Third POV
~ Location - Abandon Church ~
There on the top of the church was Evan repairing and renewing the roof with Bell bringing the supplies for the roof and Hestia lazing around as usual.
*Bam*
With a final hit, the roof repair and renewal was finished. Evan signals Bell to come over.
"Yes, Evan?" Bell asked.
Evan climbed down and gave Bell the tools used for the roof and said.
"Can you put the tools back where they belong, while I go and make lunch for all three of us." Said Evan.
Evan turns to Hestia who's lazing under a shade of a tree and yells out.
"Hey, Hestia! Can you come over and help me with lunch?"
Hestia jumps up and says.
"Ok!"
As both Hestia and Evan went inside to make lunch while Bell went to put away the tools, Hestia asked.
"So did anything happen in the dungeon? Aside from how fast you and Bell made so much Valis in a few days to not only repair the church but also get a lot of necessary supplies as well."
Evan hums to himself at her question.
'Well, something interesting did happen but not to Bell and I.'
Evan then answered.
"No, nothing in particular happened aside from how much Bell and I made. Guess that luck was really on our side that day." Said Evan.
Hestia remained silent for a bit but she nodded at Evan answer.
"Anyway seeing how much you and Bell are making, we'll be set in no time!" Said Hestia while throwing her fist up.
Evan smiles at her optimistic attitude but since she brought it up, he can't help but think about the past few days and the interesting interaction between the strongest familia and one of his summons.
- Flashback ~ Few Days ago -
~ Location - Dungeon Floor 3 ~
"Grand Slave!"
A waving arc of magic slices through a group of goblins, killing them instantly.
"Hah!"
Bell cuts the throat of a goblin, killing it. Then Evan releases another Grand Slave and eliminates a dozen goblins forcing them to run away in fear of Evan's attack.
"Look at all of the magic stones! Wait...there's a drop here as well." Said Bell. "Not only a drop but a couple of drops." Said Evan.
Evan points out some drops over here and there.
"Wow, we're going to be set once we level up and go down to the lower levels!" Bell said excitedly.
Evan smiles and nods.
"No doubt about that. Anyway let's settle with what we have and go back to the surface because I doubt those goblins will pop out anytime soon." Said Evan. "Ok!" Said Bell.
As Bell and Evan proceed to collect the drops and magic stones, without Bell knowing or looking Evan decided it's best to know what's up in the lower floors. So his right hand began to glow a pleasant dim white light. Then it fades away as Bell and Evan pick up the last of the magic stones.
"Ok, now we're done, let's head back up." Said Evan. "Yeah, Hestia is going to be happy with what we got!" Said Bell.
As Evan and Bell heads up, a figure in a white cloak watches them go back up and then proceeds to travel down the lower floors.
~ Location - Lower Floors ~
The cloaked figure travels the floor and down many times without stopping. From time to time, the cloaked figure would help struggling adventurers and before they can thank the cloaked figure, the figure would disappear fast as it appears to help them. Without knowing how many floors the figure has traveled down, the figure maps out the amount of floors. Until the figure reaches a certain floor where the strongest familia were at.
*Slash*
The cloaked figure swiftly ended a giant spider before proceeding to move out. As the cloaked figure kept on walking through the narrow hallways, the figure saw two girls, one blonde, the other golden yellow. However, what the figure was seeing was weird. The elf was carrying a huge bag full of horns. The cloaked figure approaches the two girls as they take notice of someone's presence.
Lefiya POV
When I saw Ais's attention change, I turned to the direction of where she was looking and I saw a white cloaked person with a sword in its sheath.
"I didn't expect to meet people down here." Said the Stranger.
Then suddenly my body gave out and I collapsed with the entirety of the drops falling upon me and leaving a grand mess.
"Lefiya, are you ok?"
Ais approaches me.
"I'm completely fine…"
I tried to stand up but my ankle felt an immense amount of pain and I fell down again. Ais helps lift me up. Then the stranger walked towards us.
"Can you allow me to take a look?" Asked the Stranger.
Ais silently stares at the stranger for a few moments and she nods and lets me down into a sitting position. The stranger kneels down, and asks me to show my ankle, of which I comply. He then looks at my ankle and with a nod, says.
"A minor sprain. A simple potion will do."
Ais POV
"Do you have any potion?" Asked the Stranger.
I shook my head.
"I see." Said the Stranger.
Then he reaches for something behind him and it was revealed to be a potion.
"Here, take this."
Lefiya takes the potion and drinks its content. After a few moments, Lefiya steadily stood back up. She thanks the stranger for the potion and he simply nods to her. Lefiya then asks the stranger something.
"Say uhhh what's your na-"
Before Lefiya could finish the question, I was tackled by a familiar figure.
"Tiona..."
And then suddenly behind Lefiya was her older twin sister Tione.
"The monsters here are still appearing, let's hurry up and get back to the others." Said Tione.
The twin seems to ignore the stranger's presence until Tiona turns him and introduces herself to him along with thanking him again.
"Hi, I'm Tiona and my twin sister over there is Tione. I saw what you did to Lefiya and I thank you for giving her that potion. So may I ask what's your name?"
Everyone but Tione turns to the stranger waiting for his reply.
Third POV
"My name is Atro."
"Nice to meet you, Atro!" Said Tiona.
Tiona reaches out for a handshake, to which Atro reaches out and shakes her hand.
"Likewise."
Tiona turns to the rest and says.
"Let's hurry up and collect Cadmus's Spring Water and rejoin the others."
"Mind if I tag along because I got a bit lost and in need of some direction." Said Atro. "Sure! The more the merrier!" Said Tiona.
Ais, who was staring at Atro after his introduction, then asked him.
