Five days had passed.
After the hellish teachings many adventurers called, Hade's Gate, did Bell, Helun and Tiona suffer in order to register Bell into the Guild. Allowing him to now gain more Valis from his dungeon earnings and loot he would collect.
Normally given the opportunity to now freely move about and earn more in the dungeon, Bell would've sprinted off into the deeper floors. However, with Hedin's suffrage and his goddess having forsaken him to said torture, he was forced to hold off his adventuring for now.
Instead, he was tasked with purchasing better equipment and weapons. And rather head off into the dungeon was he forced to have Hedin and the others give him teachings of how to utilize his new weapons.
For the entirety of five days Bell was submitted to hard training from Hedin and Hogni in terms of swordplay and using his knife. Berling of the Gulliver brothers was dragged into helping Bell with use of his hatchet. Seeing as he was the only one of his brothers to use a large axe.
Though while it was annoying at first for Berling, he was rather impressed with his progression in use of the hatchet he got. Yet that impressed mood soon turned to caution after the first two days, as he had given the boy a task to try while he learned along from the others.
"If you can land a cut on me anywhere not on my body, I'll help you get to the lower floors for one day in your party."
That was his mission for Bell to try within those five days he was stuck training in the manor. He now wore his armor and helmet at all times since then as while still lacking in refinement, Bell's attempts were like that of an assassin.
He tried to convince his brothers to do the same as he was doing. Hoping the confusion would cause Bell to get it wrong or he could trick the boy to thinking he cut his other brothers instead of him.
It didn't help the fact that with every attempt he tried to cut him, Bell would often be seen looking rather intense and spout on about how his head would be on a pike. Or doing some odd movement and posing.
On the fourth day after lunch was served, Berling had found his answer as to how Bell was improving at stealth and his odd habit as of lately. Thinking best to spy on Bell during his lessons to see if there was a way to avoid his assassination attempts, he was seeing a sight unholy in his eyes in the training room.
"Next! You must interpret what the enemy before you will say and surprise them with their own words! Your next line will be, "But how could I even predict what they'll say"!" Hogni said as he stepped forward, his back arched as he pointed at Bell while one hand was resting on his forehead in a dramatic gesture.
"But how could I even predict what they'll say? GAH!?" Bell said as he found himself saying what Hogni predicted him to say.
"See my young apprentice, the trick of this lies in not only future sight to what they could say. For if you lack such ability to predict the future, then you simply enforce it to the point they must say what you foretold!" Hogni said as he crossed one leg over the other and stood tall with his arms stretched out to his sides.
"I see. So I have to use my recent battling tendency towards Berling and enforce my words to have him repeat what I supposably can foretell him to say! Brilliant master!" Bell said as he clapped his hands together and smirked. His fingers stretched straight and with one hand facing up while the other resting at his mid-section with the fingers facing downward.
"Precisely! Enforcing him to fall under your prediction grants you control. Control of him and the future! Say it with me my pupil! The future...RULES! The future, RULES! Theeee fuurrrtttuuureee...RULES!!!" Hogni said as now he and Bell were chanting around each other yelling about the future while doing different poses.
Berling was shaking in his hiding spot as he watched the two dancing about and posing. Horrified at the thought of another Hogni would soon be a reality, he did the only logical thing possible.
He went and told Hedin, and watched as the blonde elf soon began beating the dark elf and white-haired boy to cease their childlike antics and get back to training. Their screams echoed in the training hall for three hours.
Aside from the corrupt actions Bell was unknowingly being participated in due to false guidance from the idiot man child that was Hogni, Berling didn't mind having a student and found Bell to be eager about learning all he can from the other adventurers in the familia.
Now moving onto the sixth day as his own hellish avoidance of assassination attempts was over, came the day Bell was free to dive in the dungeons once more. Watching as the boy was running around Hedin excitable and laughing much to Hedin's annoyance as they waited for Helun.
"Stop your running idiot! How can you be this excited about diving in the dungeon again?" He asked as that put a stop to the boy in place. The soles of his shoes squeaking against the marble floor of the manor as he looked at Hedin as though he said something blasphemous against their god.
"How can you not be excited about the dungeons pops!? It's a challenge! A whole different world than what we live in! The exciting landscapes we can see, the creatures and greenery they can hold. And the undiscovered treasures and perils we could face off and explore to our hearts content!" Bell said as he began bouncing in place from his own words.
"You know, he does bring up a point there brother. Remember the days when we would go off galivanting in the dungeons or even in the woods back home? Hehe, and how you'd-"
"Never speak about those days Hogni or I'll make what I did three days ago seem like Sadist Eina's lessons." Hedin said as that caused Hogni to shut his mouth up and cover it with his hands.
"And it's been over a week since I've been back at the dungeon! I'm going through withdrawal pops! Why keep me away from my passion for adventure!"
