The grand hall of the Denatus was abuzz with the presence of the gods, their divine auras filling the air with an almost tangible energy. Marble pillars, gilded with intricate designs, stood tall around the room, and the ceiling bore the image of the night sky, stars twinkling above as if watching over the proceedings. The long table in the center was already occupied by the most powerful deities of Orario, their expressions a mix of curiosity, concern, and amusement as they settled in for the meeting.
Hestia entered alongside Bell, her demeanor unusually serious. Her eyes scanned the room, briefly meeting those of her fellow gods—Loki, Hephaestus, and Hermes among them—before she found her seat. Bell, feeling the weight of the divine gazes upon him, stood quietly behind her, his posture respectful yet alert.
As the gods exchanged greetings and light banter, it was clear that the atmosphere was tense. There was a shared understanding that something was amiss, something beyond the usual squabbles and rivalries of their kind.
Finally, as the murmurs subsided, Loki, known for her playful yet sharp nature, was the first to break the silence with a smirk, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, what's this I've been hearing about strange things in the Dungeon? Bell Cranel stirring up trouble again, are we?"
A few chuckles echoed around the table, but they were quickly silenced by the somber expression on Hestia's face. "This is no time for jokes, Loki," she said, her voice firm. "Something ancient has awakened in the Dungeon. Bell encountered a shadowy entity, one that spoke to him in a language neither of us has ever heard."
The room fell silent, the gravity of Hestia's words sinking in. Hermes leaned forward, his usual jovial expression replaced by one of genuine concern. "A shadowy entity, you say? And it spoke to you, Bell? That's no small matter."
Bell nodded, his voice steady as he spoke. "Yes, Lord Hermes. It felt… ancient, powerful, and malevolent. It warned me, as if it was testing me, and it hinted at something far worse to come."
The gods exchanged uneasy glances. It wasn't often that they were confronted with something beyond their control. Athena, who had joined the meeting at Hestia's request, was the next to speak. Her tone was measured, yet filled with the weight of knowledge. "This entity may be one of the primordial beings, older than even us gods. If it has indeed awakened, then the Dungeon itself may be changing, becoming something far more dangerous than we ever imagined."
Loki leaned back in her chair, her playful demeanor now replaced by a calculating expression. "Well, if that's the case, it looks like we've got more than just monster waves to worry about. We might need to start thinking about forming some alliances—ones that go beyond just our familias."
Hephaestus, who had been silent until now, nodded in agreement. "Indeed. We need to be prepared for whatever is coming, and that means working together. Our differences will have to be set aside."
Hestia glanced at Bell, her expression a mix of pride and worry. "Bell will play a key role in this, I can feel it. But we need more than just his strength. We need information, resources, and cooperation."
Hermes tapped his chin thoughtfully. "It seems we have a lot to discuss, then. Perhaps a coordinated effort between our familias is in order. But first…" He paused, a sly grin creeping onto his face. "We can't forget the traditional business of Denatus, can we? There are a few adventurers who have leveled up, after all."
The mood in the room lightened slightly as the gods prepared for one of their favorite pastimes: assigning nicknames. Bell, who had been listening intently, suddenly felt a knot of anxiety form in his stomach. He remembered all too well the for him personally, weird nicknames those adventurers had received.
Loki's grin returned, this time full of mischief. "Ah, yes! I've been waiting for this! First,Lysandra Valtor our beloved Soma Familia's supporter, has leveled up again. Any suggestions for a new nickname?"
The gods murmured among themselves, tossing out various ideas—some serious, some utterly ridiculous. Bell's face flushed as he realized all were planning some mischief and braced for the cringe to hit hard.
Hermes was the first to speak up. "How about 'the running catastrophy'? She's certainly earned it, hasn't she?"
A few of the gods nodded in approval, while Loki snorted, holding her laughter. "the running catastrophy?'' That's way too funny and I love it, Next!
''Thorne Ironheart - A member of the Shiva Familia, How about 'tin can man'?'' the room errupted in giggles and it was passed a few others received their names too and the came his as in Bell's turn as he'd had leveled up before the meeting with a maxed out status all stats were on X 2000 (new max due to his will and desire to grow fast).
''We'll have him blushing every time someone says it!" Loki teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
But as the other gods considered some options, the nickname Hermes proposed seemed to resonate with them. Athena, who had remained quietly observant, finally spoke up. "It's fitting. Bell has shown honor in the face of great danger, and I believe he will continue to do so."
Loki rolled her eyes but didn't object on this one, actually fine with it and wanting to stay on Bell's good graces. "Fine. 'The Honoured One' it is. Just don't get too full of yourself, Bell!"
Bell could only manage a smile worthy of his title as the gods laughed and finalized his new title. Despite the levity, the undercurrent of tension remained. The Denatus continued, moving on to discussions of alliances and strategies, but Bell's mind kept returning to the ominous warning he had received in the Dungeon.
As the meeting drew to a close, the gods agreed to keep a close watch on the Dungeon and to reconvene should any further developments arise. There was an unspoken understanding that the days ahead would be filled with challenges unlike any they had faced before.
But as Bell and Hestia left the hall, walking into the light of the midday sun, Bell couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. He wasn't facing this alone. With Hestia by his side, and the support of the other gods and their familias, he knew they would find a way through whatever darkness lay ahead.
And as they stepped back into the bustling streets of Orario, Bell quietly resolved to live up to his new title—The Honoured One.
As the rays of the Sun were replaced by the soft and pale glow of the moonlight, in a dark landscape, a group of gods had met to talk about the denatus and the discoveries about the dungeon. They called themselves Evilus, A group of criminals that are gods who see themselves as evil and their familias who did their bidding.
Author's note: please comment, if you liked it and maybe one of your Ideas might make it into this Story.