"Are you strong?"
"I'm not sure where you are going with that question, but yes you can say that I am strong." Answered Atro.
Ais seems to do a small nod and then Atro was barraged with a bunch of questions from the energetic Tiona. Atro answers some of her questions truthfully while answering some others a couple of half truths. As the group travels around in what seems to be a circle, Atro can't help but point out.
"Do you have a map? It feels like we're going in a circle."
"I do." Said Lefita as she reaches for her bag. "It should be he-"
Lefiya then goes quiet and quickly checks the other bag to see that the map was not there as well.
"I must have dropped it! I-I'm extremely sorry!" Cried Lefiya. "What should we do!?"
"Well this is still the 51st floor." Said Tione. "This labyrinth of a floor would take us forever to find our way out and that's excluding the many traps in this floor."
Atro silently stood there for a bit then spoke.
"Have any of you memorized this floor?"
Almost everyone shook their heads aside from Tione who spoke up.
"In fact I did."
"Really?!" Said Tiona. "Didn't take you as someone who does that kind of thing."
"Hmmp, who do you think I am?" Said Tione. "A gorilla." Said Tiona.
Tione's eyes twitches at her younger twin's comment.
"Anyway, leaving that aside I have to memorize the map in case something like this happens and this was under the captain's orders." Said Tione.
Tione asks Lefiya to take out a blank piece of paper along with a brush from the bag and have them given to her. Once that was done, Tione begins tracing the map from memory. Everyone took a look at the "map" after she was finished only to see a drawing of a young boy. Atro raised a brow while everyone but Ais deadpan at Tione.
"I cle-clearly look at it carefully?!" Tione panics.
"You have to look at the map, not the captain!" Said Tiona. "I'll just go back and look for the map." Said Lefiya.
"Wait…." Said Ais.
Lefiya turns to Ais and it seems like Ais was trying to say something.
"Lefiya, at this time, we should...At this time…"
Ais is clearly struggling trying to convey something but after a moment of silence Ais sat down in the fetus position and began to sulk. While Tione and Tiona are screaming in the back.
"Sorry..." Ais apologizes.
"Ais please don't be like that! It's all because of my mistake!" Said Lefiya as she panics and tries to comfort Ais.
'Everything seems to be going downhill now.' Thought Atro as he observes the ongoing chaos in the group. After her berating to her older twin, Tiona hums to herself in thought. Atro turned to her and asked.
"You got an idea?"
"Yes, I do." She responded.
Both Tione and Lefiya turn to Tiona with a face of doubt aside from Ais.
"I don't want to use your memory as the standard." Said Tione "I want to believe you...but…." Said Lefiya as she turned her glance away.
Their words of doubt tick Tiona a bit but she lets them off.
"All you gotta do is listen like this." Said Tiona as she demonstrates to everyone.
Everyone follows her demonstration and the drops of water are heard.
"See, we are close to it." Said Tiona. "The dungeon being quiet is helping." Ais pointed out.
"Isn't it a bit too quiet? That it's strange that we haven't encountered any monsters yet?" Said Lefiya.
"Isn't it good that they don't appear?" Asked Tiona. "That depends." Said Tione
"Then how are we going to get back?" Asked Lefiya "The matter of getting back after getting the spring water can be talked about later as we are closing in to Cadmus's location." Said Tione
Ahead of the group was a pathway that leads to the rights and there was growth of plants and so on, indicating that Cadmus's room is there. Everyone lean behind the wall and prepare themselves to fight Cadmus.
"Cadmus...the strongest monster class of this floor...right?" Asked Lefiya. "Yes, Cadmus is. I once fought him and he can pack a punch." Answered Tione.
"C-c-can't we just sneak past it?" Lefiya asks. "Cadmus is like a bodyguard, protecting the spring water. It will notice anyone touching the water." Answered Tione.
Ais unsheathe her sword while Atro has one hand on his ready to be drawn. The others, including Ais, took notice of Atro's sword's uniqueness. Despite the sword not drawn, it pulses a faint light from the sheath.
"Alright, our battle method will be that Ais, Tiona, and I will suppress Cadmus and Lefiya hit Cadmus with a powerful spell. Atro, you stay near Lefiya and make sure to protect her if Cadmus were to break out our suppression." Said Tione.
Atro nods.
"Good, after the powerful magic hits Cadmus and the dragon is weakened, we rush in and finish Cadmus in one go."
As everyone raises their weapons ready to charge in, Atro seems to notice something very odd but before he gets to say anything, Ais beats him to it.
"It is too quiet…"
Ais stood up and ran into the lair.
"Wait a minute!" Exclaimed Tiona.
Atro quickly followed after Ais with his sword readied. As Ais got into the lair, she froze with a look of surprise, so did the others when they caught up. The area looked like a battlefield.
"What happened..?" Said Lefiya.
Tione kneels down and examines the remains of what seems to be a tree.
"Seems like something burned this tree badly and from what I see doesn't seems to be fire that did this"
"Over here guys!" Said Tiona
Everyone walked towards Tiona's voice to see something that shocked them. A huge pile of ash stacked in front of them.
"It's Cadmus or rather what remains of it." Said Tione. "Was it defeated by other adventurers..?" Lefiya asked.
"The teams that could come to the deep floors like this could be counted in one hand but we have not heard or seen another familia this deep." Said Tione.
Then she notices something and reaches down.
"The drop loot wasn't taken at all…" Said Tione. "Really?! Cadmus's Hide?! Isn't it an extremely rare item!" Exclaimed Tiona.
"There's no way an adventurer or a group of them would ever leave behind a valuable item." Said Tione.
Then Atro let out his thoughts.
