Another one…
Reading this again, this is probably one of my funnest chapters. I smiled quite a bit whilst going over it. Have fun, readers!
All things considered, it had been a nice night. Both Bell and Hestia had woken up early, ready to face the day. They had also awoken in each other's arms, which was pleasant in its own way.
Bell was dressed, prepped, and out the door in record time, the first hints of dawn just peeking over the horizon. The streets were so empty the white haired adventurer opted to hit the dungeon at a bit of a run. It was only by his own quick reflexes that Bell avoided catastrophe.
A sharp yelp pronounced the spray of water from the front of the tavern. Bell dropped to his side, sliding under the splash. The dirty water hit the stone road a moment later, the young man ground to a stop more than a meter away. The entire length of his right leg felt like it was on fire.
"Oh nyoh, are you okay me-ister?"
The catgirl in the green dress dropped her bucket as she dashed forward. Bell had barely started to stand when her solid grip caught him under the arms, hoisting him to his feet in short order.
Bell fixed his sight on the girl, his soreness forgotten as the boy regarded her display of strength. As she slipped her hands out from under his arms, Bell could only comment, "Wow, you're strong."
Topaz eyes blinked rapidly, her tawny furred ears flicking in growing excitement. The catgirl abruptly shifted into a half heroic, half smug pose with hands on both hips and her chest thrust forward.
"Nyah! Anya is just bursting with me-uscle!"
From the bit of forearm he could see beyond her sleeves, the girl looked like she had even less mass than Bell himself. And he probably had a few inches on her in height. But then he remembered that Anya had picked him up like he was a toddler.
Sometime during his musings, the apron clad catgirl started cycling through "muscle poses."
The pair had also been joined by another young lady in a green server's dress. For a while there was peace, both Bell and the grey haired newcomer staring in mutual wonder at Anya's developing display.
The grey haired girl turned to Bell, leaning into a brief bow, "Good morning sir. Were you looking to have a bite to eat?"
Shaking free of his stupor, Bell raised both hands in a stance of surrender, "Oh, no, no, no, I was being careless and almost caused an accident. For that, I offer my humblest apologies."
The girl with the grey hair covered a brief snort, waving the boy off as he sunk into a full bow. Adhering to propriety, Bell turned to offer the same gesture to Anya. Said catgirl didn't even bother to dismiss him, changing from her fifth full body flex into her sixth. The onlooking pair were almost impressed by her dedication.
"Well, if she hasn't already introduced herself, this is my co-worker Anya." At her name, Anya flashed a peace sign over her shoulder, its placement highlighting her "bulging" bicep.
Bringing a hand to her apron clad chest, the grey haired server declared, "And my name is Syr. As you may have guessed, this establishment here is our place of employ: The Hostess of Fertility."
Bell followed Syr's "presenting arm" to the large building before them. Indeed the most imposing detail of the place was its size, a good three stories put it on the larger side of a standard eatery, even for the dungeon city. Beyond its scale though, the Hostess was an oddly tame structure. One could say it fit the customary notion of an adventurer's tavern right down to the pale exterior and deep wooden borders to the entrance and windows.
A thick plaque hung proudly over the front, displaying the name of the business.
The snap of fingers near his ear brought Bell back to attention. His gaze shot back to Syr, an amused grin fixed upon her features. "So then…" her words drifted, Syr waving towards the boy in a winding motion.
Getting the hint, the boy supplied,"Ah! My name is Bell Cranel, its nice to meet you!"
Syr caught Bell's forehead mid-bow, righting him with a quick flick of the wrist and a soft round of giggling. Anya supplied her own chuckles as she moved on to her eleventh form.
"Well then, Mr. Cranel, what can I get you this morning?"
Bell perked up, embarrassment morphing into confusion. "Uhh… wait, 'get me'?"
"For breakfast of course. We're just starting up now, best to get it while its fresh!" Syr was all smiles as she spoke, an overly girlish lilt to her voice. It didn't help that she was an attractive young lady, fair of skin and supple in all the right places. She was a superb distraction.
And as these thoughts crossed the boy's mind, the most splendid aroma began to waft out of the Hostess. Breakfast, it seemed, would be a five star affair. Inhaling the scent, Bell swiftly wiped the stupid grin off his features, fixing Syr with a flat grimace.
"You were stalling me until they started cooking."
The statement – not question – prompted the playful waitress into a cliché response, looking off into the sky as she drew her finger up to her chin. Honestly, she was flat out making fun of him at this point. "I'm not at all aware of what you mean, I just want to give you a pleasant dining experience!"
Yeah, she was definitely laughing at him.
Anya had stepped off towards the main entrance, poising herself to the right of the large double doors. A dark haired passerby paused in morbid wonder as the catgirl had yet to reach the conclusion of her flex showcase.
