Azur Lane never ceases to surprise me for a f2p game. While costumes are the usual things that you'd buy if you'd want them…Prinz Eugen and Enterprise Race Queen outfits FTW! Hot damn! And my Enterprise is naturally at 125, the new cap level.
Funny, Azur Lane was ahead of F/GO when it came to max level caps long ago and went up another 5 levels when Lostbelt 6 part 3 came out with their own way to cap at 120. Yostar knows how to flex a pro move right there! And funny enough, Enterprise is Morgan thanks to Yui Ishikawa voicing them both now my Queen of Azur Lane is in her new awesome outfit and maxed stat. Now to get my Fairy Queen in F/GO with NP 5 in another few years. For now, one Artoria Caster is needed. Better start saving for both!
New spell is thanks to the help of Nakamura Yui with giving it the name.
While there are divergences to many paths in the streams of time, some remain the same course if only partially delayed. As Hestia began updating the stats of her Familia after their Dungeon run the other day her eyes bugged out with Bell's stats
Bell Cranel
Level 2
Strength: G 254
Endurance: G 243
Dexterity: H 105
Agility: E 442
Magic: I 95
Both Bell's Liaris Freese and Hakuno's Memoria Freese were synchronizing in Bell's rapid growth. And then there was the state of Bell's equipment. The gear can't catch up to him at all! They'll break quick enough if his stats keep jumping at high speeds. She knows that her child wants to get stronger, and things are going to get worse if his gear can't catch up to him in time.
"Is something wrong Mother?" Hakuno asked while Hestia gave her a look. One of the two major headaches this goddess had to deal with was asking her this.
"Hakuno, we need to talk." Hestia said with a serious expression on her face, one that caused Hakuno to become focused on her as those starry eyes practically showed Hestia the universe in them. She would not be lost in them right now! This was a dire situation they were in!
…
…
…
"I see…" Hakuno sighed as she folded her arms and looked troubled. Her Mother was hiding these two skills from her and Bell because of the potential danger they were in, more so for Bell since he can't keep a secret to save his life. "Is it possible to call in a favor then with Lady Hephaistos?" she asked as Hestia shook her head yes.
"She's the only one I can trust amongst other gods to keep a secret and help with our problem. Even if the price will be steep." Hestia grimaced as Hakuno shook her head.
"We can deal with money problems later. Bell's rapid growth is far too dangerous for himself in the worst-case scenario in the Dungeon." Hakuno reasoned as Hestia agreed instantly. Lives are more important than money in their current situation.
"I'll go speak to Hephaistos about this and use our entire savings as a front payment. The rest is going to be debt…" the goddess trailed off with a dead look in her eyes. 500,000 Valis was going to be sacrificed for something so utterly expensive that it'd look like a single drop of water in a bucket. Hakuno was already having traumatic flashbacks of Gilgamesh calling her Hassan back in the Far Side all over again. And she still hasn't cashed in those magic stones obtained during that collaboration with the Loki Familia. It might keep them off from being hungry for a few weeks at best unless the entire Familia decides to work overtime in the Dungeon on the new first floor.
"We might as well update your stats while we're at it." Hestia sighed out as Hakuno removed her veil and moved her hair to reveal her upper back. With a drop of ichor, the Falna containing Hestia's symbol appeared as she began updating the stats. Then Hestia made a noise and Hakuno winced.
"…I'm sorry?" she apologized nervously.
"It's not your fault Hakuno, but this new magic spell of yours is absurd!" Hestia exclaimed while she handed her child the sheet.
Hakuno Kishinami
Level 2
Strength: I 37
Endurance: I 21
Dexterity: I 65
Agility: I 12
Magic: H 104
Magic: [Annwyn Ataraxia: Swing Wide the Gates of Paradise]
When Hakuno read the details of the new spell she learned, her eyes widened in utter disbelief. This was broken, so broken if she were a game character, she'd break the meta (a video game term Shinji told her of) so bad she'd be a necessary character in future events unless there's someone else better than her. She cursed Merlin for this. She knew that trolling wizard was somehow responsible for teaching her an utterly overpowered spell that'll have EVERYONE after her. He deliberately set her up for this unwanted attention and she was going to kill him again in her dreams when she gets the chance.
*Infinite Forest*
Another branch of the tree fell, its silver luster dull and faded as it was picked up by someone. The black robed being looked at their white robed companion sighing.
"What's wrong with you?" the blacked robed one asked.
"Oh, that boy Bell is finally getting the knife, if only later than intended." The white robed one answered.
"You should care why?" the blacked robed one sighed with exasperation before the white robed shushed him.
"He gets a cool weapon that's expensive, yet the Flamescion gets nothing utterly unique for this journey?"
Flamescion, a title meaning One who Inherit the Flame. They bestowed that title to Hakuno for she followed a path only the worthy can be called. Her alias, the Flamescion of Stars symbolized her being acknowledged by the Two as worthy to inherit a great power and burden. Yet they were disappointed that only Bell was given a powerful weapon that was one-of-a-kind.
The black robed one looked at the silver winged branch in their hand, before looking at the Quantum Tree they've been observing for some time now. "If a puny goddess were to give a mortal a formidable weapon…then what about Us gifting a growing champion of humanity something even greater?" it mused.
