I'm no Hero
I do not own Danmachi
Chapter 7 Boss Battle
"Bell Cranel" POV
Looking at the gigantic Monster Rex I felt myself freeze as its red eyes home onto me. "Ugh." I sputtered as its arm was extending out to me. I felt my breathing start to waver, get faster and shallower.
I tried regaining my breath as I felt myself tackled and let out a sound that I couldn't recognize.
"Bell!" I was getting yelled at by the person I saw in front of me. I made her out to be the blonde-haired pink-wearing elf. My breathing continued not letting up even after seeing the Goliath take its arm back up to look at us again.
"It's no good Bell! Bell! Snap out of it!" Lefiya yelled at my face as I felt my breath start to slow just a bit.
"It's no use he's having a panic attack!." Mikoto yelled back but I questioned her mentally as I felt my vision start to cloud.
I saw my shaking hand then at the Goliath and then at the people I was adventuring with dodging the Monster Rex's attacks.
"Bell please we need you, you can't let it end like this." My vision started to fade but I was suddenly slapped my face turning red as a slap impacted my face by the angry but worried Elf.
"That…Hurt Lefiya…" I groped my right cheek as Lefiya smiled and I grabbed her and jumped away from the Goliath's fist slamming into where we were.
"Thanks…" I look away not wanting to look at her straight.
"I'm sorry but I was really worried about you back you know when I yelled at you." Lefiya looked abashed and so did I but this was the Dungeon it didn't allow moments like this to last.
"Thanks for caring…but let's talk about this after we kill this thing." I smile once more feeling myself prop up as I stared at the big lug and de Mikoto looking over to us with a smile.
'Maybe our relationship is fickle as it is now but I think it will turn out alright.' I moved from where we were as I felt Goliath's eyes on me. I remembered what I was feeling as I threatened to go back to panicking but I swallowed my saliva and stood at the ready.
"Any orders Lefiya you've fought this thing," I ask as Lefiya jumps over a fist coming at her.
"We are currently under-leveled and have no real plan but I think I have an idea," Lefiya said moving away from the Goliath.
"Mikoto uses your magic and Bell you're with me, Ouka, and the rest assist by being our eyes." Everyone nodded before having to spread out having the Goliath roar.
"Bell!" Lefiya yelled at me as I skipped around reaching her before having to jump on another fist and run up the giant's arm.
"Bell carry me!" Lefiya ordered me as I looked at her shocked before she jumped on my back having to slow down her running for me to reach her.
"Sorry I can't concurrent chant yet but thanks for letting me use you." I heard Lefiya comment and I nodded before continuing my run.
"Unleashed streak of light, bow limbs of the holy tree. You are an expert on the bow. Shoot, sniper of the fairies." Lefiya started chanting until I had to jump having the Goliath swipe its arm away making me airborne.
"Bell Look out!" I heard Welf's voice as I turned to the redhead on the ground and then to where he was looking to see the gigantic hand making its way to backhand me.
"Keep Going Lefiya!" I yelled throwing her up just above the hand as I felt my electricity surge before shooting away from the middle of the hand but I wasn't fast enough.
I curled around its pinky finger shooting me towards the floor I impacted. I let out a groan then I hunch over and throw up a ton of blood. I felt my vision and head become fussy once more.
'Aww fuck I'm sure I've broken so many bones how am I not dead."
"Bell!!" I heard everyone yelling about me as I lay my back on the wall to rest slightly.
"Penetrate, arrow of absolute accuracy!" Lefiya yelled shooting out her spell.
"Arcs Ray!" At that multiple magic circles of multiple Arcs Rays she's held out showed themselves as they shot all straight towards the Goliath's head.
The Goliath seeing the bright light covered it with both of his arms making an X from his forearms taking a majority of the damage.
"No way," Lefiya muttered just as the Goliath roared in pain and went to slap her out of the air but she was caught by Mikoto.
"Mikoto what are you doing I ordered you to chant your spell!" Lefiya yelled but suddenly stopped feeling their weight shift and Mikoto kicked off the wall and landed on the floor.
"Sorry, but you needed the help plus our pure fire chance at winning this losing would give us no hope other than." Mikoto looked over towards the direction I was in as I saw a quick glimpse before I was called to.
"Master Bell." I heard a voice call out to me it being Lily as she held me looking at the Goliath
"I think we should retreat we're not suited for this type of battle and we're under-leveled the only way we have a chance at defeating it is by the Thousand Elf and yet I don't see that happening since she's not even at the Goliath's level either," Lily said holding my hand to squeeze to try and hide the pain like I was in a doctor's.
