Bell's movements quickened slightly, not because the assault team had been discovered, but because the weakest point in the barrier had been broken.
'She's here?'
'I thought Spirit would be the last one I had to deal with, but she still didn't miss this banquet after all.'
There was no doubt dealing with Spirit would be difficult.
Especially after losing an arm last time due to carelessness, she would definitely be far more cautious now. A sneak attack might still work, but delivering a fatal blow in one strike would be much harder.
And considering the lesson from before, she had probably added something new to her guardian's abilities. It wasn't certain, but the most likely enhancement was regeneration.
A being whose strength exceeded Lv.6 and nearly crossed into Lv.7, who also possessed regenerative ability—she was a troublesome opponent to handle.
Yet even so, Bell couldn't stop the smile forming on his face.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Since arriving in Orario, he hadn't experienced a single battle that could truly be called "difficult." This time might actually be a worthwhile experience.
He looked forward to the fight, but he also needed to plan carefully.
Everything happening now was unfolding under the watchful eyes of the gods. He had to hide his identity as the reforged member of Hestia Familia according to the plan, and instead present an entirely different persona—one completely unlike the original Hestia-born Familia identity.
A more gifted persona.
One with a stronger background.
One with power beyond imagination.
As long as those two identities were completely separated, even revealing his face wouldn't matter, because no one knew what the Rune Stone maker of the Hestia Familia actually looked like.
As long as that craftsman never appeared before most gods, who would ever suspect he and Bell were the same person?
'But this kind of thing is only possible at a time like this.'
It sounded simple, but completely separating two identities wasn't easy. If not for the Wall of Sighs within Bell's heart, blocking every attempt by gods to peer into him, such separation would have been meaningless.
If the two identities weren't so drastically different—so different that the gods naturally thought, "These two could never be the same person"—then splitting himself into two roles wouldn't be feasible at all.
Of course, the next thing he had to keep in mind was that he absolutely could not use Runes in battle.
Walking along the path toward the cultivation chamber, Bell had already made that decision, his thoughts becoming clearer.
As the old saying went: the lesser hides in the wilderness; the greater hides in plain sight.
A hidden identity could never stay hidden forever, but sometimes disappearing into a crowded place was the hardest way to be found.
At the same time, Bell also realized he didn't possess the broad-hearted tolerance or unshakable confidence a true powerhouse would have.
'So I'm just a coward after all.'
But Bell didn't deny it. He accepted that he was just an ordinary person, not someone noble in character or spirit.
Just as he was when facing Hestia and the others.
He was also a 'coward,' never taking the initiative on his own.
"I really do have a lot of issues."
Seeing how many flaws he had, he could only shake his head helplessly.
After a few turns, he slipped into a well-hidden narrow path, opened a concealed door, and finally reached the key location—the cultivation chamber...
"!?"
The moment Bell stepped inside, his brows tightened. A heavy stench of blood washed over him, almost making him gag.
He peered into the chamber. Even though it was dim, his eyesight let him see everything clearly. A magic circle covered the floor. Piles of flesh and blood were dissolving into raw energy, seeping into each fetal membrane. Not just flesh—souls were being drawn in as well.
Once again, Bell understood that Evilus had no bottom line.
"Ugh... I knew those guys used special tricks to speed up growth, but I didn't expect them to use the lowest method possible."
"Flesh and souls as sacrifices to accelerate the growth of the 'Spirit Soldiers.'"
"What a disgusting bunch. They lure people in with promises like 'maybe you'll see your loved ones again in the next life,' then use methods that deny them reincarnation entirely. Really—Evilus cannon fodder truly are cannon fodder. Beasts not even fit to be called human."
"Even Evilus gods see them that way."
"Pfft—hahahaha."
Bell burst into mocking laughter. His voice shed its earlier disguise, becoming that of a normal teenage boy.
"Oh? Oh? Some people just don't know their place."
"Throwing themselves away for that so-called 'possibility.'"
"Just like the Spirit. Doesn't even understand its role. Thinks it gained enough power to destroy all of Orario, when it's nothing but a 'setup.'"
"What do you think? Guardian of the Spirit... what was it—'Revis,' right?"
Smiling, Bell slowly turned around. At the entrance stood a red-haired woman in a simple top and shorts. Her eyes were nothing but ice and killing intent, like a machine built only for slaughter.
Bell studied her and unexpectedly noticed something interesting.
"Oh? So the person involved is here."
"Did you see it through your guardian's eyes? Filthy Spirit."
A blaze of fury erupted deep in the woman's gaze.
"You bastard!?"
Her voice warped, overflowing with anger and hatred.
"If it weren't for you! If it weren't for you, I would've gotten her last time!"
Bell reacted like he'd just heard a funny joke. His lips curled, his tone almost amused.
"Get her? You? Someone who couldn't even break free from my control and had to cut off her own soul?"
"If you really had the guts, why didn't you project a part of your soul onto your guardian?"
It was as if a fishbone lodged in her throat. Her face flushed red, her aura surged, but she couldn't force out a single word.
Bell's smile stayed the same, but his voice was razor sharp.
"Useless trash."