The Albion of the Sky
Chapter Three: Albion
I don't own Dungeon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatte Iru Darou ka
Bell Cranel
Familia: Hadur
Level 4 - 5
Strength: SSS 1162 – I0
Endurance: SSS 1218 - I0
Dexterity: SSS 1140 – I0
Agility:SSS 1249 – I0
Magic: SSS 1123 – I0
SKILLS:
Avatar: The materialization of the soul to the outside world to be shape and use by one's will.
Dragon Soul: Breaks the limit of growth. Prevents affliction upon body, soul, and mind. Would continuously increase stats the more committed to the battle one is. Would double the previous increase of stats if one is committed to kill.
Dominus: In exchange for never acquiring magic, one can project the weight and pressure of their soul.
Elemental Sight: Allows the user to connect to the Information Dimension at the highest possible level.
Hadur's Blessing: Blacksmith, Mystery, and Soldier Ability is gifted. The Development of the Rank of each of the three abilities is tied to one another. The three abilities would not rank up unless they are ranked up in unison.
Argonaut: Allows a charge for a counterattack. Charge increases in power and speed if one sings to the bells.
Animagi: Allows the user to transform to their spirit animals. (Bell Cranel's Spirit Animals (Rabbit, Wolf, and Eagle)
Backstab:Increase damage to all attacks that are delivered to the back of the target.
Phantom Dragon: Provides the ability to weaponize one's shadow. Shadow will take the form of a Dragon. Active Trigger. Supplementary to Dominus.
Skywalker:Raises the user's stats during aerial combat or if user is fighting with his feet not contacting with the ground.
Stormbreaker:Rapidly increases stats when fighting in extreme weathers.
Undertaker:Killing would result to endurance and mind recovery, as well as minor healing.
Synchroneity: Allows the user to synchronize his sense with others.
Dragon's Wrath:Supplementary toDragon Soul. Decreases stats of those who feels fear towards the user. The decrease of stats is proportional to the increase of Stats of DragonSoul.
Death's Blessing:Every mortal life taken promotes growth.
Dragon's Curse: Supplementary to Dominus. A curse would be applied to those significantly damage with Dominus. Said curse would continually harm the target, magnifying pain, and slowing natural and unnatural healing, while draining their mind and stamina. Further, the curse would stack, and when it would reach five stacks, the curse would break in an explosion that would damage the one who was curse. The user would always be aware of the location of the one who was afflicted by the curse.
Magic
N/A
Developmental Abilities
LUCK: D
BLACKSMITH (Hadur's Blessing): G - F
MYSTERY (Hadur's Blessing): G - F
SOLDIER (Hadur's Blessing): G - F
RUNECRAFT: B - A
ASSASSIN: A
ALCHEMIST: H - G
COUNTER STRIKE: I
(Scene Change)
This is Bell's last update with his first God, Hadur, before the Hungarian God ascended to heaven.
Before Hadur ascended, the God of War left him with a task, a responsibility no child his age should ever bare, no matter how capable he is or how strong he is.
Regardless, Bell took the responsibility that his God, his father, gave him with pride.
This last task, Bell would take in earnest in honor of the man that allowed him to live.
(Scene Change)
Between the borders that Rakia shared with the Alf's Royal Forest, a child of 13 hid within the forestry while overlooking the army that was marching from Rakia to the Alf's Royal Forest.
"1…"
This child's name is Bell Cranel, the one and only child of the infamous God of War, Hadur.
"2…"
Bell Cranel possesses long white hair that went past his shoulder's blades, and bewitching crimson eyes framed by long eyelashes. His physique was slender and androgynous, and in a different light and angle, and considering his looks leans more towards enchanting beauty than masculine handsomeness, people could easily mistake him for a girl.
And even Bell would not begrudge them for it.
"3…"
The clothing that he wore was of gothic design that consists of a tight black suit with gray stripes and long wrapped sleeves. He also wore loose black slacks and gray boots that were lightly armored. Both of his hands and forearms were covered with a slender gauntlet. Said gauntlets were forged to mimic the appearance of dragon scales.
