*RIEEEEEEEK*
The horde of goblins screeched as they see their two prey in front of them, ready to pounce and assault the intruders.
Aurelius seeing this, put up his shield to guard him and Bell from the upcoming onslaught.
"Kid get behind me!" The titan says as the rabbit heeded his words.
*RIEEEEEEEK*
The goblins scream as they charge towards the two, vigorously wanting to rip them apart with their clubs in hand.
As one of them made contact with the shield, a loud iron clang noise was heard echoing through the area as the first goblin hits its target.
*CLANG~~*
The goblin is then knocked back by a little as a result from force that it lets loose.
Aurelius on the other hand did not move an inch after the collision. The reason being that he has the strength equivalent to that of four goblins combined after receiving his falna.
So, a single goblin is nothing but a walk in the park for him.
However, after the hit, the other 11 goblins rushed in to attack the titan
*CLANG~~*
*CLING~*
*CLANG~~*
*CLANG~~*
*CLING~*
*CLING~*
*CLANG~~*
Bit by bit, the titan is being pushed back upon the continuous strikes of the greenbits. The attack wasn't damaging by much upon the shield that the titan holds with vigor might. The titan simply loose its footing upon the ground below.
Then suddenly, one of the goblins, precisely the one that was knocked back, looked beyond the events that is currently happening.
What lies beyond is a rabbit, as if petrified on what to do.
With this open opportunity, the goblin locks it self upon its target, seeing the rabbit as an easier prey.
The goblin then dash itself towards the white haired.
However, the titan did not let its actions leave his sight.
"Oh no you don't!" Aurelius shouts.
"Hmph!" Aurelius pushed the onslaught of goblins with full force, making them flew and scatter a bit of distance.
As the goblin, the one who sets its sights on the white rabbit, almost passed the titan, it was then hailed to a stop as it feels something humongous grabbing its head.
*GRAB*
*SQUEEZE*
As it turns out, its attempts on passing the titan and pounce on the petrified rabbit failed as the titan grabs hold on to the little greenbits' head.
The titan then readjusts his hold, grabbing its face and lifted the little gremlin high in the air.
The titan then took an inhale breath.
*INHALE*
After doing so, he slammed the goblin as hard as he could, heads first, onto the ground.
"HUP!"
*SLAM*
As the goblin hits the ground, cracking noises was heard upon its contact, probably the shattering of its skull.
The titan then lets go of its face as the goblin was inches away from death.
*RI-E....EK*
The goblin then utters its final words and turned to dust as a purple crystal was dropped from the now non-existing corpse.
The other goblins, seeing one of its comrades being slammed to death, are all at a stand still. Fearing the titan in front of them.
"KID!" Aurelius shouts.
"?!" Bell, after being petrified upon the events that happened, awoken from his stupor.
"FOCUS! Hesitation would only lead you to death!" Aurelius spoke, stilling resolve upon the little rabbit.
"Y-yes!" Bell said, still with hesitation in its posture.
The titan then took a glance at the shaking rabbit behind and looked in front once more.
"Look kid, I know it's overwhelming, but, this is how it is in the dungeon." Aurelius said.
"We're in the territory of our enemy now. A slight mishap would lead to a domino effect, effectively spelling out our deaths." Aurelius said once more.
"Besides, this is not how a hero acts is it?" The titan then glance back once more towards the rabbit, planting on his face a smug smile as if mocking the person behind him.
Bell hearing this started to calm his senses. Inhaling his breath and exhaling it.
*INHALE*
*EXHALE*
Now with a renewed resolve, Bell look upon the remaining greenbits with determination.
"Yeah! Understood!" Bell said.
"Good. Now here's the plan. I will use my magic to lure all of them onto me. While they're dead focus on me, you attack them. Got it?" Aurelius ask as he told his plan.
"Hnh!" Bell nodded.
"Okay! Let's get this slaughter party on the road!"
The titan then uphold his shield as he chant his magic.
"[TAUNT]"
A golden wave then envelopes a large portion of the area that their in. The goblins, now eyes glowing gold in color signaling that the magic has worked, attacked the titan with vigorous intent.
