Wandering Lower to the Safe Zone
"You are kidding me… This isn't funny anymore. I mean what the Hell!" Welf hated this moment right now.
"Hey, blame these damn cow monsters for showing up at a fucking timing like this!" Risty angered at this too.
Bell's Party are now faced with several large Minotaurs, bigger than the ones Bell faced in the past, are coming towards them with their own big stone weapons to crush those foolish adventurers for coming into their territory.
"Looks like the one option we have is to fight them." Leina said.
"I'm pretty sure with the states you guys are in, you all might only be able to fight off against one or two of them." Menace pointed out due to their condition.
"Thanks for the vote of courage, Menace." Lili growled a bit. She really didn't want to fight those monsters right now.
"Leina, can you protect the others by yourself right now?" Bell asked.
"I think so, I can feel some of my strength returning though only for defense." Leina believed as she moves herself from Risty and got into her fighting stance.
"In that case, I'm gonna have to put in my own weight to help you stay alive." Risty volunteered to help protect the Party.
"Thank you, I appreciate that." Leina thanked, feeling grateful for Risty's help because she doesn't really know if she could do this by herself.
"Alright, I'm going in!" Bell charged forward to start his fight with the Minotaurs.
He goes after the one in the front as the bull monster tries to strike him down with its stone weapon, but Bell dodges that and landed a large cut on the left side of its body and cutting off its left arm then goes on to slashing more on the Minotaur making it bleed hard from those deep cuts.
Bell screams a little to perform one last slash attack on the Minotaur with his two knives causing the monster to fall and die.
Bell picks up the stone weapon as the other Minotaurs are coming at Bell to attack him all at once.
"Look out! One Minotaur is coming at us!" Lili alerted, seeing one Minotaur charging at the tired Party members.
"Must've snuck around, cheeky bastards." Risty growled.
"I'll handle this one!" Leina said as she charges at the incoming Minotaur.
Leina dodges one attempt strike from the bull monster and jumps toward the monster strong with one thrust that pierced right through almost like a Dragon Tail attack only weaken, but it got the job done.
Then Bell swings the weapon while it's glowing from his Argonaut skill and swung his weapon so strong that he destroyed all the Minotaurs in one swing.
"Holy shit, they're both strong!" Menace shocked.
"Damn, this guy really did beat a Minotaur when he was only Level One." Welf impressed.
"Same can be said about Leina, her strength is nothing to be scoff at." Risty grinned at the young blonde Adventurer.
"If only I was more helpful." Mirim panted, being scared this entire time while Bell and Leina are risking their lives to protect them.
"Don't you worry about a thing; you can help by staying alive and helping us get to that safe zone." Risty stated with a smirk, trying to help cheer up the girl in the bikini armor.
Mirim gave the bandit woman a nod knowing that she was right about this being the only thing she could do and will help carry them to the safe zone if one of them can't move anymore.
"Master Bell! Are you okay?" Lili asked as she runs over to the white hair boy who fell on his knees.
"I'm fine, just exhausted." Bell said.
"I'm afraid you'll only have a short time to rest, I say about a minute and then we keep moving." Leina feared that more monsters might be coming for them.
"Make it 40 seconds, can't waste any more time than what we already have." Risty decided to lessen that time.
But then a Hellhound came charging at them to devour their flesh only for Menace to step in.
"Royal Thunder!" Menace casted an attack spell that brought down a purple lightning bolt from above and struck the wolf monster killing it.
"Whoa, you got a monster on your own!" Mirim surprised.
"And that was quick a spell you used too." Welf commented.
"Thank you, but the downside of this spell is that it can only attack one monster at a time and needs about five seconds to recharge. You can see the problem when being sworn by monsters almost constantly." Menace explained.
"I can understand that those monsters wouldn't let us have time to rest up to catch our breath." Welf nodded.
"Even so, we have to keep moving. We have to make it to the safe zone." Lili said.
Menace turns around having her own private thoughts on what she just did and looking at herself about the spell she used.
"(Can't believe I had I used my power like that. Oh well, not like this will change anything from my plan.)" Menace thought looked at Bell.
"(Oh yes, Bell Cranel… You're going to make a wonderful slave.)" Menace thought giggled with a grin.
(Nighttime, Outside the Dungeon)
Hestia, wearing a little disguise, is in front of the Dungeon with three of Take's Familia members along with Hermes and Asfi, Echidna and Melpha are with them as well.
"Alright, everyone ready?" Hestia asked.
"Ready." They answered together.
"Good, then let's go find Bell and his party." Hestia ordered.