"Ya nyow, a hearty breakfast at the Hostess is the first step towards a meow-scular build like mine!"
Between such sage advice and the tantalizing smells coming from the kitchen, the perplexed civilian was persuaded inside. Albeit at a very cautious pace. Anya smoothly adopted pose number twenty-three.
Bell had had a "filling enough" breakfast before setting out, something which would be his primary defense in this upcoming conflict.
"Bell!"
That friendly call and an arm around his shoulders ended the war before it even began, Syr's gaze drawn to the tall newcomer at Bell's side. The boy had no time to process before his captor's free hand crashed against his scalp. A merciless round of hair rustling ensued.
Foust stood back, observing Bell and Ghiran's little "exchange." His eyes drifted to the nearby waitress, her demeanor torn between mild concern and frank confusion. Foust swiftly mirrored her expression once his sight settled on the catgirl by the main doors.
Anya had apparently run out of flexes and was now supplementing them with "provocative" poses. She was notably terrible at being sexy; Foust could not look away.
In a show of bravery, Syr proclaimed, "Uhh, excuse me?"
At this point Ghiran had dropped to his knees, Bell having slipped enough out of the hold that the taller boy's arm was wrapped around his head rather than his neck. He might have been free entirely if one hand wasn't preoccupied fending off Ghiran's noogies.
Having a better stance to respond, the axe wielder perked up, "Yes miss?" This was enough distraction that Bell could break loose, darting away from Ghiran and, unfortunately, barreling into an inattentive Foust. Ghiran's humored grin remained throughout.
Syr clapped her hands together, adopting an apologetic stance, "I'm sorry sir, but I must insist there be no rough housing outside our establishment."
Ghiran's humored grin persisted. "Oh come now miss, just a spirited greeting between friends is all!"
The server's clapped hands transitioned into crossed arms. "Again, I must insist. Such displays are bad for business."
If possible, Ghiran's grin became more pleased. "Understandable. Perhaps, to make up for it, our little band could offer you our custom?"
At once, Syr's expression moved to copy the leather clad adventurer's, albeit with an air of smug thrown in. "In that case, my tolerance for foolishness has risen from zero to scant."
Ghiran launched into easy laughter. Bell and Foust, having untangled themselves, walked up to join the conversation. The diminutive mage added a sharp elbow to the back of the warrior's thigh, ending his laughter.
"Are you roping us into promises without our consent," Foust delivered, a hand on his hip and a bland look on his face, "Isn't it too early in the morning for your idiocy?"
Ghiran waved the boy off with one hand, "Come on now, I'm just securing us a hardy breakfast! You guys can make pancakes, right?"
As Syr began a small diatribe amounting to "yes, we can, and here are some other, more expensive options you will consider," Bell turned his attention to Anya. Her sexy poses had gotten… "better," though now she was lain out on her rear, her back raised on her forearms as her chest was thrust skyward.
A third waitress, this one an elf with bright green hair, walked out of the Hostess. Her stoic face could rival Foust's, if she wasn't winning outright. The new server stared at her cat eared co-worker for almost half a minute, as though attempting to process what she was seeing.
Anya planted her soles on the ground, lifting her rear in a sort of awkward, reverse push-up. She did this repeatedly. Bell was now confident she was messing with them.
Server three was already done with the girl's antics. She strode towards the thrusting Anya with clear purpose, arriving beside her in a swift crouch. Like a hawk snatching prey, the green haired girl's arms caught Anya around the middle, the elf then shooting back to her feet. With a soldier's precision she about-faced, marching back towards the tavern's entrance.
"Ryuu! I was just getting me-ay creative juices fleowing!"
Ryuu stepped through the threshold. She may have swung Anya's knees into the molding.
A hand caught Bell on his lower back, Foust drifting in on the boy's right side. "Let's head in, Ghiran's guaranteed our waitress some good business." The leather clad man in question was practically looming over Syr, excitedly reciting the finer bits of the menu back to her. The grey haired girl maintained a remarkable service face, not a hint of discomfort at Ghiran's encroaching energy.
Bell patted his belly, "I'm actually pretty good, don't think I'll need to eat for a little while."
Foust started for the pub, his hand on Bell's back pressing the young man onward. The mage's steps were even and casual, as though the added effort of pushing a person almost twice his size was menial at best. "Take a seat with us anyway, have some orange juice. We need to discuss something."
Though he'd gotten a good feel for his friends, Bell couldn't help the apprehension he felt.
Syr presented their drinks, three glass mugs filed with a vibrant orange liquid. Foust would take his coffee on the way out.
Anya cycled in behind Syr, holding a massive tray laden with two full sized plates thick with every kind of breakfast item. In addition, there were three smaller dishes with short stacks of pancakes and a literal pitcher of syrup.