*CLANG~~*
*CLING~*
*CLANG~~*
*CLANG~~*
*CLING~*
*CLING~*
*CLANG~~*
The titan holding of the horde of violent greenbits, shouts towards the rabbit behind him.
"NOW BELL! FINISIH THEM OFF!" Aurelius said shouting.
Bell then ran towards the goblins and attacked them by their vital spots. Considering that the goblins does not care about anything else other than taking down the titan, Bell had an easy time killing them by their throat one by one.
*STAB*
*SLASH*
*SLASH*
*STAB*
*STAB*
*SLASH*
As the last Goblin fell, so too the battle ended.
They have emerge victorious upon their first battle.
"Nice job kid!" Aurelius said proudly as he raise a fist for a fist bump.
Bell then replied with a fist bump of their own.
__________________________
After some time continuing to go through the first floor, slaying any monster in their path, picking up their dropped monster core, they went ahead and move deeper below.
The second level of the dungeon.
As they reached the floor, they stumbled upon a bigger area than the first floor has to offer. Green light seemingly illuminating the place with a calm yet eerie presence.
"Woah, this place is much bigger than the first floor!" Bell exclaimed in awe upon the dungeons' structure of naturality.
"Uh huh and it posses a greater deal of monsters spawning from anywhere on these walls."
"Possibly encountering the kobolds as well." Aurelius said.
Kobolds. They are monsters that are human like shape with the head of a wolf. Their bodies a little bigger than that of goblins and posses greater strength as well.
Aurelius could possibly take three simultaneously at this point in time.
"Better have your guard up kid. I remind you once more that this no longer the first floor." Aurelius said to make the rabbit realize of their situation.
"Understood!" Bell said.
They continue to walk through the level as they stood ready upon any arrival of monsters, specifically kobolds.
Suddenly they heard multiple footsteps coming their way. Each steps louder then before.
*STEPPING NOISES INTENSIFIES*
They both looked towards the source of the sound in question.
What they saw are a bunch of kobolds.
*GRRRRRRR*
"Kobolds huh?" Bell said as he saw the goblins ready to attack.
"Yeah. There's a bunch of them as well" Said Aurelius.
The kobolds then starts charging towards the two. Their steps raging like a storm.
"Bell! I'll take half and you also take half. If you can't beat them all, scream! I'll use my magic to bring them towards me. Then, you attack while they're occupied." Said Aurelius creating a plan on the spot.
"Alright!" Bell accepts.
The two of them then clashed with the kobolds with two of them have different ways on eliminating their enemies.
Aurelius, as a brute he is, took on the full force of the kobolds head on, using his shields as protection while beating them senseless with his fist.
Bell on the other is as quick as a rabbit. Dodging and weaving strikes of his enemies while immediately counters with his own precise strikes with his weapon.
All in all, it was a fierce battle. In the end, the victors goes to both the titan and the rabbit.
*phewww* "That was one crazy fight we have there." Bell said as he let out his breath in slight exhaustion.
"Breaking a sweat already kid? I'm still raring to go adventure more into this floor!" Aurelius said excited on the prospect on becoming stronger.
"Not even close mister!" Bell said.
They then continue on exploring more of the floor. Well saying that they're exploring is quite exaggerating. What they are doing now is simply grinding their combat skills with how competitive they've become throughout their exploration.
After some time, they've reached a passage way that leads deeper in the dungeon.
Enter third level of the dungeon.
When they arrived on the floor, They are greeted with the same scenery that the previous level has.
"Well, it looks like we're in the same level." Bell said.
"It does look like it but it's not really." Said Aurelius convincing the rabbit.
"Well one thing for sure, be on a lookout for dungeon lizards. Remember, they can go on walls and attack you by surprise." Aurelius said as to warn the rabbit of the enemy.
"Okay, understood!" Said Bell.
The both of them then sets their sight exploring this floor. Along the way they encountered goblins and kobolds alike. However, they quickly get rid of the monsters every time they encounter them with their team work.
They also almost got caught of guard by the lizards surprise attacking them. In the end, they also make quick work as well with the lizards.
