Bell and the Minotaur lunged forward without a shred of hesitation the moment they seized their heroic weapons. Their speed eclipsed everything that had come before; in a heartbeat, the distance between them vanished entirely.
They moved like reflections in a mirror, striking in perfect unison. Since the Minotaur relied on raw, improvised combat instincts, Bell's swordsmanship appeared equally unrefined. Though designed as a one-handed sword, the crimson cursed blade had been forged specifically for Al when he was Level 6. Consequently, the weapon felt incredibly heavy in Bell's grip. To compensate for his lack of finesse, he poured raw strength into his swings, resulting in a distorted and violent flurry of strikes.
"How clumsy..."
"But he is pressing him."
Despite the lack of grace, Bell's movements matched and eventually overtook the Minotaur's speed. His sheer momentum overwhelmed the beast, even though it had also brandished a new weapon.
"────Dammit!!"
A faint, phosphorescent glow flickered on Bell Cranel's back—the back where the sacred Hieroglyphs were etched. This light had not been seen for four long years.
Al's brief words and the gift he offered during their first reunion in years acted as the spark that reignited the dormant embers in Bell's chest. It was a sensation Bell had not yet fully grasped, but a true flame had settled deep within his heart. Using that fire as fuel, Bell's strength began to surge uncontrollably.
His laconic brother, who had always stood as his protector, had not merely given him a sword; he had armed the Minotaur as well. This act signaled that Al no longer viewed him as a child in need of shielding. He had recognized him as a warrior capable of a fair fight. Bell felt the desperate need to prove his worth and live up to his brother's expectations. He had finally earned the acknowledgment of the one he had always looked up to, and that recognition provided the final push he needed.
───── The Minotaur could never fathom the fire raging within Bell Cranel's soul.
Bell transformed into a crimson hurricane. The Minotaur, trapped within its own desperation, fought back despite its mounting wounds, but every attempt was met with crushing blows and blinding speed. The crimson trail of the sword, swinging wildly in every direction, soon dripped with the Minotaur's blood. As the tide of battle shifted, the beast began to falter. Bell seized the opening, transforming his defense into a relentless assault and raining down one-sided strikes without allowing his foe a moment to breathe.
Holding the "Heroic" weapon he had always admired, the boy's strength could only grow alongside his heroic longing. His tireless attack forced the Minotaur to retreat step by step. Wounds multiplied across its hide, and as its blood splattered the floor, its movements grew sluggish and heavy.
Finally, the Minotaur collapsed to its knees, unable to withstand the ferocity of the assault. As Bell prepared to deliver a merciless finishing blow, a massive fist suddenly entered his peripheral vision. He dodged gracefully, but the sudden shift broke his balance, creating a fatal opening. The Minotaur seized this brief moment of stillness and lunged forward with a desperate cry, pouring every ounce of its remaining strength into the strike.
The beast, which had been trembling at Bell's transformation, let out a roar. Bell remained composed, evading the attack and immediately transitioning into a counter-offensive. He lunged for the monster's exposed belly the moment its strike landed, but the Minotaur sensed the danger at the last second and twisted its body, narrowly avoiding a lethal wound.
Still, it could not escape completely; a torrent of blood erupted from its midsection. As the Minotaur shrieked in agony, Bell continued his pursuit without mercy. He prepared a horizontal cleave, but the Minotaur, wielding the great black sword forged from the remains of the world's strongest monsters, roared with the majesty of a legendary beast.
"Bumoo-oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!"
"Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!"
Their cries intertwined, and their gazes locked with piercing intensity. The Minotaur struck first, hoisting its greatsword and bringing it down with monumental force. In response, Bell charged forward, initiating his own attack. Despite its shock at this decision, the Minotaur poured all its power into the blow to intercept him.
The blades met with a deafening explosion. The Minotaur tried to use the recoil to gain distance, but Bell was faster; he pierced through the beast's defense, and their blades clashed again. This time, the battle shifted from raw power to an exchange of techniques. Each fought with everything they had to bring the other down. Their features twisted—it was impossible to tell if it was from exhaustion or the sheer agony of the struggle.
