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The sounds of metal hitting one another echoed throughout the whole dungeons as swords and daggers cshed with one another. A csh which decimate any obstacles who happeo be in the way.
Another 2 years and a half has passed since Yuna's 14th birthday, and throughout the years and months that passed by, the 2 had tio polish their skills to the best of their abilities.
Currently, Grey and Yuna are fighting once again in the dungeon. That has been their daily routine for the time they were together, but pared to the Slimes and Minotaurs they fought in their first battle together, their enemies are far more superior in both physical and magical power.
g swords with Grey were a pair of S-rank Dulhan anders, each with strength capable ing down towns in just a less than an hour. They were monsters whily people with simirly monstrous strength match.
Uhe monsters from two years ago, these Dulhan anders are capable of using sword teiques that resemble those of expert swordsmen. A monster which use artificial intelligeize and coordih other monsters.
Simirly, Yuna was also fighting with monsters possessing "intelligehey were 3 A-rank Ogre Warlords that could strike fear to the eyes of the popuce. But even with their monstrous strength, Yuna wasn't being pushed ba the slightest.
The three tried to perform an attack together, but even before their attacks hit the ground, Yuna was already o be seen. The three Ogre Warlords, who didn't see where Yu, were filled with fusion as they tried to scout the whole dungeon.
Unfortunately for them, no matter how hard they try, it would be fruitless. After all, Yuna was using the sed effect of her "Nihility", it hysical cealment" which allows the user to turn anything physically invisible.
By using both the first effect "Presence cealment" and the sed effect "Physical cealment", only those with dete abilities of higher rank will be able to detect Yuna. In other words, other than Grey who possesses the "Divine Eyes", Yuna is practically uable to anyone else.
??Fatal Stream!?? ［Yuna］
With her seemingly delicate arms, Yuna unleashed down a stream of attacks towards the enemies before her. Like a violent cascade destroying everything in its path, the attack tore the flesh of the monsters, targeting their limbs oer another.
As soon as the Ogre Warlords lost their bance from the rupturing of their joints, Yuna quickly closed the distaween them and jumped in the air, just a few meters away from the enemies heads.
??Winter Gospel!?? ［Yuna］
Without even to defend themselves, a strong burst of freezing wind devoured their bodies pletely, preventing them from making any movements. Not only their external bodies, even their insides were pletely frozen.
Even the walls of the dungeon didn't escape Yuna's spell and also turned into ice. It was a high-level spell which freezes everything it es in tact with, be it living or non-living things.
??Icicle Shotgun!?? ［Yuna］
Soon after the Ogre Warlords became statues of frozen ice, a barrage of ice came hurling towards them mercilessly, destroying their bodies as if they were fragile pieces of gss.
Like a goddess of ice desding into the mortal realm, Yuna gracefully nded on her feet as she saw the demise of her enemies. A figure which seemed to possess a heart of iot batting ao the monsters' fate.
g
Grey oher hand was still fighting with the pair of Dulhan anders. Although it would be easy fighting against one, fighting a pair is on another level as they know how to coordih one another.
The Grey moment Grey tries to unch a surprise attack to one of them, the other will attack his back, leaving Grey with no choice but to halt his as and evade the said attack.
Seeing Grey dodge, the two mohen chased him and tried to perform a pita Grey, but the tter didn't even budge from his position and simply caught the two swords with both of his hands, showg his strength to his enemies.
"Do you need some help?" ［Yuna］
"Haha, no need. Just take your break, I'll be following soon after." ［Grey］
"Mmm... Alright, then I'll go back up and prepare dinner." ［Yuna］
"Thankー whoops!"［Grey］
Befrey could finish his words, one of the Dulhan aried to cut him from above. Although he was talking with Yuna, Grey was still paying attention to his enemies so he was able to dodge it with ease.
Seeing Grey almost get hit, Yuna shook her head slightly and breathed out a small sigh of . She then carried on with her way a up the dungeon stairs.
