A few moments earlier...

Bell and the king gazed at each other.

The king looked nothing like the cute bunny from before, his head reached one meter in heigh, the antlers added another fifty centimeter. His face became more beast-like, the wings grew a bit but Bell doubted that he could fly with those, it was more likely he used them to stabilize his jumps. The saber teeth had the same length as the Hestia Knife...blade and handle together.

"Rrrrrrr..."

The king moved slowly to the side and eyed Bell. No other person was in the area, Ryuu and Astrea had withdrawn. Ryuu wanted to help Bell, but she couldn´t bring herself to attack such a pure creature...as ferocious as it may be.

Astrea stood next to Ryuu. "I doubt this will a long fight, the king doesn´t want to kill or hurt Mr. Bell, I think he just wants to show dominance."

Bell took turns loosening and tightening his grip on the knifes, he watched the beast concentrated. The only warning he got was when the king crouched down minimally.

With a fierce roar, the beast leaped forward.

Bell blocked the attack from its teeth with his knifes, but the Wolpertinger jerked his head down and rammed his antlers into him. The sheer power of this attack let Bell stagger backwards.

He is so fast!

Bell already had lost his balance, as the beast hunched its body and pushed off with his hind legs. When Bell was pushed back, he rolled over. Thankfully Bell was in enough fights where he was thrown or beaten to the ground, he had trained with Ais more than one time how to roll over. The bunny did a somersault and the moment his feet touched the ground, he jumped onto Bell again. Bell refused to give up that easily, he blocked the teeth again, but this time he evaded the antler attack that came right after.

"Tsk.." The bunny...had just clicked its tongue...

Before the bunny could attack again, Bell jumped forward, his knifes raised. He didn´t intend to use the knifes to harm the bunny, it was a holy creature after all, but he would block any counter.
Unlike the bunnies teeth, Bell could use his knifes independently of each other. He thrust the Hestia Knife from above and Hakugen from below and wedged the antlers. They wrestled with each other,
but the bunny had the advantage of four legs on the ground. Before Bell would lose, he jumped back and delivered a kick to the bunnies head. It didn´t even squeak, just jumped after Bell again.

Again they clashed teeth and antler against the knifes. The speed of the bunny was no laughing matter, but Bell´s strong side was also speed.

Ryuu looked to Astrea from the side. "Can´t Bell just give up?"

"No...if the king truly sees this as a turf war...he would never accept Mr. Bell and you here if he loses... has to dominate him."

"What would happen..."

"He would probably attack you the moment one of you sets a foot in the mountains again."

So if Bell were to lose...Ryuu wouldn´t be able to see Astrea again...

Even when he was fighting, Bell heard what those two talked about.

If I lose, Ryuu will lose her goddess. Never!

Bell and the king circled each other in wait. The movements of the bunny when it was walking in this huge form, looked more like a Lygerfang than a bunny. Bell could see the claws on the front paws.

Think Bell, think!

Out of the corner of his eye, Bell saw the corpse of the dragon, it was the only big object in the area. So far the bunny used to jump onto Bell and kicked itself from the ground again if it missed.
Slowly but surely, it moved Bell in the direction of the corpse.

It wants to use the corpse as a stepping stone...

This way it could use new angles to attack.

The next time the bunny jumped, Bell rolled over, but this time in the opposite direction. He began to lure the bunny away from the corpse.

Come this way...

For a second Bell glanced over his shoulder, nothing else was in the area that might distract him.

When he looked forward again, he ducked out of reflex rather than conscious decision. The bunny missed him only by a few centimeters, it tried to use the minimum distraction.

I won´t win like that...

"Bell! His antlers! A King needs a crown!" Ryuu yelled from the distance.

The bunny and Bell were both panting as they continued their fight.

The antlers...that might be it...

Bell blocked the teeth again, he needed both knifes to do that.

Let´s give it a try.

He slashed with Hakugen at the antlers but nothing happened.

" ! Pure things can´t destroy each other!" Astrea gave him tips too.

Then how I am supposed to cut his antlers..

Hakugen couldn´t be more pure...and the Hestia Knife...

Wait...my knife is divine...not pure...

Bell was right with his thought, purity and divinity weren´t exactly similar. They were evil gods, but they were still gods, while purity repelled everything nastily.

.

A moment later, Bell was a little bit too slow and the teeth scratched his skin.

.

"This might be a problem..." Astrea frowned slightly.

"It´s just a scratch." Ryuu looked at her goddess.

"You know how a unicorns horn has the ability to neutralize poison ? They say the fangs of a Wolpertinger have the ability wake up the darkest desires in a creature, this way when evil shows itself,
the Wolpertinger gets stronger, they are the enemy of evil things."

"Dark desires...in Bell?"

"He will become victim to his most primitive and evil thoughts..."

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Badumm...Badumm...Badumm...

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The moment the teeth scratched his skin, Bell´s thoughts changed, they became more primal.

