plentiful world and another beginning.

The Monster Feria had been a spectacle unlike anything I had ever seen. The vibrant colors, the cacophony of sounds, the tantalizing smells—it was a sensory overload that left me both exhilarated and exhausted. 

But as the sun dipped below the horizon and the festival began to wind down, I found myself standing in the middle of the bustling plaza, clutching a map I had picked up from the library. 

The map was supposed to guide me back to the inn, but the twisting streets of Orario were proving to be more confusing than I had anticipated.

I frowned, turning the map over in my hands. The streets were marked clearly enough, but the festival had disrupted my sense of direction. The landmarks I had memorized earlier in the day were now obscured by the remnants of the festival—collapsed tents, scattered debris, and the occasional drunk adventurer stumbling home. 

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "Great. Just great."

I decided to retrace my steps, hoping to find a familiar street or building. But the more I walked, the more lost I became. The map seemed to mock me, its lines and symbols blurring together in the dim light of the street lamps. I muttered under my breath, "Why didn't I just ask for directions earlier?"

As I turned another corner, I heard it—a distant explosion, followed by the faint sound of screams. My head snapped up, and I instinctively reached for the hilt of my sword. The noise had come from the direction of the Dungeon, or at least what I thought was the direction of the Dungeon. 

My heart raced as I considered my options. I could ignore it and continue trying to find my way back to the inn, or I could investigate and risk getting even more lost.

Curiosity had won me over. I folded the map and stuffed it into my pocket, then broke into a run, following the sound of the explosion. The streets were eerily quiet now, the festival's cheer replaced by an unsettling tension. 

As I ran, I noticed a few other adventurers heading in the same direction, their faces grim and weapons drawn. There was a hint of shock at the speed which I I have flown past them, about 400 mph.

The explosions grew louder as I approached the source.

A section of the city was in chaos—buildings were raised to the ground, debris littered the streets, and people were running in all directions, screaming in panic.

---

Meanwhile, in another part of the city…

Bell cranel POV

I was running as fast as my legs could carry me, my heart pounding in my chest. The Silverback was close—I can hear its heavy footsteps and the sound of its claws scraping against the stone streets. had been separated from Hestia during the chaos, and now he was alone, with no idea where to go or what to do.

I turned a corner, hoping to lose the monster, but it was no use. The creature was too fast, too relentless. My breath came in ragged gasps, and my legs felt like they were on fire. I had been running for what felt like hours, and I was starting to lose hope.

"Just… a little further," I muttered to myself, trying to push through the exhaustion. But as I rounded another corner, I found myself face-to-face with a dead end. The Silverback was right behind me, its glowing eyes fixed on me as it let out a low growl.

My hands trembled as I gripped the old sword. I knew I couldn't win—this monster was far beyond my level—just like the minotaur back then, but I wasn't going to go down without a fight. 

I took a deep breath, steeling myself, and raised his weapon.

The Silverback lunged, and I braced myself for the impact. But just as the creature was about to reach, a flash of light erupted from the side, striking the monster and sending it crashing into a wall.

I blinked, stunned, as a figure stepped into view. It was a young man with dark hair and a determined expression, holding a sword that glowed with a faint, otherworldly light. Behind him stood Hestia, her eyes wide with relief.

"Bell!" she cried, rushing to my side. "Are you okay?"

I nodded, still too shocked to speak. I looked at the stranger, who was now standing between me and the Silverback, his sword raised and ready.

"Stay back," the stranger said, his voice calm but firm. "I'll handle this."

The Silverback roared, its massive form shaking the ground as it pushed itself off the wall. Its glowing eyes locked onto the stranger, and its claws dug into the stone street, leaving deep gouges as it prepared to charge. 

The monster's silver fur glinted in the sunlight, and its muscles rippled with raw power. It was a terrifying sight, but the stranger didn't flinch. His grip on his sword tightened, and his expression remained calm, almost bored, as if the Silverback were nothing more than an inconvenience. 

The stranger leapt into the air, his sword glowing with an intense, otherworldly light. He brought the blade down in a devastating arc, striking the Silverback's neck with enough force to sever its head from its body. 

The monster let out one final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, lifeless before blowing up in a puff of smoke, leaving behind a medium sized stone.

The stranger landed gracefully, his sword still glowing faintly as he turned to face Hestia and I. His expression was calm, as if he hadn't just taken down one of the most dangerous monsters in the city.

I could only stare in awe, my mind struggling to process what I had just witnessed. The stranger turned towards me, sheathing his sword and offering a small smile.

"Are you two alright?" he asked, his voice gentle.

I nodded again, finally finding my voice. "Y-yes. Thank you… thank you so much."

Hestia stepped forward, her hands clasped together. "We owe you our lives. I'm Hestia, and this is Bell Cranel. Who are you?"

The stranger hesitated for a moment before answering. "My name is Zephyr Kane. I'm a traveler."

My eyes widened. "You're not part of a familia?"

Zephyr shook his head. "No. I'm on my own."

Hestia's expression brightened, and she placed a hand on his arm. "Well, Zephyr, you're more than welcome to join ours. We could use someone like you."