"You damned k of metal, at least let me finish talking!" ［Grey］
Venting out his frustration, Grey thrusted a punch towards a Dulhan ander's torso, sending it flying towards the walls.
??Twin Spiral!?? ［Grey］
Flowing with the momentum, Grey fired off a spear of wind which seemed to be made of two torhe moment it came in tact with the Dulhan ander, it tore apart all of its armor pieces and shredded everything into dust.
Without sympathy towards its "rade", the other Dulhan didn't waste the ce when Grey was fag away and tried to strike from behind. Unfortunately for it, Grey already noticed its attack.
Third effect of Grey's "Divine Eyes", "Heaven's Eye" allows him to see everything within a certain distance around him as if he's watg it from a bird's eye view. It was an effect which prevented enemies from doing a sneak atta Grey.
Before the enemy's sword could touch his shoulder, Grey easily caught it with his left hand, and with a little twist of his body, he struck a blow towards the Dulhan ander's head, sending it flying and stuck towards the ceiling.
"Farewell. ??Howling Thunder??!" ［Grey］
Like a meteor crashing towards the ground surpassing the speed of sound by multiple degrees, Grey's right fist produced a strong explosion the moment it ected to the Dulhan ander's body.
Being hit by such a powerful force, the Dulhan ander's body was pletely obliterated upon impaot leaving even a single speck of dust to be seen.
"Phew... I think that's that for today. I wonder what Yuna is cooking." ［Grey］
As if the se of an S-rank monster getting obliterated into oblivion was a normal se, Grey didn't pay aowards what happened in the dungeon and simply went home.
While these may be just a daily occurreo Grey and Yuna, just the thought of fighting monsters all day long was a bizarre thought for any normal person. Not to mention that these monsters were of A and S ranks.
Threat levels were pot only to group things who have simir bat power, but because souls have a limit of how mubat power it tain. Ohe soul reaches the maximum limit, it will move up a stage to increase its limits. These stages came to be known as the standards for "Threat Level".
Of course, each threat level has different limits, and starting from the bottom is H-rank which has less than 20 bat power, followed by G-rank for those who reaches a bat power of 20, F-rank (50), E-rank (100), D-rank (250), k (500), B-rank (1,000), A-rank (2,500), and S-rank (5,000). These are the 9 ranks whiormal" people are divided into.
Upon reag 10,000 bat power, those beings are not sidered "normal" anymore but "transdent". They are divided into 3 more ranks, which are Camity Css (10,000), Disaster Css (20,000), and finally, Catastrophe Css (50,000). Giving a total of 12 ranks from H-rank to Catastrophe Css.
For "normal" people, reag E-rank already means you're strong. And upon reag B-rank, you will bee someone people will look up to.
As for our twonists...
"Umm, Grey..." ［Yuna］
Grey was about to finish washing the dishes when Yuna suddenly barged into the kit. Her eyes filled with a curious and expet look.
"Hm? Is something wrong." ［Grey］
"It's been a couple of months since... you know... the st time I saw my status. I was w if you could check it..." ［Yuna］
Yuna timidly requested as she fidgeted with her fingers. Something Grey found cute and fasating at the same time. Especially since Yuna's elven ears were bobbing up and down as she pyed with her fingers.
While the two may have lived together for almost three years, Yuna still did her best not to request too much from Grey. Although she siders Grey as her closest friend, she still doesn't want to impose too mu them.
Though trary to her beliefs, Grey was actually quite happy when Yuna requested something from him. Something about being relied on filled him with a sense of aplishment.
