Hello, my name is Ryan King, and I am twenty-six years old. I had been serving in the United States Army as an Airbourne Ranger with the 75th Ranger Regiment. I was just promoted to Sergeant before our last combat deployment where everything went horribly wrong. I still can not believe how close I was to death and how I ended up in this fantasy world or how I ended up marrying a goddess and a Royal High Elf. Let alone have four children with each of them. Well before I go down this rabbit trail and confuse you all more lets go back to when all of the craziness started.
August 26, 2023, 0230 Local time Afghanistan
"We are ten mikes from dust off final gear check." Lieutenant Waters says while we just look at him before grumbling and doing our ninth gear check. We did last gear checks five minutes ago.
"Hey, King didn't we just do this gear check five minutes ago as a last check before getting our mental shit sorted for this op?" Corporal Daniel Jackson asks me.
I just look at him before saying. "Yes, we did Dany I do not understand why we were given this guy, but he is trying to show us he is in charge. Its not like me or you have an additional six years on him with all your seven years so far being combat and for me being an eight-year veteran of this damned region. I wish Captain Snow had stayed at least for this deployment. But no, we needed a brand-new fresh face buck Lt to teach and only have had him for two months. You are lucky you don't have to deal with him at platoon meetings."
"I don't envy you Sergeant. Not at all." Jackson says back.
"Alright load up. Lets go get this guy." Waters says while looking smug and full of himself.
"We have a two-hour flight ahead of us. This is going to be one long as flight." Staff Sergeant Bradley says while plopping down next to me.
"You got that right boss." I reply back. This is my last deployment before I rotate back for Drill Sergeant duty. "I still can't believe I have been forced into becoming a DS. I mean I am a combat soldier not a teacher. Still no way for me to get out of it is there?"
"No, King, You are a good teacher and the class you are teaching has twenty Ranger hopefuls in it. Just remember don't go full RASP on them and you will be fine." Bradley says to me.
0327 Afghanistan
"Hang on storm just popped up out of nowhere." The soar pilot said over the comms as I look outside and see this freak storm.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Is all I get to say before lightning from five different directions hit the helicopter and I black out.
Orario same time.
Loki familia was issued a quest to go take down the One Eyed Black Dragon or at least drive it away. "This is going to be dangerous. Loki I expect you to stay far far away from the fighting why you snuck out with us I do not even know."
"Finn, I will be needed and you know it. We are going to loss people and if me updating them stops them from dyeing I will do what ever it takes." Loki says in unusual seriousness.
"Fine, let us go and fight the last of the three great quests." Finn yells to the rest of the Familia.
City of Transviktoria
BOOM
CRASH
"Gods what was that." Asfi Al Andromeda the captain of the Hermes familia. She was sent with a small party to clear out the cities in between the black dragon and the path the Loki Familia will take.
"Captain could it already be here?" A member of the party says scared.
"No, it would not be possible you get the B-team to continue evacuating I will take the A-Team to go see what that was." Asfi orders out before moving to the edge of the city and seeing a machine she has never see before and she only knows it is a machine because of seeing the mechanical parts thrown around. She then sees about 40 men get out of the strange thing and they are all wearing strange cloths going about and look to making a defendable position, but she sees no swords or bows or even shields but something is telling her the black devices in their hands are their weapons. She slowly walks forward to speak with them and figure out who they are when in the distance she hears it. The loud clap of thundering wings and the roar that pierces even the heavens. The One Eyed Black Dragon has arrived and the Loki familia are still at minimum six hours away.
Rangers Crashed Helicopter defense position Nose
"King why is it when you have a bad feeling something always goes wrong." Bradley asks.
"I have no idea boss. I just get this feeling and then I say I have a bad feeling. It has been that way my entire life."
ROOAARR
"What the fuck is that?" Dany shouts pointing up. As we look up, we see it. A giant Black Dragon. Then we see the fire from its mouth coming down on the Lt. while he is panicking. For the first time since I met the Lt I understand the fear he has. As we are starting to shoot at it using everything we have and trying to distract the dragon we see the Lt be burned to death with his entire command team that was on our chopper.
"King get the men to the city take everyone I am going to distract it and buy you time. Maybe the residents will be able to help just to drive it away." Bradley yells out.
"Bradley. I got it boss. You are the highest-ranking person now I will distract it. Go." I yell back before charging out of cover shooting the whole time.
"Damn it, King! Fucking hell move it to the walls of that city go go." Bradley yells out.
"Over here you stupid overgrown lizard." I yell still trying to get its attention when I see it look at the rest of my platoon and swoop in breathing fire cutting them off from the city and starts to kill them all. I push myself letting lose with all my ammo before picking up a M249 saw still unloading belt after belt into it as this is going on I lose track of time. It isn't until I have run out of ammo in the saw and the 240 and every other rifle that I realize that nothing I do hurts it as it swoops in on me for the kill I jump managing to clear its snout and land on hits head right by its eye. I decide if this thing is going to kill me then I am leaving my mark on this monster. I stabbed my combat knife into its blood red eye and the using all my strength left I force the knife deeper until it suddenly stops screeching in pain and drops the fifty feet back to the ground and slides to a stop not breathing not moving. It is then that I realize how much pain I am in and as I fall, I laugh thinking to myself 'At least I avenged you all Dany, Bradley even that bastard Waters. But even then, I know I am not going to survive. But I have one hell of a story to tell you all when we meet back up in the heavens.' As I am about to black out, I am caught a lowered gently to the ground the who caught me just looks to be a beautiful blue haired woman and I say. "A Valkyrie, I do not deserve Odin's Hall." Then I black out.
Loki familia arriving on scene of the now dead OEBD.
"Asfi how did your familia take it down." Finn asked suspecting they have some new inventions that they did not disclose.
