8
The Dungeon's eighteenth floor, Rivira, buzzed with the chaotic energy of adventurers trading goods and stories under the crystalline ceiling's false sky. Bell Cranel stood at the edge of the safe zone, the Hestia Knife at his hip glowing faintly, its runes pulsing with a violet hue that set his nerves on edge. His adventurer armor, reinforced by Welf's latest upgrades, hugged his frame, a far cry from Lordran's tattered rags. Yet the weight of that world lingered—Ember of Resolve, the skill born of his trials in the Kiln of the First Flame, burned in his soul alongside Liaris Freese, pushing his growth to new heights. His Firebolt now carried a chaotic edge, its flames tinged with Lordran's Chaos Fireball intensity, a gift and curse from the Hestia Knife's runes.
His Familia stood beside him: Lili, her satchel brimming with supplies; Welf, polishing his greatsword; and Haruhime, her fox ears twitching as she scanned the bustling outpost. They'd come to investigate reports of "strange monsters" on the lower floors, echoes of the Darkwraiths and Hollow Soldiers that had invaded the tenth floor days ago. The Guild suspected the Dungeon was reacting to Bell's runes, and Hestia, though reluctant, had agreed to let them join a joint expedition with Loki Familia to uncover the source.
"Master Bell, Lili doesn't like this," Lili muttered, gripping her crossbow. "Those creepy monsters from your other world—they're not normal. What if more show up?"
Bell's ruby eyes softened. "I know, Lili. But we stopped them before. We'll do it again."
Welf snorted, slinging his greatsword over his shoulder. "Yeah, with you swinging that fancy knife like a demon. Whatever that Lordran place did, it made you a beast, Bell."
Haruhime's gentle voice cut in. "Lord Bell, your strength is our light, but… Lili's right. The Dungeon feels wrong. Like it's watching us."
Bell nodded, his hand brushing the Hestia Knife. The runes pulsed, and a faint whisper echoed in his mind—Anastacia's voice, soft and urgent: The Dark Soul stirs, Bell Cranel. Its reach grows. Guard thy fire, lest it consume all. He shivered, recalling her warning from his dream. The Age of Dark, his choice in Lordran, had followed him, its power seeping through the runes into Orario. He hadn't told his Familia about the latest whispers, not wanting to worry them, but the truth weighed heavy.
Hestia's arrival snapped him from his thoughts. She strode into Rivira, her divine aura drawing eyes, flanked by Ais and Finn from Loki Familia. "Bell!" Hestia called, her blue eyes scanning him. "You're not diving deeper without me. Those runes are trouble, and I'm not letting you face this alone."
Bell smiled, warmth flooding his chest. "Thanks, Goddess. But you shouldn't be in the Dungeon—it's dangerous."
Hestia huffed, crossing her arms. "I'm a goddess! I can handle a few monsters. Besides, I need to keep an eye on you."
Ais stepped forward, her golden eyes steady. "Bell, the Guild's reports say the strange monsters are appearing as deep as the twenty-fifth floor. We're going to investigate. Will you come?"
Bell's heart raced, Liaris Freese sparking at her words. "Of course, Ais. I'm in."
Finn's calm voice cut in. "Good. Your experience with these creatures gives us an edge. But be warned—something's stirring the Dungeon. Even Freya Familia's been sniffing around, and that's never a good sign."
Bell's stomach twisted. Freya, the goddess of beauty, had always watched him too closely. If her Familia was involved, this was bigger than he'd thought.
---
The expedition descended to the twentieth floor, where the Dungeon's corridors widened into vast caverns lined with glowing moss. The air grew colder, the mist thicker, and the Hestia Knife's runes pulsed erratically. Bell's senses, sharpened by Lordran's trials, caught the faint stench of decay—Lordran's signature. "They're here," he whispered, gripping the knife.
A crack split the floor, violet light spilling out, and a swarm of Hollow Soldiers emerged, their rusted blades swinging. Behind them loomed a Black Knight Archer, its bow drawn with deadly precision. The Loki and Hestia Familias sprang into action, their synergy a testament to Orario's finest.
Bell took point, his movements fluid despite his body's lingering human limits. Ember of Resolve burned, channeling Lordran's lessons—Solaire's courage, Siegmeyer's persistence, Anastacia's calm. He cast Firebolt, its chaotic flames scorching the hollows, while the Hestia Knife's runes amplified his strikes, cutting through armor like butter. Ais fought beside him, her Ariel spell weaving wind around her saber, her strikes a mirror to Bell's precision. "You're faster," she noted, parrying a hollow's blade.
"I learned from you," Bell said, dodging an arrow and countering with a Firebolt that staggered the Black Knight. "And from… that place."
Tiona's axes whirled, cleaving hollows, while Tione's spears pierced their ranks. Finn's commands kept the party tight, and Haruhime's Uchide no Kozuchi boosted their strength. Welf's greatsword and Lili's crossbow covered the rear, their teamwork seamless. But the enemies kept coming, more cracks spawning Darkwraiths and Skeletal Beasts from the Tomb of the Giants.
