Orario, the city of Adventurers, the home of the Dungeon. In Genkai, there are many things that can attract mankind, but none did it as much as the Dungeon. For it is the only thing that can gives you what you seek: Power, wealth, fame. Mankind can have it all if they dare to traverse the many floors of the Dungeon.
But of course, it is not that easy.
To enter one, you must register yourself as an Adventurer, and join a Familia, to be blessed with a fraction (perhaps, even lower) of the Gods' power. Fauna as they called it. Fauna allows them to fight beyond human's capabilities. For one to be bestowed with it, they can be described as a superhuman, much so for those with a high level.
Entering the labyrinth without a Fauna is not forbidden perse, but it highly not recommended. And if you die, the Guild, where your register yourself to be an Adventurer, will hold no responsibility over it.
You reap what you sow, as they said.
Now, you would think that most would be concern about the monsters breaking free from the Dungeon, but apparently...
A young boy with two different eye colors, a condition called heterochromia, is one of those concerns.
Well, not really, but the guard in front of our main character is surely sweating looking at him.
"Sir?" He called out meekly, a bit nervous by the reaction he received.
Meet our protagonist: Bell Cranel.
White hair as pure as snow itself, with alluring gaze due to the different colors of his eyes, short stature, and of course, determined to succeed.
Though, he was warned about the reaction he would receive by his grandfather...
-Line Break-
Flashback...
Our protagonist was looking up at his grandfather, who towered over him due to him standing over 6ft tall. With muscles that would make Jay Cutler (1) whistled in admiration, the old man is simply impressive to look at.
Although, unknown to anyone but Bell, he is none other than Zeus, the God King of Olympus.
"Listen, Bell. When you get to Orario, care not about the attention you will receive. "
"Is it because of my eyes, grandpa?" Bell asked, curiosity peeking through his eyes.
"Well, that and among other things. You remember about what I told you about your aunt, yes?" A nod answered him. "I won't tell you what she did, but some are not happy with what she did, despite her status as a legendary Adventurer, and the slayer of Leviathan."
"Did she attack Orario?"
Zeus winced, as Bell hit the nail on the head. He grimly nodded before answering, "Yes. In an attempt to force the Adventurers of Orario to grow past their limit: She, along with Zald, acted as Villlains and obstacles for them to overcome." He heaved out a sigh. It is never easy to talk about his former Familia members, along with Bell's aunt. "The reason is to apparently force a Hero out of the Adventurers." He saw the questioning look on Bell. "Ask away, Bell."
"Why? Can't they just wait for me to become stronger and be a Hero?"
"That's the thing, Bell." Zeus' eyes softened as he laid his huge hand on Bell's head. He ruffled his white mane, making the young man chuckle from the affection. "It's for your sake. Alfia wanted Orario to produce a Hero so you don't have to worry about picking up a sword and go seek danger."
"Aunt Alfia..." Bell's voice softly called out for his aunt that he never met. Sniffling a little bit, he wiped the tears that threatened to come out, before proudly declaring, "I will make sure to become a Hero, grandpa. Even if she wished that I should not be a Hero, I will become one and slay the dragon."
Zeus bellowed with laughter, "As expected of my Grandson! And don't forget to date a girl or two, Bell!"
Bell laughed along with his grandfather, though he is a little unsure about the Harem part his grandfather always told him to get.
When their laughter end, they went to their separate ways...
And it's the last time the saw each other.
-Line Break-
Flashback ends...
"What seems to hold up the line, Brad?" A feminine voice called out to the guard that is staring at him. However, Bell could sense the power in it.
The owner of that voice then came into his view, and he subconsciously gulped down a saliva. It's not only power, but she possessed an air of regality to her. To him, she is a young woman, but he is not sure of it. This is due to his grandpa telling him that the captain of Ganesha Familia, the very same one in front of him, Shakti Varma, has been an Adventurer for over a decade.
So, he took the safe option and did not assume her age. That, and his grandpa did not raise him that way.
"F-Forgive me, Captain. It's just that... looking at this boy, he reminded of someone..." The guard, revealed to be Brad by her earlier, replied. His answer caused the captain to look at him for the first time.
'Those eyes... Did she have a son?!' She quickly regained her composure. "What's your name?"
'The same reaction. Just what did you do, aunt Alfia?' He mentally winced as if he felt something smack him. "Bell Cranel, Ma'am! I'm here to enter Orario and become an Adventurer!"
