The blinding white light dimmed down and allowed Bell to see. He knew he was in a dungeon, but it looked like nothing he'd ever seen before.
Around him was a giant screen in front of multiple rows of chairs. The carpet was red and felt dirty.
He could feel how dirty it was even with his shoes on.
"Where the hell am I?" Bell wondered.
A movie theater
"A what?"
A movie theater, a place where people watch moving pictures
"How is that even possible?"
Different world, different technology. Don't worry too much about it
Kneeoil: Well, well, what's this? A Bell has invaded my kingdom
"Why are you talking like that?"
Kneeoil: Like what? This is how I normally talk.
"Like that, you're talking weirdly."
Kneeoil: Well, you're rude
"And you talk funny."
Kneeoil: Alright, enough of this, Bell! Since you so rudely barged into my world, we're gonna play a little game. It's your job to come and find me. Once you do, you'll be able to lead this place.
"And you can't just send me back now because-
Kneeoil: Because you're incredibly rude and so out of character.
"Character?"
Kneeoil didn't respond, and Bell just threw his hands in the air.
"Great, just great."
Bell then took out his 1911 and began walking to the exit of the theater. He pushed the door open and walked through, seeing he was in another empty theater.
"What the hell?"
Kneeoil: Surprise, looks like you forgot this is called a labyrinth. I control what happens here. You're in my domain now.
"Oh, I can already tell this is gonna be annoying," Bell muttered.
Well looks like we're gonna get annoyed real quick
Bell walked to the exit again and pushed the door open. Again he walked through only to end up the same place he did last time.
Kneeoil: Uh oh, looks like you're back again. Hey, next time you leave, can you pick up some milk
"I'm shooting this fucker when I see him," Bell thought.
I wholeheartedly agree
Bell walked to the exit again as the projector started to play something on the screen. Bell opened the door and walked through it again, and ended up in the same place again. But he stopped this time as he saw himself on the screen.
But no, this wasn't him. He was different. He was wearing an armor he had never seen before and was fighting a black Minotaur.
He watched as a strange white glow covered a greatsword, and the Minotaur prepared to charge. He watched the two run toward each other, which he thought was dumb.
Why run headfirst into a charging Minotaur?
The horn and greatsword collided, and he watched himself struggle before being thrown into the air, fall down, be caught by the Minotaur's fist, and thrown down Babel.
"Next time, will be our final battle. Bell Cranel," the Minotaur said.
Bell's eyes widened in shock.
Did that monster just talk?
The screen shifted again, and this time showed Bell fighting a tall man whose skin was a purplish black. He had horns on top of his head and long black fingernails.
Bell could feel the malice coming off him from here.
The screen switched again, and Bell saw another version of himself.
He was much taller than he was here and had a black greatsword on his back covered in runes. He saw himself in the dungeon with a fox girl and a red-haired man with-
Wait, why were Rye, Fena, and Roix in the dungeon? He'd never let them go there.
The screen switched again and again, showing different versions of Bell. Bell just stood there and watched all these different versions of himself.
He saw one version of himself that he especially hated.
"So I fall in love with one girl who has the emotional range of a rock, then a whole bunch of other girls pine after me, but I'm too much of a coward around women to do anything. Man, that guy is such a pussy"
More and more versions of Bell played on screen. Some where he was good. Some where he was bad.
All of these scenarios messed with Bell's sense of self, however. What made him so special if there were so many other Bells out there.
The projector then switched again, showing Bell in a hospital this time. He had two scars going across his right cheek and one going down his left eye.
The Loki familia was standing across from them, and Bell looked at them in anger.
Why was he angry at them? He met some of them and thought they were nice.
Good afternoon Mr. Leywin. My name is Finn Demine. I'm the captain of the Loki familia," he said, sounding like a diplomat. Bell cringed hearing his last name.
"Just call me Bell. Don't want to hear that name," Bell replied.
"Very well, Bell."
"Why are you here," Bell asked. He didn't want to talk to any of them.
"Well, it is my understating that you and my familia might not be on the best of terms."
"That's an understatement," Bell spat. Finn cringed at his tone of voice.
Damnit, Bell, keep calm. Keep calm.
"Ok, you're angry; that's understandable. But there is no reason we can't be civil about this and have a conversation," he said.
"We're talking now, and I'm not screaming my lungs out at you. Now get to the point and ask the question I know you're wanting to ask the most" Bell could see the busty Amazon behind Finn getting mad. Finn sensing this cleared his throat.
"Very well, I guess you're not one for small talk. Are you going to be a threat to my familia" he asked, his face turning serious.
"Depends. You gonna banish me too."
Bell saw Loki and her big three cringe.
"Or better yet, maybe you'll kill me. Why else would you bring your executives."