"If it's not any adventurers then it is "something" that once came here. A "something" that is powerful enough to kill the dragon."
Everyone became uneasy aside from Ais and Atro. As everyone became alert and prepared for the worst.
"It is best for you to recover the spring water and head back to the others as fast as possible." Said Atro. "I agree, let's get the spring water quickly." Said Tione.
Lefiya quickly took out what seemed like a clay pot and took as much of the spring water as possible before sealing the pot up. Then everyone heads out of Cadmus's lair and proceeds to head back to the base of operation. As they traveled back, Tiona then asked.
"So, what do you think it was?"
"Considering we conclude that it was no adventurer group, it is most likely to be another monster." Answered Tione "A monster that is powerful enough to defeat Cadmus?!" Exclaimed Tiona.
"A monster that is capable of defeating Cadmus is the floor boss and yet there is no indication that the floor boss appeared. Even a group of monsters on this floor wouldn't be able to defeat Cadmus." Said Tione.
As the twins spoke to one another, Ais silently thought to herself.
'That's right...We don't know the existence of such a monster, this is…. Irregular…'
As Ais finishes with that thought, Atro quickly grips his sword alerting the others.
"We have to go now."
Before anyone else could act, they all heard a scream.
"That voice it's Raul!" Yelled Tione.
Then everyone ran to Raul's scream. Ais was ahead of the group leading them. As everyone quickly follows Ais running and jumping over obstacles. When they turned the corner they all saw something chasing after 4 other people, a dwarf, a werewolf, a pallum, and a young boy who was being carried by the dwarf. What was chasing them was a big insect that was similar to a caterpillar.
"Captain!" Yelled Tione as she quickly leapt to their aid, only for their captain to yell out.
"Tiona stop!"
The insect shoots out a liquid to Tiona who dodges it and slashes down upon the insect injuring it but also spilling out more of that liquid.
"Do not touch the liquid inside its body!" Yelled the Captain.
Tiona seems confused at first before the liquid inside the insect spills out violently forcing Tiona to pull out her weapon and was shocked with its condition.
"It melted!?"
Tiona was forced to throw away her weapon as she leapt back to safety.
'A new breed of monster!? No, compared to that, this is a bomb that holds a melting liquid…' Ais thought.
When Tiona lands, she ends up throwing a fuss over her weapon.
"This bastard! It actually melted my weapon!"
However the werewolf wasn't having any of it and yells out.
"Who cares right now, run you idiotic woman! More of them are coming!"
Tiona quickly looked down the hallway to see a horde of them were coming towards them and that made Tiona run very fast after the others. When Tiona caught up with everyone, Tiona asked her captain.
"What on earth are those things?!"
"We don't know, we were also suddenly attacked by them as well." Answered the Captain. "Captain, you didn't get injured did you right?" Asked Tione.
"If it's us, then we're fine. But Raul got hit directly by those liquids and if we don't act quickly it might become very bad."
When everyone turned a corner. They were all shocked to see other monsters being attacked and eaten by the insect monsters and the group quickly turned the other way. Ais ran up to the captain and asked.
"Finn, can we defeat those monsters?"
"Yes, but every monster that is killed requires a weapon to be sacrificed and against a group of them, you already know the answer. However, if it's magic, then we gotta hold them off for someone to unleash a powerful magic attack to destroy all of them in one go." Answered Finn.
Everyone quickly glances at Lefiya who seems to be bewildered by Finn's answer and everyone's stares.
*Boom*
In front of the group were more of those insects crashing and charging towards them.
"There's some in the front!" Lefiya Cried Out. "Everyone turn to the right side!"
Everyone quickly turns right and Finn asks Tione.
"Tione, did you bring a weapon storage?"
"Yes, I did." Said Tione. "Good, cause dead up ahead is a dead end, you need to give weapons to Gareth and the others. Take Raul to the furthest area and patch him up quickly." Said Finn.
Tione nods and begins giving out spare weapons to the others.
When everyone got to the room, all they saw was a dead end as Finn had said. Finn then gave his orders to everyone.
"Everyone to the center and ready yourselves."
Everyone did as told and ready themselves as the walls around them began to crack open as waves of monsters broke through.
"We got a monster horde!" Said the Werewolf. "Bete, Gareth, Tiona! Protect Raul and the others and repel the enemies! Both Ais and I will deal with insects." Said Finn.
"Understood!"
Ais walked up to Finn and handed her sword to him while Finn gave a dagger to her.
"Although my sword is not indestructible, it should do it right?" Said Ais "Probably." Said Finn
Finn then turns to Lefiya.
"You are the key to this battle." Said Finn.
Lefiya who heard Finn can't help but look down upon herself.
"I...A person like me can't…"
Ais encourages Lefiya by saying.
"Lefiya, we will protect you no matter how many times...So just do what you can do."
Lefiya nods and Finn approaches Atro to ask.
"May I know your name, stranger?"
"Atro."
"I see, Atro while Ais and I go on the offensive on the insect monsters, I ask of you to protect Lefiya." Said Finn.
Atro nods.
"Tempest Awaken"
Atro turns his attention to Ais and sees gusts of winds rolling around her.
"Ariel"
The insect monsters finally came breaking through the narrow entrance.
"I'll go first." Said Ais.
Ais then charges the insects.
"Lefiya, retreat a bit and begin chanting! Atro protect her!" Ordered Finn before he charges at the insect as well.
Lefiya retreated as told followed by Atro. However Atro's attention was still on Ais and her abilities. As Ais charges towards a group of those insect monsters, she quickly dispatches them with a blast of wind and no harm was brought upon her as her wind acted like a protective armor from the monster's liquid. Followed by Finn who swiftly cuts all the monster's legs in front of him to prevent the monster from moving or exploding from death as well. Lefiya watches on with awe, while Tione is healing Raul who seems to be struggling a bit with his injuries.
