As the visage and faint voice faded, Bell's consciousness returned and his eyes opened to a white ceiling rather than the darkness of the dungeon. In that instant he shot up, quickly attempting to reach for his sword at his waist to draw it only to realize it was gone. He then quickly scanned his surroundings to see where he was and search for threats as he thought he would be within the dungeon. However his fears were thankfully proven false as he recognized the soft bed under him and the smell of a clinical environment.

I'm in a hospital? He questioned himself as he took in his surroundings, and at that moment he then heard the sound of snoring from his right. Turning his head he saw it was his grandfather who likely came and stayed to watch over his beloved grandson after hearing the news of the dungeon incident. And as if he could sense him, Zeus wakes up to the biggest relief of his life as he sees his grandson awake again and looking at him with a face of "I'm sorry", as if to apologize for the near heart attack the old man likely had upon hearing the news.

"Hey grandpa…sorr-" However before the boy could apologize vocally, the old man pulled him into a desperate hug.

"You are going to be the death of me my boy…" The old god said with slight tears in his eyes. To which Bell only replies with a low sorry and returns the hug, tears filling his eyes as well.

After a few moments the two separate and Bell explains everything that happened, including the weird system pop ups. At the end Zeus could only stare with…an understanding?

"Is none of this weird to you grandpa?"

"Well it's all weird, but also not too complicated to understand. As I said the gods made their own system that being the falna, while I didn't think another system existed, I also didn't think it was necessarily impossible for another to exist. But I suppose who made it is really what's in question. And you said the system welcomed you back?"

"Yea, but the thing is I never had anything like this before! I promise you!"

"It's ok Bell, even without my innate ability as a god to detect lies I can tell you're telling the truth. So it seems this goes back further than you could know and during a time I was not paying attention."

"What do you mean grandpa?"

"That…I cannot say sadly. I swore an oath to never discuss this topic or it would be considered taboo and I would be sent back to heaven for even talking about it to a mortal. The same rule applies to every god who came down, same as the promise made to never use our divine power while here on the lower world."

"I understand, but what should I do about this?"

"Well, for now you should tinker with it. Figure out what it does, push it to its limits and explore. This could be a new and major improvement to your capabilities, and thus further help you with your goal."

"Gotcha! I'll make sure to follow your advice in the next raid tomorrow!"

"About that…there won't be a raid tomorrow. You won't be in any raids for a few day's in fact."

"Wait, why?!" Bell questioned with confusion and mildly upset. He really wanted to get back out there and see what he could do now.

"Well it's simple, you have to get to Orario and move in my dear boy!" Zeus exclaimed, surprising the young man.

"Ehh!?"

"Yep! I updated your status and you leveled up! With that I also submitted an application to that familia you wanted to join and they accepted!" Zeus explained, giving an overwhelming amount of good news that completely overtook the harsh memories of the previous events of the dungeon incident.

"Are you serious?! Loki familia accepted me?!" Bell needless to say was filled with immense joy, he heard that Loki familia had gotten rather strict and not as accepting of new members lately. The only other familia he heard of that was strong and not risky or weird to join was the Ganesha familia. However they didn't explore the dungeon like he wanted and more so acted as the police force for Orario. He heard of another nice small familia called the Miach familia but they as well seemed to not focus on dungeon diving and more so worked towards medicinal practices, same could be said for Demeter familia who instead did farmwork, and while he himself was a farmer he also wanted to do more in the world.

"Yes indeed they did! But I'm not surprised, you have a lot of experience already, just leveled up and to level 4 at that and you're really young. Each one of these are pretty much the ideal and perfect conditions for quite literally any familia to accept you!"

"So when do I leave?"

"Well your flight is tomorrow, you'll be flying with and Senior Rehmer as they head back and help you register and transfer to your new familia. All your stuff has already been shipped to and set up in your new place thanks to my good friend Hermes."

"Am I cleared to leave the hospital though?"

"Yep, doctors confirmed you have no injuries really. In fact you seem to be all around perfect and optimal. We can leave now and head back home so that we can go to bed and wake up early enough to beat the lines at the airport, meaning leaving about 3 hours early."