Of course the catgirl held the entire tray aloft with one hand. Of course she made a show of how effortless it was for her. Anya was really running with the muscle thing today. From behind the oak counter of the nearby bar, Ryuu palmed a wooden mug, the urge to throw it rising.
Ghiran stared down at his plate of eggs and various meats, his gaze sliding onto the rather meager share of flapjacks beside it. His sight locked onto Anya before gesturing towards the short stack with a nod, "You believe this to be sufficient?"
Anya leveled the young man with a less than impressed expression. Before any kind of exchange could be had, Foust tipped his smaller plate onto Ghiran's, making his three stack into six.
"Finish that and no theatrics," the mage muttered. Ghiran gave his little pancake tower a curious gaze before a pleased smile graced his features. He promptly started drowning the plate in syrup.
Their catgirl waitress bowing out and Ghiran occupied with his sugary spectacle, Foust turned back to Bell. The boy had just picked up his glass of juice.
"Listen, Ghiran and I have to leave the city for a few days."
Bell swallowed his drink a little too fast at that, nearly spitting it back up onto the table. A few slaps to his own chest saw him right enough, though Syr had made her way over at the first sign of trouble. Foust's slight alarm rescinded quickly.
"Our god doesn't reside here, he's got a nasty case of wanderlust. We keep in touch as best we can; his last message inferred he'd be in the area for the next few weeks. Good chance to meet in person for a more formal dialogue."
The young adventurer hadn't known Foust very long, but he could sense there was more that wasn't being said. Something they had to tell their patron that couldn't be risked in a letter. The caster had walked away from yesterday's debriefing with a troubled expression.
"Sensitive information, huh?"
Bell's eyes snapped onto Syr whilst Foust's own smoothly settled on their cool waitress. The rookie dungeon delver had honestly forgotten she was there.
Syr painted on a sweet smile, "No worries! Its the unspoken law of servers not to gossip about their clients. That's doubly so in any place adventurers frequent. You can't even imagine the kinds of things you overhear just being in the background during the dinner rush."
Foust stilled a bit, his gaze hardening. Syr's words and tone were casual enough, but there was a hint of something behind them. An instance of deeper darkness.
"Miss Syr," Ghiran belted, punctuated by a slight slam of his fist on the table. The grey haired server shook in surprise as she fixed her sight on his effeminate face. "May I please… have six more pancakes?"
The three took in Ghiran's meal, what little remained of it. The flapjacks had been annihilated, streaks of syrup the only evidence of their passing. His plate of meat, eggs, etcetera had been reduced to half, a section of the food mound clearly cut away and missing.
"Like a pig to slop," Foust observed.
Syr's grin became much more enthused, "Of course! But they aren't complimentary from this point on."
Ghiran straightened his posture, crossing his arms as though readying for some grand declaration. "Make it nine then. Need the extra fuel." Their server clapped her hands and bowed before retreating to the kitchen. Ryuu followed her path with a curious gaze.
The gluttonous axe wielder shoveled a mix of eggs and sausage into his mouth. "Anyway Bell," he spoke between chews, "point we're trying to make is we won't be around to back you up in the dungeon."
Despite being on the other side of the table, Bell had to lean away from Ghiran's… display. The white haired youth turned to Foust who had himself begun digging into his meal with a far greater degree of restraint. Their resident caster had long since forgone any attempts at teaching the tall fighter any manners, opting for the tried and true tactic of blissful ignorance.
Ghiran swallowed, filled his maw once again, and pressed on, "I know you've been real excited about going deeper, but I don't think you should go down passed floor seven, not by yourself."
Bell couldn't help but feel disappointed. The worst was the knowledge that Ghiran made sense. Eina had drilled it into the boy's head from day one: the dungeon is not a playground. Even if Bell wanted to advance as quickly as possible, there was a fine line between being eager and being reckless.
Syr arrived balancing three short stacks on one arm. Ghiran swiftly abandoned the conversation as the steaming plates were placed in front of him, sliding some valis across the table.
The waitress happily scooped up the coin as the tall warrior attacked his extended breakfast. Syr then turned to the contemplative Bell, "It's not so bad to have a slow period, is it?"
This perked Bell's interest, the rookie adventurer looking to the server. Sipping his drink, Foust also refocused on the exchange.
"Like right now," Syr continued, "business here is usually really slow this early. But as much as I like all the hustle and bustle we get at night, I can appreciate the quiet atmosphere when we get it. Plus, you get a different feel for people when they have more room to breathe – just look at us right now."
Bell paused to really take in the scene around him. Ghiran was still busily stuffing himself, his juice mug held high in one hand. Anya had reappeared, standing on one leg and dramatically pouring into Ghiran's cup. She was clearly still going for her "poses" motif, the pair of them like an odd parody of a fountain statue.