The stalemate continued as they traded blows. Amidst the accelerating pace of the combat, Bell began to exert more pressure. This was no longer just a test of strength; his superior skill was beginning to show. The meeting of the black and crimson blades created a continuous metallic ring through dozens of successive strikes. Bell's blade tore through the thick hide, while the Minotaur's greatsword whipped through the air, leaving red gashes on Bell's skin. Despite their injuries, neither warrior's spirit flickered.
In the heart of this chaos, the balance finally broke. Bell's sharp thrust pierced the Minotaur's shoulder, sending blood spraying from the wound. Feeling the weight of the successful strike, Bell launched a crushing offensive, shredding the beast's form with a barrage of blows. The Minotaur's massive frame swayed under the weight of the onslaught.
Their roars echoed through the Dungeon.
Bete, Tiona, Tione, Finn, Ais—who was cradling the small PALLUM girl—and Al watched in silence. They stood as close as possible to the spectacle. It was a collision of unyielding wills. In this true battle between a boy and a monster, there was no room for hesitation or leniency. Words were unnecessary; the guttural roars were their only language. No one could look away.
"..... Argonaut."
It was the ancient myth of heroes. The tale woven by a foolish clown who aspired to be a hero. It was the story of the beginning—the story the boy had always admired. It was the tale of a boy named Bell Cranel, who clung to his ambition and challenged fate itself. The story of the boy who faced malice and destiny, persisting to prove his will. The first hero who defeated the thunder bull at the end of his adventure and became the vessel that carried many heroes.
"I used to love that fairytale so much..."
As Tiona watched, she whispered these words, seeing the striking resemblance between the myth and Bell's current struggle. A new page of a heroic epic was being written before their eyes. Bell and the Minotaur had both reached their absolute limits. They were exhausted, their bodies covered in wounds, yet the flame of battle refused to die. They moved for victory alone.
This was the scene the gods had watched since ancient times—a chapter of the legends found everywhere. A life-or-death struggle where every offensive and defensive move drained their remaining strength. The crimson cursed sword and the black greatsword collided repeatedly, sending sparks flying. Crimson flashes from Bell's sword met the sweeping arcs of the Minotaur's blade.
Neither yielded an inch. Finally, the moment of decision arrived. Bell struck with all his might, his blade piercing the Minotaur's belly and tearing through its muscular armor.
"Huff,huff.....Nfuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!"
Feeling the end draw near due to blood loss, the Minotaur let out a roar of mingled agony and rage. It slammed its left hand—the one not holding the sword—into the floor with devastating force. Using its crushed, misshapen hand as an anchor, it dug its claws into the earth and dropped into a low, four-legged stance.
This was the final charge that Bete and the other veteran adventurers had seen many times from Minotaurs when cornered. But this beast, possessing the intelligence of a warrior and a unique weapon, elevated the move into a masterful "Secret Technique."
Their bloodshot eyes met with murderous intent. Bell took a similar offensive stance. He understood the Minotaur's intent, and the beast understood how Bell would move next. They moved at the exact same moment.
The Minotaur lunged with a powerful black strike, while Bell met it with a heavy diagonal swing of his cursed sword. Bell saw the greatsword that threatened to cleave him in two, and the image of the monster grinning as its lips curled. Bell's raw strength was not enough to stop a blow like a battering ram, but his crimson blade sank deep into the Minotaur's shoulder, slowing its momentum slightly.
"FIREBOLT!!"
Bell did not miss the opening. He drove the crimson blade deeper into the Minotaur's left shoulder and, through the sword itself, channeled the explosive Firebolt magic directly into the beast's body. The thick muscles could not contain the internal explosion; they bulged and burst apart.
"FIREBOLTTTT!!"
Explosive flames erupted from the wound, and the Minotaur screamed. Raging crimson fire spilled from its nose and mouth as its massive body was blasted backward.
"Hah, ghe, gah..... Oooooooooooooooooooooooo!!"
But even that was not enough. Despite its burning innards, the Minotaur roared and tried to crush Bell with its powerful, metallic arms—
Before that impact could happen, Bell's body began to burn!!
