Blood dripped down Bell's mouth as he looked down at his side. Going through his hip and out his back was a dark green vine.
He didn't feel the pain of being impaled, however, only the annoyance of getting hurt right after turning off his healing magic.
Turning it back on he let out a growl as he grabbed the vine and started pulling down. The plant-like monster screeched and tried pulling its vine away.
But Bell's grip was tight like iron, and using his body as an anchor the beast couldn't make any progress as Bell pulled down.
It took a few seconds, but Bell was eventually able to get the things head on the ground. Walking over to it he put his foot on where a human's neck would be. Then grabbed its head and pulled.
The thing was tough, very tough. Bell was having trouble trying to wretch its head free from its neck.
But he kept pulling, eyes filled with loathing as the monster screeched in pain. Its other vines shaking wildly trying to bash the boy away.
But it was all for naught as Bell felt the neck stretch, and then tear off. Yellow blood spurted out of its neck, drenching his chest and legs in it.
Bell wasn't done, however, gripping the end of the vine he raised the head into the air before slamming it down on the ground. He repeated that process again and again until he felt like the creature had finally stopped moving.
"Anything else!" Bell yelled into the open air.
The air was still, the sound of panicking civilians had ended. Leaving only Bell, the high elf, and the six dead monsters that remained.
With a sigh, Bell grabbed the vine that was impaling him and ripped it out of his hip. The wound immediately began to heal as he sat down on the corpse of the headless Minotaur.
The barrier above him finally disappeared, the high elf seemed to have deemed the area safe. She jumped down into the arena, and to Bell's shock, Airmid raced in from the entrance he came from along with Shakti.
"Bell!" The doctor yelled.
She slid up to him, her eyes scanning for any wounds he may have but finding none. "Y-you're ok?"
Bell nodded. "I'm fine, Airmid." Bell paused as he took a deep breath. "You ever see a monster like that?" He asked the group. 'Grandpa didn't mention a monster like this, neither did Master."
The women shook their heads, and Shakti handed Bell a sheet from the aid station. "So you can have some decency." She calmly said.
"T-thanks." Bell stuttered, now realizing he was naked in front of three women. He felt a heat rush to his cheeks as he looked down at the sand.
Shakti took a look around the sands. Seeing blood and guts from the dead monsters. Seeing Bell sitting on the headless corpse of a Minotaur. She wondered how high his strength stat was to pull off something like that.
Then her gaze turned to the plant monster. She had never seen anything like it before. The vines were a dark green while its face was white and covered by pink petals.
'It seemed to be a baby, however.' Shakti guessed, it was very small for a monster judging by its size. 'Would he have been able to kill it if it was bigger?'
"Well, whatever that thing was it came from underground. I think it also possessed intelligence since it waited for me to let my guard down. Either that or I got unlucky when it decided to show up." Bell explained.
Airmid looked from Bell to the arena, seeing the monster corpses made her heart race slightly. All these monsters had the possibility of coming after her. They probably would have had Bell not killed them all.
All she ran into was a Silverback and that was easily killed by the two Ganesha guards. Then she arrived at Shakti who had just finished killing a pack of Kobolds near a group of children.
She had quickly explained what had happened and the two had rushed back inside of the arena to help Bell. Only to come across him naked and ripping off that plant monster's head.
"Lady Riveria, do you have any idea what happened?" Airmid asked, turning her attention to the jade-haired high elf along with Shakto.
Anger flashed across Bell's eyes as he gripped the sheet draped around him tighter. No one seemed to notice however and Bell was quick to calm himself down.
'Calm yourself, don't give anything else away.' Bell told himself.
"I do not, all I know is this young man led the monsters into the arena which was then covered with my barrier." The high elf, now known as Riveria turned her attention to Bell. "Again I apologize for trapping you inside, but you must understand my point of view. Should you have died then I had to keep those monsters from escaping out into the general public and causing more harm. I did not do it out of ill will."
Bell closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "It's fine, I didn't die in the end and I killed all of them. Nothing to worry about." He said, though his tone held a chip of frustration within it.
Airmid picked up on this but held her tongue. Riveria did as well and followed Airmid's example. The boy had piqued her curiosity.