Over his ensemble was a white, feathery cloak that resembled wings.
"4…"
Bell did not like the Kingdom of Rakia.
A warmongering Kingdom, Bell spent most of the eight years that he was under Hadur fighting the Rakia army in one form or another.
Their people, their armies were scattered throughout the bloody continent. Trying to conquer and grab land for their Emperor or King, and for the country's patron God.
Hadur and Bell had prevented countless land grabs from those two nations.
Bell had buried countless Rakia soldiers, to such an extent that he had lost count on how many sons and daughters of Rakia that he had killed.
"5…6…"
If there was one thing that Bell learned from Hadur, it is to hate War.
War promotes the vilest impulses of mortals.
Bell should know. The last war that he fought in, the first full war that he participated in, the number of mortal lives that he ended, it was harrowing. The collateral damage that he had caused was catastrophic.
There was a reason why one of his epithets in the continent is 'Red-Eyes, White Dragon'.
He had been so effective in the last war that he fought in that he was likened to the Catastrophe that is the One-Eyed, Black Dragon.
Bell was greatly offended.
"7…8…9…"
Bell hummed.
"Nine Battalions." Bell closed his eyes momentarily. When he opened his eyes, his crimson eyes turned into purple with a black, star-shaped iris in its center.
Bell invoked one of his more potent skills.
[Elemental Sight]
"5,483." Bell grumbled in resignation.
5,483.
Among those mortals, he would only spare one, and briefly at that.
"Ok then…" Bell reached into his pocket and grabbed a pair of glasses. Donning the glasses, he tapped the bridge of the eyewear, and it immediately change form into a helm that covered his entire head. The helm resembled that of a dragon, with a white like mane that covered Bell's long hair.
Bell then reached under his shirt and brought out a necklace. Slamming his right hand into the necklace, the accessory disintegrated as plates of steel began spreading from where the accessory was hanging.
In a matter of seconds, Bell's upper body was covered with plate armor. His thighs and upper leg were also covered with armor. The armor had a draconic motif.
Bell hated the One-Eyed Black Dragon with a passion, but he had always loved the aesthetics of Dragons, to such an extent that most of the weapons and armors that he had designed and forged had draconic aesthetics.
Hadur called him tacky.
In his defense, he was a child, and Dragons are awesome.
With his [Elemental Sight, Bell was able to have an overhead view of the army. With said view, Bell waited until they were in position before snapping his fingers.
His first trap was triggered.
Two dozen trebuchet strategically positioned within the forest simultaneously propelled their load towards the army.
Boulders with deadly and unique runes carved upon them flew into the air and descended to the marching.
As the boulders hit the ground, striking mortals and animals without prejudice, killing them on impact, the boulders exploded, releasing a kinetic force that blew several mortals in every conceivable direction.
This also effectively disrupt the formation of the marching army.
Bell nodded in satisfaction.
It could have been better, but he did not have the time to position the last half dozen trebuchet that he had at his disposal.
He prioritized the Ballista after all.
Bell snapped his finger once again.
His second trap was triggered.
Three dozen ballista, positioned strategically around the forest, fired their bolts.
Not at the army, but above the army.
As the 36 ballista bolts reached their highest altitude, they all disintegrate with an explosion, and said explosion released thousands upon thousands of kunai down at the army.
Using his [Elemental Sight, Bell was able to conclude that his opening salvo was able to kill 432 enemy soldiers while injuring a further 517, though most of the injury were non-fatal.
The previous salvo killed 507, while fatally injuring 217.
Not bar for an opening attack, but he could have done better.
"Doesn't matter really." Bell extended his right arm to his side and flick his wrist while uttering two words. "Fall, Albaz."
In a flash of copper flames, Bell's magnum opus, the greatest weapon that he ever created appeared in his hands.
The sword in Bell's hand was a double-edge long sword, his weapon of choice.
The longsword in Bell's hand is a beautiful weapon.
50 inches of effort and perfection, the culmination of his skill as a blacksmith
The double-edge blade is 37 inches in length, with a width of 2.3 inches.
