Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Once Upon a Time
Long ago, two races ruled over the earth:
Humans and Monsters.
One day, war broke out between the two races.
After a long fought battle, humans were victorious.
They sealed the Monsters underground with a magic spell.
Legends would say those who climb the mountain never return.
This had been true for many years after they were sealed.
Seven Humans ventured the mountain.
Each with their own Hopes, their own Dreams,
their own Loves, their own Hates,
their own reasons to climb the mountain.
Knowing they would never return home…
But when it was time for the Eighth Human to enter the Underground.
Something changed.
The mountain that held the lives of all Monsterkind.
The mountain that claimed the lives of Seven Human children.
Vanished without a trace…
Orario the Labyrinth City
100X
Gods and Adventurers alike flocked to the city with aspirations of grandeur.
But one person was different.
They never wished for glory or wealth.
But rather they held a desired to be a Hero like the stories of old.
This Hope, this Dream.
This simple desire would intertwine the fates of these two worlds.
Forever changing both…
-The Dungeon-
Run!
That’s all he could think about as the hulking slab of beef chased after him. Bell had hoped he could conqueror the dungeon, had dreamed of being a hero, and yet all that seem pointless now. Every second he spent running away was a second spent delaying his death, every step he took was a step the Minotaur got closer
Bell was starting to run out of energy, he couldn’t even remember how long he had been running. “I… have… to keep… keep running”
*Rooaarrrr!!*
Bell stubbled as fear gripped his mind. The Minotaur swung its fist down at Bell trying to end his life Bell quickly managed to up himself back up narrowly dodging the Minotaur’s fist as it crashed against the wall. Bell fled down one of the many corridors of the labyrinth, but was horrified to see his path was a death end.
Bell pounded his fist against the wall, in despite attempt to change something “No! No! No! No! This can’t be! There has to be a way forward! There has to-”
*Rooaaarrr!!*
Bell froze and turned around to see the Minotaur slowly creeping towards him. Every step pounding against the stone floor like a time to his death. Bell sunk to the floor unable to move.
Bell believed he was about to die, he wasn’t going to achieve his Dream of being a Hero, he wasn’t going to achieve the future his grandpa had Hoped for him, he was just going to one of those poor fools who went into the dungeon and never came back. But as the Minotaur wound their arm ready punch his life out a thought came to his mind, or rather a person.
His Goddess, Hestia. He was her only member of her Familia and if he died here, she would be left alone. He could image how her face would distort and burst into tears hearing about his death. He couldn’t do that to her; it went against every fiber of his being to make a girl cry like that, to make his Goddess cry like that. No this wasn’t where he would die, he refused that outcome, he would make it out here and go home to see his Goddess again. There was just one obstacle standing in his way. He would get past it he knew he would, he just had to stay Determined.
As the Minotaur made their move and tried to punch him. Bell rolled out of the way making the Minotaur’s fist to slam into the ground beneath him. The sound of the ground cracking against the impact echoed in the corridor. The Minotaur huffed in annoyance before swinging at Bell again. Bell braced for impact but to his surprise the punch never landed, and he heard the Minotaur roar out in pain.
Bell’s initial confusion was quieted as he realized what was happening and overwhelming joy overtook him as he watched the Minotaur get cut down. He was going to be saved, he would get to see his Goddess again, he wasn’t going to-
*Crack!*
Time seemed to slow for Bell. He was about to be saved… He was about to get out of this hell and see his Goddess… So why… Why was he falling... He desperately watched as the person who saved him reached out to him, trying to stop him from falling. But it was too late as Bell fell down into the depts of the Dungeon.
Bell could only watch as the light coming from the hole was slowly consumed by darkness as he fell deeper and deeper. Bell had no thoughts; he went numb as his body seemed to shut down unable to process what was happening to him.
Bell closed his eyes letting the dark, darker yet darker void consume him waiting for his death. “I’m sorry Grampa seems I never got to be a hero” tears built up in his eyes “And I’m so sorry Goddess… I hope one day you will find a more reliable child than me…” As Bell fell he could have swore he heard a voice speaking out to him in his final moments before he passed out from exhaustion.
“You cannot give up just yet… Bell! You have to stay Determined…”