'Everyone is trusting me...I-I will completely devote myself to do things I can do!' Lefiya told herself.
Lefiya took her stance but before she could begin, an insect monster appeared in front of her below the ground.
"Lefiya!" Tione cried out.
Ais turns her head to see Leyifa frozen at the monster in front of her and the monster lunges forward with its mouth open with the intent to eat her. But before that could happen Atro got in front of Lefiya and blocked the monster with his sheathed sword before kicking the monster back with great strength, sending the monster crashing onto other monsters. His strength surprises Ais, Tione, and Lefiya who witness the kick from Atro. Seeing that Lefiya is safe, Ais quickly reverts her attention back to the monsters in front of her. With no monster around her and Atro on guard, Lefiya began her chant.
[The arrogant warriors, the archers in the forest, raise the bow in front of the flock of the plunderer, cries to call their comrades to place the arrows, illuminate the decorations, the lights of the forest, fire now, the fire arrows from the elves, like a torrential rain, completely burn out the barbarians]
"Shoot! Fusillade Falarica!"
A great blast of magic shooting out multiple magic projectiles annihilated all remaining monsters leaving nothing but smoke and dust of all the monsters. Lefiya was standing there exhausted until a figure came up and hugged her.
"Lefiya! I knew that you were capable!" Said Tiona.
"Nicely done." Said Atro.
"I...I placed all my mental power into that…" Lefiya said tiredly.
Tiona then hugs Lefiya even tighter while others watch on happily. Ais then walks towards Lefiya and says with a small smile.
"You did well.
"Thanks!" Lefiya said with a bright smile.
As the warming scenes finished, Tione quickly tells everyone to prepare themselves and hurry to their team's camping ground as they are in danger. Finn walks up to Atro and says.
"Although I feel bad dragging you into this even more Atro, but I humbly request for your assistance if payment is something you want, we can come up with something that suits you."
"I have no need of any payment nor do I intend to ask for any but thank you for your offer. As for your request, I already planned to provide assistance." Said Atro.
"I see...you have my gratitude, come follow us." Said Finn
Everyone ran as fast as they could out of the tunnel. As they all got out, they were shocked to see that their camp was under attack by a huge wave of those caterpillar-like monsters.
"Tempest Awaken"
Without any moment to waste, Ais casted her magic. Finn then calls her out.
"Ais!? Wait!"
"Ariel"
Before Finn could stop Ais, she flew towards the camp.
'Well, here goes nothing.' Finn told himself. "Tione, Tiona, Bete, Atro! Follow her and drive out all of those monsters!" Ordered Finn.
~ Camping Ground ~
There stood a wall of shields, both makeshift and real holding off the tide of monsters. A green-haired elf is seen giving orders to those around her.
"Use the concentrated formation! Don't let a single drop of their body's liquid enter!" She Ordered.
Her name is Riveria Ljos Alf, a first class adventurer, and vice captain of the Loki Familia.
"You three over there! Take the injured to the rear! Everyone that can move, it does not matter if it's a shield or not, bring anything that can act as a shield!"
Everyone aside those holding anything that acts as a shield scrambles around to find anything to help with the front line.
"We must hold on until the others finish the adventurer's request!"
As everyone on the front struggles to hold the tides of monsters back, a few of the monsters raise their body up and spat out their corrosive liquid hitting some of the shields.
"Woah!" Exclaimed a member. "It melted! Throw it away quickly!" Yelled another.
"Release arrows!" Said Riveria. "But Riveria these are already the last sets of arrows!" Said a member.
"It does not matter, loose!" Riveria ordered.
The archers of the group did as told and shot the last of their arrows taking down some of the monsters. However the endless tide of monsters kept on pushing. Not until everyone saw a mini tornado appearing in the middle of the tide of monsters, killing many of them in the process. What appeared in the middle was a blonde girl that everyone knew and they cheered.
"Ais!"
Riveria finally let out a sigh of relief and said in a hush tone.
"Finally they caught up just in time…"
Ais turns around to look at the tides of monsters and back to her companions, she grips her short sword tightly as determination reaches her eyes. Ais then unleashed waves of Ariel upon the hordes of monsters. As Ais cuts down monsters left and right, Bete joins into the fray.
"Don't hog all the fun to yourself!" He Said.
Magic similar if not the same as Ais's Ariel began to gather around Bete's legs, due to a special gear he has it allows him to "borrow" Ais's Ariel and he lunges himself towards the monster. Bete easily decimated the monsters in front of him using the wind magic.
"Hey Ais how's my wind's judgment for ya!" Yelled Bete.
Bete turns around to see Ais didn't even look at him or his moves at all causing him to tick a bit.
"You didn't even look at all!"
Bete then turns his anger towards the monster in front of him and starts to destroy them. While Bete was doing that, Atro swifty dispatched any monsters around him, and Tiona was distracting the attention of several monsters.
"Hey! I'm over here!" Yelled Tiona.
One of the monsters spat out their liquid projectile at Tiona who dodges them all till she pulls out a spear and throws it and skewers the monster. Meanwhile, for Tione, she wasn't fairing as well as the other.
'This is really annoying. My sister's way of fighting is so impatient that I want to puke. Bete on the other hand is so noisy!' She thought to herself.
'SO ANNOYING!'
As if Tione reaches her breaking point, she quickly turns around, and throws her fist inside the charging monster's chest with a psychopathic face. Then she tore out the magic stone within the monster, killing it while screaming out.
"WHO'S NEXT!"
~ Somewhere Else ~
Gareth, Lefiya, and Raul were running after the rest of the group, although Gareth and Raul were trying to stop Lefiya.
