Bell POV
"Alright Bell here are the maps of the middle floors are you sure you're ready? It's awfully early for you to head down there" Eina said handing me the maps. I chuckled at her concern since she wasn't acting scared of me.
"Don't worry I'll be fine. Got another level two and a level three in my party so we'll be fine" I replied. "Alright just come back safe and sound, no dying in the dungeon" I laughed before responding. "Don't worry if there's one place I won't die in. It'll be the dungeon" I replied.
I then bid Eina farewell and headed to the fountain to meet up with everyone else. As I was walking I ran into Welf who handed me a wrist gauntlet and a sword. The wrist gauntlet was black but it's what Welf told me it did that really excited me.
"Alright so we put this here" he began putting the gauntlet under my wrist. "Alright now close your fist" he finished. I did what he said and saw an orange blade come out when I did. I opened my fist and the blade went back in.
"Holy shit that's pretty cool" I excitedly said. I saw Welf smile in appreciation rubbing the back of his head. "Thanks, man I thought you would like it. Also, I still have some of the Minotaur horn left so I can make two more if you want" he said. I thought about it for a moment before responding. "Yeah, but can you make them for Haruhime and Lili? That way they'll have some protection for close quarters" I asked. He put his hand to his chin and thought for a second. "Yeah I can do that I just need to measure their arms and I'll get to work" Welf replied nodding.
He then handed me the sword. The handle of the sword was black with no crossguard. It had a black scabbard covering the blade. My curiosity was peaked as I recognized the design of the blade. I took the blade out of the scabbard and my eyes widened in shock. The teal blade shone in the sunlight. It was perfectly weighted and light just like Dawn's ballad.
"Welf what material did you use to make this?" I curiously asked. "I don't know. When I left the pharmacy that day there was this rock there along with the schematic. So not knowing this material I took it to Hephaestus for help" he then nudged my shoulder. "Thanks for that by the way. If you hadn't asked for a sword I might've not gotten the chance to work with her" he said.
I laughed at his thanks as we started walking again. "What can I say professional matchmaker" I joked shrugging my shoulders. I then attached the sword to my right hip and we continued walking. "So think of a name for your sword yet," Welf asked.
"I have a few names but haven't decided yet. Did you name the blade in my gauntlet" I asked. "Yeah, I call them hidden blades. You know since they're hidden" he joked. "Names not half bad. Where'd you get the idea" I replied. "Well, I thought to myself what would be cool and useful? Then I remember reading a story about secret societies fighting a shadow war and one side used a hidden blade. Then It just kinda clicked and I started working" he explained.
I then noticed the sword wrapped in white cloth on his back. How I didn't notice it before I don't know. Maybe it was because of my new weapons. Or I simply didn't get a good look at him beforehand. But I could feel the magic radiating off it.
"I thought you didn't make magic swords?" I asked as we kept walking. He let out a sigh before he spoke. "I don't. I made this to join the Hephaestus familia and I never used it" he responded. "So why now?" I asked. He didn't speak for a moment as it looked like he was trying to come up with a response.
"Because we're going to the middle floors... And they're more dangerous than the upper floors... So I want to be able to keep my friends safe" his response was quiet and it took him a while to get the words out. But once he did I felt a smile spread across my face.
"So we have the same goal I see," I said. He turned and looked at me. Then smiled. "Yeah I guess we do" he paused and then smiled. "However some of the girls are after your heart," he said nudging my side. I rolled my eyes but let out a chuckle as a response.
"Master Bell. Master Welf about time you two showed up" Lili said as she stood atop the fountain. "Don't worry lil bit not late" Welf said as I snorted. "Lili will refrain from a comeback as this situation is serious," Lili said. Welf nodded his head in agreement and got serious.
"Sword looks awfully familiar," Regis said through our mental link. "We'll talk about it when we get back. Right now we need to focus" I replied. Regis didn't say anything else but I knew he agreed.