"Stop making it sound like some drug addiction you dungeon addict! We'll go as soon as Helun is done preparing for today's dive." Hedin said as the sounds of clacking heels echoed softly. Though he noticed there several other sets of footprints coming.
Turning back as Bell continued to talk with Hogni and both were now giddy at the potential adventure Bell would have today. Hedin saw not only Helun coming with a satchel around her waist, but along came Heith and their goddess with Ottar following behind her.
"Sorry for the wait, but Lady Freya wanted to ensure we've packed promptly for the deeper levels for us." Helun said as she showed the bag by her hip and pointed to Heith who had a bag of her own as well. Bringing Hedin to have a raised eyebrow and Bell to gasp.
"OH!? Heith you're coming too?" Bell said excitedly as he was now in front of Heith and Helun, scaring them a bit at the stars coming off from his red eyes.
"Well I thought it wouldn't hurt to have a healer in your party. Besides Heith could use the break from staying coped up here and healing the others after their daily sparing. So, on occasion your party size has been increased." Freya explained as she was ever so happy to see Bell's soul lighting up like stars with her children's also glowing from the boy's excitement.
"Awesome! Thanks for joining us when you're able to Heith! I promise I'll try to avoid getting injured and prevent Pop's back from being thrown out." Bell said as that remark earned Heith to laugh and Hedin to clench his teeth and let out an annoyed growl.
"No worries, glad to be part of the party. As your healer you won't have to worry about avoiding damage when you can. Even if you idiots get hurt, I'll patch you up good as new. So should we start heading out?"
"Nah not just yet. I wanna stop by the Loki Familia to see if Tiona's up for today's dive. And I promised Syr that I'd visit the pub at least before going off." Bell said as he scratched the back of his head, embarrassed that he was the one preventing them from heading straight into the dungeon.
"Oh that amazon right? Well it should make this party a bit more interesting." Heith said as she looked over to Hedin and snickered the look of annoyance she saw on his face.
"So what are we waiting for then, lets go pick up that amazon girl and head off to the dungeon!"
"Now you're talking my language! Let's get a move on Pops and Helun! To adventure, treasures and romance!"
"Have a safe trip children, I look forward to hearing all about it when you return tonight." Freya said as she waved them off. Smiling at the sight of Hedin trying to scold and calm down Bell's antics while Helun was trying to be comforted by Heith.
"Are you not going to observe them from your room in Babel my lady? I had assumed you would want to witness the boy's travels down the dungeon after so long." Ottar asked as he followed Freya back down the halls of the manor.
"Hmm, truth be told I did have plans to watch how they would do in the dungeon. But, I believe it would be fruitful to hear it from them once they returned. Besides we have a bit more, pressing matters to attend." She said as Ottar looked puzzled.
"Do we now? Though I will accompany you in any matter, where are we headed off to?"
"Hephaestus's workshop. I have some business she herself will comply with." Freya said in a serious tone while having that carefree smile still on her face.
[Scene Change: Babel Tower-Dungeon Entrance]
The party of now five stood in the middle of the road. All lined up next to one another as they staired at the large tower that surpassed the skies above. A gust of wind blowing from the east, chilling but none of them felt even the slightest bit cold.
"Well? What are we waiting for now boy? You were so gun-ho about exploring and now we-"
"Have you ever once wondered, what it would be like at the top of Babel? The view you could see if you could climb up there?" Bell began as he staired up at the tower, with his red eyes fixated ever at the sky and the tower meeting.
All of them blinked at his question. For Tiona and Hedin, they felt somewhat nostalgia as they too looked up towards the top of Babel. Recalling their first sight of it when they started out as new adventurers or coming to Orario.
"Ever since I came here, I thought to myself one thing when I laid eyes on this place. Even at a distance looking at this tower, those thoughts never left my mind." Bell said as he turned to them, looking right to left before staring at the dungeon's entrance.
"I want to reach the top of Babel, with my friends I make along my journeys. And stare out into the horizon of the world. And make it a place where we'll always hang out after an exciting journey."
Their eyes widened at him for sharing his desire. Wondering what would cause him to even think of dreaming something so dangerous and bizarre. Yet to Hedin and Tiona, they found themselves feeling tears escaping from their eyes. Quickly blinking and rubbing them away before Bell could notice.
"Now, having you guys as a party with me, and starting our first dive in the dungeon together today. Kinda makes my dream seem one step closer to becoming a reality." Bell admitted as he was flushed in the face with embarrassment.
From looking at him, they all felt their hearts heavy and a sickening sweet feeling in their mouths. As they saw Bell giving a weak smile as he struggled to stop himself from crying. Teardrops falling from the corner of his eyes as he was wiping them away still.
'White Hair...you have such a beautiful dream! I'll follow you for the rest of my life to share your dream!'
'O-Oi...come on Bell. Don't get all mushy with us before we even set foot in the damn thing. Who the hell reaks of onions around here?'
