The sun has risen with the start of a new day. The birds are chirping, the towns are bustling, and the animals of the forest hopped on the ground and on opies e trees.
But deep down in the dimly lit byrinth, there was no rising sun to be seen nor chirping of birds to be heard. In fact, there was no way to tell the time other than relying on one's body clock,
"Fuwaahhh～" ［Yuna］
Just like in her everyday life, Yuna greeted the m with an adorable yawn akin to that of a small animal. Her eyes were still sleepy and her luscious silver hair was still disheveled from sleeping ient.
As she rubbed her eyes a out of her tent, the first thing that greeted her was the sound of metal cookwares g and g. Just a few meters away from her was Grey who was already cooking breakfast.
When Grey noticed the still sleepy young dy, he then put down the pan and spatu, decreased the heat of the fire, and approached Yuly with a warm ale smile about his face.
"Good m." ［Grey］
With n whatsrey gently kissed Yuna's forehead as a greeting to a new m. The recipient of the sudden kiss was immediately woken up and became alert.
"G-Grey?!" ［Yuna］
"Hm? What's wrong?" ［Grey］
"Wh... Why did you kiss me?" ［Yuna］
"Huh? Do I need a reason to kiss my cute girlfriend?" ［Grey］
"N-No... No, you don't..." ［Yuna］
As Grey tilted his head in a teasing way, Yuna answered meekly with her voice barely audible. Inside her heart, an overwhelming and unstoppable surge of happiness reading like wildfire.
"Girlfriend"... That one word echoed throughout Yuna's mind as she listeo Grey's words. She had been in love with Grey for years already and the situatioerday has yet to settle in. She still felt that everything was a dream.
Of course, along with the realization that everything that occurred was actually real, the memories of the first kiss they shared together also came fshing inside her mind. It made her blush profusely, just about as red as yesterday.
"Alright, then go have a bath first. We'll have breakfast after you finish." ［Grey］
Heeding Grey's words and at the same time, trying to hide her embarrassment, Yuna immediately went back to her tent, grabbed a new set of clothes, a away to the er of the stairs.
While it is called "stairs", it isn't the same as the stairs within buildings which sist of steps. It is a gentle slope which slowly spirals to the floor. Some are straight, some spirals, and some even zigzags.
There are also a lot of ft surfaces iairs where Grey and Yued for the night. And while they could just themselves with magic, there are times where they want to take a bath. Today was one of those times.
The bath they made was simple, they just erect solid walls to create a room, then hollow out and ftten the ground, making sure everything was solidified. After that, they just add water a it for a nid refreshing hot bath.
While Grey does possess "Heaven's Eye", he never used it to peep on Yuna. He wasn't a pervert who would do such a thing to women, especially when it came to the woman he loves.
After taking her bath and ging into a new set of clothes, Yuna now looked like her usual self. She looked like a prim and proper dy, with the only difference being that she wore adventurer clothing.
"Hehe... Grey's my boyfriend... My boyfriend... Hehehe..." ［Yuna］
It may have beeo her mind being cleared by the hot bath, but as Yuna waited frey to finish cooking, she was giggling aing to herself that Grey was her boyfriend.
Just as Yuna giggled happily to herself, Grey had also finished cooking the dishes for breakfast. He then approached the dining table Yuna had set and served the dishes.
"Yes, yes, I'm your boyfriend. Now, please eat this warm breakfast your boyfriend made for you." ［Grey］
"Un!" ［Yuna］
With a heart-pounding smile, Yuna respoo Grey's request happily. Grey received quite a bit of damage from Yuna's ess but he kept that to himself. It would be embarrassing if Yuna knew of it, after all.
As they were having their lovely breakfast, Grey remembered something important that he had to tell Yuna. Now that she was his girlfriend, Grey wao let her know of his past without hiding anything.
Apart from him and God, no one really else knew of Grey's circumstances. Even Yuna who he trusts the most is still in the dark about his past life and the mission God had bestowed upon him.
"Yuna, after breakfast, I have something to tell you." ［Grey］
Although Grey felt a little nervous thinking about how Yuna would react, he still strengthened his resolve and decided to tell her the whole truth. After all, sooner or ter, Yuna would have o find out about it.
Yuna, who saw Grey's sudden ge of mood was a little taken aback, but she still did not question him any further. She has full trust in the man before her who she ow proudly call her "boyfriend".
Breakfast ended and it was time frey to reveal his secrets. His heart ounding like crazy as he sat in front of Yuna, but now, it was because of a pletely different reason from love. It was because of ay.
