Disclaimer: DanMachi and its original characters are created and owned by Fujino Omori.
Chapter 7: Burdens
"Everyone! Everyone! Lili'll be giving everyone their roles now, so listen up."
The voice of the Pallum cut through the morning atmosphere of Central Park, gathering the attention of the adventurers. Assembled outside the gateway leading down into the Dungeon, they formed up around her, ready to hear their roles.
"In the van: as the scout, Miss Mikoto; in the first line of defense, Mister Ouka and Mister Welf; in the second line of defense, Miss Chigusa and Miss Daphne will provide support wherever necessary."
The five adventurers nodded.
"In the middle: Miss Aisha will be in charge of keeping Miss Cassandra, Miss Haruhime, and Lili safe."
The Amazon simply placed a hand onto her hips, leaning against her broadsword and flicked her hair over her neck.
"Lastly, Master Bell and Miss Lyu will secure our rear."
Both the boy and the Elf lowered their heads in acknowledgement.
"With this formation, those at the front will be able to gain more experience in the Upper and Middle Floors and those at the back will be able to save their energy for the Lower Floors. We'll be keeping this formation until we face the Goliath. Once we get to the Monster Rex, I want Miss Aisha, Master Bell, and Miss Lyu to move up and everyone else to move back to provide support."
She scanned her eyes across the entourage of adventurers, making eye contact with each of them. "Is the plan understood?"
"Yes, Commander," was the communal reply from the assembled adventurers.
Nodding at their reply, Lili checked over her things once more, and then, turning to the boy, she gave him the go-ahead: "whenever you're ready, Master Bell."
The boy responded with a nod of his own, but before he addressed his party, he turned his attention to his Goddess.
Hestia smiled at him as he shuffled closer.
"Bell, make sure to stay safe down there, okay?" She grabbed his arm and tugged at his sleeves, focusing her sapphire eyes into his ruby irises.
He gave her a warm smile. "Don't worry. I will, and," he turned his attention to the other gods standing there, "I'll make sure everyone else is, too."
Giving his hand a squeeze, she turned away and made her way over to Hephaestus, joining her before both deities disappeared into the Tower several meters away. The other deities dispersed not long after, tending to their own duties.
Inhaling, and then exhaling, Bell closed his hands into fists and turned back to his familia and his allies. Taking a moment as he swept his ruby red gaze over the people gathered before him, that always present and contagious smile broke out on his face.
"Everyone…" all eyes were on him, "let's go on a new adventure."
Everyone's eyes lit up in response, and their smiles matched his. They were tried-and-true adventurers, and they were about to embark on the thing that they were the most proud of— what made up their very essence—
And thus their new adventure began.
The party made their way through the Upper Floors cautiously but at a good pace. The vanguard worked together effectively, easily defeating any monster that approached them, all seemingly funnelled towards them by the dangerously powerful rear.
Walking just a few steps ahead of the silent Elf, Bell picked up his pace, eventually falling into line behind the Renart. A few more silent moments passed, as the group exited the 10th Floor, before Bell finally reached out, tapping Haruhime on the shoulder to grab her attention.
Slowing down her pace and dropping behind the supporting group, she turned to him, now walking by his side.
She smiled as their eyes met. "Master Bell, is there something you wanted to talk to me about? Did you sleep well last night?"
He smiled in return, mirroring hers. "Yes." He played with the hem of the jacket he wore underneath his chest plate. "I… wanted to take the time to thank you again…"
"I meant it when I said I'd stay by your side. Wherever and whatever your heart desires, I will always be there to support you." Reaching down to grab his hand, she cupped them with both of hers and brought it up to their faces, interlacing their fingers
He shook his head, but the smile never came off his face. Staying like that for a few more moments, they finally pulled away to walk side-by-side once more. "Enough about me, though. What about you? Did you sleep well last night?"
She giggled in response. "I may have lost some sleep because I was concerned about you."
A guilty frown briefly overcame the smile on his face.
"But I'm simply glad that you're okay. It relieves me to know that you were able to have a good night's rest— it even rejuvenates me and makes it up for the sleep I lost, actually."
She turned back to him just as he wiped that frown from his face. "Please do not think much of it, Master Bell. I'll be okay because I have the support of so many strong adventurers," she gestured to the crowd ahead of her: to the vanguard still fighting through the streams of monsters charging at them head-on; to the middle, ready to jump in whenever necessary to support the van; and finally, to the rear, where the stoic Elf was keeping vigilant watch over their flanks.
Then, turning her gaze back to him, she rested a hand on his arm. "And you, as well."
Watching that same smile from the night prior bloom on his lips, she continued: "We are all your friends— we're all your allies— and we are here for you and to help you. When you fall down, we will help you get back up— because that's what a family does."
To that, the boy did not respond immediately. Thus, silence fell over the both of them, and they walked side-by-side in that silence as they passed through the Middle Floors.
It was only when they reached the entrance to the 16th Floor when Bell broke the silence— albeit the comfortable silence— that had settled between them. He took a deep breath in and allowed the words to flow out.
"Before…"
His voice shook ever-so-slightly as he fidgeted anxiously with the buttons of his jacket and took a deep breath in. Yet, he continued, forging through that unease.
"Before Lili, Welf, Mikoto, and you joined, I was alone— with only Lady Hestia. And then, even after everyone joined and even after all of the friends we've made— Miss Naaza, Mister Ouka, Miss Chigusa, Miss Aisha, Miss Lyu, Miss Daphne, and Miss Cassandra— … I've always still felt alone."
He paused, swallowing the dread that filled his chest.
"Maybe this is a little bit arrogant of me, but I've always been the strongest— or, at the very least— one of the strongest of this happy little family we've built together through our own hard work and overcoming our hardships. There are some things that I can't do— like Lili's strategy, or Welf's smithing, or Mikoto's versatility, or your magic— I'm dumb and I'm stubborn, so the only thing I'm good for is being strong enough to protect all of you…"
His arms dropped to his sides and his head fell along with them, hanging low.
"But, that's simply made me feel even more alone. I'm different from other adventurers: I grow faster than them and I've experienced and lived through things that I shouldn't have lived through. It feels like there's something here," he pointed to his chest, pressing his palm over his heart, "like there's a responsibility to uphold and an appearance I had to keep— to stay strong— to not betray the trust of those who've believed in and helped me."
Stopping, he smiled bitterly, his jaw clenching rigidly shut.
"Which is why it was so hard for me to ask for help: to look you guys— those very people who've always stood by my side— in the eyes and say that I was afraid and that I was weak and that I was not the same person they trusted."
Listening to every word he spoke, Haruhime silently walked by his side, the noise in front of them becoming little more than an ambient drone. Almost as if they were in their own small bubble, they were alienated from the others outside.