At that, her executives cringed.
"But I'll answer truthfully. I really don't know what I want to do about you. It's well within my mind to kill you all if I wanted" This put them on guard, with each of them getting into a fighting stance.
"But that wouldn't do anyone any good. It would just bring about another dark age, and that's not what I want."
"Maybe I'll forgive you. Let bygones be bygones" This put them at ease.
"But I don't want to do that either."
Again they were on guard.
"No, I don't want to do that. You got my mother killed in your quest for greed and lust for power. So to answer your question 'Braver,' I don't know what I want to do," Bell answered.
"Besides, I have more pressing matters that need my attention than fake heroes."
The screen then went dark as Bell stood there in shock.
.
.
.
.
Kneeoil: You see, Bell, in every version of yourself, I just showed you one thing remains the same. Loki and Freya kick out the Zeus and Hera familia after their failure to kill the one-eyed black dragon. Your father died fighting the dragon as he was a member of the Zeus familia. But your mother was sickly and stayed back. She was Hera's favorite child. After their banishment, your mother was unable to access the medicine she needed and died giving birth to you.
Kneeoil: You killed your mother, Bell. It was you and only you.
Bell just stood there, his 1911 in hand, as he stared at the black screen, unmoving.
"And Loki and Freya did the same with me," Bell asked after a long silence.
Kneeoil: That is correct, some circumstances are different, and you ended up in an orphanage instead of with your adoptive Grandpa. But everything else happened as it normally did.
Bell just started to laugh and felt an odd sense of calm wash over him.
He had finally gotten the answer he had been wanting since he was a boy. But who would've thought he'd get them like this?
Kneeoil: Uh oh, looks like I broke him. Hmm, oh well, I didn't like this Bell too much anyway. Too bloodthirsty. He's also growing too fast for his story to be interesting.
Bell then aimed his gun at the projector and pulled the trigger. He heard a body drop to the ground and a notification pop up.
Dungeon cleared
120,000 XP
700,000 gold
Persuasion: Ability to convince an enemy to join you. Only works once per day however
Showing stats
Bell Cranel
Level 125
HP: 30,000
Strength: 120
Agility: 135
Intelligence: 130
MP: 1,000
Luck: 252
Sense: 150
Guns (25/?)
Blades( 25/?)
Duel wield (32/?)
Callback
Unlimited ammo
Thick skin
Magic reload
Fire bending
Persuasion
You gonna be ok, buddy
Bell was quiet for a moment as he put his gun away.
"Maybe, maybe not. I find it hard to feel things at this point."
That might actually be my fault
"How so?"
To help you not have a mental breakdown when killing so many, I've made your mental fortitude very strong. That could stunt your emotions
"Oh, well, thanks, I guess."
.
.
.
.
A blinding white light then filled Bell's eyes, and once it cleared, he was back in Orario. It was nighttime, and the streets were quiet.
Find somewhere to stay the night. I'll have another dungeon ready as soon as possible. Keep an eye out for Evilus though
Bell nodded and began walking into the damp and dark alleyway.
"Finally found you, little rabbit."
Man, today is just not your day
Bell stopped and slowly turned his head around, seeing Revis standing across the street from him.
"I see you found yourself a little emotion, Revis," Bell replied, his eyes looking dead and tired.
"You look worse than when I tortured you."
Bell was quiet as he stood across from Revis.
"What, nothing to say?"
"What is it you want, Revis" Bell asked.
"To take you back, my lord is still curious about you."
Since Bell has grown a lot stronger since he last saw Revis, he decided to use observe on her again.
Revis
Level: 125
Creature
A high-ranking member of Evilus, Revis possesses little to no free will of her own. She doesn't mind being controlled by the one who she sees as her lord, therefore, allowing her to have little to no emotion
"Revis, how were you created."
Revis was a little caught off guard by this.
Why did he want to know about her?
"Why do you want to know about me? Is it so you can find my weakness?"
Bell sighed as he shook his head.
"No, I don't feel like fighting, hell I kinda just want to sleep. Had one of those types of days, if you know what I mean."
Revis was quiet for a minute as she stared at the boy. She hadn't gotten close to breaking him when she tortured him, she could tell.
So what made him have that dead look in his eyes?
"I don't remember much. I remember being eaten by monsters and being torn limb from limb. Then waking up and not feeling much of anything. I just felt like listening to the person who was my lord."
Revis didn't know why the words were flowing out of her mouth. Maybe she could have a dialogue with Bell before they fought.
"Even if it meant living your life as a slave?"
Revis was quiet for a moment.
"Yeah, I guess. I mean, it doesn't sound too bad."
Bell looked at Revis, who touched her arm and slightly looked away from Bell.
