My eyes fluttered open.
Then they shot open wide as I jumped from the bed.
"BELLE, HESTIA, now dawns the time for the final preparations!" My finger pointed high into the sky in jubilation, today was the big day!
Hestia let out a scream of panic from the sudden movement and scream, but Belle was surprisingly calm. A gentle smile on her face as she stared at me, as though she too was already awake for the day! Belle was awesome! So was Hestia, she was just . . . less prepared. I guess being a Goddess means that she can't adapt as fast as us mortals.
Which is fine, Hestia is fine just the way she is! Probably! At least that's what I feel within my heart when I stare into her eyes!
"We have to go meet Rose, I'm sure she'll have some final tasks for us before we set off. She is the final stepping stone in this week-long waiting period!"
It almost feels like it's been months waiting to go back into the Dungeon and fight monsters. Dang it, I'm a battle maniac! This week has been great, and I've deepened my friendships with those around me . . . but can anything beat an epic fight alongside one of my dearest friends?
Something I hadn't really considered about this new world is that I'm in one place for a long time. Back home it wasn't like that at all. Always moving around. There was always a bigger tournament. Always a bigger crazy guy. It feels good being able to stay in one place for a long time.
I miss doing that before I turned fourteen. That's when I met Master after all. She was an awesome person . . . but she was a little intense!
Despite missing everyone alongside the old Chinese woman, at least Master isn't sending me off to random locations around the world anymore! Seriously, she sent me and her disciples to tons of different places all the time! We would train with each other for a couple of weeks then not see each other for months. It sucked!
However everything in Orario . . . is in Orario. It's nice. The world feels smaller, but I think I like that in a strange way. Don't get me wrong, it has its ups and downs, exploring a new place is one of my favorite things, but the divine blessing and the mystery Dungeon really sell this place!
"Rose? The guild advisor? Why don't we just see her on the way back?" Belle's tone was curious, but my smiling voice stopped her confusion with a piercing blow!
"Rose will most definitely have something to say, and probably some extra special advice for us before we go in. Rose is a genius!" I'd met a lot of geniuses in my time, but specialists in a specific thing were always cool. Rose was a specialist in the giant death trap, so she was super cool!
"Well then I guess it can't be helped." Hestia flopped over on a pillow as the words left her mouth with some annoyance. Looks like she was still recovering from her awakening. The two of them seemed to exchange some form of silent communication between their gazes as they both nodded at each other, before Belle turned to me as she rose from the bed.
"Why don't we go ahead, I'll make sure to keep him out of trouble."
Hestia let out a small nod at her words causing me to be a little bit confused.
"Trouble? We're going to get into lots of trouble! That's the fun part!" Not too much trouble of course, but causing good trouble is awesome! The Great Sage said something about that a couple months before I came to Orario actually.
She always knew what to say to cheer me on, or to cheer me up. She was the GREAT Sage for a reason . . .
Anyways now was the time to see Rose and go on an epic adventure, not reminisce on the past. Truth be told I didn't intend for today's dive to be a massive adventure, just something to get Belle accustomed to the Dungeon. Either way, it was still going to be awesome, of that I was sure.
"Alright then Belle, we're off!" I booked it immediately, and my companion followed soon after. We walked through the streets in the early morning, and for a moment I considered stopping by Syr's place of work to say hi, but I wasn't sure if they were even open yet . . . Also the guild was in a different direction, so it looks like Syr and Belle's meeting was going to be delayed.
"So Belle, what do you know about the Dungeon?" We were almost at the guild, but it felt like that type of question was pretty important to ask. Presumably Belle had never been inside of the adventure hole before, so I really had no idea what she knew about it.
"I've studied the Dungeons, the higher classes of Monsters, most of my knowledge is related to their strengths and weaknesses. Goliaths, Monsters Rexes . . . those Monsters are where my knowledge lies."
"I don't know what either of those are, but they sound pretty dangerous. Goblins and Kobolds will be more my speed for now!" I let out a laugh, goblins and kobolds were way too easy! They were a good place to start Belle off today. "Oh, looks like we're here!" We had finally arrived at the Guild.