"Bell Cranel, huh?" She muttered, before heaving out a sigh. "Very well. Pay the fee and move along."
He did exactly that, and just before entering Orarior, he smiled at the both of them, completed with a polite bow. Then, he moved inside.
If the outside amazed him due to the tower that sealed the hole of the Dungeon, then the inside is another story entirely. The view took his breath away, as his eyes beheld it in childlike wonder. His lips widened into a smile before morphing into a grin. He looked left and right, witnessing the many races that populated Orarior.
Demi-humans, humans, Pallums, Dwarves, Elves... and many more! The state he was in garnered many attentions as always. Thougn, this time it is kinda called for. He then took a breath, to calm himself down, before looking straight ahead.
"Now, if what grandpa said is true, the Pantheon should not be that far from the entrance..." And with that, he began his next step to become a Hero! To find the Pantheon, and register himself as an Adventurer (though he needed to find a Familia first).
As he walked through the loud crowds, Bell looked to the many attractions this city had. He looked lost simply due to his village never been this crowded. Despite the difficulty of traversing through them, he kept on walking.
On his way, he even noticed an establishment which many Adventurers and civilians alike came to. It seemed like a tavern of some sorts. Bell noted the location in his excellent memory should he ever need a place to dine in.
He did not notice the eyes that came from the building, but he did notice the otherworldly stare that suddenly engulfed him. Trying to pinpoint its location, he looked up to the top of the Tower of Babel. At first, he frowned as he knew who is it that resided in it. However, it then changed into a challenging grin of sort.
"I'm coming for the top spot, Freya."
-Line Break-
Finally, he made it! It is certainly difficult to get here due to the crowds, but he managed it! Such is the path of a Hero! Walking through those sea of people is one such obstacle!
Dramatic antics aside, he approached one of the counters that is not receiving anyone at the moment. Once in front of it, he took note that the one managing it is a werewolf woman, who is taller than him by a few inches. He noticed her sighing, though he noted that it is quite intentional.
"Here to register as an Adventurer?" Her voice lacked a certain emotion behind it, like someone that is sleep deprived and want to get things over with quickly.
"Yes, Miss!" Bell nodded his head.
Once again, another sigh greeted him from the readhead, Rose Fannett, he took note of the name tag. Taking a few things, she handed him a paper and a pen (2). "Fill these out."
Bell took it from her hands, filling out the required information that it asked from him. After a few more minutes, he is done, handing it to her. The werewolf took it and read it out loud to him. "Let's see... Bell Cranel, 14 years old, no Familia as of now. Aren't you a little too young?"
"I know, but I really want to become an Adventurer!" Bell quickly added, muttering the last part. "And I also need to make them proud..."
Unblessed she may be, she is a werewolf and Rose certainly heard it. However, she kept it to herself for now. "Just make sure what you want is really what you desire. However, you need to find yourself a Familia first before you are allowed to go down the dungeon. Take all the time you need."
Bell nodded his head, before he asked her, "May I have a list of Familias that are currently recruiting?"
"Sure." She rummaged through some of her stuffs, before finding the list of Familias that are recruiting. Giving him a piece of advice, she spoke out, "Again, do not rush in finding a Familia. Take your time, because once you're in, it is hard to get out."
"Understood, Miss Fannett." With that, Bell quickly took the list and left the building.
As for Rose, she heaved out a sigh, though a small smile is on her lips. Amusement clear on her expression. "For once, they looked at the name tag..."
-Line Break-
When Bell first entered Orario, it is somewhere in the afternoon. Take another half an hour or so as he filled out the documents handed to him by Rose Fannett, it has been an hour or two since he left the building.
And none of the Familias that are on the list accepted him or whatsoever.
"Get the helll out of here! You looked like you will pass out from a Goblin attack!"
"We're not recruiting at this moment, and if so, we seek a veteran."
"A weakling like you? Forget about it, kid. Seek another job."
Those are some of the responses he received when he enquired about their recruitment. Bell knew, if he showed them his stats when his bestowed him with a Falna, they would rush to him in a heartbeat.
What's that? The author didn't mention Zeus gave Bell his Falna? Forgive him, he is an old man with the memory of a goldfish.
Anyway, his stats are somewhat like this:
Name: Bell Cranel
Age: 14
Level: 1
Strength: H107
Endurance: G201
Dexterity: G243
Agility: E406
Magic: I0
Skills:
Combat Master: The user is efficient in any forms of combat, From unarmed, to weaponry. Allows one to learn any technique from sight alone.
