Bell Cranel stood at the threshold of destiny. The quiet village near Dragon Valley was a stark contrast to the bustling streets of Orario, but its silence held a weight that pressed down on his chest. He had come here to meet his family—his true family, the ones who had survived the legendary battles of the past. The small inn he had entered felt like the gateway to something far greater than he could ever have imagined.
At the far corner of the room, seated at a modest wooden table, were two figures that radiated power and history. The first was a tall, imposing man with a thick beard streaked with grey and eyes that seemed to hold the weight of centuries—Zeus, his grandfather. The other, a regal woman with an air of cold authority, was Hera, the goddess Bell had only heard whispers of. She held herself like an empress, her sharp gaze dissecting him as soon as he stepped inside.
But it wasn't just them.
Standing behind them, as if guarding them, were others—two men and a woman. The woman was strikingly familiar. She had a quiet, fierce beauty that reminded Bell of Alfia, the woman whose powers he had inherited. This woman, however, was very much alive. Her sharp eyes narrowed as they met his, and a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Alfia..." Bell whispered, his heart thudding in his chest.
Next to her stood two men. One, with a thick, muscular frame and scars crisscrossing his face, radiated an aura of sheer battle-hardened strength. Zald, Bell realized. The infamous Zald, captain of Hera Familia and one of the few who had once stood against the Black Dragon and lived. The other man was leaner, with a hawk-like gaze and an air of cold precision—Metis, captain of Zeus Familia.
Bell swallowed hard. He was standing in the presence of legends.
"Come closer, Bell," Zeus called, his voice a deep rumble that resonated through the quiet room.
Bell approached, his steps careful, almost reverent. Zeus gestured for him to sit, and Bell took a seat at the table, his mind still trying to grasp the reality of the situation.
"You look just like them," Alfia said softly, her eyes softening for a moment as she studied him. "Your parents."
Bell's breath hitched. He had never known his parents, but to hear Alfia speak of his parents stirred something deep within him.
Zeus leaned forward, his expression serious. "You're here because we need your help, Bell. But before we explain, you need to know the truth about us—about the Three Great Quests and the Black Dragon."
Hera nodded, her regal features hardening as she began to speak. "We were the ones who led the charge against the Behemoth and Leviathan. We defeated them, but when it came time to face the Black Dragon… we weren't strong enough. The Black Dragon wiped out our Familias—Zeus Familia, Hera Familia—only a few of us survived."
"We watched our comrades die," Zald growled, his voice low and filled with bitterness. "The captains, the heroes, everyone. It was a massacre."
Alfia crossed her arms, her gaze turning steely. "And the worst part? The Black Dragon isn't dead. It's sealed, deep within the Dragon Valley, waiting for the seal to weaken. When it breaks free, there will be no stopping it unless…"
"Unless you, Bell," Zeus finished, "can surpass us. Surpass the heroes of our time."
Bell's heart pounded in his chest. He had always dreamed of being a hero, of surpassing even his wildest limits, but to hear that the fate of the world might rest on his shoulders felt overwhelming.
"We need your strength," Metis said, his hawk-like eyes narrowing. "But you're not ready yet. Not for what's coming. That's why we're going to train you. We'll teach you everything we know, everything that made us the strongest in our time."
Zeus leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving Bell. "You'll learn to become more than just a powerful adventurer. You'll become a hero—a real one."
Bell nodded slowly, determination hardening in his chest. He had come this far, grown so much since his early days in Orario, but this… this was something more. Something bigger. If he truly wanted to protect those he loved—Freya, his Familia, his friends—he needed to reach a level beyond anything he had ever imagined.
"When do we start?" Bell asked, his voice steady.
A smile broke out across Zeus' face. "That's my boy."
The training was brutal, far more intense than anything Bell had ever experienced. Over the next several months, he was pushed to his absolute limits, both mentally and physically. He trained every single day with Alfia, Zald, Metis, and his grandfather, learning the techniques and skills that had allowed them to stand against the greatest threats the world had ever known.
Alfia focused on his magic, honing his control over Alfia's destructive spells and enhancing his abilities with Limitless. She taught him to weave spells faster, to manipulate magical energy with precision so fine that he could disrupt enemy spells or reinforce his body to near-invincibility.
Zald and Metis trained his body and mind, teaching him how to fight like a true warrior. Bell learned the ancient combat techniques that heroes of old had perfected—how to channel magic into his strikes to cause internal destruction, how to break an enemy's guard, and how to fight with perfect efficiency. Zald's brutal training broke his body down and rebuilt it, while Metis sharpened his mind, teaching him tactics and strategies that made him a more dangerous, thinking warrior.
Zeus, for his part, focused on Bell's growth as a leader. The old god instilled in him the wisdom of leadership, teaching him how to remain calm under pressure, how to make decisions that could change the course of battle—and of history.
Through this grueling training, Bell matured. His boyish charm was still there, but it was now accompanied by a sense of dominance and command. He had become decisive, strong-willed, and unyielding. His body grew more powerful, his mind sharper, and his heart more steadfast.
But despite all the changes, Bell remained a hero at heart. He had not lost the light that made him who he was—the desire to protect others, to be the shield between his loved ones and the darkness that threatened them.
Finally, after months of training, the day arrived.
Bell stood with Zeus, Hera, Alfia, Zald, and Metis at the entrance to Dragon Valley. The mountains loomed before them, jagged and menacing, the air thick with the power of ancient magic.
"This is it," Zeus said, his voice calm but filled with anticipation. "The Black Dragon is sealed deep within. Once we break the seal, there's no turning back."
Bell nodded, his red eyes blazing with determination. His body was stronger than it had ever been, his mind sharper, and his magic now a force of nature. He was ready.
"We're with you, Bell," Alfia said, stepping up beside him. Her eyes were filled with pride. "But you're the one who has to lead us to victory."
Bell's gaze swept across the group—the legends who had once stood as the strongest, and now stood with him. He took a deep breath and clenched his fists.
"I'll finish what you started," Bell said firmly. "And I'll protect everything I care about."
With that, they began their descent into Dragon Valley, where the Black Dragon waited—sealed, but not for long.
Bell Cranel, the hero forged in the fires of a new age, was ready to face the greatest threat the world had ever known.