Walking The Wrong Path

Untitled Part 11

"UNBELIEVABLE, everyone, The Dark Prince seems to have done major damage to the King." Ibri said shocked as Freya familia looked worried just like the Loki familia, each worried about their respective contestants.

"but what cost?" Finn asked.

"It seems whoever gets up now, is going to be the winner." Hermes concluded.

Soon silence fell, an eternity seemed to pass by as people watched in fear. However, soon Ottar rose. Just barely hanging on. Relying on his sword. Clutching his stomach, a deep burn and hole to where his skin was. In all seriousness, if Bell had decided he could've used his dark refractor, but chose against it seeing that Ottar didn't use his magic, which was fabled to be able to break an Udaeus in half.

Ottar stood, but Bell could not. Bell started laughing and Ottar smirked.

"It seems like I can't do much more. It's my loss, Ottar," Bell said admitting defeat.

"and there you have it people. The Dark Prince has admitted defeat, the winner is the King, Ottar," Ibri chanted as people erupted in cheers.

Ottar helped Bell to sit up. "You were very strong, I was impressed Bell Cranel."

"well darn, I guess I wasn't strong enough, go on tell me what is it that you want?" Bell asked Ottar. He thought he knew, and he would probably have to grovel and ask for forgiveness to Freya.

Ottar turned to face his Goddess, "Freya sama, with all due respect. May I act selfishly, just this once," he asked bowing to her.

Freya and the other's looked on in shock. Ottar was never selfish, he always dutifully served Freya. His loyalty evidently stronger than any other. "very well Ottar, I am curious to see what you ask of him." Freya agreed. 'I am curious as to what seems to have lit the flame in your soul so brightly.' she thought as a wry smile appeared on her face.

Ottar thanked Freya and turned back to Bell who looked confused. His hair lifted backwards by his hand which rested on his right leg.

"Bell Cranel. My order to you, in aspect of winning this duel." Ottar paused, "you must become my rival," he said as silence once again stretched on.

Bell looked blankly. The others looked blankly.

Suddenly Bell started giggling lightly until, it turned into full blown laughter. He was laughing so much, he crashed back down on his back.

The people looking in horror as Bell just laughed straight at Ottar's face.

"S-sorry, you just caught me off guard. Still, I have to say what an odd request. You wish me to be your rival? A level 6?" Bell asked amused.

"As you clearly demonstrated through our fight, your strength far surpasses that of level 6. It may not be a stretch to say, you may be the second strongest adventurer, in terms of strength." Ottar concluded.

"Very well. I agree, What shall be our goal?" Bell asked now curious.

Ottar cracked a smile, "whoever proves the level ten theorem first, wins, after that whoever can continue to level up the fastest." Ottar said silencing the entire crowd once again.

"y-you want me to r-race you to level 10? Forgive me for saying so, But I clearly am not worthy. Your experience and accomplishments, clearly define you as worthy while, I have been an adventurer for just above a year," Bell said.

"Is that so? It doesn't matter, I know of your accomplishments, you are plenty worthy of being my rival," Ottar said as a few people looked on in shock even Bell, "your fight against the minotaur. Your fight with the goliath, Your role in combatting the Ishtar familia. Your fight against Evilus. All of that rules you worthy of being my rival." Ottar finished. Holding his jaw as this was the first time he spoke so much. Even Freya looked shocked.

"Alright. I accept you as my rival, from this point forward, Ottar," Bell lifted his hand for a handshake. Him sitting down and Ottar standing up looked weird but they shook hands nonetheless as the crowd roared back to life.

"ladies and gentelmen. I can't express how shocked I am today. The day, where two of the strongest and most talented adventurers in Orario and perhaps the world not only declared their rivalry but also swore to prove the level 10 theorem." Ibri said, "is there a fight more eventful and grand as this in history?"

"My God, Bell what have you done," Riveria went pale. The Loki familia had another things besides Bell's suicidal nature to worry about.

Bell soon collapsed on the ground. Riveria raced in to heal him as they escorted his unconscious body to Amid. Needless to say, Orario had much more to hope for.

A day later

Bell awoke in a white hospital room. The window open, as he could see Riveria leaned against the window looking outside.

"what is this? some solo action with the wind huh Riv?" Bell asked amused. Riveria snapped back to him. She went through a series of emotions, before she settled upon anger. Her eyebrows scrunched up. Bell noticed and couldn't help but speak.

"you are gonna make yourself look like your actual age if you do that." He stated as a massive cross appeared on Riveria's forehead.

She went into scolding mode. She was scolding him for a while while shaking him back and forth with one knee on the bed.

Amid walked in at the wrong moment and looked at things out of context. To her it seemed like Riveria was attempting to something much worser than what she actually was. Bell took advantage of this and quickly kissed Riveria's cheek. Who immediately blushed.

"Well excuse me for intruding," Amid said falling right into Bell's trap and closing the door.

"Wha-" Riveria said as she caught on to what Bell just planned, "wait Amid it isn't what it looks like," she tried to stop Amid but failed.

Bell spent the next two minutes laughing his ass off. But was soon reprimanded by Riveria who went back to scolding him. Amid finally checked up on Bell and let him go. Bell didn't bother wearing his armor but took his great white sword on his back, while he wore a light black skin tight shirt, his well defined muscles showing through. As they walked down the streets, some girls blushed while most looked at Bell in awe.

"Well this seems like it's gonna be a pain," Bell said. Riveria chuckled.

"What do you expect after your show with Ottar?" She asked amused.

Bell then saw Ottar walking towards him as people saw that the two were approaching each other. Riveria also stopped but continued seeing that Bell was walking on.

"Hello Ottar, how are you?" Bell asked with a smile on his face.

"Good, how's your injury, Bell?" Ottar spoke with familiarity. Not losing the stoniness.

"I'm getting better, how's the flame scar of yours?" Bell asked smirking. Ottar snorted, to the surprise to Riveria.

"Anyways, I came to say that I'm taking the first step in our race," He said confusing Bell.

"What do you mean?" Bell asked confused. Ottar simply held out a piece of paper. Bell looked for a second before, his eyes bulged.

"N-No freaking way... level 8 already?" Bell asked shocked as Riveria turned pale.