The cross guard is two inches thick and 12 inches in length. The cross guard was shaped and carved until it took the shape of a dragon's scale. The tip of the cross guard was engraved to mimic the shape of a forging hammer. On the center of the cross guard was a silver plate with a head of a dragon etched upon it.
The handle of the longsword is 11 inches in total length, with the grip being 9 inches long and the pommel being 2 inches in size. The handle appeared to be made from obsidian, which was molded into a spiral handle. The pommel was made of white copper, and it was molded into the shape of a crown.
The blade of the sword had a single long fuller from the base of the sword going up to the center of the blade. The blade had two distinct patterns. The core of the blade featured rippled patterns that resembled a feather, while the outer blade, the edges, had a pattern that resembled flames. Peculiarly, the blade was white in color while the pattern etched onto the blade was crimson. The blade was tapered for thrusting as well as for slashing.
This weapon was Bell's master piece. His version of his God's primary weapon.
Albaz is his Sword of Atilla.
Taking a deep breath, Bell stepped out from where he was hiding while invoking one of Albaz's unique abilities.
Bell did not need Crozzo Blood to create magic swords, and unlike the Crozzo, his magic swords does not break from repeated and/or strenuous usage.
Though he was not using a magic sword.
After all, Albaz does not have a magic core.
It does not use magic per se.
Albaz draws its power from his soul.
"Rindbrumm." Bell whispered as copper flames erupted around him.
From the flames, two armored arms emerged. The armored arms were as tall as him, five foot, four inches. The arms were hovering behind Bell and were connected to a wing-like armor that manifested together with the armored arms.
The armored left hand held a massive, ornate bow. The bow's length is twice the size of Bell. The armored right hand had already notched the bow, creating three large, golden arrows.
With a simple gesture from Bell, the arrows were loose. Three golden arrows flew and pierce through several dozen mortals with ease. When it had hit the ground, it released an explosion the resulted in more casualties.
Bell dispelled 'Rindbrumm', the bow and the armored arms disappeared in a wisp of flames, before uttering one word. "Fly."
Bell Cranel disappeared in a white flash.
He appeared several meters from his original position, between ten enemy soldiers.
With a simple pass of his sword, all ten died.
An enemy soldier came running at Bell, weapon raised and a scream in their lips.
Bell raised his left arm, with his index and middle finger extended towards the charging hostile. Using [Dominus, his most use and flexible skill, he drew power from his soul, a soul that is so potent that it could not be contain within his body.
A bolt of white energy erupted from between his index and middle fingers. Two bolts were released, one struck the leg while the other struck the head of the advancing soldier.
The energy bolt contained such concussive force that two hits shattered the leg and the skull of the enemy combatant.
The soldier fell to the ground, dead with a thud.
Within a second, Bell killed eleven soldiers with ease.
"Fly." Bell uttered again. He once again disappeared in a flash of white lightning.
This time, Bell appeared behind five enemy soldiers.
With a single swing, three heads fell while two were disembowel.
Before the bodies could hit the ground, Bell vanished in a flash of white.
Bell reappeared between 20 enemy soldiers.
He stomped the ground hard. This action resulted in an explosion of white energy that propelled the twenty soldiers around Bell upwards.
Using [Runecraft, the surface of Albaz's blades were covered with runes before Bell swung his sword in an upward angle. The sword swing released a crescent shape blast of energy.
Said blasts cut through the twenty soldiers with ease.
Before a single drop of blood could touch Bell, he disappeared from sight.
He appeared in front of 15 enemy soldiers, Albaz mid swing.
"Lubellion." Once again, two massive armored arms appeared behind Bell. This time though, instead of a bow, two ornate, single edge, curved swords were held by each of the projected arms.
Bell swung Albaz once.
He killed one soldier.
The two swords that were wielded by the massive arms were swung five times.
14 soldiers were reduced to chunks.
Before Bell could reposition himself, he felt several attacks coming his way.