"Lefiya! You have to save your mind! Don't force yourself!" Said Gareth. "But...! I can still be of use because I should be able to help with the monsters!" Lefiya Protested.
As the trio ran, they met a figure leaning against a tree. It was Tione who seemed to see better days as remains of the monster liquid evaporated from her body.
"Hey guys, do you have any elixirs?" Tione said tiredly.
"Tione!?"
"Quick Lefiya, pour the elixirs we have! Raul and I will guard the surroundings!" Said Gareth
~ Few Minutes Later ~
"Tione! Are you alright?" Said Finn
Finn and Atro came as fast as possible after being informed of what happened.
"Captain!" Said Lefiya.
Upon seeing the half naked amazoness, Atro turns around while Finn walks towards Tione and places a cape around Tione and says.
"Don't force yourself. If it's preaching, let's wait until we leave this place before we can talk about it, be prepared."
Tione blushes and puts on a big smile and says.
" Yes !"
Lefiya backs away slowly from Tione, while Atro raises a brow in confusion looking at her, and then towards Finn who simply sighs. Meanwhile Raul and Gareth observe the ongoing battle, till Gareth notices something by the camp and says.
"It seems that the main group has reformed the formation."
~ Main Camp ~
Inside the camp, the Loki's familia magician team combines their magic and bombards all the monsters in front of them eliminating most if not all the remaining horde. As the dust cleared and there was no sign of any more of those monsters, everyone cheered. Riviera lets out a breather.
'Seems like we cleared up everything…' She thought to herself. 'However, our losses are substantial…'
Riveria observes the injured and the damages done by the monsters around the camp.
'No use thinking about it, right now there are other things we must d-'
Before she can finish her thoughts, Riveria quickly senses something wrong, very wrong and she quickly turns her head to spot something.
"What is that...!?"
~ Back to the others ~
"It's over!" cheered Tiona
Bete however is not in a celebrating mood as something is stirring him.
"Something is troubling me...are those guys in the camp ground fine?" Asked Bete. "Worrying about Riveria and the others? How rare!" Said Tiona.
Bete quickly yells back.
"Don't be mistaken! They were protecting the supplies because without it we can't go back!"
Finn then appeared and walked towards Ais and gave her sword back only to be hugged by Tione whose eyes are heart shaped. Ais took a look at her sword till Lefiya said with a smile.
"Ais...here's your sheathe."
Ais smiled back at Lefiya, but everyone turned their attention to Atro when they heard him unsheathe his sword. A sword of a unique beauty with two gemstones and a gentle glow to it. But the attention the sword had was overtaken by something else.
*RUMBLES!*
Everyone looked up to see a huge monster.
"It came from the floor below, right!?" Exclaimed Tiona. "Don't say foolish words, you make it sound like it's trying to break out." Said Bete
Raul then said something that caused everyone to freeze.
"If we defeat that monster it will spray those liquids everywhere right?"
Everyone then realizes the danger that everyone is in. Everyone aside from Atro started to have some cold sweat running down. Lefiya then quickly came up with a possible solution.
"If we only aim at the magic stone we ca-"
Gareth cuts her off.
"No, it is too difficult to find inside that huge body…"
"It's moving!" Yelled Finn
The huge monster swung one of its wings and shiny powder fell in front of the group. As the powder got closer and it began to glow.
*BOOM!*
Everyone covered themselves from the explosion. Then Finn made a decisive order.
"Everybody retreat, hurry and abandon the camping ground, bring the minimum amount of luggage, and escape from here."
"Wait, we're running away?!" Yelled Bete.
"Are we leaving this monster here alone?!" Asked Tiona.
"As much as I don't want to do this, this is the only way to minimize loss and to defeat that monster." Finn then turns to Ais. "I'm sorry for asking again but Ais, you are going to defeat that monster by yourself."
"Please wait a minute captain!?" Lefiya said.
*BOOM!*
Another powder explosion happened nearby forcing everyone to cover themselves again.
"There's no time, Raul issue a retreat signal to Riveria and the others!" Ordered Finn.
However the two sisters and Bete voice out their concerns and anger but Finn rebukes them.
"Don't make me say it twice. Hurry."
Everyone else nods and reluctantly runs away aside from Atro and Lefiya who remain behind. Lefiya then begs the captain.
"A...at least let me act as support! I beg you captain!"
But Ais placed her hand on Lefiya and said with a smile.
"Lefiya, don't worry, I'll be fine."
Lefiya slowly nodded and as she ran she said.
"I'll go off first and wait for you!"
Finn then turns to Atro.
"How about you Atro? You're not gonna run?"
"I'm going to stay and provide assistance." Said Atro.
Although in Atro's mind this was the perfect opportunity for him to disappear, but with that monster roaming around who knows what damage it could do if Ais fails to defeat it. So Atro decided that he would stay and fight. Finn silently observes Atro for a bit and nods before leaving. As Finn ran, he thought to himself about Atro and the mystery behind him.
'Let's see what you Atro has to offer considering that no familia other than us are on this floor. Coincidence that he appeared when those monsters appeared? Maybe. Either way Atro is either a person from another powerful familia that followed us without us noticing or a unique anomaly that he himself would only know.'
Now only Ais and Atro remained. Ais took a glance at Atro who had his sword out and ready before turning her attention to the monster.
*BOOM!*
Another explosion happened in front of them but it didn't deter them at all. Then the monster's head slowly opens revealing an eye looking down on them both. Magic and wind began to gather around Ais.