"Hehehe…sorry yes we can retreat to the 18th floor it being safer than going up the dungeon once more but then we would have to wait until the Loki Familia or Freya Familia come to take care of the Goliath a couple of days later but I can't wait that long I promised that I would take my Goddess to dinner." I felt the glow on my hand of Fuchsia and gold appear as it flooded my body giving me strength.
"Rah!" I heard multiple battle cries as I heard another roar from the Goliath as it raised its injured hands.
"Damn we're hitting the weak spot but damn!" Welf said annoyed now having to attack with Ouka as the melee fighters for the time being.
"Chant your magic Mikoto," Lefiya said looking at her with a serious expression and Mikoto nodded.
They both look over at me and I see them look at my glowing hand.
"I think there's a light in the tunnel." Mikoto turned her attention to Goliath and started Chanting.
"I respectfully speak to you, my War God that can break through anything, lead me from the precious heaven." She began as Lefiya prepared her spell.
"Dance around the spirit of the atmosphere, lord of light. Contract with the guardian of the forest, and envelop us with the song of the land. Surround us become a great barrier of forest light and protect us - my name is Lefiya! Via Shilheim!" Lefiya yelled having a barrier appear to block the Goliath's foot slamming into both of them.
"Give my petty body divine power of your grand body. Rescue them the light of purification, the sword of crushing evil. Sweep sword of suppression, sacred sword of conquest. It arrives here now with my order. Descend from heaven, rule the earth - Shinobu tousei! Futsunomitama!" Mikoto finished her chant before a magic sickle encompassed the Goliath making the Monster Rex howl as it was being squished.
"Take all of my Mind!" Mikoto yelled as the Goliath tried to use its hand to try and squish Mikoto but Ouka and Welf appeared and with a slice at the wrist its hand was cut off exploding in white as the Goliath's eyes widened in pain and roared once again.
"This is the last of the magic reserves I leave the rest to you Bell!" Lefiya yelled as I gave her my attention and I looked towards my hand and then at my sheathed blade.
"Harbinger of the end, the white snow. Blow with the wind before the twilight. Closing light, the freezing land. Blizzard, the three severe winters - my name is Lefiya! Wynn Fimbulvetr!" Lefiya chanted once more encasing the Goliath's body in ice.
"Go Bell!" Lefiya yelled with the last of her strength as Welf caught her and Ouka backing up as she used them as her seat to see.
I encompassed my full body in my electricity feeling the extra speed and strength of my magic I felt myself flow even more but it was a contained glow-like aura of gold and Fuchsia being equalized as I used my skill all over my body.
'I have one chance.' I ran forward with a grunt as I ran at the speeds of a level 2 towards the Goliath's neck's ice shell cracked slightly but did not move as I saw a rock next to the Goliath in the magic circle get crushed from additional pressure.
'Thanks, Mikoto.' I look at the girl and wink at her before returning my attention to the Goliath which now was completely still.
I started to pull the Chokutō from its sheath to see it had electricity sparkling on the blade as my eyes sparked before reaching the Goliath's vulnerable neck.
I sliced with all my strength sinking my blade into the Monster Rex's strong skin as an ark of lightning shot out from the sword into the Goliath cutting its head off exploding into white and leaving a gigantic Magic stone one made for a monster its size.
I deactivated my magic and skill as I sheathed my sword like nothing happened as I looked over to the groups I gave them a thumbs up with the last of my strength before letting it go and having my vision go black.
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I woke up laughing on green grass, I only grasped my surroundings suddenly before I heard a voice call my name.
"Master Bell your awake." I looked to my side to see Lily and Welf who were further away coming towards us.
"Do you have an idea how long I was out," I ask the prum in disguise and she puts her hand on her chin.
"I have no clue but it's the night time at the surface. " she pointed at the large ceiling and the stones at the top of the floor emulated that of the night sky.
"Hey…where Lefiya…" I asked them and they perked up before pointing in a direction.
I got up shakily ready to go but I had to lean against a tree to stand until Welf held me before hunching over and letting me get into a piggyback ride.
I reached my hand back to see the lack of the pouch that I had brought with Lefiya and Mikoto before I looked at Lily pretending nothing was wrong.
"Oi Lily give me my pouch and weapon I know you have it in there," I ask Lily who looked at me skeptically before seeing the seriousness in my eyes before grabbing at a packet and throwing it towards me.