Rose was going to be so proud!
I practically burst the door open,startling the low number of occupants, including the red haired wolf girl behind the counter!
"Rose! We did it!" My tone was jovial but her expression was confused for a moment before her eyes widened in realization.
". . . you actually didn't go into the Dungeon for a week." She looked down at the ground for a minute before snorting lightly. "Good job."
Rank 5: To the Letter - Slightly Increases all Parameters while in the Dungeon
For a moment I spotted a small smile, and she didn't immediately crush it! Progress achieved!
"Of course I didn't. I have complete trust in you Rose!" I put my hands on my hips and for a moment it looked like Belle was going to say something, but Rose did something that surprised even her coworkers.
She laughed. It wasn't a boisterous laugh, it wasn't a chuckle either. It was undeniably the laugh of a person. Her coworker, the half elf, turned to her practically stock still, while Rose's eyes widened in dawning horror, her expression rapidly dropping.
Rose then cleared her throat and attempted to continue while her coworker gave her a weird smile. However Belle softly put a hand on my shoulder and stared directly at the wolf woman.
"He has complete trust in me as well, I'm his Partner after all."
In response I put a hand on Belle's shoulder causing her to blush in embarrassment.
"Yep! We're currently a duo of Dungeon divers . . . well starting today at least. I wanted to come here first though, I have a feeling you'll have some extra special advice today. After all, it's Belle's first time!"
Rose seemed to stare directly at Belle for a moment, then myself, then back to the blushing rabbit next to me. Then let out a snort.
"I see . . . Well I recommend staying on the first floor, and never take your eyes off your companion. She's at massive risk compared to you . . . unless she's on your level?"
I wish she was, but the truth is that Belle wasn't as good as me . . . not yet! I had faith that Belle could maybe be even better than me one day! Well unless I got a random Shounen power up.
"I'll watch her closely, Rose, thanks for the advice!" I'd originally planned to let Belle run wild, only stepping in if she needed help. I'd stick close to her with Rose's advice though. Rose had a sense for these things.
"Show me your inventory." She wasn't asking! I set Heir on the desk in front of us, as well as the 3 healing and 2 mind potions, lastly I set my knife on the table. She nodded and turned to Belle who seemed to flinch lightly, her eyes flicking to me for some reason.
Then it clicked. She didn't trust Rose as much as I did. So I leaned closely to Belle, and whispered softly in her ear.
"You can trust her."
She seemed to quiver slightly, then gave a slight nod. Then she did something beautiful. She did the extended disarmament gag. By the time she was done six knives in total were on the desk alongside my sword and the potions. Though I had a sneaking suspicion Belle still had another knife hidden somewhere up her sleeve!
This rabbit really loves her knives!
"Good assortment of weapons. Some of these are throwing knives, and they are good quality. As long as you stick close to her you should be fine. Keep in mind that the Dungeon has killed millions. Don't become arrogant and throw your life away.
I gave her a thumbs up, and a big smile.
"You've got it Rose!"
After that I turned to Belle, and I was practically vibrating with excitement.
"Belle, are you ready?"
Her gaze slowly peeled away from Rose as she took back her many pieces of equipment and she gave me a radiant smile!
"As long as you're going with me of course." She moved a bit closer, and I couldn't help but put my hands on her shoulders and stare directly into her eyes with the most serious tone I could muster despite my excitement.
"I wouldn't dream of missing out on this moment!" She blushed furiously causing me to peel away with a chuckle. This rabbit was so easy to embarrass and fluster.
Or maybe that's just my secret power!
"Dang it, I can't wait anymore!" I picked up Belle and started sprinting towards the Dungeon. I heard a faint 'Don't die.' from Rose as I made my great escape, so of course I yelled back to her in acknowledgement!
I set Belle down, and stared directly at her. I had to lay down a few ground rules before we went in. Well, they were Rose's rules, but either way we still had to follow them.