"Haah... Alright. ??Appraisal??!" ［Grey］
-----------------------------------
[Salferine]
[Name] Grey Silverdrake
[Race] Human
[Sex] Male
[Age] 18
[Status] Healthy
[Mana Capacity] 3,579 [Mana Quality] A
[bat Power] 7,732 [Threat Level] S
[Attribute] Wind [Magic Proficy] Advanced (82%)
[Css] Brawler [on Proficy] Advanced (79%)
[Physical Enha ]80%
[Ability] Divine Eyes (Divine)
Divine Mind (Divine)
Subspace (Divine)
-----------------------------------
[Salferine]
[Name] Yuna
[Race] Elf
[Sex] Female
[Age] 16
[Status] Healthy
[Mana Capacity] 2,418 [Mana Quality] B
[bat Power] 4,619 [Threat Level] A
[Attribute] Ice [Magic Proficy] Advanced (76%)
[Css] Assassin [on Proficy] High (72%)
[Physical Enha] 74%
[Ability] Nihility (5☆)
-----------------------------------
"Oh... You've improved quite a lot." ［Grey］
"But I'm still far from S-rank..." ［Yuna］
Seeing her bat power, Yu a little crestfallen. Her upset face was really adorable as she unsciously puffed her cheeks slightly whilst being so.
At first Yuna wasn't able to see the status s Grey see with his "Judgement", but in honor to Yuna's request, Grey had started utilizing Illusion magic to show Yuna what he see.
The first time Yuna saw the status ss, she acted like a child who just got a oy. Grey thought she was really cute at the time, seeing as how her eyes sparkled brighter than diamonds.
"Now, now, don't get too upset. I'm sure you'll achieve it sooner rather than ter." ［Grey］
Grey cheered up Yuna as he gently patted her head like he was soling a little child, shifting Yuna's mood from upset to happy.
While frey, such as were just normal, to Yuna, it had a wholly different and special meaning. Although simple, they were as which calmed her down and made her heart flutter.
The two had been living together for almost three years, and because of that they had seen many sides of each other. It wouldn't even be an exaggeration to say they knew almost everything about one another.
In those times, slowly but surely, Yuna developed an irey which turned into affe then love as time passed. After all, for a man and woman who had been living uhe same roof for years, it isn't surprising if one develops feelings for the other.
Grey, oher hand, was a different case. Ever since he had arrived in Merusia, he had always been fasated about cepts of fantasy fn from Earth. To him, his feelings for Yuna were nothing but fasation towards the fantasy creatures called "Elves". In other words, he had yet to develop the deep affe that Yuna feels for him.
To make things worse, Grey is unaware of Yuna's feelings, making him do things that one could easily misuand without much thought. An example of this was what Grey was currently doing.
Yuna could try to be mgressive and directly tell Grey, but such ways are way above her with her somewhat timid character. She would rather fight a rge horde of mohan fess her feelings.
In fact, she even uses her cealment abilities when she was about to show her feelings, afraid that their curreionship will be destroyed if Grey found out about her feelings for him.
"Ah, it's already this te. We should probably go to sleep. Goodnight." ［Grey］
"A-Ah, yes! Goodnight!" ［Yuna］
Attempting to hide her flushed face, Yuna hurriedly went upstairs towards her bedroom, leaving Grey behind i.
Soon after, Grey also finished up all his chores a up to his own bedroom. He then jumped on his bed, bringing him to dreamnd as anht passed away.
CRASSHHHHHHHHH
Rather than being woken up by the gentle sunlight, a loud noise like crashing thunder greeted the two in the m, pelling the tere just sleeping moments ago to wake up and search for the cause of suotion.
"W... What's happening?!" ［Yuna］
In front of Yuna, the dungeon which had been with her since Grey saved her was colpsing before her eyes. It was ge violent at the same time, only affeg the dungeon and not those near it.
While Yuna was in a panic, Grey in trast was very calm. It was as if the two were two very different ses.
"Hey, Greyー" ［Yuna］
"Don't worry. It just reached the time limit." ［Grey］
As Grey had said, the special dungeon was only meant to st for about 3 years. It was something both he and God had agreed to. Of course, as it was a dungeo for training, there wouldn't be any rewards after clearing it.
To prevent Yuna from panig, Grey calmly expined everything to her. Of course, that was "everything" except the part of his previous life, reination, aing with God.
Although Grey trusts Yuna very much, finding the right time to tell her was a little troubling. And even if he did tell her, she might look at him like he was some kind of insane person.