"We didn't kill it we didn't even engage it. Some group of soldiers with weapons and armor I have never seen, and they were loud. This one here is the only survivor but he needs healing." Asfi replies looking to Riveria.
"Lay him down Asfi. Loki I need you to look at his back to we can figure out who he belongs to. I thought he was one of yours Asfi. If not, then he is probably from another familia, and we need to know who because they are powerful if a group this small was able to take it out." Finn says.
"He did it alone Finn. The rest were killed without doing anything to it. This person fought for six hours almost entirely alone." Asfi said as she watches Riveria heal the soldier and slightly blushes at the fact they removed his shirt before she is distracted by the equipment laying next to him in a pile. As she picks up the vest she sees something interesting but can't read the language but it is close to common but decides to figure it out later as she starts looking at the rest of the equipment and realizes that it is armor only on the front and back in the form of plates inside the vest and the pouches have multiple things before she see a liquid dripping out of the line to the one pouch on the back and lets it drop on her hand before sniffing it then tasting it coming to the realization that is water but it is so clear and cold before she could investigate she hears Loki gasp.
"Loki whose familia." Finn asks thinking that it could be a more hostile familia until he really sees her face. It is shocked, scared and interested.
"He has no falna locked or sealed. He is just a normal mortal. I can't believe this." Loki says loud enough that even Bete and Aiz hear it before they both look on shocked as Tiona jumps back down and says.
"A simple knife. Nothing special about it." Tiona says before stabbing the ground next to his gear.
"He must have pushed the blade into the brain of it." Finn says while still looking shocked. "Who or better yet what is he."
"Let me see his stuff. I might be able to read it." Loki says before grabbing the chain he was wearing around his neck and reading out. "King, Ryan C. A POS, 105289013, Pagan. I do not know what most of that means but I think his name is Ryan C King. Let me see the shirt and that vest." As the shirt and vest are handed over. "Ok lets see here. A flag of some kind on both sides of shirt on sleeves a scroll that says 75th Infantry Regiment, another scroll underneath that says 3rd Ranger Batt. With three more saying Airbourne, Ranger, and Sapper. Again, I do not know what any of that means other than maybe his military."
"Well, we should at least the citizens it ok to come back to the city. Hopefully they will let us stay for a bit." Finn says while looking to the city.
"Finn have a party collect the dead and their weapons only those that are trusted. I want them to also see if they can move that thing to the city but order them not to mess around with the weapons or these." Loki says holding up a thirty round mag for a HK416 but her not know what it was.
"Alright Loki." Finn says before he start giving orders while the rest start walking towards the city to tell the people the threat is over. Then a light appears from the chest region of the dragon and Aiz stops and almost starts crying. "Aiz, are you ok?"
"Mom." Aiz says looking at the light dying down and showing an almost carbon copy of her but older. "Mom are you really here?" Aiz says before slowly approaching.
"My daughter it is so good to see you again. My sweet daughter please give me a hug." Aria says holding her arms out.
As Aiz runs to her mother Riveria, Finn and Loki walk up and then Loki says. "So Aria, How does it feel to be free?"
"Loki it is good to be free but I will need rest for a time. I saw that man kill the dragon. I am curious to know him. He had a strength I have never seen or heard of before." Aria says.
"Well let us rest Riveria how bad was he?" Loki asks hoping he is not to bad.
"Without a falna I do not think he will wake up for at minimum a month. Would you be able to give him one we need to know more about him." Riveria asks.
"I could but I do not want to give him something against his will. I do not like forcing people into things. Are you a hundred percent sure it will help him?" Loki says before asking her question.
"Yes I am sure." Riveria responds just wanting to make sure that he really is fine.
"Ok." Loki says before getting a room in one of the Inns and starts the process of giving him a falna. As she is doing that she is assaulted by his life story seeing everything that has happened to him. His mother and father's death in a car accident. His sister being killed by explosion. His fiancé's death in a plane crash. Joining the military climbing through the ranks the different missions he was on all the way till today where she saw his selflessness in trying to drag the Black Dragon's attention to him as a sacrifice so that the majority would live and even after his first thought was to the civilians then it was revenge. He was not a pure person, but he was a good person. Fighting for what was right or justice. Protecting the innocent and being a shield for others to hide behind. She even saw that he was a good leader caring for the men under him but knowing he can't save everyone. "What a determined person you are always fighting for the light even if you must walk the line between good and evil but never succumbing to it." As she copies the status on to a paper, she sees two skills she has never heard of before, but she smiles and laughs.
[Valkyrie's Gift] - While worth of Valhalla a boost to all stats is applied.
[Einherjar Hearth] – Fast Growth Skill matching the fighters spirit. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level the user's determination to win. [**ki** *at* - Not Achieved]
"Just who are you and what is with this last part of the second skill. Loki are you sure you didn't make a mistake?" Riveria asks.
"No, I can't read it either and I can't read it on his back either, but I am going to hide both not from him but so that anyone that sees his back cannot see them at all." Loki says completely seriously.
"Well now I think he will wake up after a few days." Riveria says when all of a sudden.
"Ugg, what in the fucking nine realms hit me?" King says while still groaning. Before sitting up and while sitting up Loki and Riveria both furiously blush both with their faces looking like red beats and Riveria's ears also turning red while Loki drools a tiny little bit and has a little blood come out of her nose before both snapping their heads back a forth and calming down.
In Loki's mind 'In my name I did not look at him closely before when I was looking at his back and when I was giving him his falna but seeing him sit up and his muscles ripple. In my name he is hot.'
In Riveria's mind. 'He is definitely very good looking and wow he isn't just overly muscled but proportioned just right for both lean but still strong. I mean if there was anyone that I would go for if it was just about looks. Yum. Down girl you are ninety-nine years old. Loki said he was only twenty-six.'