There was also the detail that Anya had commandeered a chair and was balancing on top of it, added height for greater prestige and all that. Ryuu stood close behind her, twisting a clean rag into a coiled band, brandishing it alarmingly like fiber wire.
Across the room, seated at a small table by himself, was the dark haired man Anya had enticed inside earlier. His own breakfast remained untouched, his blank, unblinking features locked on the scene.
The young adventurer gave an awkward laugh, "Well, I can't say these sorts of things aren't nice, every now and then." Bell took his first bite of his pancakes and hummed in appreciation.
Foust continued to eye Syr, his attentions either unnoticed or, in his own opinion, ignored. The girl continued smiling pleasantly as Bell delighted in his meal. Foust turned back to the white haired boy.
"Whimsy aside, let me cut straight to the point: Bell, promise that you won't jump into anything crazy on your own."
The look in the mage's eyes brokered no nonsense, his mint gaze cool and steady. Bell swallowed.
"I promise I won't go looking for trouble"
Foust held his gaze for another ten, silent seconds. He nodded before returning to his food. Bell's answer wasn't exactly satisfying, but it was the best Foust would get.
Hephaestus had always considered herself a patient woman. It was her primary defense against the more… whimsical nature of her fellow deus deia. And oh boy, she could think of more than a few names that truly tested her resolve. But regardless, nine times out of ten, Hephaestus maintained an iron will and stoic calm even in the most "difficult" company.
Today, however, was proving to be that one in ten scenario. And the most aggravating part of all was that the "offending party" wasn't even being confrontational.
Hestia had posted herself outside her familia home, same spot as yesterday. In perfect view of her office window. She brought that fucking food cart and, from the looks of things, girl was making a killing. From behind her curtains, she spied a few of her own children giving custom.
Traitors.
And at every opportunity, the tiny goddess would toss a pointed look at Hephaestus' window. Always when the master smith chanced a glance through her curtains, Hestia's eyes would inevitably catch her. The whole thing was an exercise in frustration.
Hephaestus had had enough. With swift strides she marched from her office, down the third floor hall, and to the stairs. Her children knew enough to clear a path when their matron got into a rare mood. A newer recruit she passed on the stairs' first landing scrambled back, nearly falling through a large window, when Hephaestus fixed him with a scorching glare. Little bastard was chomping on one of those damned croquettes.
She built up momentum as she crossed the main foyer. Their "receptionist" of sorts took one look at the advancing red head and promptly ceased all tasks to duck behind her desk. She wanted no part in whatever was about to happen.
When Hephaestus reached the main door, she took a brief moment to notice it wasn't latched shut. In that instance her right foot raised then thrust forward, blasting the portal open. A larger man, one of her veteran smiths, took the blow to his bulbous gut, bouncing back before the door could crash into his face. His rotund form tumbled down the short steps, landing in some bushes off to the left side.
The goddess actually beat him to the bottom, her thrust kick hardly breaking her pace at all. She made her way down the cobblestone path towards the main avenue at nearly a full charge. A pair of her children wisely swept their potato snacks behind them, one going so far as to salute their goddess as she passed.
Hephaestus paid them little mind. Her attention belonged solely to the twin-tailed girl standing watch behind the food cart. Hestia herself was in the middle of serving a brunette prume, another of Hephaestus' familia. Even so, her sight stayed locked on Hephaestus from the moment that door was punted open, her cool eyes watching her advance.
The Goddess of Smiths slowed her stride as she drew closer. Her hot temper wavered under Hestia's gaze, her clenched fists uncurling. By the time she was standing behind her oblivious child, Hephaestus had regained most of her usual calm.
Said child was animatedly gesturing at various items on the menu, rattling out prices, personal tastes, how filling a meal would be, outwardly debating at a rapid whisper the pros and cons of every choice available. The boy took no notice whatsoever that he was basically ranting to himself now.
Hephaestus grasped her child around the waist, lifting his small frame before placing him off to the side. He never so much as stuttered. Arms crossed and eye stern, Hephaestus began the exchange.
"You're quite dedicated to bothering me, aren't you?"
"I need your help. I can't afford to take no for an answer."
The instant reply threw Hephaestus off, just a little. Again, that placid tone affected her words, the breach of character as jarring now as it was the first time. The divine smith needed a moment to collect her thoughts.
"… Are you in some kind of trouble?" A touch of concern painted Hephaestus' speech. At the end of the day, bad friends are still friends. And though Hestia was impossible to live with, she rarely asked for anything extra.
A smile touched the tiny goddess' lips. "No, nothing that dramatic."
With a sigh equal parts vexation and relief, Hephaestus droned, "What is it you want then? I'll hear you out just this once."
