C125: End of the Abyss P7
Overall Word count = 1208 on 8/7/2024.
Of course Lily isn't the only one who is acquiring lost memories. Lily had noticed that Bell had been having nightmares as of recently since he reached level 7. Just like her, he had also not been fighting any rexs or accomplished anything that would warrant his level up. Lily has also noticed that Bell would wake up in the middle of the night, covered in sweat. He would sit still for a bit before quietly moving to wipe the sweat off of his body before returning to bed. The first time he had these 'nightmares' he had screamed and woken up Hestia who was lying beside him.
As for what Bell had been dreaming about. The first dream he witnessed was that of Slaughter. His home city of Elcos burned to the ground under a wave of invading monsters. He quickly moved, his heroic spirit taking him through various places all so that he could stumble upon a lost lonely girl, Feena [1]. After successfully bringing her to escape, they had moved to a small village in the countryside where the two got their bearings.
Bell witnessed various scenes of himself fighting against a great tree which he envisioned as a powerful monster that he would slay. The duo of Feena and Bell would travel from town to town where the two made a bond no weaker than that of a blood related family.
In the many years that followed, Bell would meet the lightning/thunder spirit Jupiter who he befriended before Jupiter decided to become Bell's/Argonaut's sword. Bell would use that sword to slay various monsters but quickly realized that he should be more careful with it's usage as his body is also damaged by it and his eyes weakened gradually.
Jupiter had warned him before that his lifespan would be reduced after each usage of the sword. As such, Bell would save the sword for more powerful monsters when he could or use it to finish off a monster in one quick blow to reduce it's effectiveness against his own body.
When Bell became 17, Bell had witnessed a scene of an ancient beautiful city that he and Feena had journeyed towards after leaving the recent town they were at due to hearing how the city of Lakrios was recruiting Heroes. Bell retained his cheerful and carefree personality and was regularly called a clown but he paid this no heed as he had grand aspirations.
It is these aspirations that led to him traveling to the city of Lakrios. The capital city of their home country. Lakrios is a prosperous city surrounded entirely by wildlife. Beautiful fertile land surrounds the city which makes it a multi-faceted and prosperous city.
It was there that Bell had created a rivalry with another aspiring hero, Yuri [2]. As well as a brief friendship with a powerful blacksmith, Crozzo. In one brief moment he had even became friends with the princess, Ariadne [3]. She had been in disguise and running away from home due to a cruel fate that she was to be sacrificed for the 'holy' artifact that was the reason that allowed this city to be as safe and prosperous as it was.
Yet that is just an after thought, the real reason why she had run away is because she had stumbled upon something that she should not have seen. The Great General Minos shedding his human disguise to feast upon a poverty stricken people.
It was that, which revealed to her that the great magic artifact that was protecting the city was actually a magic item that causes illusions. The Mino-taurus had been using it to disguise himself and the reason monsters didn't invade is because he had laid this place as his territory. Just like wild beasts, other monsters tread carefully around the other stronger monsters' territory.
Bell became framed as someone who kidnapped Ariadne whilst helping her but his selfish and silly actions had drawn out her heart and she shared with him what she had learned. The two had plotted for some time before they made their next move.
The next day the magic item was stolen which revealed the General's true form to all. The Minotaur was forced to retreat into the underground Labyrinth. The king canceled the bounty on Bell and welcomed him as a proper Hero.
Bell was finally given the task of slaying the Minotaur, He had recruited Crozzo for help and he received a fire magic sword which was named, Minotan, as it was created to defeat the Minotaur. Yet the Argonaut simply referred to it as the Fire magic sword. Soon enough his preparations were complete yet Feena begged him to not go as he was already on the verge of becoming blind due to the 'sword of thunder'.
The Argonaut gives her a hug as he declares to her that this is where he reaches his goal…no matter what.
With a resolute mind, he set off to fight the Minotaur. Granted he was surprised when there were other monsters in there with it but he had some allies of his own. Yuri and Garms put their issues with him aside as they went forth to slay the various monsters while Argonaut went forward towards the Minotaur.
Rumbles of Thunder and Waves of Fire enveloped the underground Labyrinth of Lakrios as the Argonaut faced off against the minotaur. Bell's body felt like it was going to break apart both from his sword as well as the power of the monster before him. He could only attempt to be faster and more nimble than the beast. Bobbing and weaving around its heavy strong punches.
Yet he could not do this forever as the 'Sword of Thunder' was ravaging his body as well. He is constantly on the verge of passing out. Yet he doesnt as the memories of the friends and family he has gained ever since he escaped that nightmare flash through his head. With a resolute stance, Argonaut wields a sword in each hand, One calls upon lightning while the other fires. When he finally swings them at the same time, he unleashes a powerful blast that finally slays the Minotaur.
But this is not without their repercussions. The final shock of his lightning blade affected his mind. In a dazed state, he made his way out of the Labyrinth, a secret passage out of it, that the beast had attempted to use to escape at one point.
The Argonaut, the hero who slayed the Minotaur had disappeared, replaced by a blind poet named Navis. He who had lost his memories, but regained them many years later sought to reduce the influence of his actions through song and poetry. He had succeeded and became known as the greatest fool the world had ever seen.
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Well the story of the Argonaut is a rewritten version of Thesues' story on the hunter of the minotaur from Greek legends.
[1] For the uninformed, Feena is Lefiyas past life. Ya know, the elf from Loki familia who has the hots for Ais Wallenstein.
[2] Yuri is Beta Loga's past life.
[3] Ais' past life.
Oh right. Garms is Gareths past life