As Loki is calming herself down, she sees the face Riveria has and smiles internally. 'Maybe I can get her with him. I mean I have seen his life and I saw what type of person he is like oh my he is definitely a keeper. Even for me and I never thought I would see a male in that light. I shouldn't even try though. I do not have the curves Riveria has. Itty bitty you were right weren't you. No body wants a flat chested and flat ass as a significant other.'
"Well hello who are you and where are my weapons." King finally says after looking over to the two women in the room with him. "Uh nothing weird happened right? I mean I don't recognize either of you but this is definitely not the middle east and I think I killed some kind of monster but it had to be a fever dream right? I mean dragons don't exist."
"You are not dreaming or anything of the sort. You killed the One-Eyed Black Dragon. King of all monsters." Riveria says, before in Ryan's opinion, cutely tucks some of her hair behind her long ear.
"Oh boy I am not in Kansas anymore." Ryan mutters before saying. "So who are you and where am I? Also, am I prisoner or what?"
"I am Riveria and sitting here with me is my goddess Loki. You are currently sitting in a Inn inside the city Transviktoria and for now no you are not a prisoner." Riveria says.
"Goddess Loki? Like of the Aesir, Child of Odin second choice to rule all of Asguard that Loki? So, I am dead. I thought I told that Valkyrie that I am not worthy of Odin's great hall." Ryan says before looking down and saying. "Goddess Loki, I accept any and all punishment for being in your presence while being here as unworthy. I could not save my brothers so before you give me the boot, please let me say I am sorry to them and goodbye."
"You are not dead and weather you believe you are worthy or not you have a skill that says you are. We are currently on Genkai not in Valhalla." Loki says starting to get pissed at the man doubting his self-worth. "The thing on your vest says it all. Even though you are not dead 'Die Historic, Live Again, Valhalla Admit One.' Not to mention the skill on your back is called Valkyrie's Gift." After that the conversation delves into explaining everything to Ryan while Loki only says a little leaving it to Riveria to explain most of the things including that now he is technically apart of the Loki familia because of her falna being on his back. He also explains what type of soldier he was and that he needs to collect the equipment and bury the dead. It takes the better part of the night for Ryan to sleep and when he wakes up, he proceeds to bury the dead after taking any still functioning gear included night vision rifles and explosives. In the inventory of weapons and equipment Ryan counts three M136 AT4 disposable rockets eight working AN/PVS – 31 White Prosperous Night Vison Goggles and enough batters to last him four months of constant use without recharging the batteries. He also gets the fifty-caliber machine guns from the helicopter and pulls the ammo off as well. He collects all the dog tags from his platoon. After burying the men he takes one of each dog tag and puts them on wooden crosses before dragging all salvable equipment to the cart that he was given. It is almost sun down when he is finished.
Main hall of the inn
"Loki can you please have your entire familia come out side the city so I may do this right?" Ryan asks as he looks to Loki.
Loki returns the look before answering and sees the pain in his eyes. "Yea we can. Finn, please get the familia outside the city. I am guessing it is where you buried them, correct?"
"Yes, they deserve the right to a military funeral even if they are never going home." Ryan says before walking away and grabbing a rifle and a magazine he had just loaded.
At the burial site.
"For anyone who has sensitive hearing I am sorry." Ryan says before hitting play on the helicopter external speakers he had removed and set up for this. As the music played Loki, Finn and Riveria could tell that this is a song meant for one thing only. Honoring the dead.
-Taps-
As Taps is playing Ryan goes through the motions of burial detail and at the end walks up to each wooden cross and puts a helmet on each one. Once finished Ryan turns and looks to them and sees that most of the city had come out as well to watch the funeral. "The Ranger Creed is something every ranger lives by. We also live by our motto. Sua Sponte, it means "Of Their own Accord". We live and breath the Ranger Creed and that motto. They went out in fight just like every Ranger wants to. They went out fighting for the people who couldn't. They fought because we are the shield or sword that protects. Each and everyone of them will live on inside of me. They will also live on inside of the civilians who watched them fight. Who watched them push as far as they could and then some. Being a ranger means following the creed. I will now speak the creed."
"Recognizing that I volunteered as a Ranger, fully knowing the hazards of my chosen profession, I will always endeavor to uphold the prestige, honor, and high esprit de corps of the Rangers.
Acknowledging the fact that a Ranger is a more elite Soldier who arrives at the cutting edge of battle by land, sea, or air, I accept the fact that as a Ranger my country expects me to move further, faster and fight harder than any other Soldier.
Never shall I fail my comrades. I will always keep myself mentally alert, physically strong and morally straight and I will shoulder more than my share of the task whatever it may be, one-hundred-percent and then some.
Gallantly will I show the world that I am a specially selected and well-trained Soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow.
Energetically will I meet the enemies of my country. I shall defeat them on the field of battle for I am better trained and will fight with all my might. Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy and under no circumstances will I ever embarrass my country.
Readily will I display the intestinal fortitude required to fight on to the Ranger objective and complete the mission though I be the lone survivor.
Rangers lead the way!" Ryan Belts out before looking to each of the crosses and saluting before turning and walking away.
One week later.
"The Loki familia did it they killed the One-Eyed Black Dragon and they didn't even lose anyone." Someone shouted.
Watching as Ryan walks away Riveria looks after him confused by the way he just walked away. 'Is he going to where he put those weapons that he used?' "Loki, I am going to follow him. I am worried he might do something in grief."
"Riveria, watch from afar. Do not get to close to him right now." Loki says still being very serious but there seems to be an edge to her voice. "I have seen this before. He is a soldier. He is going to break if we try to push him to far to grieve a certain way. He needs to handle this alone. When and if he is ready he will talk to us."