Weapon Master: User is adaptable to any weapon to the point he is a master.
Liaris Freese: Fast growth development and allows user to break past the limit. As long as the user remains steadfast in his dream to become a Hero, he develops faster.
Of course, the moment his grandfather saw him, he was trained from the young age of 6. However, he was not given any Falna. Not until his current age. Zeus made sure he ran Belll through a serious training regimen. From running laps around the village to improve his stamina, simple sword swings to improve his endurance and grip, and many more.
By the time he was 14, Zeus gave him his Falna and trained him even harder than before. Due to his dream, Bell manifested the skill, Liaris Freese, which drove Zeus into a laughter. With that skill, Bell proved that he really is the legacy of Zeus and Hera Familias, despite his parents not being an upstanding member of said groups. However, he also noticed that Bell is gaining too many skills in an alarming rate.
It was at that, Zeus theorized (which he also told Bell), that the talents that Meteria possessed, Bell's mother, passed down to him. If not for her sickness, Zeus no doubt that she would be standing side by side with her sister, Alifa.
But it seems, Fate had other plans.
Monsters outside the Dungeon are significantly weaker than the ones inside. However, due to his skill, Bell seemingly gained the same number of stats as an Adventurer that fought the monsters from the labyrinth. From goblins, to kobold, Bell had slain his share of monsters.
Of course, Zeus would never bring Bell to a Minotaurs' dwell. Even if outside, that is outrageous.
Back to reality.
Now, Zeus told him that should he wants to, Bell can join either Freya or Loki. But Bell do not want to join either of them. Due to the two of them forcing Zeus and Hera into exile. To this day, Bell still wondered that should they were not exiled, would Bell be able to spend time with his mother, no matter how short?
Instead, they were driven out due to their failure to kill the One Eyed Black Dragon.
Instead of the royal buildings that Meteria was accustomed to, it was inside a small cottage, with no proper potions or any healing antidotes to make her condition better after giving birth.
It is childish, but Bell held a little bit of grudge against those two Familias.
The two strongest? Give him a break. Ottar, the King (Bell had to scoff at that), wouldn't be able to give the members of Zeus and Hera familia a challenge.
Bell had to take a deep breath, once again, calming himself down. He decided to himself that he could vent about those two once he finds himself a Familia to belong to.
"You? In our Familia? We will be a laughing stock to Orario!"
Given enough time, he will find one.
-Line Break-
In the building that Bell saw earlier, a blonde elf was sitting down in contemplation. A haunted look filled her expression upon noticing the white haired boy earlier.
'Could it be...? The eyes matched, even the face does. Is he the son of Silence?' Her internal musings were crashed, quite literally, as the door of the building was kicked down. "What the-?"
"Lion! Pack your things, we're com- ACKKK!"
"Were you ever taught to be polite, Captain?"
Two voices that she recognized dearly. No longer she looked haunted. In fact, a smile bloomed on her face as she looked towards the two. Her allies, her friends. Her fellow sisters in arms.
Alise Lovell, and Kaguya Gojouno.
The pained grunt from Alise was simply a bonk to the head courtesy of the vice captain, Kaguya.
"B-bu-"
"No buts, Captain. It is simply rude to kick down the door." The Far Eastern woman smirked for a moment, hiding it behind her hand, which is made of metal. "Or perhaps, would you like Mia Grand to deal with the punishment?"
A rapid shook from the captain's head was her answer.
"That aside..." Kaguya moved her attention from her Captain to the blonde elf. "What's with that haunted look on you, Lion?"
Ryuu frowned as Kaguya called her out on her earlier expression. Sighing out, she decided to be truthful. It doesn't matter how good you are in keeping a secret, these two will simply force it out of her. However, she struggled to describe what she just saw because it is merely speculation. That, and its not like the boy is causing any harm to the citizens.
"Yeah, Lion! You looked like you saw a ghost!" Alise spoke out. Usually, she would make fun of the blonde elf, but the look on her just now was enough for the redhead to be concernced.
"I... I saw someone that looked just like her." As usual, in her typical fashion, she decided to be blunt. "It was a boy, couldn't be older than 14. He looked just like her, with the same eyes and face."
"Her? You're talking about Silence, aren't you?" Alise asked.