"Tempest Awaken"
Ais blasts a gust of wind directly to the monster's eye, hurting it. In retaliation the monster swung one of its wings to spray its explosive powder towards Ais and Atro. Both of them quickly dodges the explosion however both of them know that they can't dodge too far otherwise the other may get hit by the powder. Ais charges forward while Atro follows behind. The monster slams one of its wings into the ground. Ais dodges by leaping into the air as for Atro, he dodges to the side. Ais attacks one of the monster's wings only for the attack to be deflected off. Then Ais uses her Ariel to put distance between her and the monster. She quickly lands on a tree branch and she sees Atro in action. The monster quickly swung one of its lower wings to strike him but Atro quickly dodged it but was met with one of its other wings and it was too late for him to dodge. Ais was about to intervene but was surprised to see Atro raising his sword to block the attack.
*Thunk!*
The attack of the monster embeds Atro's feet into the ground cracking the ground below but it's attack didn't seem to do much against Atro. Atro then pushes the monster wing to the side and as that happened the monster threw another attack at him but the attack was met against Atro's sword. Instead of the sword being deflected as the monster anticipated but it was the opposite. Atro's sword severed the monster's limb like butter with a hot knife. The monster roared out in pain. Upon seeing this Ais thought Atro's sword would melt away but it didn't. The corrosive blood didn't seem to affect the sword at all. Seeing that one of its powerful natural weapons is not working the monster quickly lets out a cloud of powder on Atro's location. But before it can explode, Ais intervenes the powder with her Ariel and uses the powder against the monster causing an explosion on the monster. The monster again roared in pain and anger as it fell on its back. As Ais landed next to Atro, Atro then spoke.
"Ais, I have a plan to eliminate the monster without it harming anyone."
"But….the signal to destroy it." Said Ais. "Please trust me on this. We can fall back to that plan if it doesn't work." Said Atro.
Ais stared at Atro for a bit before slowly nodding and she then asked.
"What's the plan?"
"Can you launch me into the sky with your magic?" Said Atro.
Ais looks at Atro confused but nods.
"Ok, do it at my signal." Said Atro.
Atro and Ais ready themselves as the monster stood back up. The two steadily dodges and deflects the monster's attack, closing the distance. However the monster's attack isn't as unrelenting as before. It was cautious of Atro. Both Ais and Atro quickly close in on the monster who's been trying everything to its acid liquid and explosive powder to push them back but to no avail as Ais is warding off all of its range attack. As they approached the monster Ais took notice of Atro's sword which was now glowing and pulsing an aura.
"Now!" Yelled Atro.
"Ariel"
Ais's Ariel envelopes Atro and launches him into the sky, sending him higher above the monster's head. That's where Ais saw Atro's sword in its truest form. A blade with wings and a flaming golden yellow aura in the hands of Atro. Atro who is above the monster's head prepared for an overhead strike and said these words.
[Think not of accolades, but take pride in the job itself. Explore the world and broaden the mind. And create a future where everyone and their children can not only live but also teach them how to live!]
Atro then swung his sword.
"Transcendent Sky!"
Everyone who was escaping turns to see a powerful, bright, and yet gentle light in awe.
"Woah…" Tiona said in awe.
"Such power…" Riviera said quietly.
A flash of white light in the middle of the attack mixed with the color of the rainbow fell upon the monster and created a massive explosion. Ais and the others covered their eyes from the attack. When the attack lands on the monster. No scream of pain was heard. Nothing was heard from the monster. Rather when Ais opened her eyes, she didn't see any crater or any damage that attack should've done to the surrounding nor did she see any remains of the monster as if it never existed. Ais looks around to find that Atro is gone and all that remains is the monster's magic stone and the fading light particles left by Atro's attack. However, Ais kept on looking around for any sign of Atro. Just like the monster, it's like Atro never existed. After a few minutes of searching, Ais gave up looking for Atro only to hear and see the others arriving.
"What was that?! Who did it?!" said Tiona as she hugged Ais. "Atro…" Answered Ais.
"But where is he?" Asked Tione "I...I don't know." Ais answered again.
Finn hums to himself in thought.
"Any thoughts captain?" Asked Tione.
"No, I got nothing." Said Finn. "But first with that monster no longer a threat, let us regather what we dropped behind and return to the surface."
"Yes, sir."
As everyone starts to gather everything, Finn falls into thought once again.
'Atro….you have my thanks once again, wherever you are right now. Hopefully we meet again so I can personally thank you. Although I have a gut feeling that we will meet again.'
- Present Time -
"Hey, Bell, can you come along with me to the market to get some food and supplies so that Hestia doesn't starve while we are in the dungeon?" Asked Evan.
"Sure." Answered Bell.
~ Market Place ~
"Ok, that will be 400 valis." Said the Shopkeeper.
Evan hands out the valis to the shopkeeper and bids farewell to the shop keeper before catching up to Bell who's holding the supplies and food.
"That should be all of it from the list." Said Evan. "Great, let's get back to Hestia before she throws a fit for being gone for too long." Said Bell.
Evan nods in agreement and carries his part of the supplies and the both of them set off back to Hestia. As they walk back, both Bell and Evan talk about plans for the future.
"Evan when we go to the dungeon, how deep will we go next time?" Asked Bell.
"Probably to the fifth floor. Once we reach the stairs that go down to the sixth floor, that's when we should go back up. When we get back, we're gonna resupply and get some improvement to our status and gear." Answered Evan.
Evan then paused for a bit before speaking.
"Wait, scratch that, instead of improving our gears, we'll improve yours instead of mine." Said Evan.
"Wait? What!? Why!? Shouldn't we both improve our gears?" Exclaimed Bell.
Evan shook his head.
"No, you should be the one that gets the improvement cause you're the one that's gonna need it more than I do at the moment and beside perhaps you'll find some gears that you'll stick to for a time." Said Evan.