'What is this feeling in my chest? It feels hard and swollen. And why do I have this odd feeling of beating the shit out of anyone who would ever make fun of Bell and his dreams? Or rip their legs off and kick whatever remains of their ass left using their own severed legs if they ever hurt him?'
'HHHHNNNNGGGGG!!!! T-TO PURE...HIS LOVE IS TOO PURE MY GODDESS! IT FEELS LIKE MY HEART IS GOING TO BURST FROM HOW INNOCENT AND PURE HE IS!'
Tiona, Heith, Hedin and Helun thought as they went through their own emotions after hearing his dream and looking at that crying face of his. Heith and Tiona puckered their lips and closed their eyes out of instinct from seeing Bell's face.
Hedin looked down at his chest and had his hand over his heart. Worried why it felt swollen and hard for him and wondered if he was coming down with something. Along with his own thoughts and questioning why he was suddenly protective of Bell.
Helun was by far the worst reaction of the four, as she had to turn away and hide her reaction. She couldn't stop clenching her chest and clenching her teeth. Failing to even stop her nosebleed as her face was too flushed and her eyes shut hard at the feeling she was having from seeing Bell cry a little.
"Thanks for helping me get a step closer to my dream guys." Bell said as he wiped away his tears. His smile turning into a shining grin as he turned back at the dungeon enterance. Slamming his left fist against his right-hand palm as it echoed with a loud slapping noise.
"But it's not gonna happen if we just stand around here and stare at this beauty! Come on, to the deep levels we go! Yahoo!" Bell cried out as he dashed straight into the entrance of the dungeon. Small dust clouds kicking off from his feet as the others soon chased after him.
The party at first were in a panic at Bell's sudden mood change. Running off into the dungeon and not even stopping by the looks of it. Hedin and Heith even panic at the times Bell had jumped off from one of the dungeon's ledges to reach a deeper floor.
Soon having caught up with him. Surprising them given the fact that they were higher level than Bell and having spent time already familia with the dungeon and adventuring before him. Though as they passed the other monsters they had slain as they ran, the sound of Bell's laughter still went on.
Before then, they found themselves smiling at such laughter. Soon spreading to Tiona giggling at first. Followed by Heith letting out a small chuckle as she tried to cover her mouth as she ran.
Eventually, the entire party, aside Hedin as he smiled, soon echoed the dungeon's floors with laughter and the sounds of monsters being slain. Crystals dropping and picked up by Heith and Helun.
For Hedin, he was rather impressed by Bell's navigation to the lower floors. Having been down in the depths far longer than anyone in their party, he was very familiar with the different routes to take to get to the next floor.
'This path, I don't even think the guild has this on file. A moss forrest on the sixth floor?' He thought as he stretched his arm out to grab some of the fauna as they ran about still, following Bell. Taking note of the feeling of the plant and having a spice smell to it.
'The Amazon is starting to realize too. How long did it take Bell to even find this path?' He thought as he noticed the others minus Bell looking around the floor and avoiding any plants in their way.
"Huff...hufff...Hey White Hair, what is this place anyway. I don't remember there being a forest on the sixth floor." Tiona said as she was looking around the place as she was amazed by the surprise change in the dungeon.
"I-Is there not a section of it that people could have missed?" Helun asked as she was bewildered and amazed, they were in an unknown area of the dungeon.
"If there was, then Medical based Familias would submit request to collect some of the plant life to research it and make medicines and potions. But of all the times ive come to collect supplies, I for sure haven't seen this part. The sixth floor is almost like the fifth's maze walls but only much less and more open spaces!"
"W-What? You guys didn't know about this area? I used this a few times after I found it on my first week diving here! I call this place, look out for the large drop!" Bell shouted as he hopped over the large cavern drop. Grabbing one of the hanging vines around and swinging across the gap.
Waiting on the other side as he turned around to face them. Watching as they ether jumped or used the vines. He stretched his hand out to grab Heith's and Helun's as they needed help to settle right on the other side.
"Anyways, I call this part of the Sixth Floor, The Jungling Playground! This path will get us down a few floors lower in just a snap!" Bell said as Helun and Heith were puzzled at how this path would make them go down deeper quick. Tiona was amazed at such a cool name and wanted to see more about this area.
'Well...at least he has good name choices. If it was anything like the gods pick in naming things I'd have a headache. Worse, he could've been like Hogni or that dumbass blacksmith that made his chest armor he's wearing now.' Hedin thought in slight relief the fact that Bell had a better sense in naming things than the gods or some idiots in the world.
"Um, how is this path going to help us get down to lower floors? It just seems like all that there is here is just plants and moss." Heith asked as Bell could only snicker and grin as he walked further ahead.
From his side hip, swinging around his small hatchet in hand until he smacked it into a tree trunk. The hatchet now embedded in the trunk as he twisted the handel. Slicing the tree along the bark lining as it was as though the tree was being peeled of its outer bark.
