Chapter 111 A moment before disaster.

-A few moments Earlier

Jealousy, such an ugly emotion. Thought that may be the case, it is still one of the most prominent emotions a living being has. Be it god or mortal, everyone feels jealousy.

It may be for power, fame, fortune, achievements, or talent. Every single living being could feel jealousy and envy.

Especially so, when you couldn't achieve what you are envious about.

Hermes watched at the top of the cliff as mortals showed just how ugly jealousy is, he watched as Moldo, and his gangs of hudloms surrounded Bell, all while smiling. Jealous of how fast he had climb in level, of his achievements, his talents.

Even going as far as kidnapping a goddess just to get to him. Hermes watched it all, a soft smile on his face, he watched as Moldo beat Bell up, punching and kicking him, while Bell can't do nothing.

It was due to fact that the white haired adventurer couldn't see Moldo, they had agree to a duel, one where the loser will follow whatever the winner demanded, and at the start of the duel, Moldo slashed his sword towards the ground, sending sand towards Bell's eyes.

After the momentary distraction, Moldo vanished from Bell's sight, invisible to the little rookies eyes. Then the beating commenced.

Bell tried to fight back, but to no avail, he couldn't hit what he couldn't see. And it wall all because of a...

"A magic item huh..." Hermes who was watching from afar had observed as Bell was being toyed with by Moldo. Much to the delight of the other adventurers who were with the brute. "Hades healm. A splendid item isn't it... Asfi?" Hermes asked without looking behind him, towards his captain.

"You sure do have some bad likings. Do you have something against Bell Cranel?" Asfi sighed, she did not approve of Hermes action, even though she is her god. Hermes after all had given the item to Moldo, as he wants to see what would Bell do, a sort of test to see of he is indeed worthy for the new era.

"Non of that, I quite like Bell... This is just me showing just how much I like him." Hermes shrugs and answered playfully. "You can even say that this is me showing my love."

Asfi has a disapproving look on her face, he could see Bell's face starting to get swollen as he receive punch after punch from the invisible Moldo.

"Bell is too innocent." Hermes sighed. "He doesn't know enough about how ugly mortals can be... Especially when jealousy in the picture." he then smiled at Asfi. "And because I like him, I'm showing him just that... The ugly side of mortals."

"Love it or hate it, I want him to learn this side as well, for him to grow." a crazed smile momentarily rose from his lips, but he quickly hid it. "Into a hero that is worthy for the new era." he mutters to himself. He then shrugs and the playful smile returns to his face.

"Though I will admit that I do find this entertaining as well... To see if he will snap, or whatever will he do to get out of this pinch."

Asfi closed her eyes, and massaged the bridges of her nose, she then looked back down, seeing that Bell was crawling on the ground, while being kicked by Moldo as he grunted in pain. "What if he becomes broken because of this?"

"Well then, I would know that he isn't worthy for the new era." Hermes just shrugs like it didn't bother him at all. "Oh goody... It looks like the others are here as well." Hermes beams as he saw Welf, and the adventurers of Takamikazuchi familia running towards the group of adventurers with the intention of helping out bell. "Now things are getting more interesting."

A small chuckle escape the lips of the god, amused at what he is seeing. "Honestly... All of them are just so dazzling."

An arrow flew towards the group of adventurer, catching them off guard. "Argh! WHO THE HELL SHOT THOSE!!!" One of them yell angrily as he clutched his shoulder.

He looked at the direction of the arrow, seeing Welf, Ouka, Mikoto, and Chugasa running in their direction, all having a determined face, ready to fight in order to save Bell.

"WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK YOU'RE DOING!!!" Welf roared angrily, clinching his greatsword with two hands, the others following him, brandishing their weapons as well.

"COWARDS!!!" Ouka grimaced, watching the numbers of ruffians that surrounded the white haired adventurer.

Mikoto loaded another set of arrows on her bow, and aimed towards the direction of the brutes.

"Shit! Little rookie's company!" one of the adventurers who are surrounding Bell glared at the incoming help.

"HAHAHA IDIOTS!!! Couldn't they see our numbers?!" another one gloated as he smiled, brandishing his weapons towards Welf and the others.

The two forces charged at one another, all while carrying different motives for the fight. Welf and others are here to save Bell, while the ones with Moldo are stopping them, buying time for Moldo to finish the job.

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As that was happening, Hestia could hear the weapons clashing against each other, she was currently tied up, kidnapped by the other members of Moldo's gang.

"What's happening?! Let me go!" Hestia flailed but to no avail, she was bound tightly, unable to even move an inch.

"Geez... Things are getting exciting up there."

"I know right... Makes me wanna go up there as well."