Bell pauses for a moment to Evan's answer and reluctantly nods as what Evan said is mostly true. But as he does so, without looking or noticing he bumps into someone causing both Bell and that person to fall and drop whatever they were holding.
"Ow!"
"Oof!"
"Are you both ok?" Ask Evan as he helps Bell and the person up to their feet.
The person was a girl whose height was around Bell's height, she has bluish gray hair that she keeps tied with a small knot in a ponytail style and her eyes are the same color as her hair. The clothes she wore were that of a uniform of a waitress from an inn or so. Bell bows down 90 degrees and apologizes to the girl.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking!"
"Don't be, I wasn't looking as well." Said the Waitress. "Let us help." Said Evan.
Evan puts down his part of the supplies, and with Bell, they pick up what seems to be food and ingredients and put into the basket the girl was carrying. Then Evan quickly helps Bell with his part of the supplies. After that the girl thanks them both.
"Thank you, you two."
Evan waves it off.
"This was at least the best we could for you, sorry for bumping into you."
"Like I said earlier, no need to apologize because it's also my fault for not looking as well." Said the Waitress. "If you insist." Said Evan.
Evan then picks up his part of the supplies and speaks.
"Well, my friend and I have to go now otherwise our goddess would begin to worry."
"Wait, you're both adventurers right?" Asked the Waitress "Yeah we are, what about it?" Answered Bell.
"Let me introduce myself, I'm Syr Flova." Said Syr. "I'm Bell and this is Evan." Said Bell.
"Nice to meet you, Syr." Said Evan. "Likewise Evan."
Then Syr's eyes glint like one of those businessmen in which Evan took notice but sees no malicious intent and lets it off, although he wouldn't say the same for their finance. As for Bell he was clueless as ever.
"Since both of you are adventurers, please come by to the Hostess of Fertility and perhaps I'll give a discount to you both for your first time eating there." said Syr with a smile.
"Well, I guess Bell and I would come by and eat there from time to time." Said Evan. "I see, anyway I guess this is goodbye much like your goddess my coworkers and boss would begin to worry about me. Take care!" Said Syr.
Syr then walks away from the duo as she waves goodbye. Evan and Bell did the same before resuming what they were doing. As they were taking the supplies back, Evan felt that someone was watching them. More specifically Bell. Evan turned his head around and looked behind him to see if anyone was stalking them and saw no one. Bell notices Evan's odd behavior and turns around to see what he was staring at and sees nothing.
"Evan, what's wrong?" Asked Bell. "Nothing, must have been the wind or something. Anyway, let's go." Answered Evan.
Bell and Evan began to walk away and as they did, a hidden hooded figure with a bit of silver hair poking out on top of a building was watching down on them and was looking at Bell specifically.
? POV
As they walked away, I continued watching them, especially the boy who looked like a white rabbit. However, aside from his unique appearance, his soul...was so transparent. She laid her eyes on the boy when he caught her gaze. She's been obsessing over him ever since. From what she heard, the boy's name was Bell. A fitting and cute name for a rabbit like him.
'I, Freya would claim him as my own…in time.'
Freya then walked away.
Third POV
~ Abandoned Church ~
As Bell and Evan get back to the church, they both see Hestia waiting outside the church for them.
"We're back!" Said Bell.
"Welcome back!" Hestia Responded while waving at them.
"Bell, you can drop the supplies here and I'll do the rest." Said Evan. "Are you sure about that?" Asked Bell.
"Yeah, besides you're gonna need some rest for tomorrow's run in the dungeon." Said Evan. "But still if you are still insistent on helping then go with Hestia and make supper."
Bell nods and leaves the supplies to Evan who began organizing the supplies and planning for tomorrow's trip to the dungeon. Using the information he received from Atro, Evan planned for him and Bell to advance down the dungeon but before heading down past the fifth floor, he planned to help Bell in getting better equipment and making him stronger. After organizing the last of the supplies and putting them in a shed built by Evan and Bell to hold supplies, Evan enters the church and sees Bell and Hestia hanging in the kitchen preparing for dinner. Evan approaches Hestia unsure if he should do this but presses onwards and says to her.
"Hestia, I'm going out again."
Hestia turns to Evan and questions him.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm going to take a walk around Orario to clear my mind up on something." Answered Evan.
Hestia stares at Evan for a bit before nodding and saying.
"Ok, but be back before it becomes too dark outside otherwise I'll be mad."
Hestia said that while acting like she would get angry at him but knowing her despite the short amount of time spent together, she wouldn't be really angry, just overwhelmingly worried.
"I will." Evan said with a small smile.
~ Somewhere in the middle of Orario ~
Evan was walking around aimlessly as he was lost in thoughts of how he was planning how to make Bell stronger and about that person that was stalking them.
'I can't always be around to help train Bell...' Evan thought to himself.
After a slight moment of thinking Evan came up with an idea.
'I'll use my summons to help train Bell, someone who is similar and familiar to Bell's way of fighting….not only that but also help him be able to handle himself alone down in the dungeon.'
Then his thought drifts to the stalker.
'As for that stalker...who in the world would pay attention much less stalk Bell...if he was someone famous then I would understand but Bell is not someone who gathered that much attention at all aside from his appearance perhaps…'
After a bit of hard thinking, Evan sighs, and decides to let his thoughts on the stalker go. When Evan looks up to the sky and sees that it's becoming dark, he decides it's time to head back. As he walked back he notice three figures in a alleyway, two of them were presumably thugs and judging from their sluggish movement, Evan could tell they were drunk, as for the last figure, so far he could tell it was a woman, a beautiful woman at that as he could tell from her figure even though it was hidden behind a hooded robe, as for her face it was hidden behind the hood, and he could make it out that she had silver hair due to the fact that some of her hair was poking out of her hood. Seeing that the two drunk men were getting in close with the woman and seemingly harassing her, Evan then begins walking towards them.
