Bell POV
I panted as once again Alfia batted me away like I was a fly.
"Oh come on Bell you really gonna get beaten by a girl" Regis joked from the sidelines.
"You're not helping" I bit back.
"Get up Bell we're not done yet" Alfia coldly said. Doing as she asked I picked up my knife and got back up on my feet. I then charged at Alfia again using my lighting magic to increase my speed. However, that didn't seem to matter as when I was right above Alfia in her blind spot she roundhouse kicked me to the ground. I felt my eyes grow heavy and darkness overtook me.
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I opened my eyes and saw the familiar sight of Miachs roof staring back at me. It was still dark outside but I could see the sun rising over the horizon. I looked around the shop and saw that I was the only one awake. So seeing as I had time to kill before everyone else woke up I decided to gather the ambient mana that was around me and cultivate my mana core. I was on the cusp of reaching dark silver core but the progress was slow going and would take a while. I'd assume a few hours had passed before I felt someone shaking my shoulder. I opened my eyes and saw Miach standing in front of me.
"Sorry to disturb you but breakfast is ready"
"It's alright was gonna stop pretty soon I had been at it for a while"
"So I'm guessing you were cultivating your mana core," he asked.
"Yup getting close to the silver stage and it has me excited"
"That's pretty impressive for someone your age Bell"
"Thank you, gramps told me that Arthur reached white core at 17 so I wanna try and beat him"
"Well work hard because we believe you can do it Bell" Nazha said. A smile graced my face as I sat down for breakfast. "So Bell what type of magic can you use," Miach asked.
"A lot. Like so much I can't even name them all"
Miach chuckled before speaking. "Well you are a Leywin that's to be expected"
"Oh get this I can even create my own spells," I told him and I saw his and Nazha's eyes go wide.
"Ha ha ha ha I have an amazing child," Miach said as he started laughing.
"Wait you can create spells that's amazing," Nazha said. Not being used to all the praise I nervously scratched the back of my head and looked away. Breakfast then continued with them asking me about creating spells. I only told them about one which was flashbang. It's a combination of both sound and light magic. The light caused the flash and the sound caused the bang therefore flashbang was formed.
"That's pretty amazing Bell I can't wait to see what other spells you create," Miach said as he put the dishes in the sink. "Oh uh, thanks Miach but it does take some time to make one. Gotta be careful so I don't blow myself up" I nervously chucked.
"You have to excuse him he isn't used to such praise," Regis said.
"Regis" I yelled at him embarrassed.
Miach and Nazha laughed before wishing me well and sending me off. "I hate you," I told Regis. "That was revenge for the dog bed" "oh well my bad for wanting to give your comfort" "you made it seem like I was a normal dog" and so our bickering continued until we arrived at the guild. When we arrived the guild was once again not that packed as it was around 10:00 am. I went up to the desks and saw Eina working there so I got her attention.
"Hey Eina," I said waving at her.
She jumped a little before she spoke "h-hello Bell how can I help you today" she asked her hands fidgeting.
"Oh, I just need a map of the first few floors of the dungeon," I asked.
"But I thought you knew about the dungeon you knew the monsters," she said her hands still fidgeting.
"You're right I know the monsters not the layout of the floors"
"Oh Um very well wait one moment please," she said as she scurried off to a back room.
"Nice going you scared the shit out of her," Regis said.
I sighed "I didn't mean to," I said pinching the bridge of my nose. Eina returned a moment later and handed me maps of the first ten floors of the dungeons. "Thank you Eina," I said as Regis and I walked to the entrance.
"G-good luck Bell," she said as she waved goodbye to us.
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I took my first step into the dark and damp first floor of the dungeon. The first floor was seemingly made of light blue stone but I knew that it was really the flesh of the dungeon. Taking my bow off my back I took a look at it to make sure the bowstring was still useable. My bow was a mixture of two kinds of wood that I didn't know the name of. It was a gift from Alfia and Zeus for my tenth birthday. It was a light brown with hints of green here and there. Seeing my bowstring was just fine I began my journey down the beginner's road.
I took maybe 20 steps away from the main entrance before I heard the wall to my right crack and a goblin came out. Not even looking at the goblin I fired a mana arrow right into its head killing it instantly.