"I cannot say I will ever understand that feeling…" she began, clenching the fabric of her kimono. "...after all, I'm just me." She turned towards him with her own sad smile. "And I now realize that I've made a mistake…"
"There's no need—" the words came out, though they were never finished.
"All this time, I've told you: that 'it's okay' and that 'it'll be fine', and yet those words only hurt you even more. I've asked you to open up to me, and yet I've never realized how hard it would be for you to do so… how much it hurt you to do so…"
She felt a hand grab hers— a warm hand— and she felt their fingers interlace.
Lifting their joined hands to his chest, she turned to him just as he spoke: "Never. You could never."
His smile brightened, and his ruby red eyes met her turquoise green irises.
"You've helped me more than I could ever ask for— more than I could ever thank you for… because you were right all along. I had all of these amazing people by my side and I realize now that the family we've made is stronger than those expectations I've set for myself— that I thought I had to meet."
As their joined hands fell apart, they yearned for each other's touch.
"When you guys fall, we'll all be there to catch you and help you get back up. But… what happens when I fall?"
Pausing, his hands clenched into tight fists beside him.
"Before, I had thought that if I'd fallen, I would drag you guys along with me and I was afraid I'd ruin that happy family we've made."
He took a deep breath, his eyes falling to the floor.
"But those fears were unfounded, and those expectations I had set had become an unnecessary set of standards I had enforced upon myself." He looked to the ground as the group continued ahead, making their way through the 17th Floor. "I had thought I needed to be perfect— because a Hero is perfect— and I wanted to be a Hero."
Sighing, he brought his hands up to his hair, brushing it out of his face.
"But I'm not living inside a fairy tale— and I'm only just human— so I can only keep on trying and trying and trying to be a Hero."
Haruhime's face lit up with a graceful smile. "And to try is simply all that is necessary." He turned to look at her. "Whether you win or lose— the first step is to try." She rested her hand on his arm. "And we'll always be here to help you so you may keep on trying; we'll always be ready for you, because we want nothing but the best for you, as you do us."
He smiled back as he moved his arm across, their fingers meeting once more. "Thank—"
A loud roar drove a wedge into their conversation, ending it abruptly.
From just a few paces in front, Lili's voice cut through the clearing just as the thunderous, echoing bellow faded.
"Master Bell, Miss Aisha, Miss Lyu, please move forward. Miss Mikoto, Mister Welf, Mister Ouka, meet up with Miss Chigusa and Miss Daphne. All five of you fall back to me."
There were seven simultaneous voices calling out their affirmation, and everyone rushed to their positions.
Bell turned his gaze to the side, meeting Haruhime's.
Patting his arm, she smiled. "Let's finish our conversation another time, shall we?—that is, if you still want to?"
The boy simply nodded in response before he drew the Hestia Knife from its sheath by his ribcage. Then, he leapt forward, chasing after the Elf that had raced past just a moment prior.
As he reached the front, Bell tilted his gaze over to the crumbling stone wall in front of him, watching as the seven-meter tall giant swung its arms around, clawing its way out of the fissure— the blackened Abyss beneath that mosaic of jagged rocks. The gray skin was taut over the shifting muscles underneath, constricting and relaxing as it moved. It turned its sunken, beady eyes over to the adventurers, and its jaw unhinged, spittle flying from its maw as it unleashed yet another deafening roar that shook the cavern.
However, when most would cower and retreat, the two young women flanking either side of the boy charged forward without hesitation, their weapons ready and their bodies apt.
"In the sky of a now distant forest. Infinite stars scattered in the endless night sky…"
"Come, champion of the savages. Manly warrior, strong hero; greedy and unjust hero…"
Bringing its fist crashing down, the ground beneath them was shattered as Lyu easily sidestepped the devastating blow, her cloak fluttering behind her as she dashed over to the side out of the monster's field of view. Lunging forward, she brought her short swords over in a clean horizontal arc, tearing through the Achilles tendon, and sending the Monster Rex staggering, the grey giant collapsing to the ground.
Facing the Goliath head-on, Aisha advanced with tempo, ducking underneath an arm brought around in a wide, devastating swing and dove to the side from a downwards smash. Easily keeping balance and regaining her footing, she hoisted her blade up and over, gouging several deep gashes into the forearm, annoying the monster more than hurting it, yet did its job nonetheless.
She leapt backwards out of the way just as the monster threw itself forward onto both hands as its jaw opened unnaturally, creaking open and letting out an ear-splitting roar. Its deep, crimson red eyes bore into her, but she merely sneered as she met its gaze.
The powerful shockwave pummeled her into the floor, and yet she simply stood her ground, digging her heels in and swinging her blade around in an arc.
"My starving blade is Hippolyta."
The bright crimson-red crescent met the shockwave with a shockwave of its own—
"Hell Kaios!"
—and disappeared as quickly as it came, the energy of both attacks cancelling as they collided in the center.
However, the result of their clash was obvious. Smoke rose from the monster's jaw as it reeled back from the recoil. Aisha simply propped herself up with her greatsword with that confident smirk on her face, knowing her job was done.
Not a millisecond later, there was a flash of golden-green light, scattering along the dust and debris kicked up from the fight.
"Luminous Wind!"
Whipping around in a frenzy, nearly a hundred orbs flashed and fluttered past, carving into the giant's flesh.
"Firebolt!"
A scarlet spark flashed through the room, fizzling to nothing before exploding on impact, being festered by the rising stardust.
The heat in the room rose exponentially. The tower of flames cast stark shadows against the adventurers, and they all watched the dark silhouette of the giant flicker. It reared back and roar, its regeneration struggling to keep pace with the sharp blade-like winds carving into its flesh and the flames easily scorching its skin.
As the monster finally came crashing down, the flames leapt out in all directions, carried by the stardust, before eventually burning into nothingness.
Having been waiting for this very moment, Bell dashed forward just as the flames dispersed. Leaping upwards with incredible force, he brought the Hestia Knife down, plunging its edge directly into the monster's left eye.
With both hands on the hilt of the blade and his jaw clenched and brows furrowed in a grimace, he carved the blade deeper into the sclera and tore it out through the cornea.
Clear liquid cascaded out of the gash in the monster's eye and Bell slipped to the floor, landing nimbly on both feet.
He dove to the side just as the Goliath came crashing down. Leading with its fists, the monster shattered the floor where the boy once was, sweeping its arms around in a frenzy, dragging its fingers and tearing apart the ground as it went along.
Dodging the attacks, Bell ducked down below the Goliath's abdomen and brought the Hestia Knife up for another strike. This time, he found his mark, the blade tearing into the giant's chest and carving past the pectoral muscles. Black liquid oozed out of the wound, splattering onto the floor where he stood.
Pushing up with his legs, the blade came across, driving it deeper into the exposed chest of the monster, until—
—Snap!