"Hey, Bell I asked Little Bit to carry you're stuff while you were out don't get angry at her if you want to get angry at anyone then get angry at me," Welf said wanting to protect Lily from my wrath I kept my steady gaze on Welf and he gave me one right back.
"Master Welf…" Lily muttered feeling a bit of relief.
"Alright." I slapped two fingers on his neck making a loud neck slap.
"Aahh! What the hell was that!" Welf screamed taking off one of his arms that supported me to rub the place I hit.
"You're punishment dumbass you deserve it," I said indignantly with my eyes closed though I felt the edge of my mouth start shifting up.
"So you think you leveled up," I asked Welf as he carried me towards the area where Lefiya was.
"Who knows though I hope so I know you're getting to level two from what I've seen I was right to put all my chips on you." Welf used a gambling metaphor to emphasize how happy he was.
I just gave him a dead look that he didn't look back at as we stopped.
"Should be around here," Welf muttered more to himself than to me which made me question something.
'Why was I alone.' We heard the voices of the girls of our expedition other than Lily as I pat Welf on his shoulder to signal him to let me down.
"Here let me down I can walk the rest," I said to Welf as he looked back at me for a second before asking me a question.
"You think you can make it to where they are or wherever they are." Welf kept his eyes on me wanting confirmation and I nodded silently.
"I'll make it," I told Welf and he let me down.
I landed on my feet a bit shakily and started walking holding onto anything I could as Welf left the way we came from probably to set up camp.
The other guys I could only think that they were checking out Rivira right about now.
I continued walking until I saw a tiny pond of water with the girls I was trying to find inside it.
"Ahh." I accidentally made a noise which made everyone look over at me in disbelief and I saw all of them start to turn red with embarrassment and try to hide themselves.
" I-I'm sorry…I-I'll talk to you later." I covered my eyes with my hand before turning around and walking off. I felt myself going red before a sudden nausea hit me and I felt the urge to throw up hit me.
I buckled and fell on the floor throwing up blood as I pressed on my stomach to release all the blood I had inhaled after being out.
With how much blood I had thrown up it's no wonder it took me so much strength just to walk. Hell, how did I not die from the blood loss or the amount of blood I had taken I could have drowned.
I grab myself my second mind potion and chug it feeling the surge of mama fill me up I felt my headache that I'd been feeling reduce.
'I should go relax maybe I'll take another nap.' I heard my stomach grumble before muttering to myself that all the food where in the bags that I didn't have.
'Where's Lily.'
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I laid now on the trunk of a tree eating a bit of rations to recover some of my strength which had all been dispensed at my time in the dungeon.
I was sent into the wall for God's sake. Now that I think about it, it was about time the Goliath had respawned right after the Loki Familia ran into all those Minotaurs.
I only could eat the rest of my rations as I heard a couple of footsteps.
Out of the many trees came Mikoto and Lefiya walking towards me there were clothes on. The memories of walking in on them suddenly popped up in my mind for a second and I suppressed a blush. I looked away slightly but they didn't question me as I greeted them.
"It's good to see you guys are well." I avoided referring to them by their names for being a bit too formal which ended up working as Lefiya smiled.
"Better I had passed out due to mind down," I questioned her with an eyebrow raised.
"Well, apparently mind or mana is also partially attributed to Endurance it being Durability and stamina in your stats so while I was stuck training inside studying Magic which helped grow my Magic fast it didn't help the amount of magic I could do especially after my multiple shots of Arcs Ray that I had shot out and my healing of our party I don't usually do that many people at a time and now I have to do you again." I heard Lefiya sigh as I thought back over the series and the definition of "Endurance" in my mind and nodded as I grabbed my pouch and threw the last of my mind potions Ais had given me.
"Aren't these the ones Miss Ais gave you I can't take these." Lefiya looked at the blue liquid in the vial before looking at me and I just shrugged not minding it.
"I don't think Bell will back down about it Lefiya," Mikoto mentioned to Lefiya and I just smiled. Lefiya felt slightly off but huffed and opened the cork before chugging the vial of blue in a brief second.
As soon as Lefiya changed her healing spell and saw me glow green and have my fatigue disappear I could finally stand up without much trouble.
But I almost fell over again until Mikoto caught me.
"Sorry, my healing heals injuries but it can't help you with all the blood you lost," Lefiya stated and I nodded.
"Though are you really alright we saw how much blood you lost if that pile is anything to say Bell," Mikoto questioned while I was leaning on her.
