Zald smirked, letting out a slight chuckle.
"You know, I'd bet they're in Tenkai right now, fighting their hearts out."
Soon the three felt his presence…
"They are, right now. When I almost died during the battle, I met them, all of them. Knowing Uncle Maxim, he's going to come back down here some time from now. And so will he…"
"Hmm?"
"I'll show you who I mean later, for now, let me see where you're at. I can tell you're both level 9, but I want to see just how good you are."
"But what about the party going on in there?"
"Recently I've been made well aware of how much I lack."
"You?"
"Yes…"
Shurry's expression was solemn, as he balled up a fist, and then relaxed.
"I am not strong enough to defeat the One Eyed Black Dragon on my own. Not yet, but I might get there in the allotted time. But I'll be cutting it close if it's just me. So, I'll ask the both of you, you who have faced it once, and managed to live to tell the tale, will you aid me in getting revenge against that thing for all of the family we've lost?"
Shurry's request was straightforward, he of course already knew the answer… After all, why else would they all leave their safe village to come here? That answer…
"You already know don't you?"
"I still need to hear it."
"Can't the silence be enough…"
"Not this time. I need your word, and a little something else…"
Shurry moved in the splitest of seconds, appearing in the training grounds the other three had been looking at just a moment ago.
Zald smirked, and also moved to appear roughly in the same place.
Alfia, reluctantly, did the same… She had other issues going on in her mind…
"First, little brother, is there no room in your heart for another woman?"
"Huh? Hmm, right now, no, I did try with Neze yesterday. And while Ardee, and I did enjoy her added company, it wasn't yet enough to convince me of any sparks. Though, she's definitely going to say the opposite."
"I see, then, before we begin, I'm going to say this… I had an odd feeling in my heart for years, you were too young so I thought nothing of it. But now, you've matured, and that feeling has grown clear… It was love."
"Damn Alfia, confessing your feelings for him like that, you know he's married."
"I know, but it's not like it is impossible for someone to love multiple people. And after my earlier question, it's not like I expect an answer, at least not yet."
"Then let us begin, show me, how far the two of you have breached into the realm of the gods."
What began was a commotion that led a lot of the party goers to stop and watch. A naked dancer walked over and offered the future Bell a glass of wine. Future Bell didn't even register the complete nudity as the sparing match taking place in front of him was not one to miss.
Zald swung his sword, and Shurry blocked it with a single finger.
Alfia landed a direct magical attack on Shurry, but he not only saw it coming, but endured it as if it had merely been a little bit of wind.
The exchanges continued, and they began to ramp up the intensity. Eventually Shurry pushed both of them back with a degree of ease, and the match stopped.
"Not bad at all. Uncle Zald you'd be able to handle down to the 74th floor with mild difficulty. Big- … Alfia, you'd be able to handle the 74th floor as well, with slightly more ease, Uncle Zald."
He stopped with the big sister talk? I guess I was strong enough to earn that spark… Good, sorry Ardee, but the heart wants what the heart wants… I'm a woman too. Alfia's lips curled into a small, soft smile.
"Damn, I really thought I'd do better than her, Hmm I guess the floors get way harder huh?"
"Yes, Before I leveled up, and realized I was the reincarnation of Fenrir, I could only manage the 80th floor, and that was with quite a bit of difficulty."
"Well then, now all that's left is to figure out how we're going to manage everything. You aren't using those assholes from the Freya, and Loki familias are you?"
"Hah, the only reason they're alive today and not dead and rotting corpses is purely because I'm not the one who should take them down."
Alfia, and Zald both, their eyes widened, and then they laughed.
"Good, that's a good plan, nephew… I like it. We've been thinking the same thing all these years."
"Is that why Bell's already level 4?"
"And why Meda is level 5."
"This'll be good. Now then, I still have business to take care of out here."
Shurry glanced at the future Bell.
"Al, get down here and show me everything you've got. Throw everything you've got at me."
"Huh?! But-"
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you, I just need to make sure to put you through the paces, since it looks like not a damn soul has ever properly taught you anything."
"But, I've had-"
"Who taught you? Aside from the praise your knife work gets, you're only as good as a newbie. Come down and fight me, you'll see exactly what I mean."
Future Bell, Al, gulped, and then jumped down and into the training grounds. Alfia and Zald went back and let their gods know what they planned on doing next.
The performance Al was putting on, was hardly anything praiseworthy. Yeah, he's 14 and a level 6, but…
"Damn, it's like he just started adventuring less than a year ago?" Bokhoir sighed.
"Yeah, this isn't just some fluke either, I'm surprised he's made it to level 6 in a state like that." Nernatti said.
Legi sighed, and jumped down.
"Shurry, do you mind if I cut in? This Al character hasn't the first clue how to move his body. It's frustratingly embarrassing, as a dual wielder myself I can not allow him to continue being so pathetic."
"Sure, I'll stop it before anything bad happens."
"Good…"
The future Bell, Al, had a change of opponents, and was now being summarily outclassed, despite the level gap, and the substantial difference in total stats they both had. By all rights, Al should be utterly dominating this fight. He easily has an average of 400 points per stat over Legi, in all four of the levels they shared, And then he also had his level 5 stats, and a level boost… totaled all together, he has nearly 3000 points more than Legi has, in every stat. Yet, Legi is simply outclassing him with pure skill, and experience… Something Bell has extremely little of.
This battle went on until both were out of stamina, and they were each given a stamina potion.
"That's how you should be fighting with that body, I'm a new level 5, and you can't even keep up with me… Ugh!"
Legi left, Nernatti followed with her, and both went to bed. Meanwhile, Al was contemplating just how massive of a gap skill and experience can truly overcome. It… Excited him. Shurry noticed this, and smirked…
He's got a lot of power left tucked away. His stats may have been crazy, but he's weak in the areas that count the most.