"Alright, so our formation will be miss Lena and Master Welf in the vanguard. Master Bell in the middle guard while miss Aisha and miss Haruhime will be in the rearguard. Regis is free to go wherever he likes and Lili will also join the rear guard" Lili said explaining our formation. It was our normal one but it would be tighter than usual since the middle floors were vastly different.
"Regis you stay near Lili while she gets the monster stones," I told him. He said nothing but nodded his head. Regis and Lili had grown close this past week as Regis took it upon himself to make sure she felt comfortable and safe around us. I don't know why he did it but I guess that he feels bad for Lili and wants to make sure nothing like that happened to her again.
"Alright everyone make sure your equipment is ready. before we head down" Lili ordered. Lili then began fishing through her bag checking the potions and whatever else she had in there. Welf made sure his swords were sharp and sturdy. Lena gave her scimitar a few swings while Haruhime tugged her bowstring. Aisha didn't need to check her equipment as we were only going down to the 13th floor and could easily kill the monsters down there with her bare hands. We all had our salamander wool on and I have to say it looks pretty stylish.
"I have to say that salamander wool really brings out your eyes," Aisha said walking up to me. I glanced at her before I laughed. "That was corny," I said. She laughed before speaking. "Can't blame a girl for trying"
"You trying to get me back for that sunlight comment," I asked referring to when I said the sunlight made her look pretty. "Maybe. Maybe not. You'll just have to wait and see" she said shrugging her shoulders. I smiled and rolled my eyes at her behavior. "Maybe I'll have another nightmare so I can see sunlight Aisha again" I joked. She laughed before responding. "That wouldn't be so bad," she said shrugging her shoulders.
Before I could let out a response I felt someone glare at me. Turning in the direction of the glare I saw another person wearing the same uniform as the last person. Although this time I could see the person pretty well. It was a woman with red hair and yellow eyes. Her weapon was a short sword that resembled one for fencing. Judging by the magical energy coming off her I could tell her mana core was a light orange. When she saw me staring at her she took off and disappeared into the crowd on the street.
"Looks like you have an admirer" Aisha joked. "Not another one" I sighed. Both of us knew that she was no mere admirer but we had to play it off as such. Our full focus needed to be on the middle floors.
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Well, Alfia was right about the middle floors being vastly different. I swung my replica of dawn's ballad slicing off the head of a hellhound. I quickly spun on my heel and took out three Al mirages. Once the fighting had stopped we decided to take a break while Lili continued to harvest the monster stones.
"So greenhorns middle floors must feel a lot harder than the upper floors," Aisha said as she sat on a rock. "It is a workout" Welf muttered as he sat down panting. "Lili will admit there is more monster than she would like" Lili added. Everyone then turned to me for my opinion. "I'm not tired but there are a lot more monsters than I've dealt with before" I admitted. Welf then gave me a look of disbelief. "Damn man you got some stamina," he said.
"Why'd you have to say that" I groaned as I heard Aisha laugh mischievously. "Hey I bet no one else realized this but the Al mirage looks like Bell" Regis cut in. Everyone then took a closer look at the Al mirages and then at me.
"None of you say a goddamn word," I said. "Alright, whatever you say, bunny boy," Welf said. I grabbed a small pebble and threw it at him. It hit him in the side causing him to laugh. Everyone else laughed too but I didn't know if it was at the comparison or me and Welf's antics.
We then continued deeper into the 13th floor. The deeper we went the more and more nervous I felt. Something wasn't right. The dungeon was behaving exactly how it was supposed to be. No irregulars or more monsters than usual. Just normal.
When we reached an area where a gorge was at our backs is when the monsters came back. With our backs to a metaphorical wall, we had no choice but to fight. The monsters were many but the variety was few. Just hellhounds and Al mirages. We kept fighting and fighting but they just kept coming. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw them. Haruhime's friends were running away from no doubt more monsters. However one of them. Chigusa was injured. "Aisha take over" I ordered. I began to run to the Takemikzuchi familia clearing a path from us to them. When I got to them I summoned a wall of earth behind them cutting off that path of the dungeon.