"Wow…ok, um… let's go!" He said as he and Zeus got up and were ready to leave. Bell could hardly keep up, things were moving extremely fast. It felt like just yesterday he got his falna and now his journey was truly starting. That and also the enigmatic new ability he just gained, speaking of which. "Wait, should I tell them about the system?" He asked before they stepped out the door.

"Hmm…" The old man caressed his beard as he contemplated who should know. "Well I suppose you can maybe tell the top executives of Loki familia and the goddess herself. But I wouldn't suggest telling anyone else, at least not those who aren't close to you. If word got around that you acquired a new system then it would attract the attention of practically every deity across the world. While they may be my divine brethren, I for one disapprove of their selfish and reckless behavior of coming down to the lower world and carelessly strolling around seeking entertainment. You'd be swarmed and hounded endlessly without any privacy or able to live peacefully. On top of that there's the matter of terror groups like Evilus, overall it'd be safe to keep it a secret for now."

"What about Eina?"

"Now that's a complicated one, you two have known each other for 7 years now and grown quite close. But she works for the guild and is obligated to report any major discoveries such as this to it, if you tell her then you also run the risk of putting pressure on her-"

"And she would be torn about where her loyalties lie…"

"Exactly, in my opinion it'd be best to keep it away from her for now. I know you don't want to keep secrets from her, but for her own sake it would probably be best for her not to know just yet."

"Yea…you're right. I don't want to put that burden on her, thanks grandpa!"

"No problem my dear boy! Now I think it's time we get back to the house now, we're running low on time." Zeus said as he looked outside the hospital room window to see that the sky at its civil twilight age.

Hours later the next morning had arrived. The farmhouse was still cloaked in the darkness of the morning sky as the sun had yet to rise. Most of Bell's belongings had already been sent ahead along but there were still a few essentials that he had packed like clothes and the rest of his comics. Zeus made sure the car was ready as the old beat-up truck cranked to life with a reluctant groan. Bell finished getting everything he needed and took a deep breath, his heart racing as he stepped outside. The farm and its fields had pretty much been his whole world. And now, he was leaving it behind to head into the new world.

"You got everything dear boy?" Zeus called, patting the side of the truck.

"Yep, all good to go!" Bell threw his bag into the backseat before sliding into the passenger side.

"Perfect, let's beat the morning traffic. Rehmer and Ms. Tulle are probably already waiting at the airport."

The drive to the airport was a blur of open highways and small towns. Zeus cracked jokes about Bell's nervous fidgeting, though Bell tried his best to stay composed. Occasionally, his grandfather would glance at him, a proud smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"You know…" Zeus said, his tone softening, "no matter what happens, I'm proud of you. Not because of how strong you've become, but because of the man you're becoming."

Bell felt a lump in his throat, still extremely nervous, but he swallowed it down. "Thanks, grandpa."

"And hey, don't forget to call once you're settled in. I'm not getting any younger, you know."

Bell grinned. "I will. Promise."

When they finally arrived at the airport, the large busy terminal loomed before them. Travelers hurried from place to place, the hum of conversations and rolling suitcases filling the air. Zeus pulled the truck up to the curb, throwing it into park.

"There they are," Zeus pointed.

Rehmer stood with his arms crossed, his usual rather stern and composed look ever present as he still wore the usual guild uniform of a white dress shirt with a black vest and black dress pants with black office shoes. Beside him was Eina who waved enthusiastically as she held her own suitcase by its handle, her bright smile shining even through the nerves she clearly felt. She wore a simple but elegant traveling outfit of a long plain white T shirt, black leggings with a gray sweater tied around her waist, and a pair of light pink running shoes, and a small black travel backpack on her back.

Bell was about to step out until he was stopped by Zeus.

"Bell, wait a minute…"

"What's wrong grandpa?"

"Sorry, just…"

"Grandpa? Is everything ok?"

"Yea, it's just for 18 years I've been taking care of this little boy right? Making sure he's loved, that he feels comfortable and secure. And now he wants to go out to the big city and do great things for the world…" Zeus paused for a moment to compose himself, parting with what is essentially his child was far more difficult than he thought it'd be.