Hestia held up a finger before partially sinking behind the cart, pulling up a small, wooden slab. The words "Out to Lunch" were written across it. The Goddess of the Hearth began the process of closing up shop for a while, Hephaestus oddly drawn to Hestia's efficient movements. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at the thought that her friend's greatest skill was the ability to stop working.
The dark haired prume was still debating his dining options, now pacing in a small circle to compliment his musings.
Locking the cart's wheels in place, Hestia made to step around the food stand. She paused mid way, her sight drawn to something behind Hephaestus. "Oh, hello Tsubaki."
Hephaestus almost face palmed, her need to stay in arms crossed stance just a tiny bit stronger. Of course her familia's captain would show up after the way she tore out of their home.
"Good morning Lady Hestia," Tsubaki called with a joke salute, "heard about some sort of commotion going, woman on a warpath or some such. Thought I'd try and keep things civil."
And now they were going to have an audience, something Hephaestus would really rather avoid.
Hestia smiled, her mood a lot more jovial with Tsubaki there. "I wouldn't know anything about that. But if there's some troublesome person wandering around, it might be better to talk in your office, right Hephaestus?"
"Sounds like a plan," Tsubaki held out a hand, the way one might to a child. Hestia, utterly shameless, took the offered limb with a happy grin. The smiling pair made their way towards the familial home.
Without looking, Tsubaki called to Hephaestus, "Come on Boss, faster we get this done, faster I can get my potato croquettes!"
The divine smith pinched the bridge of her nose, her energy draining rapidly. The loyalty of her children was, evidently, quite fickle in places.
Bell was trying very hard not to overdo it. The words of his friends from earlier were a constant background noise in his head. He took care to move slowly, cautious of every blind corner and shifting shadow.
By noon he had made it to floor nine. Yes, he had gone passed Ghiran's recommendation. Yes, he felt rather guilty and the tingling of fear was in the back of his thoughts. He'd had a rather lucky run, avoiding any sort of nasty encounters. Whatever he did meet fell easily enough, Bell utilizing the terrain to funnel and divide the enemy.
But strategy alone should not have made things so simple. They certainly shouldn't have made up for a lack of two other adventurers. That strange burning sensation in his upper back seemed to push him onward, a goal furthered by his lacking encounters. Bell felt almost as though he was being… called by something.
At this point though, his wariness was outweighing the urge to press forward. Floor ten was often referred to as a proving ground, the first major barrier meant to test newbie dungeon delvers. For a level one to attempt it without a party was considered suicide. Hell, just going passed the seventh floor alone was ill advised. If Eina found out, she'd make him wish he died in the dungeon.
That thought was what finally pushed the boy to turn around. His stomach gave a light growl and Bell was sorely reminded of the pleasant lunch Syr had packed him at a severe discount – in her own words. He'd been so keyed up and eager on the way down that he hadn't eaten yet, even when resting. Bell decided he'd climb to a safer floor before taking a snack break.
The plan, of sorts, fell apart even before contact with the enemy. The wafting mist from the lower floors had a significant presence on this level, obscuring his vision quite a bit. Bell heard the approaching monsters long before he saw them. And by the sound of it, a lot were coming. A veritable stampede to be more accurate.
Bell ducked behind a large boulder, finding a small divot at its base to tuck into. No sooner was he situated that the sound of a hundred stamping hooves began flooding through the area. This wide section of the level could easily accommodate an army's worth of people and it seemed that capacity was being put to the test.
Hulking, dark shapes darted through the fog, all moving more or less in the same direction. Bell could make out what appeared to be horns atop their heads, very bovine in nature.
'Minotaurs,' was the shaken thought echoing through Bell's mind. A kind of monster that dwelled on the middle floors, the sort of beast that gave level two adventurers a challenge. For a rookie, they were a walking death sentence.
Bell did his best not to breathe as the massive herd of monsters continued streaming past. He held his hands over his mouth to further stymie any involuntary sounds, his mind racing for solutions as he sat on the brink of blind panic.
But when the sounds of combat rang out in the distance, Bell couldn't help the urge to bolt. It was absolute chaos out in the open, minotaurs darting to and fro. The clashing of blades surged up on Bell's location far quicker than expected and that drove the monster horde into a frenzy. Though a few of the beasts seemed somewhat aware of the boy's presence, between the heavy mist and abundant pandemonium they were far from focused on it.
Bell ducked and dashed every which way, the battlefield erupting with noise all around him. Smaller, non-minotaur forms could be viewed through the fog. From what the rookie could see, they were making short work of any monster within reach. High level adventurers, no doubt. Bell shuddered to think what would happen if a careless blow connected with him in the massive melee.
No sooner had that entered his thoughts did a careless misstep send the boy stumbling. His frame smashed against a passing minotaur, throwing him to the floor in short order. The sound of slashing flesh and splashed blood rang out just beside him. Bell turned over just in time to see a broad, golden blade sailing down at him.