Thinking back to his promise that he won't ever lie to Yuna again made his heart ache from guilt. For some reason, he felt as if he was a vilin even wheeically hasn't done anything wrong.
After some time, the dungeon finally colpsed and as if it had never been there, the debris from its colpse slowly turned into mana, leaving a forested area behind.
With the colpse of the dungeon, the two immediately started to take a and packed everything their ies. The big and numerous ones went into Grey's "Iory" while the others went into medium-sized backpacks.
Now that they have no more reason to tinue living in the forest, the two had decided to go on a journey around the world, not only so that they explore the world, but also to aplish two objectives.
The first one was to fulfill Grey's promise to God and quer all the Te Labyrinths. Of course, to Yuna who knew nothing about Grey's promise, it was only a dream bor of love for adventures.
The sed objective was to find out who the perpetrators were which brought about destru to Yuna's home vilge. And the moment they find them, they will make them pay for their atrocities.
"Are you ready?" ［Grey］
"Un!" ［Yuna］
"Alright, the's depart!" ［Grey］
Without further ado, the two set out on a jouro explore the world beyond the forest. For the both of them who had lived in the forest all their lives, it was an experience which made their hearts tremble in exhiration.
It's been a few hours sihe two had started their travels, and during these few hours, they have entered various monsters as along the way. Most of the beasts ran from the two of them, but monsters, whily sought destru, tried to fight them the moment they saw them.
Uhe monsters in the special dungeon, monsters outside drop various things from mana crystals, to crafting ingredients, and even a whole set of equipment. Of course, all of them went to Grey's "Iory" the moment they defeated them.
The stro mohey entered was a k Goblin King, but the battle wasn't even worth mentioning. It didn't even st a single minute.
The journey was smooth sailing, until one critical detail about traveling that Grey missed was brought up by Yuna as they were resting uhe shade of a great tree.
"So, which town are we going to, Grey?" ［Yuna］
It was then that Grey was struck by an arrow of realization. He hasn't pnned anything at all!
While Grey had prepared everything they needed in terms of equipment and food rations, he hadn't actually pnned about their destination. It was an aspect he had pletely overlooked.
"Uh... Umm, we're going to Galderia. A city in the kingdom of Alfrione." ［Grey］
"Oh? A city..." ［Yuna］
Grey quickly thought up a destination aed the city just located a few kilometers northwest from the edge of the Haltea Great forest.
And Yuna, who doesn't have any knowledge about geography nor political territories around the world, immediately believed Grey. Her eyes were even sparkling by the thought of visiting a city for the first time.
A feassed and the two had just passed the edge of the forest. The moment they stepped out of the Haltea Great Forest, what greeted them was the green and serene Pins of Gaya. It ce where trees were sparse and grass domihe ndscape.
Along the green pins, small horned rabbits hopped around freely as if they owhe pce. Bees and butterflies could also be seen as they hovered above the variety of flowers in the field.
"Wahhh～" ［Yuna］
Seeing an enviro other than a forest, Yuna became immersed in her own world as she observed every little thing she could.
The birds cirg in the unobstructed sky, the sound of the grass as it rustled from the refreshing breeze, and even the brown horned rabbits burrowing iheir holes from time to time. Ead every se graced Yuna with fasation.
As frey, he just let Yuna enjoy her first time outside the forest and just guided her path from time to time, trying his best to not shatter the i elven girl's time for herself.
"Yu... na... Yuna." ［Grey］
"H-Huh? Were you saying something, Grey.?" ［Yuna］
More than an hour has passed sihe two had exited the forest and Yuna was still immersed in her own world. It wasn't until Grey called out to her that she realized how much time had passed.
Rather than answering her using words, Grey simply stepped aside and with a wave of his hand, he showed Yuna a sight which she will never fet.
As Yuna looked towards the horizons, what graced her eyes were stone walls easily reag 20 meters i. It was a giant which dwarfed everything within proximity. A structure which imposed an aura of strength and majesty.
It was the city of Galderia!
CHAPTER 8 END