"And what I'm so worried about right now is that you won't be looked after out there like I do for you, that no one will root for you and your dreams like I do. So here's what I want you to promise me my dear boy…" he paused again to wipe some tears and keep himself together.

"You have to promise me that you won't change, no matter what. Ok? Make sure you never forget what you're doing and why. Never doubt that you are loved, and never let anyone in that big city tell you that you don't belong or that you need to change or "fit in". Don't get lost, and even if you do, make sure you find your way back. Which I know you will, you're a fighter and a good one. Ok?"

"You got it grandpa…I won't let you down. No matter what!" The boy declared with his chest, showing his absolute determination. And with that declaration came one last hug and a wave of goodbye as he hopped out of the truck, grabbing his bag.

Before he could say a word after crossing the street to Eina, she had already closed the distance, inspecting him all over from head to toe.

"You're really okay?" she asked, her voice still tinged with worry.

"I promise. Just a little sore, but nothing I can't handle."

"Good," she sighed, the tension visibly leaving her shoulders "You look pretty good by the way!" Eina said as she looked him over one good time. Bell usually never wore any real "normal" clothes. If he wasn't training or heading to dungeons or completing quests and such then he would usually just wear the typical farmer attire. But he decided to wear something a bit more casual and simple now. He had on a striped black and white shirt with black pants, a black and banded watch with a small rectangular brown and white case rather than the usual large round ones and wore black and white sneakers with red accents.

"Thanks, you to Miss Eina…" he replied with a slight blush. It was the first time he saw her without her guild uniform, then again who would want to wear such an uncomfortable outfit for a long seated trip like a plane ride. Actually, suppose there was the senior advisor who was currently desperately trying to ensure they beat all the lines and get back to Orario as quickly as possible.

"We should get going, bag checking and getting through security should be a breeze if we hurry now." The senior spoke as his patience started to wear a little thin. But who could blame him? Airports were always a pain to get through.

Bell and Eina nodded "Yes sir!"

With one last wave to his grandfather, Bell turned and followed Eina and Rehmer into the terminal. They managed to blitz through the entire process without suffering through the hell of airport lines and got to their gate in record time. During the wait, Bell sadly experienced the highway robbery that was airport food. Even if he had quite a lot of money saved up from his years of completing quests and dungeons, that much for a bottle of water should have been a crime. Nevertheless he settled for procuring a bacon, egg and cheese bagel with some orange juice. The plane ride would be a long one and he'd prefer not to starve until they finally landed.

Once on the plane and in their seats, Bell and Eina conversed for a while, mostly about the things he would get to see in Orario, how the Loki Familia would be, and even the everyday populace that would be vastly more veritable than the small town he was raised on the outskirts of. But eventually, the sound of the aircraft's steady hum and the gentle vibrations through the floor pulled Eina into a nap. She settled in her seat and tilted her head to the side, resting it lightly against Bell's shoulder without even realizing it.

Bell froze instantly and his face turned bright red, but he didn't dare move to avoid waking the sleeping half elf. He was extremely embarrassed but didn't want to move her head to avoid being rude. Instead he decided to occupy himself with his newfound system.

"Let's see what this new system is all about…" he thought.

" Status?" With that thought, a translucent blue panel appeared before his eyes, floating in the air as usual.

User: Bell Cranel

Level: 4

Class: Undefined

Title: None

HP: 1375 / 1375
MP: N/A

Strength: 0-I
Endurance: 0-I
Agility: 0-I
Magic: 0-I
Dexterity: 0-I

Unspent Stat Points: 30

Bell's eyes widened. "So it displays similarly to my falna. I can also allocate my own stat points?! Does this mean I'll get those as well as the usual excelia? That's going to be really useful!"

Scrolling his eyes down, he clicked the next tab to inspect.

[SKILLS]

Sixth Sense (Passive)
Allows user to sense when they are being watched, even while not in direct line of sight.

Instinctive Dodge (Passive)
When in extreme danger, the user's body reacts with enhanced speed to evade fatal attacks.