Zephyr looked surprised, but before he could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps caught their attention. Ais Wallenstein and a group of adventurers appeared, their weapons drawn and their faces tense.

"Is everyone alright?" Ais asked, her sharp eyes scanning the scene.

I nodded. "We're fine, thanks to Zephyr here."

Ais turned to Zephyr, her gaze appraising. "You took down the Silverback on your own?"

Zephyr shrugged. "Yeah."

Loki nodded, a glint in her eyes. "Impressive. Which familia do you belong to?"

"I do not belong to a familia." Zephyr said, his expression unchanging.

"You're already so strong and not affiliated with a god, You must be talented." Loki commented. "You should consider joining a familia.The Dungeon is no place for a lone wolf."

Zephyr didn't respond, his expression unreadable. Hestia stepped forward, her hands on her hips. "He's already considering joining ours, thank you very much."

Loki raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She turned to her group and gestured for them to move out. "Let's go. There might be more monsters out there."

As the group left, I turned to Zephyr, my eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you again. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't shown up."

Zephyr smiled faintly. "Don't mention it. Just… be more careful next time."

Hestia clapped her hands together, her usual cheerful demeanor returning. "Alright, enough of this serious talk. Let's get back home and celebrate! Zephyr, you're coming with us, right?"

Zephyr hesitated, then nodded. "I'll have to refuse your offer, I have places to be…"

As the three of them walked away from the scene, Bell couldn't help but feel a sense of relief and excitement. He had been saved by a stranger, someone who didn't even have a familia, yet was strong enough to take down a monster that even seasoned adventurers struggled with. He glanced at Zephyr, his curiosity piqued.

"Zephyr," I began, "how did you get so strong without a familia?"

Zephyr's expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly masked it with a smile. "That's a secret, kid."

I nodded, sensing that there was more to Zephyr than met the eye. But for now, I'm just grateful that hestia wasn't harmed—and perhaps, gained a new friend.

---

Freya POV

From the shadows of a crumbling rooftop, a pair of piercing, otherworldly eyes watched the scene unfold below. Freya, the goddess of beauty and desire, stood with an air of regal elegance, her silver hair cascading like moonlight over her shoulders. 

Her lips, painted a deep crimson, curled into a faint, intrigued smile as her gaze followed the trio walking away—Bell, Hestia, and the enigmatic Zephyr.

Her plan had been simple: unleash the Silverback to push Bell Cranel to his limits, to force him to grow stronger, to see his pure soul shine even brighter under the pressure of life and death. But now, her carefully laid scheme had been disrupted—not by chance, but by the appearance of a man whose very existence seemed to defy the natural order of things.

Zephyr Kane.

Freya's eyes narrowed as she studied him, her divine senses reaching out to grasp the essence of his soul. What she found left her breathless. Bell's soul was pure, yes—a dazzling white light that called to her like a moth to a flame. 

But Zephyr's… Zephyr's soul was something else entirely. It was a swirling storm of colors, a kaleidoscope of power, mystery, and something she couldn't quite place. It was mesmerizing, intoxicating, and utterly unpredictable.

"Who are you, Zephyr Kane?" she murmured to herself, her voice a whisper carried away by the day breeze. "Where did you come from? And how is it that you possess a soul even more captivating than my little Bell's?"

Her fingers twitched, a rare flicker of frustration crossing her flawless features. She had been so focused on Bell, so certain that he was the one who would bring her the entertainment she craved.

 But now, this stranger had appeared out of nowhere, his presence throwing her plans into disarray. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to be angry. No, Zephyr's soul was far too intriguing for that.

Freya's smile returned, wider this time, as she leaned forward slightly, her gaze never leaving Zephyr's retreating figure. "Perhaps I've been looking in the wrong direction," she mused, her voice laced with amusement. "Bell is a precious gem, but you… you are something entirely different. A storm waiting to be unleashed. A mystery waiting to be unraveled."

She straightened, her mind already racing with new possibilities. If Zephyr was as powerful as he appeared—if his soul was as extraordinary as it seemed—then he could be the key to something far greater than she had ever imagined. But first, she would need to learn more about him. To understand him. To see if he was worthy of her attention.

"Ottar," she called softly, her voice carrying a commanding edge despite its quiet tone.

From the shadows behind her, a massive figure emerged. Ottar, the captain of the Freya Familia and the strongest adventurer in Orario, stepped forward, his expression stoic as always. "Yes, Lady Freya?"

"Keep an eye on him," she said, gesturing toward Zephyr with a graceful wave of her hand. "I want to know everything about him. Where he goes, who he speaks to, what he does. And most importantly… what he's capable of."

Ottar nodded, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder. "As you wish."

Freya's smile deepened as she turned her gaze back to Zephyr, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and anticipation. "Oh, Zephyr Kane," she whispered, her voice dripping with intrigue. "You've caught my attention. Let's see if you can keep it."

As Ottar vanished into the shadows to carry out her orders, Freya remained on the rooftop, her silhouette bathed in the flickering light of the distant fires. She watched until Zephyr, Bell, and Hestia disappeared from view, her mind already spinning with plans and possibilities.

The game had changed. And Freya, ever the opportunist, was more than ready to play.

End of Chapter 6.