Bell relaxed after watching Antares get vaporized right in front of his eyes.
No surprises this time.
The Divine General followed Antares, dissolving into golden particles under the arrow, its face gazing at Bell one last time before disappearing.
The wheel above floated back to rest over Bell's head a moment later.
Mahoraga is a bro, frfr. Bell thought with a fond sigh.
The only reason he could defeat Antares at all was because of Mahoraga, especially at the end when the scorpion had nearly reached Level 6.
He would have died outright if he had fought the monster alone, especially since his [Ittou Rasestu] was about to run out.
.
If he wanted to summon the Divine General again, he would have to enter that fearless state once more—a state where he didn't need to adapt to anything.
Honestly, he didn't know how or why he had suddenly entered it.
It had only felt like he had briefly merged with something all-encompassing and boundless.
Most people had another name for this state...
Awakening.
Why Awakening? Or rather... what even is Awakening?
It means understanding.
Many people fear pain, thinking it is punishment.
Yet...
Every obstacle, every heartbreak, every failure is a secret teacher disguised as suffering.
Psychology shows that humans only grow when pushed to their limits, yet we try to avoid discomfort at all costs.
However...
What if your biggest fears and struggles are actually the fastest route to strength?
Life mirrors your inner battles, and embracing pain is not weakness... it's Awakening.
Hence... for that brief time, he had not felt fear. Instead, he had felt peace... because for him, pain had become a forge, tempering his sluggish will into an iron sharp blade.
.
Bell put the bow down and rested his chest against Goddess Artemis' back in palpable relief.
The wheel above him dissolved.
[Ittou Rasestu] deactivated.
His mana had hit rock bottom.
His vitality was being recovered by [Super Regeneration].
He had just let his guard down when Goddess Artemis turned around in his arms and wrapped her arms around him with an atomic blush.
Bell did not even get a chance to speak before he was pulled up by her and thrown over her shoulder.
!
Damn! Uno Reversed again!
His back collided with the ground brutally. The sound of a bone popping resounded from his spine.
Goddess Artemis quickly made some distance between them, holding onto her red cheeks while muttering things under her breath like "Too close" or "How improper."
Bell really wanted to roar towards the sky.
It's proper if you do it. But I get shoulder thrown if I try!!!
He felt like the world had some beef with him.
Let the world burn for all I care!
I fought with my life on the line for you all...
One among you nearly kicked my family jewels off.
Another threw me over her shoulder.
Where is the justice?
Where is the court?
I want to file a case!
Bell's eyes rolled back in indignation.
Fuck you all.
...
..
.
Bell woke up 10 minutes later. His CPU still booting to life. His head resting on something soft and firm.
He opened his eyes slowly and saw... two big, round 'mousse bombs' above him.
Should I take a bite?
He was contemplating tasting those 'mousse bombs' when Goddess Artemis' voice resounded from above.
"Have you woken up, Bell?"
All grogginess was wiped off his face at her voice.
He finally understood; he was resting his head on Goddess Artemis' thighs. The 'mousse bombs' above him were not mousse bombs at all. Instead, they were her 'assets'.
Hiss...
I was this close to disaster.
Bell thought, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow.
He got up from her lap, wary of another sudden shoulder throw or choke slam.
Once bitten, twice shy, thrice bye bye.
"Hey! Everyone, Bell woke up."
His thoughts were interrupted by an enthusiastic Lante, who screamed at the top of her lungs.
Other Artemis Familia members soon surrounded him in a circle. While Goddess Artemis got up from her seated position and walked up to him. Her hands slowly wrapping around him in a gentle motion as she pushed his face against her chest.
"Thank you... for saving us, Bell. My Artemis Familia and I are forever in your debt." Her voice was sincere. Her tone tender.
Bell did not reply.
It would've felt cheap.
...
..
.
Elsos Ruins.
Invisible footprints were carved across the ground in the expanse where Antares used to be sealed.
The voice of a man and a woman resounded a moment later.
"Asfi... What do you think? How could he have done something like this while being a Level 1?"
"God Hermes... there is something truly wrong with Bell Cranel. How can a Level 1 cause destruction on this scale?"
"You're right, Asfi. This Bell Cranel is not a person who would dance to our tune easily."
Hermes' voice continued a moment later.
"Even though Zeus had reassured us about his grandson, it's still better to push him further to test his limits, and confirm whether he should be trusted with saving the world...
Or be wiped out for endangering it."
...
..
.
2 minutes earlier.
Bell was telling the Artemis Familia about how he fought against Antares and almost got one shotted by his own finisher.
"And then... that scorpion devoured my own attack and launched it back at me."
!!!
"How did you survive that?" Lante asked with wonder, her eyes wide open with shock, her gossip instincts roaring in full force.
Rethusa leaned closer imperceptibly.
The other Artemis Familia members each had varied reactions, though they were all unanimously curious about more.
"So—" Bell was interrupted at that moment by Goddess Artemis besides him.
"Wait, wait. Bell, start from the very beginning. And no one interrupts in between, alright?" Goddess Artemis spoke with authority.
The surrounding members of her Familia wanted to protest but fell silent under her authority as their Goddess.
Bell looked around and started speaking from the very start.
"So... I reached the open area where Antares was sealed and greeted it with three arrows made up of flames. Those three arrows easily penetrated..."
Ay yo!?
"Cough... Cough, I mean... pierced it."
Bell coughed at his slight slip-up and continued.
"From there I starte—"
He stopped speaking abruptly, his head snapping towards the direction of Elsos Ruins.
His left eye was overpowered by abyssal black for a moment, sclera and all.
The left side of his lips turned indifferent, the right side frozen in relaxation.
Though these changes reversed in an instant, leaving none the wiser.
About the monster inside him...
Eager for another hunt.
...
..
.
***
[300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter]
[8 chapters ahead on P@tr3on = [email protected]/Not_Aaryan]
...
[Author's Thoughts]
Heh, Women. One moment she throws him over her shoulder. In another, she hugs him tenderly.
...
And that wraps up the Artemis arc. How was it? I'd appreciate any comments and reviews about making this story even better.