"Come with me and I'll get you out of here," I told Ouka. He nodded and he and his familia began to follow me back. We rejoined with my familia and Lili gave out orders. "We need to move before we get overwhelmed. Everyone head to that passageway" Lili said pointing out the passageway. We then started to run killing monsters along the way.
We made it into the passageway monsters close on our heels. We crossed a bridge dangling over a void and when we entered into a cave we saw multiple red eyes looking at us. We tried to turn around but we were cut off on that side as well.
"Shit we're cut off," Welf said reaching for his magic sword. He didn't get the chance to use it as the dungeon started to shake and the ground beneath us opened up.
Miach POV
"Another earthquake," I said to myself. "Miach it's been a while I'm worried about Bell and the others," Nazha said.
"No need to worry my dear. Regis is with them so he'll be able to get them out if things go wrong" I gently said trying to ease her worries. She nodded her head and got back to work.
Stay safe Bell
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Bell POV
There was dust and debris everywhere. I could see everyone was fine. Ouka was over Chigusa protectively while Mikoto was trying to stand up holding her head. I pushed the rubble off me feeling no worse for wear other than my chest hurting.
"Ah shit" I heard Welf curse. I turned and saw a piece of debris on top of his foot. I stumbled over to him and pushed it off. I took a look at his leg and knew it was broken. "Welf don't move your leg is broken," I told him. I then made my way to Lili who landed on her backpack. If it weren't for the potential danger we were in I'd laugh at the comical sight.
"Lili I need a potion," I said turning her on her side so she could stand up. "One-second master Bell" Lili muttered shaking her head. She started digging in her bag and handed me one. I then stumbled back to Welf and put my hands on his leg.
"Now Welf I'm not gonna lie to you but this is gonna hurt. A lot." I told him. "Just do it and get it over with" he panted. I then set his leg back into place causing him to yelp in pain. I then poured the potion on his leg and it started to heal. "See all better" I joked. He let out a wry chuckle before propping himself on the wall. "Go check on everyone else I'll be fine" he panted. I did what he said as Lili took my place next to him. I saw Aisha digging around in rubble before she pulled Lena out of it who coughed.
"Thanks, Aisha it was heavier than it looked" Lena coughed. "Don't mention it have you seen Haruhime" Aisha asked. Lena said nothing but pointed to the Takemikzuchi familia. Haruhime was helping with Chigusa's wound pouring a potion on the landform axe that was in her shoulder.
Mikoto came up behind her and started checking Ouka for wounds even when he insisted he was fine. I then turned my head to Aisha who was walking towards me. "And how are you doing," she asked. "Chest hurts a bit but nothing I can deal with. What about you" I replied "I'm a level three a fall like that won't hurt me. But those monsters almost overwhelmed us. Even for my level I probably would've died" she explained.
Regis then walked up to us. "Did some looking around we're on the 15th floor" he said. "Damn quite a fall then," Aisha said. She then turned to me. "So vice captain what's the plan," she asked teasing me about my rank.
"Well everyone's tired and it's too risky to head back up. So the only way is down" I replied. She nodded her head in agreement. "Not the worst idea considering the circumstances" she then looked at everyone. "Especially since we're all battered and bruised"
"Let's take a breather for a few minutes then start heading down. Regis keep watch" I ordered. Aisha then sat down and I sat next to her while Regis watched the entrance to this cave-like structure we were in. We sat there for a few moments trying to catch our breaths. "Not how you expected this to go huh?" Aisha asked. I chuckled. "Would you believe me if I said that I was worried about everything being normal for once" I replied. Aisha laughed at that. "Yes. Yes, I would" she said.
We sat there for another minute before I spoke. "So ever had any adventure like this before," I asked. She smiled and shook her head. "No this one's a first" she then turned to me. "Never a dull moment with you," she said.
I laughed "you're starting to sound like Nazha" I joked. "Someone has to keep an eye on you when she's not around" she joked back. I rolled my eyes. "I can take care of myself you know," I said.
