Bell's group made their way deeper into the dungeon, up to the 18th floor. The air was heavier, and there was a palpable tension. The monsters seemed more aggressive than usual, as if they sensed an unusual presence.
"Stay alert," Aisha warned, placing a hand on her sword. "These levels are unpredictable."
Bell, holding Aegis Cryo in one hand and Glacies in the other, nodded.
— Don't worry, Aisha. I'm ready.
Lili, positioned behind with her crossbow, observed the surroundings cautiously, while Welf adjusted his steel gauntlets.
—We're not looking for trouble, Welf said, but if it comes to us, we're ready to respond.
As they crossed an underground clearing, the ground began to shake. A terrifying roar tore through the air, and a red Orc with an axe, much larger and more muscular than normal, emerged from the shadows.
— That's not true… Lili murmured. A reinforced orc?
The monster stared at them, its red eyes glowing with inhuman fury. It brandished its massive axe and charged.
— Take cover! Aisha shouted, leaping to intercept the charge.
She parried the axe blow with her sword, but the orc's brute strength knocked her back several meters.
—This thing is monstrous! she growled.
—We'll handle this together, Bell said, activating Ethereal Vision.
He saw a bright red aura surround the Minotaur, a sign of his murderous rage.
— Welf, attack his flanks! Lili, cover us with your crossbow! Aisha, we distract him, Bell ordered.
Welf nodded and walked around the monster as Lili fired a flaming bolt to get its attention.
The orc roared in pain and turned towards her, but Bell appeared in front of him.
"It's me you want!" he shouted, brandishing Aegis Cryo.
Bell incanta:
— Oh frozen wind, cover the earth with an immaculate shroud. Let eternal peace descend and let my vengeance be engraved in ice. Cryostasis of Eternity!
An icy breath filled the clearing, forming a circle of ice around the orc. The monster tried to move, but its movements became slower, as if its limbs were slowly freezing.
— Well done, Bell! Welf shouted, taking advantage of the situation to strike the orc's leg with his sword, breaking part of his natural armor.
The Minotaur, despite the ice hindering its movements, leapt and brought down its axe in a desperate attempt. Bell rolled to the side to avoid the attack and threw Firebolt at the monster's face.
— Firebolt!
The blast of fire exploded in the Minotaur's face, causing him to recoil and roar in pain.
Aisha then leapt forward, her blade glowing with a reddish light.
— It's my turn! Die!
She thrust her sword into the orc's chest, but he, in a last-ditch effort, grabbed her and threw her violently against a wall.
— Aisha! Bell shouted, rushing towards her.
She stood up, her breathing heavy, but a stubborn smile on her lips.
— Don't worry about me. Just finish it.
Bell, his gaze burning with determination, held up Glacies and incanted one last time:
— Oh frozen wind, cover the earth with an immaculate shroud. Let eternal peace descend and let my vengeance be engraved in ice. Cryostasis of Eternity
The temperature in the clearing dropped sharply, and a massive ice spear formed in the air. Bell, concentrating all his energy, brought it down on the orc.
The weapon pierced the monster, freezing it completely before it dissipated as two crystals fell.
A silence fell as the group gathered around Bell, exhausted but victorious.
—Impressive, Aisha said, smiling slightly.
—Not bad for a Level 3, Welf added, patting Bell on the shoulder.
Lili nodded.
—You continue to surprise us, Bell-sama.
Bell, out of breath but satisfied, watched the shining crystals fall around them.
"This is just the beginning," he whispered.
Chapter 68: Betrayal and Reconciliation
As Bell and his group continued their descent into the dungeon, a figure lurking in the shadows watched them from afar. In his hands, a black box emanated a malevolent aura. The stranger's piercing gaze never left Bell.
After their grueling fight against the empowered Minotaur, Bell created a protective cocoon using Cryostasis of Eternity, giving the team a moment of rest.
—You really should take care of yourself, Aisha said, applying ointment to her wounds.
—And you, then? Bell replied with a slight smile. You're the one who always gets hurt trying to protect others.
Aisha blushed slightly but looked away.
Meanwhile, Lili was busy putting the crystals away in her bag. Welf, sitting nearby, was sharpening his weapons, his mind focused on the next battle.
The quiet was abruptly interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps. A group of adventurers rushed past them, looking panicked, followed closely by a horde of enraged monsters.
"What are they doing?" Welf shouted, jumping up.
The monsters, drawn by the fleeing adventurers, converged on Bell and his party.
"They've drawn the horde on us!" Lili exclaimed, furious.
Bell frowned and, with a quick gesture, threw a Firebolt in the direction of the adventurers to force them to stop.
—Take care of the monsters! I'll take care of this, Bell ordered before rushing off after the group.
He quickly caught up to the last member of the group, a panicked-looking young woman named Mikoto.
"Why did you do that?" Bell asked firmly, his eyes shining with determination.
Mikoto, panting, lowered her head.
— I… I'm sorry. We had no choice. Our friend Chigusa is seriously injured, and we had to flee to find a safe place.
Bell activated Ethereal Vision. He saw an aura of red mixed with blue around Mikoto, a sign of her panic and sincere regret.
"You put my family in danger to save yours?" he said, his voice betraying suppressed anger.
—I…yes, she admitted reluctantly, tears in her eyes.
— Where is Chigusa? Bell asked.
Mikoto pointed to a cavity nearby, where an injured girl lay, surrounded by other members of their group.
Bell thought quickly, weighing his options. He knew that the slightest mistake could cost his team or Mikoto's lives.
— Welf, Aisha, Lili! Bell shouted to his companions, who were still fighting the horde. Keep them busy for a moment longer!
He walked over to Chigusa and took out a healing potion from his bag.
—Give this to him, he said, handing it to Mikoto.
— But… it's your potion, she murmured, hesitant.
— No time to argue. Take her and save your friend.
Once assured that Chigusa was receiving the necessary care, Bell ran back to his group, where Welf and Aisha were in the middle of a fight.
— Is everything okay? he asked, standing next to them.
— We've got it covered, but hurry up and give us a hand, Welf replied, parrying an attack.
Bell activated Eternity Cryostasis, creating an icy field that slowed the monsters' movements.
— Oh frozen wind, cover the earth with an immaculate shroud. Let eternal peace descend and let my vengeance be engraved in ice. Cryostasis of Eternity
The monsters, trapped in the ice, became easy targets for Aisha and Welf, who took them down one by one.
With the horde defeated, Mikoto approached Bell, her gaze filled with gratitude.
— Thank you for what you did for Chigusa. We will not forget it.
"I didn't do it for you," Bell retorted, his gaze hard. "I did it because I refuse to let someone die in front of me."
Mikoto nodded, understanding the implied reproach.
— We will do everything to help you achieve your goal, she said.
Bell didn't answer, just turned on his heel to rejoin his group.
— Come on, let's continue, he said to his companions. We still have a long way to go.
To be continued...