Bell repeated this process once more as now the tree was stripped of a thin layer of wood with the bark still attached to the two long cut pieces. As he hurried up further the pass and stopped at a large gathering of bushes and moved them aside, showing a path that was small.
The four noticed the floor of it was covered entirely of moss and the walls lit up with mineral crystals that lit up the path, seeing that it curved a little further down. Hedin kneeled down to feel the moss between his fingers.
"This moss is quite soft, and yet somewhat fresh and slippery. As though it was freshly watered. So we go down this path to reach a deeper level. With a path like this we're bound to fall off and could risk losing our supplies and injure ourselves." He stated as he was about to turn around and face Bell.
"How are we-Gah!"
"H-Hey! Why did you suddenly-"
"Okay so we're on, what next?" Tiona asked as she was on the plank of bark and wood along with Hedin and Helun. As Bell had Tiona lay the wood down prior before Hedin would turn back to him. Pushing him on it and Helun to be in the middle between the two as he smiled down at them.
His foot on the other end of the wood as he saw Hedin look up, his hands on the sides of the plank. And noticing behind Bell, Hedin saw the other board now on the floor with Heith tying their supplies close to her body as she sat at the far end of it.
"Noooo...you wouldn't da-AHHHHHHH"
"EEEEEEEKKKKK! S-S-Someone hold me!"
"YEEEAHHHHH! HAHAHAHA! THIS IS AMAZING WHITE HAIR! YOuuuu rulleeee!!"
Hedin, Helun and Tiona cried out in mixed emptions as the board with the three of them zoomed off down the path. The moss releasing splashes of water and slinging with ease as the three went off in the blink of an eye.
"See you soon! Me and Heith will be right on your tail!" Bell shouted at the path as he dragged the board as Heith held on to the sides tightly and let out a small 'EEK!' in surprise. As Bell set it on the edge of the path where the moss began, but the board was still on the rocky ground.
"U-Umm..Bell. You sure this is safe? The way they were going...seems kind of dangerous." Heith said with some hesitation in her voice. Bell smiled as he sat in front of her on the board. Grabbing her hands and making them wrap around his hips. Pulling her close, unknowingly making her blush from the sudden contact.
"Hey, you got nothing to worry about. I'll be in the front to take the blunt if we lose control. Not the first time for me when I first used this path before. I think I ended up crashing about thre times."
"THREE!?"
"But I made some adjustments to the path. Besides I'll steer us and them to the exit so we'll be safe and get there in a breeze. So, just hand on tight!" Bell said as he pushed them more into the moss-covered path.
Heith soon closing her grip on Bell as she felt the path's wind in her hair as they were now sliding down the path. Looking at the passing lit crystals going by faster and faster. All while Bell laughed as she could feel his body shifting, guiding the board along with it.
"Hey Heith! Pops! Helun! Tiona! Open your eyes and look to your left! Come on you're not gonna want to miss this!" Bell shouted against the rushing wind as Heith pulled herself away from his back. Peeking one eye open to look before she found herself opening both eyes.
They were still sliding down the moss path, but to her left, she saw multiple paths of them. All going into different areas from the upper dungeon levels they ran before. And looking down over the edge she saw that the area opening they saw went deeper as well.
In the center of this large pathway hub was a large rock pillar, with some large fragments of magic stones peeking out or looking embedded inside. Heith saw around the central hub that there were waterfalls coming from parts of the walls and even greenery and fruits growing in places.
"What the hell did you even find Bell!? How has the guild not even noticed this!" Hedin yelled as he nearly fell over. Adjusting his body as he was now trying to steadily steer the board he, Helun and Tiona were on.
"Because the guild follows that idiot sadist stupid rule pops! And she says adventurers don't go on adventures in the dungeon! Imagine the look on her face if she ever saw this fast-traveling pathway center! It's perfect for anyone to get to some of the lower floors in a flash or make an emergency exit!" Bell said as he leaned his body forward, catching up to the others.
"Woah! This can save so much time coming down in the dungeon White Hair! Now I can get better materials for my Urga quicker without having to waste time on the upper levels! What do you call this place!" Tiona asked as she turned around and saw Bell smiling.
"Heh, I call this place The Open World! A fast-traveling hub space where it makes traveling quick and easy if you need to rush to a certain floor! Sadly, there's one bad thing about this place!"
"A-And what is it!? A-Are we going to get off of this soon!" Helun whimpered as she was still hugging Tiona in a vice grip, though the amazon woman didn't seem to mind it.
"Well...okay there's two things wrong with this! First, this thing only goes down to the middle zone of the tenth and eleventh. We gotta shift to the right just a few more feet to take the path and then walk it the rest of the way!" Bell yelled out as Hedin was able to get adjusted to the board.
"And the bad news? Don't tell me we're going to fall off in the eleventh floor!"
"No! See, thing is you might want to brace yourselves! Stopping these things isn't easy!"
"Then how do you stop them!"