'He has the same magic as the Battle Ax. Does this mean he is her child? Or is he not related to her at all? Does he even know she exists?' Riveria wondered.
The Battle Ax was the alias of a woman Riveria feared. A high executive of the Hera familia, she was second magic-wise only to the Silence herself during the reign of Zeus and Hera. But after their defeat to the One-Eyed Black Dragon, the two familia's were subsequently banished. Leaving Riveria to take the mantle as the strongest mage within the city.
Even though she didn't earn that title.
"Well, an investigation will have to be conducted to figure out what the cause of this mess was." Shakti began, she turned from the plant monster to Bell. Her beautiful blue eyes looking at Bell, causing the boy to further wrap the sheet around him. "But since you killed all these monsters it's up to you to figure out what to do with the monster stones and drop items should there be any."
Bell sighed and stood up, tying the sheet around him like a toga. "If it is no trouble I would like to keep them. And I have a way to guarantee I'll have drop items. You're welcome to use this trick if you want."
The three women grew confused as Bell walked over to the Minotaur heads. Then their eyes widened with shock as Bell tore away the horns from atop their heads with ease.
'I don't have anywhere to put these.' Bell thought, then turned to Shakti. "Hey, can I borrow a pouch to put this stuff in?"
Shakti reached down to her belt and tossed Bell two of hers.
"Thank you." The boy said, he deposited three Minotaur horns into the pouch. But kept the fourth one in his hand as he walked over to the Infant Dragons.
'Infant Dragons don't have any drop items. But I wonder what will happen should I chisel their scales off. Will it be like the Minotaur horns and stay around? Or will they disappear into dust as well?'
"Bell, what are you doing?" Airmid asked, her head tilted to the left slightly.
"I'm testing out a theory." He replied.
The three women grew confused about what he was going to do. They were still shocked when he ripped out the Minotaur horns. Yet they didn't stop him as they were curious as to what he would do.
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Once Bell reached the closet Infant Dragon, the one that had been to the right during the battle. He looked at the last Minotaur horn in his hand, and then back to corpse.
'Well, here's goes nothing.' Bell thought as he raised the horn, the women watched with intrigue as Bell began to chip away at the scales.
He was careful and precise, chipping off dozens of scales into his hand, while depositing them into the second pouch.
Once he had gotten enough Bell punched through the flesh and grabbed its monster stone. Then with a tug, he yanked it out causing the dragon to turn to ash.
Bell looked down at his second pouch, seeing that the scales still remained. Causing him to smile slightly. 'So my theory works here as well. Will it work with every monster though is the question.'
Bell then repeated the process two more times, netting him a total of 148 dragon scales. He then finished disposing of the monsters. Ripping their stones out and putting them in his pouch.
They all turned to ash, and Bell made his way past the shocked women and to the plant monster. He had seen its monster stone in its mouth earlier.
So reaching inside it he grabbed it before yanking it out and watching as the final monster turned to dust.
He went to put it in his pouch, but stopped when he noticed its weird color. "What the- it's yellow!" Bell declared.
This grabbed the attention of the three women with him. His declaration had snapped them out of their shock at him keeping his drop items and discovering a new one.
But that quickly exited their minds when they saw the yellow monster stone in Bell's fingers.
"Yellow? Bell let me take a look at it." Shakti asked, but Bell knew it was more like an order.
He handed the monster stone to Shakti who held it up to the sun and took a look at it. She was silent for a moment as a tense atmosphere settled between the group.
"Curious, there seem to be manmade chisels inside the stone itself." The azure-haired captain mused.
"Manmade, as in someone made this?" Airmid asked, a hinge of fright in her delicate voice.
"It seems so, but the question is who would do something like this?" Shakti answered, she lowered the stone and turned her attention to Bell. "Bell, I will need to confiscate this as evidence for the investigation of what happened here today. Even if it is yours by right it could be key in solving what caused the breakout, or where that monster came from."
Bell stared into Shakti's beautiful blue eyes that reminded him of the ocean that he had never seen before. They were hard and serious, and Bell knew she was taking the stone whether he agreed or not.
