begins to charged Meteria with Argonaut.
The sound of a grand bell ringing caught the Dragon's attention. Rolling itself up into a ball, it once again spun rapidly towards Bell.
Bell, this time, did not dodge. Instead, he gripped Meteria tightly with two hands, and with a breath, took four steps forward before swinging his sword upwards.
His upward swing met the rapidly advancing form of the Green Dragon. The 20 second Argonaut Charge upon Meteria enhance Bell's swing to such an extent that he had stopped the Green Dragon mid roll.
With the Green Dragon in point blank range, Bell grabbed a Star Crystal and pointed it onto the unmoving form of the Green Dragon.
"[Swallow Sharp Spear.]" A massive blade of white lighting pierce straight through the body of the Green Dragon.
It screamed in pain as it tried to right itself and moved away from the mortal that had harmed him, but Bell did not allow it.
Stabbing Meteria through the open wound, Bell chanted a spell.
"[Quas. Exort. Exort. Invoke. Macropyre.]"
The Green Dragon was parboiled from the inside with the scorching flames of Macropyre.
Pulling Meteria out of the burned body of the Green Dragon, Bell stepped away, surveyed the burning body of the monster before making his way towards the object that the Dragon was guarding.
He'll retrieved the Magic Stone later, for now, Bell intends to plunder the treasured tree of its gems.
He is the Captain of Hestia Familia, and he might be an absentee captain, but he intends to contribute to the Familia finances.
Author's Note:
Next chapter, the plot of the story's first arc would begin.
Just used the last two chapters to highlight the Developmental Abilities and Skills that I gave Bell.
If I am keeping track of my story, the only Developmental Abilities that I have yet to showcase is Avatar and Killer's Commitment….I'll showcase those abilities later into the story. Those two abilities are Bell's secret weapons.
On another note, LeBron and the Lakers survived the Timberwolves in an ugly game. I am satisfied.
Read. Enjoy. Review.