One month had passed since Bell Cranel was thrown into the past, dragged by a time rift that carried him over a decade back in time.
To Bell, the renovated church that had become the Barbatos Familia's headquarters felt like heaven made real in the living world. Here, he felt the warm embrace of a mother from Meteria, a gentle-hearted woman who was currently pregnant with his very self in this timeline. He also experienced the tough love of an aunt through physical torment and deadly training from Alfia, which honed his combat instincts to be far sharper than before.
Bell truly loved his life here. Deep in the most selfish corner of his heart, there was a glimmer of desire to abandon his future and settle forever in his mother's embrace.
However, the white-haired youth knew the boundaries of reality. He had unfinished responsibilities. Hestia, Liliruca, Welf, Mikoto, Haruhime, Ryuu, and all his friends in the future were surely crying while searching for him. He had to go back.
One afternoon, in the flower-filled backyard of the headquarters, Meteria sat on a wooden chair, stroking Bell's head as he leaned casually on her lap.
"You know, Bell..." Meteria's voice flowed softly, her warm fingers caressing the strands of her son's white hair along with the afternoon breeze. "If Venti-sama had never descended to the Gekai, your Aunt Alfia and I might have died just like in your timeline. We both suffered from a disease that could not be cured by any magic or potion in this world."
Meteria paused her caressing for a moment. She looked down, gazing at her son's healthy face with a smile full of relief and slightly teary eyes.
"But, seeing you able to run, fight, and grow into such a healthy and strong young man in the future... I am so grateful that you didn't inherit this deadly disease from us, Bell," Meteria said, her voice trembling with emotion. "And in this world, it is Lord Venti who is slowly healing us, pulling us back from the edge of the abyss of death, and giving us this home."
Hearing his mother's words, Bell's ruby-red eyes widened. A suffocatingly warm feeling instantly took over his heart. He looked up toward the second-floor balcony of the Barbatos Familia headquarters, where the figure of the youth cloaked in turquoise green was sitting casually, plucking his lyre and singing a melody that soothed the afternoon breeze.
An immense sense of respect bloomed within Bell's chest. Venti was not just a patron god; the entity was the absolute savior of his family. Without Venti's intervention in this timeline, Bell realized that his family's destiny would have likely ended only as a tragedy.
"Thank you, Lord Venti," Bell murmured softly, carving that gratitude deep within his heart.
During the month Bell spent at the headquarters, he was also surprised by waves of new members brought in by the Barbatos Familia executives.
The first surprise came when Hedin Selland and Hogni Ragnar—two Elves who in the future were terrifying executives of the Freya Familia—returned from their mission. Instead of taking shelter under the Goddess of Beauty, in this timeline they proudly stood as followers of the God of Wind.
However, what truly made Bell's common sense stop working was when he saw who the two former Elf kings had brought with them.
Hedin and Hogni brought four quadruplet children of the Pallum race: Alfrigg, Dvalinn, Berling, and Grer. The four brothers, who in the future were known as the incredibly deadly Gulliver Brothers, now stood with innocent looks in the headquarters' living room. Besides them, Hedin also dragged along a seven-year-old Werewolf boy who kept growling angrily. That boy was Bete Loga. (Hedin had originally planned to bring Bete's younger sister as well, but their father vehemently refused, deeming her too fragile for a long journey).
Right as the group entered the living room, Bell, who had just come down the stairs, crossed paths directly with Hedin. Bell's eyes bulged, and his mouth moved faster than his brain.
"Ma... Master?!" Bell exclaimed unconsciously, pointing at Hedin.
In the future, Hedin was the cruel teacher who trained him day and night while he was in the Freya Familia. Hearing that address, Hedin instantly froze. The glasses on the High Elf's face slipped slightly. He stared at the unfamiliar white-haired youth with a look of extreme disgust and confusion.
"Who is this insolent human?" Hedin hissed, his tone as cold as ice. "I have never lowered myself to take on a disciple, let alone a youth who looks as foolish and naive as you."
Zald, who was drinking in the corner of the room, immediately burst into laughter seeing Hedin's reaction. The Gluttony stepped forward and patted the White Elf's shoulder.
