Bell had taken to exploring floor eighteen. It truly was a beautiful place. Expansive forests with lakes, ponds and rivers as well as mounds serving as looming mountains, the entire floor was like a natural utopia. The ceiling was entirely crystal stalactites that shone a light blue like the sky, but were beginning to turn into a burnt sunset orange

Bell regraded the crystals for a time

"They change with the day" Bell would've jumped at the sudden sound of someone's voice, but that wouldn't be cool, so he merely acted as though he knew she were there

"What do ya mean?" Bell asked

"The crystals change colour in response to the sky outside" Ais elaborated

"How'd they figure that out?"

"I hear the Zeus and Hera Familia's stood at certain points throughout floors one to eighteen and shouted, like Chinese whispers, what the colour of the crystals were at day, night, dusk and dawn"

Bell laughed "now that's dedication" Bell stopped laughing. Ais was also smiling "why didn't they just get an adventurer to speed run the floors?"

She shrugged "Accuracy I guess"

"So how've things been for you? Have fun on your expedition?" Bell asked, turning to face the blonde

Ais turned to face Bell "I don't think I'm supposed to have fun on expeditions" she responded raising an eyebrow

"Says who?"

"The threat of death"

"Never met the guy"

"It was a metaphor"

Bell deadpanned "oh yeah?"

They were silent for a time, merely content to share each others company

"I thought about what you said" Ais eventually spoke

"I knew you would" Ais looked at Bell surprised "I mean, I just don't get your angle when you say that socks are a show of strength, I say socks are for the weak!"

Ais chopped him on the head. Bell 'yeouch'ed and clutched his cranium. He had small tears in the corners of his eyes as he looked back up to Ais

"What was that for?"

"I wasn't talking about that" she drawled

Bell grinned childishly and stood back up

"Well, what were you talking about?" He asked

"What you said about passion and your... Fighting Spirit" Ais sighed "I don't know how you can say that so confidently out loud"

Bell looked struck "since when does social reputation mean anything to you?"

"There's ruining ones image in the eyes of society, then there's ruining your image in your own eyes. Saying that does both" Bell looked to be on the verge of tears. Ais suddenly felt very guilty "...kidding?" She tried

She blinked and Bell was suddenly back to his cheery self "so what've you been thinking about?"

"Well, I guess you were right... the whole time I'd been an adventurer, I've been on a quest for revenge" Bell looked more serious now "there was no time for friends, joy, laughter and... passion I guess" Ais turned to look at Bell and to his eyes, she looked vulnerable, like she was removing her armour before his eyes. She'd never looked so beautiful "but seeing your strength and the bonds you build and cherish, has shown me that perhaps, I'd been going about things the wrong way. I'd like to... try, at the very least, to emulate your spirit and draw strength from those around you... well me"

Ais turned away from Bell, embarrassed. Bell gently, took her hand in his

"We'll be with you" Bell said kindly

Ais smiled softly. The two stood there, under the golden orange hue of the crystals, standing hand in hand

oOo

Ais and Bell had stood together until the call for dinner. They'd spoke to each other about exploring the floor tomorrow, together, like alone, sorta like a date. Though neither of them would admit that

When Bell returned to camp with Ais, he found Welf and Lili up and at em' as they say

Bell was quick to embrace the pair tightly, surprising the two of them, though they were quick to return the hug

"Mm gad' yur' both 'kay" Bell mumbled into Welf's shoulder, seeing as Lili was too low. Her face was buried in Bells stomach. Ais stopped a distance away and watched the small party

"We're sorry we weren't strong enough to take care of ourselves Bell" Welf responded solemnly

"Not your fault" Bell retorted. Welf merely sighed and the trio remained like that for a while longer before their stomachs demanded sustenance

Dinner was a lively affair, the joint coalition of Loki and Hephaestus knew how to party when called for it. To Bell it was rather nostalgic of when he and his grandfather would go out into the forest for a few nights to train. It really took Bell back

Bell spent the majority of his time chatting to Tiona about hero stories they both liked, while everyone else present was content to listen to the pair ramble on

Come midnight, the festivities were winding down, however not before a final bit of drama