"I use my legs and slide the board sideways before! Still end up crashing tho-there! Up ahead, start shifting your bodies! Pops put your legs out in front to use as a break!" Bell said as Hedin turned to see the path now curving right into a tunnel.
Doing as Bell said, they all shifted their bodies to the right as they were coming in through the tunnel now with reduced speed. Hedin in the front could see the dungeon lights left by adventurers against the wall as a guide. Diggin his heels in the dirt as the boards soon started to slow down more.
"Crap, heads up were gonna bump into each other!" Tiona said as she turned to face Bell and Heith's board. Having her hands out to try and cushion their momentum in her hands so they could avoid crashing.
Hedin was able to stop their board as his feet planted themselves against the dungeon's walls. Causing them to bump into each other and Tiona to fall forward. As Bell's feet were scraping the floors of the dungeon, he wasn't expecting for Tiona to fall into him.
Both boards crashed again, as now the party were bumped into each other or fell off the boards they sat on. With Tiona's chest and body now on top of Bell, as he landed on his back and had his hands on her hips, lifting her up a bit by instinct.
"W-We're alive! Thank goodness we're alive. Bell that was terrifying! How are-ah! Ahhh! AHHHH! B-B-B-Bell! Miss Tiona! Y-Your chest! He-His face!" Helun said with a terrified look on her face as she was torn between embaressment from seeing them in that position, or envy that it wasn't her.
"Um...Orga. You okay?" Bell said with a straight face, dispite his face being pressed against her chest. As Tiona was beet red and had her lips puckered into a cute look (0x0).
"Y-Yeah, thanks for the save White Hair. But...your hands are, t-though I'm not complaining since you saved my butt."
"Bell, hands off her ass! You, idiot amazon get your chest off his face!" Hedin butted in as he dusted himself off and scowled at the position those two were in. Pushing his glasses upward as he saw the two idiots scrambling apart and back on their feet.
"These walls...we really are in the mid-point of the eleventh and tenth. The vegetation of the tenth can hide the pathway too. Seems your discovery was true after all." Hedin said as he was honestly surprised that this plan of his actually worked.
"Pops why do you doubt me? Sure I still haven't worked out the issues with The Open World's transport and stopping. But I can figure something out."
"I question if you're still sane, after seeing all this!" Hedin said as he pointed at the wall as the other three noticed the crash dents and even human shaped craters embedded in the walls. The girls looking at Bell, who looked away from them.
"Heith are you positive he doesn't have any brain damage after you healed him?"
"Okay so it's only a few bumps and crashed I made when testing this out! But how can i make an omelet without breaking some egg you know!"
"Knowing you, you'd probably eat the ruined eggs and whatever bad omelet you'd try to make!"
"How absurd pops! Why would I want to catch salmonella?!"
"Because you eat like a glutton and practically inhale whatever's on your plate!"
"Alright you idiots. Quit the father/son bickering for another time. We've got an adventure still no?" Heith butted in as Bell instantly turned to her with a happy smile as Hedin clenched his teeth and growled at her.
"You're right! Lets get this adventure started! There's one monster I wanna fight again on the eleventh!" Bell said as he and Hedin walked together while the others followed them from behind.
Soon entering the Eleventh Floor, The Misty Fields. Descending down the large staircase to enter the floor. Watching large monsters and small ones scowling in the ash-colored grass and even fighting amongst some in packs.
"I'm curious Bell, what kind of monster did you want to hunt here? From what I recall there's not many. Some Kobolds, Almirajas, orcs and ogres, I believe some species called a Armorilez. They're notable in being in large numbers, but I don't see you getting that excited for them." Helun stated as Bell then turned to her side and opened the bag.
Digging in her bag, he found what he had secretly packed and pulled it out. Surprising her as he pulled out a closed jar with a small sack inside and a cork shutting it tight. They all watch as they saw him juggle the bottle in hand before looking down over the stairway.
"Heh...it's not these guys I'm hunting. But rather the one that comes in whenever theres a large gathering of creatures! You might wanna brace for some bad blood spill and smells." He said as he cocked his arm back with the jar in hand. Throwing it down at the monsters below as he aimed for one of the Orcs.
"Hey ugly! All alone, here's something to attract some friends!" He shouted as the jar was flung and smashing against the Orc's head. Glass shards now falling everywhere around it as blood was seeping from the wounds it gave it.
The party's eyes winced as the smell soon reached them until they became use to it. Watching over the ledge as they saw hordes of other monsters soon gathering around the Orc that Bell threw and saw them all fighting each other.
"That jar, it was a Tepsi-Cordal satch?!" Hedin asked as Bell gave him a thumbs up.
"Yeah, I heard that they attract monsters to anything or the bag itself with the stench strong and potent. I knew if I didn't seal it in a jar first, we'd have more monsters following us in the dungeon."
"When did you hide that in my bag!?"
"Right before we left Folkvangr while you were busy talking to Heith. But anyway-"
"Don't do that without warning me first next time please!"