"Wait, who is that?" Mikoto spotted a lone figure walking towards them.
This person is none other than Ryuu who works as a waitress at Hostess of Fertility. But she is now wearing a completely different outfit, consisting of a green flower-shaped hood, a white sleeveless top underneath, and green bloomers. She also wears a pair of long, brown gloves and boots with a white sash around her waist where she keeps her wooden sword and a pair of short swords. When keeping her identity, a secret, she covers her nose and mouth with a green mask.
"Why is she here?" Hestia asked surprise, seem to know who that is.
"Don't fret, she's here to help." Hermes informed with a thumbs up.
"The more the merrier as they say." Echidna commented.
"As long as we all believe in the strength of our hearts while being watch from Heaven itself, we will find them!" Melpha believed strongly.
"We certainly will!" Hestia nodded, believing in that fully.
"Hang on, Bell, Leina, and everyone in your party! We're on our way!" Hestia declared as they march towards the Dungeon.
"Such a shame it's too late I couldn't ask Cattleya to come with us." Echidna said, looking in the direction of Cattleya's blacksmith shop.
"Because she was an Adventurer known as the Giant Slayer?" Melpha asked curiously.
"There's that and she would hope to see Mirim in one piece with the armor she made, but I just remember that she still has her done to watch over." Echidna explained as she shrugs.
"And remember to stick close to us since this is going to be your first time in the Dungeon." Echidna advised.
"Very well, please guide me through the danger of the Dungeon." Melph requested kindly.
(Down to Floor 13)
The rescue team made their way down to Floor 13 and as expected, some monsters are coming to kill them such as several rabbit and wolf ones though they are easily dealt with by Ryuu doing up-close combat and Asfi doing some distance with her own tools.
"They fought those monsters so well!" Melpha amazed.
"Yes, it was amazing." Chigusa agreed with the nun.
"They finish them off in mere seconds." Mikoto surprised, seeing them fight so strong like that.
"Let's go." Ryuu said, the area has been cleared of monsters, for now.
"Asfi Al Andromeda, a gifted item creator. Her second name is known as Perseus." Ouka explained on what he knows about the glasses wearing young woman.
"Is she really that good? She's like… the wind." Mikoto commented, wondering to herself if she could be strong and swift like that.
The group continue moving again going through the path that Bell's party might've taken when they were here, hoping to find some clues about what happened to them until they stumble a giant hole with some rocks outside.
"I don't remember being a hole there." Ouka surprised.
"Could it have been a cave in?" Melpha asked.
"No, doesn't look it to me. I think it was more like someone made that hole to go further down." Echidna believed.
"Going further down? But why would they do that?" Ouka asked.
"Because that's would have been the only logical thing to do consider some of their equipment is here. It's what I would've done." Ryuu spotted a few items that may have belonged to Bell's group.
"Yes, which also means they have gone for the safe zone on Floor 18. The Dungeon floors have several vertical shafts, they must've realized that going down would be wiser than going up." Asfi stated.
"That sounds risky and dangerous." Mikoto commented.
"Maybe so, but those two just started their first adventure. So, I'm sure they wanted to move forward." Ryuu said, referring to Bell and Leina about seeing this through until they get to the safe zone.
"Oh, I can see where you're coming from." Hermes understood that.
"Me too, then we should be able to meet up with them down there." Hestia nodded.
"(Bell, Leina, you and the others… Please be okay.)" Hestia thought prayed for their safety.
(With Bell's Group)
Mirim pushed herself to kill one Hellhound while Welf used the Will-o-Wisp spell on another Hellhound to take it out, but Welf fell unconscious.
"Welf! Welf! Are you okay?" Bell asked worry, but the red hair man isn't responding.
"Crap, he's gone Mind Down." Bell realized the condition he's in now.
"Same with Lili, she just passed out." Risty informed while carrying the little girl in her arms and threw the big backpack away.
"I hope she doesn't mind that we leave her backpack behind." Leina said, but she knows better that they have to stay strong to move forward no matter what.
"She'll get over it." Risty shrugged.
"Come on, the next pit should be over there." Leina said, leading the group.
They walk for a few minutes or so until they found the pit, they look down to see that it looks safe enough to slide down and did so as they were going fast and brace themselves for impact upon reaching the 17th floor.
"We made it!" Leina panted.
"I'm not quite sure if you all have enough energy to keep on going." Menace concerned.
"We have to… Otherwise we'll be monster food for the fuckers down here." Risty pointed out the worst thing that could happen to them.
"She's right… No matter what, we have to push onward!" Bell determined strongly.