"Well, this is going a bit too easy don't you think mister?" Bell said.
"Yeah." Aurelius said.
'A bit too easy for the third floor.' Thought Aurelius weary upon their situation.
"How about we go back for now and continue on tomorrow kid?" Aurelius ask.
"Yeah sure thing! I bet it's already evening. I haven't eaten anything as well." Bell said.
They were about to head back towards the entrance towards the second floor as suddenly a growl is heard from behind them.
*GRRRAWR*
They then proceeded to look into the direction of the said noise.
What they saw is something should not be in this floor.....or better yet until the tenth floor.
""?!""
From the mere image of its silhouette, slowly emerging from the shadow, manifest it self a big monster.
"M-Mister, isn't that-"
"Yeah.....that's an orc." Aurelius said revealing the identity of the monster.
*RAAAAHHHHH*
They both witnessed the orc, standing not to far from the both of them. Seemingly having a red aura surrounding it.
"W-What's an orc doing here?!" Bell ask, terrified from the sudden appearance.
"Beats me! Probably some stupid adventurers, who led it here by it following, killed by it without them knowing." Aurelius stated his theory.
As Aurelius said that, the orc then charges towards them. Every step booming with power.
The orc went straight towards Bell.
As the orc was about to hit bell, Aurelius pushed Bell away and be its target in his stead, quickly bringing up his shield.
*RAAAAHHHH*
The Orc then slam his hand onto the shield with incredible power.
*BANG*
The punch made impact with his shield. However, instead of the usual unfazed reaction by him, he was send flying upon its impact.
"MISTER!" Bell shouts upon witnessing his friend being struck away.
*THUD*
Aurelius landed with a loud crash, unmoving from his spot.
Bell seeing this is terrified. seeing the orc is now in front of him couldn't help but to despair.
With hope lost and fighting spirit diminished, Bell was ready to accept death.
"I'm sorry Lady Hestia....it seems like we're unable to go back home today." As bell said, accepting his fate.
However, before the orc sends a final blow towards the rabbit, it was suddenly frozen in place.
"Huh?" Bell utter, confused.
As Bell looked at the orc, its head, eyes golden, started to turn towards a different direction. Though seemingly against its will.
Bell then looked towards the source of it. There he sees the titan raise his palm as he chant his magic, albeit painfully.
"[T-TAUNT]" Aurelius said, with a trickle of blood running down his mouth.
The orc then slowly went towards Aurelius against its will. It was fighting off the magic that has been casted upon it but fall short, not being able to break the magics authority.
"B-BELL! ATTACK IT N-NOW!" Aurelius shouts with his might.
Bell still terrified, hesitatingly stands up. Although, still not having the courage to attack the orc.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING KID! ATTACK IT OR WE WILL ALL DIE HERE!" Aurelius roars as to wake up Bell from its stupor.
However to no avail.
"MAN UP BRAT! Do you think being a hero is about going into situations that favors you?! Do you think that Lady Hestia will be happy on our departure?! Do you honestly think that your grandpa would be proud of you if you stand there like a coward?!....."
Aurelius said as the orc coming closer towards him.
".....DO YOU HONESTLY THINK YOU CAN BECOME A HERO?!" Aurelius shouts as to prove a point.
Bell then snapped.
*INHALE*
*EXHALE*
Bell, now seemingly relaxed, pounce on the orc with vigor purpose.
"RAAAGGGHHHH"
Bell scream as he stabbed the orcs neck
*GRAAAAAAWRRRRR*
The orc scream in pain upon the knife pierced its skin.
"RAAAAGGGHHH"
Bell, unrelenting, kept on stabbing the around the same area, resisting the budge from the orc.
While this is happening, Aurelius stood up, albeit a bit in pain, started to have better control upon this situation.
However, the orcs' eyes then returned to its normal red color.
"SHIT!"
It has seemed like the orc has finally broke out of his control.
The orc then grabbed bell from its shoulder and then threw him in front of himself, while the knife went further from him.
As bell was on the floor, the orc was shaking its head, as if to try and recover from the magic that the titan use.
