Chapter 105 Bell rescue arc (3)

"Will you explain already Hermes. The reason why you want to help save Bell." The group walked along the dungeon, quickly but steady. Heat a started to open up a conversation with her fellow god who along with her came along inside the dungeon.

It was his idea actually, Hermes wanted to go, but Hestia heard him talking with Asfi, and threaten to whistle-blow if she can't come with them. Her exact words where. "It's only forbidden if they knew right?"

With that said, it was only natural for Hestia to be curious about Hermes' intention. He isn't exactly a god who has a penchant for helping others. There's always a catch when it comes to Hermes.

Hermes looked at Hestia and smiled playfully. "Hey didn't I tell you that already?" He then made himself look regal as he raised his two hands to the side. "It's to help my dear friend-"

"Enough of that!" Hestia cut him off, not buying what he was saying.

Hermes sighed, shaking his head. "I was ask by someone to check on young Bell's progress." Smiling as he looked knowingly towards Hestia.

"Someone?" Hestia stopped walking, she eyed the messenger god, curiosity filled her eyes.

"Well, I didn't just come because someone tell me to check on him..." Hermes also stopped and looked at Hestia, he's patented playful smile in full bloom. "I've an interest in Bell as well... I want to see with my own eyes, Hestia. If he's a worthy one for the new era."

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-17th floor, at the wall of grief

Bell breath heavily as he reached a large opening in the 17th floor. In his arms are the unconscious member of his party, Welf, and Lili.

He paused, looking around, the area was a large open space, with a simi-translucent crystal at the side of the walls. "The wall of grief." He mutters to himself, remembering what Lili told him when she was discussing the strategy of heading towards the 18th floor safe zone.

"The Goliath huh? It should be dead now. If my information is correct, Loki familia dived about a week ago, so they should have killed it already. And it would take a week for the Goliath to respawn again, so we should have plenty of time if we move in haste." Lili's voice echoes in his mind as he prepared to run, the door leading to the 18th floor safe zone glued in his eyes.

As Bell ran with everything he had, he felt the ground shake, as the crystal wall started to crack... The Goliath rex was starting it's revival.

Bell didn't stop running, his eyes saw as the walls crumbled, revealing the face of the Goliath, it's red pupils in dark obsidian eyes started to show in the cracks as it released a violent roar the shook the whole space.

"ARGHHHH!!!" Bell screamed as he pushed himself to move faster, gripping his two unconscious party with all he got, refusing to let them go. His muscle strained at every step he takes, desperately moving towards the exit, towards their salvation, towards the entrance to the 18th floor safe zone.

The monster started to pull itself out of the wall, sending chunks of boulder, hurdling toward Bell. He moved side to side, dodging the large stones, his feet aching at every turn.

*BOOM!!!*

The Goliath rex had fully pulled his body out, fully reviving, it's head turned towards the running Bell, as it slowly stood to it's feet.

Bell didn't look back, his face was laced with desperation, he put everything at the back of his head, his only thought right now is to run, to survive along with his party. "Run! Run! Run! Run!" he kept on repeating those phrase, as if a mantra, thinking that every mention of the word "Run" would make him move faster.

"Run! Run! RUN!!! RUN!!! RUN!!! RUN!!! RUN!!! RUN!!! RUN!!! RUNNNNN!!!" He screamed on the top of his lungs, as he move closer towards the exit, the Goliath moving close to his heels.

The monster raised it's right hand up, clenching it's first with the intention of pummeling Bell.

"RARRHHHHGGGG!!!" It roars as it brought it's fist down on the adventurers.

"RUNNNNNNN!!!" With a loud bellow, Bell jumped forward, putting all of his strength in his legs, he jumped towards the exit, just in time to dodge the mighty fist of the Goliath.

The fist of the monster, only connecting with the entrance as it shook the space with it's force.

Bell lost his balance mid air, he landed on the back of his head as he tumbled down the steep floor, rolling towards the 18th floor safe zone. He closed his eyes, with his will power, he made sure not to let go of the two persons in his hand.

'Lili... Welf... Goddess...' he thought as his body ache with every crash he had.

