The atmosphere was electric as Bell Cranel led his entourage into the Dungeon once again, the Hestia Familia pushing themselves harder than ever in preparation for the upcoming War Game against Apollo Familia. They had spent weeks training in the lower floors, pushing their limits and achieving breakthroughs beyond what any of them had thought possible.
Even Hestia, the goddess herself, had shown remarkable growth.
Though gods were not meant to fight in the mortal realm, Bell's divinity suppressors had changed that. Hestia's physical strength alone, due to her divine nature and age her sheer divinity even surpressed, gave her a lot of physical strength increments, due to that, she was already on par with a lower-tier level 2 adventurer, but now, after weeks of training, she fought like an adept Level 3 adventurer. Her small frame concealed immense strength, and with Bell's tutelage, she learned how to channel her divine power into disciplined combat techniques.
Her divine strength, while restrained, gave her immense physical power, and she was quick to adapt. Bell had shown her how to use her smaller stature to her advantage, outmaneuvering her opponents and using swift, accurate strikes. With every sparring session, her movements became sharper, her strategy more refined.
Hestia had learned to fight like a mortal, but she retained the instincts and mind of a goddess—an almost frightening combination.
As they fought their way through the deeper floors of the Dungeon, Haruhime emerged as another growing force. Bell had suspected from the start that there was more to her than just being a renart—a fox demi-human. His suspicions were confirmed when, during their intense training sessions, her latent power began to emerge.
She wasn't just a simple renart—Haruhime was a yokai fox, with ancient powers hidden deep within her bloodline. The more she trained and grew stronger, the more tails she manifested. Now, she had three magnificent, golden tails trailing behind her, and her magical power had increased exponentially.
Her innate magic, which once boosted a single person by one level, had evolved. Now, she could boost an ally's strength by two and a half levels for a short period, making her an indispensable asset. Bell and the others realized just how dangerous Haruhime's power could be when she enhanced Bell's abilities during a trial run, momentarily turning him into a near-unstoppable force of nature.
Welf Crozzo, the proud blacksmith, had also joined their ranks, transferring from Hephaestus Familia. Despite being a weaponsmith, Welf had proven to be a valuable combatant as well, keeping up with Bell's relentless training regime. His Crozzo magic, which allowed him to craft powerful magic swords, was an added boon to their growing strength.
With only two days left before the War Game, the Hestia Familia emerged from the Dungeon, battered but victorious. They cashed in the enormous amount of magic stones they had collected and used the wealth to buy crucial supplies—high-grade potions, elixirs, and enchanted equipment. Everything they could possibly need for the War Game was secured.
The night before their final day of rest, Bell sat alone in the Familia's home, updating his status. Hestia hovered over him, her eyes glowing with excitement. She knew Bell had grown stronger—everyone could feel it—but the numbers that appeared before her were far beyond what she had anticipated.
Bell Cranel, Level 7
Strength: SSS 1500
Endurance: SSS 1500
Dexterity: SSS 1500
Agility: SSS 1500
Magic: SSS 1500
Developmental Abilities:
Luck: X
Abnormal Resistance: X
Mage: X
Magic Resistance: X
Physical Damage Resistance: X
Spirit Pleasure: X
Supreme Light: X
Hestia's eyes widened as she read over the status. Bell had reached Level 7, with every core stat maxed at SSS rank. It was unheard of for an adventurer to grow so rapidly or to skip levels either. Did that mean that others could do that too? Hestia was unsure and after this was over she'd ask her other kids if they wanted to try doing it like Bell, though conisdering his way of training it's pretty clear that they wouldn't want it. And the developmental abilities he had awakened—Luck, Magic Resistance, even the enigmatic Supreme Light—were beyond anything she had seen in any adventurer before.
"Bell…" Hestia whispered, awe-struck. "You've become… something else entirely."
Bell, too, was stunned. He had always worked hard, but this level of growth was beyond even his wildest dreams. He realized that the various battles he had fought, the immense training he had undergone, and the time he had spent mastering new combat styles had pushed him far past his former limits.
Despite his shock, Bell knew they couldn't reveal this newfound power to anyone just yet. If Apollo or any of the other gods learned that he had become a Level 7 adventurer, they would surely take drastic, illegal measures to sabotage the War Game.
"We'll keep this a secret until after the War Game," Bell said, his voice firm. "I don't want Apollo taking any precautions. They need to believe they have a chance."
Hestia nodded in agreement, though her heart swelled with pride at Bell's strength. She couldn't wait to see Apollo's face when Bell and the rest of her Familia crushed him.
The next two days were filled with rest and quiet preparation. Hestia Familia gathered their strength, their supplies, and their resolve. Each member of the Familia had grown in both skill and power thanks to Bell's hellish training. They weren't just stronger—they were united.
Ryuu had mastered her sword techniques, blending them seamlessly with her elven agility. Lili, once timid and afraid, had become a tactical genius, her tricks and traps honed to perfection. Anya's raw strength had been tempered into a more refined fighting style, while Mikoto's agility and quick reflexes made her a dangerous combatant.
Haruhime, with her three tails flowing behind her, had become the spiritual heart of the Familia, using her magic to empower the others. Her confidence had grown, and with each tail she manifested, so too did her belief in her new family—and in herself.
Welf, now officially a member of Hestia Familia, had crafted new weapons and armor for each of them, including a set of skin-tight, dungeon-resistant armor for Bell. It was lightweight yet strong enough to withstand the monstrous creatures in the lower floors of the Dungeon.
As they gathered for their final dinner before the War Game, Bell looked around at his companions, his family. They had come so far together, and now they were ready to face Apollo Familia head-on.
Hestia wished them good luck and went off to Hephaestus in order to watch the show.
The morning of the War Game, the Hestia Familia departed for Apollo's stronghold, their heads held high. As they arrived at the grand venue, where gods and mortals alike had gathered to witness the event, whispers filled the air. Everyone had heard of Bell Cranel's rapid rise, but none could fathom the extent of his newfound strength.
As Apollo stood smugly atop his balcony, addressing the crowd with a self-satisfied grin, Bell remained calm and collected. He could see the doubt in Apollo's eyes—doubt that would soon turn to terror.
Bell's gaze shifted to Hestia, who stood beside him, her divine presence restrained yet powerful. She smiled at him, confident in their victory.
"I hope you're ready, Apollo," Bell muttered under his breath, a cold fire burning in his crimson eyes. "Because you're about to learn just how strong we've become."
As the War Game began, with both sides taking their positions, Bell couldn't help but smirk. Apollo and his Familia had no idea what they were about to face.
The Hestia Familia had become an unstoppable force.
And Apollo was about to find out the hard way.