After doing so, he spotted Bell in front of itself and decided to give him a final blow with its fist.
As orcs' fist closing on the lying rabbit, Bell closed his eyes preparing for his fateful end.
However....
*STAB*
....
it didn't came.
"....." Bell silent slowly open his eyes.
What he saw was a big man, in front of the orc, stabbing it under his chin.
*GRA-A....AA*
apparently, the knife that bell lost flew off and landed near Aurelius' location.
The orc then fell down on the ground, with its last breath almost depleted.
*GR....AHHHhhh*
The orcs' body went limp as it turned into dust. Leaving only its core.
"Haaahhh" Aurelius exhale as he fall on one knee.
*sigh* "Are you okay kid?" Aurelius said as he looked towards the boy.
"....."
Looking at the silent boy, he once more spoke.
"I'll take that as a yes then." Aurelius said as he proceeds to stand up.
However, out of nowhere, bell ask a question.
"....why did you take a risk like that?"
"?" Aurelius looking confuse.
"What do you mean?" Aurelius ask.
"I mean what I said!....why? You do know that if you failed your stunt there, you would die first...." Bell said solemnly.
"....and I would've taken that opportunity to ran away out of fear."
"So WHY?!"
Bell asked, enraged upon the reckless act of his friend here.
"Pfft, HAHAHAHAHA!" Aurelius laughed haughtily.
"Isn't it obvious? I wanted to save you brat. I don't want to let myself see a teenager die now." Aurelius said with a big, prideful smile.
"Hey, enough about this. How about we go back home now eh?" Aurelius said.
"..."
"Yeah, let's go home mister." Bell said smiling.
________________________________
Upon arriving home, Hestia was livid upon seeing her children in a battered and bruised state.
"DIDN'T I TELL YOU TO STAY SAFE IN THE DUNGEON BOTH OF YOU?!" Hestia says, a tone both a mixture of anger and worry.
"Do you know how worried I am as your goddess here?!" Hestia then bickered once more.
"We promise that we won't be too reckless after this." Aurelius said, head low to show shame towards himself.
"Hm Hm" Bell nodded, also head low.
*sigh* "sheesh. I wonder this is how she feels when she has her first children in her familia." Hestia mutters a bit of curiosity upon her friend, Haphaestus', first hardships.
"Well it's in the past now. I'm truly thankful that you both are safe and sound." Hestia said, genuinely relieved upon her childrens' return.
"Now how about we get inside and rest? You both deserve it." Hestia said as she led the two inside the church.
They then slumped down on the sofa, resting from the exhaustion of the day.
*phewwww* "I am beat!" Aurelius said.
"Well you would be less tired if you were to take it slow first." Said Hestia as she rolled her eyes upon her giant childs' remarks.
"Anything can happen in a dungeon goddess. I personally want to take more risk than not." Aurelius said, ignoring the words of her goddess.
"There you go again thinking recklessly Aurelius." Hestia said.
"But you should've seen how cool he was in the dungeon goddess!" Bell exclaim excitingly.
"Is that so?" Hestia said smile with an eyebrow raised.
"Hehehe, thanks kid. Appreciate it." Aurelius said. A smile and a thumbs up to go along with it.
"Well, whatever it is, you both deserve a good rest. Besides...." Hestia said as she proceeds to take something out of a plastic bag.
*DUN-DUDUN*
The Item that has been brought out of her bag was non other than the divine, holy potato croquettes.
"Let us feast good upon your first successful dungeon dive!" Said Hestia triumphantly.
They then eat their fill, considering that Hestia brought many home, the both ate like no tomorrow.
"Haaaahhh, Absolutely full!" Aurelius said.
Bell has been seen with a bloated belly.
"HAHAHA, enjoy it to your fullest my dear children." Hestia said, laughing proudly.
"Alrighty, let us move onto our next session shall we?" Hestia announce.
"What is it lady Hestia?" Bell asked.
"Well updating your status of course!" Hestia said.
"Oooh! Yeah that's good idea." Said Bell.
They both then proceeded to strip their shirts as bell was the first one have its status updated.
The process went like normal.