Rumbling was heard from the entrance to floor eighteen. Approaching, Bell and co readied themselves for a fight just in case

They were pleasantly surprised when Hestia tumbled out of the tunnel and landed in front of them in a heap

"Goddess?" Bell started. However before he could even blink, the lady in question was latched onto him tightly, rubbing her face in his chest

She was sobbing and mumbling about how worried she was. Bell was quick to return the hug and console her

By this point, several other people began to appear from the tunnel

First was a taller man flanked by a pair of Far Eastern dressed women. Next came a blonde man wearing a fedora followed by a bespectacled blue haired woman and Ryuu of all people

Seeing Bell and his party, they all seemed to deflate in relief. Well actually, only those of the Far East seemed to do that. The rest remained neutral, stoic or aloof

"Fancy meeting your here" Bell jested

He received stares

oOo

Hestia was pried off of Bell and her reasoning for being in the dungeon was explained to the Loki Familia and Bell

Bell was quite touched by it all. As seen by the small tears gathering in the corners of his eyes

"'Sniff' Y-You really came all this way for me?" The top Loki's, the search and rescue team as well as Bells party were all witness to Bell blubbering and hastily thanking the search and rescue party individually with hugs. He hadn't even met most of them, but that didn't seem to stop him

Ais actually admired his bravery at such a feat. To be able to act so friendly with new people truly was a skill

Now that everyone was sufficiently embarrassed by Bells display of over emotional gratitude, they got down to the plan of action

"Well, retrieval for you lot has been successful, extraction is now your priority" Finn began "my Familia is still awaiting antidotes from the surface, so we'll probably be here for another two days. I'd recommend some R and R. In two days time, we'll move out and clear a path for all of you to get out. Sound good?" The ending question was rhetorical

Finn and his executives left the search and rescue team and Bell's party alone. One of the Far Eastern women, with long hair and a katana at her hip, prostrated herself before Bell

"We're sorry for our actions. We had an injured party member and we were overwhelmed. We had to flee and we cross paraded you" she explained, with her two friends nodding in agreement and apology

"It was my call and I'm sorry you could've gotten hurt. But I'd make the same choice in a heartbeat" the man stoutly chimed in

Welf looked ready to have it out with the man, but Bell quickly spoke up and diffused the situation

"Wow you suck at apologies" he retorted before continuing, addressing Mikoto now "don't worry about it, just be more awesome next time so you don't have to run in the first place"

Mikoto looked at him deadpan, before simply nodding in agreement. Bell grinned

oOo

Bell and Ais' date was commandeered by Hestia, whom was adamant about not leaving her Bell's side. Not that Bell would ever begrudge her of his attention and affection

Frankly, it made for an interesting dynamic between the three, as Ais and Bell seemed to serve as Hestia's parent, seeing as she spent her time racing around and looking at anything and everything with wonder and fascination. She'd never been in the dungeon after all. Well Ais was more like the parent, as Bell was equally enthusiastic and energetic, though the sword princess liked that about him. The ability to find joy and hope in any given situation isn't a personality trait but a state of mind

However not all could be sunshine and daisies though

"Well well well, look who it is!" A scarred burly man approached Bell with a gaggle of goons behind him "This setting seems appropriate for an animal like you" Ais' eyes narrowed while Hestia growled. Bell however

"Do I know you?" He asked confused. That response wasn't what the man seemed to be looking for, as he scowled out of embarrassment. He looked to engage Bell in a spot of roughhousing, but he was deterred by the glare the sword princess was giving him

"Whatever" he spat as he and his friends moved along

"Do you know that guy Bell?" Hestia asked, with Ais also seeming to want to know the answer

Bell put on a thinking pose for a second "I think I punched him once..." the women present merely sighed and moved on

oOo

Their trip to Rivira continued on and wasn't spoiled by the mean spirited senior adventurer

When Bell, Ais and Hestia returned to camp, they were ambushed by the Amazon twins whom announced that they and the other ladies were going to bathe in the nearby... baths? Regardless, Hestia and Ais were quick to agree and Bell was left to his own devices to meander around for a little while

Although that changed when Hermes approached

"Bell! If I may have a word?"