Bell's heart pounded, not with fear but resolve. He imagined Anastacia by the bonfire, her voice steady: Guard thy fire. He plunged the Hestia Knife into a crack, its divine light clashing with the violet energy, sealing it. But the runes glowed brighter, and a new whisper echoed—not Anastacia's, but Kaathe's: The Dark Soul claims its due, Chosen Undead. Embrace it, or fall.
"Bell!" Hestia's cry snapped him back. A Chaos Eater from Lost Izalith loomed, its acidic maw dripping. Its presence was a nightmare, its bulk dwarfing even a minotaur. Bell's mind raced, recalling Izalith's molten caverns. "Everyone, aim for its mouth!" he shouted, casting Firebolt to draw its attention. The runes flared, the spell's flames burning hotter, staggering the beast.
Ais leaped, her Ariel-enhanced saber slicing into the Chaos Eater's maw, while Finn's spear pierced its core. Bell followed, the Hestia Knife glowing as he struck, the runes amplifying its power. The beast collapsed, dissolving into ash, but the cracks multiplied, spawning more Lordran foes. The Dungeon was fighting back, its balance disrupted by the Dark Soul's intrusion.
---
The party retreated to Rivira to regroup, the mood grim. Hestia clutched Bell's arm, her eyes wide. "Those monsters… they're from your world, aren't they? The runes are pulling them here!"
Bell nodded, guilt gnawing at him. "I'm sorry, Goddess. I didn't know my choice would do this."
Finn's voice was calm but firm. "It's not your fault, Bell. The Dungeon's reacting to an outside force. We need to find the source—likely deeper, maybe the thirtieth floor or beyond."
A new figure approached, her silver hair and piercing eyes unmistakable: Ottar, Freya Familia's captain. "Bell Cranel," he said, his voice a low rumble. "Lady Freya wishes to speak with you. She senses a power in you that threatens Orario's balance."
Hestia bristled, stepping between them. "Back off, Ottar! Bell's my Familia, and he's not going anywhere with Freya!"
Ottar's expression didn't waver. "This is no threat, Goddess Hestia. The power in his blade—it's destabilizing the Dungeon. Lady Freya offers aid, but she requires his cooperation."
Bell's hand tightened on the Hestia Knife. Freya's interest was dangerous, but her resources could help. "I'll talk to her," he said, meeting Hestia's gaze. "But only with my Familia."
Ottar nodded. "So be it. Come to Folkvangr tomorrow."
---
At Freya's manor, the goddess of beauty greeted them with a smile that sent chills down Bell's spine. "Bell Cranel," she purred, her eyes gleaming. "Your soul burns with a darkness I've never seen. Those runes… they're a gate to another world, aren't they?"
Bell stood firm, Hestia at his side. "They're from Lordran. I chose the Age of Dark there, and now it's affecting the Dungeon. Can you help stop it?"
Freya's smile widened. "Perhaps. My mages have studied the Dungeon's depths. The runes are channeling the Dark Soul, a primal force of humanity. It's clashing with the Dungeon's divine order, spawning these invaders. To stop it, you must sever the runes' connection—or master their power."
Hestia's eyes narrowed. "And what's in it for you, Freya?"
Freya laughed, a sound like silver bells. "Bell's soul fascinates me. I wish to see its potential. Help him, and I ensure Orario's safety. Refuse, and the Dungeon may consume us all."
Bell's resolve hardened. "I'll master it. For my Familia. For Orario."
---
Back in the Dungeon, the party descended to the twenty-fifth floor, the Water City, where the cracks were most frequent. The runes glowed incessantly, and Anastacia's voice whispered: The Dark Soul seeks balance, Bell Cranel. Wield it, or it will wield thee. Bell focused, channeling Ember of Resolve to control the runes' power. His Firebolt burned with precision, and the Hestia Knife's strikes were surgical, sealing cracks as they appeared.
But the floor's boss, Amphisbaena, awaited, its twin heads now wreathed in violet flames—a sign of the Dark Soul's corruption. The battle was chaos, the dragon's fire and water attacks amplified by Lordran's influence. Bell led the charge, his Lordran-honed instincts guiding him. He dodged flames, struck with the Hestia Knife, and cast Firebolt to stagger the beast. Ais's Ariel and Finn's spears supported him, while Haruhime's Level Boost kept them fighting.
When Amphisbaena fell, a massive crack opened, revealing a void where a figure stood—a Primordial Serpent, its eyes gleaming. "Bell Cranel," it hissed, its voice a blend of Kaathe and Frampt. "The Dark Soul binds our worlds. Embrace it fully, or sever it and lose thy fire."
Bell's heart pounded, but he raised the Hestia Knife, its runes blazing. "I'm an adventurer. I choose my path." He plunged the blade into the void, Anastacia's voice guiding him: Thy fire is enough. The crack sealed, the serpent vanishing, but the runes remained active, their power now under Bell's control.
---
Back at the Hestia Familia's church, Bell rested, the knife's runes calm but present. Hestia hugged him tightly. "You did it, Bell. You protected Orario."
Ais, visiting with Loki Familia, offered a rare smile. "You're stronger than ever, Bell. Keep going."
Bell nodded, *Liaris Freese* and *Ember of Resolve* burning in harmony. Lordran's embers lingered, but he was home, a hero forged in two worlds.
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