"This'll definitely bring out that guy. But for now, what do you all say to a little contest?" Bell turned to them as he smiled as now, he was seeing the glint in Tiona's eyes and the curious look in Heith's and Hedin's.
"Interesting. What's the rules White Hair?" Tiona asked eagerly as Bell brought out his hatchet and knife out and tightened his hold on them.
"Whoever kills the most monsters until that one comes out wins. And to make things fair, how about doing teams. Losing team has to treat the winners a small snack after were done for the day."
"Bell, when you say small..." Hedin warned him as he was leering at the boy when he mentioned food being part of the prize.
"I mean a small snack like those fried potato snack things. Jagasomething or whatever. Just one of those. I promose!" Bell said as he had his hands appart and up as though he was surrendering to Hedin's scolding look.
"Oh, you mean Jagamaru-kun! Sure I'm up for that as a prize. Aiz'll definitely be jealous when we win!" Tiona said as she wrapped her hands around Helun and Heith as both blinked at the now set team she forced them on.
"U-Um...I don't think this would seem fair for Bell. It's three on two." Helun said as she tried to lessen the hold from Tiona as she felt herself nearly being strangled and hard to breathe.
"Actually, I think this sort of evens it out. I'll be with him and you two are with an executive from Loki's familia. You both could use the help to get more experience in the dungeons anyways." Hedin said as now the two of them couldn't even bother to complain since Hedin practically enforced this team set up.
"Hehe, now that that's settled..." Bell said as he wrapped his arm around Hedin's shoulder. Tightening his hold as he sprung his feet off the ledge. Feeling the weight of Hedin soon following him as he dragged the high elf.
He was too startled to even react as he looked back at the girls to see they were horrified at what Bell was doing. Watching as Bell looked back on them with a grin on his face as he waved at them with his hatchet in hand.
"See you guys at the bottom when we win!"
"E-EHHHHHH!?"
"BELL! YOU MORON! I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS WHEN WE LAND!"
They watched as after a few seconds of falling, both Hedin and Bell were alive. And saw Hedin punting Bell into a crowd of monsters as he yelled at the boy. Running after him as in the distance he was beginning to kill some of the smaller monsters and a few orcs. With Hedin also killing many as he ran towards Bell.
"C'mon! We can't lose to them now ladies! Hold on to your butts!" Tiona said as she lifted them each over her shoulders. Her hands on their waist as she unintentionally did clench their butt cheeks to better hold them and to ensure they wouldn't fall of.
Both girls flustered at the amazon's hands on their rear ends. But soon after they weren't bothered by her touching, rather they were too busy holding onto Tiona's arms and skirt so they wouldn't fall from the speed she was running at to catch up to the boys.
"Ready girls? I'm gonna throw you at that ogre and you two kill it!"
"Are you insaine/NOOO PLEASE!"
"HIYAAAAAH!" Tiona roared as she threw the girls in front of her as she was propelled back a bit by the momentum of her throw. Seeing the girls soaring at the large ogre as it was baffled by them incoming close.
Heith not having any excuse to argue at this point grabbed one of her small daggers and readied it. While Helun held her own throwing knives in her hands and between her fingers as they were drawn closer.
Heith stuck first at the monster. Embedding her dagger deep in its eye as it fell back in pain. Following up Heith's action, Helun was then on top of the monster's obese belly and started to fling her knives into the other eye and into its head.
Having thrown five knives at it and cutting its neck to be sure it died. Soon Helun having to fall on the floor as the monster's body exploded into black dust and all that remained was the knives they each used and the monster's crystal. Helun looking ragged and shaky from the ordeal as she stumbled herself to her own two feet while Heith collected their weapons.
"H-Heeehhhh..AH! Please don't throw us like that again Miss Tiona! I was totally scared! I felt as though my life flashed before my eyes!" Helun said as her throwing knives were shaking from her trembling hands.
"Easy now Helun. Take a deep breath. In through the nose, then out through the mouth." Heith said as to calm down the scared party member as they looked at Tiona now smashing monster's heads in as she came closer to them.
"Sorry. But hey! You two took down a decent ogre together! Not bad for your first monster Helun! You should be proud!"
"Please don't ever do that again! And we have all these monsters too!"
"Easy Helun. We're a party. I'm the healer, so you have nothing to worry about." Heith said as she had her hand on Helun's shoulder and smiled. As the girl looked at her as though she was her savior in these dire times and began to tear up.
"Exactly! If you get in trouble or need help, I'll bash their heads in till they explode!" Tiona said as she grabbed an Orc that was trying to charge at them. Only for the monster to be lifted up by its stomach and punched by Tiona. She threw it back down on the ground as it turned to dust a second later.
"T-That was...unnecessarily brutal." Helun stated as she was slightly amazed, she did that without even looking.