"Lower your ego, Hedin. This brat is a time anomaly," Zald explained, wiping his tears of laughter. "He is Bell Cranel. Meteria's biological son who came from a future timeline over a decade from now. And apparently, in that future, it's clear you might be his teacher."
Hedin fell rigidly silent. He looked at Bell, then at the pregnant Meteria in the other corner of the room, then back at Bell. The rational brain of the Elf momentarily short-circuited before he let out a long sigh and massaged the bridge of his nose, accepting the reality that being in this Familia meant being ready to throw away all common sense.
A few days after the arrival of Hedin's group, Dina and Vena also arrived. As per Venti's instructions, the two Elves brought a ten-year-old little Elf girl named Alicia Forestlight, who in the future was supposed to become the Loki Familia's second-in-command.
That night, before the simple holy altar, Venti officially initiated all of them as members of the Barbatos Familia. A bluish-green glow enveloped the backs of the children, carving the sacred hieroglyphs.
Venti looked at their status parchments one by one with a satisfied smile.
[ Status Falna ]
Name: Alicia Forestlight
Level: 1
[ Ability ]
Strength: I0
Endurance: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
[ Magic ]
Sylven Lumina (Light of the Sacred Forest / シルヴァン・ルミナ): Long-range attack magic (Artillery Magic) of Light and Wind elements. Using her magic staff as a catalyst, Alicia gathers surrounding light particles into high-speed magic arrows. This magic possesses deadly accuracy, highly suitable to be combined with her archery skills to snipe enemies' weak points from a safe distance.
[ Skills ]
Elven Lineage / Magic Affinity: Innate ability of the Elf race that grants her high-level magical precision, stable Mind (Mana) control, and extraordinary perception of surrounding magical energy.Rear Guard Specialization: The expertise to position oneself in battle to cast magic (chanting) from a safe distance while reading the movements of both allies and enemies.
[ Development Abilities ]
-
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Name: Bete Loga
Level: 1
[ Ability ]
Strength: I0
Endurance: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
[ Magic ]
-
[ Skills ]
Fenris Wolf (Beastification / 獣化): Special racial skill of the Werewolf. When Bete is under the moonlight, he can undergo beast transformation. This form drastically increases all of his basic stats and abilities beyond his level's limits.Solmani (孤狼疾駆): A skill that highly synergizes with his fighting style. This skill significantly increases Bete's Strength and Agility when he accelerates (sprints). The faster he moves, the stronger the destructive power of his attacks.
[ Development Abilities ]
-
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Name: Alfrigg / Dvalinn / Berling / Grer (Identical Status)
Level: 1
[ Ability ]
Strength: I0
Endurance: I0
Dexterity: I0
Agility: I0
Magic: I0
[ Magic ]
-
[ Skills ]
Master Teamwork / Brotherly Connection: An innate ability from their brotherhood bond that allows perfect coordination on the battlefield. They can communicate and convey their intentions to each other without hesitation, even when separated by hundreds of meters.Master Craftsman: Derived from their past occupation as master craftsmen, this skill underlies their extraordinary dexterity in handling weapons and goods.Enhanced Senses: As the Pallum race, they are born with sharp night vision. The Falna sharpens all of their five senses beyond normal humans.
[ Development Abilities ]
-
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"What a truly extraordinary harvest of talent," Venti muttered, rolling up the falna parchment papers. He had just robbed the future foundations of Orario's great Familias.
However, behind the celebration of the recruitment, Venti knew that this short vacation had to end soon. The next morning, he gathered his main executives in the headquarters' strategy room. A map of the world was spread on the table, but the focus of their discussion this time was not conquering territory, but crossing the threads of time.
"Our little hero's vacation in this era is enough," Venti opened, his tone turning a bit more serious as he looked at every face in the room. "His goddess and his friends in his time must be confused looking for him. Moreover, Bell still has an important duel pending there. We must send this youth back to his timeline."
Everyone in the room fell silent, listening.
"Because this is the first time I will be using the Temporal Severance seal in the Dragon Valley to send a living object across eras, I will not let Bell go alone," Venti continued casually. "I will escort him. And for that, I have chosen who will accompany me."
Venti pointed at four people in the room. "Alfia, Zald, Dina, and Vena. You four will be coming."