Cleaving through the last fibres holding the magic stone in place, a final cascade of black gore sloshed onto the ground. The magic stone itself— around the size of Bell's head— dropped onto the floor with a thud, embedding itself into the rocky floor.
From above, the monster's body went limp as it fell, almost as if to crush its killer but quickly turned to dust. The ashen particles spilled onto the floor and settled there, accumulating by the boy's feet, before being eaten by the ground below along with the onyx gore.
After the Monster Rex had fallen, the stray monsters did as well; the adventurers dealt with them swiftly before gathering around.
"Alright, everyone, please listen. We will be taking a small break for lunch on the 18th. Afterwards, we will head down to the 24th to set up camp for the night. For now, we will be sticking with our current formation and I will be changing things once we go deeper." She tilted her gaze over to Bell and nodded. "That is all; let's get everything cleaned up here and head down."
With the instructions given, the party scattered as they collected all of the remaining magic stones and drop items, placing them into the supporter's packs. Then, once that was done, the party set out, moving past the tunnel leading to the 18th Floor.
The group had set up a small, lacklustre campsite inside the expansive forests of the 18th Floor. Each person had taken their pick at a sandwich prepared earlier this day and were quietly munching on them alongside a cup of spring water.
For the most part, those who had been at the forefront of the battle were taking it easy, wanting to replenish their stamina just before heading further down where the monsters they'd fight would be more taxing to defeat.
As such, the expedition party proceeded with the small picnic mutely, although with three of their members missing— Lili and Welf having gone off to the town of Rivira to sell the magic stones and drop items to ease up the load carried by the supporters and to make space for even more to come.
The last, however, would be soon sought out by the golden-green haired Elf, who snuck off quietly just as she finished her light meal.
Making her way out of the clearing and into the forest, she walked through the foliage, brushing past low-hanging branches and high bushes, eventually making her way into the adjacent clearing, where a stream cut across the lush field.
She turned her sky blue eyes to the white haired boy, watching as he dunked his clothes into the water and scrubbed away the monster guts before wringing it dry and repeating the process.
He turned around to face her as he felt her approach through the soft rustling of the vegetation. "Miss Lyu," he called out just as she stopped beside him. "Is there something you needed to talk to me about?"
Fiddling with the hem of her cloak, she gave him a small smile. "I was wondering if you wanted to come with me?" She stopped, letting her hands fall to her sides, though she could still feel butterflies fluttering about in her stomach. "...to see them, I mean…"
Bell easily caught on, and he squeezed the remaining water from the cloth and rolled up the tunic as he stood up. His eyes met hers, and he gave her a warm smile. "Lead the way."
And with that, no more words were exchanged between the pair. In silence, the two of them followed the bank of the river upstream, with the Elf in the lead and the boy trailing behind. Along the way, they stopped to gather a collection of flowers and reeds, forming a natural bouquet of flora.
Then, a few more minutes later, they reached their destination. Walking upon a desolate area of the forest— shrouded by the thick foliage— they stopped and sat down together in front of the assortment of weapons held firm by a pile of dirt and rubble.
She set down the bundle of flora in her hands and dipped her head down as a means of courtesy; beside her, Bell did the same. As the both of them sat quietly, absorbing the ambience around them, she broke the silence.
"I had actually been meaning to come down here to see them…" she said, turning to him and tilting her gaze up, only for it to fall to the ground, "I had been meaning to ask you to come before… but a lot of things happened and I…" she fidgeted with the fabric of her cloak, "I was… uhm… and it just didn't… feel right if I came without you."
Bell smiled as he watched her turn away and back to those weapons— the burial she had made many years prior to honour her fallen sisters-in-arms. He scooched over on his bum, sitting even closer beside her. He drew his knees to his chin and hugged his arms around his body.
As the silence settled around them once more, it was him who broke it again.
"Do you like coming here, Lyu?—to talk to them, I mean."
She shifted her eyes over, the melancholic smile on her face shifted slightly, curling upwards ever-so-slightly. She gasped, drawing in a deep breath as she turned away.
"Yes, I do," she said at last, as her hands fell into her lap and she looked down brushed her palm against her cloak.
"I…" she faltered with her words but swallowed and continued nonetheless. "I don't know how to describe it. Perhaps I'm just weird… but, every time I talk to them, I feel better— like there's someone who'll always listen even if it's something trivial or something simple. They'll encourage me to do the things I believe are right and they'll call me out for my mistakes and hypocrisy. I always know that there'll be people waiting for me and willing to speak to me even if no one else is."
Bell nodded quietly as he listened to her words. "I think I get it," he said, and although his gaze fell to the odd shapes he drew in the mud, his mind reminisced of the past— to those few months ago when he had broken taboo to harbour the Xenos on the surface. "I mean, everyone has that, right?" Stopping, he drew in a deep breath, and asked yet another question— with a simple, subtle difference: "Everyone needs that, right?"
"Yes," was her almost inaudible reply— and, as if in a trance, she reached down and grabbed ahold of his hand, bringing it closer to her.
"Everyone needs it," she affirmed, sweeping her thumb over the back of his hand. "It could be as simple as needing someone who listens; or perhaps someone who offers a helping hand."
Her eyes closing, she brought his hand up, resting her forehead against his knuckles.
"We need people in our life to pull us back when we stray too far, and we need people in our life to pull us up if we fall too deep."
A gentle smile came to his face; his ruby red eyes held a reflection of her, yet they still continued to reminisce— searching those yet forgotten memories.
"I had that…" he said at last, "...back before I came to Orario. My grandfather: he would listen to my dreams— my foolish and silly dreams— and yet he wouldn't laugh at my ambitions, and he would treat them as if they were his own." He paused, and, taking a deep breath in and out, he raised his other hand, cupping it over both of hers and one of his. "And now, even if he has already passed, I still have that person— those people. All of you who help me in reaching that same silly dream I once had, I simply can't thank you guys enough."
Lyu raised her head, and their eyes met, holding each other's gazes. The both of them stayed there for a few quiet moments, simply holding each other.
"You guys will encourage me to do what I believe is right. But, you guys will also be there to call me out for my foolishness and for the mistakes I make."
With that gentle smile that always adorned his face, his lips parted: "so, if, in time… no… when…" a little bit sad, but also with a hidden and blossoming joy and resolve, "...when, in the future, I come to be a hypocrite— when I've lost my way— please lend me a hand… and please grab ahold of me and pull me back here…" there was a brief pause— a pause in which he had come to accept himself.
"Bring me back here… to this place where I belong."
The Elf, still holding both of his hands, simply laughed— a genuine, beautiful laugh. "I wouldn't have it any other way. The best I could do was to do the same as you've done for me, after all."
xxx
Many minutes passed until the both of them returned to the campsite, finding the rest of the party already packed up and ready to leave.
As they stepped into the clearing, they were greeted by an exasperated Pallum, held back by a red headed young man.