"Hestia, I hope you'll forgive me for being late." muttered Evan.
Freya POV
After observing Bell return to his home and his every action, I was returning back to my room at Babel until I was stopped along the way by some drunk fools. As they were going to put their hands on me, an unexpected person came by putting their hand on the drunk's shoulder who was about to touch me.
"I advise you not to do that sir."
"Huh?! Who are you!?"
The voice sounds very familiar to her, but she can't think of who it is. If she could see him then perhaps she'll know who this person is.
Third POV
"Who I am matters not, but like I said earlier I advise you to not lay a hand on her or else." Evan said with indifference.
"Like we'll listen to someone like you!" Scoff a Drunk. "Yeah, leave us or otherwise you will get it!" Yelled the other.
Evan sighs and says.
"Say I didn't warn you two."
Evan lets go of his arm that was on the first drunk man's shoulder, then in a quick blur his fist contacts the drunk's face, knocking him out cold as he falls to the ground surprising both Freya and the other drunk. Freya swore she saw a tooth or two flew out of his mouth.
"Why you!"
The second drunk throws a haymaker at Evan who easily dodges by ducking under by uppercutting the second drunk very hard that he flies over and lands behind Freya out cold.
"You ok ma'am?" Asked Evan.
Freya quickly snapped out of her gaze and nodded.
Freya POV
After I snapped out of my gaze, I got a good look at my savior and saw a face that I recognized. Evan was his name and he was Bell's fellow familia and friend. Although I didn't pay a lot of attention to him, I did saw potential within him yet he was overshadowed by my Bell. However, seeing his power made me a bit curious. From the information I gathered he should be at the level as Bell but yet what he showed was not of those of level one even a maxed out level one. Of course, he was acting against normal people. So I decided to look at his soul, something I should've done before but was left distracted by Bell's transparent soul. I have seen many kinds of souls to the blackest of black to the brightest of gold. As I looked at his soul and I was left amazed...No, what I saw was that even words cannot say. His soul...Evan's soul was filled with multiple colors...many colors I say from blue to red and so on. Yet there were two rings crossing each other like around his soul. Each ring was pulsing with something powerful that even I was awed by it. One ring was glowing a bright white while the other ring was glowing a black purple. And lastly what I saw was something small, something insignificant but yet much like the two rings caught my attention...it was a black colored root like tendrils at the corner of his soul. I felt nothing from it and yet my very being can feel that it is something. Such a unique, awe inspiring, powerful if not the most powerful soul I ever saw in a mortal. Before I could look even deeper into his soul I was interrupted by him.
"Uhhh, ma'am are you ok? You're looking at me weirdly for a bit there." Said Evan. "Ah, I must apologize. I was...lost in thoughts at what I just saw." I responded.
Third POV
Evan looked at her confused but nodded his head in understanding. Freya then asked him.
"Will you accompany me back to my home?"
"Sorry but as much as I want to accompany you back to your home I must return back otherwise the others will worry about me. I hope you understand." Answered Evan.
"I see, a pity" quietly muttered Freya
"I hope you have a safe walk back to your home, goodnight ma'am." Said Evan as he bid goodbye. "Likewise to you, good sir." Said Freya.
Evan then walked out of the alley and when he got out of Freya's sight, Freya put on a smirk and couldn't help but think about both Evan and Bell, for they have her attention now. Then she realized something.
'My charm didn't affect him at all…'
~ Abandon Church ~
When Evan got back, he was greeted with a mad Hestia who made a fuss to him who came late to dinner to which Evan apologized and said that he won't do it again(maybe). Then during dinner, Evan explained to Bell of his plan when they go to the dungeon tomorrow to which both Hestia and Bell agreed although Hestia was a bit reluctant to let Evan's "friends" to come over and help Bell train especially if they were girls to which Bell and Evan raise a brow to.
~ Time skip - Tomorrow Morning ~
~ Guild ~
When Bell and Evan got to the guild and met up with Eina who greeted them and left them with some advice and warning like the usual the past two weeks. Then Bell and Evan waved goodbye to Eina.
"You ready Bell?" Asked Evan.
"Ready as ever!" answered Bell with a confident smile "Then let us go." Said Evan.
Then the duo advance into the dungeon without knowing the future troubles and events ahead of them.
Author's Note
Alright, that took longer than I thought it would. Mostly due to me having to rewrite a good chunk of the chapter to make it make sense story wise and so. I probably should say this as well, when it comes to the name of the MC, I have to say that I am quite indecisive when it comes to picking a name but I do have a couple of names I thought of. When that does happen I'll put a AN at the top to inform the decision made, most likely in the future chapter after I repost the other chapters but then again I could put the name in the newer chapters I am going to post. But leaving that aside, now going to talk about the MC's soul and Freya's charm being ineffective.
The MC's soul is due to the power that he had gain/inherited from BF. But to put it in simple tone, the MC practically became a god or a god like being by the end of BF but is still a mortal. But that also gets tossed aside when it comes to the Void/Cosmic Arc as I would call it when it have hinted that the MC might be more than he seems to be.
As for Freya's charm, to simplify it, I could see that the MC had gain some kind of innate resistance to it due to Tilith, a goddess that mostly been around the MC for quite some time, desensitizing him to beauty and so on but the MC will be affected by her charm to some degree if Freya puts more power to it.
I could go on with these kind of info dumping but I prefer if the AN doesn't get too long.
Anyway have a nice day or good night.