"Alright Belle. We are only going to be in there for about an hour. Today we're just going to focus on killing a few goblins and then leaving. I don't want you to leave my sight for any reason, ok?"
"You really do trust your advisor, don't you?"
Is that jealousy I hear? I'm a little surprised, so it takes a moment for me to respond. That also means I put a little bit more thought into it.
"Belle. I'd be dead without her. That doesn't mean I trust you any less, I just trust the expert in Dungeon when it comes to the Dungeon."
She gave a slow nod, before she gave a light smile and responded.
"Well I'm glad you're still with us, though if you had to choose . . . who do you trust more? Me or her?" She leaned in closely, and there was a weird look in her eyes I couldn't exactly place.
So I did what I always did. I laughed.
"Belle, what does that matter? She's the Dungeon expert, and you're my diving Companion. It's not about trust, it's about who's good at what. I trust you to have my back in the Dungeon, and I trust her to give us good information."
She leaned back with a small sigh, then she smiled.
"I see." She seemed happy at knowledge only she seemed to have.
Belle was weird.
That was alright though. I was weird too!
My eyes panned over to the mega structure going both above and below us, and I turned to my dear companion after a moment of taking in the sight.
"Are you ready Belle?" I turned to her, one of her knives slowly making its way into her grasp.
"As long as you're with me."
I threw her a light smile in response.
"The feeling is mutual."
Today was Belle's big day. I'd make sure she was safe.
No matter what.
With that we began our descent, each stone stair feeling slightly heavy beneath each step, but I couldn't help but smile. This was going to be Belle's big day, and I wanted it to be an awesome experience.
You could even say I was committed to making sure her first time was amazing. I just hoped everything went according to plan!
We'd arrived in that first hall I'd seen when I first entered the Dungeon. The blue walls gave off a relaxing vibe, but this place wasn't relaxing at all! I was watching Belle from the corner of my vision, and she seemed a little bit tense.
Though that wasn't exactly a bad thing! We were in the danger zone after all. During my brief musings I heard the sounds of the wall breaking, a few goblins pouring out, no weapons in hand, but a ravenous desire to kill my companion in their eyes!
My hand clenched on my sword, and I was ready to dash into action at any moment. However Belle easily handled the group of three, leaving three magic stones in her wake as she slit throats and pierced hearts!
"Awesome job Belle!"
She turned towards me with a smile as she made her way over. I was proud of her, and couldn't help but give her praise! I reached out to put a hand on her shoulder and congratulate her but my instincts suddenly screamed at me as her eyes widened in horror.
The cracking of the Dungeon wall was accompanied by me turning around with steel drawn, but instead of a monster a massive metallic ball was flying towards me while attached to a long piece of thread like metal.
It was a Meteor Hammer the size of my chest, and it was flying directly towards me. I could dodge, but if I moved Belle would be turned into paste. So I shoved her away and to the ground while the weapon flew towards me. I tried to redirect it, but I simply didn't have enough time.
The most I could do was move it downwards away from my vitals.
I wouldn't call it a mistake, but it certainly wasn't good.
The following crunch nearly caused me to gag, my legs buckled out from under me, and I pushed Belle away during my movement. My half paralyzed form suddenly slammed into the other wall as the meteor hammer was slowly pulled back towards the other side of the area.
"ANDREW!?"
I let out a weak breath as I stared down at my twisted right leg with annoyance. I poured one of Naaza's potions on it, but the immense pain didn't let up. I twisted the leg back into place with a rapid twitching movement of my right arm but tears started to build up on instinct from the sudden and immense agony I was in.
That attack was faster than a bullet being shot at me.
Rose was right. The Dungeon is dangerous. I heard a pop sound as Naaza's potion kicked in, and I attempted to rise to my feet to realize in dawning horror I couldn't move my legs. When I got slammed into the wall something in my spine must have broken.
This was bad. This was really bad.
I gazed up in slight shock as the figure who threw out the attack exited the wall, Belle's weak voice barely being caught by my ears as she announced the name of our new opponent.
https://i.postimg.cc/05fnY19L/tumblr-inline-pridkgu-Msm1robfbt-500.jpg
"A-ah. A Hunter."
