Chapter 143: CHAPTER 143(Live To Fight)
Please read the author's notes. (Examples and explanation of moves and appearance+ Monster Sources)
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CHAPTER START---
"Just one more..." Yang mutters as he wraps the final bandages on Thalie's body.
The woman was currently lying unconscious in their tent. Almost completely naked and looking like a mummy as she rests in a layer of medically treated bandages. Yang sloppily pins the final piece of fabric as he lays a blanket over her before moving to Welf.
The smith was in much, much better condition. Considering Thalie took most of their frostbite medicine, the monsters' claw not only breaking countless bones but also freezing her skin black in many places.
Compared to her Welf miraculously had no cold damage at all, instead both his hands were currently recovering from intense burns courtesy of Mosoka.
His skin was still dry, a much-appreciated improvement from the mess of burnt flesh and exposed muscle, in some cases exposed bone before Yang treated them.
Gently holding his friend's hand Yang begins to wrap the bandages around them, careful not to apply too much pressure but wrapping them tight enough that he was sure the medicine would take effect. The last thing anyone wants is their item maker losing feeling in his hands after all.
"That should do it," he says. His voice carrying exhausting as he looks between his friends. Throwing a blanket over Welf he walks out of the tent, now wearing only the pants of his enchanted Battle Mage Equipment. The top was currently in pieces, even the inlaid plates of his pants were devastated.
His bare feet feeling the rough stone of their campsite plateau as he looks out toward the forest of the Floor 70 Safe-Zone.
Walking to the edge of the plateau he sits with his feet hanging over the side, sleepily rubbing his eye as he raises the message ring to his mouth.
"Hephaestus," he calls out, yawning and shaking his head to stay awake.
A moment later the concerned voice of his goddess responds, "Yang. Is everything ok?" she asks.
"Yeah, it's all good. I'm calling from floor 70 right now."
The goddess was surprised to hear him speak like this. Such groundbreaking news and he didn't seem to care. In fact, he sounded almost bored or disappointed by the accomplishment.
"Are you guys ok Yang?" she asks once more.
"Yeah we'll be fine...they just got a little bit roughed up. Welf is in mind down and Thalie is...recovering," he says with some apprehension.
"What's bothering you?" Hephaestus asks, knowing Yang responds better to a straightforward approach.
"She got hurt, really bad Hephaestus."
"Mhm...but she knew the risks. You all did."
"She's lucky I thought ahead to bring that special medicine or she'd be retired right now...and she'll need to see Airmid about re-breaking her bones after this," Yang says. A grim look on his face as he recalls his own experience with that operation.
"Are you doubting your team, Yang?"
"No, I wouldn't have made it this far without them, but it's just..."
"Just what?"
"What I want is down here. What Welf wants is, I dunno maybe being at a higher level helps somehow. But about Thalie---"
"Adrestria familia," Hephaestus says.
"Yeah, how strong are they? I'm all for breaking myself to get to the Angel but---"
"You're less willing to see your friends die?"
"Exactly," he says.
"Hmm," Hephaestus thinks over the situation for a long tense moment. Doing her best to recall whatever she can from the information she has.
"Well?" Yang asks, getting a bit impatient.
"She said levels don't matter in Adrestria familia, it's all about fighting skill. So honestly you'd be the least qualified of your team for that," Hephaestus says.
"Shit, but wait. How does that work? Just because I'm not as skilled doesn't mean she can beat me. That's literally why we don't go all out in training, because of my Falna," he points out.
"No idea, it was a challenge between Adrestria and Athena but I didn't care enough to learn more. It never affected me till she sent someone to break into my vault."
"It's probably like some kind of sport thing with competitions then," Yang theorizes.
"Honestly it can be anything, gods are serious weirdos sometimes."
"That we can agree on. Anything happened up there since we left?" Yang asks.
"Nope, just the usual boring stuff. Winter is about to end and the New Year's Festival is coming up," she says. "You guys are gonna be up here in time for that right?"
"Awe, worried your date is gonna still be in the dungeon?" Yang teases the goddess.
"Ugh, can't a goddess just be concerned for her familia without all the teasing," Hephaestus huffs.
"Not when talking to me, I'm gonna get some sleep now. We'll be back in Orario whenever Thalie is ready," Yang says.
"Stay safe in there," she says.
As Yang is about to store the ring away her voice calls out once more, "wait!" she cries out. Yang pauses and raises the ring to his mouth once more.
"Uh, yeah?"
"Did you level up?" Hephaestus asks.
"Um, no idea. If I didn't I'm probably close so I'll try to get it done on the way back to Orario," he says.
"That puts you at level seven, you've got some decisions to make at that level, remember?" she asks. A deep frown forms on his face as he immediately recognizes what she's talking about.