"And where did you two go off to?" She narrowed her eyes, scowling. "Surely you didn't sneak off for some funny business, right?"
Before Bell could respond, Lyu stepped forward with a hand raised and an apologetic frown on her face. "I'm sorry, I asked him to come with me… for personal reasons… related to my familia."
Seeing the look on the Elf's face and the tone of her words, Lili dropped the subject immediately, instead opting to give an angry huff. "Whatever, we'll be going now, are you two ready?"
Both adventurers responded simultaneously. "Yes, Commander."
She nodded and turned to the rest of the group. "Everyone, get into formation, we'll be leaving shortly."
And thus, their expedition continued.
Working their way through the thick jungles of the Dungeon's Great Tree Labyrinth, the expedition party was able to travel through the 19th to 24th Floors without any major incidents.
Finding a collection of large trees surrounding a small clearing, Lili began organizing the party. Daphne and Cassandra were given the role of patron duty while Aisha and Lyu were tasked with damaging the surrounding walls to prevent monsters from spawning. The rest started preparing the campsite and dinner.
A simple plan that was similar to the one they'd used on their first official expedition. They'd be able to spend the rest of today recovering and resting for the trek through the Water Capital tomorrow. The goal was to make it past those Floors within the day and camp out on the 29th Floor safety point before tackling the unexplored Floors below.
With everyone doing their part to set up camp, the party had gathered around nearly an hour later, save for those on guard duty, to share a communal meal to end off the day.
Starting out with some idle chit-chat, the conversations eventually died out as everyone felt the fatigue from today's adventuring and the prospect of tomorrow's tasks catching up with them.
Not long after the leftovers had been stored in containers for tomorrow morning and the utensils and dishes had been cleaned and set away, the group retired for the night.
As many hours passed, Bell was put in charge of guard duty, and he sat outside the campsite, his red eyes vigilantly scanning the area around them.
Bringing his hand to his face, he brushed the hair out of his eyes, taking a deep breath as he pressed his fingers into his temple. He gasped as he felt hands reach out to him, wrapping over him from above. A pair of fingers ran along his cheek and jaw, and something soft yet deathly cold pressed into his nape.
"There's a fascinating idea… the idea of a Hero… It was an idea that I was so entranced with— an idea that I yearned for and dreamt of with the entirety of my being."
Off to the side, he heard the grass shift, and he turned his head over, watching as the glittering golden hair of the Renart came into view. With a gentle smile on her face, she sat down next to him, opening up her hand— one which he took in his own.
"Someone who was perfect; someone who could save everyone; someone who would never hurt others; someone who could do no wrong; someone who could never make a mistake…"
"Haruhime…" he called out to her.
"Master Bell," she responded, leaning against his shoulder.
"Sometimes, people do bad things, but that doesn't make them bad people. It simply means they're human and imperfect and that, at their very core, they're striving and moving forward… forward towards the dreams they'll never forget."
Many hours would pass until the first members of the expedition party awoke. Eventually, with new members popping up at irregular intervals, the campsite became a hive of activity, and they shared yet another communal meal together, finishing whatever was left from yesterday's supper.
Once the group was just about done, Lili spoke up, relaying the instructions and plans for the day.
"Miss Aisha, Lili wants you to move up to the vanguard. Miss Lyu, Lili wants you to move up to the middle. Everyone else should stay where they are and provide support wherever necessary. Master Bell, Lili wants you to stay behind and bring up the rear."
Every member nodded after hearing their roles.
"Our goal for the day is to pass through the Water Capital. We'll be dealing the Amphisbaena on our way down since it makes our trip back up safer. Afterwards, we'll make our way to the safety point on the 29th and rest there for the night. The schedule for the next few days may change depending on what happens, so Lili'll simply leave it at this for now. Once you've finished, begin packing and getting ready to go."
Once more, every member nodded at the plan as they finished their meals.
Within a few minutes, everyone had gathered their belongings, tore down the campsite, packed everything into the bags, gathered into formation, and began their trek through the thick jungles, wading through the vegetation until it eventually terminated, reaching the crystalline, rocky entrance to the Water Capital.
They moved at a slow crawl, descending down the slippery, wet rocks connecting the 24th Floor to the 25th. Reaching the end of the tunnel in a matter of minutes, the group stepped out onto the ledge overlooking the terrain.
Marching through the Floor, they went counter-clockwise following the bank of the large lake by the center of the Floor, where the water from the Great Waterfall collected and cascaded further down into the 26th, and then into the 27th as well.
Making sure to stay a respectable distance away from the water itself, they made their way to the next exit at a brisk pace, travelling through a series of wet tunnels and moving alongside interweaving rivers and streams. Not wanting to be held up on these Floors for too long and draining their stamina, they made sure to avoid as many confrontations as possible.
Nonetheless, as they went along, flocks of Harpies were cut out of the air as the monsters made diving attacks against the party. Schools of Raider Fish leaping out of the adjacent rivers and streams to devour the adventurers were pierced and squashed before they could deal substantial damage. Devil Mosquitos buzzing around and harassing the group were repelled, singed using magic stone lighters before they could amass an annoying yet deadly attack.
Continuing on through the Water Capital, they stopped briefly within a small pocket within the 26th Floor's walls to rest up before the big fight and to replenish their stamina and strength.
Nearly five hours later, the party finally reached the base of the 27th Floor, walking along the banks of the bottom-most water basin where the Great Waterfall terminated and deposited all of its water, along with all of the other waterways.
Approaching the big lake, the group came to a stop. The supporters set down their packs and built a makeshift trench while the adventurers got into position, the party preparing to challenge the Monster Rex.
Even before the fight began, Lili was already giving out instructions. She turned to the Renart: "Miss Haruhime, please begin chanting."
Sitting on her heels, the Renart began weaving her spells, a golden glow shimmering and emanating from her backside as she did so. "Kokonoe. Beloved snow. Beloved crimson. Beloved white light…"
Then, to Welf and Cassandra: "prepare the magic swords and step up to mid. Stay close together and be ready to use them whenever."
Both adventurers nodded. Cassandra retrieved the longsword strapped to her pack and Welf revealed the shortsword wrapped in cloth that he had in his cloak. She, herself, also unsheathed a dagger from her robe. All of them glinted as they were revealed to the lights bouncing off of the crystal walls— crimson red, turquoise green, and icy blue.
"Miss Aisha, Miss Lyu, Master Bell, please step up to the front."
All three second-tier adventurers moved as they were told, readying their respective weapons: a greatsword, a longsword, and a pair of knives.
"Miss Daphne, Mister Ouka, gather around the supporters and repel any attacks from our rear."
The burgundy haired adventurer raised her shortsword. The large Far Eastern man heaved up his battleaxe.
