Under the clear skies of a lightly wooded plain outside of Orario, Bell trained intensely, the Aegis Cryo sword in hand. Across from him, Aiz Wallenstein watched his every move, her golden eyes piercing the icy air that was beginning to form around Bell.
"Your posture is too rigid, Bell," she said calmly but firmly. "Let the mana flow through you like a stream. If you force it, you'll break the balance."
Bell nodded, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
— Understood. I'll start over.
He got back into position, closing his eyes to concentrate. He took a deep breath, letting the energy of his mana channel into the sword. The runes etched on the blade began to glow an intense blue, emitting an icy breath that made the surrounding grass shiver.
— Good, Aiz murmured. Now, say the incantation.
Bell opened his eyes, fierce determination shining in his gaze.
— "Oh icy wind, cover the earth with an immaculate shroud. Let eternal peace descend and let my vengeance be engraved in ice… Cryostasis of Eternity!"
A magic circle appeared beneath his feet, sparkling with a blue light. A wave of cold spread, instantly freezing everything within a radius of a few meters. The nearby trees were covered in ice, and the ground became a crystalline terrain.
Aiz gave a slight smile.
— It's impressive… but you forgot one detail.
Before Bell could respond, she lunged, breaking the ice beneath her feet to charge at him. Bell tried to raise his sword to parry, but Aiz's blade struck the flat of Aegis Cryo, throwing him back.
"You have to maintain control, Bell. Magic is an extension of yourself. If you let the cold take over, you'll be trapped in your own Cryostasis," she said, holding out a hand to help him up.
"It's… harder than I thought," Bell admitted, straightening up, out of breath.
Aiz nodded.
— It is a complex magic. But if you master it, it will be a formidable weapon, both to protect and to conquer.
The afternoon passed repeating the same moves. Aiz taught him how to maintain a balance between offense and defense by using Eternity Cryostasis as a territory extension.
—Imagine that you control not only the sword, but the entire frozen environment around you, she explained. Every part of the ice must obey your will.
With each attempt, Bell improved. He managed to create a solid ice shield, then explode it into sharp shards, before reforming the frozen terrain to slow his opponent's movements.
"That's… incredible," Bell said, admiring the power of the magic as it managed to slow Aiz in her assault.
Aiz stopped, placing a hand on his shoulder.
— You're progressing quickly. But remember, it's not just a weapon. Ice can protect as much as it can destroy.
Bell nodded, considering his words.
As the sun set on the horizon, Bell used Eternity Cryostasis one last time, creating a protective dome of ice around himself. The air grew so cold that even Aiz recoiled slightly, impressed.
—That's enough for today, she said. You need to rest before you continue.
Bell nodded, his breath short.
— Thank you, Aiz. Thanks to you, I'm beginning to understand the true potential of this magic.
She looked at him with slight curiosity.
Aiz was silent for a moment, then nodded.
— So, go on. But don't forget to rest.
As they left the training field, Bell took one last look at the sword in his hand.
"With this magic and this blade, I will become the pillar that no one can shake."
Chapter 66: The Awakening of a New Power
The next morning, Bell showed up in Ishtar's room for his update. The goddess, accustomed to his steady progress, raised an eyebrow when she looked at the new numbers.
"Bell Cranel, level 3," she announced, her lips quirking into a forced smile.
Bell Cranel
Level: 3
Strength: SS0236
•Endurance: SS425
•Dexterity: SS676
•Agility: SS 900
•Magic: A789
•Intelligence: S
•Luck: A
•Abnormal Resistance: B
•Escape: E
•Chain Attack: G
Special Skill:
Ethereal Vision: Allows you to see other people's emotions as colors
_[The Rise]
A unique skill that promotes accelerated growth. The harder the battle, the more Excelia you accumulate. Also grants complete immunity to any form of charm or mind control.
_The rising boost: Grants a slight stat boost.
_Argonaut: a load capacity:
Word: ignite your passion scream your desire.
Magic skill:
•Holy light
Purification and healing magic, calls upon light capable of dispelling curses and erasing the harmful effects of malicious spells, including cursed wounds.
"Lumen sacrum, purga tenebris, lux divinae."
•Cryostasis of eternity:
"Oh icy storm that soothes and destroys, Embrace this world with your eternal breath, Forge a blade to punish traitors, A shield to defend the righteous, And chains to seal despair.
•Firebolt
Tammuz, standing in a corner, almost choked on hearing this statement.
—His stats are... off the charts for a level 3, he muttered, clenching his fists.
Ishtar, though smiling, felt a shiver of worry. The numbers spoke for themselves: SS in strength, endurance, agility, and a solid foundation in magic. Even her intelligence and stamina were above average.
"Congratulations, Bell," Ishtar said softly. "You also gained a new special ability."
Bell tilted his head, intrigued.
— A new ability?
Ishtar made a leaf appear and showed it to him.
—Argonaut. A legendary ability, capable of charging your energy for a devastating attack. But to activate it, you must pronounce this incantation: Ignite your passion, scream your desire.
Bell stared at the sheet, impressed by the description of his new ability.
"Thank you, Ishtar-sama," he said, bowing slightly.
Deep down, Ishtar couldn't ignore the growing worry. If Bell continued to progress at this rate, he would soon reach level 4. Such a feat, especially with his stats, could change the balance of power in Orario.
Tammuz, meanwhile, stared at Bell warily.
Back in his room, Bell felt an immense joy. His smile didn't fade as he rushed to find Aisha.
He knocked on his bedroom door, his heart beating a little faster than usual.
— Aisha? It's me, Bell.
After a few moments, the door opened slightly, revealing the Amazon's face.
"What do you want, Bell?" she said, trying to hide her confusion.
Bell, not noticing his hesitation, launched himself.
—I wanted to ask if you wanted to come to the dungeon with me tomorrow. It's been a while since we fought together. Besides… I really enjoy spending time with you.
Aisha blushed slightly, her thoughts turning to the moment Bell had told her he loved her. Ever since that day, she had tried to avoid him so as not to reveal her own feelings.
—I…I'll think about it, she finally said, looking away.
Bell, believing she was hesitating for some other reason, smiled softly.
— Okay. We'll leave with Lili and Welf, so we'll be well prepared.
The next day, Bell went to see Welf and Lili to inform them of their plans.
— We're going down to the 20th floor tomorrow, he announced.
Welf, who was working on some new equipment, nodded.
— You kept your agreement
Bell patted him on the shoulder with a smile.
— I never go back on my promise, that's my mantra.
Welf stared at him for a moment before letting out a laugh.
— I trust you, but if you let us down, I'll take back Aegis Cryo.
They laughed together
Welf smiled, satisfied.
In the early morning, Bell, Lili, Welf, and Aisha found themselves at the entrance to the dungeon. Lili, as always, was carrying a bag full of potions and other supplies. Welf was adjusting his armor, while Aisha, true to herself, looked relaxed, though her heart was pounding in Bell's presence.
—Ready for a new adventure? Bell asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Aisha shrugged, an enigmatic smile on her lips.
- Always.
Together they set out for the dungeon, ready to face new challenges, their hearts and minds bound by growing trust.
To be continued…