"Haaah..."
Upon reaching the 50th floor, Bell couldn't help but yawn.
Maintaining constant mental concentration meant that even the slightest relaxation could trigger the use of power beyond his tier. To counter this, Bell had to exert every ounce of effort to control his power, which was constantly on the verge of going out of control, striving to manage it within the areas where he was most skilled.
"Looks like the issue of power surging beyond control is still a problem."
Though Bell had started to grow accustomed to his minimal power output, he had also deepened his exploration of this baseline. He had gradually refined his control to the level of an ordinary person, even reaching the precision of handling insects.
The old Bell could now step on insects without harming them.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to control only the critical part of his power, the target the Stone Golem precisely.
This was his evolution.
Now, he had finally delved into deeper layers.
Bell had always understood that exploring the micro level was far more challenging than exploring the macro level. So, the question was: how to explore this microscopic realm?
When facing the Goliath on the 17th floor, an entirely unconscious attack gave Bell the precise answer.
When power expands to a certain scale, the immense force and authority interweave, causing the self—initially constrained by macro-level power—to exert influence on the micro level.
A single punch shattered atomic structures, rendering the Goliath nearly incapable of regenerating.
However, that was an unconscious act.
It came from the unique interplay between fully controlled power and authority.
This fortuitous anomaly was not what Bell desired. He wanted power he could command at will. Thus, after the 17th floor, Bell repeatedly restrained his strength. He wasn't trying to reach a point where his power and authority intertwined to trigger that atom-shattering technique. Instead, he wanted to operate from a level even more untouchable—the microscopic level.
Now, Bell had finally reached that depth.
A glance around revealed a world that was completely different. It was no longer just the material world; there was a microscopic world beneath the atomic structure.
"My efforts have borne fruit. I'm slowly getting used to this sensation, and my eyes are beginning to perceive the same images."
"Come to think of it, this should be classified as a Destruction-type power, right?"
Now, positioned within this realm and able to see the microscopic world, Bell could use his power to interfere with it. The destruction of the microscopic world was much easier than that of the material world.
Yet, this was Bell's first direct encounter with the microscopic realm.
It wasn't the accidental result of intertwined power and authority; this was the essential difference of truly being immersed within it.
Bell no longer needed to amplify his power, nor did he need to recklessly weave his authority into his actions. He could now achieve atomic disintegration at will.
"Preliminary mastery."
"Indeed, a single sharp weapon is enough. The rest depends on how versatile this weapon is in my hands—and how I wield it."
Acquiring this sharpest of weapons made Bell genuinely happy.
"The initial descent is complete. Now comes the ascent."
The descent was for obtaining the sharpest weapon, while the ascent would reveal his true limits.
Knowing oneself is the most important part of combat. Of course, this preparation should ideally be made before the fight.
But Bell didn't have that luxury of time.
Still, it wasn't a major problem now.
Reaching new heights was far easier than probing the depths, and the subsequent floors would likely aid in his ascent.
Therefore, Bell wasn't in a hurry anymore.
Taking deep breaths, he gradually calmed his excited emotions.
"Mm, settled."
As his blood-pumping mind regained composure, Bell felt a sense of satisfaction.
"Next step: wield the weapons I've mastered, then directly face a four-digit god."
That thought was thrilling, but Bell quickly dismissed the rush of excitement.
"Hah..."
The earlier fatigue surged back. As expected, this situation was exhausting.
Rubbing his eyes, Bell headed for his shelter on the 50th floor to rest.
The shelter Bell had built in the 50th floor's safe zone wasn't on the walls but in the hollow space beneath the central movable platform. He had chosen this spot for its sense of security.
Hmm, even now, Bell maintained a strange persistence in constructing shelters.
Entering his former shelter, Bell completely relaxed.
"Mmm~ This place really does feel reassuring."
While Bell's preference for a reassuring living space was part of his personality, he suspected that his frequent viewing of wilderness construction shows had influenced this mindset.
Shaking off those random thoughts, Bell took a few sips of water before lying down on the bed in the shelter.
In just a few seconds, he was in a deep sleep.
What he needed now was ample rest to recover his exhausted spirit.
Exploring the depths was much more taxing than climbing to new heights.
…
Meanwhile, the five goddesses in Hestia's familia gathered together.
"Things got a bit rushed at the end today."
"Mm, normally he wouldn't be so rushed. He had already made plans, yet he changed his approach at the last moment. He definitely seems anxious."
Freya and Loki exchanged words, shifting the conversation toward Bell.
Hestia was also genuinely curious about the reason.
"So, what did Bell discover that made him suddenly so flustered?"
At this, the two who had spoken earlier sighed helplessly.
"You know his personality yourself. While he doesn't hide much from us, his reactions during battle are beyond what we can predict."
Freya sometimes had a precise grasp of Bell's personality because she understood him so well.
But that only applied to situations outside of combat. In battle, Bell operated on a completely different thought process—more cautious, more careful, and far harder to predict than in his everyday life.
"He definitely discovered something, but what exactly that was, we can't be certain."