"Revis, how else did you repay the person who saved you?"
Revis put her hand down and looked at Bell.
"Take a guess. I've seen myself in the mirror. I know I'm desirable for most men."
"I see, have you ever regretted anything you've done?" Bell asked.
Revis was quiet again as she thought of her answer. Why was she so inclined to answer this boy? Why did she feel like telling him everything about her?
"Only one thing"
"And that is?"
"Not killing you when I had the chance."
Bell nodded his head.
"Do you want to kill me now?
Revis stared at Bell, her hand on her sword.
"Not really, no," she said, taking her hand off it.
"Revis, do you care at all who your lord is?"
Silence again. A lot of silence had filled this conversation. But Bell wasn't exactly asking easy questions.
"Why do you ask?"
"Just curious"
"Well, I don't really care who my lord is. As long as they tell me what to do, I'll listen."
"That doesn't seem like a fulfilling life."
"My life is no longer my own. Whoever my lord is can control me however they please."
"What if I became your lord and actually gave you a life worth living."
Revis scoffed.
"Like I'd listen to some mere boy."
Bell looked her in the eyes as he spoke.
"You and I both know I'm no mere boy. Not anymore"
Bell's voice was calm and collected. Revis would be a useful ally in his fight against the others. All he had to do was play his cards right.
"And what exactly would I be doing for you if you were my lord? Would you enact all your dirty little fantasies on me?"
"Well, no, that'd be wrong. I'd ask you to keep an eye on someone for me. Or rather people I care about for the most part."
"And when I'm not watching them?"
"Then you'd be free to do what you want. Assuming you'd stay under the radar, of course."
Revis thought about the deal for a second. She didn't know why but this deal made by a boy she tortured sounded really good to her.
All she would have to do is keep an eye on a few people and do what she wanted when Bell was around them. She hasn't had this much freedom since-
Wait, when was the last time she did anything she wanted?
Or anything she liked? What did her hobbies use to be? Had she been so focused on her work with the Demi spirit and whatever Enyo was planning? That she didn't do anything outside of work?
What a sad life she's lived after getting a second chance.
"Very well, boy. I shall become your puppet instead," Revis said as she took a knee.
Persuasion attempt success: Revis is now under your command.
"Get up no need for that kneeling stuff," Bell said.
Revis stood up and walked to Bell, standing in front of her new master.
"Your first order of business will be to go to the church in the middle of Daedalus Street. It's a rundown one, so you'll know it when you see it. In that church are three orphans and their caretaker. You will watch over them and protect them if needed, but you are to otherwise stay out of sight. Understood"
Revis nodded her head.
"Good, also make sure the caretaker gets this money along with this note that I want them moving into a house. Once they acquire a house, I want you to still watch over them, am I understood."
"Yes, master"
"Alright, now get going. Make sure you stay off the radar as well."
Revis gave a bow before jumping up to the rooftop and disappearing into the shadows.
Well looks like that new skill came in handy
"Yeah, looks like it. Well, I have some things to think about. Let me know when that next dungeon is open."
Alright, kid. Sorry for damping your emotions
"It's alright. I can still feel them most of the time. But I do have a question that's been bothering me."
What is it
"Whenever I fight, I feel like a switch is being flipped. Do you know why that's happening?"
When you fight, most of your emotions are put aside to allow maximum operations efficiency. However, you can still experience them in combat if it gets intense enough
"So it's like I'm a soldier. Except I didn't go to boot camp and have my sense of self yelled out of me," Bell joked.
Yeah, something like that
Bell then walked down the alleyway and looked for an abandoned house to sleep in.
.
.
.
.
"Hmm, so this is where the boy is. This city looks different from what I've seen."
The figure looked across the city of Orario, a severed arm with a bite mark on the hand.
"Now, where exactly in this city are you?"
The figure tossed the arm away and jumped off the roof and onto another one. They kept jumping and jumping until they saw the pleasure district.
"Well, if there's one place to find information. A prostitute would be the best one to ask"
Mission: Kill Bell Cranel
Reward: Ability to go home
"Wherever you are, boy. I will find you, and I will make sure our battle is swift and leave this world of gods and humans living amongst each other."
The figure then jumped off the roof and headed to Belit Babeli.
In case you didn't realize, half of this chapter was poking fun at the way KneeOil writes, and yes, I can confirm he texts like that as well.
Well, one of the others has made their appearance and is hunting Bell. Also, Bell seems to have an unlikely ally thanks to his persuasion skill.
Which to simplify, it is a soft-core mind control skill that he can use. I know a little OP, but there are its limitations. Oh, also, if you want, I could do an omake where Bell and Revis fuck because of the persuasion skill. Its canon can be tossed in the air and decided later.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed and I'll see you next time.