When Loki finishes her explanation Riveria is confused by what she means. 'How would he break if we want him to grieve a certain way? What does she mean he needs to handle this alone? How are we supposed to know when he is ready or if he needs help.' As she is about to walk towards him as he is at the cart with the weapons she sees him pick up one of them and starts to inspect it before moving it to the side and doing the same to another. Before picking up a different looking one she sees him open a note book and start writing down things before continuing the process with everything on the cart. "Loki, what is he doing?"
"He is cataloging and seeing how much equipment he has. He is also checking if anything is truly a lost cause or if it can be salvageable. He is starting his grieving process." Loki says looking like she has seen this before.
"Why would he do this now? And how is this the start of him grieving?" Riveria asks wondering what is going on. "He is just ignoring it." As she is about to continue speaking she is stopped as Aiz and Bete walk over to him as he picks up one of the bigger things and moves it to the side before moving dark green blocks in groups of four into a pile.
"Hey, do you need any help?" Bete asks Ryan as he is slowly moving the blocks to a different cart.
"No but thank you." Ryan replies before grabbing the last group of four and finishing his double check of his numbers for the M112 explosive charges along with all the breaching charges that where on board the chopper.
"It is no problem." Bete says shocking everyone in the familia. "If you need anything feel free to ask." As Bete starts to walk away he looks to Aiz shakes his head at her and continues walking away but as he gets closer to the graves he goes to one knee puts his one hand on the ground and mutters "I wish I could have met every single one of you. You all were strong. You fought on even though you knew that death awaited. You stood against something that even I believe I would have run from. I respect all of you even in death."
Riveria just looks on seeing what Bete did shocked before turning back to where Ryan finishes what he was doing and bringing the note book with him but he is now wearing some of the equipment that he looked to be organizing.
"Lady Loki, Lady Riveria I have the numbers on all weapons and equipment from my platoon that need to be taken with when you return to Orario. I will say this I will not allow anyone else to touch these weapons unless they are trusted and go through extensive training by me personally." Ryan says as he bow his head down a little but keeping his eyes on Loki and Riveria.
"I understand please do not bow to me." Loki says.
"I also understand and please do not bow to me. May I ask why you did the count now and why you did not ask for any help?" Riveria says while wondering does he not trust us at all.
Before Ryan can answer Finn walks over and says "I will take the numbers and I understand. From what Asfi has said they would be the most dangerous weapons we could come across if they fell into the wrong hands. I do want to know how they work but that can wait as we will be leaving tonight in order for us to get back to Orario. We need to inform the guild of the Black Dragon's death and tell the other gods of Aria's return."
"I will give the short of it. Currently I have ten working HK416s, five HK417s, and four M18s. I also have three M2 fifty-caliber heavy machine guns, three M249 light machine guns and two M240 medium machine guns. One hundred and sixteen blocks of M112 explosive charges with fifty-six pounds of breaching charges. I also have my breaching shotgun with forty-four rounds of ammo for it. I also have three M136 Anti-Tank disposable rocket launchers and I found two Carl Gustave recoilless rifles with twenty rounds between them of High Explosive and High Explosive Anti-Tank. I also have 17 pairs of AN/PVS-31 white phosphorus night vision with enough batteries to run them all for four months non-stop. I also have enough ammo to last for a six-day fire fight." Ryan says before continuing. "That is after I use some of the explosives to blow the Helicopter."
"Why?" Finn asks only really understanding that Ryan plans to blow up the thing.
"None of you are trained to fly it and I only barely know how to fly it. I wouldn't blow it up if I knew how to fix it or had the parts to fix it. From what I understand you all need to return to Orario and I do not think I can fix it in that timeframe let alone have the fuel to go anywhere. I also can not let any of these things to fall into someone else's hands. I could spell doom. You all fight with swords and staffs from what I can see and some use magic. The men I was with could take you on from a distance and kill every single one of you to the last before you know what hit you. The weapons we carry launch metal near the speed of sound and that is before we come to a night battle wear unless you have vision that lets you see in the night like it is day time you will not be able to stop us." Ryan says. "These weapons and the technology in the helicopter are to dangerous to get out. I will be removing the radio though give me about three hours and I will be finished. I will need some help moving the helicopter. I will need at least five hundred yard clearance to get this done." After two and half hours and placing explosives the Loki familia interested in seeing what is about to happen. Ryan says, "For all that have sensitive hearing please cover your ears as this is going to be very loud." As the elves and the beast people cover their ears Ryan says, "Three, two, one boom." The loudest noise they have ever heard and biggest fireball they have ever scene erupts and then the shockwave hits as Ryan stands tall against it while most of the Loki familia who are not expecting it are knocked to the ground. "Well, I never thought I would have to be the one to blow up that chopper."
"That was loud and bright. It was like the sun appeared for a moment." Finn says. "It was amazing to see but we need to get going." As the familia starts the trek back to Orario Ryan looks back at the graves before thinking to himself 'Well wish me luck. I think I am going to need it with how backwards these people are. I will definitely need to tell you all that happens when we meet in the afterlife. One small step after the next Rangers lead the way.'
Two days later Orario Ryan's POV
"I thought you said it would only take us a day to get here?" I say.
"The horses need more rest because of all the extra things we are bringing back." Gareth says.
"I am starting to regret blowing the helicopter. Maybe I could have fixed it I just didn't think it would be useful to have. Maybe if more survived it would have been but eventually it would have run out of fuel." I say back grumply. I haven't had to walk so much since my first deployment seven years ago.
"Well, you can rest after we get you registered and settled. I talked with Loki after you made your request for the room you need and the security that you demand for your weapons and I have to agree it would be bad if those weapons got into the wrong hands so we are going to clear out one of the Armories to make room and that will be for your weapons. I will assign you a few of our lower level members to help you move everything over and to help you with the count to make sure nothing is lost." Finn says while walking over to me.