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His mind was filled with pictures of Ryuu.

Ryuu...

He saw her right before his eyes...those alluring hips...the dreamlike curve of her chest...

No! Stay focused Bell!

Her beautiful blue eyes...the inviting curve of her lips...

Aaaaargh! Stay focused me!

It was too much for him...he was a growing boy after all...he glanced at Ryuu.

Bell couldn´t handle these lewd thoughts, they were too much for his heart.

Focus...

He looked at Ryuu again.

Yes...he would love to get another lap pillow from her...he had enjoyed the softness of her thigh...he wanted to kiss her...

Aaaaaargh! Focus me!

He had to win this fight.

I will not lose in front of Ryuu!

"Daaaaaaaaaah!" With a wild scream, Bell jumped forward and rammed his knifes against the teeth again.

The bunny and Bell whirled around each other and hammered blow after blow against the other.

"They behave like fighting deer...it´s like... also fights a turf war..." Astrea looked worried.

"Bell...wha-"

In Bell´s head the thoughts ran wild, the scratch woke up an primitive urge in him.

If I lose, Ryuu will not be able to see Astrea again...I will lose Ryuu.

Dominate him! Don´t lose! Show her your strength!

.

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"You won´t win! If you win, Ryuu will not see her goddess again! I promised to never make her cry again!

Ryuu´s heart got warmer when she heard Bell´s shout.

.

Bell´s heart pounded like crazy, he just had to yell out those thoughts.

.

"I won´t let you...YOU WON`T TAKE RYUU FROM ME!" Bell screamed at the top of his lungs.

.

Poof!

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Despite the situation Ryuu became red and her heart skipped a beat.

"This is his deepest desire? This is what counts as a "corrupt thought" in Mr. Bell´s mind ?" Astrea smirked, looked at Ryuu and covered her mouth with her the fingertips of her left hand.

"You´re a lucky girl Ryuu."

"Hawa..."

It was beyond embarassing for her to hear that exclamation yelled out so loud...especially standing right next to her goddess...

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Gong...

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Bell´s fighting style became more ferocious. Again and again they butted heads against each other...one time Bell literally headbutted the bunny. It was Ryuu´s first time seeing Bell so wild.

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Gong...

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Bell and the bunny jumped away from each other, both gasped heavily.

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Gong...

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Particles of light started to gather around Bell´s knifes...he seemed to charge his Argonaut skill unconsciously. When the bunny saw what Bell was doing he pawed the ground with his front paw and bared his teeth.

Ryuu´s and Astrea´s eyes widened as particles of light started to gather around the bunnies teeth too. .
"Wha-...it copies Bell!"

Gong...

Bell crouched in a sprinter pose and the bunny ducked down too.

Gong...

"DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" .
"WRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

Both kicked the ground and jumped at each other, right when their weapons shone in white light.

"Bell!"

The bunny tried to ram his teeth at Bell, he countered with Hakugen. With a fierce screech, the teeth and the knife they scraped on top of each other. Bell countered with only one knife this time.
Ryuu saw him swinging the Hestia Knife from the side. He wouldn´t kill the bunny wouldn´t he?

"Deeyaah!"

The Hestia Knife swung around, the bunny noticed the danger too late. With a fierce slash, Bell cut off both antlers a few centimeters above the head.

"!"

With a scream the bunny staggered back, it´s antlers whirled threw the air and landed in front of Astrea´s feet.

Bell did not pursue the bunny.

It tumbled back and forth while it started to shrink again.

"Kyu!" With a cute but indignant cry, it returned to it´s original size.

Bell panted heavily when he straightened up again, he shook his head to get clear.

"*Huff*...*huff*...my...*huff*...win..."

The bunny glared at him and then..."Tsk..." it clicked its tongue and looked to the side.

"Pheeeew..." Bell staggered back and fell onto his back, still panting.

Ryuu and Astrea came running over, Astrea held the antlers in her hands, they still had the bigger size.

"Bell! You okay?" .
"*Huff*..*huff*...yeah...*huff*...I guess..*huff*...what happened..*huff*...after he bit me?"

"Huh?...You don´t remember?"

"Not exactly..."

For a reason Astrea smiled, as a goddess she saw right through Bell´s attempt to lie...of course he remembered...

But Bell would love to sink into the ground right now...he yelled something like that in front of Ryuu.

Aaaaaaaah...why did I do thaaat!...

Somewhere in his mind, he saw a shade of his grandfather, showing him a thumps up.

Ryuu´s cheeks were slightly pink. "You...fought well."

Astrea showed Bell the antlers, the bunny sat on the ground still growling.

"Your price."

When Bell took the antlers in his hands, the top layer peeled off and revealed a pure white color.

"A drop item?"

"The antlers of a Wolpertinger are even stronger than unicorn horns...but I don´t know what their exact ability are."

Bell looked at the white antler, then at the bunny.

"Don´t worry about him, the antlers will grow back."