"Huh what was that? Sorry, was thinking about fighting that one monster Bell was looking for." Tiona replied as she blinked in confusion.
"Then get going Orga! You wanna keep us waiting forever before we can see it?" Bell cried from a distance as they turned to see him hopping off Orcs, Ogres and Armorilez. Helun and Heith were amazed at the speed he was going at.
Watching him practically jumping out of joy while slaying monsters with ease. Almost as though he was dancing around through the monsters as the sight of limbs and blood flying in the air was embedded in there eyes.
"Ohh. He's not that bad! That looks pretty cool!"
"I'll admit I was wondering if he was an idiot to take on a horde by himself. But after hearing his experience in the dungeon I had some idea he could handle himself." Hedin said as he walked causally over to Tiona and the others with blood dripping from his staff sword.
"Worried about your son still?" Heith teased as she dodged the swing from his staff as she rolled forward. Noticing a Kobold in front of her, she leaped forward and slit its throat to the point it was decapitated and dropped its crystal and a few claws as item drops.
"Shut it. I don't want to hear it from the losers that will buy my food. And I might allow Bell to order more than he'll restrain himself to take. We're at now...sixty-seven kills." Hedin smirked as he saw the scarred look of Heith and the panicking look of Helun as she began to throw her knives and random bullshit at any monster that was in her line of sight.
"Damnit! We've only got twenty-two! Helun! Heith! We can't let Pops and White Hair beat us! Tripple Time it!"
"Hey! I never gave you permission to call me Pops!"
Before they could argue and Tiona try and attempt to beat Hedin into surrendering the rights to call him Bell's nickname for him, they felt the ground rumbling. Noticing as the monsters stiffened and look around.
Helun even stopping herself from cutting apart an Armorilza by its stomach. And Bell having just finished decapitating five Kobolds with his knife and smacking their heads with his hatchet. They all watched as the monsters around them began running away and their cries heard until there was nothing.
The ground rumbling more and more. As they felt the shakes grow longer. Hedin having picked up another sound due to his ears. Turned and readied his weapon as Tiona cracked her knuckles. Further ahead they saw a towering figure coming closer in the fog.
"Amazon, you noticed it too right?"
"Yeah, whatever's coming has the other adventurers on the floor running away and screaming. You don't think this was because of Bell's monster attraction, right?"
"For something that large it shouldn't have any effect. But maybe our fighting brought it out because of how much blood we've been spilling. Everyone on your guard! Something is-"
"It's here! FINALLY YOU GOT YOUR SCALEY ASS OUT HERE AGAIN!" Bell shouted as he waved his hands in the air in glee as the splashes of monster blood got on his face and armor. Hedin and Tiona blinking in surprise as Heith was preparing her potions and Helun now at the ready to throw her knives again.
From Bell's cry to the monster, a echoing roar sounded off in the dungeon. Causing the walls to shake and some dirt and stalactites to fall around. The fog lifting as the beast came closer to the party.
Now seeing it as it was more visible, Hedin and Tiona's eyes widened in surprise. Heith looked at the creature with sparkles in her eyes just like Bell. And Helun looking at it and then turning to Hedin with tears in her eyes. Looking more watery and bigger than what was even possible.
"A BABY DRAGON!? THAT'S WHAT YOU WERE HUNTING!?" Hedin exclaimed as he turned to Bell as he saw him with that idiotic grin on his face.
"I didn't know baby dragons could even live or form in this level! I thought they only appeared in the fifteenth floor and below! This is an amazing discovery!" Tiona said as her shock turned to pleasant surprise.
"Holy crap Bell this is awesome! Do you know the kinds of medicines I can make from its horns! Hedin! Bell! Go kick its ass!" Heith said as she was preparing her knife and now sharpening it to gather the materials if it was possible.
Helun was shaking on the spot as she looked at the towering beast. Its lower body was on all fours as it came towards them. Having a long neck and its head with scars on its face. Having four horns slicked back, some looking damaged but painted with blood.
"I-Iaaaahhh! Are we even able to take it down! It might be a flightless dragon but its a dragon!" Helun said as she flailed her arms and tears leaking from her eyes as Tiona walked over to her and shook her to calm down.
"I wanted a rematch with this thing after I scowered the eleventh floor. I wasn't able to fight it right since my knives broke. But I made my mark on its face!" Bell said as he pointed his hatchet at its head.
All looking and saw the multitude of scars on its face, one being over its eye and some of the horns looking to be cut off. Bell smiled as he walked forward. Hedin seeing this as he too smiled and readied his sword.
Tiona punching her fist together as she slammed one of them on the floor and squatted down. Heith readying her potions on her hip holster and pulling out a dagger with a golden hilt. Glowing as then ruins formed around her dagger and below her feet.
Helun having lost hope in talking any sense to them, shook her head and slapped her face lightly. Before then readying her hands, now filled with throwing knives. And opening her side of her dress. Revealing strapped to her thighs were rows of throwing knives at the ready for her to use.