"Miss Chigusa, please offer the frontline ranged support. Miss Mikoto, stay close to the supporters and offer support using your skill and magic."
Both Far Eastern women readied themselves, the former fitting an arrow into her bow and the latter positioning her yari, but mostly kept herself relax, focusing most of her energy and concentration into a small corner of her mind.
"Oh, tails of the auspicious beast, consume all, grant all wishes—"
A deafening roar shook the cavern just as Haruhime connected her second spell, unflinching even at that mighty warcry. Before the assembled adventurers, the waves crashed more violently against the shore and the loose rocks rattled uncontrollably. They all tensed up, their senses working in overdrive as they prepared for an attack that would come at any moment.
"—grow. That power and that vessel. Breadth of wealth and breadth of wishes. Until the bell, bring forth glory and illusion…"
With her eyes closed, Mikoto's brows furrowed as Yatanokurogarasu pinged in her mind, warning her both to the approaching Monster Rex and the other monsters surrounding them from all sides. Her knuckles became white over the shaft of her polearm and her lips were pressed into a thin line. The warnings came in waves, mixing and blending with one another— and then—
Ping!
Her violet eyes shot open. "Lady Aisha!"
The Amazon easily understood and dove out of the way just as the water in front of her bulged and burst open, revealing the twin-headed serpent. The gaping jaws of the monster snapped down where she once stood, its teeth shattering the rocky crystals and rubble.
Lili stepped forward from her position, swinging the dagger she held forward as a stream of ice exploded outwards, freezing over the lake and crystallizing around the monster, encasing its left head in a translucent glacier. The lake itself froze over as well, giving the adventurers a chance to invade the Monster Rex's territory to fight it head-on.
"Miss Haruhime! To Master Bell, Miss Aisha, and Miss Lyu!"
"—Grow— Dance!"
Three great golden hammers descended from the open air, enveloping the three adventurers in a golden aura.
In sync, all three of them took off running, dashing forward and moving to launch a coordinated attack.
The twin-headed serpentine monster, seeing their approach, reared back, pulling itself and thrashing around, attempting to free its other half.
"Firebolt!" A spark of crimson shot forward, exploding as it touched the hide of the monster.
The right serpent head recoiled, tucking itself in and tanking the blow, unable to react quick enough to the lightning-fast attack with its magic nullifying breath.
Even still, the attack did little to damage the monster, its scales providing enough defense to shrug off the comparatively weak attack power of the swift strike magic. Soon after, the crimson, magic nullifying mist spilled from its mouth as it recovered, turnings its red, slitted gaze over to Bell, who was running along the frozen lake.
With a mighty roar, it struck forward at terrifying speeds— like a viper— snapping its jaw shut and attacking again and again, trying to latch onto and eliminate the threat.
However, the Rabbit Foot was simply far too nimble, ducking, diving, and rolling past the attacks from the serpent, dodging each with practiced finesse.
Unable to catch its prey and even more annoyed than before, the Amphisbaena was open to an attack from the rear— an opportunity the Elf quickly and expertly capitalized on, dashing into the fray.
"...cross the sky and run through the wilderness, run faster than anything else. Imbue the light of stardust and destroy the enemy." Propelled forward by her magic, Lyu brought her longsword across— a deadly silver crescent carved through the air, cutting a deep gash into the monster's exposed neck, but not enough to sever it completely.
Tumbling into the ice from her forward momentum, the Gale Wind ground to a halt before leaping sideways as the serpent turned its attention to her, its slitted eyes bearing down on her.
However, this time, instead of launching a precise attack, the monster sought to catch any threats off guard and eliminate them immediately. It swept its head across in a wide arc, and all three second-tier adventurers were forced to back off lest they get hit and sent flying.
Almost like it was planned, the wide-range attack also brought the monster valuable time, allowing it to fully free its other half.
A bright turquoise blue glow emanated from within the crystallized ice— shattering it as the heat caused the air trapped within to expand outwards violently— and in an instant, all of the adventurers could feel the hairs on their heads burn.
Welf stepped forward, his magic sword trailing behind him. Lyu did as well, the stardust of her magic buzzing vehemently around, twisting to become a fierce gale. Ouka, having noticed the incoming attack, broke away from his post briefly and retrieved his large shield, lunging in front of the supporters and covering them from the inferno.
"Tatsumaki!"
"Luminous Wind!"
The cyclone of wind met the sea of flames, fanning them and attempting to whisk them away. But even with that, the adventurers could feel the hot rush of air assaulting them, making them feel as if their skin was blistering and peeling.
The roaring of the flames and whistling of the wind was followed by a loud hissing— a sizzling sound as the heat finally dissipated, carrying with it the rising mist. It obscured their view, and the adventurers shuffled about, leveraging the Falna's sixth sense to navigate the tricky terrain and to defeat the stray monsters still approaching from all sides.
Eventually, the mist cleared, and they saw the Monster Rex had disappeared, retreating beneath the waves and biding its time in its advantageous territory and waiting for another opportune time to strike.
Rushing forward, the three second-tier adventurers spread out in a triangle, their footing firm and their ears open as they awaited either Lili or Mikoto's next command.
Then, a few silent and tense moments later—
"Sir Bell— under—!"
And sure enough, the ice underneath the boy began to crack as the snout of the serpent broke past the surface, kicking up a spray of sleet, isolating both the monster and the boy from view.
Leaping away and bracing himself as the frigid water rose up and smother him— nearly pulling him under— he suddenly found himself weightless, launched through the air at hurtling speeds.
Skidding nearly a hundred meters, Bell landed against the rocky ground— the crystals cutting into his flesh as he tumbled along the surface, eventually coming to a halt. Arching his back in pain, he slammed his fist into the ground before clawing his way onto his knees.
However, even with Bell sent flying, the rest of the party continued the fight. Lili's eyes swept across the battlefield, assessing the situation and planning the next course of action.
She snapped her head to the side, addressing the navy haired young woman. "Cassandra! Welf! Use the sword! Haruhime, give out the rest of the boosts! Everyone, take out of the right head!"
The party's healer and smith stepped forward in unison, in their hands was the crimson longsword, glowing as it was ignited, reacting to Welf's Spirit Blood. With both sets of hands on the hilt of the blade, they sent it forward, carving a wide arc through the air as a sea of flames burst from the edge, burning atop even the lake.
Nonetheless, the Amphisbaena responded simply: a slew of crimson mist seeped out from its maw, wrapping around its neck and shrouding itself in magic nullifying defense. But just as quickly as that mist coiled around its serpentine body, it was burned away— dwindling and withering as it was ignited by the raging inferno.
It became a war of attrition— those flames devoured everything in their path, and it was a race to overwhelm the serpent's mist before Mirabilis' Mind reserves were depleted.