The two adventurers who were task to guard her, ignored the goddess as she demanded to be released.

"Shall we join them?"

"Sure... She won't be going anywhere anyway. Might as well have some fun."

The two ignored the insistent yelling of Hestia, as they chuckled away, moving towards the fight that was happening.

Hestia, now alone, could only stare at the ground, feeling useless, as she was kidnapped by those adventurers, no doubt to get through Bell. She remembered Heracles' words, how she would be useless inside the dungeon, and that she should just leave this to the others.

And right now she was even more than useless, she became bait for her child Bell.

"Idiot." She mutters to herself, she couldn't help but think back. 'If I just stayed back, non of this would have had happen.' she thought as tears filled her eyes.

She suddenly heard a sound coming from behind, she hurriedly snapped her attention, focusing on the sound. She look to her left and right, trying to see where it came from, and then she spot a white rabit monster, an Almiraj.

She suddenly felt fear, for monsters, deities such as herself are something they would gobble up due to their divinity, such to a point that a monster would go crazy whenever it spots a god.

She started to freak out, only to hear the monster speak. "Will you shut up. They might come back here." her eyes rounded in confusion as she heard a familiar voice.

"Your wound is mine. My wound is mine

Echoing message of midnight. Cinder ella." the monster chanted, as a soft light shine from it's body, transforming into Lili, she had used her magic to blend with the environment, using it to disguise as a monster.

"Supporter?.. H-how did you find m-"

"I used my clenthrope sense of smell of course." Lili answered, shushing Hestia before she could make some more noise. "It thanks in no part because of the perfume you wasted your money on."

She then proceeded to cut the ropes that binded Hestia, setting the goddess free.

"T-thank you." Hestia felt awkward, she really didn't get along well with Lili, mainly due to being jealous of her and Bell.

*Clang!* *clang!*

The sound of the weapons clashing cut their reunion off, the two of them looked up to where the fighting is happening.

"Save it for later, we must get you out of here." Lili urged her to move, on which she complied rather quickly.

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Back at the fighting, Welf and the others are starting to get overpowered by the adventurers with Moldo, they are simply to many of them.

"Shit! We can't reach Bell! It will be too late at this point!" Welf grimaced. He was starting to get tired due to how many the opponent are.

He then heard two sets of footsteps coming from behind, he quickly turned due to instincts, but was still a tad bit short. He wasn't that adapt at combat since his main occupation is a blacksmith.

The two adventurers task with guarding Hestia pounced towards Welf, he did his best to dodged a dagger coming his way, but it still grazed him, cutting the package he has on his back, sending it down towards the forest below.

He was also caught off balance falling to his ass. He looked up, only to see a sword coming down his face.

But before it can reach him, the attacker was sent flying to the air, he looked to the side to find Denki, starting at Moldo's gang coldly. "You never learn, do you?" he dashed forwards, and in quick succession, masterfully incapacitated 4 adventurers from Moldo's.

Doing so caught the attention of the others, they all looked at Denki and gulped. Especially since besides him are the other members of Heracles familia as well as Ryuu Lion. Who by now had beaten multiple adventurers who sided with Moldo.

They grimaced, they could tell, their numbers would mean nothing with Denki and the others here.

"B-Boss! We need to get out of here!" one of the adventurers looked back at the fight between Bell, and the invisible Moldo. He urged that they should make a run for it now.

"Hold them! I'm gonna finish this one off!" Moldo spat angrily, he then rushed towards Bell and slashed his sword at his neck.

But to his shock, Bell moved at the last second, dodging his blow... Like he could see him.

'So... It's like this huh?' Bell thought to himself, for months now, he had been pestering Denki to teach him the mana dome technique, and the young samurai, wanting to pass along the teaching of Toga, complied.

Although Bell had a hard time doing the technique, at this moment, he pushed himself to the limit. His mind play out everything Denki thought him.

"Remember Bell, you don't have to force your mana out, if you do you might suffer from mind zero. Send it in pulse, and go from there.... And don't start at a large area, start small, maybe one and a half your reach, and as you get the hang of it, extend it bit by bit." a smile formed on Bell's lips, he finally did it, it was small and pathetic compared to Denki, but he did it nonetheless. His very own mana dome.

Following Denki's advice, Bell's mana dome was like a pulse, like sonar of some sort, it was not smooth, nor large enough to be use effectively just yet. But at this moment. It was enough.

He ducked another blow from the invisible Moldo, his sword grazing his cheeks, a line of crimson red formed, but he paid it no mind. His body was rejuvenated due to the excitement of performing the technique for the first time.

Moldo became increasingly frustrated due to this. 'can the fucker see me? No, he couldn't! That god said that this magic item works flawlessly!' his slash became more wild and rough, but the next moment, Bell's daggers blocked his sword in a X slashed motion of his own.