"Sure thing!" The duo started towards the outskirts of the camp

While they were walking, Bete arrived and spied Bell. He snarled

"What's he doing here?" He growled out to no one in particular, but he received an answer anyway

"Sight seeing" Finn snarked as he walked past, making the werewolf scowl before he decided to move on as well

Bell and Hermes had been walking through the forest for a little while now and Bell was growing confused

"Why you bringing me out here? Trying to assassinate me or something?" Bell asked

Hermes nearly balked, but managed to refrain, keeping up his cool visage "perish the thought!"

Bell only shrugged and continued to follow. They came to a halt at a large tree, which Hermes ascended silently

Bell followed by jumping up branch by branch. Settling near the top, Hermes turned to Bell and gave him a mischievous smirk

"Behold!" He whispered as he created a gap in the branches and revealed the visual treasure

Bell's eyes massively widened as he looked at a lake. A lake filled with women. Beautiful naked women

Bell and Hermes stared for a while

"You're like, the coolest god ever" Bell said as he rose his fist. Hermes grinned hearing that and tapped his fist against Bell's

"About to get cooler" Bell didn't like the tonality of that statement, but he didn't have a chance to respond as Hermes nudged Bell, causing him to fall. Straight into the lake with the naked beautiful women in. Powerful naked beautiful women

Bell surfaced. His fall and subsequent entrance into the water had garnered the attention of every woman present

Looking around, assessing his situation and trying his hardest to look at everyone's eyes and not their lower eyes

Standing up straight, Bell dunked his hand under the water and proceeded to bring it back up and rubbed his clothed armpit. He repeated the process with his other hand and armpit, pretending to wash himself as though he were having a bath with his clothes on

When the women didn't look convinced, he laughed nervously before trailing off and hanging his head and arms at his side

"I'm gonna kill him" he muttered, but he was heard. One of the search and rescue team, looked up at where Bell had fallen from and spied her God

"Hermes!" Asfi called out, but the messenger was already fleeing

"Oh Bell" a voice sang from behind, as someone gently wrapped their arms around his waist and pressed into his back. Tiona decided to have some fun with the adventurer whom was growing steadily more and more flustered "you can't properly wash yourself being fully clothed like that" Bell blushed something fierce

Slowly turning his head to face the Amazon, who's head was resting on his shoulder, Bell tensed "it's hard to argue with that assessment" he replied tersely

The women present still hadn't stopped staring at Bell. It would seem his reputation had fallen quite a bit

Letting go of Bell and jumping in front of him where she stood proudly naked before him "then why don't you bathe properly?!" Tione nearby sighed

"You should've just said if you wanted to join us Bell!" Hestia chimed in, although the sentiment wasn't shared by anyone else. Bell heard the cracking of knuckles and he paled. Time to get the hell out of dodge!

Looking for an exit, Bell spotted a waterfall. With someone under it. A naked someone. Bell made eye contact with both of Ais' eyes

That seemed to be his breaking point, as before the encroaching women could get their hands on Bell, he'd already fled at unprecedented speeds

"I regret nothing!" Was heard from the distance

oOo

Bell had finally slowed down and was now merely walking about lost

He came to a halt however as heard the sound of running water. Planning to follow the stream to return to camp, he headed in the direction of the river

However, it seemed his luck wasn't with him today. Well it was depending on how you looked at it

Stopping at the forests edge, Bell saw more treasure. Ryuu was in the midst of bathing and Bell couldn't help but stop and stare. She really was beautiful

His admiring was short lived however, as a stone raced towards him at Mach speeds. To just about everyone else, the throw would've seemed like a bullet, but Bell on the other hand...

"Who's there?!"