Under constant strain, the adventurers continued to pile on the pressure, seeking to overwhelm the monster. Stepping forward, Mikoto finished the cast of her magic. From underneath the serpent, the magic circle began blossoming outwards.
"...Descend from Heaven, rule the Earth— shinbu tousei."
Plummeting— like a falling star— the violet, spectral blade plunged into the ground where the magic circle expanded outwards, encompassing the entire body of the beast.
"Futsu no Mitama!"
And bringing with it, a crushing force to trample atop the monster from above, forcing it down as the flames finally died out, the navy haired healer collapsing to the ground with sweat soaking into her cloak. The crimson haired smith beside her held her up, keeping her steady.
Using the last few orbs of her magic to propel herself forward, Lyu dashed forward and leapt through the air, raising her longsword. Then, being carried by the force of Mikoto's gravity attack, she descended, her blade piercing deep into the monster's right head.
The punctured left eye spat out a mixture of clear and turquoise liquid. And then, as she dragged the blade across, the monster's blood came cascading out, spilling onto the frozen lake. The monster tried to throw her off as it reared its head— and it succeeded, overwhelming Mikoto's magic and throwing Lyu up and over into the water.
However, their distraction was sufficient for both Ouka and Aisha to charge in, bypassing the monster's defense and exposing its weak point. He hoisted both his axe and shield over his shoulder and she lunged forward her greatsword in tow.
Antianeira swung with the strength attributed to her race, and her greatsword bit into the already large gash from before, going even deeper and causing the monster to roar from the pain. However, her strength was still not enough, and the blade became lodged in the scales.
Fortunately, the Far Easterner was there and he raised his shield as the second head came around. It slammed into the hard slab of metal and Ouka dug his heels into the ice and pushed back, holding his ground and buying Aisha more time to decapitate the troublesome right head.
At the same time, nearly a hundred meters away, Chigusa pulled back the arrow from her bow— her hands and aim steady— and let it fly.
The attack struck true, and the serpent reared back its head from the sudden pain, the arrow lodged deep into its right eye. However, as the element of surprise wore off, it prepared to launch an attack as tongues of flames flew out of its maw— glowing a vibrant turquoise.
Roaring, it recoiled back, and then, snapping its snout forward, it prepared to launch a torrent of flames, only to be stopped—
"Burn out, illegal work. Will-o-Wisp!"
The flames exploded in the serpent's mouth— its jaw unhinged as smoke billowed out— and although its own attack was largely ineffective at dealing damage, the shock of the explosion, followed by a few more pesky arrows, was enough to buy Aisha the time she needed.
Having given up on freeing her blade, she instead reached back and grabbed the battleaxe from the Far Easterner, bringing it down, using all of the torque she could possibly amass to land her strike. Like a guillotine, it fell, and cut through the remaining flesh of the serpent's head, shattering the troublesome scales that had protected it before.
Seeing this, both adventurers immediately began their retreat, grabbing their own respective weapons. Running side-by-side, he held the shield up to prevent any incoming attacks and she scooped up the floundering Elf before running out onto land, getting as far away as possible to take cover from the incoming attack.
From afar, Lili watched the crimson mist dissipate, no longer being produced by the monster. Which means…
"Master Bell— the way is clear—!"
His ruby red eyes came up, watching as the serpent thrashed around, trying to drag itself underwater to escape that deadly white light that would spell its demise.
"I think I remember… the first time that Gramps read to me the story of Argonaut."
Holding both of his hands to his forehead, he had his left clasped over his clenched, right fist. The white particles flowed around him as if they were the crystalline lights of a chandelier.
"I hated it— loathed it with every ounce of my being. 'He's no Hero', I said. 'He couldn't even save the Princess, and had to be saved by her instead! How could anyone think him a Hero!?'"
As if he was praying, his eyes were closed shut, and he breathed out a pent-up breath.
"I saw a Fool, not a Hero. The essence of a Hero— what it means to be a Hero— who can be a Hero… and the Fool… it couldn't be the same, right?"
His eyes fluttered open— those red rubies to take in the view of the world around him.
"I thought I had it figured out— like I was some sort of genius— but it was nothing more than a laughable and pretentious notion from a little kid who had no right to be the judge of those labels and of those people."
The church bells tolled, playing their grand yet melancholic melody.
"Who am I to determine who can and cannot be a Hero? Who am I to uphold this preposterous standard— to conform to it as if it were the Law of the World? Who am I to dream and to be bound by those childish aspirations rather than to break free and make it become reality, no matter how harsh the path may be?"
The serpent hissed and snarled, recoiling back reflexively away from that wistful rhythm.
"Who am I but to be someone?—Like everyone else?"
Yet it was transfixed with that light and that sound, peering downwards with its sapphire blue eyes
"Where, I wonder… shall I go next? Who, I wonder… shall I become next? What, I wonder… shall I do next?"
All of the adventurers watched as that flash of white mixed with those crimson sparks, seeing it bloom like a bouquet of roses.
"Ah—"
The hand went back, and he stepped forward, throwing his arms and shoulders wide.
"I feel hot— I'm burning—!"
"Firebolt!"
The lightning ripped through the air— the pillar of fire and light sheared off the remaining head of the twin-headed serpent, now unprotected and naked against magic attacks.
The body of the serpent went limp as both heads sank into the depths of the lake, swallowed beneath the raging waves.
All of the adventurers gave a collective sigh of relief, but then, not a split second later, as if recalling where they were, began moving to finish off the rest of the monsters surrounding them. Fueled by a high, the adventurers defeated the remaining monsters, turning to them to ash and collecting the magic stones and drop items.
The intense spike of adrenaline was followed by a brief moment of respite as the expedition party tended to any injuries, though they were mostly unscathed. And then, just after a few minutes of rest, they trudged on, wanting to reach the 29th safety point and set up camp for the night.
They waded through the 28th Floor, where the water from the Water Capital above collected and formed a humid, marsh-like ecosystem. Led by Aisha, the party worked their way through the Floor relatively incident-free. Armoured Crocodiles attempting underwater sneak attacks and Horned Chameleons hiding using their camouflage abilities were snuffed out by Mikoto's Yatanokurogarasu. They also kept mindful of the Devil Mosquitoes and Sword Platypuses, staying clear of the dangerous malady and venom they used to attack— especially more so the adventurers without the Abnormal Resistance development ability.
Without any major incidents, they were able to make it safely to the safety point on the 29th Floor. Quickly finding a suitable, dry area to set up camp, they shared a quick meal together before retiring for the night, the fatigue of their trek through the Water Capital settling in as the last few waves of adrenaline finally dissipated.
The third day of their Dungeon expedition began as the first of its members stirred awake. It began very similarly to the previous two: sharing a large meal together once everyone had awoken, the group set out to use the early hours of today to prepare for their next part of their expedition, while their weapons and equipment would be tended to by their resident smith.