"What!" Moldo yelp in surprise, and in the next moment, his sword was cut on the tip, due to Bell's superior equipment. That made him off balance, and Bell took advantage of it.

The white haired adventurer jumped and raised his knees, hitting Moldo square at the face, knocking him down as Hermes helm fell off his head.

The light bended as it slowly reveled Moldo for everyone to see. An angry scowl on his face as he glared at Bell who was looking down at him. "I'll fucking kill you! You son of a bitch!" he got up and gripped his broken sword tightly, as he charged towards Bell.

Bell prepared himself, gripping his two daggers with a determine face. Just as the two of them were about to colide, a piercing scream sounded at the distance.

"ENOUGH!!!" it was Hestia. But to her dismay, the two ignored her and still went into their fight, she saw Bell, fighting for her life as Moldo slammed his weapon repeatedly towards Bell.

"I said enough!" Hestia couldn't hold it no longer.

*BOOM!!!*

A violent boom made everyone stop, a pressure so strong made everyone felt like something is pushing them down.

Everyone looked at Hestia, seeing a purple glow exuding out her body.

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"Well looks like the fun is over... Hestia just used her godly aura." Hermes who was watching at the cliff sighed. "Just when things was starting to get interesting too..."

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Denki, Welf and the rest who came to help Bell all kneeled respectfully at the goddess. While those who came here to harm Bell all felt fear. This was after all the first time they sensed a godly aura.

They all took a step back, as Hestia, with a serious look on her face, walked forwards. "Children... Lay down your weapon, this fight is over." her voice, carrying a firm order for everyone, was laced with her aura, making everyone follow her without question.

Moldo started to sweat as Hestia inched closer and closer. And as the goddess stod in front of him, he dropped his sword and fell on his knees.

Hestia pulled her godly aura back, seeing that Moldo didn't have any more intention to fight. She then skilled at Bell, who was starting at her apologeticly.

"I'm sorry goddess..." Bell looked down, ashamed for the mess he think he caused. He opened his mouth more to explain, but the next thing he knew, Hestia jumped in to hug her.

"No... It should be me who should be sorry. I shouldn't have to make you go through all of that." Hestia snugged her face in Bell's chest, feeling guilty, she was the reason Bell was in this mess, if she didn't get captured non of this would have happen.

Bell silently smiled and pat her head, as the others who came to help Bell looked at the scene warmly.

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"Well so much for that." Hermes shrugged, he didn't get the answer he wanted, he still didn't know if Bell is worthy for the new era. He got up from the spot he was setting in and wiped the dirt off his butt. "Let's go Asfi." he called to his captain.

But Asfi wasn't listening, her focus was on the ceiling of the 18th floor, she felt something was off.

"Asfi?" Hermes asked again, he walked closer towards her child and captain, but paused when he felt the ground shaking. He too looked up at the ceiling. "Oho... What's this?" a playful smile rose up on his lips.

"Lord Hermes, you should retreat from here." Asfi urged Hermes to move back, but the god waved him off.

"And miss this? No way!"

*ROARRRR!!!*

A loud roar echoed all throughout the 18th floor safe zone, cracked started to appear on the ceiling.

Everyone had their eyes glued to it, unmoving, as the ground continued to shake stronger and stronger. And like a bad joke, the ceiling broke, and everyone saw a monster who shouldn't be at the safe zone falling down from the ceiling.

*BOOM!!!*

It crashed at the middle of the safe zone, sending debris all over, every adventurer on the 18th floor held their breath. As the monster slowly got up to it's feet.

Then they saw it, the Goliath rex... But something is different from the one they are used to at the 17th floor. Instead of the grey skin, this one has black. Like obsidian.

And another thing they could all tell. It was stronger than the one on the 17th floor boss room.

It was the monster created by the dungeon to kill the two godly presence it felt from the 18th floor.

The black Goliath scanned everyone in the safe zone, and when it spotted Hestia, and Hermes. It let out a mighty roar, sending everyone in panic.

*ROAR!!!*

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Chapter 111 is now complete. How are you all enjoying the story so far?

I really don't get how Bell manage to dodged Moldo's blow even though he's completely invisible in the show, so I made some changes to address how he achieve the feat. It is still a bit "Plot armory" I know. But at least with this, there's a how.

By the way, sorry for the delay yet again.

Please leave a comment, review, and feedback to help me improve this fanfic. Every little thing helps me understand your preferences and will contribute to writing a better fanfic for you all to enjoy.

Thank you for following this fanfic. I hope you're enjoying it.

Have a good day, everyone. Love y'all.