"Ok." Bell nodded. "If it will help with your investigation you can take it. All I want to do is go home and take a shower." He said, sounding more annoyed than exhausted as Shakti would have assumed.
The woman just nodded. "Very well you are free to leave. The streets should be safe and secure, talk to Ilta and she will arrange a carriage to take you home."
Bell gave the woman a nod and left with Airmid. Once the two were gone the Ganesha captain turned to the Loki vice-captain.
"He has the Battle Ax's magic," Riveria said.
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Shakti only stood there slightly shocked. She had a theory he had something similar to her magic. Mostly from Bell's own telling of it to her only a few hours ago.
"So this means she could still be alive, and could have passed off her teachings to the young Bell." Shakti mused.
"Or thoughts of revenge," Riveria added.
Shakti paused for a moment, and then shook her head. "No, I do not think she would pass off thoughts of revenge. Especially to someone so young, and even so, we are not entirely sure he even knows her or of her."
Riveria looked to the exit where Bell and Airmid had left. "You are probably correct, it is not within the Battle Ax's nature to use others for her dirty work. Besides, if she wanted revenge she herself would enact it."
Shakti nodded to those words. "And there would be nothing we could do to stop that woman. But the young Bell has struck a cord of interest. To be able to take down not one but three Infant Dragons with ease, along with two Minotaur as well. And that's not even taking into account that plant monster."
"He's very skilled, and with his healing magic he could be a valuable asset to anyone who has him." Riveria placed a hand on her chin and went deep into thought.
"You're not thinking of challenging the Dian Cecht familia to a war game are you?" Shakti inquired.
Riveria shook her head. "No, but I do wonder if he's willing to sell his services to those willing to pay."
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Atop a nearby tower overlooking the Coliseum the cloaked figure stood. A smile filled with lust and ecstasy painted her face as she had seen everything.
'Oh, what a fight, taking the punches that Minotaur gave out, then being burned alive twice. Oh, what a show, and to think you have the magic of the Battle Ax. Oh how I would've loved to have that woman in my familia, maybe I can use you to figure out where she is?'
The cloaked figure then playfully bit her fingernail remembering that the dragon's fire burned away Bell's clothes. 'Oh and what a beautiful body, such well-defined muscle and beautiful smooth skin.'
Her mind then went to something more perverted. 'Oh, what a fine young man you are indeed.'
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Bell and Airmid made their way to the entrance of the Coliseum. Drawing many strange looks because of how Bell was dressed.
When they reached the entrance the same red-haired Amazon that had snapped a Barbarian's neck with her thighs approached them.
It turned out this woman was Ilta, the level five vice-captain of the Ganesha familia. One thing Bell noted with her was the three orange jewels she had under her eyes.
He didn't hear much of their conversation, only watching as Airmid spoke to Ilta and the Amazon flagging down a nearby carriage.
When it pulled alongside them Ilta opened the door and ushered them in. But Bell wasn't really paying attention to any of it. All he was focused on was the new breed of monster.
Just what exactly was it? And what capabilities did it possess? What made it tick? What were its weaknesses?
All these questions ran through Bell's mind. Not taking in the carriage, or hearing the mocking laugh of a red-headed goddess behind him.
The door shut and the pulling of the carriage snapped Bell out of his thoughts. He looked at Airmid who sat in front of him. Her eyes looked worried, haggard, and tired.
The silence in the carriage felt deafening, and Airmid didn't know what to say. Bell was willing to die for her. Airmid knew Bell would keep her safe, but to see him charging the Minotaur's and leading them away. Then coming upon him, seeing the dead Infant Dragons, burned sand, and Bell without any clothes but no injuries.
She quickly pieced together what happened. 'If he didn't have his magic, he would've died.' Airmid thought.
"Hey, Airmid." Bell's voice said breaking her from her thoughts. He couldn't stand the silence anymore.
"Yes, Bell?" She replied.
"Sorry for calling you an ankle biter, that was mean. I don't really know why I said it, that's normally not like me." He said.
Airmid was a little surprised by his apology, she hadn't taken any offense to it. She thought the two were just playing around as she had teased him about Shakti just seconds beforehand. "O-oh, it's alright. I didn't take any offense to it."