As such, the rhythmic beating of the hammer served almost as an ominous countdown to the party's new expedition. They could feel the anxiety and the butterflies fluttering in their stomachs as they rested. This, paired with the residual excitement of the recent fight against the Amphisbaena left many of the adventurers restless as they milled around.
It was almost counter-intuitive, in a way. As battle-hardened adventurers, it was in these moments of respite and repose when they felt most peculiar and out of place. Nonetheless, they did as their Commander instructed, silently waiting for the moment that would eventually come when they'd take up their weapons once more to brace whatever the Dungeon threw at them.
In the small campsite they'd established, the white haired boy weaved between the canvas tents and bags, moving slowly with purpose, a bundle of flammable reeds and stray tree branches in his arms. Eventually, he reached the open area, where he heard the echoing clangs of the hammer resound the loudest, and also that gentle hum of those roaring flames.
As he approached, the crimson haired young man standing over the scarlet forge looked up, his cerulean eyes meeting the boy's own red irises.
"Bell? Oh, you've brought them, thanks." Always in a homely mood, the smith greeted the boy with a nod and a relaxed smile.
Bell simply returned the smile and got to work, setting down the things he had in his hands, placing them down close to the portable forge the smith toiled over.
Working diligently, he got up from his knees as he finished, preparing to go out to collect more. However, as his ruby red eyes scanned across the workbench, they fell upon the sheet of dented, silver metal.
"Oh… uhm…" A few mumbling sounds escaped from his mouth, and Welf followed his gaze, looking at the damaged chest plate.
Bell was broken out of his trance by the smith's laugh, and turned his gaze over just a second later.
"Are you worried about that? Don't be, it's my fault." A slight frown came to his usually smiling face. "Though had you not been as strong as you were, you probably would have gotten seriously hurt— or even…"
With the warped chest piece in his hands, Bell shook his head. "It's not something you have to apologize for; I was the one who was caught off guard—"
The smith laughed again, the once rhythmic drumming of his hammer having stopped. "You say that, but I still can't forgive myself. From a professional standpoint— you're my client and I'm your smith. To have my equipment fail in the middle of a high-stakes battle— it can't be blamed on anything but my own incompetence." Welf turned his cerulean gaze over the sweltering scarlet flames of his forge. "For someone to have put their utmost trust in my abilities, only for that trust to be what leads to their death." His hands tightened around the silver handle of his hammer. "If someone who wore my armour died, then it means I could have done better; if someone who wielded my sword lost, then it means I could have done better… I say that, but by that point, it's already too late—"
"And who are you to criticize who we place our trust in?"
Interrupting the smith, a pained smile came to the boy's face as he set the chest plate down by the table.
"We don't place our trust in your weapons and your armour because we believe them to be infallible— after all, none are."
Their gazes met.
"We place our trust in your weapons and your armour because we know that you'd never settle for anything less than what you were proud of. If there was anyone who could keep us safe, it would be you and the armour you so painstakingly craft. If there was anyone who could make us stronger, it would be you and the weapons you so meticulously forge. If there was anyone who could do all of that…" his hand came up, and his index finger met the chest of the lean young man, "...it would be you."
Standing breathless for a moment, the smith's calloused fingers coiled around the hilt of his hammer.
Completely silent, Bell watched the smith continue his work, using a pair of long tongs to grab hold of the chest piece before hovering it over the glowing red forge. Bringing it out of the flames, Welf flattened the dent with his hammer— bringing it up and down again and again as sparks flew.
After a few more moments of watching, Bell turned away, leaving the smith alone to his own devices.
"I'm confident in my abilities— in the weapons and armour I craft— but, compared to that fanciful ambition of mine, there's still simply far too much of a gap. However, that's not nearly enough of a reason for me to give up— to be satisfied with what I have right now."
His jaw clenched tight, and he alternated between setting the piece of metal into the hearth and beating away at the dents, shaping it back into its original shape.
"Hungry… I'm hungry— I'm starving…"
A hot breath escaped his lips.
"More… more… push it further… use everything… all of that trust— all of it—!"
The hammer came down, and sparks flew, brushing past the salamander wool apron he wore.
"My biggest fear in this world…"
Grabbing hold of the chest plate, he set it back into the flames, watching the desired bright orange glow to return before he began working again.
"That's right… my biggest fear is not that the weapons and armour I forge are inadequate— that they pale in comparison to the ones in my dreams… my biggest fear is the day when this body will no longer be able to forge— will no longer be there as the shield to protect my friends and the blade to defend my family."
xxx
Wandering aimlessly after his meeting with the smith, Bell had returned to the main campsite, finding Mikoto and Haruhime tending to the central hearth, with Ouka and Chigusa helping out. Several paces away, standing by the mouth of their encampment, Lyu and Aisha stood on guard, keeping their eyes peeled for any monsters that strayed too close and might become aggressive. On the opposite side, near one of the tents, Lili, Daphne, and Cassandra conversed, sitting on a set of arranged logs.
Seeing as though their lunch was still being prepared, he decided to made his way over to the group of three women. As he approached, he could make out the conversation held between Lili and Daphne. Cassandra sat off to the side, a drowsy yet anxious frown on her face as she watched on.
The conversation was paused momentarily as Lili noticed Bell's approach. Her gaze came away from Daphne and over to him.
"Good timing," she said, ushering Bell to come closer and patting the seat next to her, "Lili was just about to go look for you; please take a seat." Then, turning her attention to the navy haired healer just as he sat next to her, she continued: "it seems Miss Cassandra had a problem this morning, and she asked Miss Daphne to ask you to help out."
Nodding, the boy turned to the girl in question, turning his gaze towards her. She squirmed under his scrutiny but nonetheless worked up the courage to speak.
"Last night…" she fiddled with the hem of her dress, "I saw something when I was asleep."
Bell remained silent, understanding what she was getting at, and urged her to continue.
"Around me, I saw a temple— a ruined temple— the walls were torn down and the bricks appeared charred, covered with ash. When I stepped closer inside, the only thing that was left from whatever was destroyed was a shrine. Atop the pedestal, there was a heart— it was burning, consumed by a crimson flame, but it was unscathed as if the flames didn't exist, and it kept on beating— making an awful quake each time it did."
A hand to his chin, Bell's eyebrows furrowed. "Anything else? Anything else that you might've seen that you think was important?"
She didn't speak, merely shook her head, that same tired frown on her face. Seeing that, Bell's head went into his hands, and he hunched over in his seat.
"A heart set ablaze… that's concerning, especially more so that it could refer to anyone here. Or maybe not to one of us but to something else? A Xenos? But they have magic stones and not a literal heart like us… or is it symbolic; it must be, right?" His fingers tapped against his knee. "Also the flame… is it me, Welf, or the Desert monsters? Or something else, still? Why is the heart on fire in the first place? How come the heart is unscathed? Is it supposed to be bad? Or good—?"