"That remains to be seen" she replied. I then pushed myself up to my feet. "Alright time to move we've sat here long enough," I said. I offered my hand to Aisha to help her up which she grabbed. I then made sure everyone was good to go before coming up with a formation.
"Alright everyone listen up. Ouka and I will take the vanguard. Lena you and Welf will take the middle guard so you can help him walk. Regis you're gonna stick with them make sure nothing sneaks up on the two. Haruhime you'll carry Chigusa while Mikoto and Aisha protect you in the rearguard. Lili, you'll also take the middle guard so that way you'll be safest along with our injured. Any questions" I said. I saw Ouka raise his hand.
"What exactly is the plan here? I mean most of our supplies are gone and we're battered and broken" he asked. "Plan is to head down to the 18th-floor safe zone. That way we can rest and hopefully resupply. The Astraea familia should be down there since they're on an expedition and they'll hopefully help us" I said. Ouka nodded his head in agreement before handing Chigusa to Haruhime.
I then walked up to Welf who was looking sad. I offered him my hand to help him up. He stood on one foot as the other was still hurting even with the potion's help. When I threw his arm over my shoulder to walk him to Lena he stopped me.
"Bell" I turned my head to look at him. "If I start to slow you down leave me behind" he grunted as he tried to put weight on his left leg. "What?"
"If I slow you down just leave me behind" he then reached for his magic sword. "I got one shot in this and I'll use it to take as many monsters down with me as I can" he coughed. I then smacked him across the back of the head. "Ow. The hell was that for" he said rubbing where I hit. "Don't pull this self-sacrifice bullshit. You're my friend and I'll be damned if you're left behind. Hell if anyone's pulling the sacrifice play it'll be me. Now I'm gonna take you over to Lena and we'll pretend this conversation didn't happen alright" I told him feeling tears sting my eyes at the thought of Welf dying.
He looked at me shocked before he smiled. "You really are one of the good ones. Alright, forget I said that" he then handed me the magic sword. "And give this to the big guy. Careful it only has one charge so use it wisely" he said as I handed him off to Lena. She had been coughing nonstop which had me worried a bit.
"Don't worry boss just some dust in my lungs I'll be fine" she said seeing the worried look on my face. I nodded at her as I started making my way to Ouka. However, a sharp pain shot through my chest causing me to stumble. I leaned against the wall for a second before pushing myself off it. No one saw what happened and for that I was grateful.
"Regis can you hear me," I asked through our mental link. "Yes" was his reply. "I need you to make me a promise," I said. "Why don't I like the sound of this," he asked. "Because you won't. I need you to make sure everyone reaches the 18th floor in case something happens to me" I said. "Bell" I heard him say. However, his voice sounded worried.
I chuckled. "You sound worried dog" I joked then turned serious. "Promise me" I repeated. He was quiet for a moment before replying. "Fine but after that, I'm coming back to find your stupid ass" he then cut our mental link. I let out a sad smile before getting rid of it. I then walked up to Ouka and handed him the magic sword.
"Careful it only has one charge so use it wisely," I said. He nodded his head. "Got it. Is this really a magic sword?" He asked. "Yup. However, don't go asking Welf for any he hates them" I told him. "Got it" he put the sword in his back. "And thanks for helping us," he said. "Don't thank me yet we're not out of danger" I told him. I then looked behind me and saw that everyone was in position. "Alright let's move out!" I ordered.
I then sheathed my sword and took out my knife. We then began our death march to floor 18.
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We were making steady progress. It had been about two hours and we had already made it to the 16th floor. We had encountered lots of monsters but Ouka and I were able to take care of them. With my speed and his strength, we worked well together. However each time we fought my chest kept hurting. Did I break a rib and not realize it? Doesn't matter as long as it isn't life-threatening I can still fight.
"Hey, Ouka how long have you been an adventurer," I asked as we trekked along the path. He glanced at me before facing forward again. "Now really the time to be asking," he asked his eyebrow raised. "Well, what else are we gonna do when we're not fighting" I replied. He shrugged his shoulders and replied. "About two years give or take. I've heard you've only been doing this about a month now yet you hold yourself as if you've fought for years" he said.
