Aevintyr Elds

"BJORN!!!!"

"NEWBIE!!!!!!!"

As soon as the barrier of energy disappeared, all of Bjorn's Familia and his only supporter rushed towards him. They ran frantically towards him, with their arms opened wide, they opted to hug Bjorn, who had done his very best…Their faces were painted with a mix of relief, awe, and uncontainable excitement….

Bjorn, on the other hand, collapsed to the floor. His body, battered and bruised, finally gave in. His knees buckled, and his legs crumpled beneath him like a withered flower.… like a vegetable that lost its luster… 

Bjorn's arms were laid on his side. Wounded and dirty, it was a testament to how hard he had fought. These wounds are the marks of his sheer willpower, his strength, and his difficulty…

Collapsed helplessly on the ground, he tried to reflect on the fight that had happened…

It was a close one…

Yes, it was a close one… 

If Bjorn failed to awaken his skill, then he might have a hole for his heart…. 

He acknowledges that he made mistakes… that, in some ways, he underestimated the monster… He believed that his speed and strength were enough but… the monster's last bout of strength was so overwhelming…

Honestly, if that monster fought Bjorn seriously at the get go, Bjorn would have died without even activating his skill…

Yet, despite the pain and exhaustion, Bjorn's lips curved into a faint smile. He was alive.

Going back to his surroundings, he noticed that his familia were now approaching him.

The short amazon sister is celebrating, like she had seen a hero from the legends.

"Wow!!!! You were so good! The way you fight, the way you hold your ground, the way you...…. Damn!!!!! YOU ARE SO GREAT!"""

Tiona then knelt down and kowtowed towards Bjorn, which greatly surprised him. 

"I will now worship the ground you had stepped foot on."

Suddenly, a fist went flying towards Tiona's head. 

"You damn sister of mine!!!! Don't embarrass our newbie, we're still alive!!!!"

Tione, the person who punched Tiona's head, faced Bjorn.

"Anyway, Good job newbie. You were strong...….. Not as strong as the captain! Hehehehe"

Finn, the captain, felt goosebumps towards his arms….. He then shrugged it off and faced Bjorn. His calm voice filled with pride echoed throughout the cavern.

"You've exceeded all expectations, Bjorn, That fight was nothing short of legendary. Rest now; you've more than earned it."

Bjorn felt relief like never before… this past 15 days, he was working his ass off… Despite the never ending stream of monsters, he pushed through it with sheer will and desire for strength… That's why… both his mind and body were tired… 

Even at night, during his supposed time of sleep, he was cramming monster knowledge in his head…

Hearing the captain's affirmation… Felix can now feel that he is truly resting…his previous alert demeanor was gone… all in front of Bjorn's familia is a person wanting to rest…

After the captain, Riveria, the vice captain also spoke.

You are iImpressive. Though reckless at times, your command of that skill shows potential. Once you've recovered, we'll refine it properly."

This time, goosebumps appeared on Bjorn's arms. 

Riveria's training was…. So to say…. Harsh…. She is a strict person who would push the boundaries of a person's body… Although she is harsh, this is only due to her desire to make her familia stronger…

Feeling left out of the original trio, Gareth also chimed some words in.

"Lad, you've got more grit than most veterans I've seen! You stood toe-to-toe with that beast and came out breathing—that's something to be proud of!"

He then patted Bjorn's aching shoulder…. Which ached again...... 

Riveria, seeing this, scolded Gareth.

"You damn dwarf, look at what you have done."

"Hehe don't worry/"

Gareth grabbed something from inside his bag. It was a potion. He then poured it onto Bjorn's whole body, drenching it with red hue…. Which also colored Bjorn's clothes… as red.

The Familia glared at Gareth. Gareth, on the other hand, continued patting Bjorn's aching shoulders.

"Good lad! Now, you truly look like you have finished a harsh battle!"

I just finished a harsh battle you damned dwarf!

Anyways, another familia member approached Bjorn…. It was a wolf.

"Tch. Don't get cocky, rookie. Although I had acknowledged you previously… You got lucky this time. If that thing fought seriously from the start, you'd be a stain on the floor."

Bjorn just smiled at him.

On the other hand, Tiona went closer to Bete.

"Oho, what's this I smell?........ I smell.... I smell..... A...…. Tsundere!"

This obviously angered Bete.

"YOU DAMN BRAT!"

"Well, you damn wolf!"