"Kyu.." The bunny looked at him reproachfully, then it turned around. "Hmpf."

It hopped around the dragons corpse...and...they couldn't believe their eyes...started to drag away the corpse.

The corpse must be a hundred times bigger than him! Even more!

Ryuu looked at the strange scene. "Did he...hunt the dragon?"

Bell was still on his back, gasping for breath.

"Bell..are you really okay?"

"My head hurts..."

When Ryuu knelt beside him, he made a face. She tried to touch his forehead, but he groaned.

"Bell?"

"Ahem.." Astrea leaned down to Ryuu and whispered. "Ryuu...I don´t want to hurt you but..."

"Lady Astrea?"

"You...stink...like dragon..."

"..."

Ryuu rose wordless to her feet...turned around...and walked fast with a deep red face to Astrea´s house.

"I didn´t know how to say it to her..." Bell had his eyes closed.

Astrea giggled. "You´re really chivalrous Mr. Bell."

"Mmmh.." Bell slowly pulled himself up and got to his feet. "I´m sorry we made such a ruckus."

"No, we can be happy that you two were here." .
Slowly Bell started to walk with a limp in the direction of Astrea´s house. .
Astrea went with him, she would buy the food later. "I might have something that would cheer you up."

Bell looked from the side, he was pretty beat up. "Hm?"

"Say Mr. Bell, do you know that Ryuu doesn´t like sweets very much?"

"Yes, Syr told me that once..the taste of sugar is too strong for Ryuu."

"That is correct...but did you know, that Ryuu really loves apples?"

"Not so far, no."

Astrea giggled. "You have to try it, just offer her one sometimes...when she nibbles on them...she looks so cute, like a squirrel."

I have to see that.

Bell smiled. "Thank you Lady Astrea, I would like to see that someday."

He looked at the antlers, that she carried for him, Bell could barely stand on his feet. .
"Will he...come back?"

"Well he is the village´s guardian...someday...but I doubt we will see him in the next days."

"He is...the guardian?"

Astrea nodded. "Since the time that village was rebuild."

"Hm..."

It wasn´t even noon, but when they arrived the house, Bell just took his clothes off and fell into his bed. He couldn´t shower, Ryuu held the shower occupied for hours...

.

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The next morning.

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"Kyu!" .
Bell froze when he entered the living room. The bunny sat on one side of the couch, Ryuu on the other, she wore casual clothes that Astrea lent her, because her clothes still soaked in a tub with soap. .
"What?"

"Ah Bell...he came through the window a few minutes ago...he just hopped around the room, until he got on the couch..."

One window of the living room was open.

"W-What does he want?"

"I don´t know."

"Kyu!" .
The bunny looked really adorable right now, he crawled over the couch to Ryuu and looked up to her.

"Kyu!"

"Ahm.."

He simply hopped onto her lap.

Ryuu froze.

The bunny turned twice in circles, then he lay down and...started to purr...

"I think...he likes you.."

"What...shall I do now?"

"Hm...caress him?"

Slowly Ryuu led her hand to the bunny...waited for a second and slightly touched his back.

"Kyu!"

The bunny purred louder, as Ryuu slowly started to caress him.

He is touching me...such a pure creature...does that mean...I´m really still pure?

Bell looked at the scene, Ryuu looked so lovely right now...then he noticed it.

The bunny looked at Bell out of the corner of its eye...and had a smug grin in his face...as if he wanted to say "Heh.."

He sighed...Ryuu was still fascinated from the bunny. .

Astrea came from the kitchen.

"Good morning you two...oh!"

"Kyu!"

The bunny greeted her...kind of.

"He has taken a liking to you Ryuu."

"..."

"..."

"Mr. Cranell..."

Bell looked up, but before he could react...

"Kyu!" .
The bunny looked excited up to Ryuu.

"Ah!" Ryuu clapped her free hand over her mouth.

Astrea repeated what Ryuu had said. "Mr. Cranell?"

"Kyuu!"

"Ah, he seems to like the name."

"Wha-!" Bell was speechless. "Ryuu?"

"Ah sorry...it just came over me when I looked at him!"

"But why? Do I look like a bunny to you too?" Bell looked mortified.

"I´m sorry Bell!"

"Kyu!"

"Not you Mr. Cranell."

"Kyu!"

"Ryuu?!"

"Aaaah I´m sorry...I didn´t mean..."

Astrea giggled again. "So his name is now Mr. Cranell."

"Waaaaah!" Bell was now beyond mortified.

.

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It would get worse...after their journey when he returned home...Hestia would update his status and he would have reached level five.

The reason wasn´t all of his fights...not the one with the dragon...not the one with the king of the mountains...

The great deed...was that a double S rank monster was named after Bell Cranell...the first time something like that ever happened on the surface...truly a great deed.

He would cry for half a day after he found out...

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"Oh and this evening is our festival, you two and Mr. Cranell will come do you?"