I didn't know what that was. But I couldn't move. I poured a potion down my back, but from this angle I couldn't reach the injured area. Belle was too far away to apply it, and the Hunter was winding up for another swing.
Was this really how it ended?
I leaned back for a moment, even if I could stand would it matter?
Even in the face of impending death I couldn't help but frown at the sudden thoughts.
I was being stupid, I cracked a grin. My hand tightened on my sword as my lower spine slowly knitted itself together.
It hurt like hell, probably the most pain I've ever been in my life that hasn't killed me.
That didn't mean I was just going to lay down and die though, someone was counting on me after all.
Then the Meteor Hammer flew towards my chest, and while it wasn't as fast as before it still slammed me back into the wall. My head colliding with the earth as I heard another scream of panic from my companion.
. . . I hope Belle makes it out alright.
My vision turned blurry, as tears filled my eyes and my consciousness dwindled rapidly.
". . . Why are you so nice to me?" As I leaned against the railing of the palace my eyes slowly turned towards the young girl and I couldn't help but frown.
"You deserve better." I couldn't help but admit the blonde girl was attractive, though that was the fledgling divinity running through her forcing that view into my mind. Poor girl, to be cursed with this false beauty.
My wife was better anyways.
"Thank you." I softly patted her on the head. I hoped my son would grow up to be as kind as her, despite how cruel this world could be.
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you against my brother."
She let out a weak sigh, and my hand quivered weakly.
"You did everything you could. In the end we're all slaves to fate aren't we?"
The hand at my side clenched into a fist.
"I won't force my ideals upon you Helen, but that exact thinking is what makes us slaves. The one place we can truly be free is our own minds, or at least thats what I'd like to think."
I knew those words were false in a sad way. So much mental control had permeated my life, from Helen, to Aphrodite, to the countless drugs and elixirs . . . all of them stripped away personhood. Turning so many into mere dolls.
She let out a small chuckle.
"You're a good person Hector, I hope you never lose yourself."
"As do I."
Hector.
Hector of Troy.
Oh.
That . . . that makes sense.
A knife flew towards the Hunter, easily deflected by its thick carapace. My right eye despite being blurred red could see the fear, hate, and love running through her entire being.
Then it turned to Belle, and for a moment it paused its approach in my direction.
"What are you doing?"
Huh? The voice was familiar, in fact it was the voice of the man I just dreamed of, now echoing through my mind as I lay bleeding out on the cold ground.
"Are you content to watch an unavoidable fate play out before you? Are you forsaking the one you claimed to be your dear companion?"
The meteor hammer began to spin, and I glared at it as though it were a pendulum. I was too weak, what could I even do?
I let out a weak laugh as blood left my throat, it was amusing that when pushed against a wall I was having such thoughts!
My teeth sharpened in a blood grin.
"Was taking her down here a mistake? To have one accompany you in your journey, only to doom you both? Is that your fate?"
"Absolutely not." My friends were counting on me. I wasn't giving up. Not now. Not ever.
I heard the rattling of chains as a pristine emerald fire burst out from my body, the flying meteor hammer being redirected from Belle to the Dungeon wall as the Hunter paused and turned to me.
Or more accurately the figure behind me.
"Very well then. Let us make our vows. I am thou, thou art I. Thou who art willing to perform all forms of heroism in the name of fighting against a petrified fate. Call upon my name, and release the monstrosity within your soul! Show to this world, the Dungeon, the very Gods, that we will not stand complacent as the weave turns . . . Instead we fight against it!"
Instantly I felt better, my body rising upwards to my feet, then I widened my stance and the words left my mouth that caused the figure behind me to instantly shatter from the strain.
"Hector! Άθραυστη Τροίαe! (The Unbreakable Troy)"
I felt amazing. Even with Hector unmanifested, the effects of this spell were insane . . . whatever they were, I felt unkillable. I chugged both mind potions, my brain felt like it was on fire, but I needed that in order to sustain my current state.