"I feel sorta empty and cold probably the blood loss." I look towards the sky seeing it dark I just sigh. "I'm guessing dinner time has passed," I question no one in particular.
"Yes yes, it has." I heard a voice I hadn't heard since the morning and a blonde-haired girl that I had seen before stood there in her armor and a replacement sword strapped onto her side.
"Miss Ais what're you doing here." Lefiya verbally questioned as me and Mikoto were looking at Ais in shock.
"Riveria asked me to come looking for you after not returning after the time she expected you to come back. She sent me and went to inform your God and Goddess." As mentioned now her eyes flickering to me.
"What happened to you," her eyebrow raised but all I did was give her an annoyed glance.
"Why don't you round up everyone so we could go to the surface." I moaned at her and she nodded.
"Alright, but Lefiya…I'm glad nothing bad happened to you." Ais said with a smile appearing on her face which made Lefiya slightly blush at the scene.
"Of course Miss Ais I'll stand next to you and then surpass you so I can't die not yet." Lefiya's giant smile was the only thing that took my mind off questioning her words of "Surpass."
"But I do need to talk to Bell alone and I think Mikoto is involved with it as well. " Lefiya made a motion to mention Mikoto and Ais nodded before walking off.
"Hey Bell…" Lefiya started after Ais had left us to our own devices.
I felt myself being hugged by a crying Lefiya who had thrown her arms around me letting out tears.
"How could you make me worry about you but why did you look like that back in the dungeon and why did you have a panic attack Bell it's…so unlike you." Lefiya ended and Mikoto nodded wanting to know herself.
"That I…I thought after our argument and my answer that you wouldn't want to be friends and then I fell into a rabbit hole with my thoughts about how fickle our relationship is and it made me question a lot and feel a lot of things I didn't like and I started to stress out that I'm glad my hairs already white and then when I saw the Goliath my anxiety spiked and caused a …panic attack." I finished with a diagnosis as I looked down feeling slightly ashamed but I heard a laugh from the girl holding me up.
"Well of course we aren't going to be the best of friends right away Bell but I can tell you that I care about you and please don't forget it." I looked up at Mikoto when she said that and I smiled unknowingly shedding a small tear.
"Yeah, we fought but…that's what friends do and please don't forget we care about you Bell." Lefiya's hand caressed my cheek where my tears had fallen as we stared into each other's eyes seemingly enamored with each other's gaze.
I heard Mikoto's cough which brought both me and Lefiya out of our trance as I felt my heart start to beat a little bit faster due to the embarrassment.
"You guys tend to forget about everyone around you a lot don't you." Mikot sighed before Lefiya replied her face turning slightly red.
"You're one to talk you do that with Bell too!" Lefiya pouted at Mikoto which made me smile and look down.
'I have friends here now…I'm not alone anymore Goddess so you don't need to worry about me." I couldn't help but look up seeing the Sword Princess spying on us from the shadow her blonde hair being the only thing I could see as it was a big contrast to everything around her.
I turn my head back at the two girls and I smile at them gaining their attention and they smile back.
"We should get going Ais-San," I say out loud which makes Lefiya and Mikoto's eyes widen as they look at me full of confusion.
"Alright," Ais said coming from the bushes before looking at Lefiya.
"Lefiya you'll be with me at Vanguard," Ais told Lefiya and she nodded before going to collect everyone.
"Was she watching all of that?" Lefiya turned to me and I looked away remembering the glare that Ais had given me she probably didn't notice that or the frown she gave me.
"I have no clue"
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"The surface air feels so much better than the moistness of the dungeon's middle floors." I stretched my hands as I walked next to Mikoto us being the people at the back to secure the group I was the last one to step outside and was subsequently hugged by a shorter person than me.
"Goddess it's nice to see you and before you say it I'm sorry for worrying you," I said to her and Hestia looked a bit shocked knowing what she was going to say was a bit predictable at this point.
Hestia pouted at me before checking all around me for any damage but all my armor was damaged. I look over to Welf who had gotten the armor scrapes that I had gotten destroyed in the battle with the Goliath.
"Here let me escort you towards the guild who knows what lurks around at night," Ais said looking at the night-filled city with only a couple of street lights that helped illuminate the area.
We walked through the streets filled with nothing but quiet and darkness. I felt Hestia's hand wrapped around mine as I stood protectively with her. I felt something like a prescience of someone watching us or…me.
'They might be waiting until we separate or something but damn I can't have a break now can I?!' I shouted inside my mind as I kept my mouth closed but underneath my teeth gritted in anger.