"Now that I think about it..." Kaguya interjected. "There was a commotion at the gate with the Ganesha members. The line was too long because one of the guard took way too long."
"Hoh?~" Alise's eyes glinted with a hint of interest. "Then, since Lion isn't allowed to leave just yet, let's go find Shakti! We will be back again later, Lion!"
As the two members of Astraea left, Ryuu once again contemplated of what's about to happen to Orario. Hopefully, the boy is not here to seek revenge for what she, and by extension, Astraea Familia did.
After all, it is for the safety of the people of Orario, that they had to kill her.
-Line Break-
Call it a coincidence, but at the same time the three Astraea members conversed, Bell seemingly found his way into the southwestern part of Orarior. Particularly, at the building of Stardust Garden, the place of Astraea Familia. The albino haired boy looked at it, he noticed an elf conversing with a werewolf, judging by the ears on her head.
No doubt, he would like to ask if he could join, but the Astraea Familia was not on the list that are recruiting.
So deep in his mind, that he didn't notice a Goddess approached him with a kind smile. He finally broke out of his stupor once she greeted him.
"Good day to you, young man. May I help you?'
"H-Huh?" It was a very intelligent response coming from him. "A-Ah, I'm-, its nothing, Goddess. I'm just admiring your base."
Bell noticed that she didn't buy the reasoning, but he internally breathed a sigh of relief that she did not force it. "Oh? Thank you. The Stardust Garden is one of my pride, with my children being the very top of the list."
He smiled, genuinely this time. "I heard many things about this Familia, Goddess. My grandpa described them as wings of justice that seek out evildoers."
She giggled at the description he gave. "Wings of justice, hm? That reminds me of someone actually.." Bell began panicking that he might have give away the identity of his grandfather. "That reminds me, young man. What do you think justice is all about?"
"What is justice?" Bell murmured. He thought for a moment of how he should answer her. After a few moments, he came up with one. "Justice is defined differently by different individuals, Goddess. But to me, justice is the act of protecting the innocent."
Her eyes perked at his description. "Oh?"
"To protect the innocent, to protect the smiles of the children, to make sure the place is safe for those that live in it. That is what justice is all about." He glanced at her, before he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "In a way, justice is like being a hero! To save the day, and make sure no harms happen to the people."
Once he finished, the Goddess smiled before giggling softly, eliciting a small yet noticeable blush from him. His definition of justice is definitely pure, almost to a childlike purity. The way he spoke of a hero, it reminded her of the younger sister of Shakti Varma. Her eyes grew sad once she remembered her. However, for his heartfelt opinion of justice, Astraea gifted Bell with a question.
"Young man, what is your name?"
It was at this point, that Bell grew a shade of crimson as embarrassment filled him. He was so endorsed in explaining his definition of justice that he forgot to introduce himself. "A-ahem, my name is Bell Cranel, Goddess Astraea."
"Bell Cranel, a fine name for a fine young man." She gave him a smile, which he shyly returned back. "Then I have another question for you, Bell Cranel." His ears perked at her, wanting to hear what question she had for him.
However, the question that came out of her lips was entirely unexpected. And the shock was clear on his face.
"Would you like to join my Familia?"
-Chapter End-
1. Jay Cutler, a bodybuilder.
2. I'm not sure if Danmachi uses a pen or a feather with ink. I forgot, so feel free to correct me on that one.
A/N: Back with another story that I couldn't help but imagine. The plot is simply: Bell is born with a condition of heterochromia, just like his aunt, with the exact same colors. Due to Meteria and Alfia being twins, I assumed that they looked similar enough that people would put two and two together between them.
As for Bell overpowered skills, Alfia always said that she did not deserve the talent she has, like she stole it from Meteria and left her unable to stand and remained bedridden. So I made it that Meteria's potential to be a godly Adventurer just like Alfia, passed down to Bell.
As for Astraea Familia, yes they surived. Who died and who lived? From the description I gave, you can put two and two together. Also, I'm still not sure whether I want to write Bell in Astraea Familia, so it is not really decided yet. And Kaguya's metal arm? It's badass. That, and I really like that design of her from Ventanus' fanfic.
I will update this story on my own pace. Make sure to give a review of what I did wrong, etc. After this, I will try updating the Gintama Danmachi one, or just for the heck of it, write another story entirely.
Also, to any Muslim readers, Happy Ramadhan!
Silver III Jhin, out!