I moved forwards towards the Hunter, and knew this was going to be the most intense fight of my life in an instant.
The Monster clutched its weapon and started spinning while rapidly slamming its hammer into the ground moments where I had just stood, even in my current state it was still faster than me by quite a bit, and I couldn't even get in range.
"Belle, are you alright?" I questioned the currently silent girl as my eyes flicked over to her as she watched in shock at my sudden recovery. She knew what this thing was, so it was probably pretty strong.
"Belle, does this thing have any weaknesses?"
Her jaw dropped, but she steadied herself a moment later as I deflected an incoming attack. The recoil sent my staggering back and I lost plenty of progress, but I was alright.
This new spell was pretty good!
"A-anything you've used against the Dungeon before. It'll have been built to counter that."
That would explain the range, and my sword may be worse off here. There was something I had to test though.
"Agi!" I sent a ball of fire mixed into my evasion, which it promptly ignored as it did practically no damage to the beast.
I smiled at the Hunter after my life.
"Worth a shot right?" However my smiling face fell a moment later, this guy tried to kill Belle. Now wasn't the time for quips. Now was the time for action.
Though what could I do? I didn't ask that in a self doubting way, instead it was more inquisitive. If this creature was designed to defeat me, its maker was doing a good job! I didn't have a good way to close the gap, and I was slowly running out of Mana.
I had a feeling that once I was out of juice, both Belle and myself would die unless I could wrap up the fight. My heart slammed in my chest, and I frowned at the war drums slamming in my ears.
My heart was pounding again, and again, the current flow of the fight was a stalemate that I would slowly lose.
I needed something to change, or it was over.
Then a lone knife flew into the throat of the hulking beast in front of me. It wasn't enough to deal any damage, but the momentary distraction allowed me to gain a lot of ground.
That's right. This wasn't like the countless other fights I'd been in over the years. This wasn't a tournament style one on one. My friends could interfere!
I blitzed forward, Heir flying forwards in my grasp, and straight towards the wrist of the creature. If this strike could even damage its wrist, then this fight was as good as over.
It would be our victory.
Then the blade bounced off, causing my face to fall as I did from the air.
Time seemed to slow down, the meteor hammer flew towards me. Its wrist was completely undamaged. Even a drop of blood and I could dodge this attack, but without even the slightest indent in its armor . . .
The weapon drew closer and I considered my options, then it dawned upon me.
"Agi." I shot it straight down causing me to rocket higher in the air, far above the attack, I rotated my body in the air, my legs softly landing against the roof of the Dungeon.
The bird's eye view of the battle was awe inspiring.
The massive creature staring up at me with its faceless gaze, Belle's look of surprise and relief at my safety, the blood and bone fragments scattered around the room.
This was a battlefield. A battlefield I was still a part of.
A battlefield where I foresaw defeat. A defeat where my defensive back foot would inevitably be over turned.
This opponent was designed so that I could not play to my strengths. It was quite troublesome.
Though . . . Foresaw? That's related to fate isn't it? Fate is bullshit! I grinned, and I bounded off the ceiling and back to Belle's side.
I let out a heavy breath, I could hear the war drums again. This always happened when I was on the cusp of awakening, but this time was different.
It was odd. They grew louder and louder, my heart pounded in my chest, and I nearly fell to a knee as my back burned.
Then the switch was flipped.
An imaginary fire bursting from my back and through my soul.
My wrist twitched slightly near my sword, and the world seemed to expand outwards as I took in every detail.
My muscles ignited, my heart stirred, and I could hear the pounding fade away in favor of silence.
As though they had grown so loud they had eclipsed themselves and disappeared.
"Hey Belle. Thanks for having my back."
Her eyes flicked over to me in a brief moment of shock, only to go even deeper over the edge as she realized I was laughing.
"Isn't this awesome? Two companions against all odds, let's kick this guy's ass!"
Then I charged back into the fray, whatever limit was holding me back before was ripped to shreds.
Even if I couldn't see a path where we could win, that didn't mean I was going to stop.
After all, that just meant I had to chart it myself!