"Master Bell." A voice broke through his contemplation, and he turned his ruby red gaze over to Lili, who stared at him intently with her chestnut brown eyes.
He didn't respond, merely muttering out a string of disjointed words.
Seeing this, Lili's gaze went back over to the two women with them, and they left without hesitation, giving the two some privacy.
"Master Bell. Hey." The girl nudged the boy's arm, trying to get him to respond. "Master Bell, tell Lili. Please tell Lili what's wrong."
And finally, the boy did, swallowing. "I… the expedition… Miss Cassandra's dream…"
The words died in his mouth. But what did he even want to say? That they should cancel the expedition because of a hunch someone had? This was the Dungeon, after all, and they were adventurers; it wasn't uncommon for there to be that dreadful and nagging inkling of something wrong and something dangerous lurking out there beyond their immediate perception…
"But what concerns me is not the fire or the heart. If it's as Miss Cassandra described, then the heart should be fine for the most part…"
"I…" he began again, yet the words refused to come out. It was true he was the strongest member of their party, but he certainly wasn't the most experienced adventurer, nor was he the smartest, nor the Commander of their expedition. Surely, it's not a bad thing to think smart and act safe, but what did calling off the expedition now mean? After all, what would humanity be now if it did not have the capacity and the bravery to face the unknown?—Was this not the same?
"What concerns me is this temple… and the shrine. A shrine can only mean one thing… but what kind of God would come down into the Dungeon? If that happens, will there be another Irregular like on the 18th Floor? Or something even worse…" He was well aware of what happened nearly a month ago during the desperate fighting in the Knossos— that it was because of a God's doing that such a terrible war occurred— that so many people were hurt and died. "If there's a God down here, then we need to get out before the Irregular comes—"
"Master Bell." The girl's voice called out to him once more, breaking him out of the daze he had dove back into. "Lili doesn't know what to make of Miss Cassandra's dream, or what you're thinking right now, but Lili trusts you, so please talk to Lili."
He swallowed, his hands rubbing together in his lap. He took in a deep breath, and let it out. "I trust Miss Cassandra." He began, simply letting out whatever was on his mind. "If it weren't for her, I might've had to retire, or maybe I wouldn't even be alive anymore." And in his mind, was only the morbid truth. "Her dreams… they're all always so unnervingly accurate— but also mysteriously ambiguous… it could mean anything, I just know that something will happen." He paused. "The expedition, we should continue, but we need to be careful—"
He was interrupted by a huff, and he looked down to see the Pallum with her arms crossed and a miffed frown on her face. "I didn't think you'd be so stupid, Master Bell. Don't you think Lili has already figured all of that out?"
Staring at her, flabbergasted, for a brief moment, not having expected himself to be insulted like that, especially not when they were just talking about something so serious. "Huh? Lili, what are you saying? This isn't a joke—"
He stopped himself short. Whatever he was about to say faded away as something clicked in his mind.
"Oh…"
He looked down at the Pallum as she retrieved the small satchel sitting by a log beside them, rummaging around the pack to bring out her notebook and a rough map of the 30 to 34th floors.
"I get it… she's…"
He watched her work silently, shuffling through the notes and reviewing the agenda she'd made for their expedition.
"Even worse than me, she had nobody, so she's always been alone. Which is why she was how she was… which is why she is how she is… which is why she's always taking the responsibility alone— saying the things no one else wants to say even if she'll be hated for it… always having a plan and never yielding knowing that if she makes a mistake, then someone will die and it'll be her fault…"
A few silent moments passed until he finally stood up from his seat. The girl continued to work, unbothered by his movement, and that focus told him all he needed to know.
"That's right… she's our party's Commander… my first Dungeon diving companion… and…"
His hands came around, settling on the top of her head, giving her messy, shoulder-length hair a ruffle.
"...someone I trust with the entirety of my heart… just like Welf and Mikoto and Haruhime… Miss Aisha, Miss Lyu, Miss Cassandra, Miss Daphne, Mister Ouka, and Miss Chigusa."
He turned his ruby red gaze over the camp, watching those very people work, their hardships and their resolve to push forward— to become stronger than the people they were yesterday and to move towards a new tomorrow.
"Whatever the Dungeon throws at them— at us… they will overcome… and even when they cannot, they will simply get back up, and keep building themselves higher."
He released a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"When life goes on, we must as well; that's how it's always been."
That morning and that afternoon passed. In that time, each member of the expedition party settled their own nerves and prepared themselves for the expedition ahead of them, knowing just how tough it would be, but not backing down nonetheless.
Collecting their belongings and storing them into the supporters' bags, they were gathered by the remains of their campsite. Now, standing in a semicircle, the group had gathered around the Pallum, ready to hear the plan to tackle the Floors below.
"The next few days, we will be exploring the Floors of the Great Desert. We'll be spending roughly five total days down there. As for our formation, I would like Master Bell and Miss Lyu to lead the party."
She pointed her eyes at the two, who both nodded.
"Miss Daphne and Miss Aisha will hang back to protect the supporters and to protect our rear."
They both nodded as well.
"Miss Mikoto, Mister Welf, and Mister Ouka will be in the middle offering support wherever necessary."
The Pallum scanned her eyes around.
"If there are no problems, then we can begin whenever we're ready."
With no objections, the group quickly got into formation.
Once everyone had settled down, Bell and Lyu led the party forward to the yet unexplored (technically) Floors, moving through the marsh wetlands, feeling as the water eventually dried out, eventually reaching the gravel tunnel which would lead them to the next Floor— to the beginning of the Great Desert.
The party went forth, stepping through the underpass, and eventually reaching the other side, greeted by the bright crystals that made up the artificial sky.
And thus, their true expedition began.
that guy who exists:
To address your first concern, I wasn't really focusing on the lust aspect so I apologize if I didn't do a good job portraying my ideas. Mostly, I was trying to focus on Ais' desperation. I would assume if Riveria taught Ais anything about sexual/romantic intimacy, it would be that she should only do it with someone she absolutely loves and would stand beside for the rest of her life. By doing what she did, Ais was trying to force that intimacy between her and Bell so he would stay by her side and wouldn't abandon her (which is a big deal for Ais given how her parents were taken away from her). It's also party like you said as well since she wouldn't necessarily know that something like that was wrong and immoral (keep in mind that she wasn't in the best mental state when that happened, too, given she had just accepted her black wind again despite having purified in the Knossos battle).
To address your second concern, I'll keep that in mind for the future. I was hesitant to do it for the last few chapters because I didn't want to be inconsistent with the updates (grow too little or too much) since I know that they play a key role in power-scaling. As a note for the future, I think I'll only generally put on the Status updates if there major changes to them (like new skills/magic/level up/etc).
As always, reviews and critiques are helpful.