As the two fought, Bjorn noticed Ais who was giving him a thumbs up with her right arm….

She then raised her other hand and gave Bjorn another thumbs up….

It was Ais's way of saying that he did a good job......….

Bjorn then heard a distinctive voice that he had been with this past week… It was Cathy's.

"Bjorn!"

She then knelt towards Bjorn and grabbed Bjorn's face, checking every crevice, every hole in his face, just to make sure that no wound had not been treated.

"Whuth ar yu doi? (What are you doing?)"

Bjorn's face was scrunched up by Cathy's hands which made it hard to speak…

"I'm checking your face! Who knows, you might suddenly have tetanus… or worse... monster rabies!!!!!!!"

Bjorn pried Cathy's hands off his face…

"Are you really that worried about me?"

"Worried about you? No, no, no, I'm more worried about my money!!!!I You are my piggy bank, so if you die.........… I might be homeless… living off the street, gathering any scrap of food….. Huhuhuhuhu"

Cathy 'cried'... well… There were no tears.

"I just also bought a new apartment through your recommendation!!! How can I pay the mortgage if you die?! Waaaaaaaaa Waaaaaaa"

This money loving cat....

Finn came close towards Bjorn and asked him.

"Who's the cat?"

This question immediately resulted in Tione staring at the fake crying cat.... Which resulted in goosebumps appearing on Cathy's arms..

"She's my supporter."

Bjorn then looked at Finn, who was contemplating something. He then said,

"No. Captain. No."

Finn looked at Bjorn with a shocked face.

"No. It's not what you are thinking….."

The Goosebumps that appeared on Bjorn's, Cathy's, and Finn's arms disappeared.

"Plus… how can I date other people when…."

Finn pointed discreetly towards the tall amazon girl.

".... that girl's guarding every opportunity.."

Bjorn just gave Finn a soft smile. He also patted the Pallum's shoulder, as a sign that he is sympathetic to him... which also drew a soft but weary smile from the pallum….

The others also talked to Bjorn….

After a while, Bjorn suddenly remembered something. 

He tried to stand up but…. His knees gave up again.

Finn questioned Bjorn.

"Why? Why are you standing up? Rest for a bit more."

"I just… remembered something…. Please carry me towards the monster's body…"

Finn has a questionable gaze but…. He decided to follow the newbie's wishes.

Finn, although small, helped Bjorn to walk towards the monster's body in the distance… by Bjorn's side, his supporter, Cathy, was also helping him.

Bjorn gazed at the enlarging body of the monster…. 

This is the monster he had fought tooth and nail with…. 

It's body was still not yet harvested, since the familia members left it for Bjorn, since it is his kill.

Step-by-step, the laid out monster body was becoming larger….

The surroundings turned silent…. The previously chatty people were now solely focused on Bjorn…. They wanted to know how big or large the monster's core was…. Or if it even has 2 cores since it is a combination of two monsters….

Bjorn knelt down again, this time, beside the monster….

Using his wounded and battered hands, he tried to flip the monster…

The surrounding people were confused.... They wondered what the hell was Bjorn doing… 

Bjorn paid no mind to his surroundings, instead, his sole focus was on the corpse in front of him… He tried his very best to flip the monster but… it really was heavy, so Finn helped him… 

As soon as Finn and Bjorn flipped the corpse, Bjorn reacted.

"I knew it…."

Finn just stood silently and stared at the corpse's back…

Noticing that their captain was silent, Riveria and the others came closer.

"What's the problem?"

Asked Riveria.

Instead of answering Riveria, Finn asked Bjorn.

"How did you notice this?"

"I saw it when I was behind the monster…"

Curious about what the two were talking about, the rest of the familia peered down and looked at the corpse…. The corpse shocked them too….

You see, at the back of this monster....... A Familia's Falna can be found….

Although it was destroyed, like scraped off of the skin, bits and pieces of it can be seen…. 

They cannot trace it to a familia but… they can still read what was written… so Riveria immediately translated it.

"Strength... 712… Developm,,,, Skill,,, Slayer...…. Magic….. Duel….."

This is evidence…. True evidence…. That the corpse in front of them is… no… was a real person… a real adventurer....

It shocked them….. 

Leyfiya….the timid elf… was also shocked…. 

"H-h-h-how did that h-happened?!"

Riveria shrugged her shoulders.

"I am at a loss too….."

Bjorn, after contemplating…. Raised his hand.