With a mental command, the massive twin swords were swung erratically around Bell, deflecting, dispelling, and destroying the attacks directed at him.
Using [Elemental Sight, Bell study the battlefield.
The enemy was beginning to reorient themselves.
That would not do.
"Manifest my Sins…" Bell whispered to himself.
His shadow began to rose from the ground
Bell momentarily threw Albaz into the air before raising both his arms to the side, fingers outstretch, palms aimed at the hostiles around.
From his open palms, pulsing white energy erupted.
"Cero." Bell whispered.
Two concentrated blasts of energy were fired from Bell's open palms. He repositioned himself before firing another two more ceroes.
Those four blasts were able to interrupt the barrage of long-range attacks that were raining down on Bell, giving him a bit of a breather.
The disruption was long enough for Bell's shadows to fully emerge.
A black, bi-pedal, winged dragon emerged behind Bell. This dragon was large, standing roughly eight meters in length. The dragon possesses elongated limps, with white orbs embedded upon its body and wings.
(For visual, think or google Gandora the Dragon of Destruction)
Bell raised his right arm over his head. Opening his palm, Albaz fell into his right hand.
"Gandora." Bell called upon his shadow.
The Dragon named Gandora growled as it gazed down on its creator.
"Rain Destruction." Bell instructed dispassionately.
Gandora released an ear-piercing screech as the numerous white orbs throughout its body glowed bright before beams of white destruction erupted from each orb.
The beams tore through flesh like hot knife through butter.
The attack not only blinded the surrounding soldiers, but it also killed them as Gandora released an attack within 360 degrees of it.
Using the blindness of his enemies. Bell aimed towards the farthest group of his enemies before uttering a word.
"[Titaniklad]."
The two swords disappeared in a wisp of coppery flames. In its place was a massive spear with a double-edge, flamberge spear head.
With a stomped of his feet, Bell propelled himself towards his target, the massive spear ready to be thrust.
When he was within range, he thrusted Albaz.
The massive spear was thrust upon the group of soldiers.
On impact, the ground beneath the large group of soldiers were disintegrated. The force behind the thrust was so strong that it sent many flying. The attack impaled five soldiers.
They were dead before they know what killed them.
Bell engaged the remaining soldiers.
Each swing of his sword, each swing of Albaz, the manifested spear was spun and twirled by the manifested limbs.
Each spin, each twirl, each thrust of the spear, three to five enemy soldiers were killed.
The fact that Bell was also killing enemy hostiles left and right with each swing of his sword was also demoralizing to those who was witnessing the carnage that he was sewing.
And that feeling of defeat was compounded when a single name was uttered.
"It's the White Reaper!"
Bell could taste the fear that swiftly flooded the area as realization dawn to his enemies.
He had killed so many Rakian soldiers that some of them knows him by his ability.
Bell dispelled Titaniklad while a scripture of runes spiraled around Albaz's blade.
Bell swung Albaz at the sky, releasing a blast of energy in the shape of a massive Dragon.
The Dragon rapidly flew to the sky before exploding in a bright flash of white.
As it dispersed, it released a rain of smaller energy dragons that quickly descended to the ground.
The technique that Bell used covered the entire clearing. The people that were hit were by the dragon shards had their bodies pierce clean through, and as each shard hit the ground, it pierced straight through the earth, creating craters several feet wide and deep.
This attack resulted in several hundred dead soldiers as well as for a dust storm to cover the area, hampering everyone's ability to see.
Everyone but Bell.
Bell could feel [Stormbreaker] empowering him.
Dust storm, natural or not, is still considered an extreme weather phenomenon.
Stormbreaker did not just provide a boost to his stats, it also provided Bell with immunity to strong weathers.
Also, with [Elemental Sight, Bell would never be blind.
Bell sidestepped a blind attack that was thrown ay him by one of the enemy soldiers before he swiftly beheaded him with Albaz.
Bell then positioned Albaz until the tip of the sword was pointing to the ground.
Using [Elemental Sight, Bell identified a build up of mind, and before magic could be invoke, he swung his blade at the mages that were desperately trying to weave magic.