He landed roughly on the ground, grimacing as he felt his bones shaking from the impact, he felt the sharp blades of grass, caressing his face, as he landed face first on the 18th floor safe zone.

He slowly opened his eyes, seeing the bright light, blinding him momentarily, he tried to look around but his neck was stiff from the tumble, he could only look straight. His vision, slowly becoming blurry as his conscious started to fade.

He spotted a pair of blue boots, standing in front of him. With shakey hands, he extended his right, towards the person. And with a strained voice, he begged. "S-save... My friends... Please..." with those words, he succumbed to his injuries, as his body finally gave out, his mind shutting down, with him falling unconscious.

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-At a village east of Orario.

A young, dark auburn haired boy arrived at the ruins of his once childhood village, a look of nostalgia filled his eyes as he stared around. He remembers running on the field along with his brother as his father tends to their crops.

He took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, filling his lungs with the crisp scent of grass and leaves. He had been running all night, and arrived just barely past noon from Orario to this nameless village.

"I'm home..." He whispers as he took his first step inside the village, heading for the large pillar at the middle, which serves as a monument for all the lives that were lost when this place was attacked.

He could hear the birds singing, as well as the cicadas that were nesting on the trees, the cool summer wind, blowing in his hair, every step he took, memories of the past filled his mind. Why he yearned for strength, why he is determine to be the strongest, everything flood back inside August.

He arrived in front of the large pillar, with a smooth motion, he stab his weapon on the ground, and kneeled in front of the grave, paying respect for all those that passed, including his family. "Papa, Mama, Ludwig, Maya. I'm finally strong enough to keep my promise to you guys..." He said softly, as his mana build up inside his body. The sound of nature all stopped, as his bloodlust encompassed the whole area, the birds stopped singing, the cicadas stopped buzzing, even the air halted, as if the world itself was afraid and stopped moving.

Red lightning starts to flicker all around his body. "With this power... I'll kill every single one of those fucking monsters!" his voice held deep hatred as he remembers that fateful day. "Do watch over me."

With it, he stood-up, feeling refresh after the visit, ready to pave his way towards the new era. He gave one last smile, before heading back towards Orario, the journey would take him half a day, if he moves at his maximum, -This usually takes a caravan of horse drawn carriage 2 and a half days.- This would be his last visit, he would not return to this place again, not until he fulfilled his promise of revenge.

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-18th floor safe zone.

Bell slowly opened his eyes, seeing an unfamiliar ceiling, he could feel that he was lying on a soft cushion.

Suddenly, his memories started to return, his mind automatically going the the last thing he remembers, he was running with everything he has, with his friends in his arms, away from the monster rex. His eyes suddenly widened.

He quickly sat up in panic, his voice hoarse. "Lili! Welf!" he called for his friends. Pain rushed into his head due to his sudden movement, he clasp it, grimacing as the pain slowly subside.

"Are you alright?" A female voice entered his ears, it sounded calm, serine, emotionless even. Bell looked to the side, Seeing Ais, on her knees, tilting her head as she looked at him.

Bell felt a lump forming in his throat, he couldn't say a word, only releasing a wave of weird sound.

"Feeling ok?" Ais asked again, her face moving closer towards Bell.

A small blush formed in the young boy's face. As he moved back shyly. "Miss A-ais... Wh-why are you here?" he stutters as he asked.

"Our familia is returning from our expedition, and we are stopping here on the 18th floor..." Ais answered, her voice still carrying that somewhat emotionless tune.

"18th floor?.." Bell repeated. 'So we made it huh?' he thoughts, as a sense of relief washed over his body. But then, panic took over again, as he quickly stood. "Where are my friends?!" he lost his balance due to moving quickly, slipping on the floors as his strength had not returned to his legs yet.

He feel towards Ais, his face landing snugly on her chest. His face burrying in her soft mound.

He slowly looked up, his face growing redder and redder, as he could feel the blood rushing on it. He jumped back falling on his ass, making weird sounds as he did.

He turned his head to the side, ashamed of what he did, but Ais still have that statue like emotion on her face.