His hand shot out and snatched the rock out of the air

Gently, Bell threw the stone back where Ryuu, perplexed, caught it in her outstretched palm

Bell came into view and he stood before Ryuu calmly and confidently

"I was out looking for iron for a blacksmith, but instead I found gold" he smirked cockily "I had to stop and admire the beauty of it"

Ryuu rose an eyebrow "are you trying to sweet talk me?" That crushed Bell's facade, as he suddenly prostrated himself before Ryuu

"I'm sorry!" He cried

The elf smiled at his antics

"Don't worry about it, it's fine. I'd rather you see me than someone else"

Bell may have missed the double entendre

oOo

After Bell had sufficiently apologised, Ryuu got dressed and the pair went on a small walk together

Ryuu picked a few flowers, with Bell following suit after watching her for a while

He quickly learned the reason for them, when the pair arrived at a burial site

There Ryuu told Bell about her past. About her Familia that was ambushed and wiped out by another, about how she slaughtered the other Familia out of revenge and how Syr found her broken in an alley way after she'd given up on living

"In truth, I'm a violent and vengeful elf" she stated once she'd finished

Bell wasn't having that however, as he took her hand "violent and vengeful you may be, but kind and caring you also are. Know which of these aspects outweigh the other, I do"

Ryuu smiled softly. His wording was weird, but she understood the premise

"You're a man worthy of respect, Bell"

"And you're an elf worthy of life, Ryuu"

oOo

The next morning, Bete decided to give Bell a piece of his mind, spying the Hestia captain talking to the Amazon twins

"Hey rabbit runt! Don't go thinking you're hot shit cause you got down here! Remember you're still a nobody!" He snarled as he approached

Bell looked at him plainly while the Amazons stood at the ready in case Bete needed to be restrained

"Do I know you?" Twice in two days people had approached him angrily for whatever reasons

Bete looked truly whelmed hearing that

"Kidding! Just pulling you're tail, metaphorically" Bell grinned. Bete growled

He was about to lay into the rabbit, but Tiona and Tione decided to spare Bell by dragging the werewolf away like a pair of bouncers would

Bell was then approached by Ais with Riveria and Lefiya in tow

"The plans for the return to the surface have been drawn up. We'll be moving in groups with yours at the back so you have a clear path" Riveria stated

Bell nodded "oaky dokey!" The elves nodded also before leaving Ais and Bell alone "I'm going to tell my Goddess, she should be in the tent, I'll be a moment"

Ais watched Bell disappear into his tent and then reappear a few minutes later. His entire aura had changed

Usually it was warm and electrifying, energising and inviting. Now it was like someone had just took a bite out of his sandwich and spat it on the floor. His aura was a violent thunderstorm

Cracking his neck "I've got skulls to crush" he uttered as he marched off into the forest, leaving Ais perplexed

oOo

Bell arrived at a rocky cliff area surrounded by adventurers

Bell approached the centre of the outcropping silently with a serious visage adorning his features

The scar faced man from the day before stepped up

"You have my goddess" it wasn't a question but a statement

The man grinned "sure do and if you want her back, you'll have to beat me in a one on one duel"

"You sure that's a good idea?" Bell asked calmly

"I ain't afraid of your growth"

"Then you'll fall braver than most"

Scowling, Mord suddenly disappeared. Bell's brows narrowed

Hearing steps approaching in front of him, Bell's hand lashed out like a serpent and seemingly grabbed the air. Feeling his hand wrapped around a neck, Bell lifted his challenger from the ground. The man clutched at Bell's arm in a struggle to escape

Using his other hand, Bell pulled something from the mans head and he returned to visibility

"Cheap tricks" Bell threw the man up silently, Bell leaned back and reared his fist back, the one that had been holding the mans neck "really" the man fell back down towards the ground, but before he could hit the floor, Bell's fist had buried itself in the mans stomach, making him cough up spittle "disgust me"

Air seemed to travel through the man as a cone of displaced air stretched out from the mans back as he curled over Bell's arm and fist. Subsequently, he was launched back into his friends where he knocked several of them down

Not only did these scumbags kidnap his goddess, but also tried to cheat in a man to man... Bell wasn't a happy bunny

Bell spat on the ground out of disgust and disrespect before jumping off the cliff, taking the object he'd swiped from the man with him

Asfi, whom was watching nearby, turned to her god

"Maybe we went about this wrong" the messenger conceded

An evil tremor shook the eighteenth floor

——————————————————

"Well hey there Danmachi fans, it's ya boy Zeus here to analyse the masterful use of