Bell did not bother using [Dominus] with this swing. Instead, he swung his sword in such a way that it generated a flying slash. Considering Albaz's design, the flying slash unleash by the swing was a concussive wall of wind.
And said wall of wind crash onto the chanting mages violently.
They died on impact.
Sensing more buildup of mind in the air, Bell moved with speeds that broke the sound barrier.
He is going to milk [Stormbreaker] until the artificial sandstorm is dispersed.
When it was dispersed, Bell had other methods to cull an army.
(Scene Change)
Marius Victrix Rakia, the vice-captain of the Area Familia and the crown prince of the Kingdom of Rakia, knew that his legion would be killed to a man.
The moment their attacker was identified, Marius knew that he had march his people to their deaths.
The Blood Hound of the Alfs, the White Storm, the White Reaper, is not a merciful foe.
He was known in Raika, and in the Empire, as a walking catastrophe.
The number of his kingdom's people that had died by the Reaper's blade is astronomical.
It appears that another score of his people would be added to the Reaper's ledger.
Marius would not be one of them.
He was rendered unconscious a minute into the attack of the White Reaper.
When he awoke, Marius found himself gazing up at the sight of Albion.
Around him were the men and women that he was supposed to lead to the Alf's Royal Forest.
They were the vanguard in this new expedition to conquer the Holy Land of the Elves.
Unfortunately, they were immediately intercepted by a storm.
Every single one of his soldiers were dead.
Taking a deep breath, Marius knelt before the thing that had decimated his legion.
This thing that was probably younger than him had decimated more legions in the Rakian army than any country that Rakia had tried to invade.
"How long did we last?" Marius asked hollowly.
"13 minutes, 27 seconds." Albion answered tonelessly.
Marius chuckled unfeelingly. "You gotten stronger." Marius complimented dryly. "Last time it took you 18 minutes to kill roughly the same amount."
"17 minutes, 13 seconds." Albion corrected casually. "How many times have I spared you?" Albion inquired with a tired tone of voice.
Marius smiled bitterly. "Five times."
Albion nodded.
"Normally, I don't spare those I met in the battlefield more than once." Albion informed the prince. "I spared you five times, yet you still insist in being on the opposite end of my sword."
"I am following orders." Marius admitted bitterly.
The prince could hear Albion sighing.
"Your father does not deserve you as a son, and God Ares does not deserve you as a child." Albion exclaimed earnestly. "Last chance your highness, abandon your birthright, ride to Orario, be an Adventure like you always wanted to be, and stop being a toy for a God that does not know his limits in this world."
Marius laughed bitterly. That was the same offer that Albion gave him the last time they met in the battlefield.
That battle ended the same way this battle ended.
"I can't." As the oldest, Marius could not abandon his homeland.
Albion nodded slowly.
"On your feet or on your knees, you decide." Albion offered.
Marius knew this day would come.
Albion had spared him more times than he would normally allot to an enemy. Marius knew that his luck would not last.
Marius did not bother grabbing a weapon to defend himself.
Against Albion, that would be moot.
Whether he fought Albion or not, he is dead either way.
Instead, Marius stood up and offered his neck to the being that had singlehandedly prevented several campaigns of his Kingdom from coming to fruition.
"Would it be painless?" Marius asked with fear in his voice.
Albion paused for a moment.
In a flash of steel, Marius saw his body fall to the ground, a head shorter.
It was painless.
(Scene Change)
The nth attempt of Rakia to invade the Alf's Royal Forest ended before it began.
It ended because of a simple warning.
The flag containing the image of a smith forging a weapon on top of a mountain of corpses was mounted near the borders between Rakia and the Alf's Royal Forest.
That flag is the symbol of Hadur Familia.
And on top the flagpole was the severe head of Rakia's crown prince.
Around the flag were the dead bodies of the vanguard that would herald another invasion to the Elven Holy Lands.
This sight indicated that Albion the Storm would once again fight for the High Elves of the Alf's if Rakia invaded.
That knowledge alone was enough for most of the kingdom's fighting force to turn tail and run.