"Regis go get the magic stone" he didn't protest but just walked over and bit into the goblin's chest before yanking out the monster stone. He walked back to me and dropped the stone in my hand which I then put in my pouch.
"Bleh monsters taste like shit," Regis said.
"We'll get used to the taste 'cause you're gonna be grabbing the monster stones until we get a supporter," I told him as I continued walking the path. I heard him protest but I ignored him. We continued walking before I suddenly felt my instincts screaming at me. Thinking quickly I spun around and cracked my bow against another skull.
"Odd you're not supposed to be this smart yet," I said before ordering Regis to get the stone out. Continuing on our journey we encountered multiple irregulars and this was just the first floor.
"Alright what the hell is going this is nothing like Alfia mentioned," I said.
"Huh this reminds me of the relic tombs," Regis said.
"I haven't gotten that far into Arthur's journal yet what are they," I asked.
"Well they were like this dungeon but the monsters there were tougher and smarter. But they did have a mind of their own since whenever Arthur entered one they would change and try to kill him" Regis explained.
"So do you think the same thing is happening here?" I questioned.
"Could be or maybe you just caught the dungeon on a bad day" Regis said. "Knowing our luck probably not" I replied. This is when things really started to get weird we always ran into a monster pack of at least 10 kobolds followed by goblins and we were only on the second floor. Taking a break at the entrance of the third floor it suddenly hit me.
"It's gramps arcanum that's what affecting it"
"That makes sense because mana cores aren't all that rare just uncommon so adventurers with them have been here before. But Zeus used his arcanum on you to heal yours"
"And since gramps used his arcanum on me and Miach gave me his blessing I have more arcanum than a normal adventurer," I said finding Regis's explanation.
"Meaning the dungeon is a little more pissed off with you than normal adventures"
"Well, that just means the excila will be better then," I say as I get ready to head down to the third floor.
"Hey you know it would suck if a lower-floor monster came up here and beat your ass," Regis said as we descended the stairs.
"And now you've jinxed us" I sighed as we reached the third floor. It was the same as the first two. It looked the same. Walking down the passage a party of 20 kobolds was right around the corner. Summoning three mana arrows I drew my bowstring back and fired. My arrows hit. Which in turn alerted the rest of them. They charged at me. I killed one by kicking it. I killed another by grabbing its tail and slamming it on the ground. I dodged a strike and shot it with another arrow. I used my fire magic and incinerated six of them. Leaving eight remaining.
They stood back clearly sensing the threat I posed.
"Regis your turn," he said nothing and walked in front of me. He opened his mouth and a purple flame came flying out of his mouth. When the flames died down there was not even ash that remained.
"Man you gotta tell me what that is my fire never burns that hot"
"You just gotta keep reading Arthur's journal to find out," he said before chomping down on the kobolds to get their magic stone.
"Stingy ass"
"I heard that"
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"Hey Regis why did it get really quiet all of a sudden"
"Now that you mention it, it has gotten quiet"
RAHHHHHHHH
I didn't have time to think before I felt myself being flung into the wall hitting my head pretty hard. My ears were ringing. My head felt like it was gonna split open and my vision was blurry. But I knew I needed to move. Rolling to the side I narrowly dodged whatever attack me.
RAHHHHHHHHH
Whatever was trying to kill me sounded angry. Through my blurry vision, I saw purple hitting something brown.
"Be-
Seeing the purple flame die down and a blurry brown object barreling towards me I used flashbang. It seemed to stun the creature and I was finally able to get my sight back. Standing in front of me at nearly six feet tall was a Minotaur.
"What the hell you're not supposed to be here"
"Bell run"
"I can't there's a chance it could hurt someone else"
The Minotaur then looked me directly in the eyes. It was pissed. He blew steam out of his nose and faced me. It gave out a roar before it charged at me and swung its landform weapon. Thinking quickly I activated static void. Freezing time right before I was hit. Feeling the strain it was already taking on my broken body. I barely moved out of the hit before unfreezing time. Now I was at its side. Quickly pulling back my bowstring. I fired an arrow directly into the side. The arrow sunk and burned through the flesh. Thank the gods it was made out of pure mana.