"That's because I have. Had about seven years' worth of training before I came to Orario" I explained. He then looked behind him at Regis. "And I'm guessing that's when you found your bond," he asked. "Nah Regis has been with my family for a while. My dad asked him to watch over me and he's done so ever since" I replied telling a half-truth. "One loyal bond"
ROARRRRRR
I went to reply but couldn't as I was tackled into a wall by a Minotaur. I felt one of its horns impale me in a gap in my armor. Thinking quickly I closed my fist and activated the hidden blade. The blade went into the Minotaur's throat killing it and causing it to fall to the ground. Its horn came out of my side and I fell to my knees clutching my side. I could feel the blood seeping out of my wound and getting my hand wet.
"BELL!" I heard Ouka yell. I used fire magic to cauterize my wound and to stop the bleeding temporarily. "I'm fine" I groaned. I then pushed myself off the ground and stumbled towards the rear guard. "Aisha take over" I ordered. She said nothing as she did but she looked at me with concern in her eyes. I gave her a smile telling her I'm alright. We then switched positions with me being right. Behind Haruhime who glanced at me with worry.
"You don't need to worry Haruhime. You've seen me have worse" I joked. She then smiled at me and looked forward again.
"Do you need any help walking sir Bell?" Mikoto asked. I glanced at her before responding. "Nah I'm fine just a little hole in the side nothing to worry about" I joked. It didn't seem to land well with Mikoto as she looked even more worried. "Sorry I normally joke in tense situations. I'm fine as long as I can walk I'll be fine"
We then continued our march to the 17th floor. When we reached the entrance I heard stomping coming from a side path to our left. My body moved on its own as I pushed Haruhime out of the way. I was then tackled by a Minotaur into a landform railing overlooking a cavern.
Before anyone else could come and help me more Minotaurs appeared and began attacking the party. "Regis remember your promise," I said through our mental link. A sea of purple and orange. engulfed the path to our left as the party finished up the rest of the Minotaurs. Ouka had used the magic sword.
Crack
The railing I was slammed into was breaking under the weight. Seeing as I had no other choice I stabbed the Minotaur in the neck with my knife as the railing broke. If I was going down I was taking this bastard with me. The railing then broke from behind me and the Minotaur and I fell.
"BELL!" I heard Aisha yell before everything went dark.
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Aisha POV
"Damnit BELL!" I yelled down into the cavern hoping he could hear me. I then turned back around. "Alright everyone keep moving we're almost to the 17th floor and then we'll be one step closer to the 18th now let's move it" I ordered. Everyone looked at me shocked and before anyone could say anything Regis spoke.
"Bell's alive and once I get you to safety I'll go and grab him," Regis said. I felt relief course through me but didn't show it. "You heard him now everyone get moving" I ordered as I took my position in the vanguard. We then started marching to the 17th floor. By this point, 4 hours had passed since we had fallen down two floors and everyone was close to exhaustion. But we had to keep going. Cutting down swarms of monsters was easy for me. My one concern was the boss room. Judging by the time since it was last slain we would make it to the 18th floor by a hair since it wouldn't spawn for another 3 hours.
After another 2 hours, we had made it to the boss's room. "Alright everyone listen up. The boss won't spawn for another hour so we'll be fine but once we make it out of this room we'll be on the 18th floor. After this, we'll rest and then go searching for Bell. Might even ask the Astraea familia for help. Understood" I heard shouts of agreement
We then walked through the boss room and I could see some people looking at the wall where the Goliath spawned almost like it would come out. After several tense moments, we made it off the 17th floor and onto floor 18.
When we arrived we saw some higher-level members from the Astraea familia preparing to kill the Goliath. Once everyone saw them most collapsed to the ground their exhaustion finally catching up with them. I took a seat by a rock so I could catch my breath.
"Girls the Goliath mission is postponed. These people need help" the redheaded captain said. I then looked towards the entrance to the 18th floor hoping Bell would come tumbling down. But that never happened.