"Thank you. I will also being staying in that room or a room next to it. I will also have a system set up to where I will know who enters that room. So far only Yourself, Riveria, Gareth and Lady Loki may enter and only if I am in there. Other then that no one and I truly mean no one is allowed in there." I tell Finn. "I also would like to have it told to the rest of the familia that if something goes missing, I will be the one they answer to. I will also not tolerate theft or curiosity of the equipment in the room. If someone attempts to steal anything I will shoot first, ask questions later."
"I understand that but please do not shoot anyone." Finn says with Gareth stares at me with a serious glint in his eyes. "I also need to inform you that most if not all of the things will need to be checked over for illegal things as well as being a danger in Orario. The guild takes anything dangerous to Orario very seriously."
"They can look at them all they want but no touching I will not allow it. They are not properly trained for it. I will vouch for the weapons and gear. I hold not ill intentions to the city." I say before giving a hard stare as I see someone walking towards us from the city. I only get a quick glance under their cloak but it is enough to put me on guard.
"Braver, Ouranos would like a word with your new friend when they have settled in. Also I will be with him until he goes to speak with Ouranos." The cloaked figure says.
"Understood Fels. Ryan this is Fels he is a sage who works for Ouranos the deity who is in charge of the guild that runs the entire city." Finn says to me before I look at Fels. I just nod to him before I go to the cart with my equipment and start grabbing things.
"Expecting trouble?" Loki asks me seeing that I am grabbing a different rifle and loading a mag into it before grabbing some spare magazines as well as different grenades. "You look like something is bothering you. I heard Fels say that you are going to speak with Ouranos. Don't worry about it. If you were in trouble or anything Fels would have just grabbed, you to take you there immediately. No need to worry."
"Worry is not why I am grabbing this stuff. I am about to enter an unknown city and there are no easy avenues of escape. If cornered, I will have to fight my way out. I prefer to have as many ways as possible to do just that." I say back as I finish grabbing everything I need for a fight.
"You are just being paranoid. More then I think anyone ever has before. No one will try and hurt you in the city. Not unless it is some shady guy and you killed the One-Eyed Black Dragon. I doubt many people would try and you are a member of my familia. You are well protected." Loki says back.
"Thank you for your assurance but I'd rather be well equipped and not need it then need it and not have any of it or enough." I say while nodding to Loki.
"So, you are the new guy to the city. The entrance fee is 25000 Valis after you fill this out. So, get busy." Some guard says to me before Loki steps up.
"Hey dumb ass he is with us bill the familia the correct amount and Ouranos will be speaking to him. I will also be talking to Ganesha about this trying to rip him off? He is the one who killed the Black Dragon." Loki says loudly.
"He killed it? Did he just steal the kill or something and I need to check the carts and ma.." The guard is cut off by Fels.
"They are all good I am vouching for him. Ouranos would like to see him and those tools are his to keep." Fels says.
"They did it and didn't lose anyone look how strong the Loki Familia are." Someone randomly shouts in the background before adding. "They don't even have any injuries. So powerful."
"We didn't kill it. He did and he fought the beast for six hours five of which was completely solo." One of the lower-level Adventures said before adding. "His party was wiped out though thirty-nine dead. He finished it right as we got there to witness it."
"Great some people can't keep there mouth shut." I mutter under my breath hoping no one would believe it but apparently there were gods in the crowd, and they have the annoying ability to be able to tell if a mortal is lying and they all started saying it was true that there was no lie. "Fucking talkative bunch of ass hats."
Ten hours later after the Armory was cleaned and the gear was put away I was forced to make my way to the guild at my side was Loki and Riveria. Riveria was there to register me with the guild and Loki to go with me to Ouranos as Fels had to go to deal with something for the god. "So you are telling me the person who killed the Dragon the last great quest was a human with strange weapons and no magic and no falna?" The fat pig of an Elf named Royman said with disgust not believing a word until Fels came out and told him it was true as well as that he was holding up a appointment I had with Ouranos. After the pig let Loki and myself through I casually made myself drop a half step behind Loki and who was behind Fels making sure I had time and room to react to threats.
"So, this must be the traveler who killed the Dragon?" A loud voice says before Loki just says yes. "I am Ouranos, what is your name and do you have any ill intentions to Orario or its people?"
"No, Lord Ouranos I do not have any ill intentions towards this city or its people if I could go home I would. But Lady Loki has explained that I can not go home. It is not in any of the god's power." I say back being truthful.
"That is correct. Would you tell me your name please full name." Ouranos says before asking for my name again.
"Sergeant Ryan Curtis King, 75th Infantry regiment 3rd Battalion, United States Army." I tell the god.
"You are free to be part of this city of course following the laws in place here." Ouranos says before dismissing us.
"Well, that went a lot quicker then I expected. I think he might like you." Loki says joking as we walk back to the familia manor. "Well, please get some rest tonight. You are going to need it." Loki says escorting me to my new room which happens to be the same room as the armory of my weapons and gear.
Next Morning
"Well I am not getting anymore sleep might as well get up and go for a run." I say to myself as I get up and as I am about to pull some cloths out I find a duffle bag with my name on it. I open the duffle bag and find a spare combat uniform and my full dress uniform a few more uniforms and my PT uniform. I am surprised as this was still at the FOB (Forward Operating Base) that we left and I know I did not have this on the chopper. "Well I guess something brought this here and I will be needing it." I change into my PT Uniform before doing a quick set of pushups and sit up before stretching and going for my run. I decide to go out and do a lap around the perimeter of the manor and before to long I realize I have done twenty laps which from my rough estimation is about two miles and I don't even feel that winded. As I look at my watch and it only took eleven minutes and I decide might as well push myself before remembering Loki's words about needing energy today. I decide that even though I am not winded I still smell like ass. So I grab my spare combat uniform and go to the bathroom and knock before entering and then grabbing a quick bath and as I get out of the bath I run into Riveria and she is already undressed. I look her up and down and damn she is gorgeous before realizing what I am doing and bolting to the changing room and dressing really quick and then before I leave I poke my head out and look to see if anyone else is in the bathroom before saying "Lady Riveria I am sorry." And bolting out of there knowing if she wants to punish me she knows where I am.