Only fools would run head first to a storm.
As for the High Elves of the Alf's Royal Forest, they raise a drink, celebrated, and rejoice for the Hero of the Alf's, the honorary High Elf, Albion.
(Scene Change)
As a Goddess of Love, Sex, Beauty, and War, Astarte of the Egyptian Pantheon is a sight to behold. Astarte is buxom and beautiful, with olive skin, large dark eyes and long, thick black hair that falls in ringlets to the middle of her back. She has full lips with round ripe breasts with huge dark nipples. Though the Goddess was small in stature, it did not diminish her beauty whatsoever.
In fact, her beauty was merely enhanced by her developed yet small figure.
Astarte, naked as the day she was created, stepped out of her bedding chamber, leaving half a dozen men, naked as she is, their manhood's placid.
They were spent.
She was not.
She was going to visit one of her children to indulge in more carnal pleasure but a particular message was delivered to her by her guest.
Although she would not receive pleasure from this guest, which was a downright tragedy, Astarte could not help but indulge this particular mortal.
After all, even though this mortal would deny his title, this mortal is a Hero.
And she was a Goddess that adores heroes.
Stepping foot into her office, she was greeted by a child that is considered a Hero by Altena and the Alf's Royal Forest.
A title that he earned as this child single-handedly won the war that both kingdom and city found itself in a few short years ago.
A child with a transcendent beauty that could rival that of Gods.
Astarte could not help but imagine the expression that boy would make when she finally has him in her bed.
It would be delightful.
"Will this be a business transaction?" Astarte inquired as she moved towards her liquor cabinet.
"No." Albion answered respectfully.
Astarte chuckled at that. This would be an easy conversation then.
"How have you been, Bell?" Astarte asked kindly.
Astarte felt something soft landing on her shoulders.
It was a cloak large enough to cover her figure.
Astarte laughed at this gesture.
"You are free to look if you want." Astarte offered. She was proud of her beauty, and no mortal in the lower world would complain at the sight of her splendor. "If you want a taste, I would not mind either." Astarte had taken younger lovers before. Thirteen was but a number for Astarte.
"It is unhealthy for me to view such delights." Bell admitted, his gazed turned away from the Goddess. "I am but a boy in this aspect of life."
Astarte laughed at those words. "In sex, dear Bell, everyone starts as boys and girls." Astarte gazed at Bell like a predator. "If you want, I can make you a man, here and now."
It had been a while since she fucked her last Hero.
Astarte was quite delighted that there was a hint of lust in the boy's eyes but his self-control won out in the end. "The day I would be a man in this aspect of life, I want it with to be with a person I love." Bell said, taking a few steps back from the Goddess. "I like you, Lady Astarte, but I do not love you. I will not dishonor you by laying with you while my heart caries only fondness of a friend for you in my heart."
Astarte laughed as she rolled her eyes.
Mortals like Bell are rare.
It was quite rare for a mortal to deny their baser instincts, especially before one who was created for sin like her.
"You will make someone very happy someday." Astarte complimented. The Goddess paused as she gazed at the boy from head to toe. "Make that several."
Astarte moved past Bell; a golden goblet filled with wine on hand. "You decimated a Legion of Rakian soldiers, correct?"
Bell nodded. "I was in the area, yes."
"Athena deployed a good number of soldiers to search for you." Astarte informed Bell. "Hadur ascended, correct?"
Bell nodded. "Seven months ago."
Astarte hummed before taking a sip from her goblet. "He couldn't even fully consume a decade of respite from his duties."
"He would not be Hadur-sama if he wasn't a workaholic." Bell said in the defense of his God.
"True..." Astarte conceded. "Athena wants you." The Goddess commented airily.
And wasn't that a cause for laugh. Athena, a hater of man, wanted Bell, a man, into her familia with such desperation it was almost sad.
"I am flattered, but Hadur promised me to another Goddess." Bell informed the Goddess of Love.
"So, Freya is going to get a significant boost in her Familia." Astarte grumbled in annoyance.