"Don't worry Bell once I'm rested I'll come find you" I thought to myself before feeling dizzy and passing out.
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Bell POV
I pushed the Minotaur's body off me and dragged myself to a wall and propped myself against it. My back hurt a bunch since I landed on my bow and had a big ass cow land on me. The wound on my side had opened up again and blood was seeping out. I took a look at my legs and saw they were both mangled. I wouldn't be walking or fighting anytime soon.
"Ah, shit that doesn't look good," I thought to myself before wincing in pain. "Well looks like this is my grave" my mind then flashed to Aisha. "And I didn't even give her an answer. How unfair to her"
I then felt my vision grow blurry but I shook my head to get rid of it. Damn, I'm feeling lightheaded.
"Are you really gonna give up?" grandpa said. "In case you haven't noticed old man I'm kinda screwed" I replied.
"Why just because your legs are messed up. You have the means to fix them" he said sitting in front of me.
"We both know I can't control aether I'm not like Arthur" I replied. "I know you can't. But it doesn't mean you can't ask it for help. Remember the analogy about the bowl and the water"
"That analogy always confused the hell out of me"
"Me too. But don't try and control it. Try asking it for help. Come on Bell I know you can do it" he encouraged. I then activated realmheart and saw the mana particles and aether particles all around me. I then tried to beckon them to me. To help me. Yet they didn't move.
"You're still trying to control them Bell. Let go of that thought of control and ask it for help. Not demand it"
Following grandpa's advice I let the thought of control slip from my mind and tried to ask the aether for help. This time the purple particles started to move slowly but surely.
"Don't rush take your time" grandpa said. I listened to what he said and saw the aether particles touch my legs. A small purple glow surrounded my legs and after a few minutes, my legs were fixed. Realmheart then turned off all of a sudden before I could use it to patch the hole in my side.
"You're low on mana my boy. You'll have to make the trek to the 18th floor if you want that patched" gramps said. I sighed before I pushed myself up to my feet. I wobbled a little before steadying.
"I knew you could do it Bell I'm so proud of you," grandpa said standing up as well. "Thanks, gramps for everything" I felt tears sting in my eyes. "But you're not really here. Thank you for everything. I love you" I said seeing the floor beneath me have water droplets on it. Gramps then disappeared into nothingness and I resumed my journey.
The journey was long and hard as I couldn't fight so I had to hide. Slowly but surely I made progress. I don't know how much time had passed since I had fallen but I knew I was on the 17th floor. After a little while longer of marching I had finally reached the boss room and saw the entrance to floor 18. I stopped and pressed myself against the wall to catch my breath before I began the final leg of my journey. I don't know how much blood I lost but it was a lot as I was starting to feel lightheaded.
"Come on Bell just a little further," I said to myself. I pushed myself off the wall and began to stumble toward floor 18.
Crack crack
My heart sank to my stomach. The boss was spawning. Picking up the pace as fast as I could I desperately tried to get to the entrance. Rocks started falling all around me as the boss was getting closer and closer to getting out of his 'prison' once I reached the entrance of floor 18 the boss swung and hit the top of the entrance. Rocks started to fall all around me as I rolled down the ramp. I saw light appear at the end of the tunnel and I fell out of it and off the cliff. I hit multiple trees on the way down before I landed on the ground with a thud.
"Ow," I thought to myself. Waiting a minute to catch my breath I got to my feet and started walking. However, I had lost too much blood and it was a slow process. After taking maybe 100 steps I collapsed to the ground panting and light-headed.
"Bell! Bell!" I heard a female voice call to me. My vision was blurry but I could see orange and blonde hair and creamy skin before darkness overtook me.
Holy shit this was a long chapter. About 5300 hundred words. Now I know it doesn't compare to some fanfics with like 10k words per chapter but I don't really care.
Now Bell was in a precarious situation but survived as well as learned to use aether however it's very limited and slow.
Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed and if you have any questions feel free to ask.