"Yeah," he releases a deep sigh," I'll figure out how to deal with Freya when we get back up there, first I gotta get us all out of here," he says before abruptly storing the ring into his inventory.
Running a hand down his face as he slowly walks over to the tent, Yang can't help but have his mind be invaded with thoughts of Freya. Warm happy thoughts, oh how he wishes he were sleeping in his comfortable bed with her in his arms right now.
As his thought begin to wander, the image of his family pops up. His legs stop in place as he shakes his head. Seeing his parents and little sister, reminding himself of what's important.
"Everything else is just a distraction," he mutters lowly as if to remind himself. A small tingle in his chest, his love for his family forcing him to keep moving forward.
---Elsewhere...
Walking down a stone corridor late at night two people have a casual chat, the torches on the walls keeping the interior of the fort well lit. The halls are quiet, only the clicking of their boots are heard below their words.
"I sent Hephaestus a letter, wrote it personally, when you go to Orario next year I want you to collect something from her for me," the woman of the two says. Her attire was completely military. Grey combat pants and boots, a gold, brown, and red spear strapped to the back of her jacket. Her long hair reaching the waist of her 6ft tall figure, just a hair taller than the man beside her. Muscular build with raven black hair and a soft expression on her face.
"Why me?" The man asks, the vice-captain of her familia. He was more toward the leaner side, two swords at his hip, a level two adventurer with light brown skin. The most recent promotion of their familia. Only yesterday he killed the level four vice-captain of her familia and took his place.
"You have two objectives, the letter told Hephaestus you'll be coming for a black market deal in Orario. When that's done then you go see her and collect her payment to me and get back here, she won't be expecting you to come see her so play nice..." she explains.
"Seems easy enough, but again. Why me?" he asks.
"Because I have a former asset in Orario and she's never met you, so she won't recognize you. Anyone from my familia that she sees will end up dead, that's why I'm sending you Gron."
"Understood," he says as they arrive at the door to the courtyard of their castle.
As she pushes the door open they see dozens of children, all 10 years old. Wearing nothing but ragged tunics as the light snowfalls under the night sky, freezing them to their bones. Gentle winds whispering in their ears as if to make death sound inviting.
As she steps in front of all the children they immediately look toward her, their eyes pleading for any kind of help. As they make to speak, a single glance from the guards on the wall has them shuddering in silence once more.
"Hello children!" she greets them with a smile and gentle wave of her hand. "Today is the beginning of your glorious journey. Today you begin the journey to become warriors, and maybe if one of you is very talented, you may become my champion!"
All the children look around, completely confused by her words. They had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. All they couldn't think about was warm food and going inside to sit beside a fire.
"Allow me to explain, you're all worthless pieces of garbage!" her gentle tone suddenly becomes harsh, no longer speaking to children, she only saw soldiers. "You have been rescued. I collected you from orphanages and back alleys where you would have starved to death or wasted away. Now I'm offering you a chance! You will become warriors or die trying, you will be great or becoming the dirt that greater men and women walk on! Perhaps one of you will understand the truth of this world. The truth that only those who fight simply for the sake of fighting can become a true champion! No higher purpose, no devotion to anything but yourself and combat! You will become great or die, starting now."
As her words ring out, the children are horrified. Some collapsing in the snow, others emptying their bowels and stomachs at the thought of dying. But most of them were simply crying.
With a disgusted look, as if she wanted to spit on the children.
"I only have space for one of you," she says. She drops a shortsword at her feet and begins to walk away toward the door before turning around just for a moment to loudly announce. "Sort yourselves out before the cold does it!"
As they enter the fort both she and Gron begin walking down the corridors once more.
"That batch was useless, hopefully the next set will have someone special," she groans. Rolling her eyes at the memory of all those useless crying children.
"Well the quality can't be expected to keep up with those bred in our familia after all," Gron says as they walk toward where the next batch of children is.
"I certainly hope so, I just gave up one of my best warriors now I need someone to fill that spot. I can't let Athena and her stupid preachy bullshit win this," the woman grumbles.
"I'm certain you'll find someone lady Adrestria."
"No, champions aren't found they're built. That's what I'll prove to that pretentious bitch... now let's find a replacement for Thalie," she says as they push open the door to another chamber of children, potential candidates for her champion..
END CHAPTER---
Taking a few days off writing and editing. Honestly, editing takes most of my energy, and not missing a single day on this story(5+ chapters a week) for eight months is now getting to me. Just gotta clear my head everything should be fine by Monday. Planning this next arc is just stressing me out :)
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
keanu_eugene
keanu_eugene Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
---Finally got the Adrestria character reveal and what she's up to.
---Some insight into what Yang thinks of seeing his friends hurt.
---The future of Yang x Freya is up in the air as it stands.
---Potentially level 7 Yang incoming.
Weekly Power Status
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