"Now it's time for round two! How's about it Pops? Guys? Let's kick this scaly bastards ass and drag its head back to the surface!" Bell said as he had his hatchet resting on his shoulder, pointing the knife at the dragon.
"Heh, I'll admit I'm on board with this idea. I would like to see that moronic Sadist Einas pathetic face when she sees you bring in a dragon's head." Hedin said as he pushed up his glasses.
"Bringing home a dragon's head and eating Jagamaru-kun after a dive! That sounds like fun! I can't wait to make Aiz jealous when I tell her!" Tiona
"I can't wait to make some great potions from those horns! And the money we'll get from bringing its head! Hello vacation money!" Heith said as her magic flared in anticipation and a smirk was on her face.
"I-I..um...I'll do my best to fight it and grow stronger for my lady's wishes!" Helun stuttered out as she wasn't sure what to say after they each said their own desires.
"Alright! Let's end todays dive and our first adventure together, with a hell of a show!" Bell roared as he ran towards the dragon. Hedin and the others soon following. As Heith and Helun was their support from behind.
Distracting the dragon with spells and throwing knives to lightly injure it. Tiona punching it at the legs to cripple the beast. A bone shattering sound echoed, as the monster roared in agony as it fell forward on its knees.
Hedin swinging his sword part of his staff. Sending out large slashing attacks at the dragon's neck. Spurts of blood and the sounds of sickening howling winds gushing around it. Bell smiling as he saw Hedin looking at him. Positioning his sword as a base as he ran faster.
Jumping on the flat side of the sword and readying his kinfe and hatchet. He was startled at the force he felt Hedin now lifting his blade with him on top of it. The wind blowing in his face and now no longer feeling the sword below his feet, but seeing the monster's face growing closer.
"HYAHAHAHA! Kobolds! Orcs! Ogres! Dragons! With all these crystals and drops from them, IT'S GONNA BE AN ALL YOU CAN EAT JAGAMARU TODAY!" Bell laughed happily as he saw the dragon's look of recognition in its eyes.
As it roared, Bell saw a small light in its maw. Making himself smiling even wider as he placed the dagger in his mouth while he now had two hands on his hatchet. Twisting his body as he swung his hatchet down on the monster's nostril. Shutting its mouth down and now running up its face as he jumped at it with dagger in hand, aiming between the eyes.
[Babel Tower: Hephaestus Shop-Top Level]
"This is quite unusual, but at the same time not entirely unexpected. I had anticipated you come by my shop soon for a new weapon to be made for your children." A red headed woman spoke in her seat behind her desk.
Leaning forward with her fingers, donning long black gloves on as she rested her head on top of them. Her red crimson eye, gazing at the person before her with caution. Having to fight the feeling to clench her white button up shirt, but not the nervous shaking her legs had as they shifted against each other, through tight black pants and boots did she habitly move around to try and ease the tension in the air.
"The way you say it makes it feel like you don't like my company. Come now, we've had our nights by the fire before. When you didn't cover that beautiful eye." The woman spoke with a teasing tone, making the red haired woman stutter as she slammed her hands on the desk.
"Just tell me, what are you looking for exactly, Freya?" She asked as Freya smiled, crossing one leg over the other while Ottar could only sigh in a tired tone at both god's antics. Already used to it as it's happened before, but never does it get any easier.
"Why Hephaestus, you said it yourself. I'm usually here for a weapon to give to my child. But this one we recently brought in to my familia, is quite different." Freya said as now Hephaestus was begining to take interest.
"Diffrent how? Sure, many of your members are different but-"
"He's the first mortal that's completely immune to my charms." Freya said as now Hephaestus was shocked. So shocked she couldn't stop herself as her body continued to lean back further and further. Until she fell on the floor along with the chair.
"H-How did he-? No, why would you even-?"
"Because he's different. If I were to describe him, I'd say he's a wild child. In both heart and soul. With him around, I've noticed the joys I first felt when we descended upon the world. Each of us eager and excited to bless our children." Freya spoke as she looked at the burning fire place that was in the office.
"It's only been a little over a week, close to two I think, since he's joined but already exceeding mine and many of my executive's expectations. Which is why I've come here to do business Hephaestus." She said as she turned back to her, with her eyes glowing a deep purple in mischief.
"Tsk, alright. I'll have Tsubaki work on it and oversee the project myself. Just tell me what-"
"No. I believe you're mistaken about my business here Hephaestus." Freya interrupted her as she leaned her body forward. Her silver hair draping on her sides as she steadied both her elbows on her knee. Making a resting spot with her hands as she rested her chin on it.
"I want you, and you alone, to make my Bell's own weapon. A weapon made by you, that will grow with him. And it won't just be made by your own hands. But with a piece of me as well." Freya said, with an innocent smile and flushed cheeks on her face.
But to Hephaestus, it was as though that smile, was otherworldly and terrifying beyond comprehension.