Riveria POV
Well that was extremely awkward and I did not expect him to be up and getting a bath at this time. It could have been really bad but he looked me up and down and I could see the reaction to him looking at me. I don't know how it makes me feel seeing that he got hard from looking at me, but I need to talk to him and tell apologize to him for just walking in and not knocking. If not, he will think I did something so lewd on purpose. I am curious though why he was up so early.
Ryan POV
'Damn, Riveria is hot when she isn't covered in all those robes. I mean she is still beautiful and definitely rival some goddesses but just wow. I can also say the carpet definitely matches the drapes.' I think before calming myself down and going to my room/armory and getting a quick inventory of things from that duffle bag before seeing four more bags with my name on them and a chest. I open them and the chest for me to find most of my issue cloths and even some of my civilian cloths along with spare plates for my vest and pictures of my familia and my journal for when I get home and I write what happened on deployments. I also find multiple cases of ammo for all the firearms I have while finding a generator and fuel for it to charge my phone and watch. I also found a Military Laptop where I can download the helmet cam footage to and view it. I wont really need that for a while though as I already decided to remove the camera from my helmet and use it for watching the door. With it though I can have it set up to go for days till I check it if needed because of what I was told we could be in the dungeon for days. I decide to go to Loki and see what I am needed to do and to get an Updated to my status just to see what is really looks like. I walk to her room hoping she is up but before I get there, she is opening her door and grabs me and pulls me into her room.
"Ryan, Why am I being told that you were running around the compound so early in the morning?" Loki says while staring me in the eyes.
"I went for a morning run. I did every single day unless in a shitty FOB. It helps me wake up in the morning. Gets the blood pumping." I say.
"Ok. My other question is when do you want to go into the dungeon and what type of gear do you want?" Loki asks me.
"Well first will be a sword I have a picture of the style of blade and medium armor would be nice. Also, I want you to update my status. I would like to see what it looks like." I tell her.
"Okay I can get you that stuff and I can update your status but why do you want it done. You only could have gone up a few points. Nothing you did would have gained you that much Excelia." Loki says. "On the bed shirt off."
"Alright." I say as I take my shirt off and Loki pokes herself with a knife by her bedside table and starts to work before freezing and then finishing quickly before copying it down and telling me to put on my shirt and then drags me to Finn's office with Riveria and Gareth both there before she slams the door open then closed and locks it before looking at Finn.
"Finn, Ryan needs an adventure right now. The gift of killing that monster is something I have never seen before. All of his stats are maxed out we are talking something I have never seen before. All of his stats including magic are 3600 MX. It is new I have never seen or heard of this before. I don't care if you must kill the damn Goliath if he ranks up, I will be happy. We also don't tell the guild how long it took him to level up." Loki starts franticly shouting.
"Alright we will teach him what is necessary today and go tomorrow." Finn says while thinking this can help the familia and being level two will allow him to go deeper and possibly use that skill to level up even faster.
"I am sorry, but I would like to go at my own pace here. I need to learn a lot and I would like to work solo for a short bit. I will rank up when I think I am ready for it. It is not like I can just jump in and be okay with this. I need to work for this. I also want to take this slowly going to fast could get me killed." I say before taking my paper and turning around.
"I agree with him remember he is in a new world and needs to learn things." Riveria says.
"I actually agree with the elf. He needs time. Remember he is still recovering from the fight with that dragon." Gareth says.
I look back at them and say, "Thank you both. I will go to the dungeon after I get a sword and some armor."
I go to my room find that the laptop has a printer attached for printing UAV Images I print the picture of the sword and armor I want and then ask around for someone who has free time to take me to see a smith in making it. Aiz ends up being the one to take me but Loki comes with and we end up in Babel tower. I see the elevator and smile at least they aren't completely backwards. We arrive at the eighth floor and Loki directs us into a shop where she then begs a beautiful woman to make me a blade and she says she will pay anything for it. "I also need armor but I can pay for both at least pay you back for it. I am new to the city and need some starting equipment but I have this.." I start to say before trailing off.
"He has a skill that allows him to grow faster and no I don't know how he unlocked it but it is wicked powerful. He also killed the OBED." Loki says still begging.
"Fine but from these pictures it is going to be at least 300 Million Valis for the sword you are begging me to make and the armor I will make the same way but that will be free as a gift and thank you for taking that monster out. I will not take no for an answer. The only thing I ask is that you take care of the armor and blade." The person says before saying. "Before you leave as this will take two days and Loki you are not leaving, you are going to help me. My name is Hephaestus."
"Goddess Hephaestus, sorry I do not mean to trouble you with this." Ryan says while bowing.
"Nonsense." Hephaestus said. "Loki is going to help me with this and one of my children will be helping me with the armor. I just need a drop of your blood for the process." Ryan gives a drop of blood and the picture of the armor with changes to the helmet that he wants done before leaving and going back to the Manor to finish training.