"I have a theory."

All of the familia members looked at him…. A nearby camera also zoomed in on Bjorn's face….

He then grabbed a nearby sword from the tons of corpses around them ... .Doing this, makes it so that Bjorn's intuition was heightened.

"My theory is…. The body… was a medium to combine the two monsters."

Rivera thought about it and said.

"That… is actually remarkable…"

Riveria contemplated more about it and after a while, she said.

"Actually, Bjorn's theory is truly plausible… You see, an adventurer's body is sort of a vase itself…. Falna, Mind, and other substances are gradually added to the inside of the vase…. The height of the vase also tells about the adventurer's potential… Going to my point…. Since a person's body can handle blessings even straight from a god or goddess, why not also handle a monster's essence?"

The explanation shocked all of them…

"You see, the monster's essence is sort of a theory for now… but…. If we bring this body back….We can prove that monsters also have an essence similar to a God or Goddess's Falna…. Making us closer to the truth of the monsters."

If the previous explanation shocked them… this time… it shocked them more times.

Adventurers…. Are people who explore the unknown…. They face whatever things in front of them with a proud but unquestioning gaze…..

However, deep inside of them…. They also have questions.

Why do monsters appear out of nowhere?

What is at the bottom of the tower?

Who made the monsters?

All of us, deep inside of us, we have numerous why's and what's…. Even if we try to push it down since it is people's job to follow the flow, our curiosity will always prevail…

And this…. The corpse in front of them… could be a key in understanding the inner workings of the so-called 'Monsters'.... The answers to their why's and what's.

Without even a meeting, all of the adventurers' immediately decided.

Finn shouted.

"You three at the back! Carry this corpse! When we continue our walk, be alert at all times! Note all the monsters....."

While Finn ordered the Familia, making it so that the others became so busy… Bjorn was left sitting in the middle of it all…

He wanted to stand up but… he couldn't. 

Suddenly, a hand was outstretched towards him.

Bjorn looked up and saw a grey wolf…. So he smiled towards him.

"What? You do not want to grab my hand?"

Bjorn just smiled towards him and grabbed his hand. 

With the help of Bete, Bjorn stood up. 

His legs were shaky but… it was manageable.

Bjorn then noticed that the surroundings were now silent…. Bjorn looked up and saw that all of the Loki Familia members were looking at him, smiling softly.

"Hmm?"

"Don't worry about them…. Just know.... You are part of the Familia now."

_____________________

The group had reached the surface…. There, they saw a huge crowd waiting for them…. They were clapping their hands, while some waved their microphones towards the direction of Bjorn, asking questions and what not…. They are reporters….

They wanted to get a scoop but… who would've known that two remarkable events happened….

The first is the Black Goliath that spawned and was defeated by the 18th Floor Adventurers, with Bell as the last hit.

The second is the person in front of them…. A hero who fought alone…. Yet…he's not alone now.

These reporters were pushed back by the Loki Familia members…..and soon they reached their home…. The Twilight Manor.

The gates opened, and a streak of red and blue came rushing towards Bjorn….This streak is also known as Loki.

Loki immediately hugged Bjorn… Like a mother hugging his son that was coming back from war….

Loki softly caressed Bjorn's head and whispered to his ear.

"I am proud of you."

In an instant, Bjorn fell asleep… 

The other familia members had already gotten inside and unpacked their belongings…. Finn and the executives stayed by Loki's side…

"I know you guys are tired too…. How about you go inside first…. I'll stay here with Bjorn.

The executives looked at each other and bowed towards Loki… They then went silently inside the Manor….

Loki and Bjorn were left outside, with Loki caressing Bjorn's head, and Bjorn just fast asleep…..

"You know… I was really worried… I saw you on the news and got beaten up… It made my heart ache... I do not know why I feel this way but…. I just want to tell you…. You really did well.... Keep shining bright."

Bjorn's lips slightly raised….

By the front of the Manor's gates…. Two people are intertwined, each hugging the other, with their heart beating as one…

…..

..

.

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Gomenasai my people. It is a late chapter again huhuhuhhuhuhuh, but this time I made it 2,400 words hehe.

It was tiring to type 2,400 words hahaha, but I was wondering…. You see, my other fanfic, Kampf, has an average of 4,000 words per chapter…. Damn. I wondered how I didn't get tired… well…. I haven't posted in a while...…

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the chapter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace out!