This was not magic, but the cursed sword in his hand. Activating the abilities of such a weapon usually required long training, but Bell's intense Longing shattered that rule. The sword's name was Lúthr Lavana (Ruin of the Branch), a first-class cursed blade that rivaled Balmung in ill omen. It granted the wielder extreme offensive power in exchange for a curse that scorched their flesh.
Bell delivered a final blow with every ounce of his strength. The strike carved through the Minotaur's majestic body from shoulder to belly, shattering bone and flesh, followed by a finishing cleave.
"FIREBOLTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
"─────, ───────────!!"
The crimson blade pierced the Minotaur's steel-like hide, tore through the muscle, and lodged firmly in its Magic Stone. Bell cried out as he was showered in the remains of the beast scattered by the final explosion. The bull-warrior vanished completely, leaving only the black greatsword standing in the floor like a gravestone.
In that moment, Bell fell to his knees. His overextended limbs could no longer move. His entire body was covered in severe burns, his skin torn in a gruesome display.
"..... He did it. He won."
"..... Total Mind Down."
"He's... he's unconscious while standing....."
Tione and Tiona trembled as they watched the boy, covered in burns, standing motionless after his final strike. The battle between a simple monster and a simple boy who aspired to be a hero ended with the victory of the one who dared to dream. There was no victory cry, but the boy had certainly climbed a step higher on the ladder of heroism.
No one spoke. Everyone stood in awe of the "Great Feat" they had just witnessed. In that silence, Ais looked toward the back of the unconscious, standing Bell. That back, which had given everything, seemed so small. He had exceeded his limits and defeated a monster far stronger than himself. The "Grace of the Gods" etched on his bloodstained back was visible through his shredded clothes and scorched skin. Since the status was not locked, Ais, who could read the Hieroglyphs, saw that all of Bell's abilities had surpassed S-rank.
Bell Cranel [Level 1]
Strength: SS 1002
Endurance: S 999
Dexterity: SS 1011
Agility: SS 1093
Magic: S 988
"Magic"
[Firebolt] (Rapid-fire, Fire-attribute)
"Skills"
[Longing] ──
A status that had shattered all limits. Unprecedented growth. Ais felt a mixture of admiration and shock. She moved toward the boy but stopped. She remembered that someone else had the right to reach him first. She looked at the young man, Al, who shared her thoughts. He picked up the black greatsword along with Bete and walked slowly toward the boy.
"Dammit... four years and you haven't changed at all. What do I have to do to make you understand?"
A faint, gentle smile touched his face—a look he had never shown Ais or the other members of the Familia. It was a look reminiscent of the one Ais's father used to give her.
Ais returned to the surface with Bete to transport Bell and the young PALLUM girl to the medical ward in the Tower's facilities. Naturally, the task should have fallen to Al, but he had requested it.
"I am no longer necessary in his story.. at least, not right now."
Ais remained in a state of internal conflict following that battle. She had seen a boy chasing the same "Longing" she sought, and how he had smashed through the walls before him. She felt admiration mixed with a tinge of jealousy, especially after witnessing that "Limit Break"—the potential that revealed new heights.
"I too, must become more ──────!!"
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Supplemental Settings
[One-Horned Minotaur]: Its level is estimated at the high end of Level 2. It possesses abilities matching monsters of the deep floors and the intelligence of a warrior. Thanks to OTTAR'S training and being bolstered by magic stones, it became an Enhanced Species far surpassing a normal Minotaur, reaching a strength equivalent to Level 3. The drop item after its defeat is the [Black Horn].
[Bell Cranel]: His strength grew thanks to training with instructors who share his combat style and the presence of three distinct motivations (Longing). Bete was chosen as his trainer due to their similarities: dual-dagger usage, high speed, white hair, fire magic, and the thematic link between Argonaut and Yuri.
[Lúthr Lavana] : The sword used by Bell. A first-class "Cursed Weapon." It massively increases offensive power in exchange for the wielder sustaining burn injuries.
[Balmung]: The sword used by the Minotaur. A first-class greatsword with a black blade (though Al uses it one-handed). It was given to Al by ZEUS via HERMES after he reached Level 6. Forged from the scales of the [One-Eyed Black Dragon], it is particularly effective against dragons and black monsters.
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