Two and half months later Ryan is slowly making his way through the forth floor with his new armor and sword even being level two now as he allowed Loki to push him to go on an adventure, he took down an irregular infant dragon on the tenth floor with Finn and Riveria watching but not helping, he had wanted to stay solo for some time and build up his experience with fighting in his style he developed. He hears a roar from what sounded like a minotaur and rushed through the last bit of the forth floor before going down to the fifth and seeing a white haired girl run by and make a wrong turn with a minotaur right behind her as he chases he sees that she is about to give up her dagger shattered on the ground next to her he swings his blade through the minotaur bisecting it in half from groin to head as he flicks his blade to remove the blood and sheaths it he looks at the girl who only has a little blood on her and asks. "Are you ok?"
Bella POV (Yes fem bell)
'Gods and Goddess's he is handsome. I really can't believe how handsome he is. He is also strong. Wait didn't he say something to me?' "Ahhhh" Bella screams and runs away towards the up floors. 'I didn't even ask for his name but oh my he is hot.' Bella runs out the dungeon and towards the guild to tell her advisor Eina what happened.
Ryan POV
"Hahaha, The Dragon Slayer must be terrifying to the rookie that she couldn't even say thank you for saving her worthless ass. Such a weakling that she ran away from the minotaur hahaha." Bete is laughing while still talking down about the girl. 'Bete really needs to learn to shut up before he pisses the wrong person off. She looked to still have the Guild's Starter equipment so either her familia is extremely poor or she is still new but the way her blade shattered I am not surprised it did but the way it looked to have been well taken care of.'
"Bete shut up." Is all I say before sighing and being directed to Finn and Riveria to make a report. As I see Finn and Riveria I go to attention and say, "Sir, Ma'am, last minotaur was taken care of. No fatalities only two injured both were level ones. I killed the last one on floor five while starting my normal dive. Saved a white-haired girl. Don't know her name and she took off before I could ask. I collected the stone and the remnants of her dagger. It was guild issue." I finish my report while everyone who I am normally not around just look at me while Finn and Riveria both just sigh and shake there heads while Tiona and Tione just chuckle and Bete laughs more. Aiz just stares at me as she is just ready to go to the Manor to talk more with her mother who lives at the manor now with us.
"Ryan for the last time you do not need to address either of us with Sir or Ma'am. In the two and a half months you have helped us better our organization and brought new life to this familia." Finn says as Riveria just nods agreeing.
Bella POV
"Miss EINA!" I shout entering the guild looking for my advisor and when she sees me, she screams out and nearly faints as the little of blood that did get on me made me look like a mess.
"Bella what happened?" Eina asks me as I start explaining again telling her how I went to floor five I was taking it slow and I was killing the monsters but after I took a fight minute break and was about to push farther I heard a roar and then saw the minotaur and it chased me and I may have taken a wrong turn and hit a dead end before an Adventured killed the monster it one swing.
"Miss Eina, can you tell me who that adventurer was?" I ask after my explanation and getting scolded for going down to the fifth floor when I wasn't ready.
"Well, what did he look like?" Eina asks me.
"He was tall wore a medium weight looking armor in all black except had metal on his boot toes and heal. He had a weird helmet that had a design on the side with a lot of stars it looked the same as the one on his right arm. It had lines one it as well but the lines where red and white the stars were on a blue square. He had shorter hair with facial hair and blue-gray eyes with a ring of gold in them. There was also some green in the gray too." I said excited that maybe she could helmet me find out about him.
"Ugg not another one." I hear from behind Eina and as I look behind her I see a Red Haired wolf person. As I am about to ask what she means Eina turns around and speaks to the demi-human.
"Rose, he is doing fine as you can tell. No need to get upset with him." Eina says to the demi-human now known as Rose. "Sorry Bella, the person who saved you is a Level two adventurer from the Loki familia. His name is Ryan King, alias Dragon Slayer and he was the one to kill the One-Eyed Black Dragon."
"He killed the one-eyed black dragon at level one?!" I screech out.
"Yes from the records of what the Loki familia and Hermes familia saw him a group of thirty nine others had crashed inside some flying machine and as they were trying to figure out what was going on or to do the beast attacked them. Asfi testified that he was the only survivor and had fought for six hours five of which he was fighting solo." Eina starts to explain. "The men and him are apparently not of this world from what the gods say. He is trapped here and with out anyone from where he is from. Now why are you so gitty about trying to find out about him."
"Is there anything else about him? Like what is his favorite color or food or…" I start before I am interrupted.
"Bella even if we had that information on him we would not be able to give you that information." Eina starts. "And he is on his way to level three, and you are just starting out. He is also twenty-six years old you are seventeen. He is a bit too old for you. Now go take it easy. You should report to your Aunt what happened."
"Okay thank you Miss Eina Love you!" I shout as I leave not noticing my words.
"Wow Eina, I did not realize you swung that way. Now it is understandable why you turn so many guys away." Rose says chuckling.
Two Days later Bella is still convinced to go to the Hostess of Fertility by Syr
I am sitting by the bar thinking about how I got roped into coming to this bar and how I should try and say thank you to my savior. When suddenly, "The reservation party has arrived." I hear Syr call out to the bar. I see multiple adventurers come in and then I see him, Ryan King. He is wearing weird clothing and not what he was in the dungeon it has patterns on it, and he doesn't have his sword on him, but he has other things on him. I start just staring at him out of the corner of my eye.
"Hey Mama Mia we are going to be ordering a lot tonight more than usual our dragon slayer leveled up to three." The red head said as she is hanging off of him. The whole bar goes silent as I start hearing whispers of him breaking his old record of leveling up. He apparently only took one full month to level up this time and it was apparently from saving me from the minotaur. After a bit I can hear there conversation switching to different topics as they were talking about the expedition they were on before the gray haired wolf starts talking about the minotaur that ran to the fifth floor. "So get this after our hero here saves her life she just stares at him for almost a minute straight before screaming and running away. HAHAHA." I hear him say then start laughing and I can hear other people laughing as well. My savior doesn't say anything at all. 'He must agree with them' I think to myself getting depressed about it before hearing the wolf go farther. "She was so weak that she ran away and never even thanked him. I mean come on. King if there was anyone you could have and go after it wouldn't be some weakling, right? You'd go after someone strong like Aiz or someone else right? Such a weakling doesn't even have the right to stand next to you or even walk behind you let alone be with you. I saw her blushing when she ran." I couldn't take it anymore I ran outside before anyone could say a thing. When I got far enough away, I looked to the tower of babel and decided I needed to get stronger.