"The four of us?" Alfia asked, crossing her arms with a raised eyebrow. Dina and Vena looked at each other in confusion, while Zald simply listened silently. "Why this formation?"
Venti smiled meaningfully. "Because magically and according to the Gekai's order of rules, the existential energy of the four of you is the safest to dampen the resonance when piercing through that time portal. You don't need to think about the complicated details, just trust me and get ready."
On the surface, Venti's explanation sounded like a god's instruction relying on pure rule calculations. However, inside his head, the God of Wind was hiding a plan far crazier and more hilarious.
Of course, that's just a technical excuse, Venti thought, trying hard to hold back the laughter tickling his stomach. The main reason is purely because I want to see the pale faces of the gods and adventurers in the future Orario.
In Bell's future, specifically during the bloody era of The Great Feud seven years ago, Alfia, Zald, Dina, and Vena were recorded in Orario's history as executives of Evilus—the dark faction that nearly brought the labyrinth city to its destruction. In fact, Dina and Vena in that era were deeply feared by all adventurers and known by the moniker 'Dis Sisters'. In Bell's timeline, the four of them were absolute terrors who were already dead.
I am so curious to see the reactions of Freya, Loki, Hermes, the other gods, and the elite adventurers, Venti continued inwardly, his imaginary smirk growing wider. They will definitely be scared half to death seeing the supposedly dead Evilus executives walking back into the city of Orario alive. This trolling intent is too precious to pass up.
Aside from having fun, Venti also had logical calculations that he didn't voice to avoid confusing them. Because the four of them were already dead in Bell's timeline, their presence would not overwrite anyone's existence.
If I bring Aria, whose physical form still exists inside the future Black Dragon's stomach, or bring Hedin and Hogni, who breathe there as the main pillars of the Freya Familia, Venti continued his calculations, I have absolutely no idea how the world's laws would react to their dual existence. Since this is the first time I am sending living objects across time, I'm not sure what the impact on the world would be if two exact same people existed at the same time. I don't dare take the risk. Better play it safe.
Zald, completely unaware of his god's hidden agenda, just grinned widely. He lifted his greatsword and rested it on his shoulder. "To the future, huh? Escorting this kid home while seeing how strong the future generation of adventurers is... Sounds like a vacation that won't be boring."
"Then what about us, Lord Venti?" Hedin interrupted, staring at his god intently.
"Sylphie, Hedin, and Hogni, you must stay here and guard the headquarters," Venti answered, giving an absolute order. "I am relying on you three to protect this home and these children while we are gone."
Hedin nodded obediently, placing a hand on his left chest. "As you will. This headquarters will become an impenetrable fortress."
The preparations were not done in an instant. It took a full day for the time-crossing group to prepare logistical supplies, while Bell spent a long, tearful farewell moment with Meteria. The youth hugged his mother tightly, promising in his heart that he would hold fast to all the warmth and lessons from this era.
Only after everything was secured and the headquarters' defensive formation was fully handed over to Hedin, did Venti's group move north, towards the forbidden area of the Dragon Valley, preparing to step into the future timeline.
Meanwhile, in Bell's future timeline.
A few days had passed since the disappearance incident of the rookie hero. The atmosphere in the dead lands of the Black Wasteland, specifically in the Dragon Valley area, felt far more silent and tense than usual.
Leon Vardenburg sat leaning against a giant black rock, catching his breath. The green light of healing had just faded from his left shoulder. Nina Tulle, a Healer, had just finished closing the horrifying claw wounds Leon suffered from his desperate battle against the Venomsky Centipede Dragon. The Level 7 calamity monster had managed to breach the seal shortly after Bell disappeared. Absolute victory was indeed achieved by Leon, and his physical wounds were now tightly closed by Nina's magic, but the mental exhaustion and drained stamina of the 'Knight of Knights' could not be restored in an instant.
The Half-Elf girl beside him stared blankly at the storm wind seal in the north, refusing to return until Bell was found.
"You have to go home, Nina," Leon said, breaking the suffocating silence. His tone was firm, though his voice was slightly hoarse from exhaustion.