Heroic Desire (Passive)

User stats and experience gain are increased exponentially with their feelings, the stronger the wielder's desire the faster and more exponential the growth. Passive effects include: immunity to charms and heightened pain tolerance.

Abnormal Resistance (Passive Developmental Ability)

Negates the effects of abnormalities such as poison.

"Some of these… weren't even in my falna," Bell thought to himself.

He tapped on another icon, and a fresh panel blinked into view.

[QUEST LOG]

Main Quest: Torch Bearer
Objective: Unite and save the world.

Status: In progress…

Reward: Ascension

Side Quest: Strength Seeker

Dungeon Dive: Trial (Completed)

Reward: 30 stat points (Claimed)

"Quests…?" Bell was confused to say the least, but at the same time intrigued. "The system gives missions now? And…what's ascension?"

He wanted to figure it out but decided it was probably best to skip over it for now. He wanted to get to sleep as soon as possible to then get some rest as he'd be spending the day exploring the city and meeting with his familia. The next tab showed his inventory, though it was basically empty due to the fact that currently the only things on his person at the moment were obvious things like his clothes or watch. So he skipped to the next page, this one was even more curiosity inducing than the quest one.

[Class Selection - In Progress]

Current Status: Unawakened
Requirements: Unknown
Hints: Train, explore, complete quests and connect

Warning: Power will not come without understanding.

The system screen then flickered faintly and dimmed itself before disappearing and waiting to respond again with a single thought. Bell leaned back in his seat, mind racing. The system was more than just some tracker but an all around improvement that acted as a guide or even a test. A way to grow not just stronger, but also smarter. He then glanced down at Eina sleeping peacefully next to him, who remained unaware of the conflict that took place within him. He couldn't tell her, not yet. As much as he wanted to, he knew it would likely only place her in a hard place, so he held his tongue for now and decided to catch up on some sleep.

Hours laters as the plane began its slow descent, the hum of the engines mixed with the soft sound of passengers chatting and the occasional ringing of the intercom. Bell leaned toward the window,and his eyes widened as the vast city of Orario came into view.

It wasn't some ancient, walled fortress like back in the past. Nor was it a bright futuristic utopia of floating cars and neon lights. Orario was surprisingly realistic, modern, and positively alive. The skyline stretched for miles upon miles on end, a dense cluster of tall buildings, some old with stone and brick structure, others more new and made of glass and steel that caught the morning sun's shine. Occasionally there would be rooftop gardens seen here and there, even on top of potential restaurants. Needless to say, from above, the city looked like a living tapestry, busy streets weaving between blocks after blocks, dotted with trees, parks, markets and other large outdoor hubs.

Cars moved steadily through intersections, some powered by magic crystal tech hybrids, others running on traditional gas based engines. Buses and trams followed smooth tracks through main roads, and foot traffic was thick as people of all walks of life walked around, from merchants and mages to adventurers fully geared up heading to the dungeon and the usual average day person just trying to get by, each individual getting through their daily morning routines. But towering above it all, the Tower of Babel still dominated the skyline.

However despite its height and rather "narrow" design compared to other skyscrapers, it didn't look out of place, if anything, it appeared more so to be the beating heart of the city. Wide at the base, it stretched upward like a silver-blue spire, its surface etched with barely visible intricate patterns that glimmered faintly in the daylight. The base buzzed with activity: merchant stalls, food vendors and food trucks, guild workers and posters, and crowds of adventurers gathering for dungeon expeditions.

"Wow…" Bell whispered as he pressed his forehead to the window.

Beside him, Eina gave a small smile. "Impressive, isn't it?"

He nodded slowly, taking it all in. "It feels…real now. Like everything I've been working toward is just down there."

"It is," she said softly. "This is where everything begins."

The plane wheels touched down with a soft jolt, and Bell sat back in his seat, heart pounding with anticipation. The terminal came into view as they taxied in, what was just another airport to most was the last threshold to him, the last thing in his way to the real start of his journey. The city of heroes, gods, and destiny. Bell inhaled deeply and smiled softly. "Alright, let's do this."