Ryan's POV
"Bella." I hear Syr call out to the girl who ran I only caught a glimpse of her but I knew that it was the same girl as I ran to the door to say something to her she was already gone and I turned to Bete pissed off. I walk over to him with the help of Riveria and Tione wrap him up and hang him upside down over the table before I walk back to the door and remember which way she turned I realized she is going to the dungeon. I turn and look at Loki and just say. "Loki you and Riveria deal with Bete I will be out."
As I am about to walk towards the dungeon Loki looks to me and says, "Figure out which familia she belongs to. If you want get her a new blade, she will need it. I also want to know why you are doing this, but that can wait till you return."
"I will tell you when I return what I can. Mia here is the money for her meal. I am covering it." I say and toss Mia a bag of valis with it containing about five thousand valis in it.
3rd person POV
"Kid this is to much." Mia starts but by the time she gets it out Ryan is already gone. "Loki come get your brats change."
"He isn't going to take it. You know he is sweet on your elf." Loki says back smirking knowing the elf in question is listening to the conversation.
Ryuu blushes a deep red before running to find something to do.
Ryan POV
Knowing I am carrying my rifle with five spare mags and my pistol with two spare mags with some flash grenades and frags I make my way into the dungeon. I know it has been a few hours because I waited to go in hoping she wasn't to the point of being stupid enough to enter without any gear I slowly walk the first five floors it takes me a hour because I am checking everywhere for her but when I come to the sixth floor I find her facing off against seven war shadows I wait and watch her as she kills one then another but before she is able to spin to block one from hitting her I shoot the last five hitting there crystals and ending them as she falls over exhausted I check my watch and see that five hours have past since she left the hostess and it probably took her at average level one speed maybe thirty minutes to get to the dungeon. She is also holding a War Shadow finger as a dagger. I see that she has in fact passed out so I pick her up and start carrying her to the entrance before I take her to the manor so I can Riveria to heal her. As I enter one of the guards run to get Riveria for me and then runs to get Loki. "Such a reckless girl going into the dungeon like that. What were you thinking." I say out loud before She wakes up and jumps like she is going to try and run before Riveria comes in a grabs her shoulder and calms her down.
"What were you thinking going into the dungeon with no gear?" Riveria scoldingly asks just like a mother. I hold the chuckle in as this seems to be common for her to scold different familia members for doing something stupid truly a Mama but I won't say that out loud or I'll be the one getting yelled at. Before she can answer Loki comes in and ask me to leave.
"He can stay as long as he turns around." Bella says surprising everyone.
"Alright before he does what familia are you in?" Loki asks. Before we are all shocked by her answer.
"I am not in one. No one would take me in." Bella answers and looks to be on the verge of crying.
"You were on the fifth floor without a falna?" Loki asks shocked by her answer. "How long have you been an adventurer?"
"A little over two weeks now." Bella answers before she looks down. "I thought you needed a familia it wasn't until I came out about three days ago that I was told you didn't need to be in a familia but it would be harder so I got an advisor and she asked me what floor I got to before I came out and said the forth floor. I only went back in the day before because I needed more money. My Aunt had to leave to go check something deeper in the dungeon."
Before Loki can answer I say what is on my mind. "I found you on the Sixth floor tonight clutching a War Shadow's finger for a blade and you took two down before you dropped from exhaustion. I killed the other five you were fighting before bringing you up."
"It was my first time to the sixth floor and I got lost I was trying to get back to the surface when they attacked. I did take the goblins and Kobalt's out that were with them. I remember there was ten war shadows." Bella answers me leaving us all shocked again.
"Bella, would you like to join my familia?" Loki asks surprising me and Riveria seeing as we are not recruiting and even when we are only level two and below are the normal I was an anomaly and only because I killed the OBED.
"Goddess, would you please I will do anything." Bella nearly breaks out of Riveria grip to bow to Loki.
"Ryan turn around please." Loki says before giving Bella a falna.
Name: Bella Cranel
Race: Human
Level: 1
Strength: G 222
Endurance: F 340
Dexterity: G 245
Agility: F 311
Magic: I 0
Development Abilities
Skill
Liaris Freese - Fast growth as long as the user is in love. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level of the user's feelings. As a side effect it makes the user immune to charms.
"Here you go I am ordering you to not speak of the skill." Loki says. After Bella put her shirt back on. "Ryan take your shirt off I am going to update you."
"I just had my status updated." I say.
"Please humor me." Loki says. As I take my shirt off Bella looks at me and blushes and so does Riveria and Loki just looks happy that I am taking my shirt off. After the shirt is off and I lay on a different bed and Loki updates my falna.
Name: Ryan King
Race: Human
Level: 3
Strength: H 192 +50
Endurance: H 120 +50
Dexterity: I 38 +50
Agility: I 34 +50
Magic: I 20 +30
Development Abilities
Skill
[Valkyrie's Gift] - While worth of Valhalla a boost to all stats is applied.
[Einherjar Heart] – Fast Growth Skill matching the fighter's spirit. The strength of the effects corresponds with the level the user's determination to win. [*o*i'* Mate - Not Achieved] [***er**** Mate – Not Achieved] [***la Mate – Not Achieved] [**uu **te – Not Achieved]