A communication magic stone (Oculus) at Leon's waist had just flashed an emergency message. His patron god, Baldr, ordered Leon to immediately withdraw from the Dragon Valley and lead an emergency rescue expedition. The news coming from Orario was incredibly dire: the elite forces of the Loki Familia were confirmed wiped out or trapped on Floor 60, and the labyrinth city needed power to fetch them. Because Bell Cranel disappeared, adventurers from the Hestia Familia + (former Freya Familia) couldn't help, and Leon was desperately needed in Orario right now.
"I am not going to leave, Leon-sensei," Nina replied stubbornly, her eyes welling up with tears but filled with an unshakeable resolve. "Bell disappeared here. I won't let him be alone when he comes back!"
Leon let out a long sigh, not knowing how else to persuade his healer and stubborn student.
However, before the argument could continue, Leon's Level 7 instincts suddenly twitched violently. His hairs stood on end all at once. He immediately straightened his body, ignoring the remnants of his exhaustion, and turned sharply toward the edge of the Dragon Valley ravine.
The exact same spatial distortion as when Bell disappeared was now occurring again. The air froze, curving like heated glass.
From behind that transparent dimensional ripple, the silhouettes of six figures stepped out simultaneously. A foreign gust of wind instantly swept the dust off the dead land, carrying an aura pressure that made the air around Leon feel as heavy as lead.
Two figures walked at the very front, their faces not covered by hoods. Leon widened his eyes as he recognized one of them. The white-haired youth, with a pair of ruby-red eyes staring straight ahead. Beside him walked an androgynous-faced youth wearing green clothes resembling a bard, radiating a casual aura.
And behind them walked four figures whose bodies were tightly wrapped in thick, dark-colored cloaks, hiding their faces and identities from the world.
"BELL-senpai!"
Nina Tulle screamed hysterically. Ignoring all fear and security procedures, the healer girl immediately ran, dashing through the rocks, tears of happiness bursting and wetting her face.
Leon himself felt an extraordinary relief, but his knight instincts instantly detected absolute danger from the four cloaked figures behind Bell.
Just as Nina had taken a few steps, one of the cloaked figures—the one with the massive build—suddenly bent his knees. In a fraction of a second, the ground beneath the figure exploded into pieces.
BOOM!
The giant cloaked figure shot forward, cleaving through space with a speed that defied common sense, passing Bell, Venti, and Nina in the blink of an eye, and charged straight at Leon Vardenburg.
"!"
Leon's survival instincts took over. With reflexive movements forged through thousands of deadly battles, Leon drew his greatsword and swung it forward to block the attack.
CLANGGG—!!!
The clash of the two giant weapons created a shockwave that swept the rocks around them into dust. The ground beneath Leon's feet cracked severely, sinking half a meter deep due to the immense pressure of the enemy's attack. Leon's arms trembled, holding back the thrust of pure physical strength that made absolutely no sense, forcing his newly recovered stamina to be drained once again.
"Heh... Not a bad defense," chuckled the large cloaked figure. His voice was incredibly heavy, deep, and filled with the absolute authority of a battlefield veteran. "So, this is the 'Knight of Knights' that the kid was talking about, huh?"
Hearing that voice, the blood in Leon Vardenburg's entire body seemed to stop flowing. His breath hitched in his throat.
His eyes, which had been focused on the enemy's cloak, now stared intently at the blade of the giant weapon clashing with his sword. It was no ordinary metal. It was a greatsword with a very specific red design, a monument of destruction recorded in the dark history of Orario.
The Greatsword Grattor.
"This voice..." Leon muttered in horror, his eyes widening to their maximum limit. He could never forget the baritone voice that had once been the Golden Era and humanity's wall of despair in the past.
The strong wind from the clash of their weapons finally forced back the hood covering the attacker's head. The face of a large, brown-haired man with sharp scars, a firm jaw, and a predatory smile that looked down on everything, was now clearly displayed before Leon's eyes.
The heart of the School District's strongest knight felt as if it were being squeezed by an invisible hand.
The monster who was supposed to have died 7 years ago, the legend of the Zeus Familia, now stood alive before him with full strength.
"Z-Zald...?" Leon said in disbelief, his sanity seemingly torn apart by the impossibility of the reality now staring him right in the eye.
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P - Gem_Blanks
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