"Wait!"
"Ah!"
The feminine cry prompted the sword's retreat, the large weapon swept up in a harsh rotation. The nearby fog was blown aside, revealing the lithe, brown skinned girl wielding the big double blade. Her bronze eyes met his ruby for a brief instance before snapping up at something.
"Don't move," the girl yelled as she shot past the prone level one. With speed Bell could hardly comprehend, she lashed out with her double blade. There was a terrible howl as the minotaur that felled Bell was relieved of its right arm. With a deft twist the girl brought the opposite edge up and through the monster's chest. A fountain of blood burst into the air, the blow alone launching the beast backward.
Bell rolled onto his front, propping himself on hands and knees. The dark skinned warrior, an amazon without a doubt, twirled through the air. Her dual sided weapon cleaved down on Bell's other side, carving through an incoming minotaur. Their cries from earlier seemed to have gained some attention; the girl cut down another two with ease, a whirling dervish of destruction standing guard over the rookie adventurer.
As she was dealing with three at once, Bell caught sight of a fourth charging at her flank. That spot on his back flared to life as Bell launched forward, drawing out his knife. The flanking minotaur noticed the interloper just as he shot passed its legs, swinging his small blade with swift strength.
The wound carved into the beast's calf was deep… for a human. It staggered the half bull, nearly sending it to its knees. But the minotaur recovered quickly, driving down at its attacker with a crushing fist from above. Bell barely dodged the blow by rolling forward, the impact throwing him even further away. With some space between them, the minotaur reared back, brandishing a long, earthen sword. Its edge was a jagged ridge, more akin to serrated fangs than an actual blade.
The monster was on him in seconds, Bell only able to scramble to an awkward crouch. Its stone weapon was raised high, eager to collapse on the young adventurer. The boy still didn't have his balance, he wouldn't get out of the way in time.
Eyes wide, Bell traced the falling blade as the minotaur descended on him. The movement was too fast, too vicious. It was a close second to the amazon, this girl no taller than himself who simply appeared between Bell and the beast. With one arm – one bare arm – she reached out to catch the stone sword on the flat of her palm.
Understandably, this feat of resilience left the minotaur stunned. The amazon wasted no time and with a wrathful howl swung in with her other hand. The one holding her golden blade. The weapon sank into its gut all the way down to the central handle. And then she tore the blade out through the beast's side, as easily as tearing through paper.
Bell tossed himself to his feet, retreating a short distance from the gory display. His savior regarded him with a tense look, the mist bound brawl still raging around them.
"You really gotta get out of here, little guy." Bell would have liked to remark that, with them both still and standing next to each other, he was, in fact, taller than this girl. But having seen her decimate level two enemies, with a splash of monster blood across her abdomen the only stain on her, he opted for a sharp nod of confirmation.
"There's an exit nearby right? Tried to memorize things as I was coming down."
The girl nodded, raising her weapon. "Get going, I'll cover you to the stairs!"
Bell shored his grip on his knife and promptly took off. The boy hopped forward as a minotaur toppled into his path. Off to his left a male figure came flying through the air in a high jump kick, barreling into a pair of the horned beasts before the lot disappeared into the gloom.
Shock gripped him as one of the half bulls stood ahead of the boy, the two catching eyes briefly as the minotaur approached with a roaring charge. Bell's stunned state was shattered by the rhythm of rapid footfalls back and to the right of him. The young adventurer strafed to the left as his amazon escort came around on his right. Her twirling blade caught the attacking bull on its nape, the monster too focused on the fleeing white hair, its head cleaved from its body.
The little rookie didn't pause following his dodge, stepping into a dead sprint. He knew the exit was just ahead, escape well within reach. That thought allowed the blinders to set in, the boy hyper focused on the route ahead.
But as swift as Bell was, and the couple minotaurs closing on him even more so, the amazon girl was simply faster. Bell raced forward because he didn't need to think about anything else, his amazon guard carving through the packs of monsters with brutal ease. Some attempted to block or parry her blows with crude weapons or their own flesh. She cut them all down, her gold plated steel slashing through whatever stood before it.
A half bull, its chest split open, crashed against a wall just in front of Bell. To the left of the slumped corpse, the rookie adventurer could see the passage up through the thinning mist. Bell redoubled his efforts, reaching the base of the staircase at record speed. The amazon, matching his pace, arrived at the same time, not even breathing hard.
Climbing six steps, Bell paused and turned back. The girl stood in the center of the passage, her back to the boy and her double blade ready. Without turning she barked out, "Keep going! I'll stand guard here so they can't follow you!"
Bell nodded, realized the girl was facing away and wouldn't see it, then said, "Thank you!" The boy climbed three steps, then stopped and turned back around, "My name is Bell Cranel, it was nice to meet you!"