However, Hestia noticed that there is something on bells updated status.
'hmm....' thought Hestia.
Then Hestia proceeded to paste the contents from bells falna onto a paper.
"Here you go!" Hestia said as she gives the status paper to Bell.
"Hmm your stats have gone up a good amount bell! Congratulations!" Hestia said.
Bell then looks onto the contents of the paper.
________________________
BELL CRANEL
LVL 1
STR > 0 ---> 12
END > 0 ---> 23
DEX > 0 ---> 70
AGI > 0 ---> 67
MAG > 0 ---> 0
MAGIC:
SKILL:
________________________
"Woah! Awesome! it went up that much?!" bell said excitingly.
"Yup, be proud Bell!" Hestia said.
"Okay it's your turn now Aurelius!" Hestia said as she prompted the giant to come towards her.
Aurelius then proceeds to approach the bed and front down in it.
As per usual, Hestia did the ritual.
However this time, Hestia surprised on what she saw.
"Wow, a new skill?!" Hestia said.
"Hmm? really?" Bell ask as he look towards the goddess.
"Yup, and its a pretty strong one too!" Hestia answered with excitement.
After the status update, Hestia then copy paste the contents onto a piece of paper. She then gives it towards her giant child.
"Impressive Aurelius! You are getting stronger day by day quickly!" Hestia said proudly.
Aurelius then looked towards the status paper.
________________________
AURELIUS
LVL 1
STR > 0 ---> 152
END > 0 ---> 142
DEX > 0 ----> 39
AGI > 0 ---> 31
MAG > 0 ---> 52
MAGIC:
-TAUNT
SKILL:
-VIRTRUS TRANCENDENS
-IUSIURANDUM GOLIATHIS
________________________
"Nice." Aurelius said, contempt with his progress.
"What does it do?" Aurelius ask, curious upon his new skill
"It is a skill that allows you to grow stronger quicker as long as your feelings or desire to gain strength and becoming stronger is there." Hestia said.
"Oh! that's a nice skill!" Aurelius said happy with his new skill.
'It's just like bells' skill, but it relies on the desire to get stronger huh? That's useful! Considering that I crave strength right now, this skill is easy to manipulate.' Aurelius thought.
Hestia then proceeds to speak after Aurelius' inspection on his status.
"All I have to say is, congratulations you two! and welcome home safely!" Hestia said with a smile.
________________________
After a bit of time, they tidy up the mess upon the little celebration they threw.
Bell, having to eat the most out of the celebration, already deep into sleep on the bed.
"Zzzz" "Snore!" "Zzzz" Bell snored loudly, probably the best sleep he ever has.
Aurelius however was still up, sitting on the sofa blankly staring.
"Hmm? you're not asleep yet Aurelius?" Hestia ask, wondering why this child of hers isn't resting yet.
"Huh? Oh, Hello there goddess." Aurelius said surprised upon the sudden appearance of his deity.
"Nah not really. I can't yet. All that eating really got me going still for some reason." Aurelius said.
"Usually giants slumber after their feast you know, hihi." Hestia said, teasing her giant child.
"Well, I'm not a giant in the first place. I'm an overgrown human." Aurelius said, eyes rolled upon her teasing words.
"I know, I know. I was just teasing my child." Hestia said with a smile.
They both then went silent, awkwardly sitting next to each other.
"....Aurelius, I have something to show you. It's about Bells' status." Hestia said.
Aurelius raised an eyebrow towards his goddess.
Hestia then proceeds to stand up and walked towards table lamp beside the bed.
there she proceeds to open the drawer and took Bells recent, todays', status paper.
"C'mon, follow me." Hestia said as Aurelius heeds her words.
Aurelius then followed her out from the room in to the church hall. Then they proceeded to go towards the outside of the church entirely.
After arriving, Aurelius couldn't help but ask.
"Um, Goddess? What's wrong? is there something wrong with bell?" Aurelius ask.
"Well, It didn't show it on the paper because I hid it from both you and Bell earlier." Hestia answered.
"Let me just show you what I'm talking about." Hestia said.
Hestia then put her index finger onto the paper.