"Yuna, I want to tell you about my past... Are you ready to hear it?" ［Grey］
"Un. I'm ready." ［Yuna］
"The's start from the very beginning..." ［Grey］
Starting from the oldest moments he could remember, to his childhood, teenage years, up until to the point where he had met God, Grey did not miss out a single importaail about his past.
As Grey tio tell his story, Yuna didn't make any sound and just listeo him carefully and closely. Throughout the whole time, although she was shocked inwardly, Yuna's face didn't make slight ges in expression and remained serious.
It took Grey almost half an hour to everything he wao tell to Yuna, and even when he had already finished his story, Yuna remained quiet as if she was thinking deeply of something.
"I sound crazy, don't I?" ［Grey］
"No... Rather, everything makes sense now..." ［Yuna］
"Sorry for not telling you." ［Grey］
"I don't really mind. Everyone has a thing or two about them that they want to hide from everyone else. After all... I've also been keeping my feelings for you hidden throughout the years. I know how hard it is to keep a secret towards the people you care about..." ［Yuna］
Yuna quickly dismissed Grey's apology as in her eyes, he didn't o apologize in the first pce. Rather, Yu a deep sense of sympathy towards him as she remembered how hard she tried to keep her feelings hidden in fear of destroying their retionship.
Grey had kept somethings secret towards Yuna, and there were times that Yuna got mad because he did that. The only differenow was that Grey's past was something that Grey has no obligation to tell Yuna about.
Being told of his past, Yu extremely happy that Grey had opened up to her. It made her feel that Grey has relied on her and that she was the orusts the most.
"About your past... I don't really mind even if you're from another world or even if you were the devil himself.,. Those experiences have molded you to the way you are. The person you are today, the you who is in front of me, is the person whom I've fallen in love with." ［Yuna］
Acceptance... That was the thing which Yuna has grarey. The ay and nervoushat was once present inside of Grey's heart had vanished, leaving only relief and happiness.
Well, that relief and happiness soon turned into embarrassment as he realized the meaning of Yuna's passionate words. Yuna had it worse, with her face extremely red from self-inflicted damage.
Although Yuna's lines were all sincere, one couldn't deny hoy it was. It was as if it came straight from a romanove. Her face became redder the more she realized what she just spouted on the spot.
"G... Grey... Umm... Please fet what I said... Please..." ［Yuna］
"No, I won't. I'll make sure to remember them until the end of time. I'll engrave them inside my heart." ［Grey］
"Uuu... Grey, you meanie..." ［Yuna］
"Hahaha, I'm so lucky to have such a cute and siderate girlfriend." ［Grey］
It didn't take long for the atmosphere to return to how it usually is... Well, a little stickier and sweeter than how it usually is. The two had just gotten together so it was only normal for them to be overly sweet.
After that, Grey tio tease Yuna for a little while, making the tter's face blush even harder. Yuna tried to retaliate, but all she did her arms, pout, and sulk. All of whily served to make Grey's heart beat faster.
Following their little banter, Grey and Yuna headed back up towards the 8th floor for some experimentation. The 9th floor was filled with rather dangerous monsters at S-rank. They decided it would be best to increase their strength first.
"Right, Grey... You said you have Divine-grade items in your 'Iory', right?" ［Yuna］
On the , Yuna suddenly remembered a tidbit of Grey's story taining the tents of his "Iory". There was ohing which had been on her mind the moment she heard those words.
While Yuna was a little shocked at first when she learnt she had been using Divine-Grade items without her knowing, she had long agained her posure. She is now even ied in them.
"Yeah, I did. Why?" ［Grey］
"Do you also have Divine-grade potions?!" ［Yuna］
"A... Ah, yes I do have them..." ［Grey］
"Please give me one!" ［Yuna］
Potions. Those were the things Yuna was after. The highest grade she had seen erirade one so it was only natural for her to get excited at the thought of getting her hands on a Divine-Grade one which was the apex of all potions.
Divine-Grade potions have the ability to heal any injuries, illness, curses, and many more as long as the one who took it was still alive. It also has the ability to temporarily boost whomever uses it to an astonishing degree. They were truly worthy of being Divine-Grade.
"Alright, here. Just make sure not to waste them." ［Grey］
"Yaay～! You're really the best, Grey! I love you!" ［Yuna］
Yuna decred without a single ounbarrassment on her face. She was so happy about having a Divine-Grade potion on her grasps and having Grey as her boyfriend that she subsciously switched "thank you" to "I love you".