The girl laughed, the absurdity of the situation too much to bear. She threw back a mirthful, "I'm Tiona, nice to meet you too! See you on the surface."
With that the boy departed, taking the stairs three at a time. He'd definitely see Tiona on the outside.
The route up was far from safe. One is never truly "safe" within the confines of the dungeon, but when you've got a bunch of mid floor monsters wandering the upper levels, the danger ramps up quite a bit.
Tiona and her people had certainly cut a swath in their numbers, but the stampede they'd chased up was just too big to be fully accounted for. A number of strays had escaped the killing grounds below and were making a run of the upper floors. Bell could hear their howls echoing in from every direction.
At first the rookie adventurer had prioritized speed, retracing his path down at as rapid a pace as possible. He'd spied a few hulking shapes darting in and out of corridors as he ascended, Bell more than happy to dash past in an effort to stay ahead of the panicked horde.
Then he tripped. Just breaking onto the sixth floor, his left foot found a small hole, unnoticed in the strangely low light present in this patch of tunnel. The misstep sent him to the ground, his tumble costing Bell two seconds. The boy scampered to his feet quickly.
He had been followed. His initial rush had been swift, but it had not been quiet. Bell could hear a multitude of harsh stamps racing up the passage behind him, he was done for. That in mind, the young adventurer slunk into a nearby crevice, pressing his frame into the thin, shadowed space.
The pack, at least four of the half bulls, spilled into the darkened chamber. The lot milled about for a moment, focus flipping this way and that in a display of frank confusion. He could just make out their shapes by their jerky motions. The sounds of grunting huffs and snorts accenting the cacophony of hoofed footfalls.
They remained for maybe seven seconds before dashing off again, two through a far tunnel, one going back the way they came, and the last blitzing past Bell's hiding place and down a corridor just beside him. The dungeon delver counted ten seconds before pulling himself free.
As Bell sat, stance low, listening for their fading stomps, he was forced to rethink his strategy. The enemy had gotten past him, he had no idea how far ahead they'd gone and no clue of how many there were. His escape from here on would have to be a cautious one.
That in mind, he took the nearby tunnel one of the single minotaurs had gone down. Knowing undoubtedly that a foe was ahead of him, Bell moved with extra care. Intersections were a test of nerve, peeking the corners a hazardous coin flip.
The threat of other monsters spawning had been considered until Bell glanced around his third intersection. The boy shot back as the muscular figure registered in his vision, though the beast was turned away from him. The tell tale crackle of the dungeon wall giving way to a newborn monster roused his curiosity. Bell chanced a look just as the minotaur unleashed a hateful roar.
The wall born monster, a goblin from the looks of it, barely had a moment to blink before the larger beast was upon it. The minotaur tore the greenskin clear out of the cavern wall. Swinging its arm back and overhead in a wide circle, the half bull spiked the shrieking goblin into the floor.
Sheer horror flooded Bell, enough that, on any other day, he'd have been rooted to the spot. Instead he moved forward, the passage wide enough that he could put some distance between himself and the ensuing slaughter. The little goblin continued screaming as the minotaur began beating it to death, wet squelches and sudden snaps punctuating the pained wails.
The noise was good cover for his passing. At least that's what Bell told himself, over and over again.
He didn't see any other native monsters as he ascended the next two levels. They seemed reluctant to spawn, understandably so.
There was also a somewhat startling lack of adventurers for the upper floors. Despite the harshly reduced density of mid tier monsters compared to the kill box on level nine, Bell honestly expected to see a lot more terrified explorers fleeing for their lives or ducking into hidey holes much like himself. Maybe Tiona's group had sent out runners ahead to clear out the unsuspecting rookies? Veteran adventurers like her were usually from organized familia, after all.
While the thought that others at least wouldn't be going through the same harrowing experience was relieving, Bell couldn't deny that the silence was oppressive. The dungeon felt empty, lifeless. Only the occasional roar of wandering terrors, both far off and unnervingly close, reminded him of how false this notion really was. Bell was not the only thing walking these halls, but he was very much alone in a maze of nightmares.
A pile of boulders sat against the wall ahead. An outcropping of crystals above lit the section with hazel light. Even so, the splash of blood streaked across the jumbled rocks couldn't be mistaken for anything else. Before Bell could reassure himself that this was probably the grave of another unfortunate goblin, he spied the torn strap and battered fabric of a fairly well made satchel.
He supposed, even if the tunnels had been evacuated, there were sure to be stragglers…
Footsteps were approaching. Rapidly so, the sound more akin to cavalry than people. The now familiar rhythm of imminent danger. The nauseating fog settling over the boy was dispelled in an instant, Bell scurrying in amongst the blood stained stones. Though only a brief echo in fear laden thoughts, Bell was glad not to find a body in his current hideaway.