The white robed one paused from thought and looked at their companion with renewed interest in the suggestion. "Winnower, let us craft her a weapon of our own." They spoke up.
"Indeed, we shall Gardener, one that is equal to the boy's weapon in nature, but with two unique functions. One to represent her stats as both witch and warrior…and to show how much she herself has grown." The Winnower explained as the two entities were excited.
For them, it had been a very, very, VERY long time since they got involved with gods and mortals beyond bestowing titles and ascending the Four Heavenly Kings of Cyphers. This was going to be their greatest mischief they've ever pulled.
The took the branch of silver wings and began to compress it into a silver orb. The Gardener had given the sphere thousands of recited verses of what a weapon should be. The sphere was vitalized as the pale luster was shining bright once again. It had found purpose.
The Winnower hammered the sphere, speaking of the ideal form for its intended wielder and what it must become to aid the one it will bond to. It had taken a new shape.
Of complexity/simplicity, the weapon had been given life and form as a scepter/spear. Common to those in Orario, but to Hakuno, she will know of its true nature. It was intended for the one whom was the descendant of Morgan le Fay. It had no name, for only Hakuno could bless it with one. To the Gardener and Winnower, this masterpiece they've crafted was ideal for one of their champions, for it shall grow alongside her and aid in properly awakening her power.
They had seen the final battle against Twice H. Pieceman and were among the very few shocked of how she did a partial Awakening by sheer willpower. To overcome Buddha and his Noble Phantasm with it had earned their attention. She who had known only suffering for most of her young life deserved a bit of happiness. The comfort of this minor aid will soothe the Two and amuse Them at the same time with what will happen afterwards. With a little red bow and letter attached, they cast it into the tree as it flew through time and space to find an ideal location for Hakuno to pick it up.
They could not resist the excitement of seeing the two smith gods react to their creation. Let it be known that they are not as gifted in creating things like they think they are. Such is the whim of entities older than any gods.
Gilgamesh opened his eyes and looked up at the sky. His vision was distorted but foresaw trouble. The blinding sun chasing a rabbit, a wine bottle emitting an enveloping darkness coiling around the starlight, trying to devour it. A two-folded operation. Then, a jet-black knife and a silver-white scepter banishing the two threats. The king was amused, for it seemed that the boy, Bell Cranel was one of the two while his Queen was the other. Targeted by gods, one by passion, the other by dark desires.
The nerve of them, but they will fail, and the two promising humans of this world will overcome these gods and this false history they've forcefully woven. The King of Heroes would watch this spectacle and only intervene when necessary. For his Master, his Queen, she had faced many trials and hardships and had faith in her ability to overcome many obstacles in her way. He had faith in her like no other human and should there be something she cannot handle; he her King shall correct in her place. With a wine cup in hand, he drank deeply, already preparing for the upcoming storm in a month's time. For now, let the familia have its fun. Moments of peace should be of joy should it not?
*The Divine Blade*
Several days have passed since Hestia left on her personal errand. While she was Hakuno had the familia investigate the new first floor of the altered Dungeon as they began updating the notes of new monsters. While the Loki Familia was occupied by Orario's upcoming events, Hakuno believed it more productive to learn of any changes with the monsters in more detail.
It paid off.
Revelation of new subspecies with different traits and item drops have been catalogued and collected, with Welf most likely to be happy with new items to use for in later projects. It also helped the Guild as well, as it had helped warn recent new adventurers of potential risks and dangers. Of course, the Guild paid the Hestia Familia handsomely for their efforts as Hakuno calculated their budget and found it fit to last for the month.
Then Hestia returned with the forged weapon, the Hestia Knife. Everyone eyed the weapon in awe, as they can see the quality of it firsthand as Bell drew the knife from its sheath and the hieroglyphs glowed in dark purple light.
"That weapon is one of a kind Bell-kun and extremely expensive. Do. Not. Lose. It!" Hestia warned with a tired expression before collapsing on her bed as sleep took over. Hakuno gently moved her goddess' personal belongings to the side and pulled out the receipt and froze.
This was something only the top familia could ever hope to pay off. Those zeros were enough to give her pause as she recalled the Hassan trauma with Gilgamesh all over again. She let loose a faint, hysterical laugh as everyone looked worried and looked over her shoulders to see the price.
Ais felt like she fell into a pit, a pitch-black pit with no light at all. The price of this Hephaistos weapon was worth more than her Desperate by a significant amount of Valis than any other weapon.
Haruhime was trembling, worried that even her own body won't be able to pay off the debt in her lifetime (she's still a virgin but she's unaware of that tidbit.)
Primo was wondering if Sugar Daddy (Hey, Gilgamesh wanted her to call him that.) could handle that amount and was wondering if she should ask the next time, she sees him.
But for Bell Cranel? A high-pitched scream as the color left his body and the air around him turned cold. Their total savings that was used as down payment didn't even leave a dent in the debt and he was the only one that would use a knife in combat.
Slowly, Hakuno went to her bed and proceeded to go underneath the covers and rest with the rest of the familia doing the same. They had enough shock for the day and called it in early.
But for the rest of the month? Enjoy the events and holidays Orario has in store!
Next Time: Affectionate Chocolates (Ais' First Valentine)