Oher hand, Grey received a lot of damage especially with hht Yuna's smile was. It made him think for a moment that he could rest in peace after seeing that smile. It was an unfairly dangerous smile.
Just as Yu off to her own world, the two of them finally arrived at the 8th floor where there wasn't a single monster in sight. They were very lucky since what Grey is about to perform needs no disturbances. If the stairs were a little bigger, Grey would have performed it there.
While Yuna reoccupied with examining the potion, Grey took out 5 special crystals from his "Iory". They were the beasts crystals Grey and Yuna got as part of the loot during the Iblis raid.
'I hope this works...' ［Grey］
After a lengthy exhale, Grey started ting some inprehensible words and with just a little bit of time, the groued a sudden glow as a magic circle started to form. It was a magic circle full of runes and plex patterns which was sure to give anyone looking a headache if they tried to decipher it.
The magic circle grew bigger and bigger, and along with its size, the amount of light it produced and the plexity of the runes also increased by leaps and bounds. It only stopped when it was about 5 meters in diameter.
When the magic circle was plete, the outer rings on the circle started rotating like a cog. It was a sign that the magic circle was ready, and so, Grey approached the ter and pced the beast crystal of the S-rank daemon there.
"Ugh..." ［Grey］
With a little cut on his palm, Grey let a few drops of his blood touch the magic circle. The moment the magic circle ed Grey's blood, not only the outermost circles, all the yers started to rotate.
"Yuna, I need your help for something!" ［Grey］
"Hm? What is itー Grey, why are you bleeding?!" ［Yuna］
The moment Yuna saw the wound on Grey's palm, she immediately came rushing towards him with a worried face. She even dropped the Divine-Grade potion she was holding unto. Luckily, its tainer retty tough, preventing it from breaking.
It was the first time Yuna had seen Grey wounded after a long time. And whenever he had a wound, it was always because of fighting against strong oppos to protect Yuna wheill trai the special dungeon.
It was already engraved into Yuna's subsciouso worry every time Grey received a wound. It wasn't because she felt guilty, but rather because she was genuinely worried about him.
"Yuna, calm down. I inflicted it on myself so you don't have to worry." ［Grey］
"Huh? Why?!" ［Yuna］
"I'll expin it to you, so please calm down first." ［Grey］
"O... Okay... But first, ??Heal??." ［Yuna］
When Yuna casted that spell, a feeling of warmth enveloped Grey's heart as his wound closed. He felt warmth not only because of the healing spell, but because of Yuna's for his wellbeing.
As soon as Yuna calmed down, Grey immediately started expining what he was trying to perform and why he needed Yuna's help. Grey wao summon familiars with his and Yuna's blood as catalyst.
In the usual sario, summoning familiars would only need a single person, but it ossible to have many people participate. The only reason why most people prefer to do it solo was because having more people participate meant that they won't be the sole master of the summoned familiars.
But there is also an advao having more than one summoner, and that was the familiar could i more possible attributes and thus, better patibility and e.
Well, the real reason was that Grey wao use his blood to nourish the familiar, while at the same time, have reassurao protect Yuna if ever he was not around. He was still overprotective of her.
"I see... We're summoning a familiar, huh..." ［Yuna］
"Yeah, that's why I need a little bit of your blood." ［Grey］
"Un, sure." ［Yuna］
Without hesitation, Yuly cut the palm of her hand a a few drops of blood drop towards the magic circle. Once again, the moment Yuna's blood had been ed, the yers rotated faster.
With all the requirements plete, it was finally time to summon the familiar. Grey closed his eyes and reached out his hand towards the circle, and ted more inprehensible words as Yuna watched beside him.
Yuna already had her palm healed and she had also retrieved the Divine-Grade potion she had dropped. Now, she awaited the result of Grey's summoning with eyes full of anticipation.
"Oh Great Beast who once walked the nds of Merusia, I hereby call you forth! Throughout the sky, the nds, and the seas, let your brilliance be known!" ［Grey］
With the final words in the on nguage, the magic circle rotated at speeds even Grey and Yuna's eyes could not follow. The light it produced outshone everything in the byrinth. Finally, a loud rumbling resouhroughout the ground.
The beast crystal broke and a strong surge of mana swirled ihe byrinth like an indomitable storm, sending forth strong bursts of winds and quakes enough to be sidered a natural disaster.