It was a single minotaur, he imagined based on the pattern of hoof falls. It was also not in his hallway, the closer source clearly coming from beyond the wall behind him. The slightly muted roar of the unseen monster seemed to quake the cavern, the half bull must have been right on top of him. Bell settled in, staying as quiet as possible, listening for the minotaur to move on.
If he remembered correctly, this passage and the one behind it ran parallel for a ways in both directions with a few connecting gaps. The nearest junction was to the right so Bell had an obvious route not to take. Going left would be a longer trek to a staircase, but it was the safer option for the moment.
"Eeeiiyyyyyaaaaaaaaaahhhh!"
The scream flooded the halls, piercing the stagnant air. Bell popped out of his hiding place, snapping his gaze down either end of the corridor in a rapid back and forth. As the terrified screech faded into echoes, the young adventurer pinpointed their origin. The passage to the right…
Bell took off in a run.
So I want to first highlight Anya. Of course, with my primary source for this story being the anime, some secondary knowledge of the light novels, and depictions from fanfics,my scope of Anya's character is very limited. Wrote this before season four aired as well, though I did know by then that she was a strong fighter and sibling of a certain Freya fanboy. But for this moment, I decided to lean into what I saw as her most prominent personality trait: being spacey. The muscle thing just kind of… clicked. Of course, it's a nod towards Anya being a "retired" badass.
The shift in the scene towards making "sexy" poses – specifically very bad ones – comes from a similar moment in My Monster Secret (or Actually, I Am… if you're more inclined to that title).
Ryuu being the straight man of the group is just too obvious. The world shall never know a less appreciated babysitter…
There's probably a lot I could say about Syr. I'm aware of the goings on in the background with her character in canon, as well as her connection to certain individuals. I'll spoil my own work by saying… we're not going to follow that quite so strictly here. This version of things will be a deal more "fantastical," depending on how you look at it. That's all I'll say for now.
We won't be seeing Foust and Ghiran for a bit, and it will be longer before they return to Orario. They might just be bringing back a few "acquaintances."
There is someone coming into frame next chapter who's going to be taking up a large amount of focus going forward and we need to make room for them. Look forward to it.
No need for fancy parties this time, Hestia is taking the fight right to Hephaestus' front door! A slight change to highlight our tiny goddess' show of initiative and how seriously she is taking the situation between herself and Bell. She still feels she has a lot to make up for in terms of her "transgressions" against her child.
My favorite thing in this sequence was playing around wit Hephaestus, having her go on this mini death march through her unfortunate children before ultimately burning herself out just short of the goal line. Enjoyed that small bit of worry she has when asking if Hestia is in need of actual help with some sort of emergency. These two are friends, even if they've had a bit of a falling out, and they do appreciate and look out for each other. Just wanted to make sure that came across in some some, but clear, way.
Tsubaki lies in a similar situation as Anya in regards to my portrayal of her. I knew she'd be acting as a "mediator" between Hestia and Hephaestus so I elected to make her personality something between a carefree big sister and a mischievous instigator. As the captain of the familia, she is immune to Hephaestus' disappointment and thus in prime position to be a smart ass.
So let's tackle the meat of this entry: the minotaur attack. Before we go any further: yes, I know that minotaurs in this universe have feet. Fuck it, hooves make a more intimidating sound when stomping and help the creatures feel more "alien" in my perspective. Now a certain Xenos, on the other hand…
Clearly, this is the same stampede started by the Loki Familia, what with them being present during the outbreak. And so Tiona appears! Tiona is probably my favorite Loki Familia member and I really want us to see a lot of her in this universe. Doubt she'll ever get beyond being a secondary character, but I'll give her her time in the spotlight. However far down the road that maybe…
If you squint you can see Bete in there, just for a second. No Ais just yet… but soon.
The difference between rookie and veteran adventurers is really highlighted here. Loki Familia wipes the floor with these mid-tier monster, literally evoking that "Not Into The Long Grass!" segment from Jurassic Park: The Lost World. They are the hunters, the minotaurs are the prey, nothing more.
Bell, by contrast, can do little more than scramble and flee in the midst of the mayhem. When he ends up on his own at the end, his desperate dash is all he can do to escape quickly. When that fails him, he's forced to shift to a stealthy approach and the true terror of the scenario settles in around him. In no way do Bell or Tiona think him capable of fighting these beasts, the only time he even takes a swing is in an effort to distract a monster from attacking the amazon.
But then, at the end of the day… Bell still wants to be a hero. Needs to, so he can stand beside his goddess. So when the cries of someone in danger reach him, he jumps into action! He only promised Foust he wouldn't look for trouble, nothing can be said on if trouble finds him instead.
Coming up: Bell flies to the rescue, a strange child is encountered, the stampede rages on, and a Sword Princess appears…