Bell didn't respond but smiled nonetheless. He pulled the sheet around himself tighter before looking out the window. Watching as the city went by.
'Shakti said that yellow crystal had manmade chisels. Does that mean there's a whole host of these monsters? And if so what will be the protocol against them? Shakti said mine was practically a baby, so does that mean they're full adults out there wreaking havoc?'
More questions ran through his mind before he replayed the fight in his head. 'Ok the Minotaur's by themselves would've been a cakewalk. The most trouble was those Infant Dragons. It's like they waited for me to have my back turned before they attacked. I'm unless when it comes to long and medium-range combat. And I can't exactly use any weapons to close that gap because they like to shatter when I swing them. I need to figure out some way to close that gap. But what? Magic could be a good solution, but the only one I have is my healing magic and that can't exactly be used for long-range offense. Hmm what to do, what to do?'
Airmid wasn't privy to Bell's thoughts as the boy looked out the window. Part of her grew slightly worried, he was unnaturally quiet. 'Could him being burned by those dragons have scarred him mentally? It must be extremely painful having your skin burned away by fire. Even though he is able to regenerate it, it must have been agonizing.'
She noticed Bell taking a quick glance at her before looking back out the window. Airmid wondered why he did that, he wasn't able to read her mind, was he?
'I'm glad Airmid's alright, those Ganesha guys protected her well. But what made those monsters escape? Wasn't the monster room supposed to be under heavy lock and key?' Bell thought.
The day had left Bell with a lot of questions and virtually no answers. And he doubted that Shakti would let him in on the investigation.
Which then turned his mind to Riveria. He bit his bottom lip in frustration while gripping the sheet tightly. 'It was her, that elf princess. The one that got Master, Grandpa, and...and my family kicked out. All for a power grab, all for the place at number one. And I ran into her, what are the odds of that?'
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The carriage dropped off Bell and Airmid 15 minutes later. The boy exited first and helped Airmid down like a gentleman.
Though it was a little awkward considering Bell was completely naked under the sheet. Airmid kept trying to push that thought out of her mind but failed.
It was very embarrassing for her to think about and she couldn't even begin to imagine how Bell felt about it.
He thanked their driver and the two were inside her house shortly after. Once Bell shut the door his shoulders finally sagged in relief.
'Did he have his guard up that whole time?' Airmid wondered.
"Today was a long day, do you mind if I go take a bath and get a fresh pair of clothes? Also, it would probably be a good idea to burn this sheet."
Airmid merely gave Bell a soft smile. "Yes, that will be quite alright. Please make sure not to rip the door off the frame again." She lightly joked.
Bell smiled a tired smile. "Don't worry, I didn't level up from this. So your door should be safe in the meantime."
Airmid watched as Bell made his way upstairs, noticing that he still seemed so full of energy. Yet it was probably his mentality that was drained.
'I'll make us something nice for dinner. He's had a rough day and a good meal might brighten up his mood.'
So Airmid made her way into the kitchen and got out the ingredients to start making a hearty meal that would fill Bell's stomach back up and distract him from what had happened today.
'Maybe after dinner, I can talk to him and see how he's holding up.'
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Bell opened the door to the bathroom and shut it behind him. He locked the door before dropping the sheet and kicking it off to the side. He felt his muscles relax as he began turning on the water, and waited for it to become a reasonable temperature before getting in.
A relaxed sigh escaped his lips as the dried purple and yellow blood began to wash away. Part of Bell felt like laughing. He hadn't even been in the city for an entire month and he'd already fought three Minotaur before going to the Middle Floors.
Add to the fact he's fought the equivalent of the Upper Floors floor boss three times as well and he had quite a few unique kills under his belt.
But then his face flushed red in embarrassment. 'I can't believe three women saw me naked. Stupid dragons melting my clothes away.'
Bell let out another content sigh as he glanced over to his loot. Monster stones, Minotaur horns, and Dragon Scales. 'But what should I make with them? I think I should make armor with the Dragon Scales. I'm going to need armor the deeper I go down. There's a chance a monster down there can outpace my healing magic. But when it comes to weapons I'm drawing a blank, I know that it will shatter if I swing it. So what should I do?'