More specifically, on the skill section.
*SHIIINNGG*
The paper then glowed at the skill area, revealing words on it.
After a moment, the light dimmed and there lies two words.
"Here you go. Take a look." Said Hestia as she gave Bells' status paper to him.
Upon looking, all the stats are the same. The magic spell area is also empty upon laying eyes on it.
However, the skill area, previously earlier empty, now has words on it.
and it says
[LIARIS FREESE]
'?!' Aurelius thought shocked upon the revelation.
"Well It didn't feel right for me to keep it a secret, so I took this opportunity to tell you personally." Hestia said.
"Do you know what that skill does?" Hestia said.
"Probably." Aurelius said, although he knew fully well what it does.
Hestia then smiled and proceeded to explain.
"Liaris Freese is a skill that allows the user to accelerate its growth as an adventurer, enabling the user to level up more rapidly than others. The effectiveness of Liaris Freese is directly proportional to the intensity and sincerity of the users' feelings. Much like your skill but a little different." Hestia explained.
"Well I don't know if it can surpass a level limit of stats, but I do know this is a powerful skill."
"However, if bell were to know of this, then it would get over his head and do reckless things.....just like how you both came back hurt today." Hestia said with a bitter smile.
"So, promise me that you don't tell this to Bell and always have each other okay?" Hestia leaned in closer to Aurelius, stilling her eyes onto his, awaiting his answer.
"Don't worry. Not only that I'll look after him, I'll make sure that he grows strong along side me goddess." Aurelius said.
'But I do wonder, what did trigger Liaris Freese here? Ais is not present at all...at least, not yet.' Aurelius thought confused upon this sudden skill activation earlier than its canon counterpart.
'Well, whatever. at least Bell can get stronger faster early on now isn't it? so it's a win-win.' Aurelius thought, not caring about how the manifestation of this skill came to be.
Hestia then proceeds to straighten her body.
"That's good to hear my child." Hestia said, smiling widely doing so.
"Now that's out of the way, I have one more thing that I wanted to know." Said Hestia.
"And what is that thing that you wanted to know?" Aurelius ask.
"According to that skill, it says that the user will get exponentially stronger depending on the feelings that the user has towards "something"...." Hestia said, restating the description of Bells' skill.
"...So I wanted to know, what happened in the dungeon that awakened this skill in Bell?" Hestia ask.
"!" Aurelius alerted, shocked upon the intellect that Hestia had shown.
".....Well, I guess you're not the only one keeping secrets huh?" Aurelius ask.
"Hihi, you can think of me as a mother towards you two. A mothers' instinct is always on point." Said Hestia.
*sigh* "Fine then. It's a long story. Where do I begin?...."
Aurelius then proceeded to tell everything that happened in the dungeon today. From the first moment they entered the dungeon until they killed the orc.
"...and that's pretty much it." Aurelius said.
"Hmm I see. So I was correct then." Hestia confirms he theory.
"Eh? What do you mean by you're correct?" Aurelius ask, wanting to know Hestias' understanding.
"Nothing." Hestia said as she went ahead and let out her tongue.
".....and here earlier I had thought we're not keeping secrets anymore..." Said Aurelius with a deadpan face.
"Hihi, don't worry about it! it's not a harmful secret. I swear." Hestia said smiling.
"Well whatever. I'm heading inside now to sleep."
"Goodnight Lady Hestia." Aurelius said as he bid Goodnight sleep towards Hestia.
"Goodnight Aurelius. Sweet dreams." Hestia said.
Aurelius then went inside the church as Hestia watch him doing so.
"....Admiration." Hestia suddenly uttered.
"That's the reason why Bell awoken that skill. It's because he admires you deeply, Aurelius." Said Hestia while watching the now closed door of the church.
Hestia then looked up upon the stars as she smiles looking at them.
________________________
With that, 3 weeks has passed.
====================
New skill:
IUSIURANDUM GOLIATHIS: It allows the user to accelerate its growth exponentioally as an adventurer, enabling the user to level up more rapidly than others. The effectiveness of this skill is directly proportional to the intensity of the desire to gain more strength.