As Bell opened his mouth to apologize, he spot Lili and Welf, lying on their respective cushion, soundly asleep.

"Lili! Welf!" Bell called to them, he wanted to hug them, but stopped mid way, seeing that they are still unconscious. Still the sight of them safe, made the tension inside Bell's body vanished. He let go of a huge sigh of relief, as he began to relax.

"They are fine. Riveria and the others healed them." Ais said which made Bell thankful for what they did. She then lean closer towards him, extending her right hand to touch the bandage on Bell's head. "Your injuries were bad too."

Bell became flustered due to the skin contact, he pulled his face away while stuttering as he speaks. "T-Thank you for saving us! Really, thank you!"

Ais shook her head, as if saying that it was no problem, she then stood up, while keeping her eyes at Bell. "Can you move?"

"Y-yes!" Bell nod, still feeling a bit flustered.

"I'm to inform our captain when you want up, so come with me." Ais extended her hand forward, offering it to Bell. "We don't want to keep him waiting."

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After a short walk, the duo arrived at the main tent of the Loki familia, where Finn, Riveria, and Gareth are all waiting for them.

Finn sat in the middle, as Riveria and Gareth are standing besides him, there eyes moved to the entrance as Ais and Bell entered.

As soon as Bell saw the trio of level 6 adventurers, he quickly kneeled down, and enter a dogeza pose. "T-THANK YOU FOR SAVING US!!!" he said with sincerity and gratitude.

"HAHAHA!!!" a hearty laughed echoes inside the tent, as Gareth was moved by Bell's action. The other two had a warm smile on their faces as well. "You did all that boy, all we did is took you in and heal your wounds. You were the one who traveled from the middle floors all the way here. And I'm impressed! Well done in escaping the floor boss lad!"

"No... I... I guess I was just lucky." Bell couldn't take the credit, he really think that he survived due to luck. "It was because of you guys that my friends and I are safe... Thank you." he bowed again, his head touching the ground.

"I got the situation." Finn smiled at his action, but didn't want to make it a back and forth. He decided to move on to the next topic. "You will be our guests."

"Th-thank you for everything!" Bell once again thanked them, Finn could only scratch his head and laughed awkwardly.

"Well, you and Ais are friends right. If I have left a friend of Ais to die, she'd never forgive me right?" Finn chuckled as he gave a quick glance towards Ais.

Riveria and Gareth chuckled as well, as Ais just nod curtly.

"Actually, some of our comrades got poisoned by a monster's venom." Finn continued, as Bell finally looked up. "Right now, our fastest members are heading up to fetch the antidote. So until the medicine arrives, we plan to stay here."

The pallum then smiled at Bell. "And as our guests, you are welcome to stay with us until then."

Bell was so grateful that he bowed once again, and before he could say thank you once again, Finn stopped him, saying that it was only natural for an adventurer to help each other out.

And with that, their talk was over, with Bell now finding refuge for him and his party within the Loki familia.

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After an eventful day, with Bell talking to rest of Loki familia and giving them his thanks, he went back to the tent provided to him and his party, the 18th floor had now grown dark as night time came, the great thing about this place is that it emulates the time above the surface, mirroring the day and night cycle.

As Bell entered he hears the ruffling of cloth as his two party members started to stir awake. He rushed close, looking at the two of them with grateful eyes.

"W-Where are we?" Welf was the first who woke up, groaning as he did, he spots Bell and asked where they were.

Lili soon followed, starting at Bell and calling for him. "Mr. Bell?"

"Lili! Welf! Are you okay? Do you recognize me?" he asked smiling at the two.

"I'll never forget who you are, mr. Bell." Lili spoke weakly, but she was smiling as she stared at Bell's face.

"Yeah. If I can here lil pip's yammering, it means I'm fine." Welf although feeling weak as well decided to tease Lili as he answered Bell.

Bell smiled at the two, his face lit up as now he was sure that the 3 of them had all made it. "I'm glad... I'm so glad the two of you are ok."

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Chapter 105 is now complete. How are you all enjoying the story so far?

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