More blood washed off Bell as he thought of possible weapons he could create. But kept drawing blanks as he knew they would shatter.
Then his eyes shot wide open with an idea. 'Throwing knives! Sure they'll shatter but that makes it better. Dozens of tiny little shards moving at breakneck speeds toward a monster. Would do some serious damage and could perhaps hit those in the surrounding area as well.'
Had his master heard what he was planning there was a good chance she would've smiled. Dragon Scale armor and throwing knives that would turn into hundreds of shards all moving at lightning speeds.
It was genius and brutal all wrapped up in a nice bow.
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45 minutes later Bell descended down the stairs. Fully dressed in a black tunic with long sleeves but a loose-fitting collar. Along with light brown breeches.
The smell of steak and potatoes met Bell's nose as he saw Airmid moving around the kitchen. She had changed clothes from her nurse's uniform to a pink short-sleeved shirt and blue shorts. With her hair tied up in a ponytail and an apron around her waist.
'She looks like a housewife.' Bell thought.
Airmid turned her head and smiled at Bell. "Do you feel a little bit better now?" She softly asked.
Bell furrowed his brow slightly. 'Why is she talking to me like that?' He wondered. "Uh yeah, I feel clean now so that's a good thing. Although I'm going to have to buy more clothes, I only have one clean outfit left since those dragons burned my other one." He grumbled.
Airmid kept her smile and gestured over to the dinner table. "Why don't you take a seat? Dinner will be ready soon."
Bell nodded and took his seat at the dinner table. He remained quiet while Airmid finished cooking, something which the tiny doctor noticed.
'Hmm, he's probably still in shock from today's events. I think I will talk with him tomorrow once the shock wears off.'
'Man that looks like a really good steak.'
A few minutes later Airmid finished her cooking and grabbed two plates filled with steak and mashed potatoes. She carried it over to the table and set one plate in front of Bell.
"Here you go, I like my steak medium rare so I hope that's not too bad." She said.
Bell smiled and cut a piece off. "After a day like today, I'd eat just about anything."
The two ate in a comfortable silence. The only sound resounding in the room was the clattering of silverware against plates.
Airmid kept glancing up at Bell from time to time. Watching and gauging his reaction to see if the shock wore off. Yet Bell just quietly ate his dinner and Airmid was left stumped.
That was until there was a knock on the door.
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Bell's eyes narrowed as he set his fork down. He cast a glance at Airmid and she seemed to get his message.
He stood up followed by Airmid hovering closely behind him. There was another knock on the door causing Bell's muscles to tense, but he still approached slowly.
Upon reaching the door Bell grabbed the doorknob and unlocked the door. Then with a deep breath flung it open, his fist raised.
"I AM GANESHA!" The elephant masked god shouted.
Bell nearly stumbled trying to keep his fist from hitting the god. But the tanned god only seemed to laugh at this. "It is good to meet you as well young Bell. May I come in?"
"O-of course Lord Ganesha!" Airmid answered.
The two stepped aside and the Elephant masked god entered followed closely by Shakti holding a bag in her hands.
Bell wondered what was inside as he looked at Ganesha more closely while Airmid shut the door.
He was a muscular god standing at 6'3 and wearing an orange sash that went around his right shoulder and wrapped around his waist. With a gold-rimmed leather plate sitting on his stomach holding the thing together. His white pants went into his brown under-the-knee boots which also had golden accents.
Then to top his outfit off he wore an orange elephant mask with golden eyes. Which drew attention away from his golden jewelry and ash-brown hair.
Ganesha looked around the house and noticed the two plates of food on the table. "My apologies, it seems I have interrupted your dinner."
"How may we help you today Lord Ganesha?" Airmid hurriedly asked.
The god turned and waved her off. "Oh, I don't need your help today young Airmid. No, I merely came by to offer my thanks to you young Bell."
Bell's eyes widened slightly in surprise. "T-thank me, for what?"
"For what he asks!" Ganesha heartily chuckled. "Why for redirecting all those monsters back into the arena and saving countless people in the process."
Bell blushed slightly in embarrassment. "Oh, well I was only doing that to protect Airmid really." He mumbled.