Astarte and Freya did not have a relationship, but with them sharing divinity, there was an unspoken rivalry between them.
"If the Goddess that I was promised to rejected me, she would be my second choice." Bell told the Goddess.
This information caused Astarte to pause.
Hadur and Freya are best of friends. In fact, that two are quite intimate as friends. If Freya did not know the name of her intended mate, and if Hadur was not enamored by that Greek Goddess, the two would have made for quite a fetching couple.
With Hadur back in heaven, it was safe to assume that Hadur would instruct his one and only child to join with the Goddess that he trusted the most.
The fact that another Goddess had already secured Bell Cranel before Freya could lay her eyes on him was surprising.
A happy surprised. Freya did not need another powerhouse, much less someone capable like the White Death.
Astarte gave Bell a look but before she could utter the name of the Goddess that Hadur might entrust him to, the mortal spoke.
"It is not his ex-lover." Bell cut-off Astarte.
The Goddess nodded. "Good. That bitch does not deserve you." Astarte took another sip of wine. "I would be remiss but..."
"My apologies, but no." Bell rejected the unspoken offer.
Astarte shrugged. "I had to give my own offer." Bell Cranel was too much of a prize for her not to offer him a place in her Familia.
If even Athena, a notorious male hater to the greatest extreme, want Bell Cranel, an unquestioned male, to her familia, then she would be foolish to not at least give an offer.
Bell was so strong that Athena was willing to break her no male policy in her familia.
"So, you're here for the sword?" Astarte asked while stopping in front of her work desk.
"The one that I gave you for safe keeping a week ago, yes." Bell answered politely.
Astarte nodded as she reached for her desk before pressing hidden buttons on the surface of the table in a unique pattern.
"What business did you conduct in Altena in the week that you are here?" As one of Athena's generals, she needed to at least ask.
Bell Cranel in a single area for a week, unmolested and unsupervised, does not bode well.
Even if Bell is a friend of Altena, he was not affiliated with the city, and if he wanted to, he could destroy a good chunk of the city before they could see a hair of him.
That is how good of a soldier Bell Cranel is.
"I did not conduct any business in Altena." Bell assured the Goddess. "My business was with the Alf's."
Astarte smiled at that assurance. "Is it safe to assume that Medea's position as the next Queen of the Alf's Royal Forest is solidified?"
"Yes." Bell confirmed, eyes dark. "And if those fools try to take her throne from her, I will visit them again."
A shiver went up Astarte's back.
For a human, Bell is very intimidating.
Pressing the last button in her desk, her work desk opened, revealing a compartment that contained a single sword.
The blade of the sword was wrapped by a thick cloak, but its hilt was fully exposed.
The blade possesses an ornate hilt with a cross guard that resembled the wing's of an angel. The pommel was engraved to mimic the face of a woman. The handle was 10 inches long. The upper part of the hilt was wrapped in black leather while the lower part was wrapped in copper wire.
If Astarte was being honest, the hilt was very garish, and the aesthetic was something that Hadur would never consider.
If it were not for the fact that the weapon was of divine nature, Astarte would have assumed that Bell was the one who crafted this sword.
But no mortal, regardless of skill, is capable of forging a divine weapon.
Taking the wrapped sword, Astarte pulled it out from its hiding place.
Turning around, Bell was already within arm's length of her.
"Excited much." Astarte commented humorously before handing the wrapped sword to Bell.
Bell nodded in thanks before taking the sword from the Goddess.
Turning his attention from the Goddess, Bell walked to the opened window.
"I wish you good fortunes in the wars to come." Astarte stated.
Bell gave her a wry look. "Hopefully, I won't walked into another war." With that said, Bell invoked his Animagi ability and turned into an eagle.
At mid morph, the sword that he retrieved from Astarte disappeared.
Without any more words, Bell left the Goddess and flew to the night sky.
Astarte shook her head and exited her office.
She needed a good lay after speaking to such a good friend.
A glimpsed of what this Bell Cranel is capable of.
Next chapter would be the incident that would take Bell from a wanderer to Orario.