The Minotaur then backhanded me and I slammed into yet another wall. Dropping my bow this time my vision went hazy yet again. The Minotaur seeing my weakened state slowly approached me. I then saw a purple blur jump up and bite its eyes out. The Minotaur threw Regis off. Before using its nose to sniff me out. Regis wasn't done yet as he tore off a chunk of the Minotaur's heel.
I Rolled out of the way of a swing of blind fury. I heard the wall shatter behind me. My vision cleared as I unsheathed my knife. The Minotaur couldn't see me but it could smell me. Activating my lighting magic I increased my speed. I appeared right behind the Minotaur and dragged my knife down its back. I roared in pain and threw a backhand. I ducked. feeling the force fly over me. I then sprung up and stabbed it in the mouth. Quickly moving I dodged another swing. I then cast firestorm and a wave of flames engulfed the Minotaur. Taking a deep breath I started to walk over to my bow before being thrown back into another wall dropping my knife.
My legs were weak. Arms numb. My head hurt beyond belief. I could barely see in front of me but I saw Regis bite off a chunk of its hand before being slammed against a wall multiple times before dropping him. Seeing the Minotaur get closer and closer I raised my hand up and shot multiple lighting bolts at it. They bounced off and only served to piss him off as he got closer and closer. I blinked. My vision became clear once more. The Minotaur raised its fist once again ready to end my life. Before a sword cut through it splitting it in half.
"Oh my god are you ok," a woman asked. She had long red hair that reached down to her back. Her eyes were a light green with worry in them. Her face although beautiful was contorted in concern. She was wearing a silver chest plate with shoulder guards and gauntlets.
"Peachy" I croaked out.
"Alise we're you able to kill it," a female elf said. She had long blonde hair with sky blue eyes. She wasn't wearing any armor instead she wore a white short-sleeved shirt with what I hoped wasn't her underwear. She had three weapons. One was a wooden sword the other two were short swords.
"I was but it nearly killed this adventurer"
"Nah I had him on the ropes," I said before a coughing fit happened. "Regis you better not be dead over there you mutt" I croaked out.
"In your dreams brat," Regis said as he stood up. He walked over to me like he wasn't just slammed into a wall like 10 times.
"You were fine this whole time"
"I knew they were coming," he said and I could practically hear the smile on his face.
"You're a dick"
"That's for calling me a stingy ass"
"Um did that dog just talk," the woman named Alise asked?
"Yes, he's my bond. As you can see he's a bonafide asshole"
"Yeah love you too buddy" Regis sarcastically said.
"Alise his head is bleeding," the elven woman said.
"Oh yeah I did take a few hits there" I joked. Might have a concussion as well.
The eleven woman women then crouched next to me and began to chant. A green glow came from her hand and I started to feel better.
"Noah heal," she said finishing the chant.
"Nice magic you got a mana core," I asked feeling a bit better.
"I do"
"Neat so do I"
"You suck at making small talk," Regis said.
"Shut up Regis," I said hitting him on the head. Which resulted in him biting my arm.
"Hehe," we stopped fighting when we heard the giggling and turned to see Alise laughing at us.
"She's laughing at you Prince Charming," Regis said having let go of my arm.
"One of these days," I said to myself. I pushed myself off the ground my body not aching as much. "Well thank you for your help Alise and-
"Ryu"
"Right. Thank you for your help Alise and Ryu I probably would've died without your help" I said as I shook Alise's hand. I turned and faced Ryu. "I'd shake your hand but I know elves are stingy about people touching them"
"Well someone's well-versed in cultures" Alise teased.
"Let's just say I had a grandpa teach me a lot about women"
"Don't mention that I still have nightmares" Regis said.
"Oh yeah poor you I was nine and he went into detail"
I heard Alise laugh again and I had to admit it was a cute laugh. Cute laugh? What the hell am I saying?
"You guys are funny," she said a smile still on her face.
"Well thank you both again for your help"
"It's no problem it's what justice demanded," Alise said. I felt shock and an urge to run but I suppressed it. I then bid my goodbyes and made the journey back to the surface.
Neither Regis nor I said a word until we were home at the blue pharmacy. I opened the door and saw both Miach and Nazha kissing behind the counter.
"Called it," Regis said startling the two