(With Hestia's Group)
Hestia and the others are going along the path on their way down to Floor 18 where the safe zone is, and hopefully where they'll find Bell's Party there resting as well.
Hestia and Hermes are a little far back from the others because of them being needed to be protected, and this also gives Hestia the chance to have a talk with Hermes.
"Don't you think it's about time you explain yourself? I still don't quite understand exactly why you want to help Bell so much." Hestia asked.
"Aw, I already told you, silly girl. I'm just wanting to lend a hand to"
"I'm not stupid, okay!" Hestia cut off Hermes' lies, knowing this guy wants something else from this.
Hermes can tell this chick isn't going to take anything else from him unless it's the truth and it probably wouldn't hurt to tell her a little truth about it, just as long as he doesn't reveal all of it.
"Alright, you win. There's a certain someone out there who's requested that I keep an eye on your Bell for a little while." Hermes revealed.
"A certain someone?" Hestia surprised, she didn't think Hermes would be taking orders from someone, and the only one he does take orders from has been long dead for decades now.
"Precisely, but of course, I didn't come all the way down here just for the sake of orders. I too have a personal interest in that boy as well. I would like to witness his own strength with my own eyes, Hestia." Hermes stated his own reason for doing this too.
"I want to find out if he could truly carry on the burden of the age." Hermes said as he continues walking.
Echidna's ear twitches upon hearing what Hermes said about wanting to see what Bell is truly capable of, having heard the entire conversation has got the dark elf woman to become curious about Bell a little more.
"Carry on the burden of the age. Quite a tall order." Echidna giggled.
"Did you say something, Lady Echidna?" Mikoto asked, thought she just heard something.
"Oh, pay no attention to me. I was just thinking about feeding Keltan soon, can't let my dear friend get hungry." Echidna said as Keltan went up her arm.
Mikoto gasp in both freaking out of the snake and her face blushing like crazy that her private part is expose, she quickly turns away and only focus on forward from now on.
"(Bell Cranel. Something tells me you and Leina are destined for something big.)" Echidna thought believed.
(With Bell's Group)
Bell and those who are still walking on their feet are going through a path that should lead them to the exit where Floor 18 is on the other side of that exit, though both Bell and Leina are feeling a bit more exhausted and held onto each other for support with the unconscious Welf still in Bell's right arm.
"Pardon me, but are we there yet?" Menace asked in a slight wincing tone.
"Shouldn't be long now. I hope…" Bell exclaimed.
But then they reached an area where they were hoping they wouldn't come across along the way though it looks like fate is playing a cruel joke to their situation right now.
"No, no, not this shitty place!" Risty cursed.
"What is this place?" Leina asked as she and Menace are confused of this too.
"This is… Great Wall of Lamentation!" Bell revealed the name of this place while feeling fear slowly consuming him.
"Sounds like this place s really bad." Menace commented.
"It is, this is where the Floor Boss lives. The Loki Familia took care of it, but I fear that it's gonna spawn any minute now." Risty said.
"Then we run… NOW!" Leina shouted as she and Bell ran together.
During the run, the Floor Boss known as Goliath started to spawn from the crystal wall which causes Menace to scream in fear and ran a little faster than others as she didn't want to get crush by the giant monster boss that is waking up.
"Keep running! Just keep running! Whatever you do! Keep running?!" Bell shouted.
"No shit, dumbass!" Risty shouted in rage while holding onto Lili tightly.
Risty turns her head to see that the Goliath lifts its right arm and tries to reach out toward the Party group to grab them, she hated that there was nothing they could do right now otherwise they're screwed if they try fighting that thing off.
"Royal Thunder!" Menace used her attack on the arm to stop the big hand from reaching them.
"Nice work, bitch!" Risty complimented.
"Everyone! Jump!" Bell and Leina shouted.
The entire group jump into the exit where there is also a slide down just like the last one, Bell and Leina hold onto each other dearly not wanting to let go and pray to the Heavens that they'll be able to make it out alive.
They exit the sliding tunnel crashing onto a grassy ground, the adrenaline in their bodies have finally cease and collapse on the ground though Bell and Leina saw a pair of blue legs.
"Please, help them… Bell and my friends, please help… them…" Leina mustered the words before her visions went dark and fell unconscious.
"Leina…" Bell said exhausting before going down unconscious too, all the while they're hands are holding onto each other.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
Well, it was a tough trip through the middle floors and were almost gonna fight a Floor Boss until they were able to finally arrive at Floor 18, and it looks like they're about to get some help from someone who is already there.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!