Shakti stepped out of the way as Ganesha approached Bell. His big strong hand clasped Bell's shoulder and it was then the boy realized Ganesha was taller than him. Making the boy feel somewhat tiny.
"It doesn't matter what your goal was at first. It matters what the actions you took caused. Your actions in the pursuit of protecting young Airmid led to you battling fierce monsters and taking their attention off the public as a result. As such for your heroics, I am willing to offer you one favor, and a whole wardrobe of outfits to help replace the one you lost."
Shakti handed the bag to Ganesha and the god put it in the stunned Bell's hand. The boy's mouth opened and closed. Words failing him as this strange feeling bubbled in his chest.
What was it? Was it pride? No, it couldn't have been that, Bell wasn't a prideful person. Was it happiness? No, he knew what that felt like as well. It wasn't love either because Bell didn't swing that way.
So what, what was this feeling in Bell's chest right now?
He wouldn't get his answer as Airmid elbowed him in the ribs snapping him out of his stupor.
"U-uh um thank you, Lord Ganesha. I-I don't really know what to say." Bell replied, though his voice sounded a lot meeker than Shakti had recalled.
"And that is quite alright my boy. And you need not worry about the favor. There is no time limit on it at all. What god of the masses would I be should I do something as dastardly as that? I'm not Hermes for god's sake." The god joked.
Bell nervously chuckled along with Airmid. Bell knew all too well how that god could act. Not that anyone here knew that.
"Well then, we shall leave you to your dinner. Shakti, do you have anything you would like to say before we leave?"
Bell turned his attention to the beautiful captain. She eyed him with an inquisitive gaze before speaking. "Bell, after seeing your magic in action and with a first-hand account by the Nine Hells. I would like to ask if your services would be for sale should we ever need them."
Bell was once more shocked as he blinked rapidly. He didn't notice the smirk on Ganesha's lips, nor Airmid's surprised gasp. "M-my services?"
Shakti nodded. "Yes, your healing magic would be very valuable to any familia in the city, maybe even the world. I'm asking if you would be interested in selling those services to the Ganesha familia should we need your assistance."
Bell felt like his heart would leap out of his chest. This is what he came to the city for, this was something that he wanted, something he had always wanted. But his gaze turned to Airmid, she had a cute smile filled with pride on her face. Showing that she was happy for Bell.
But she was his responsibility now, someone he had to protect no matter what. He turned his gaze back to Shakti, the woman seeming to know the war raging on inside him.
"I've thought about it, I actually came to the city to be able to help as many people as I could." He paused and looked back at Airmid whose smile had dropped slightly. "But that was before I was assigned to protect Airmid...so I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to decline your offer."
Bell felt disappointed in himself. His dream was within his grasp. But he didn't grab it, he had a duty to protect Airmid now.
However, Ganesha himself broke down that disappointment. "Well if that's the case young Bell, I can assign some of my best to watch after her while you help those in need. How does that sound?"
Bell just smacked himself in the face. "I didn't even think of that. I'm such an idiot." He mumbled.
Ganesha just let out a hearty laugh once more and clasped Bell on the back. "So we're in agreement, should you need to take an extended leave for whatever business you need to deal with. My best guards will be protecting Airmid for you while you're gone, free of charge."
Bell raised his head and looked at Airmid. "Only if Airmid herself accepts this deal." He said.
Airmid didn't even hesitate. "I accept this deal."
Ganesha stuck out his hand and Bell quickly clasped it. "That's a strong grip you have there young man!"
Bell couldn't stop the smile from spreading to his face. "Grandpa always told me to have a firm handshake. It's a sign of respect."
"Your Grandfather sounds like a wise man."
The two let go and Ganesha struck a pose. "I AM GANESHA! And this meeting has been quite prosperous."
Shakti just shook her head and ushered Ganesha out of the house. She told Bell she'd be in contact with him whenever she needed his expertise.
Once they were gone Bell shut the door and turned to Airmid. "I like him, he's nice."
Airmid nodded. "He is, now time to go back to dinner. It's getting cold."
Uh, not much to say other than I hope you enjoyed and to have a good day.