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"You went on an expedition towards the 18th floor." Eina my very troublesome advisor said behind her desk as she took off her glasses to stare at me without them.
"Yeah, we achieved our goal though with a price." I look over at most of my armor being destroyed. I look at the lights of the guild building it being one if not the only building still in working hours having 24 hours worth of work but they do have tons of days they could get off work more like sick leave.
Eina looked at me with disbelief and Welf who was talking to his advisor the girl I knew as Rose was next to us Welf grabbed a Minotaur horn he kept in his pocket.
"Bell got this one for me he got a couple of drops for me." Welf pointed at me and both advisors looked at me and I just shrugged.
"Tell me your status right now Bell Cranel." Eina's eyes kept a serious stare at me as I rolled my eyes.
"Don't you roll your eyes at me again young man?" Eina scolded me yet I kept my attention to my Goddess and she nodded.
"Fine if it'll get you off my back then alright," I said as Eina smiled victoriously but I just grunted my annoyance showing at its peak.
I walked to a secure spot in the guild with my Goddess and Eina as I took off my bodysuit top for them to see my back.
After making my Falna visible Hestia stepped back for Eina to read them before I got updated.
I couldn't see behind me but when I heard muttering then a shift before Eina asked Hestia a question.
"Did you…modify Bell, Hestia-Sama he shouldn't be growing this fast at all he has 3 S-rank attributes in only two weeks hell he was still on the 3rd floor until last week what did you do." Eina questioned Hestia as she looked at me and I looked back at her and put on my top once more.
"Hey, I wasn't done." Eina retorted and I just sighed.
"My Goddess never modified me if that's the question you're asking she would never plus I don't think she knows what that is," I said when we turned to see her in a thinking pose.
"O-oh" Eina's sweat dropped before I started to walk away towards the group of people in front of the exchange station and a multitude of bags.
"Bell here you go." Ouka threw me a tightly sealed bag filled with Valis as I tilted my head and he smiled.
"100,000 Valis even split with us all." I nodded before looking down at the bay and smiling before another bag hit my head.
"Sorry…" I looked up at the perpetrator to see Lefiya with a hurt expression as I grabbed the bag that fell on the floor.
"It's fine." I handed the bag to her before she walked up and pushed it into my grasp at my chest.
"Keep it Bell I know you need the money more than I do," Lefiya said and I looked at the second bag and then at her and smiled.
"Thanks, Lefiya I appreciate it." I saw Hestia walking toward us after having her answer about what modification of a child was and looked interested.
"Hey, Goddess." I turned to her and gave her the money.
"Huh," Hestia's eyes widened feeling how much was in the bags.
"This is" Hestia muttered as I grabbed her and held her in a hug.
"200,000" was a simple number but a number that made the embrace with Hestia all the better.
I felt something wet hit my cheeks at I noticed it was my hot tears of happiness I opened my eyes to see a multitude of people looking towards us but honestly, I didn't care the only ones I did were my Goddess and friends.
"Here I won't go to the Dungeon tomorrow we can upgrade our home would that sound good to you." Hestia nodded before opening her eyes to notice all the eyes on them as she quickly separated from me feeling embarrassed.
"We should get going Hestia-Sama." I nudge feeling overwhelmed with happiness we left the guild with a smile.
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We walked home under the shadows of the night when something that came to mind hit me like Truck-Kun
'Weren't there people following us?" I thought when I heard multiple sounds come from all around us as I grabbed onto Hestia's hand tightly and jumped back from a slash from a double-sided battle-axe as 3 more people all smaller than me with an all assortment of weapons all in black clothing with small match ups of armors landed down where I was where another person with a spear that seemed to be the leader with a black mask covering his face but not his car ears.
'Freya Familia.' I internally curse the name as beneath my calm exterior was intense hatred and anger ready to be unleashed.
"Goddess…" I mutter to Hestia who looked shook as I push her back.
"Go home…you don't want to see this." I give my newly earned money to Hestia and push her to start running.
'Sorry Goddess but I can't promise you I'll come back alive.' I look specifically at the smaller than me Cat person it being someone I didn't know their name but I did know he was level 6.
I pull out my blade it needing maintenance as the edge itself seemingly had a hardened appeal as it looked somewhat cracked.
'You're kidding…' my teeth gritted together as I looked at the 4 smallest people who started walking towards me with caution.
I inhaled and exhaled before shouting what was screaming in my mind.
"Come and get me you Assholes!"
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End Chapter