From the storm of mana, a mystical se unfolded. Slowly, a figure formed from the surrounding mana, growing rger and rger as time epsed. The ground rumbled wildly and the wind danced violently as they celebrated the birth of a new being.
Whooossshhh
A strong wind cleared out the dust and debris formed during the summoning, revealing a marvelous figure covered in ptinum scales. It was a rge dragon whose length easily surpassed 20 meters and stood proud at more than 7 meters. It was a figure which emarength just from being there.
There were only two differences between it and normal dragons. For o bore a rge crystal which was embedded on its body. And another one was the fact that it had two pairs of wings rather than one.
"This one... gives his greeting to the Master and the Mistress..." ［???］
The beast politely spoke as it lowered its head to Grey and Yuna. It was like a loyal knight who kneeled before its liege, pledging his never ending loyalty to serve the ones before it.
??Appraisal?? ［Grey］
-----------------------------------
[Familiar]
[Name]...
[Species] High Dragon
[Sex] Male
[Age] 0
[Status] Healthy
[Mana Capacity] 15,097 [Mana Quality] S
[bat Power] 7,532 [Threat Level] S
[Attribute] Null (Law)
[Intelligence] 100
[Ability] Shapeshifter
[Description]
A beast born from the sing of corruption. It stands on the apex of all beings and boasts preater than any. The king of kings and one who represents the power of divinity. They are able to se corruption just by being present and feed on monsters born from corruption.
-----------------------------------
Shod amazement, that is what Grey felt when he saw the familiar's status. The species' he attribute, and the description, all of them were not present in the knowledge God had given him.
Normally, the beast summoned would match the in of the beast crystal, but pared to how hideous the Daemons were, the beast was a magnifit figure which looked like a work of art.
Unbeknownst to Grey, the reason for the familiar's form was his blood. The body God had created for him was by no means normal. It was a body which was the closest to a God's body, it was the body which taihe blood of divine creation.
"Master... Mistress... Please give me a name..." ［???］
With its head still lowered to the ground, the familiar requested Grey and Yuna with a sense of politeness and respect towards the two of them. It made no unnecessary movements and stood perfectly still.
"Grey, I'll leave it to you." ［Yuna］
"Ah, sure..." ［Grey］
Of course, Yuna immediately left the naming at Grey's discretion. She had full trust in Grey's naming sense evehe man himself was not a bit fident about it.
Grey thought lord and hard as to what to he familiar which had just been summoned. It was only when he looked at Yuna and thought of their party that he had found the answer.
'Aster... Star... Alright, I got it...' ［Grey］
It was then that a fitting name came to mind. It is called by many names and known throughout Earth. It guides travelers and shines light amongst the billions of stars in the night sky. The tail of the Little Dipper, the Lodestar, the Guiding Star, the Pole Star, and the Northern Star...
"Poris... I shall grant you that name. Raise your head and stand proud." ［Grey］
"This one... Poris... Expresses his endless gratitude... And vows to serve the Master and the Mistress for all eternity..." ［Poris］
"Yeah, we'll be in your care." ［Grey］
"o meet you, Poris. Let's get along!" ［Yuna］
After Poris, 4 more familiars were summoned by Grey and Yuna. The sed one was a female at A-rank with a bat power around 3,000, and the remaining ones had a bat power around 1,500, all of which were males.
From the sed one summoo the fifth, the names were as follows: Sirius, opus, Kentaurus, and Arcturus. All of them were named in order of the brightest stars in the night sky.
Just like Poris, all familiars summoned were High Dragons which were covered with ptinum scales. The only difference was the color of their crystals, eyes, and the shape of their horns. Poris had amethyst-colored eyes like Grey, Sirius' was silver, opus' was metallic gray, Kentaurus' was golden, and Arcturus' was transparent.
All of them were also of the null attribute, each with different natures. Poris could use Law magic which governed over time and space, Sirius could use illusion magic, opus' domain was curse magic, Kentaurus was the opposite of opus and could utilize holy magid stly, Arcturus was a master of barrier magic.
On this day, oh of Meruad, year 1767 of the Velterian dar, 5 of the 17 stars were born. In the near future, they will be known as the most powerful guardias throughout the nds, but that's a story for another day.
"Alright, let's head to the floor!" ［Grey］
"Un!" ［Yuna］
With their power increased by multiple folds, Grey and Yuna, along with their familiars in smaller forms, desded down to the 9th floor. It was time to test out their newfound strength.
CHAPTER 61 END
